India: Statement from CASR condemning the arbitrary order to suspend the right to assemble and protest
We hereby share a statement we have received from Campaign Against State Repression (CASR).
CASR strongly condemns the Delhi police issuing an arbitrary order for suspensions of fundamental right to assemble and protest
On 30th September the Commissioner of Delhi Police issued an order to impose Section163 of BNSS for 6 Days in New Delhi, North Delhi District, Central and border areas of the Delhi jurisdiction. In this order, the Delhi police snatched away the right to assemble and protest in Delhi. It is very shameful that in a country can utilise vague terms like ‘law and order’ to restrict people’s right to protest.
CASR is also already facing intimidation from the Delhi Police regarding holding a demonstration on 6 October at Jantar Mantar regarding NIA continuously targeting human rights activists and implicating them in false cases. We are also suspicious that the Delhi police will further extend this arbitrary order and there is a therefore a high possibility that the permission for our protest will be canceled. It is indeed shameful that democratic forces need to seek permission to protest in a so-called democratic state, what is more disgraceful is the fact that this ‘permission’ is almost always denied.
On 2nd October, the Ladhaki people were to assemble in Delhi to demand for autonomous statehood for Ladakh. This march led by Sonam Wangchuk includes elderly people and veterans as well, all dedicated to the purpose of peaceful demonstration. Despite the non-threatening nature of this march, the Haryana government has collaborated with the central government to detain at least 120 people last night at the Singhu border, with around a 1,000 forces deployed for the much smaller march. This order is clearly showing the intention of the Indian State to suppress dissent and crush the legal protest via any means. CASR expresses solidarity with Ladhaki people coming to Delhi to protest against the state depriving them of their autonomy. We do not accept the denial of the right of different sections across the country to protest against the Indian state.
We question the Delhi police’s story that disruption will happen. Why is it that the rallies of political parties are allowed and that of the common people are restricted? The actions of the state are clearly demonstrative of the Brahmanical Hindutva Fascist nature of the state, which cannot allow for any dissent (whether peaceful or not) to exist against itself. Under the fascist regime, all rights which are basic and fundamental for the functioning of a democracy (like the right to freedom of speech of speech and expression which includes within itself the right to protest and assemble) have been repressed. The fascist state is antithetical to a truly democratic state and should be resisted.
Campaign Against State Repression strongly condemns this arbitrary order by Delhi Police to restrict the right to protest of people. We demand that this order should be immediately taken back as it snatches the fundamental rights of the people to hold Peaceful Protest.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST STATE REPRESSION
Organizing Team
(AIRSO,AISA, AISF, APCR,ASA,BAPSA BBAU,BASF, BSM, Bhim Army, bsCEM, CEM,COLLECTIVE,CRPP, CSM CTF, , DISSC, DSU, DTF, Forum Against Repression Telangana, Fraternity ,IAPL, Innocence Network, Karnataka Janashakti, LAA,Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, Mazdoor Patrika, , NAPM, NAZARIYA , Nishant Natya Manch, Nowruz, NTUI, People’s Watch, Rihai Manch, Samajwadi Janparishad,Smajwadi lok manch, Bahujan Samjavadi Mnach, SFI, United Peace Alliance, WSS,Y4S)
