‘Spare India from anarchy’: Over 400 Indian-origin scholars raise concern over protests

More than 400 Indian-origin students, researchers, academics and alumni associated with universities across 27 countries have expressed concern over what they described as attempts to undermine India's democratic institutions through disruptive street protests.

In a joint statement titled "Spare India From Anarchy", the signatories warned against questioning constitutional institutions in ways they said could weaken public confidence in democratic processes. The statement comes amid protests against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, although it does not identify any particular political party, organisation or demonstration.

The signatories are associated with institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia University, the London School of Economics, the National University of Singapore and the University of Toronto. Their affiliations do not imply endorsement by these institutions.

𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀

The signatories argued that India's democratic system had repeatedly demonstrated its ability to withstand political challenges since Independence, with constitutional institutions and peaceful transfers of power forming the foundation of its stability.

They expressed concern over what they described as a growing tendency to question electoral processes following unfavourable results, criticise judicial independence after adverse verdicts and draw the armed forces into political controversies.

The statement also criticised what it called a preference for "street over Sansad", arguing that political disagreements should be addressed through established democratic institutions.

According to the signatories, disputes pending before courts were increasingly being drawn into political campaigns and public demonstrations, potentially weakening confidence in constitutional processes.

These concerns reflect the signatories' assessment of recent political developments rather than findings by any judicial or constitutional authority.

𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗸𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱

The statement referred to B R Ambedkar's warning about the importance of constitutional methods in a democracy and his criticism of violent political methods, which he described as the "grammar of anarchy".

The signatories maintained that democratic dissent remained essential but argued that protests should not undermine the institutions through which political disputes are resolved.

They urged political and social organisations to pursue their demands through debate, discussion, dialogue and democratic protest within the constitutional framework.

The appeal was signed by Indian-origin individuals based in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗜𝗥 𝗿𝗼𝘄

The intervention comes against the backdrop of protests by opposition parties and civil society groups over the Election Commission's SIR exercise.

On October 6, INDIA bloc MPs attempted to march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters in Delhi, demanding answers over the revision of electoral rolls. The march was stopped by police barricades.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said around 300 opposition MPs wanted to meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other election commissioners to raise concerns about the exercise.

The Election Commission, however, maintained that no political party had sought an appointment.

On October 12, Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders approached the Supreme Court, challenging the SIR exercise and alleging large-scale irregularities, including the deletion of 13 crore voters.

The petition sought a halt to the exercise until the concerns were examined and called for an independent audit under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge.

The Election Commission has maintained that the revision is a routine exercise aimed at updating electoral rolls.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀

The controversy has also triggered demonstrations by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, which has demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

Several demonstrations were organised or proposed around Jantar Mantar, with police restrictions and detentions drawing criticism from protesters and opposition leaders.

On October 15, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued notices to the Election Commission, the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners in connection with the challenge.

The opposition has also announced a rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1.

While the academics' statement does not directly refer to these protests, its release comes amid a wider debate over electoral accountability, the right to peaceful assembly and public confidence in constitutional institutions.

The signatories have called for disagreements to be resolved through constitutional means, while opposition parties continue to maintain that public demonstrations and judicial challenges are legitimate ways of seeking accountability in a democracy.

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NDTV

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