Students should stop being influenced by politicians

Here, we must highlight why the protests turned violent and the need to teach the young that protests, making a statement, signalling dissent can be impactful without violence

With our world upended by COVID-19, students are also bearing the brunt of uncertainty and turmoil brought on by the outbreak. It was disappointing to note that student protests against the government decision to hold offline exams turned violent in some places and police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse these youngsters.

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Here, we must highlight why the protests turned violent and the need to teach the young that protests, making a statement, signalling dissent can be impactful without violence.

Whether whipped into violence by social media or goaded by other means, it is important that these students learn that breaking glass window panes of buses or defiling and destroying infrastructure is not part and parcel of protests, it is a crime.

This is the reason it is so important for political party followers to behave with discipline than the usual scenes of followers running amok on our roads and targeting commuting 
infrastructure.

It is vital to send messages that dialogue is the way out when there is dissatisfaction. One can take to the streets, but make a strong point through groups or walking through with banners if you must. Have responsible representatives to engage with authorities, if you want to put forth your point of view.

We need to blunt social media negative influences, too, because so much of the narrative now is shaped by social media by emphasising peaceful is powerful and impactful while violent is simply counterproductive and closes the doors and your options. 

And they need to learn, too, that the decision may not always be what you want but that once again cannot and should not trigger another wave of violent protests. We wish that students learn these lessons in the classroom of life.

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