The Indian Express opinion column links protest, politics, and state response to a deeper governance problem: weak public trust. Its central claim is that the state must manage dissent through law, restraint, and institutional credibility, not only through force.

The Indian Express opinion column does not present a new policy announcement. It instead raises a standing UPSC issue: how democratic institutions should respond when protest becomes politically charged and public confidence in the state is strained.

Why the issue matters

In a constitutional democracy, dissent is not a disturbance to be eliminated; it is part of democratic participation. The administrative challenge is to maintain public order while respecting lawful protest, due process, and proportional state action.