‘Criminalisation of dissent’: Indian artist remains behind bars after workers’ protest

On April 11, 2024, visual artist Srishti Gupta, 28, was detained alongside three other individuals at a Noida metro station by plainclothes police officers. The group had attended a protest earlier that evening where factory workers were demanding better wages and working conditions. Gupta's lawyer, Ali Zia Kabir Choudhary, contended that her arrest was unlawful as there was no arrest memo, no warrant, and no female police officers present during the arrest.

Despite these arguments, Gupta and her companions remain incarcerated. Lawyer Choudhary highlighted that this case is part of a broader trend of crackdowns on dissent that intensified after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014. The ruling government's crackdowns on dissent are more severe, he said, and termed it as "criminalization of dissent."

In response to the case, Shuddhabrata Sengupta, an artist, questioned the lack of a concerted stand from the Delhi art community to support Gupta. Sengupta had praised Gupta's work and expressed concern about the silence from the art community, which he saw as a lack of knowledge, indifference, or fear. Sengupta's post led to increased public discussion, though art institutions have yet to show significant response.

Sengupta believes this case is unique, as he is aware of the first time an artist has been incarcerated without any connection to their artistic practice.

Gupta, who grew up near Lucknow and holds a degree in printmaking, is a member of the Progressive Artists’ League (PAL), a collective that organizes political workshops and discussions in working-class neighborhoods. She has been actively involved in various social movements and has shown a strong commitment to her community. Gupta's case has attracted criticism, with her lawyer pointing out the lack of evidence against her and the unreasonable nature of the charges.

The National Security Act has also been invoked, further complicating her situation. As of now, Gupta and her companions await their bail hearing in a higher court.