People's Democracy

Curbing Fundamental Rights to Appease US

THE CPI(M)’s Delhi state committee has strongly condemned the Delhi Police for arresting six students in East Delhi on October 8 when they were distributing leaflets opposing the US bombardment of Afghanistan. This is nothing but a brazen attack on the freedom of expression. In the words of the CPI(M) statement issued on October 9, the plea given by Delhi Police that distribution of these leaflets would have been inimical to communal harmony is a lame excuse, which should be treated with the contempt it deserves. The Delhi police cannot be allowed to get away with such wanton acts of authoritarian behaviour, the statement added.

It will be noted that the students were distributing leaflets at Yamuna Vihar in north east Delhi peacefully, when they were taken into custody without any provocation, as if they were committing some crime.

According to the CPI(M), this incident seems to be intrinsically linked to the BJP central government’s craven surrender before the US. It appears that criticising America has now become a crime in the eyes of the central government and the agencies controlled by it, like Delhi Police.

The CPI(M) state committee has called upon all democratic minded people to oppose this shameless lackeyism and blatant attack on democratic rights. It also demanded immediate release of the said students, and that the central government and Delhi Police desist from such slavish and anti-democratic acts in future.

Through a separate statement, SFI president P Krishnaprasad and general secretary Samik Lahiri too strongly condemned the arrest and imprisonment of students for distributing leaflets and protesting against the US military action in Afghanistan. The SFI described this arrest as a gross violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution, and as an exposure of the BJP-led government’s undemocratic attitude and of its willingness to curb the fundamental rights of citizens in order to please the US imperialists.

The SFI has asked all the secular and anti-imperialist students and youth to rise in protest against this undemocratic act, and demanded the immediate release of the arrested students. (INN)