Mumbai Auxiliary Bishop Calls Jantar Mantar Lathi-Charge a ‘Black Day for Democracy’

Mumbai, July 21, 2026: Auxiliary Bishop Savio Fernandes of the Archdiocese of Bombay has described the police action against students during a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi as a “black day for democracy,” calling for an independent and impartial inquiry into the incident.

In an article titled “Jantar Mantar Lathi-charge: A Black Day for Democracy,” Bishop Fernandes said the events of July 20 should concern every Indian who believes in democratic values. Referring to videos circulating from the protest, he said they appeared to show police using force against young people participating in what seemed to be a peaceful, Gandhian-style demonstration.

According to Bishop Fernandes, the protesters were exercising what they believed to be their constitutional right to assemble peacefully and express grievances over alleged flaws in the education system. He said the demonstration reflected the frustration of students facing prolonged uncertainty, anxiety and emotional distress linked to reported examination irregularities and paper leaks.

(CLICK HERE to follow Catholic Connect for regular News and Content)

“ A confident democracy does not fear peaceful protest. It engages with it,” Bishop Fernandes said, arguing that democratic institutions must listen to citizens, respond to difficult questions and accept responsibility when institutions fail.

The bishop also drew attention to the wider distress among students affected by controversies surrounding competitive examinations. He said repeated reports of examination irregularities and paper leaks had disrupted the aspirations of young people who had spent years preparing for competitive examinations.

Referring to reports of students dying by suicide amid the stress and uncertainty surrounding their academic and career prospects, Bishop Fernandes said the issue had “shaken the conscience of the nation.” At the same time, he acknowledged that the circumstances of each such death required careful investigation and could not automatically be attributed to examination irregularities.

Bishop Fernandes also called for an investigation into allegations that attempts may have been made to provoke sections of the gathering or disrupt the peaceful nature of the protest. He said anyone found responsible for violence or provocation, irrespective of political affiliation, should be held accountable.

“The rule of law must apply equally to everyone,” he said.

The bishop expressed particular concern over images showing activist Sonam Wangchuk being detained and carried away by police personnel, with white sheets reportedly obstructing public view. He said the available footage did not establish the reason for the use of the sheets but added that the images had raised questions among citizens about transparency and public accountability.

Bishop Fernandes urged the government to respond to the situation with humility rather than defensiveness. He said public trust could not be rebuilt through favourable media narratives but through honest engagement with citizens.

“A government secure in its democratic mandate should have invited representatives of the protesters for dialogue instead of allowing events to escalate into scenes that have shocked the nation,” he said.

The Auxiliary Bishop said the issue extended beyond a single protest, pointing to what he described as a broader public perception of institutional failures followed by inadequate accountability. He said students bear the consequences when examination systems fail, while delays in recruitment can cost young people valuable years.

He warned that when peaceful protests are perceived to be met with force, public confidence in democratic institutions can be weakened.

Bishop Fernandes called for an independent inquiry into the Jantar Mantar incident and said that if excessive force was used against peaceful protesters, those responsible should be identified and held accountable. He also urged the government to address any violations of law or established policing standards transparently.

“If wrongful force was used,” he said, the government should acknowledge the pain of the students and apologise, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting the right to peaceful democratic protest.

The bishop further stressed that electoral victory does not give any government the right to ignore criticism or treat dissent as disloyalty. “Governments exist to serve the people, not the other way around,” he said, adding that the strength of a democracy is measured by how it responds when citizens peacefully question those in power.

Calling for greater accountability, Bishop Fernandes said the youth of India deserved a fair and credible education system and institutions that inspire confidence rather than anxiety.

He urged the government to treat young protesters as citizens whose voices matter rather than as a threat to be subdued.

“The events at Jantar Mantar should serve as a wake-up call,” he said, adding that an honest reckoning, a transparent inquiry and a sincere commitment to protecting constitutional rights would do more to strengthen public confidence than attempts to dismiss or minimise the concerns that brought the students to the streets.

By Catholic Connect Reporter