– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi : The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned the Bombay High Court for its recent anti-constitutional remarks while rejecting CPI(M)’s plea to hold a peaceful protest against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The CPI(M) said the court overstepped its role by questioning the party’s patriotism. It called the comments unacceptable and against the Indian Constitution. The party reminded that CPI(M) is a recognized national party with a long legacy of democratic and constitutional engagement.
The party said the court’s comments ignore basic constitutional rights and India’s historic moral stance in support of oppressed people—especially Palestinians.
One of the judges reportedly said:
“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 also questioned CPI(M)’s right to speak on international matters, stating:
“You are an organisation registered in India. If you could take up issues like garbage dumping, pollution, sewerage, flooding… You are not protesting on those but on something happening thousands of miles outside the country.”
CPI(M) called these remarks biased and politically motivated. It said the court ignored India’s long-standing support for Palestine, which began during the freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi supported Palestinian rights, and so did many Indian governments and political groups after independence.
The party said the court appeared aligned with the central government’s recent shift away from India’s earlier foreign policy on Palestine. It also ignored global outrage over Israeli actions, including criticism by the UN, International Court of Justice, and many human rights groups.
CPI(M) said the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right under the Constitution. Denying it based on political views is an attack on democracy and shows a lack of judicial impartiality.
The CPI(M) urged all democratic and freedom-loving Indians to oppose such remarks. It called for unity in defence of constitutional rights, democratic values, and solidarity with Palestine.
