New Delhi: Delhi Police detained prominent activists including economist Jean Dreze and Communist Party of India leader Annie Raja over a silent display of solidarity with the people of Palestine at the APJ Abdul Kalam crossing in the national capital – despite the activists having informed cops of their protest.
The march, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and organised by the collective Indians for Palestine, which started from the Khan Market area, was stopped by the police as it headed towards the Israeli Embassy.
“We did not even shout slogans, but were standing silently with banners but unfortunately, police detained us,” Dreze told The Wire from a police van.
The protest was attended by social scientists and activists, who urged the Indian government to immediately end all ties with Israel – which began attacks against Palestine in retaliation to a Hamas strike on October 7. Israel’s attacks have been called “genocidal” by many.
“[The] Indian government along with some public and private sector companies’ complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza is well known. We have heard of Adani Defence and Aerospace Ltd., but there are other culprits as well – Munitions India and Premier Explosive, in addition to the government itself which has approved not just the provision of militarised cargo to Israel but also the shipment of Indian workers to Israel, a move that puts their lives at risk,” the protesters have said in a statement after having been detained.
The agitators noted that India has committed to various international laws and treaties that prevent it from supplying military weapons to countries involved in war crimes.
“Under the Genocide Convention, which India has signed and ratified, India is required to take all possible steps to prevent genocide. This means that India cannot export military equipment or weapons to Israel if there’s a serious risk that these weapons might be used to commit war crimes,” they have said, demanding that arms supply to Israel be stopped immediately, along with the end of all official ties between India and Israel for the time being.
The protesters also called for Indians to boycott companies and products that support the illegal occupation and take action in line with the BDS movement. The movement which stands for ‘Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions’ has the goal of ending international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
(With inputs from Atul Ashok Howale)
