A Palestine solidarity march at Delhi University on October 9 turned violent after alleged assaults by ABVP members and police. Student groups including Fraternity, MSF, AISF, Disha, and ASA condemned the attacks, calling them acts of suppression and intolerance. Similar crackdowns on pro-Palestine protests have been reported across Indian campuses.
A joint march in solidarity with Palestine, organised by the Fraternity Movement and MSF (Muslim Student Federation), a student wing of IUML (Indian Union Muslim League), on Tuesday, 9th October, turned violent after alleged assaults by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the police.
The march, which began from Vijay Nagar at around 5 p.m. and was headed towards the Faculty of Arts, saw participation from student organisations including Fraternity Movement, MSF, AISF (All India Student Federation), Disha, and ASA (Ambedkar Student Association), along with several Delhi University students. The protest was held in Old Gupta Colony, and was described by participants as a peaceful demonstration before tensions erupted.
According to multiple protesters, members of ABVP, the student organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), entered the march and began chanting slogans such as “Jai Shree Ram” and “Vande Mataram.” Protesters alleged that ABVP cadres threw eggs, pelted stones, and even struck a demonstrator with a helmet.
In a statement condemning the assault, Fraternity Movement claimed that ABVP members objected to the display of Palestinian flags. One protester recounted an exchange in which they were told,
“[J]handa lehrana hai toh idhar aao.” (If you want to wave the flag, come here.)
Several protestors accused Delhi Police, which was deployed to control the situation, of siding with ABVP. In a video recorded by Maktoob, a news organisation, the police were seen beating protestors, manhandling women and detained students. Many of the protesters who were women had stood in the front to ensure that violence wouldn’t erupt. A protester said,
“Instead of threatening or sending them (AVBP) away, they wanted to “control” the situation”
On October 9th at night, in a post by Fraternity Movement, the 8 detained students were released including 3 members Farhan Israil, Najwan, and Abdul Rashid of the Fraternity Movement.
Fraternity Movement, MSF and AISA have issued a statement condemning the attack on protesters by ABVP and the police. MSF and Fraternity Movement have labeled the attack as deeply intolerant and islamophobic. A statement by Fraternity Movement reads,
“This brutal suppression of a peaceful expression of solidarity with the people of Palestine exposes the deep intolerance and Islamophobia thriving within the institutions of this country.”
This incident follows a series of recent crackdowns on Palestine solidarity protests across India. On October 7, students at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad alleged that ABVP members disrupted their gathering condemning the genocide in Palestine, tore down posters, and verbally and physically assaulted participants. Earlier, on October 4, six activists were detained in Rohtak, Haryana, for organising a demonstration in support of Palestine.
This pattern of consistent disruptions of peaceful gatherings raises concerning questions on the ability to exercise ones’ fundamental right heralded by our constitution.
Read also: Protest Sparks in Delhi University Following Vice Chancellor’s Speech
Image credits: Maktoob
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