India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
More than 400 Indian-origin students, researchers and academics from 27 countries have come together to sign a statement titled ‘Spare India from Anarchy’, raising concerns over protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI). They argue that repeated challenges to the country’s democratic institutions could affect public trust in the system.
The signatories include individuals affiliated with universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). They say disagreements over election results, court rulings and the functioning of constitutional bodies should be handled through established democratic processes rather than street protests.
Over 400 Indian-origin academics from 27 countries signed ‘Spare India from Anarchy’, expressing concern that protests challenging the Election Commission and other democratic institutions could erode public trust, urging resolution through constitutional methods.
The statement comes at a time when opposition parties and citizens’ groups are questioning the Election Commission’s functioning and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Concerns over alleged electoral irregularities and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls have also fuelled protests. The Election Commission has described the revision as a routine exercise.
In their appeal, the signatories point to India’s democratic journey since Independence, arguing that constitutional institutions, checks and balances, and peaceful transfers of power have helped the system remain stable.
They express concern that election results are increasingly being questioned when political parties face defeat. They also raise concerns about criticism of judicial decisions and the independence of the courts. The statement further objects to the Armed Forces being drawn into partisan political debates.
The signatories say political disagreements are inevitable in a democracy, but they believe these should be addressed through constitutional channels. In their view, street confrontations and repeated challenges to the credibility of public institutions could weaken confidence in the democratic system.
The statement also draws on the views of Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. It refers to his warning against abandoning constitutional methods in favour of revolutionary or extra-constitutional means to achieve political goals.
The signatories stress that parliamentary debate, dialogue and constitutional procedures should remain central to resolving disagreements. They acknowledge that dissent is an important part of democracy but argue that it should be exercised without undermining public confidence in constitutional institutions.
Their appeal calls on political parties and social groups to settle differences through “debate, discussion, dialogue and dissent” within the constitutional framework.
The statement adds another dimension to the ongoing debate over the Election Commission’s role, electoral integrity and the right to protest. Opposition parties and citizens’ groups have raised questions about the conduct of elections and the revision of voter lists. The signatories, meanwhile, warn that continued confrontations over the legitimacy of constitutional institutions could further weaken public trust.
The signatories are based in or have studied in 27 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Japan and Singapore.
The statement also makes it clear that the universities listed alongside the signatories’ names are mentioned only to identify their academic affiliations. Their inclusion does not mean the institutions themselves support or endorse the appeal.
