Massachusetts/New Delhi: Members of the wider Harvard community, including lawyers, policymakers, civil servants, scientists and academicians, have expressed concern over the “use of Harvard University’s name to lend credibility to a political campaign” without proper authorisation.
The group has described the protests in New Delhi as a “campaign against India’s constitutional institutions”.
In a statement, the group said it was concerned about public discourse targeting the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Supreme Court, the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Parliament, as reported by timesnow.in.
This comes amid demands by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Opposition INDI Bloc for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“We are deeply concerned by the negative public discourse and concerted campaign against India’s constitutional institutions,” the statement said.
The group objected to descriptions of India as being under “siege” and constitutional authorities as “thieves” or “compromised”, arguing that such language could undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
Actions taken by law enforcement agencies to maintain public order should be open to fair scrutiny, it said, while adding that sweeping accusations and abusive language could not replace evidence, due process or institutional accountability.
“The Constitution, rule of law, and civil liberties must be respected at all times, not just when it suits our interests,” the statement said, calling for a commitment to justice and democratic institutions over what it described as selective outrage and political convenience.
Public servants and the offices they hold should be treated with dignity, even as questions about their actions are examined, it stressed.
This follows a separate controversy over the use of the Harvard name in public debate surrounding the Delhi protests.
The Harvard Club of India, the university’s official alumni group in the country, clarified on October 12 that it had neither issued nor endorsed a statement concerning the protests and the authorities’ actions.
Rajat Sethi, a member of the club’s executive committee, said the views expressed by individuals did not represent the organisation’s official position.
Its mandate did not permit it to issue political statements on behalf of the club or Harvard University.
This came after Live Law reported about 100 Harvard University alumni issuing a statement condemning “police brutality, unlawful detention, and violations of constitutional rights of all peaceful protestors” in Delhi on October 10.
These alumni reportedly expressed solidarity with senior advocate Shadan Farasat (2009 Harvard Law School alumnus) who was manhandled by the Delhi police, and CJP policy head Mehr Pasricha (Harvard Kennedy School, 2025) who was detained.
“We call upon the government and all law enforcement authorities to immediately cease and desist from all violations of constitutional rights, respect rights to peaceful protest and access to legal assistance, and ensure that those responsible for abuses are held accountable in accordance with the rule of law,” the group had reportedly said in the statement.