Could India’s ‘Gen Z’ protests bring down Narendra Modi?

Narendra Modi’s 12 year rule of India has never looked so fragile.

Weeks of protests have engulfed the country following the leak of a medical entrance exam paper, which forced nearly two million students to resit the test. Protestors hailed victory from the resignation of the education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday.

On today’s podcast, Hugh asks our contributor in New Delhi, Rahul Bedi, to explain the significance of the movement.

What had fanned the flames, he said, was the description of unemployed young people as “cockroaches” by one senior government minister.

Then, out of the ootheca hatched the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical movement that has channelled the frustrations of millions of young Indians who, in the words of Bedi, believe the country is increasingly dominated by corruption, privilege and vested interests.

They’re not alone.

Farmers have again been protesting at the state of the rural economy. And another campaign has emerged against the government’s ethanol-blended fuel policy, with some motorists arguing that petrol containing 20% ethanol reduces fuel efficiency and may damage engines.

Bedi explains what these large movements mean for the strength and future of the Narendra Modi administration.

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(1051)

All signs point to Budget 2027 not having much room to manoeuvre

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:Budget season has already started with the Summer Economic Statement pointing to less cash being available for new...

24 Jul 51min

Does salesman Andy Burnham have a product to sell?

Returning to the podcast today is UK political commentator, broadcaster and author Iain Dale to talk to Hugh about the arrival of Andy Burnham as prime minister and the death of Iain's friend Ann Widd...

22 Jul 32min

How Europe's chief negotiator sees Brexit 10 years on

Michel Barnier is best known in Ireland for his central role in the EU's negotiations with the UK over Brexit almost ten years ago. But Barnier has also played a central role in French politics for de...

20 Jul 39min

What to expect from Aughinish Alumina report and the call to ban e-scooters

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:The Government’s report into Aughinish Alumina is expected to say that material produced there may or may not have...

17 Jul 39min

End of term: what was the biggest moment of the political season?

As the Dáil shuts down for the summer it's time for Hugh, Pat and Jack to take stock of the term gone by. But the biggest political event of the year didn't happen in Leinster House. The April fuel pr...

15 Jul 40min

Marine Le Pen's bid for power and the history of France's far right

Last week an appeals court opened the way for Marine Le Pen of French far-right party National Rally to stand in next year's presidential election. If the far right comes to power in Paris it will be ...

13 Jul 56min

Sinn Féin and Government on completely different timetables for Irish unity

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· Sinn Féin’s Planning for Constitutional Change Bill, which obliges the Government to draft and publish a G...

10 Jul 54min