Lucknow, Oct 18 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), under its nationwide call of ‘stop anarchy, embrace democracy’, organised a rally here on Sunday, saying “coercive politics has no place in a democratic system”.
Students and students’ body members participated in the rally from Lucknow University to Gandhi Chowk in Hazratganj.
The rally gave “a clear message that the authority to change governments in India rests solely with the people and that anarchy or coercive politics has no place in a democratic system”, an official ABVP statement issued here said.
Electoral grievances must be addressed through evidence and constitutional procedures, rather than by pressuring constitutional institutions or spreading distrust against them, it said.
“India is a democracy, not a mobocracy. Governments are formed and changed through the people’s votes, not through displays of street power. An attempt to replicate in India the politics of anarchy inspired by political developments in Bangladesh and Nepal is unacceptable,” it added.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a regular administrative process, and allegations of irregularities must be raised with evidence before appropriate constitutional forums, the body said.
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, it said.
ABVP National Secretary Abhay Pratap Singh said, “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.”
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, he said.
ABVP Awadh State Secretary Arpan Kushwaha said, “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,” he added.
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, he said.
(PTI News)
