On Saturday, a Delhi court decided to keep four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members in police custody for five days. This move comes after their arrest during a protest at the AI Impact Summit the day before.
The court’s decision was made by Judicial Magistrate Ravi, who granted the Delhi Police’s request for custodial interrogation. The police claimed that the protesters had shouted anti-national slogans and wore T-shirts with inappropriate images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The arrested members are Krishna Hari, IYC’s national secretary from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, the IYC state secretary from Bihar; Ajay Kumar, the IYC state president from Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana. The police argued that because they came from different states, it was vital to question them in custody. They also mentioned the need to search the protesters’ mobile phones to gather more evidence.
Additionally, the police suggested that the inquiry should include the motives behind the protest, the sources of funding, and where the T-shirts were printed. This raises concerns about organized dissent and the funding behind political movements. A recent survey showed that 58% of Indians believe protests are crucial for democracy, highlighting the tension between government actions and citizens’ rights.
The lawyers for the protesters countered that they were merely exercising their democratic rights and pointed out that peaceful protests are a fundamental aspect of democracy. They expressed that arresting these individuals undermines democratic values. They posed an interesting thought: if it’s acceptable to arrest protesters, should it also apply to Members of Parliament when they demonstrate within Parliament?
This situation reflects broader tensions in India’s political landscape. It raises questions about the limits of protest and the government’s responses. As protests become more frequent, society must navigate the balance between action and reaction, rights and responsibilities.
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