On 20th August 2024, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) organized a massive pro-Palestine rally at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. The event quickly drew attention for the nature of its slogans and participants. Protesters waved Palestinian and communist flags, and the air echoed with controversial chants like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Placards reading “Free Palestine” were displayed prominently, creating an atmosphere charged with political symbolism.

The rally attracted a diverse crowd that included journalists, artists, students, and representatives from political groups such as the Indian National Congress (INC) and Samajwadi Party, alongside other opposition party workers. The gathering reflected a clear alignment of leftist-liberal groups with Islamist factions under the banner of solidarity for Palestine.

Among the most outspoken voices at the rally was Bollywood actress-turned-activist Swara Bhasker, who has long positioned herself as a critic of Israel and a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause. She used the opportunity to once again advance her pro-Hamas stance, dismissing global outrage over Hamas’s killing spree in Israel.

Swara stated, “They (Palestinians) are striving to survive in order to protect their existence from destruction. The Israeli government has today openly declared that the genocide they are executing in Gaza constitutes a campaign to obliterate the Palestinians, their territory, their identity and their lives. This incident took place on 7th October (2023) during which 1200 Israeli citizens lost their lives, it is indeed sad when a person dies anywhere in the world. Nevertheless, to act as if history began on 7th October 2023 is a fabrication. This is a falsehood and an act of deceit.”

Her comments drew criticism because while acknowledging the 1,200 Israelis murdered by Hamas on October 7, she quickly brushed aside the tragedy as part of what she called a longer historical narrative. Swara insisted that the real conflict began in 1948, the year of Israel’s creation, which she argued had devastating consequences for Palestinians.

She added, “When discussing the 1200 Israeli lives, it is imperative to also consider the thousands of Palestinians that have perished since 1948. If one is to mention the 200 hostages taken by Hamas, it is essential to also highlight the 10,000 Palestinians who have been kidnapped by Israel and thrown behind bars for decades without any trial or formal charges.”

Through this comparison, Swara attempted to frame the brutal killings by Hamas as part of a much larger history of Palestinian suffering, drawing equivalence between terrorists murdering civilians and Israel’s imprisonment of Palestinians on security grounds.

She further declared, “We gather here today to express to the entire world and to align ourselves with those who are voicing this sentiment globally that every life on this planet, regardless of religion or ethnicity holds significance. Every child born into this world is of great importance. The lives of white children do not possess greater value than those from Asia, Africa or Latin America. It is not right to raise our voices in response to the deaths of white children in Ukraine while remaining silent about the same fate of Asian children in Palestine. This is dishonesty.”

Her words were delivered under the banner of equality, but critics pointed out the irony — while demanding equal value for every human life, she appeared to downplay and rationalize the deliberate targeting and killing of innocent Jews by Hamas.

Swara blames everything except Hamas

In the later part of her speech, Swara shifted blame entirely onto Israel. She claimed, “Israel has attained its goals through 80 years of propaganda which has been so effective that we often hesitate to articulate a basic truth and a historical fact about the suffering endured by the Palestinians.”

She invoked the Holocaust to make her point, stating, “No matter what misfortunes have befallen your community (Jewish) in a different location or continent, you can not seek revenge by moving to a third place.”

Swara emphasized that everyone at the rally condemned the genocide of Jews by Nazi Germany, but she sought to redirect the guilt: “Yet, it is crucial to recognize that the persecution and atrocities committed against the Jews were largely perpetrated by the white populace of the Christian governments in Europe. Thus, why should the Palestinians, a brown Asian demographic be punished for these historical wrongs.”

Continuing her argument, she insisted, “This is a very straightforward and fundamental matter. I understand that this argument has been portrayed in a controversial light in the media. However, stating a historical truth does not violate any religious tenets. If one looks at the history of Palestine, it becomes clear that Jewish, Muslim and Christian populations have inhabited that area for centuries and lived harmoniously. This conflict is a result of the blemish on European history (holocaust) that they are attempting to erase by attacking brown people in an Asian nation. It is not antisemitic to point out this, it is a fact.”

By shifting focus to European guilt and portraying Palestinians as scapegoats of Western history, Swara painted Hamas’s brutality as a side note in a broader colonial context — a framing many see as deeply misleading and dangerous.

Swara Amplifies Victimhood Narrative

Swara Bhasker, who married Fahad Ahmad in 2023, continued to emphasize a narrative of victimhood. She spoke passionately about the ongoing suffering in Gaza, noting how the harshness of Israeli operations has exposed deeper truths. She said:

“The inhumanity that has been inflicted on the people of Gaza after 7th October, the suffering they have experienced, the atrocities occurring and the severity with which the Israeli government conducts its operations have laid bare Israel’s propaganda. They are leveraging the Holocaust and the historical anguish of the Jewish community to facilitate their barbarity.”

She urged listeners to draw one important lesson from what Palestinians are going through: We must stand firm, regardless of Israel’s actions. She insisted that the very identity of the Palestinian people— their history, their cause— must remain alive in our speech, hearts, and actions. She said:

“The situation faced by the Palestinians today should impart one significant lesson. We must summon the courage to affirm that, irrespective of Israel’s actions, we will preserve the existence of the Palestinian people, their legacy, their fight in our hearts, our speech, our thoughts, and our actions. Across the globe, governments are working to dissuade people from supporting the Palestinians. Yet, common citizens everywhere are making efforts and standing in solidarity with them.”

She then called for sustained activism. She encouraged small but consistent actions in daily life—through social media, word-of-mouth, technology, even boycotting a single item. Her message was clear:

“Today, I wish to emphasize that our campaign does not conclude here. We must all return and ensure that the narrative of Palestine is sustained daily through technology, social media, our phones, on trains and buses. Initiate even the smallest effort within your home. Even if it is just boycotting one item, even something minor, but do it with certainty. The more the Israeli and Zionist regimes attempt to erase Palestine’s existence and eliminate its people, the more we must strive to keep their voice and struggle alive in our hearts and on our lips.”

Her speech concluded amid chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “free Palestine.” Others who spoke included director Saeed Mirza, journalist P. Sainath, and various social activists. They referenced International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings directed at Israel’s prime minister and defense minister, accusing them of war crimes and seeking long-term dominance over Gaza. They also criticized the Indian government’s foreign policy toward Israel, drawing a connection between Hindutva and Zionism.

Hamas Aligns with Pakistan

Swara’s support for Hamas came into sharper focus when the group formed an alliance with Pakistan. Just before the Pahalgam attack, Hamas co-hosted a rally in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir titled “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood Conference.” The event brought together leadership from Hamas and militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

At the podium, a JeM speaker declared:

“The fighters of Palestine and Kashmir now march as one.”

He even threatened:

“Blood will be spilled in Delhi, and Kashmir shall be torn from India.”

The conference coincided with Pakistan’s annual Kashmir Solidarity Day and reportedly drew over 100 militants from various countries. Palestinians of note were also in attendance. Hamas used the opportunity to officially announce its first presence in the region through its envoy.

Legal Battle over the Azad Maidan Rally

The pro-Palestine rally at Azad Maidan didn’t happen overnight. It followed weeks of legal drama. Mumbai Police had repeatedly denied permission for the rally, prompting CPI(M) and allied petitioners to approach the Bombay High Court.

During hearings, the court sharply criticized the petitioners. Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad told them to focus on India’s own problems, urging them to be patriotic. The court said:

“Our country has several issues to deal with, we don’t want anything like this. I am sorry to say, you are all short-sighted. You are looking at Gaza and Palestine. Why don’t you do something for our own country. Be patriots. Speaking for Gaza and Palestine is not patriotism. Speak up for the causes in our own country. Practice what you preach.”

But after multiple hearings, the court reversed course. It acknowledged the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and instructed authorities to allow the rally, provided law and order were maintained.

Revisiting the Azad Maidan Riots of 2012

Azad Maidan had already seen violence in the past. On 11 August 2012, a protest by Raza Academy and allied groups turned into a full-fledged riot, leaving two people dead and dozens injured. The initial intent was to protest atrocities against Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. The crowd was expected to be around 1,500, but swelled to over 15,000 and later surged to nearly 40,000 (X (formerly Twitter), Free Press Journal, Wikipedia).

Violence erupted when provocative images were shown. Rioters set fire to three media vans and four police vehicles, and vandalized buses. Nearby hospitals like Cama and Albless locked down, while St. Xavier’s College also went into lockdown mode (Wikipedia).

The destruction caused damage worth approximately ₹2.72 crores. Authorities arrested between 35 to 43 individuals, but notably delayed doing so until a week before Eid (Wikipedia)