MUMBAI: “Mumbai ki police, Delhi ki police jaisi nahi hai,” said Rhiya Ahir, the woman who stood in front of a moving police van in Mumbai on Wednesday, stopping it for nearly 40 minutes as it carried detained protesters during a CJP demonstration.Dressed in a rain-soaked grey hoodie, Rhiya stood with her arms outstretched in front of the vehicle, refusing to let it move.The van was carrying protesters detained during demonstrations held in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) agitation over alleged examination irregularities and the police crackdown on protesters in Delhi.Rhiya said she was prepared for the possibility of being detained herself but decided to intervene after seeing the situation.“I thought they might drag me away too, but then I looked around and realized there wasn’t even any space left, so where would they have kept me?” she said.She admitted that she was scared after the incident and could not sleep until 5.30 am. “I was definitely worried about my family. But when I told them that the police might come, they simply said, ‘So what? We’ll handle it. We’ll get through it,’” she said.Rhiya said the support of her family gave her the confidence to stand up for what she believed was right. “When you have such a courageous and supportive family — one that stands up for what is right and speaks against what is wrong — it gives you immense strength,” she added.She also said she did not want the protest to be linked to any particular political party. “I believe that if something is being done for students, then it is only natural that students will support it. That is why I do not want to associate myself with the rally of any particular political party, because then it becomes identified with that party’s ideology,” she said.“If a march is being held for the rights of students, it should be seen as a students’ movement, not as something belonging to one political party or another,” Rhiya added.She also urged students facing problems during protests to reach out to her. “If any student faces any issues during the protest, please call me or get in touch with me. I have lawyers who can help,” she said.
