Patna (Asian independent) Dhananjay Kumar Sinha, Bihar State President of the Socialist Party (India), stated that the kind of actions currently being taken against young people holding ideological differences through social media platforms under the “Cockroach” banner are a matter of serious concern for democratic values and the constitutional right to “freedom of expression.” He said that shutting down the Twitter account of the youth organization “Cockroach Janata Party,” hacking its Instagram account, blocking its website, linking protesting youths with Pakistan or anti-national forces in an attempt to defame them, and suppressing dissenting voices are not healthy signs for a democratic system. Such actions create an atmosphere of fear and repression in the country. Dhananjay Kumar Sinha further stated that the Constitution of India grants every citizen the right to express their views, criticize government policies, and register democratic protest. He said that socialist ideology has always stood in favor of democracy, equality, and civil liberties. Warning the government, he said that if attempts are made to crush the critical voices of the youth and portray dissent as a crime, the country could witness circumstances similar to those during the Emergency period of 1975. History is witness that whenever democratic rights have been suppressed, the people have raised a decisive voice against it. The Socialist Party (India) appealed to the Central Government to respect the spirit of democracy and refrain from imposing any unnecessary restrictions on freedom of expression. The party also called upon the youth of the country, intellectuals, social workers, and democratic forces to unite and raise their voices for the protection of the Constitution and civil rights.
