London Audience Member’s Question on Dissent Cut Short After CJI Surya Kant Lecture

A question raising concerns about alleged hostility to dissent in India was cut off before it could be completed following a lecture by India’s Chief Justice, Surya Kant, at Birkbeck, University of London, sparking discussion on social media.

Justice Surya Kant was speaking on “Artificial Intelligence and International Law” during his visit to the United Kingdom. During the audience interaction that followed, a woman referenced his remarks on democracy and AI before turning to concerns raised by legal observers about what she described as growing hostility to dissent in India.

According to video clips shared online, the attendee said that concerns about dissent appeared to be reflected in some of the Chief Justice’s recent public remarks. Before she could finish her question, the moderator intervened, saying the event was focused on artificial intelligence and international law and that the question would not be taken.

“With all due respect, I’m so sorry, I would not be able to take up that question since the topic is concerning artificial intelligence and international law,” the moderator said, bringing the exchange to an end.

In a separate clip, another attendee can be heard objecting, saying, “Give us some respect please!”

The videos were later circulated on social media and re-shared by members of the online movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which emerged in response to controversial remarks made by Justice Surya Kant during a Supreme Court hearing in May.

During that hearing, the Chief Justice criticized individuals he said were attacking institutions and referred to some activists and social media commentators as “cockroaches,” comments that drew significant attention online. A day later, he issued a clarification, saying he had been misquoted and that his remarks were directed at individuals allegedly entering the legal profession with fake qualifications rather than at young people in general.

The CJP subsequently adopted the label as its name and has since organized campaigns and protests, including a planned demonstration in Delhi demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The London incident comes weeks after a separate episode during Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to Norway, when a journalist called out questions on press freedom after a joint media statement concluded without a formal question-and-answer session. Indian officials later said the event had been structured as a joint statement rather than a press conference and was not intended to include audience questions.