Langate, April 18: In the backdrop of growing global outrage against Israel over its military actions in Palestine, MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed on Friday strongly condemned the midnight detention of several youths in his constituency, allegedly over a social media campaign calling for a boycott of Israeli products. He urged the administration to uphold democratic values and release the detained boys without delay.
He said that since last night, his office had received several phone calls from distressed parents, who reported that their children were woken up in the dark and taken away by security forces. “We initially believed it was a routine case of questioning, which is not uncommon in a conflict zone, but by morning it became clear the detentions were linked to a video appeal urging people to boycott Israeli products,” he said.
Highlighting the constitutional rights of citizens, the MLA stated, “This is a matter of personal choice. If people wish to decide what to eat, wear or boycott, it is their democratic right. The Constitution of India allows everyone the freedom to promote, appeal, and express their opinion on such matters.”
Khursheed added that following the incident, local residents staged a peaceful protest and appealed to the administration for the immediate release of the detained youths. “We were assured by the police that some of the boys have been released, while others are being questioned as part of an investigation. We are cooperating fully,” he said.
While maintaining faith in the police and the administration, he urged them to handle the situation sensitively. “If the administration believes the boys need counseling or there’s another angle to this, we are ready to cooperate, but harassing youths for expressing solidarity with Palestine or for posting videos about a boycott does not fit the values of a democratic society.”
Appealing directly to the Chief Minister, he said, “You have been silent in the assembly, but outside the assembly our youths are being harassed for speaking out. We no longer live under the shadow of the 2019-2024 period; this is the time of an elected government chosen by the people.”
The MLA stressed that in a Muslim-majority state, such expressions of solidarity are natural. “Globally, people are protesting against Israeli actions, and our youths feel the same. If I, as a public representative, want to stand in front of 2,000 people and protest, I can, but we have chosen to remain peaceful and lawful,” he said.
MLA Langate urged the administration not to inflate small issues and appealed to the Chief Minister to raise the matter with the Raj Bhawan and the Centre. “People must be allowed to express themselves peacefully within the scope of the law,” he concluded.
