Patna (Bihar) [India], July 26 : Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly by-election candidate Prashant Kishor on Sunday termed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as "the beginning of accountability", saying public pressure had forced the government to act.
Kishor said the issue was bigger than any political party and that public mobilisation could force those in power to respond.
"This is the beginning of accountability. Accountability is being enforced under public pressure. I always say that in this country, the opposition party can be weak. The opposition cannot be weak," he said.
Backing those who challenge what he called the government's "undemocratic behaviour", Kishor said, "We stand with anyone who wants to challenge this government's undemocratic behaviour and their work. Sonam Wangchuk is my friend. He's a prominent academic, environmentalist, and friend of ours. This isn't about a party; people have seen that if people stand up, if the public rises, even those in power will have to bow down."
He further said that the protests in Delhi were not limited to any one organisation and reflected wider frustration among young people.
"What you and I are seeing in Delhi wasn't a protest by one Sonam Wangchuk. The thousands of people who came to protest didn't carry CJP flags. They were ordinary young people, frustrated by the daily paper leaks, unemployment, and the crumbling education system," Kishor said.
On the arrest of Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president Tej Pratap Yadav, Kishor said, "Tej Pratap announced his support yesterday, and at 1:30 am last night, Tej Pratap was arrested and sent to Beur Jail. This shows how scared these people are. Under what section was he arrested? Why was he arrested? The police administration should explain this."
"Dharmendra Pradhan had to leave, and that's not all, this is just the beginning. This isn't going to stop," he added.
Raising an issue related to election awareness activities, Kishor said, "The District Magistrate issued order. In which he stated that Jeevika Didi, would work for election awareness. We hope that the Election Commission, their observers, will take cognizance of this matter, and take action."
"If action isn't taken by tomorrow, we will go to the Election Commission and sit on a protest at their gate, along with my colleagues," Kishor added.