July 25, 2025
Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Condemn Bombay High Court’s Anti-Constitutional Observations
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the observations of the Bombay High Court bench while rejecting an application by the Party to challenge the Mumbai Police’s refusal to allow a protest action against the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
While doing so, the court went to the extent of calling into question the patriotism of the Party. Ironically, the bench appears to be unaware of either the provisions of the Constitution which enshrines the rights of a political party, or the history of our country and our people’s solidarity with the Palestinians and their legitimate right to homeland. The observations smack of distinct political bias in line with the central government.
The bench has observed, “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 court further remarked, “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 observations overlook the fact that Mahatma Gandhi in the 40s of the last century, the national movement and subsequent foreign policy of independent India had not flinched from supporting the cause of Palestinian people’s right to freedom and homeland. It also lays bare the fact that the bench does not realise the unequivocal condemnation globally against Israeli action and the stated positions of the UN bodies and the International Court of Justice.
We appeal to the freedom and democracy loving people of the country to join us in unambiguously rejecting such a reprehensible attitude.