Bhag Modi Bhag: Three eyewitness accounts from a protest in Delhi University

Bhag Modi Bhag: Three eyewitness accounts from a protest in Delhi University

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

kafila.org

No Space for Dissent
by CHANDAN GOMES

On 6th January, 2013 the usually quaint Delhi University transformed
into a battle ground of ideologies. The road leading to Sri Ram
College of Commerce (SRCC) where Narendra Modi was invited to speak at
the Sri Ram Memorial Oration stands witness to all that went wrong day
before yesterday.

The heavily fortified road was quiet until 3 pm, when a group of
students marched through the faculty of Arts towards the gate opening
right across SRCC. They were intercepted by a Delhi Police Unit close
to the gate where every effort was made to contain them. In the brief
tussle that followed, the DP Unit was overpowered and the protesters
spilled onto the road raising slogans against the 'Hriday Samrat'.
Three rows of barricades were placed on either sides and in the middle
stood a large number of Delhi Police personals armed with lathis and
tear gas shells. By 3:30 the crowds had swelled and one knew that
these young men and women will not go down without a fight.


Photo credit: Chandan Gomes

Barricades were rattled and black flags were waved. It was heartening
to see so many women at the forefront of the protest. But it was
equally disheartening to see them being subjected to sexist remarks by
members of the very police force that claims to protect them. I
noticed so many police men smirking, cracking indecent jokes and
passing lewd comments in murmurs and whispers. And soon they were
joined by ABVP/BJP activists who left no stones unturned to intimidate
and humiliate those who were protesting.

While Modi supporters merrily loitered in the area where the police
forces were stationed, those protesting against him were being
subjected to water cannons and lathi charges. Many protestors were
detained by the Police, some of whom were dragged over the barricades
and shoved into a police van that was surrounded by Modi loyalists who
attacked these unarmed, injured men. A young lady was also detained
who too bore the wrath of their hatred – she was abused, mocked and
subjected to a barrage of obscene comments. And all this was happening
right in front of the press who chose to ignore this facet in their
coverage of the event.

Yes the protestors were fiery and yes their body language was
aggressive, but they did not resort to violence. Most of them were
trying to push the barricades to move a little closer to the SRCC main
gate. It is sad and shameful that there is no space for dissent for
these young men and women in the very University that they belong to.

But there is a silver lining to the darkest of clouds – as these young
men and women bore the brunt of mindless police action, they did not
forget to help each other. They gave shoulder to those who were
injured, they formed human chains. They shared stories and memories.
For they knew they were bound to each other by compassion and empathy.
Unfortunately our friends with lathis and guns are oblivious to this
emotion. And I feel sorry for them.

The same holds true for the Modi loyalists, who touched a new low
yesterday. Unfortunately for them, yesterday was also the day when the
young men and women of this city touched a new high.

[See more photographs by Chandan Gomes.]

What Went Down at the Anti-Modi Protest at Delhi University
by AKHIL KUMAR

[An excerpt from Akhil Kumar's eyewitness account as published in
Youth ki Awaaz.]

…The police did not even bother to conceal their support and tolerance
for the hooligans of ABVP who even climbed on the water cannon and
openly indulged in sexual harassment and violence. They passed lewd
comments and made vulgar gestures standing right next to the
policemen, I would have clicked pictures had my phone not been
rendered useless by the water cannon. I was shocked to see that many
teachers from Delhi University also openly threatening the protesters,
abusing us with the most horrific expletives while their students
brandished pointed sticks saying "khoon kar dunga"! We felt helpless
and outraged at the police working hand in glove with the goons. When
we broke through the first barricade, the police started bashing us
ruthlessly with their lathis in full swing and they enjoyed every
moment of it. They laughed, mocked us, hurled vulgar abuses and passed
derogatory comments while hitting us. It was clear that they had no
intention to disperse or control the crowd, they chased us down and
dragged some of our protesters to their side of the barricade and left
them at the mercy of the ABVP goons. A few girls fell down in the rush
and the police trampled them, one of them was unconscious when we
rushed to help and had to be taken to the hospital. The ABVP students
openly threatened girls with comments like "Jo Gujrat me hua tha wahi
tumhare sath bhi karenge"…

…The police trained their water cannon at us and I cannot forget the
smirk on the face of the person who was operating it just before he
started aiming at the defenseless protesters. I was caught in the jet
and fell face down as it hit me straight on my legs, struggling to get
up from the mud. I lost all faith in non-violent protests that very
moment. I was hurt, shocked and infuriated; not that this was my first
encounter with water cannons but because of the smile on the
policemen's faces as they enjoyed the brutality. When I again went to
the barricade, I was beaten up and hit where it hurts the most; the
excruciating pain in the knuckles and ankles stand testimony to that.
Some of the policemen passed snide remarks and laughed at us all the
while…


Photo credit: Shafaq Khan

The Anatomy of a Protest
by an ANONYMOUS Delhi University student

To say that Narendra Modi is a very divisive figure would be an
understatement. A dear friend, who is an SRCC Alumnus, suddenly
informed me a couple of days back on 2nd February that Mister Modi has
been invited to visit her college to speak at the annual Shriram
Memorial Lecture and the annual business conclave. She wanted to know
what I thought of it when it was her own anguish that Icould sense in
her words at not being able to do anything about this visit. I could
not say anything; perhaps my silence conveyed enough of my sadness and
helplessness at this. Then today in the morning of 6th February, the
day of the visit, I was informed by another friend who is associated
with AISA, they are going to register their protest against this visit
which was going to take place today at 3 pm, asking me to come and be
a part of it. The visit was something that I had conveniently put to
the back of my mind, thinking maybe it would go away and was rudely
reminded that reality does not afford you such luxury. So I went to
attend the Protest and here is a brief account.

2:45 pm
I made my way to the front of SRCC gate and found that there were some
media personnel, with their paraphernalia of cameras and other stuff
and some other sundry people loitering around and a huge presence of
Delhi Police personnel. I was wondering whether how many of these were
there to protest this visit. Overhearing some of the conversations, it
was clear that some were clearly fanboys of the coming visitor but
some were curious to see the visitor and it is here i overhear for
thwarting a shoe hurling incident, everyone's been asked to take off
their shoes before going into the auditorium at srcc. Alas, had no
means to cross-check it. I am considering whether it would have been
more prudent to protest inside SRCC. Some people who appear to be from
Bihar by their accents are speaking how it is necessary to make Modi
the Prime Minister to save the country from being destroyed by the
Congress.

3:00 pm
Delhi Police gets into action and in a jiffy puts up layers of
barricades which were already there and fastens up the barricades with
a heavy rope on both sides to the university walls. It traps everyone
who were till a moment ago thinking they had a good vantage point and
are asked to vacate the area quickly, even those who were trying to go
home. People are forced to climb over the walls of Arts Faculty and
jump to safety on the other side
.
3:02 pm
Suddenly a group of people under AISA's banner arrives on the scene,
shouting slogans to the effect that Modi should go back and are met by
the first barricade. The media persons present get into action trying
to cover this but it is clear these are the small units, who have been
denied entry inside the hallowed portals to cover the visit. The
protestors group gets ranged against the barricade and the might of
Delhi Police on the other side. This group is joined by more people
soon of other leftist groups and slogan shouting, waving of black
flags and placards, ensues.

3:12 pm
The restive group starts to push forward, wanting to go ahead, in this
melee a female protester tries to get through the gap in the barricade
and is manhandled and brutally pushed back by all male contingent of
Delhi Police. The Police want to shove batons at the protestors and
are continuously reminded by the protestors, they cannot do this. A
quick aside, yes all the police personnel on duty were male and no
female constable could be sighted till the end of the protest. The
female protestor finally manages to push through and is immediately
caught hold off by her hair and hauled off for her temerity to do such
a thing. I am worried and fearful of her safety.

3:15 pm
This had a ripple effect and suddenly the crowd starts pushing at the
barricade but is pushed back by the police by shoving their lathis and
manhandling protesters. The barricade which seemed secure, beyond
breaching is suddenly getting tilted towards the police. Sensing that
they might not be able to hold on for long and it could cause some
injury to them, i see a policeman untying and letting go of the rope
tying the barricades. The police bandobust decides it wise to move
back behind the second barricade. The slogan shouters move forward
while very efficiently sidelining the fallen barricades for their
fellow protestors. When all this protest started, a female got injured
and fainted, had to be carried to the sidelines and it was a while
before she was normal.

3:30 pm
Some more protestors join in, the slogan shouting reaches fever pitch.
I spot a middle-aged gentleman wearing a devils mask and the famous
Modi mukhauta pasted on his chest signifying his real character. His
is quite a novelty. Somebody passes me a placard, which says killer
Modi Go Back. It is my own for displaying till its end comes when it
gets wet and wasted. The right flank of the protesters has females
majorly, shouting slogans, holding onto the barricades. These female
protestors i learn later took some of the worst abuse from the police
and the pro-modi supporters group. People want to cross-over the
barricades but cannot do much, except shout slogans to condemn Modi.
The Police is saturated around the barricade, so much so that not an
inch of light can pass between them it appears and is eyeballing the
protesters. Some are abusing, some are asking the protestors to be in
limits, some are telling them to go home but all this unsolicited
advice has no effect.

3:45 pm
Suddenly a motley group of middle aged people under the banner of some
organisation called NDTF arrives on the sight of the protest shouting
pro-modi slogans. The protesters realise it is a well designed ploy to
distract and divert attention, when the pro-modi protestors were
allowed to assemble on the other side of the barricade from where his
cavalcade was to come and not on this side. Suddenly a group breaks up
and forms a wall of protestors to stop this group from going ahead and
a slogan shouting war to out-shout the other ensues. Suddenly this
group of NDTF, sees a kashmiri in the midst of the other camp and then
the slogans progressively degenerate into " babar ki auladon wapas
jao", " Muslims are Terrorists" and much worse and targeted at that
kashmiri protestor. Another surprise for me was to spot this group of
IAS aspirants who are in delhi to prepare for this exam, who i knew
from before and are not part of the university to suddenly emerge and
join pro-modi slogan shouting with the NDTF group. There was a
Sardarji distributing a pamphlet addressed to the Khalsa College
Principal. There was placard asking for justice for Soni Sori too.
There were placards asking why there were fixed salaries in academia.

4:00 pm
An anti-riot vehicle comes and stops at the sidelines and then a
fire-brigade vehicle fitted with cannon for firing water comes and
stops in front of the barricade. It appears inevitable that a
drenching was in the works for those who were protesting. So as sudden
as was the presence of the water cannon in the midst, so did it let
loose a volley of water on anyone who chose to stay in its way or
dared to protest. All this happening without provocation from the
crowd. The checking of the water nozzle and then getting it ready to
fire, seemed like something happening in ultra slow motion in a film,
while in reality it was pretty swift. And so we had been all soaked in
water for daring to protest.

4:15 pm
The protestors now started getting restive. They had been
non-provocative but the police had replied with water cannon to get
them to shut-up. Suddenly the cavalcade of Modi was visible and a
crowd of ABVP supporters running after it. They obviously had a free
run for they were supporting him. If this farce of allowing a protest
was not enough, the NDTF got reinforcement in the form of
SaveIndia.Org. They soon descended upon the scene with fancy placards
and posters made out of flex, seemed like they were well prepared for
this. This group then tried to make its way to the front of the
barricade, continuously pushing and shoving. When they could not, they
climbed up the walls which were forbidden for others to climb and made
their way to the front from the right flank, manhandling and abusing
the female protestors who were already present there.

4:30 pm
The protestors now did not want to wait behind the barricades. They
had been patient but it had been tested by the uncalled for water
cannoning the first time. Suddenly a group of ABVP protestors appears
on the side of the police, unfurling a big poster of their poster boy
and egging on the protestors to cross the barricade. These people
appear to be special invitees to the protest by the police. No one is
stopping them and they are going on, trying to provoke the protestors.
Then a pro-modi supporter climbs upon the water cannon, unfurls a
poster of mister modi and gives the finger to the protestors behind
the barricade before he is asked to come down.

4:40 pm
Some people start pushing at the barricade and want to bring it down
but the police will have none of it. All the policemen are holding on
to the barricade as if their life depends on it. There is a tug of war
happening. The protestors are pulling at the rope holding on to the
barricade, hoping to bring it down. Then all of a sudden somebody from
their ranks decides it is enough and charges in from the left flank
with a baton in his hand. I spot somebody i have known from college in
the front and it seems he is hurt, his very pained expression saying
it all. This rampaging policeman is surrounded by protestors and
sensing danger he stops, he is divested of his baton and is sent back
across the barricade to be with his tribe and the baton safely put
beneath a car before it can cause more damage.

4:45 pm
The water canon returns. The police have had it with these impudent
protestors, who do not appear to have learnt their lesson. They spray
and spray and some people again are running to save themselves, while
some are facing it on. Now the anti-modi protestors all occupy the
front line of protestors. The SaveIndia.Org people have mysteriously
slinked back. It is back to sloganeering for registering protest. A
pro-modi protestor is confused about the man protesting with the
devil's mask, whether he was on his side or on the other. A sardarji
is patiently explaining to him, what his protest is all about, to show
modi as a real devil behind the mask. The pro-modi protestor appears
quite dazed on hearing this.

5:00 pm
I bump into my AISA friends, hoarse from all the slogan shouting and
drenched completely. We are happy to see each other and relieved that
they are un-hurt. I also manage to bump into this person who I knew,
having seen him with a pained expression and it turns out to be true,
he was hurt with a baton just below the eye. Then spot this female,
who is limping without footwear as if she has hurt both her feet. I
speak to her and ask her what has happened, which leaves me horrified.
She was one of those people who were in the front of the barricade on
the right flank and they were constantly beaten on their feet by the
shoving of batons by the police and hurled the choicest of abuses and
had been joined in by pro-Modi supporters. The police never change's
its stripes. Now a group of people from SIO have also arrived and
waving their flag and shouting anti-modi slogans.

5:15 pm
Suddenly a contingent of policemen in riot gear has arrived behind the
protestors and is standing at a distance. If facing the police from
the front was not enough, there are more waiting behind their backs.

5:30 pm
People have started leaving now, having registered their protest
vociferously and in a dignified manner. The police contingent in
riot-gear is closing in now and is standing very close for comfort all
of a sudden.

5:45 pm
The protest is officially over and all the protestors are hauled and
taken in a procession to the Maurice Nagar Police Station. They are
surrounded on all sides by the police and the ABVP protestors as they
go to the police station shouting slogans.

Post-Script
A total of 18 people have been taken for a Medical Test( a medical
test to ascertain if it is a Medico-Legal Case) because they are
injured and Seven people were detained for trying to cross the
barricade, who are all released in the end.

It was a smooth protest, done peacefully but how much of an impact it
will have, I am not sure. Making our voice heard, registering our
protest, yes we did. After all that is what democracy is all about,
the right to be heard, the right to protest peacefully, without the
fear of molestation or of violence by mobs of men ranged against your
protesting. As a friend remarked at the protest, even if we could not
make it inside the college, we did show that we did not agree and were
not complicit in legitimizing Modi's visit. Finally, I am left with a
question in my head, whether Delhi University will ever be saved from
its right-wing moorings.