Is protest a crime

The Delhi police’s lathi charge on students outside the RSS office in Jhandewalan was wrong. The students had assembled at Jhandewalan to protest against the suicide of University of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula. The RSS being the fount of right-wing ideology, the students’ choice of venue carried a symbolic significance given the role played by the ABVP and the BJP in vicitimising Vemula. But the police lathi charge, where even girls weren’t spared, was excessive and unnecessary. It is interesting how every protest today is termed a threat to law and order in our country. It will not be surprising if the protesting students are also termed “anti-national”.

Jaya Chatterjee Via email