“Why don’t you do something for our own country ? Be patriots,” said the Bombay High Court to CPI(M)

Bombay High Court raps down CPI(M) petition, seeking permission to  protest the genocide and violence in Gaza

Mumbai – The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which challenged the Mumbai Police’s decision to deny permission for a protest at Azad Maidan over the Gaza conflict. The court strongly advised the party to focus on domestic concerns rather than international matters. “Our country has enough issues. We don’t want anything like this. I am sorry to say, you are all short-sighted. You are looking at issues in Gaza and Palestine. Look at your own country. Be patriots,” the bench said during the hearing. The court pointed out that as an Indian political party, CPI(M) should be raising local civic matters such as waste management, pollution, and flooding—issues that directly affect citizens—rather than taking positions on distant international conflicts. Why are you not protesting about these issues ? Instead, you want to protest about something happening thousands of miles outside the country. The bench also cautioned that demonstrations on such sensitive global matters could have unintended diplomatic consequences. Without naming any side, the court noted, “You don’t know the dust it could kick up…. siding with Palestine or Israel might affect India’s foreign relations.” Why do you want to do this ? Instead of looking at the problems of Gaza and Palestine look at the issues in your own country.