New Delhi:National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam expressed firm solidarity with young people in India who are demanding electoral accountability and defending democratic rights. He criticized the recent detentions of peaceful protesters, organizers, and journalists in New Delhi, as well as the internet suspensions and restrictions at Jantar Mantar, stating that these actions "directly threaten fundamental freedoms."
According to United News of Bangladesh, Nahid Islam emphasized that concerns over electoral integrity and institutional independence require transparent answers rather than barricades and censorship. He drew parallels with Bangladesh's July 2024 uprising, where a student-led movement against recruitment quotas escalated into a nationwide uprising against 15 years of authoritarian rule, resulting in state violence and an estimated 1,400 deaths, as reported by the United Nations.
Nahid recalled the support Indian students, writers, and independent voices provided during the Bangladeshi uprising. He paid tribute to India's traditions of democratic resistance, mentioning the women of Shaheen Bagh and students from JNU and Jadavpur University. Highlighting the presence of young Indian women in the protests, he compared their role to that of women in Bangladesh's July Revolution, whose courage and sacrifices contributed to its success.
The NCP leader condemned Hindutva majoritarianism, fascism, and religious supremacy, asserting they should not define South Asia's future. He rejected authoritarianism, communal hatred, and political intolerance in both India and Bangladesh. He emphasized that a truly democratic society cannot exist where minorities live in fear, dissent is criminalized, and citizenship is conditional on identity.
Nahid called on Indian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly, disclose the whereabouts and legal grounds for detaining protest organizers, release those held for exercising their rights, and allow journalists to report without intimidation or equipment seizure. He referenced Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, who remain imprisoned without trial, identifying all young protesters and prisoners of conscience in India as "comrades."
He stressed the interconnected struggles of the two countries, including border killings, water sharing, environmental protection, and national sovereignty. Nahid expressed a vision for a South Asia where nations treat each other as equals, and sovereignty does not justify domination. He concluded by urging the people of India to stand firm, protect each other, and reject communal hatred.