Commitment Must Be To Justice, Not Selective Outrage: Harvard Alumni Condemn Targeting Of Institutions After Another Group Supported Shadan Farasat
Another group of Havard Alumini had earlier expresssed solidarity with Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat who was arrested during protests.
On October 14, 2026, a second group of Harvard-affiliated signatories released a counter-statement titled "Statement on Constitutional Responsibility, Rule of Law, and Institutional Integrity".
On 12th October 2026, a public statement was issued by Harvard University Alumni, Students, Faculty & Staff concerning the October 10 protests. The letter expressed concern about alleged siege of Delhi by police and paramilitary forces and alleged arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional police actions against peaceful protestors across the country on 10th October 2026.
Per contra, another segment of the Harvard Alumni has issued another letter saying that they are deeply concerned by the negative public discourse and concerted campaign against India’s constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission of India, the Supreme Court, the office of the Chief Justice of India, and Parliament.
"The language used to describe India as being under “siege” and to characterise constitutional authorities as “thieves” or “compromised” raises serious concerns about the intent to undermine public trust in democratic institutions. The actions of law enforcement agencies to uphold public order deserve fair scrutiny, but sweeping accusations and abusive rhetoric cannot substitute for evidence, due process or institutional accountability. The dignity of public servants and the offices they hold must also be respected", the October 14 letter said.
The letter added that the Constitution, rule of law, and civil liberties must be respected at all times, not just when it suits our interests.
"Our commitment must remain to the Constitution, not convenience; to justice, not selective outrage; and to democratic institutions, not the politics of accusation", it added.
The previous letter dated October 12, 2026, said that they were in solidarity with their fellow alumni, Shadan Farasat (Harvard Law School, 2009) and Mehr Pasricha (Harvard Kennedy School, 2025).
"Mr. Shadan Farasat, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, was detained and manhandled by the police while rushing to prevent the illegal detention of a peaceful protestor. If lawyers are prevented from providing legal aid, then the entire system of law and order breaks down. Ms. Mehr Pasricha was not at any protest site but was peacefully eating breakfast in the Laxmi Nagar Market when she was illegally detained and held for 13 hours. She was not given any paperwork or grounds for detention throughout the entire period of her detention", the letter said.
Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat was seen being dragged out of protests by the Delhi Police on Saturday. The video had invoked mixed reactions on social media.
The protests were held on October 10 after it was reported by The Indian Express that Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi registered written dissents on record on at least 14 separate occasions over a 10-month period. The objections pertained to administrative decisions and official orders issued without the knowledge, consent, or participation of the full Commission, four of which occurred on a single day.