Delhi Pollution Protest Hijacked by Pro-Maoist Slogans Sparks Outrage on Social Media

Protesters were seen raising pro-Maoist slogans at India Gate during what was meant to be an anti-pollution demonstration.

Social media users have harshly criticized Scientists for Society (SFS), an organization that claimed to be one of the co-organizers of Sunday's (Nov 23) anti-pollution protests in Delhi. The backlash came after the demonstration turned violent when some protesters attacked police with chilli spray while being removed from the site. Adding to the controversy, a group began chanting slogans in support of Madvi Hidma, a prominent Maoist leader killed in an Andhra Pradesh encounter earlier this month, which has prompted legal action.

SFS released a statement on Monday (Nov 24) clarifying that they participated in the protest under the "Delhi Against Clean Air" banner, focusing exclusively on addressing Delhi's air pollution crisis.

"We firmly believe that this protest was solely against air pollution. Our objective was to educate and organize people around the severe pollution crisis, exposing the government and this profit-centric system," SFS stated.

The organization pointed to two other groups, Himkand and bsCEM (Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch), as those responsible for raising the controversial slogans about the Maoist leader.

"Some organizations, Himkhand and bsCEM, began raising slogans about the extra-judicial encounter of CPI (Maoist) leader Hidma. While we strongly believe that there should be a high-level inquiry into the extra-judicial encounters of Hidma and his associates and we unequivocally condemn these encounters, we also believe that this was not the appropriate platform to raise this issue. Ordinary students and citizens had joined this protest specifically to address the issue of pollution."

SFS claimed they were not informed beforehand about these groups' intentions to raise what they termed "unrelated or adventurist" slogans during the protest.

"As soon as we realized what was happening, we first tried to stop them; when they refused to respond, we immediately distanced ourselves from them and continued addressing the common people and carrying forward the protest separately," they explained.

"We also want to reiterate that this act on part of these aforementioned organizations is completely undemocratic, totally against the ethics, mandate and common minimum program of the issue-based joint front based on the issue of pollution crisis in Delhi."

SFS's statement on the disruption of the India Gate protest by bsCEM and the Himkhand garnered significant attention on social media platforms.

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The clarification from SFS, however, failed to appease many social media users who criticized the organization and affiliated groups for hijacking what was intended to be an environmental protest.

"You all have betrayed the trust placed by the good people of Delhi. Is SFS a political organization or do they have any scientific work to their credit?" commented one user, while another expressed frustration: "I was so angry that those Maoists hijacked the innocent Delhi pollution protest and gave the govt fodder to say it's an extreme leftist protest when it's not political!! Do they not have any sense? They could have protested at a distance."

Other commenters specifically took issue with SFS's stance regarding Hidma's death. "Calling the killing of a terrorist as 'extrajudicial' shows that 'Scientists for Society' or whatever they call themselves are thick as thieves with the Hidma Gang," one user remarked.

Another critic added: "Himkhand approached you. You didn't know what or who they are? All these organizations are the same. Hypocrites to the core. Have no solution to anything but cry about everything. Your statement does nothing good. 'Extra judicial killing' what a load of c**p!!"

According to police reports, the protesters occupied the road at India Gate without authorization for approximately an hour, chanting slogans and displaying posters. When police intervened and requested they end the demonstration, protesters allegedly became violent, broke barricades, and deployed chilli spray, resulting in injuries to several police officers.