LUCKNOW: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), under its nationwide call of ‘Stop Anarchy, Embrace Democracy’, organised a massive student rally in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, on October 18, Sunday. Thousands of students and ABVP members participated in the rally from Lucknow University to Gandhi Chowk in Hazratganj, conveying a united message against attempts to weaken democracy and democratic institutions.
The rally was attended by ABVP National Secretary Abhay Pratap Singh, Kashi Prant Secretary Shivam Singh, Goraksh Prant Secretary Mangal Gupta, Awadh Prant Secretary Arpan Kushwaha and Kanpur Prant Secretary Dinesh Yadav. The rally conveyed a clear message that the authority to change government in India rests solely with the people and that anarchy or coercive politics has no place in a democratic system.
Electoral grievances must be addressed through evidence and constitutional procedures, rather than by pressuring constitutional institutions or spreading distrust against them. India is a democracy, not a mobocracy. Governments are formed and changed through the people’s votes, not through display of street power. An attempt to replicate in India the politics of anarchy inspired by political developments in Bangladesh and Nepal is unacceptable.
Amid questions surrounding the role of external forces and the deep state, it is clear that India’s political direction will be determined by Indian citizens alone. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a regular administrative process and fake allegations of irregularities must be raised with evidence before appropriate constitutional forums. The differing positions adopted by political parties on SIR in states including Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu raise questions about their double standards. Attempts to pressure institutions and political demonstrations that disrupt the daily lives of students, traders and ordinary citizens are unjustified.
ABVP National Secretary Abhay Pratap Singh said, “India’s democracy rests on public trust, the right to vote and the independence of constitutional institutions. The authority to change governments in the country rests solely with the people, who elect and replace governments through their votes. Political dissent is welcome in a democracy, but attempts to bring about a change of government through mob pressure, anarchy or by targeting constitutional institutions are unacceptable.
If there are irregularities in the electoral process, evidence must be presented and constitutional and legal procedures must be followed. Questioning the credibility of institutions such as the Election Commission and the Supreme Court for political gains, or attempting to bring them under pressure, goes against democratic propriety. Those who imagine that India, too, can witness a change of government through anarchy inspired by developments in Bangladesh and Nepal must understand that India’s democracy is strong and that the people alone determine the future of governments.
ABVP’s success in student union elections in Delhi University, Uttarakhand, Kerala and Odisha demonstrates that students believe in the democratic process and stand with the ideology of ‘Nation First’. The widespread participation of students in the rally in Lucknow reflects their commitment to democratic values and the dignity of constitutional institutions. ABVP calls upon the youth of the country to remain vigilant in safeguarding the dignity of constitutional institutions, democratic values and national interests and to oppose the politics of anarchy and mobocracy through democratic means”.
ABVP Awadh, State Secretary Arpan Kushwaha said, “The strength of India’s youth is rooted in the country’s rich cultural heritage, civilisational consciousness and a sense of duty towards the nation. Attempts to apply the developments in Bangladesh and Nepal to India’s circumstances disregard the distinctiveness of Indian society and its cultural consciousness.
India’s youth take pride in their cultural identity and believe in positive, constructive and democratic approaches to resolving the country’s challenges. Through the student rally in Lucknow, students have made it clear that the energy of Indian youth will be channelled towards nation-building, social harmony and strengthening the country’s cultural heritage. ABVP believes that the role of young people is not limited to reacting to circumstances; through their ideas, conduct and active participation, they must also contribute to building a bright future for the nation”.
