Markandey Katju Issues Warning to Youth Planning Parliament March from Jantar Mantar
- Katju Cautions Delhi Protesters, Cites Russia's Bloody Sunday and Napoleon's Vendémiaire
- Former Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju Warns of Risks in Proposed Parliament March
Why Justice Markandey Katju Believes the Proposed Parliament March Could End in Violence
- Historical Examples Cited by Justice Katju
- Questions Raised About Abhijeet Dipke and the Protest Campaign
- What Is the Proposed Jantar Mantar to Parliament March?
Description
Justice Markandey Katju has warned participants in the proposed Jantar Mantar-to-Parliament march, arguing that any attempt by a large crowd to approach Parliament could invite security action. In his statement, he cites the 1905 Bloody Sunday in Russia and the 1795 Vendémiaire uprising in France as historical examples and raises questions about protest organizer Abhijeet Dipke. The article reproduces Katju's views, which are his personal opinions.
A warning to the youth assembled at Jantar Mantar, Delhi
By Justice Markandey Katju
Abhijeet Dipke, the Founder-cum-President of the Cockroach Janta Party, has announced that tomorrow, 20th July, there will be a march by the youth assembled at Jantar Mantar to Parliament House, with a demand for the resignation of the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In this connection, I wish to give a sincere warning to those who propose to join this march: Dipke's inflammatory instigation is bound to end in a tragedy.
No sovereign body like Parliament can ever tolerate or permit a mob to come anywhere near the Parliament House. It will be stopped by security forces in between, by use of tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets, etc, and if that does not suffice, by live bullets.
In this connection, I wish to narrate 2 historical accounts.
In Russia, in January 1905, a large number of workers in St Petersburg, led by a priest, Father Gapon, marched to the Winter Palace, the residence of Russia's ruler, Tsar Nicholas II, to present a petition to him containing their grievances. On the way, troops fired on them, killing and wounding thousands, which became known as Bloody Sunday.
Father Gapon was later revealed to be a police spy and agent provocateur
The other incident was in Paris in October 1795 ( known as Vendemiarie ), when Gen Napoleon Bonaparte's troops dispersed by 'a whiff of grapeshot' a pro-royalist crowd moving towards the National Convention, causing numerous deaths and injured persons.
So cockroaches, do as you please, but don't say that I did not warn you.
As for Abhijeet Dipke, he seems to be somewhat like Father Gapon. There is a mystery about him. He was a student in Boston University, USA. Then why is he in India, instead of pursuing his studies in Boston? And who has paid for his air travel from America to India? Who has paid for his numerous air flights within India, and for his hotel accommodations, food, etc and the amounts spent on the events he organized in Jantar Mantar, Delhi, and in several other cities? Surely this requires an investigation.
I would not be surprised if it is later found that he was an agent of some foreign intelligence body, just as Father Gapon was later revealed to be a police spy.
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India and a former Chairman of the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own.)
