AIPSO Holds Protest Despite Ban; CPI(M) Slams Repression
Mumbai: In a brazen crackdown on democratic dissent, Mumbai Police detained several leaders and activists from Left and secular parties on Tuesday to prevent a planned protest at Azad Maidan in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The protest, called by the Left parties to denounce Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, was scheduled for June 18 but was met with early-morning detentions and heavy police deployment.
The CPI(M) Mumbai District Committee’s Bhandup office was put under surveillance in the early hours, with party leaders Hari Ghadge, Shailendra Chauhan, and Tabrez Ali—a key figure in the Aarey Colony movement—being detained and taken to Powai police station.
CPI leaders Prakash Reddy and Charul Joshi were also picked up from their homes, while Raju Korde, State Office Secretary of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), and anti-Adani activists from Dharavi were among those detained. Others included Meraj Siddiqui of the Samajwadi Party, Shyam Gohil of CPI(ML), and Firoz Mithiborwala of the Indian People’s Solidarity Forum (IPSF). Multiple activists were picked up from political party offices even before they could reach the protest site.
The CPI(M) Maharashtra State Committee strongly condemned the crackdown, calling it “authoritarian, anti-democratic, and unconstitutional,” and squarely blamed the BJP-led state government for orchestrating the repression in support of Israel.
“Azad Maidan is a legally designated site for democratic protests, as recognized by the Bombay High Court. Mumbai Police’s actions amount to contempt of court,” the party stated, accusing CM Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, of ordering the clampdown.
While similar protests were held peacefully across India, activists questioned why only Maharashtra’s government resorted to such excessive repression, especially in the context of the controversial Maharashtra Public Security Bill, pending in the state assembly.
Protest Held Despite Crackdown
Defying the ban and police action, a peaceful yet spirited demonstration was successfully held under the banner of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) on the outskirts of Azad Maidan.
Around 100 peace activists representing CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, CITU, AIDWA, and other democratic groups managed to evade the police barricades. The protest was held at 3:30 PM in the ENSA compound, near Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh and the Press Club.
CPI(M) and AIPSO leaders including Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Shailendra Kamble, Dr. S. K. Rege, Adv. Armaity Irani, Chandrakant Bhojgar, Sugandhi Francis, Rekha Deshpande, and Sangita Kamble led the demonstration.
For about 30 minutes, the protesters raised slogans such as:
• “Palestine-Bharat Maitri Zindabad!”
• “Israel ka Narsanhar Band Karo!”
• “Netanyahu ki Hitlershahi Nahin Chalegi!”
• “Stop the Genocide in Gaza!”
• “Trump-Netanyahu Murdabad!”
Following the protest, all participants were arrested and taken to Yellow Gate Police Station.
Reiterating its condemnation, the CPI(M) warned the Mahayuti Government that it would face a determined resistance from people committed to defending democratic and constitutional rights.
