'Undemocratic': Civil society slams curbs on anti-Israel protests in Karnataka

Several civil society activists have written to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi denouncing Siddaramaiah's government for putting curbs on their democratic right to hold rallies against Israel.

Dubbing the government's decision as “anti-democratic”, the activists have started a signature campaign against the Congress government – a far cry from the time when they helped the party to win elections in May.

Civil society activist Vinay Shreenivas told The Federal that various organisations wanted to donate blood to symbolise solidarity “with the thousands of Palestinians who have lost their lives” and hold a public meeting to demand an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The police, citing security considerations, denied permission for both events.

Activists are angry

"This rejection is a violation of our fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, right to peaceful assembly and right to association guaranteed under the constitution," said a letter to the Karnataka chief minister. "Your government has been clamping down on protests seeking an end to the genocide taking place in Palestine and demanding justice for the people of Palestine and peace in the Israel-Palestine region. Not only have the police been denying permission but they have even registered FIRs against peaceful protestors,” the letter went on.

Further, the letter said, “The state government is clamping down on protests…Last week, the police denied permission to Left parties to hold a protest on this issue.” 

The activists reminded Siddaramaiah that they had met him on October 20 to complain against the police action. “Despite that, the police continue to restrict our constitutional right to assemble," they said.

The civil society groups which have turned against the government include Bahutva Karnataka, Bengaluru for Justice and Peace, People’s Union For Civil Liberties Bangalore, Coalition for Sexual Minorities and Sex Workers Rights, Fridays for Future (Karnataka), People's Union for Civil Liberties (Karnataka), Naaveddu Nilladiddare, Solidarity Youth Movement, Slum Janara Sanghatane, Swaraj Abhiyan, Swaraj India and the All India Central Council of Trade Unions.

Some activists claimed that the Karnataka home department was ignoring a plea from the CM’s office to allow the activists to express their solidarity at Freedom Park with Palestinians, thousands of whom have died in merciless Israeli bombings since October 7 after Hamas militants went on a carnage in Israel.

Police stand

Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayanand told the media that the Karnataka police will not allow any protests related to the Palestine- Israel issue.

But a senior officer who did want to be named told The Federal that intelligence reports suggested that if the government allowed meetings to express solidarity with Palestinians, right-wing activists could then stage counter pro-Israeli protests.

“To prevent any untoward incidents in the state, it is not good to allow such protests,” the officer said.

The civil society activists are not impressed by this argument. They told the state government that they are deeply disappointed with the denial of permission for an October 28 event at Freedom Park in Bengaluru.

Sonia Gandhi under fire

Writers and human rights activists have pointed out to Sonia Gandhi her newspaper article condemning the killing of thousands by the “Israeli military’s indiscriminate operations in and around Gaza”.

"You also stated in that article that the loudest and most powerful voices should be for a cessation of military activity,” the open letter read. The anger has also found a place in social media.

"Is the position of the Congress party on the humanitarian crisis in Palestine then different from the stance of the Congress government in Karnataka?" they asked in the letter to Sonia Gandhi.

"We are extremely disappointed that the Congress government which came to power claiming values of secularism and justice has launched an attack on the rights of citizens to protest over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza,” they wrote. “We are also deeply disturbed that this issue is not the only one where the Congress government has failed to uphold its stated commitment to the Constitution of India. It is a matter of grave concern that the Congress government in Karnataka is behaving no differently than the previous BJP government that it dislodged,” it added.