Montreal, July 3, 2022. Community members from the South Asian Diaspora held a protest in Montreal on June 30 to sound the alarm that the so-called largest democracy in the world is being dismantled. In this action, they were joining others in India and around the world. Today, India is like Germany of the 1930s; state violence and fear are deployed against dissenting voices. In a classic tactic employed by authoritarian regimes, those working to uphold democracy and the rule of law are accused of terrorism, inciting inter-religious group violence and anti-national activities and imprisoned.The same day as the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, India’s Supreme Court also issued a most controversial judgment, giving an unprecedented greenlight for the arrest of two human rights defenders, who were picked up within 24 hours of that decision. Teesta Setalvad, renowned human rights activist and advocate for justice of minorities was arrested without a warrant. The Supreme Court verdict against Setalvad includes “audacity to question the integrity of every functionary involved,” and that “those seeking justice […] need to be in the dock”. The other person arrested was R.B. Sreekumar, former Director General of Police in Gujarat, because he had testified in proceedings related to the Gujarat genocide of 2002, against then Chief Minister of that state, Narendra Modi, who is now the Prime Minister of India, the most powerful position in the land. Soon after, on June 27, journalist Mohammed Zubair, of AltNews, a fact-checking website, was arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments, code in India for inciting violence between Hindus and Muslims. Meanwhile those who he was reporting on, who openly called for genocide of Muslims enjoy impunity.The world’s largest democracy has become the personal fiefdom of Hindu ethno nationalists. Majoritarian tyranny prevails. The state is going after those they see as standing in their way; The judiciary follows the whims of the ruling far-right wing party, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). “The state goes after those they see as standing in their way; those who take action or those who are simply trying to survive – old, young, Dalit, Muslim, poor, elite. Arrest, lynching, house demolition, assassination, terror and intimidation are everyday occurrences, generating fear and misery.” proclaimed one of the participants.“We call on the Canadian government to hold the Modi government accountable”, said another participant.We denounce the Emergency-style arrests, widespread violence and indignity towards minorities, and call on the Canadian government to join other prominent voices across the globe in demanding the release of all political prisoners in India.We denounce the injustice, violence and discrimination against Muslims, Dalits and other minorities.
