A group of Indian citizens affiliated with Harvard University has raised concerns over what it described as a “concerted campaign” against India’s constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Supreme Court, the office of the Chief Justice of India and Parliament. The statement, reported on October 14, 2026, comes amid controversy surrounding the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

AdvertisementThe Puranic

The signatories called for respect for the Constitution, the rule of law and civil liberties, arguing that democratic institutions and public officials should be treated with due regard. They also expressed concern over reports that Harvard University’s name was being used to lend credibility to a political campaign without appropriate authorisation.

The statement criticised rhetoric portraying constitutional authorities as “thieves” or “compromised”, warning that such language could undermine public trust in democratic institutions. It also said law enforcement actions should be open to fair scrutiny, while allegations must be supported by evidence and assessed through due process.

The development follows a separate statement by Harvard-affiliated individuals concerning police action and the detention of protesters during demonstrations in Delhi on October 10. The two statements reflect differing views among individuals associated with the university about the protests and the response by authorities.

The Harvard Club of India has clarified that it did not issue or endorse the earlier protest-related statement, emphasising that individual expressions do not represent the organisation’s official position or Harvard University.

The latest signatories said their statement represented their personal views. The episode highlights the debate over electoral processes, civil liberties, institutional accountability and the distinction between individual political expression and formal institutional representation.