SBS condemns the Indian government’s attempt to gag and effectively close down civil society organisations and legal firms like the Lawyers Collective in India.
This move spearheaded by the right wing Hindu fundamentalist Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and his cohorts, represents the latest in a long line of crack downs on NGOs in India. It is no accident since the Lawyers Collective has a long and distinguished history of championing the rights of the most powerless in India and of challenging the Indian government for abuses of power. The decision to suspend the registration of The Lawyers Collective is indicative of a desperate government that wishes to hold onto power and autocratic rule by any means necessary even if this violates the democratic secular constitution of India. It must be resisted.