Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi holds protest at CSMT in Mumbai in support of Iran
The party said the protest on Thursday was meant to tell the Centre that "India is with Iran", and demanded that India stop selling arms to Israel.
The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi held a public protest in support of Iran at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai on Thursday, October 1. The party said the protest was organised to convey to the Centre that "India is with Iran". Party chief Prakash Ambedkar had announced the protest in advance.
In a post after the protest, Ambedkar wrote that the Centre's foreign policy had completely surrendered to the United States. During the protest, the party sharply criticised the Centre's foreign policy. The protesters alleged that India's foreign policy had become tied to the US stance.
The protesters claimed that Iran had sided with India on the Kashmir issue. On that basis, they demanded that India rethink its ties with Iran. They also referred to crude oil supplies from Iran to India and related cooperation.
The protesters claimed that the conflict in West Asia could affect India's economy. They voiced concern that if crude oil prices rise, fuel and other prices would be hit and inflationary pressure could build. The Finance Ministry's economic review of September 2026 also warns that rising crude prices and geopolitical tension could increase the risk of imported inflation.
The protesters also demanded that India not sell arms to Israel. The party claims these weapons could be used in the conflict against Iran. Its position is that India should make its stand on Iran clear and send the message that it is with Iran. Thursday's protest was held for this demand.
Against the backdrop of the conflict between the US and Iran, there are fears that crude oil supplies could be affected, and this has created instability in the global market. India meets a large part of its crude oil needs through imports, so changes in oil prices can affect the country's economy. According to the latest figures, West Asia's share in India's crude oil imports rose in September. The conflict in the region and supply disruptions are therefore being watched closely in India.
There is political debate in the country on which side India should take in the Iran-Israel conflict. Through the CSMT protest, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has demanded that the Centre change its stand on Iran, stop arms sales to Israel and look after India's economic interests. Attention now turns to the Centre's position on India's role in West Asia.
