The Bombay High Court on July 24 rejected a petition filed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] seeking permission to hold a rally against the ongoing anti- terror action by Israel in Gaza, delivering a sharp rebuke to the party’s misplaced priorities.
A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Acharekar observed that there are enough pressing issues within India that deserve urgent attention. The court remarked that political organisations should focus on solving domestic problems instead of interfering in international conflicts that are far removed from India’s ground realities. It warned of the diplomatic implications of such protests, pointing out that the country’s foreign policy cannot be dictated by partisan agendas.
“Our country has enough issues. We don’t want anything like this. I an sorry to say, you are all short-sighted. You are looking at issues in Gaza and Palestine. Look at your own country. Be patriots. This is not patriotism. People say they are patriots,” the Court remarked.
"Be Patriots" : Bombay High Court dismisses petition filed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) challenging the Mumbai Police’s refusal to grant permission for a protest at Azad Maidan against the alleged genocide in Gaza, citing India's foreign policy stance.
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“You don’t know the dust it could kick up.. getting on to the Palestine side or the Israel side. Why do you want to do this? It’s obvious, going by the party you represent that you don’t understand what this could do to the foreign affairs of the country, “the Bench cautioned.
The bench questioned the relevance of the protest, stating, “Why should we worry about issues thousands of miles away when there is enough to fix at home?” The court urged the CPI(M) to focus its efforts on pressing local concerns such as garbage dumping, pollution, drainage problems, and urban flooding, issues that have a direct impact on the daily lives of Indian citizens.
“You are an organisation registered in India. If you could take up issues like garbage dumping, pollution, sewerage, flooding. We are just giving examples. You are not protesting on those but on something happening thousands of miles outside the country, “the Bench said.
The petition was filed against the Mumbai Police’s decision to deny permission for a protest at Azad Maidan on June 17, organised under the banner of the All India Solidarity Organization. The court upheld the police’s stance, emphasising the need for national responsibility.
The CPI(M)’s attempt to organise the protest was widely seen as a political move to appease Muslim voters in India by exploiting a foreign crisis, not out of genuine concern for the people of Gaza, but as part of a calculated strategy aimed at consolidating support ahead of the 2026 assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. That strategy has now suffered a significant judicial blow with the Bombay High Court’s dismissal of the plea.
