THE COCKROACH AGITATION: INTERNAL SECURITY DIMENSIONS. By Maj Gen Sharabh Pachory, VSM (retd)

THE COCKROACH AGITATION: INTERNAL SECURITY DIMENSIONS 

By

Maj Gen Sharabh Pachory, VSM (retd)

Member, STRIVE 

 

The Cockroach agitation is on hold for now. The lull however is not likely to last long. For now Dipke avers that he does not wish to enter active politics and would rather have a ‘pressure group’ to raise critical social, academic, political  issues and have the govt respond…or, rather, bend. Their recent success has certainly emboldened them, even as the means adopted are questionable, as l have argued here in an earlier piece. The PM’s attempts to reach out to the young through insta reels has only drawn scorn and seen as patronising.

 

However, keeping the politics and controversy on the back burner for the moment, l wish to comment on the internal security dimension of this uprising/protest. Though things are admittedly better, lndia has its faultlines and grapples with a host of issues which affect internal security…infiltration from across the borders, illegal immigrants, drug trafficking, a large section of disaffected minority population,caste and communal divide,  unemployment, festering terrorism in J&K, reduced but not fully eliminated naxalism, foreign funding of NGOs with dubious antecedents, inter-state water wars, terrorist sleeper cells in various cities and of course constant attempts by Pak towards subversion and sabotage within India.

 

Add to this the churn of sorts one witnessed in Jantar Mantar (JM). The passage of time has only further reinforced the fact that the protests at JM saw goons and anti nationals infiltrate and exploit the opportunity to raise anti India sentiment, invoke the likes of Burhan Wani, Umar Khaled, Art. 370, abuse for Indian Army etc. Their tirade against the govt took the form of a rant against India. Expectedly, a weak opposition lapped it up and found, through these disgruntled youngsters, another stick to beat the govt with.

 

This brings me to the crux of the issue. If, as avowed, this movement is to continue (‘pressure group’ or political), how and what does it bode for India’s internal security, already riven with myriad problems ?

 

First, the infiltration issue…this kind of a situation is fertile ground for forces inimical to India to inveigle and force their way into the movement to the core and initiate a parallel agenda to destabilise the country under the garb of noble, youth oriented issues. Any countermeasures by the govt will be viewed as oppression and highhandedness. Given political fallout, govt will be forced to tread cautiously, even as it would be fully cognizant of the evil designs.

 

Next is the issue of communal and caste divide, always a sensitive and delicate issue in our country. While so far, the Cockroaches have claimed higher moral ground by portraying their movement as being beyond caste, communal and partisan considerations, it will not take long before this ugly element of our polity and society rears it’s ugly head and further polarises an already fragmented people. The attendant issue of caste based reservation etc, may add fuel to fire. This would form a perfect cauldron to stoke communal/caste based fires, or even riots, which would take huge political, social and administrative capital to douse – if it ever can be.

 

For external powers that, in my reckoning, are clandestinely backing these protests, in India’s troubled and misguided youth, they have found a perfect conduit to further their agenda. They are the easiest to subvert and ‘convert’. Many Western powers, notably USA (using George Soros’ funding, as they do), would only be too happy to see the last of Modi and a resurgent India. Protests like these and the pressure they bring to bear on a powerful, but increasingly embattled govt, would be manna from heaven for them. They may even go a step further to fuel internal turmoil and anti govt crusades on several other issues. We do have several issues…cracks in our fragile polity…that can be exploited by hostile powers. And what better than a ‘homegrown’ (which the Cockroach agitation is definitely not) movement to meet their nefarious aims?!

 

Further protests and ‘pressure’, as this johnny-come-lately, Dipke threatens, will, without doubt, result into a cycle of violence and counter-action by govt agencies. Anti India (as opposed to anti govt) rhetoric could reach its peak This, with the help of mainstream and social media, will garner huge support for the Cockroaches, who will always be seen as the oppressed. The young teens and early ‘twentiers’ will be seen as ‘saviours’ and the govt as despotic tyrants. Criminals and goons, propped by the opposition and with an axe to grind, may spearhead the movement. Our enemies within and without are going to love it. This is a dimension we have to consider. The Indian republic has ALWAYS had problems of poverty, unemployment, youth angst…why the outburst only now? I leave you to ponder.

 

To conclude, the design appears sinister and far from altruistic or noble. The country is already grappling with several internal problems. While the solution does not lie in crushing the protests with a hammer blow, a nuanced and balanced approach is required. Deep investigation is called for into the origin and roots of the problem. We cannot add another 0.5 threat to our existing 2.5 threat scenario. While genuine grievances and aspirations of the youth must be expeditiously addressed, the Nation cannot be held hostage to anti social, anti ethical and anti national forces, external and internal, which will do all in their power to stop a growing India in its tracks.