Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas on Tuesday expressed solidarity with peaceful student protesters, criticising the use of force against demonstrators and stressing that the right to dissent is a fundamental part of democracy.
In a statement shared on social media, Tovino questioned the approach taken towards peaceful protests and said that citizens exercising their democratic rights should not be met with repression.
“Right and wrong may be relative, but this is certainly NOT the way to handle a peaceful protest,” the actor wrote.
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Tovino said that when young people raise their concerns, their voices deserve to be heard rather than silenced through force. Highlighting the importance of protecting democratic values, he said that suppressing the voices of the younger generation affects not just the present but also the future of the country.
“When the future generation of a nation speaks up, and their voices are met with repressive force, it is the future itself that is being stamped down. It is faith in democracy that is being drained away,” he said.
Questioning the treatment of the protesting students, the actor asked what actions had justified such a response.
“What did these students do wrong? Did they destroy property? Did they resort to violence? What exactly did they do to deserve this treatment?” he questioned.
Extending his support to peaceful demonstrators across the country, Tovino said that raising one’s voice for a just cause through peaceful means is an essential democratic right.
“To every person protesting for a just cause, peacefully, in any part of our country, I extend my wholehearted solidarity. The right to dissent is not a threat to democracy; in fact it is one of its foundations,” he wrote.
The actor also addressed possible criticism over his views and said his statement was not driven by political, religious, or social divisions. Defining his personal outlook, he wrote:
“And to anyone about to question my sense of nationalism, I know myself better than you do. This goes beyond politics, religion, and every other form of division. My politics is humanity. My belief is peace. Jai Hind 🇮🇳.”
Tovino’s comments come amid wider discussions across the country over student protests and the response to demonstrations, with several public figures from the Indian film industry sharing their views on issues related to democracy, dissent, and peaceful expression.
