‘Is it a sin to protest?’: Supriya Shrinate backs Youth Congress stir, cites Israel opposition boycott before Modi’s Knesset address

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Friday lashed out at the BJP-led Centre for cracking down on protesters, citing the recent shirtless protest by her party’s youth wing activists.

“I support what the Youth Congress has done, and I support it responsibly. I support it because protesting in a democracy is our constitutional right,” she said at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit.

Police launched a strong security crackdown after the February 20 “shirtless protest” at Bharat Mandapam, booking those involved under BNS sections related to rioting and promoting enmity.

Indian Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib and former spokesperson Bhudev Sharma were taken into custody on Tuesday and presented before a Delhi court, which sent them to police remand for interrogation. The Delhi Police said the total number of arrests in the case has reached 11.

“Protest, by its very nature, should take place in a place where it is discussed, where it attracts people,” said Shrinate.

Citing the recent example of opposition walkout in Israeli Parliament ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech, she said that they were not called a traitor by the media there. “When he (Modi) was going to address the Israeli Parliament, the entire Israeli opposition walked out. And they walked out because they were opposing Benjamin Netanyahu as the President of the Supreme Court was not called. No Israeli media called them a traitor. The Israeli government did not say that Israel's image was tarnished. But this is what is said here,” she said.

“Is it a sin to protest in this country?” she asked.

Members of the Opposition walked out of the Knesset on Wednesday night, skipping speeches by Speaker Amir Ohana and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in protest over the absence of Supreme Court president Isaac Amit from a special legislative sitting held in honour of Narendra Modi.

The lawmakers rejoined the session for Modi’s address, as Opposition leader Yair Lapid greeted the Indian leader and stressed that the demonstration was not directed at him.