After France, now demonstrations and protests are also being seen in Italy. Large-scale violent demonstrations have broken out in protest against rising inflation and deteriorating public services and defense budgets. Heavy protests were seen in most areas of Italy such as big cities like Milan, Bologna, Brescia and Turin. Public property worth about 50 million euros, or about Rs. 4,400 crore, has been damaged in the violent demonstrations. Considering the seriousness of the situation, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called a high-level meeting and ordered strict action to stop the protests.
Most of these demonstrations are by underage students around the age of 16 from the 'Zen-Alpha' generation. They believe that the government is spending more money on weapons than on education under pressure from the US and NATO. According to a report, in the year 2024, Italy spent about $97 billion on education, while it spent $30 to 50 billion on defense. Students are chanting 'No Weapons' in protest against this policy. This fire of discontent can also affect the upcoming 2027 general elections. It has become a big challenge for the government to quell these protests before they are resolved.
Security forces are using tear gas and water cannons to control the crowd that is causing damage to public property during the protest. According to global media reports, more than 200 people have been arrested so far. In particular, 271 young people have been detained in Milan, of which 32 have been officially arrested. Among those arrested are 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has blamed leftist leaders for the entire incident. According to her, it is the leftist leaders who have incited these minors, due to which such arson incidents have occurred. She has made it clear that rioters and criminal groups will not be spared. Similar protests have been seen in Italy as well as in neighboring France, where more than 1,500 shops and properties were set on fire on Sunday.
Amid the deteriorating situation in Italy, the Indian Mission has issued an urgent advisory to ensure the safety of Indian nationals living there. The advisory strongly advises Indian nationals to remain vigilant, stay away from crowded areas and protest sites, and keep a close eye on local news.
In the event of this emergency, Indians can contact the following emergency helpline numbers. The Indian Embassy in Rome has announced the helpline number +39 331 614 2085 and the Consulate General of India in Milan has announced the helpline number +39 388 164 7527. The embassy has emphasized that in case of any difficulty, Indian citizens should follow the instructions of the local administration and contact them directly.
