In a recent incident at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), a poster meant to encourage students to vote was destroyed. The poster was put up by the Election Commission of India as part of a program to get young people to build interest in voting. But instead of being potentially used, it was damaged, causing anger among members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organisation.
ABVP strongly condemns the disturbing display by Leftists at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, where a banner disrespectfully crossed out the word 'Democracy' and advocated for 'Vote NOTA'. This blatant disregard for democracy reveals the ulterior motives of the… pic.twitter.com/Ras1i6VTTo
— ABVP (@ABVPVoice) April 11, 2024
The poster originally had the word ‘Democracy’ on it, calling it a ‘Democracy Wall.’ But someone sprayed red paint over it, and the Democracy word was covered. The poster then had writing NOTA (None of the Above) and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ instead. ‘NOTA’ is used when someone does not want to vote for any candidate, whereas ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ is a slogan that means ‘Long Live the Revolution.’
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad members were extremely upset about this incident, and they believed that it was done by people who didn’t want democracy to work properly. Harshwardhan Harpude, one of the ABVP members, said that while the country was celebrating democracy, such bad things were happening in colleges. He thought that there were groups in the college with ideas that could harm the country. Anil Thombe, another ABVP member, said that they strongly disagreed with what happened at GIPE. He believed it showed that some groups were trying to stop democracy, favouring their own interests instead of what was good for everyone.
Sandeep Singh Gill, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), said that following reports of the incident, officers from the Deccan Gymkhana police station were sent to the scene. They promptly investigated the matter. Their findings confirmed that someone had deliberately changed the message on the poster.
Post this, without wasting any further time, they quickly informed the Election Commission’s Flying Surveillance Team and the Assistant Returning Officer to look into who might be responsible for the damage. GIPE incident teaches us that it is important to protect democracy. It is everyone’s right to vote and choose their leaders. But when someone tries to damage that right, it becomes a serious matter. The police and the Election Commission are working together to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
It’s also a reminder that everyone needs to respect each other’s opinions. People can disagree on political issues, but they should do it peacefully. Vandalism and destruction only cause more problems and hurt everyone. In the end, we all want a fair and just society where everyone’s voice is heard. By working together and respecting each other, we can build a better future for ourselves and generations to come.
The GIPE incident highlights the challenges that are faced to maintain the integrity of democratic processes, especially in educational institutions where diverse ideologies often collide. While disagreement is a fundamental aspect of democracy, resorting to vandalism and sabotage to express disagreement is unacceptable and can destroy the foundation of civil discourse and democratic principles. It is important for Universities to have robust civic education programmes that empower citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to actively participate in the democratic process. Moving forward, it is imperative for all stakeholders to actively collaborate in promoting a culture of tolerance, respect, and constructive dialogue.
