Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has publicly accused unnamed external forces of orchestrating recent protests in Delhi, asserting that a "foreign hand is becoming visible." Sibal specifically questioned the involvement of Harvard University alumni who issued a statement condemning police actions against demonstrators.
Sibal Questions Harvard Alumni's Role
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Sibal stated, "The foreign hand is becoming visible. This is part of external mobilisation in cahoots with the protestors. Why are the Harvard alumni joining these anarchical protests?" His remarks came as Delhi experienced widespread protests, leading to significant security deployment and detentions.
Harvard Alumni Condemn Police Action
Earlier on the same day, over 100 Harvard University alumni released a statement criticizing what they described as "police brutality, unlawful detention, and violations of constitutional rights of all peaceful protestors" during the Delhi demonstrations on October 10. The alumni expressed solidarity with senior advocate Shadan Farasat, a 2009 Harvard Law School alumnus, who they claimed was manhandled by Delhi Police. They also highlighted the detention of Mehr Pasricha, policy head at Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) and a 2025 graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School.
The alumni's statement urged the government and law enforcement to cease all constitutional rights violations, respect the right to peaceful protest and access to legal assistance, and ensure accountability for any abuses.
Protests Against Chief Election Commissioner
The broader protests in Delhi have been organized by opposition parties and the CJP, targeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR process. The capital saw extensive security measures over the weekend, including the closure of 45 metro stations and intensive border checks. Thousands of protesters, including political figures, were detained before being subsequently released.