On January 9, 1920, the British colonial Hunter Committee asked Mahatma Gandhi a series of questions on what he thought about citizens using civil disobedience and peaceful protest against his own – i.e. an Indian led – government and ministers. His answers stunned Lord Hunter. And they will also stun Emperor Modi and Lord Shah. Sample this: Question: Supposing your own ministers pass any law, would it be open to anybody and everybody to break them? Gandhi: Will it be open to the masses? I think it will be more open to the masses when India has her own ministers, because whilst English ministers have at least the benefit of ignorance on their side, unintentionally, our own ministers will have absolutely no such excuse. Question: Is not the remedy to turn those ministers out and not to break the laws? Gandhi: I have known in most democratic countries ministers who have made themselves irremovable somehow or other. In that event what is a poor respectable minority to do? That minority will certainly bring down the tallest minister by offering stubborn civil resistance, and such a position I do anticipate happening in India also. Read Gandhiji's testimony in detail and imagine what he would have said about the satyagraha that the young people – and all those concerned about democracy – have launched in India! thewire.in/rights/what-gandh…

SOS messages coming in from Pandwala Khurd where the Delhi Police dumped a bunch of protestors after allegedly assaulting some of them quite badly. Now a mob of goons has gathered outside the community centre they were left at. There is no medical treatment for the injured kids, no transport and no security from the menacing crowd that has obviously been allowed to gather to “teach a lesson” to the protestors. @AmitShah and @DelhiPolice this is on you.

Receiving disturbing reports of an incident from Maidangarhi PS area that I am hoping @DelhiPolice will clarify. This is what I heard : “Advocate Fidel Tom, practising in Delhi. went to the Sanjay Colony Police Post, Maidan Garhi, after receiving information that some protesters had been detained there. On reaching the police station, he enquired about the detainees and about reports that they were being beaten by the police. A man in plain clothes then approached him and said that he was a police officer. When he asked why he was not in uniform, he became agitated and forcibly took Adv Fidel to the washroom, where he and several others beat him up brutally.” When contacted by a reporter from @thewire_in about these reports, the SHO only said “I will find out and tell you”. Concerned ACP and DCP are cutting their calls. Violence against anybody in custody or on police premises is unacceptable. That a lawyer also seems to have fallen foul of this disregard for the law and constitution is especially alarming.