Words matter, especially when they come from those occupying positions of political responsibility. That is why the alleged social media remark attributed to Goa BJP Vice President Narendra Sawaikar—"It's not just cockroaches: they are termites!"—has drawn widespread criticism. If the remark was indeed aimed at the hundreds of youth who gathered at Azad Maidan in Panjim in solidarity with students protesting in Delhi, it was not merely inappropriate; it was insulting, dismissive, and unbecoming of a public leader.
These young people were not protesting for personal gain. They had assembled to express solidarity with students demanding accountability over the NEET examination paper leak controversy and calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Whether one agrees with their protests or not, they were exercising a democratic right guaranteed by the Constitution. They were protesting to safeguard their future which is being destroyed by the BJP. Branding such citizens as "termites" is a disturbing attempt to belittle legitimate dissent instead of engaging with it.
As an advocate, Sawaikar understands that democracy thrives on debate, criticism, and protest. The concerns raised by the youth are neither imaginary nor frivolous. Repeated allegations of examination paper leaks have shaken public confidence, leaving lakhs of students and their families anxious about the integrity of India's education system. When young people demand accountability, they deserve answers—not insults.
If anyone should be concerned about the metaphor of termites, it is the BJP itself. After all, termites do not destroy a structure overnight. They weaken it from within, silently eating away at its foundations until the damage becomes impossible to ignore. That analogy fits BJP far better when applied to institutions that have steadily lost public trust than to young Indians raising their voices.
Critics of the BJP argue that over the years, key democratic institutions have been weakened, public confidence has eroded, and political polarization has deepened. They point to controversies surrounding demonetisation, repeated examination paper leaks, the perceived misuse of investigative agencies, and increasing questions about institutional independence, not forgetting the embezzlement of Lord Ram temple funds. Whether one agrees with every criticism or not, these are serious public issues that deserve discussion — not ridicule.
Calling the youth "termites" turns reality on its head. The youth are not consuming the nation's foundations; they are demanding that those foundations be repaired. They are asking for transparent examinations, accountable governance, and institutions they can trust. They are trying to preserve the future, not destroy it.
If the termite metaphor is to be used at all, many would argue it is the conduct of the BJP's political machinery that invites such comparison. According to its critics, it is not protesting students but political actors who weaken institutions for partisan advantage who resemble termites—eroding public faith from within. The allegation is that the real damage comes from those who allow corruption, shield failures, and dismiss legitimate public anger instead of addressing it.
Goa itself has not been immune to these concerns. Environmental degradation, pressure on natural resources, concerns over governance, and allegations about declining public accountability have become recurring themes in public discourse. Many Goans fear that unchecked political power, rather than citizen activism, poses the greater threat to the state's future.
Perhaps what unsettles some political leaders is not the protest itself but what it represents. The gathering of youth at Azad Maidan was more than a demonstration over one examination controversy. It reflected growing frustration among a generation that feels its future is being compromised by administrative failures and political indifference. Dismissing that frustration with insults only widens the disconnect.
History has repeatedly shown that societies progress because young people question authority, challenge injustice, and demand reform. Every generation that enjoys democratic freedoms today owes a debt to young citizens who refused to remain silent. To label today's youth as "termites" is therefore not only unfair—it is an insult to the democratic spirit itself.
The real question is not whether the youth are termites. They are not. The question is whether those who undermine institutions, erode public trust, and weaken democratic accountability are doing precisely what termites do—eating away at the nation's foundations from within.
If the BJP wishes to answer its critics, it should do so through transparency, accountability, and better governance—not by demeaning the very young citizens whose confidence it seeks to win. India's youth deserve respect, not ridicule. And in a democracy, those who speak truth to power should never be treated as pests.
