Unjust Detention and Deportation of Professor Nitasha Kaul: A Blatant Act of Intolerance by RSS and BJP

*Unjust Detention and Deportation of Professor Nitasha Kaul: A Blatant Act of Intolerance by RSS and BJP*

In a shocking display of authoritarianism, Professor Nitasha Kaul, a distinguished academic invited to a seminar in Bengaluru, faced unwarranted and illegal detention upon her arrival at the Bengaluru airport. The apparent orchestration of her repatriation by the BJP-led Union Government of India reveals the sinister intolerance harbored by the ruling establishment towards dissenting voices.

Professor Kaul, a luminary in politics, international relations, and critical interdisciplinary studies at the University of Westminster, endured a harrowing 24-hour detention by the immigration department. Confined to a cell under constant CCTV surveillance, she was subjected to conditions that violate basic human rights, with limited space for movement and insufficient provisions of water and food. Such treatment reflects a gross abuse of power.

Despite the lack of official statements, Professor Kaul asserts that her expulsion is a direct response to her incisive critique of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a critique that has drawn the ire of the BJP-led government. Invited by the State Government of Karnataka to participate in a seminar on "Constitution and Unity in India," her expulsion raises serious questions about the suppression of dissenting opinions in the world's largest democracy.

This incident is not an isolated one. Professor Kaul has been subjected to threats and intimidation from right-wing extremists, including death threats and bans. The dispatching of law enforcement to her mother's residence is a blatant attempt to stifle her voice through fear. Professor Kaul's courage in the face of such adversity is commendable, and we express our unwavering solidarity with her.

The episode exposes the alarming intolerance of the Sangh Brigade, particularly the RSS and BJP. Their unwillingness to tolerate even the mildest forms of dissent demonstrates a blatant disregard for democratic values. We call on all forces that cherish democracy to condemn this egregious act by the Modi Government.

In standing with Professor Nitasha Kaul, we stand against the erosion of democratic principles and the stifling of voices that question the status quo. The Marxist perspective encourages us to recognize the broader implications of such actions – an attempt to silence those who dare to challenge the hegemony of the ruling elite.

Majdur Vimarsh

Basedvon AISA post dated  26/02/24