THRISSUR: Actor Prakash Raj on Thursday said the country was witnessing growing resistance among youngsters over issues such as the NEET question paper leak and claimed that the “fascist rule” was nearing its end.He also urged the youth to remain politically aware and ensure that a similar force does not return to power in another form.Raj was speaking after inaugurating the state conference of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in Thrissur.Drawing an analogy with how animals communicate in a forest, Raj said the youth had now identified the “predator”.“The youth of this country have told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ‘Now we know you, your leakage of papers.’ For the first time, they have punctured his ego,” Raj said.He said youngsters had made it clear to the government that they were not afraid and understood its “politics”.“For the first time, the citizens, the youngsters have said, ‘We are not afraid of you.’ We needed somebody to say it,” he said.Raj said several groups, including farmers, workers and government employees, had protested earlier but could not take their movements further because they had jobs and land to lose.“But these youngsters have nothing to lose,” he said.Recalling a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Raj said around one lakh people had gathered at the venue while another four lakh were on the streets of the national capital.“For the first time they had come to Delhi. For the first time they wanted to protest, they wanted to go to Parliament. And the Parliament shook,” he said.He said he was proud that the youngsters had not resorted to violence and instead wanted to question those in power.“So today, when I stand in front of you, for the first time after a decade, I’m more confident that the end of the fascist rule is closing,” Raj said.He said parents were also supporting the protests because of concerns over the future of their children.Raj also said social media had changed the nature of protests, claiming that platforms once dominated by the ruling side were now being used by youngsters.“Now, protest sites have changed. It is not Jantar Mantars, it is anywhere we are,” he said.He urged citizens to take a greater interest in politics and said elected representatives should do their jobs rather than expecting citizens to themselves become involved in politics.Raj also cautioned that simply defeating the BJP or the present government would not be enough.“No opposition party in this country will bring down the BJP. Because in politics, opposition parties don’t win; ruling parties lose,” he said.He said youngsters needed to be politically aware while choosing an alternative so that another “fascist” force in a different form did not return to power.“So DYFI, youngsters, youth, and elders have to continuously work not only to bring down the fascists, but also make every citizen, every youngster be aware of how to choose an alternative,” he said.Raj said his objective was not to win an immediate political battle, but to fight for justice and contribute towards creating a better society.“Just bringing down these fascists is not enough; the awareness has to come. So I am not here to win. So when you want to win, you get tired. But for me, fighting for justice, fighting to create a better society is a way of life,” he said.He urged the younger generation to build political awareness and repair the damage caused to the country by previous generations.“I hope this is just not a fight; it’s a longer journey,” Raj said.(With PTI inputs)
