A Vote Is Not A Bargain For Silence Without Dissent — 576 students, teachers and alumni of the ILS Pune

Bharat 12/18/2019 12:27:00 am

Statement of Solidarity

By Students, teachers and alumni of the ILS Pune

We are students, teachers and alumni of the Indian Law Society’s Law College, Pune. We strongly condemn the violent police action on students in Universities across India where legitimate, peaceful protests against the unjust and discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 are ongoing. We remind the state machinery that under our constitutional framework, the right to peaceful protest is safeguarded as a fundamental right under Part III. It ought not to come as a shock to the ruling establishments in various states where the protests are on-going that a vote is not a solemn declaration of irrevocable acceptance for all times to come. A vote is not a bargain for silence without dissent. We condemn the terrorizing of institutions of learning using the disproportionate weight of state machinery to stifle legitimate dissent. It is highly unbecoming of the state machinery to unleash violence on students. We stand in solidarity with the students who have suffered this indiscriminate brutality. We request the judiciary to take cognizance of these brutal acts by the state machinery and initiate an independent inquiry.

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Photo: Jyotsnika Tiwari

And they said...

An era of dictatorship could only be imagined based on the history textbooks we had in school. It's almost as if history is repeating itself. The only difference is that, during that time, the voices of people were not allowed to be raised and to some extent even the people were not aware of their rights. Things have now changed. We will not be silent and be subjugated. I am ashamed of being born in this country.

— Aditi Desai (Batch of 2021)

Ashamed, threatened and helpless all at the same time. The events are a complete antithesis of democracy, and standing against it is not just a choice anymore; it's rather a duty.

— Pooja G. Kannurkar (LL.M. 2017-19)

It is sad that India has become an authoritative dictatorship that oppresses the minorities and now with the new amendment bill the government has only made it official that it does not care for the minorities. The brutal force being used on public and protesting students is just sad and shows how pathetic as a country and society we have become.

— Yashasree (2013-2018)

The only pillar of democracy we can hope to rest against at this time of need seems to be the Judiciary. Earnest request to the Judiciary to exercise its powers and apply all the checks and balance principles. Please uphold the constitutional values. It's the only thing that remains sacrosanct.

— Vanika Sinha (2013-2018)

I'm not safe inside my own house, my own college, even the place which enlightens me of my rights and duties, I have been dragged out for no reason, I have been beaten mercilessly. And when my friends join the peaceful protest, they can't even raise their voice. We the people of India no longer feel secular, no longer feel it's the very same democratic country.

— Kajal Bhatia (2018)

Right of Dissent is integral part of democracy and protected by our Constitution. Students are our future and when they see a wrong happening they have every right to raise their voice against it. However, it should be peaceful. As long as it is peaceful no one should interfere. Stifling voices is not acceptable! Also, I understand that police has to maintain law and order and at times it becomes necessary to use force but using force more than what is necessary, even attacking innocents is not acceptable. Young people in Assam have lost their lives by being shot. Now limits are being crossed. Please save our country.

— Mrinmoyee Mukherjee (2011-2016)

This is the beginning of a terrifying dictatorship

— Mythili Gosavi (2017-2020)

The right to freedom of speech is not absolute and is tempered with our duty to maintain peace and order. At the same time, the right to protest peacefully is the personification is the right and duty. What is happening now is not only a violation of the very principle of democracy but is also against all that India stood for as a cultural fabric. Unity in diversity is a cliché thought to all of us as children, it's time to walk the talk as well.

— Lakshmi Menon (2014)

It’s indeed reprehensible and enraging to see such arbitrary use of the highest positions in the world’s largest democracy. If we stay silent, we’re complicit in the barbaric state of affairs that can ensue. It’s a terrifying time and we need to do everything in our power to subvert the repressive measures of the current regime. Only by doing so can we call ourselves educated.

— Prachi Kaushik (Batch of 2023)

Statement of Solidarity Signed by: