Guest posts by CHANDAN GOMES, AKHIL KUMAR and an ANONYMOUS student; photographs by CHANDAN GOMES, SHAFAQ KHAN and MUKUL DUBE
No Space for Dissent
by CHANDAN GOMES
On 6th January, 2013 the usually quaint Delhi University transformed into a battle ground of ideologies. The road leading to Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) where Narendra Modi was invited to speak at the Sri Ram Memorial Oration stands witness to all that went wrong day before yesterday.
The heavily fortified road was quiet until 3 pm, when a group of students marched through the faculty of Arts towards the gate opening right across SRCC. They were intercepted by a Delhi Police Unit close to the gate where every effort was made to contain them. In the brief tussle that followed, the DP Unit was overpowered and the protesters spilled onto the road raising slogans against the ‘Hriday Samrat’. Three rows of barricades were placed on either sides and in the middle stood a large number of Delhi Police personals armed with lathis and tear gas shells. By 3:30 the crowds had swelled and one knew that these young men and women will not go down without a fight.
Barricades were rattled and black flags were waved. It was heartening to see so many women at the forefront of the protest. But it was equally disheartening to see them being subjected to sexist remarks by members of the very police force that claims to protect them. I noticed so many police men smirking, cracking indecent jokes and passing lewd comments in murmurs and whispers. And soon they were joined by ABVP/BJP activists who left no stones unturned to intimidate and humiliate those who were protesting.
While Modi supporters merrily loitered in the area where the police forces were stationed, those protesting against him were being subjected to water cannons and lathi charges. Many protestors were detained by the Police, some of whom were dragged over the barricades and shoved into a police van that was surrounded by Modi loyalists who attacked these unarmed, injured men. A young lady was also detained who too bore the wrath of their hatred – she was abused, mocked and subjected to a barrage of obscene comments. And all this was happening right in front of the press who chose to ignore this facet in their coverage of the event.
Yes the protestors were fiery and yes their body language was aggressive, but they did not resort to violence. Most of them were trying to push the barricades to move a little closer to the SRCC main gate. It is sad and shameful that there is no space for dissent for these young men and women in the very University that they belong to.
But there is a silver lining to the darkest of clouds – as these young men and women bore the brunt of mindless police action, they did not forget to help each other. They gave shoulder to those who were injured, they formed human chains. They shared stories and memories. For they knew they were bound to each other by compassion and empathy. Unfortunately our friends with lathis and guns are oblivious to this emotion. And I feel sorry for them.
The same holds true for the Modi loyalists, who touched a new low yesterday. Unfortunately for them, yesterday was also the day when the young men and women of this city touched a new high.
[See more photographs by Chandan Gomes.]
What Went Down at the Anti-Modi Protest at Delhi University
by AKHIL KUMAR
[An excerpt from Akhil Kumar’s eyewitness account as published in Youth ki Awaaz.]
…The police did not even bother to conceal their support and tolerance for the hooligans of ABVP who even climbed on the water cannon and openly indulged in sexual harassment and violence. They passed lewd comments and made vulgar gestures standing right next to the policemen, I would have clicked pictures had my phone not been rendered useless by the water cannon. I was shocked to see that many teachers from Delhi University also openly threatening the protesters, abusing us with the most horrific expletives while their students brandished pointed sticks saying “khoon kar dunga”! We felt helpless and outraged at the police working hand in glove with the goons. When we broke through the first barricade, the police started bashing us ruthlessly with their lathis in full swing and they enjoyed every moment of it. They laughed, mocked us, hurled vulgar abuses and passed derogatory comments while hitting us. It was clear that they had no intention to disperse or control the crowd, they chased us down and dragged some of our protesters to their side of the barricade and left them at the mercy of the ABVP goons. A few girls fell down in the rush and the police trampled them, one of them was unconscious when we rushed to help and had to be taken to the hospital. The ABVP students openly threatened girls with comments like “Jo Gujrat me hua tha wahi tumhare sath bhi karenge”…
…The police trained their water cannon at us and I cannot forget the smirk on the face of the person who was operating it just before he started aiming at the defenseless protesters. I was caught in the jet and fell face down as it hit me straight on my legs, struggling to get up from the mud. I lost all faith in non-violent protests that very moment. I was hurt, shocked and infuriated; not that this was my first encounter with water cannons but because of the smile on the policemen’s faces as they enjoyed the brutality. When I again went to the barricade, I was beaten up and hit where it hurts the most; the excruciating pain in the knuckles and ankles stand testimony to that. Some of the policemen passed snide remarks and laughed at us all the while…
The Anatomy of a Protest
by an ANONYMOUS Delhi University student
To say that Narendra Modi is a very divisive figure would be an understatement. A dear friend, who is an SRCC Alumnus, suddenly informed me a couple of days back on 2nd February that Mister Modi has been invited to visit her college to speak at the annual Shriram Memorial Lecture and the annual business conclave. She wanted to know what I thought of it when it was her own anguish that Icould sense in her words at not being able to do anything about this visit. I could not say anything; perhaps my silence conveyed enough of my sadness and helplessness at this. Then today in the morning of 6th February, the day of the visit, I was informed by another friend who is associated with AISA, they are going to register their protest against this visit which was going to take place today at 3 pm, asking me to come and be a part of it. The visit was something that I had conveniently put to the back of my mind, thinking maybe it would go away and was rudely reminded that reality does not afford you such luxury. So I went to attend the Protest and here is a brief account.
2:45 pm
I made my way to the front of SRCC gate and found that there were some media personnel, with their paraphernalia of cameras and other stuff and some other sundry people loitering around and a huge presence of Delhi Police personnel. I was wondering whether how many of these were there to protest this visit. Overhearing some of the conversations, it was clear that some were clearly fanboys of the coming visitor but some were curious to see the visitor and it is here i overhear for thwarting a shoe hurling incident, everyone’s been asked to take off their shoes before going into the auditorium at srcc. Alas, had no means to cross-check it. I am considering whether it would have been more prudent to protest inside SRCC. Some people who appear to be from Bihar by their accents are speaking how it is necessary to make Modi the Prime Minister to save the country from being destroyed by the Congress.
3:00 pm
Delhi Police gets into action and in a jiffy puts up layers of barricades which were already there and fastens up the barricades with a heavy rope on both sides to the university walls. It traps everyone who were till a moment ago thinking they had a good vantage point and are asked to vacate the area quickly, even those who were trying to go home. People are forced to climb over the walls of Arts Faculty and jump to safety on the other side
.
3:02 pm
Suddenly a group of people under AISA’s banner arrives on the scene, shouting slogans to the effect that Modi should go back and are met by the first barricade. The media persons present get into action trying to cover this but it is clear these are the small units, who have been denied entry inside the hallowed portals to cover the visit. The protestors group gets ranged against the barricade and the might of Delhi Police on the other side. This group is joined by more people soon of other leftist groups and slogan shouting, waving of black flags and placards, ensues.
3:12 pm
The restive group starts to push forward, wanting to go ahead, in this melee a female protester tries to get through the gap in the barricade and is manhandled and brutally pushed back by all male contingent of Delhi Police. The Police want to shove batons at the protestors and are continuously reminded by the protestors, they cannot do this. A quick aside, yes all the police personnel on duty were male and no female constable could be sighted till the end of the protest. The female protestor finally manages to push through and is immediately caught hold off by her hair and hauled off for her temerity to do such a thing. I am worried and fearful of her safety.
3:15 pm
This had a ripple effect and suddenly the crowd starts pushing at the barricade but is pushed back by the police by shoving their lathis and manhandling protesters. The barricade which seemed secure, beyond breaching is suddenly getting tilted towards the police. Sensing that they might not be able to hold on for long and it could cause some injury to them, i see a policeman untying and letting go of the rope tying the barricades. The police bandobust decides it wise to move back behind the second barricade. The slogan shouters move forward while very efficiently sidelining the fallen barricades for their fellow protestors. When all this protest started, a female got injured and fainted, had to be carried to the sidelines and it was a while before she was normal.
3:30 pm
Some more protestors join in, the slogan shouting reaches fever pitch. I spot a middle-aged gentleman wearing a devils mask and the famous Modi mukhauta pasted on his chest signifying his real character. His is quite a novelty. Somebody passes me a placard, which says killer Modi Go Back. It is my own for displaying till its end comes when it gets wet and wasted. The right flank of the protesters has females majorly, shouting slogans, holding onto the barricades. These female protestors i learn later took some of the worst abuse from the police and the pro-modi supporters group. People want to cross-over the barricades but cannot do much, except shout slogans to condemn Modi. The Police is saturated around the barricade, so much so that not an inch of light can pass between them it appears and is eyeballing the protesters. Some are abusing, some are asking the protestors to be in limits, some are telling them to go home but all this unsolicited advice has no effect.
3:45 pm
Suddenly a motley group of middle aged people under the banner of some organisation called NDTF arrives on the sight of the protest shouting pro-modi slogans. The protesters realise it is a well designed ploy to distract and divert attention, when the pro-modi protestors were allowed to assemble on the other side of the barricade from where his cavalcade was to come and not on this side. Suddenly a group breaks up and forms a wall of protestors to stop this group from going ahead and a slogan shouting war to out-shout the other ensues. Suddenly this group of NDTF, sees a kashmiri in the midst of the other camp and then the slogans progressively degenerate into ” babar ki auladon wapas jao”, ” Muslims are Terrorists” and much worse and targeted at that kashmiri protestor. Another surprise for me was to spot this group of IAS aspirants who are in delhi to prepare for this exam, who i knew from before and are not part of the university to suddenly emerge and join pro-modi slogan shouting with the NDTF group. There was a Sardarji distributing a pamphlet addressed to the Khalsa College Principal. There was placard asking for justice for Soni Sori too. There were placards asking why there were fixed salaries in academia.
4:00 pm
An anti-riot vehicle comes and stops at the sidelines and then a fire-brigade vehicle fitted with cannon for firing water comes and stops in front of the barricade. It appears inevitable that a drenching was in the works for those who were protesting. So as sudden as was the presence of the water cannon in the midst, so did it let loose a volley of water on anyone who chose to stay in its way or dared to protest. All this happening without provocation from the crowd. The checking of the water nozzle and then getting it ready to fire, seemed like something happening in ultra slow motion in a film, while in reality it was pretty swift. And so we had been all soaked in water for daring to protest.
4:15 pm
The protestors now started getting restive. They had been non-provocative but the police had replied with water cannon to get them to shut-up. Suddenly the cavalcade of Modi was visible and a crowd of ABVP supporters running after it. They obviously had a free run for they were supporting him. If this farce of allowing a protest was not enough, the NDTF got reinforcement in the form of SaveIndia.Org. They soon descended upon the scene with fancy placards and posters made out of flex, seemed like they were well prepared for this. This group then tried to make its way to the front of the barricade, continuously pushing and shoving. When they could not, they climbed up the walls which were forbidden for others to climb and made their way to the front from the right flank, manhandling and abusing the female protestors who were already present there.
4:30 pm
The protestors now did not want to wait behind the barricades. They had been patient but it had been tested by the uncalled for water cannoning the first time. Suddenly a group of ABVP protestors appears on the side of the police, unfurling a big poster of their poster boy and egging on the protestors to cross the barricade. These people appear to be special invitees to the protest by the police. No one is stopping them and they are going on, trying to provoke the protestors. Then a pro-modi supporter climbs upon the water cannon, unfurls a poster of mister modi and gives the finger to the protestors behind the barricade before he is asked to come down.
4:40 pm
Some people start pushing at the barricade and want to bring it down but the police will have none of it. All the policemen are holding on to the barricade as if their life depends on it. There is a tug of war happening. The protestors are pulling at the rope holding on to the barricade, hoping to bring it down. Then all of a sudden somebody from their ranks decides it is enough and charges in from the left flank with a baton in his hand. I spot somebody i have known from college in the front and it seems he is hurt, his very pained expression saying it all. This rampaging policeman is surrounded by protestors and sensing danger he stops, he is divested of his baton and is sent back across the barricade to be with his tribe and the baton safely put beneath a car before it can cause more damage.
4:45 pm
The water canon returns. The police have had it with these impudent protestors, who do not appear to have learnt their lesson. They spray and spray and some people again are running to save themselves, while some are facing it on. Now the anti-modi protestors all occupy the front line of protestors. The SaveIndia.Org people have mysteriously slinked back. It is back to sloganeering for registering protest. A pro-modi protestor is confused about the man protesting with the devil’s mask, whether he was on his side or on the other. A sardarji is patiently explaining to him, what his protest is all about, to show modi as a real devil behind the mask. The pro-modi protestor appears quite dazed on hearing this.
5:00 pm
I bump into my AISA friends, hoarse from all the slogan shouting and drenched completely. We are happy to see each other and relieved that they are un-hurt. I also manage to bump into this person who I knew, having seen him with a pained expression and it turns out to be true, he was hurt with a baton just below the eye. Then spot this female, who is limping without footwear as if she has hurt both her feet. I speak to her and ask her what has happened, which leaves me horrified. She was one of those people who were in the front of the barricade on the right flank and they were constantly beaten on their feet by the shoving of batons by the police and hurled the choicest of abuses and had been joined in by pro-Modi supporters. The police never change’s its stripes. Now a group of people from SIO have also arrived and waving their flag and shouting anti-modi slogans.
5:15 pm
Suddenly a contingent of policemen in riot gear has arrived behind the protestors and is standing at a distance. If facing the police from the front was not enough, there are more waiting behind their backs.
5:30 pm
People have started leaving now, having registered their protest vociferously and in a dignified manner. The police contingent in riot-gear is closing in now and is standing very close for comfort all of a sudden.
5:45 pm
The protest is officially over and all the protestors are hauled and taken in a procession to the Maurice Nagar Police Station. They are surrounded on all sides by the police and the ABVP protestors as they go to the police station shouting slogans.
Post-Script
A total of 18 people have been taken for a Medical Test( a medical test to ascertain if it is a Medico-Legal Case) because they are injured and Seven people were detained for trying to cross the barricade, who are all released in the end.
It was a smooth protest, done peacefully but how much of an impact it will have, I am not sure. Making our voice heard, registering our protest, yes we did. After all that is what democracy is all about, the right to be heard, the right to protest peacefully, without the fear of molestation or of violence by mobs of men ranged against your protesting. As a friend remarked at the protest, even if we could not make it inside the college, we did show that we did not agree and were not complicit in legitimizing Modi’s visit. Finally, I am left with a question in my head, whether Delhi University will ever be saved from its right-wing moorings.
KAFILA - COLLECTIVE EXPLORATIONS SINCE 2006 
Well done,Delhi Police.
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depicts what is in store for Nation if modi becomes p.m!
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Exactly sayra!..people should realize it now and vote wisely in 2014, Gujarat model cannot become a whole India model, people are just going blind for him, its better they open their eyes now or it will be too late, we will loose our secular tag and fall into the hands of merciless radicals!
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I am not Modi follower but I can say revolution start always from Gujarati’s only they are wise and nice people, to bring modi at delhi will be good for all other people.
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kaushik, it seems you want Modi as p.m. just because he is a Gujrati and that is as disgustingly idiotic as being a fan of him ( courtsey: the riot of Gujrat)
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I quite agree with you. I am not in any side of any political party. I only look for a good governance. It appears to me that we should try with Mr. Modi. But what he alone can do, psychologically BJP as party is not fit to carry out duties in a responsible way, neither I find any other party who are comparable. It is a catch 20 situation.
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I did not notice the wisdom among those “Gujratis” who killed and raped in 2002. And all of them were rioting in the name of hindutva, which is Modi’s ideology. No, we do NOT want Modi…
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Yeah. And yours (including people like you) should be THE command for the lesser mortals!
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modi the devil in human flesh.
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First of all, I commend the young women and men who took on the mantle of defending theright to protest and dissent. I condemn the Delhi Police for their hooligan and sexist behaviour who acted like paid goondas and rapists in uniform. It is indeed exemplary that needs tto be replicated to fight the communal Modi brigade, that the left and progressives and wortking people need to confrtont these forces head on.
Yes it is true that there can be incidental suffering, but this needs to be done for the sake of the future
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Thank you for sharing our accounts on this platform, it was a horrific day but the fight will go on!
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The so called developmental model that is being touted as the salvation for the India is enmeshed in politics of willful exclusion and denial of social justice. To quote Tagore, it is like calling ghost as excorcist.
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The problem with Kafila is that it only reports one sided stories. The protests were reported by media but they also reported about the huge response Modi got inside SRCC. The media also reported about the political affiliations of most protestors which I don’t expect to find in articles in Kafila. Any medium that does provide balanced reporting and seem to have a “hidden agenda” does not have credibility for rational and non-aligned people. The headline of the article is also misleading as if students compelled Modi to run. Grow up Kafia if you want to have any credibility.
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Correction above
“Any medium that does NOT provide balanced reporting …….” – regret the typo.
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if you believe you have ever read anything in your life that didn’t have some agenda, you are a fool. Technically speaking you are right and an attempt at covering both sides of the story would be admirable…but i have dealt with enough fanatics to know the kind of bigoted, hate speech, goon worship they freely indulge in. The opinion of such a character is malicious at best, and cuthroat at worst. Have you ever tried to record the different types of dogs barks in writing? The problem is similar. Pardon; I have inadvertently insulted dogs.
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some protesters were followed around by abvp after they left the thana around 8. obscene gestures were made, communal and sexist comments passed
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This is known as Left-wing Terror… The Left wing/Communist/Marxist/Maoist etc are well known for mass murders in the history. Even Joseph Stalin killed millions of people which counts twice and thrice than those who were killed by Adolf Hitler… This Left-wing evil ideology is present only in some parts of south-Indian state of Kerala, Tripura and West Bengal (Now there is no more left-evil in WB).. If someone reads the history it is very clear that wherever the communists were, they had killed people in millions in name of blood spilling revolutions.. In Kerala, they are notorious for killing members of other political parties whenever they fail ideologically…
We all know the fact, during Indo-China war the Communists in India supported China instead of supporting the Motherland India…. They had thus proven themselves as Traitors…
Anyway, Delhi Police had done a very nice job…
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Do you even know about the basics of ‘Indo-China’ war!! Look into the matter deeply first before putting your brainless information on any blog panel. There has been much gone into ‘spoiling’ the relations among neighbor countries, border disputes existed and prolonged because of utterly irresponsible behavior by our so called ‘leaders’. I don’t want rant about that here just to wake you from sleep. One thing I would precisely like to mention, the day you get stuck with ‘Delhi Police’ for whatever unfortunate reasons or an event, you’ll realize their job handling and how they handle you. I’ll leave my good wishes for you.
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i will praise this protest with my full heart . PROVIDED
u guys protest outside kamalnath’s office .
potest outside Congress headquarters to reopen cases against kamalnath and titler saved by congress bureau of investigation .
if u guys cant do this , it just means u have no regars for sikhs , as they are minority among minorities . I KNOW U GUYS DONT HAVE THE COURAGE to DO THIS :(
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very true , it should not be bhago modi , but it must be jago indian
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Hahaha. I wish I were as candid as you. Thank you for the reply to the post above. I wish it was a little stronger. :)
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and capitalist’s go to WAR!!
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Okay. My comment is probably completely irrelevant but I can’t take any Indian seriously if he doesn’t know the location of his own states. West Bengal is not a South Indian state. It is in East India and closer to the northern half of India rather than the southern. Not that it matters. India is one whole country. Anyway, yes, as for the rest of your post, get your hands on a few veracious history books.
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The first hand accounts of the protest, especially the actions of the police, have left me feeling enraged. These criminals in police uniform actually have the cheek to ask for sympathy from the public when one of their own is injured during protests.
I wish i was back in arts faculty so that i could voice my opposition to this communal bigot as well.
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it seems that the writer of above article in anti-modi man. he has shown only the black part of modi visit to delhi. i accept that there was protest aganist modi in delhi but modi delivered a beautiful lecture. he showed the way how india can progress in coming years. and one thing i want to say that the protester were from opposite parties. and because their leader were not invited thats why they were protesting.. i just want to request to al those anti-modi people don’t spread poison aganist modi.. he has shown what he is and we indian need him very much.
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True. I was there among supporters. These are communists & leftist parties. The students there were intentionally provoked. These parties are degrading India students and is making a new cadre of anti-nationals.
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There were more people inside than outside and millions were watching on TV. He made a very good impact. I am talking many people after his speech and they found Modi a far far better leader than available dumbs.No doubt he is the biggest politician in India at this point of time at least. Few people,paid media and NGOs will keep shouting like they are doing in Gujrat for so many years. Best of luck to them.
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Your grammar and mail id shows a lot about your knowledge. Sarcasm apart the protest wasn’t about whining for giving a platform to other political parties or not. Well should I explain it all to you or just laugh and save my time for more important things!, I’ll do that actually.
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Speak for yourself please. I have every reason on this earth to see Modi face the law and pay for his crimes. It doesn’t hurt unless you feel the pain yourself, isn’t it? Drawing Room nationalism only translates to mass murders and unspeakable sexual crimes, to put it mildly. You have an opinion and I have one as well. If you can’t stand my opinion, you have every right to put and ear plug and rest in peace!
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and the very first pic of protester is of delhi rape case. it is not of anti-modi protest…. mind it
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Horrible.
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Why the hell do you not protest against Sonia Gandhi for Assam riots and Sikh riots? May be your need to be ‘heard’ and ‘protest’ is selective and not issue based. Also, who are you to proclaim that Mr.Modi is guilty when the matter is still with the courts? Or are you trying to say that your idea of law has to be held supreme and thus modi should be declared guilty? Height of stupidity and arrogance.
PS: no. Of people killed by leftist agenda is far higher than the right ever managed. Maoism, Naxalites, communism, pseudo-secularism what not? Have you ever pondered?
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The Congress does NOT nurture an anti-Sikh (or anti-Hindu or any anti-any-community) agenda — unlike the BJP which has an anti-Muslim, anti-Christian agenda. (This is the reason why the Congress is blamed for “appeasement”).
What we oppose is the Hindutva (or the Islamist, or any other culture supremacist) agenda. Modi is bad in a way that the Congress and even the Maoists are not. We have differences with these others. But Modi (and the BJP) have a fascist agenda similar to the Islamist agenda. We regard THIS agenda to be far more dangerous than all others…
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There’s a difference between riots and genocide. What happened in Gujarat was the cold-blooded, systematic killing of Muslims by Modi’s government. It’s a known fact – those were not riots! What Modi did was no different than what Hitler did to the Jews. Modi is well known for his brand of Hindutva politics which gives way too much importance to religion. That’s why it would be scary if he were to become PM of this country.
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nothing better expected out of NSUI goons , congress and Kafila all with a deep mental rot bankruptcy of ideas and anti-National , treson filled work !
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God save India from right wingers. Mahatma your ideals are decaying and the nation is bleeding.
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i wrote on the same issue this morning- http://ramblinginthecity.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/does-modis-popularity-means-giving-free-reign-to-communalists-misogynists-shocking-reports-from-a-protestor-at-srcc/
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Count the number of fucks Modi or his fans give to these leftie libtards – a big shunya
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er… please, explain it better for us plebeians. Count the number of what? I don’t get it. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
And leftie libtards, hmmm, very droll, I suppose. Is that a “liberal” crossed with some other species? I cannot figure out which prefix you prefer, Bas- or Re- or Pe- or Do-
Hmm, watching hollywood flicks and Fox news has made it as heady for you as one of those obnoxious IMFL vapours that you seem to go “(kart)Hic”!!
And I am really curious, on one last point? What are you doing among all of us brain-dead libtards anyway? Should you not be seen in Right wing heaven with all those other drooling super heroes?
BTW, shunya for zero or shunya for infinity? Please clarify that too. And I know inserting some vedic sounding word seems to make you swell with pride over your “Sanatana” roots. But Kart, you make me go Hic! Those terms are too fermented already.
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i always feel ashamed when people abuse girls. Respect for all the protesters.
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Wow!This must be exactly what happened. After all you jhollawalas never lie /s
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“February” 6, you mean? You start off with — “On 6th January, 2013 the usually quaint…”
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It is needless to say, none of these protesters were aware that Mr. Modi was not going to talk politics or campaign for his vote bank for PM election. I will call that present mass gathering in New Delhi has become a pictorial manifestation of intolerance for every matter & agitation without understanding what is the purpose for agitating it. It was purely a mob psychology & all they did was fanning the agitation for some political motive without any aim.
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good job Delhi Police…
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Well done Delhi Police!!! These good-for-nothing sycophants who under the guise of being ‘Revolutionary’ students use these opportunities to get their 5 seconds of fame and 10 minutes of fun, would be the one who would curse and abuse and foul-mouth the government once they don’t get jobs after passing out of college. These worthless fellas, who are wasting the critical phase of their lives in rabble rousing would be the ones who would be loitering on the streets again few years hence, for want of jobs and career. I completed my graduation from DU North, close to SRCC few years back, and know none who used to mob and protest then, and are well settled now. Almost all of them can’t even pass a clerk grade competition, forget about CAT and Civil Services. High time they realize the futility of their mis-adventurism!!!
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Well then its safe to assume that you have wasted your “DU North” education! Your thinking makes me want to hurl!
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Three major issues here
a) the state and national government in Delhi is Congress driven. If any fault of administration, it cannot be held to be the responsibility of of BJP/Modi. If anything, this is Sonia version of India, not Modi’s
b) The protesters themselves have said that they have overpowered police and over ran barricades once. Cannot be a legal protest after that and the police did the right thing by bringing in a water canon. If the police had allowed protesters through and there was violence between right-wing and left-wing, the police would have been blamed for not keeping both the groups separate
c) Right to protest is okay but did anyone bother to get permission from the concerned authority to set up a protest near the function. The function organizers had obviously done their homework and got the right permissions.
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You are clearly not only anti-Modi but also anti development. You wrote no word on Modi’s speech which is all about governance and development. You naturally play into the hands of the few pseudo secularists masquerading as secular India leaders from political and religious spectra of life. Kafila should publish its mission statement. Your bias is too clear to people who follow you. Why don’t you stand up and confess? Every right thinking citizen respects a group of people’s right to peaceful protest against anything under sun. It’s not about the protest which didn’t go unreported. It’s about Kafila’s ulterior motives! Modi gained and is gaining supporters not because of the party he is a member of, but because he brought development to forefront of political discourse! Modi is more secular than Nehru.
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Frankly I do not understand what the protest was against. It is the SRCC students who had decided to invite Modi to address their students. As such there are many people who have different views about any politician So what is this protest all about?
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omg! it is unbelievable that people actually believe what Modi said.The rhetoric of economic growth is the best way to propagate the structural inequality, subtly. i am sure the lovers of modi cannot make the connection between the communalism and the rhetoric of trade and market.
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To my brothers and sisters asking for balance, that’s what Kafila does. You have mainstream media giving you their biased / bought stories, and you have Kafila providing the balance. I was there. These reports are kind to the police and the ABVP.
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Modi will soil the secular image of India and plunge the country into state intolerance.
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The fact is whether anyone likes it or not Modi will campaign across the country during the 2014 campaign for the BJP. Are these protestors going to go to every rally he addresses across the country to protest? To me the whole exercise appeared to be a photo op in front of the national and international media. How many of them protested during the Gujarat election campaign last year?
The point is these left liberals sitting in New Delhi can continue to rant about “Secularism” as they see it, but my suggestion would be that they go to smaller towns like Indore, Nagpur, Alwar etc. and interact with the”Neo Middle Classes” that comprises the taxi and auto drivers, maids, milkmen, postmen and a whole lot of others who do not own cars or scooters or a fridge or an AC but aspire to and ask them whom they would vote for in 2014….the unanimous choice is Modi. The last thing on their minds is this notion of “Secularism”. They care a hoot. In Modi they see their aspirations turn into reality some day.
Unfortunately the ones who were protesting Modi’s visit to SRCC are the ones who participate in drawing room debates but never vote during elections. This is because they have everything they need…the BMW, the mall, AC, apartment, branded clothes etc….why should they feel compelled to vote.
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ok, pro/anti modi, police ended as the culprit. Barricades were put in place to keep law and order.. so called educated, peace loving protesters, was it correct to move down barricades? what did they mean by it… they would march in and take modi by his collar and throw him away? if that is the case the very own ideology of peace loving secularism is thrown under the feet. what were they trying to demonstrate. irrespective of left or right ideologies, if issues prevailing, challenge modi to debate or speak to the students who are protesting. show it by banners or hoarding on the way he travel. simply just crying foul of lathicharge and tear gas wont serve any purpose. ( i hereby condemn the lewd comments passed on women unconditionally … i am trying here to address a bigger picture to get something constructive rather than gettin bullied and goin back )
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@ Dev: I really appreciate your concern for balanced reporting. But I hope you can remember the photographs published in the next day’s ‘leading newspapers.’ Most of them shamelessly chose the same photograph showing a single protester nabbed by the police! Why were they scared to show the entire strength of the protesters- the teachers, the female students, the more than 800 crowd. So far I could not find even a single ‘leading’ newspaper mentioning the explicit alliance between the police and the ABVP goons. Not even a single word on how the police were picking up the protesters and handing them to the ABVP goons to be abused, manhandled and beaten up.
And, most importantly, most of this ‘leading national dailies’ happily forgot to mention about the scam ridden Development Model of Modi, where land has been leased out to big business houses @ 1 Rupee per hectare cost, or the Gas Scam where Mr. Modi is sitting on 2000 crore Rupees shady deal…
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All hail the Indian State! Shame!! Shame!! Shame!!
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Delhi police always support ABVP hooligans in all the protest.
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Modi is indias only hope. He is the only one who can stem the rot in indian political system. india needs him desperately. only those people oppose modi who are anti national elements.
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Great work, we need a young crowd who can understand what is right for this country. Definitely Modi is a divisive leader which will break this country. He is marketing himself, there are better chief ministers in India than him, but every one talks about this person. His PR network is working well in India and overseas
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Voting for Modi would be biggest mistake of our Nation
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i fail to understand why the delhi police has lost its way? I may not be proud of my country in number of respects, but one thing that i used to be proud of was the fact that we were free to protest against who so ever!!! we might have been wrong, we might have been right. But that right to protest seems to be slipping out of our hands gradually. Delhi police has proved once again that they are run by a bunch of bullies thick as 3 bricks and with the control of a water canon! Time for a revolution u think?
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pathetic article and even more pathetic people…you guys are shame to this country and this very protest shows the fear that you have if Modi comes to power.You are doomed for a Rahul-Gandhi’ian democracy in India.I know that there is a doubt about what has been done under his leadership in the past but you guys have to look at the bigger picture.THink about India and her future….Modi has a vision and its people like you who are not ready to give hope a chance because then there wont be a Gandhi present who would let you lick his butt.
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Give one good and completely logical reason for this protest,? he was invited to share his ideas. He did not ask. I think this protest was politically driven, this country has so many free ppl, please get a better job.
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Reason 1. Modi has used his Government machinery to kill more than 2000 people during riot in 2002. (watch this video for reference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD85Oa9-4k0, and this video has been accepted by the court as a piece of admissible circumstantial evidence, that led to babu bajrangi and Maya Kodnani into jail.)
Reason 2. Police Officer DGP Vanjara and his team. freely ‘performed’ fake encounters on innocent minority youth like Ishrat Jahan and his uncle in order to get promotion, fanning communal frenzy.
Reason 3. Modi’s Government is one of the most Corrupt government in India today. There are seventeen reported cases against his name .
Reason 4. in the fifteen major states in India, maximum number of malnutritioned children aged between 0-5 are found in Gujarat.
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does that mean 1984 riots victims dont need justice ? since the party involved congress is a SECUALR PARTY ? why dont u guys protest against the rioters who are well placed in todays cabinet ? help these innocent souls with ur protesting skills ..leftists , JNU intellectuals show that u r impartial and dat u HATE EACH AND EVERY RIOT.. http://www.indusage.com.au/indus-tree/indus-tree/14353-sikhs-protest-kamalnath-presence.html
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So the people against Modi, supporting Congress means they cant see what Modi did in 10 years after riot, but they can see that congress will save their future as they did in last 10 years, crores of rupees looted in front of you what you did- nothing just nonsense talk to protest against Modi visit, what will happen then next headlines police did etc etc, how stupid we are. Not talking about corruption, jobless young generation, fraud edu system, inflation, economical imballance. These things doesnt matter for you. Only politics, people who blaming Modi should understand hat he did, Gujrat model will not work for hole country it may be true but why we dont think that situation should be changed. Some groups comes up and protest which is making no sense. Just think your eeaction making someones life critical. In india still people eats their bread only when they get job for that day, protewt is not the only thing you can do for such foolish things, you have rights to make choice, I will protest and situation will change .. no I will just waste my tym, rather I will use my rights and wisely take decision. We are mature to think what we need. We should not behave like islamic countries did in last year. Egypt revolution was the best example.. Whole world thought the revolution was great but u can see now side effect of that.
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Congratulation. You are on the right track but it is useless to preach such mass who sails on mass opinion, not by his own intellect. They do not know what they want.
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