Open letter to CM Siddu on rights of protesters supporting Palestine

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: An FIR was filed by the police against individuals who expressed their solidarity with Palestine on MG Road, on Monday, October 16.

The FIR was registered because protests should have occurred at Freedom Park, rather than MG Road.

However, when 'Bengaluru for Justice and Peace' sought permission for a protest and public meeting at Freedom Park to address the same issue, the police denied their request, citing what the organisers considered a flimsy reason. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, the Bengaluru for Justice and Peace wrote, “... Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) has rejected permission for a protest to be held in Freedom Park on 28th October 2023 on the ground that this is an international issue and a threat to law and order.

This freedom is not restricted only to national issues, but to every issue, and international issues are no exception. Additionally, there is no reason to believe that our peaceful protest in Freedom Park will threaten law and order.”

The letter further added that the police authorities have also gone to the extent of detaining demonstrators in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Tumkur, and are initiating criminal actions against them for advocating Palestinian rights and demanding an immediate ceasefire.

In Bengaluru alone, two FIRs have been lodged against individuals peacefully expressing their support for the Palestinian people—one at Cubbon Park Police Station and the other at Tilaknagar.

This situation has seen the police file FIRs against peaceful protesters, contending that demonstrations should exclusively take place in Freedom Park.