Poets recite verses in solidarity with Jantar Mantar stir

A poetry recitation titled “Boddinkala Kavana Bheri” (Cockroaches’ Poetic War-Cry) was held near the Gandhi statue opposite the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) office in the city on Sunday morning, in solidarity with the students’ and youth agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over irregularities in the NEET-UG and other examinations.Poets from several literary organisations, including the Abhyudaya Rachayitala Sangham (Arasam), Sahiti Sravanthi, Sahrudaya Sahiti, the Visakha Rachayitala Sangham and the Amaravati Rachayitala Sangham, read out poems condemning what they described as high-handed action by the authorities against the protesters in Delhi, and lauding the students for what the organisers termed a successful agitation.Educationist.

K.S. Chalam, who attended as the chief guest, said the stir, referred to by participants under the sobriquet “Boddinkalu” (cockroaches), had drawn attention to what he alleged was malpractice running into lakhs of crores of rupees in the conduct of competitive examinations over the years.

He said he expected the movement to be followed by similar agitations in the future. He added that what he called corporate and communal dominance was, in his assessment, on the decline. Published - July 26, 2026 07:52 pm IST Read Comments Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit READ LATER SEE ALL Remove