Delhi Police Denies Intervention As Europe-Asia Relations Event Cancelled At Short Notice
An event on Europe Asia relations scheduled in New Delhi on Saturday evening was cancelled at short notice after organisers alleged that Delhi Police intervened and prevented the programme from going ahead. The police, however, denied any intervention.
Titled “Europe and Asia: From Dialogue to a Partnership”, the programme was organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia (FCC South Asia) in collaboration with the Belgium based Hand in Hand Foundation and other partners. It was expected to bring together diplomats, journalists, academics, rights activists and political figures from Europe and Asia.
The organisers said the cancellation followed what they described as “unexplained interventions” by Delhi Police. They said the decision was communicated at short notice and was beyond their control, expressing regret to invited speakers, diplomats, media representatives, academics and civil society participants. They added that they remain committed to dialogue on Europe Asia relations, peace, sustainable development, human rights and international cooperation and hope to hold the programme at a later date.
Reports said the speaker list included former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri, former German ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Fahrenholtz, Bangladeshi American scientist and human rights activist Nuran Nabi, Rohingya rights activist Rabi Alam and Awami League leader Selim Mahmud. The presence of Bangladesh linked speakers has drawn attention because the cancellation comes weeks after the FCC hosted former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina for a media interaction, which triggered a strong reaction from Dhaka.
Delhi Police rejected the organisers' account. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said the FCC does not require police permission to host panels and stated that police had not intervened in its programmes.
The organisers have not announced a new date for the event.