Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor praised student activist Neha Bora for her “manifest courage” after meeting her during the
INDIA bloc’s March for Democracy in New Delhi on Monday. Tharoor also shared a selfie with the activist on social media platform X.
“Enjoyed meeting @neha_aisa at the INDIA bloc’s #MarchForDemocracy on Monday. I have great respect for her manifest courage — the courage of her convictions. She also takes better selfies than most!” Tharoor wrote alongside the photograph.
Bora, the national president of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), has gained prominence for her participation in recent protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the national capital.
The 29-year-old PhD scholar joined Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the INDIA bloc’s march towards the Supreme Court. The demonstration targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and opposed the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Who is Neha Bora?
Neha Bora has emerged as a prominent face of the protest movement challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Her growing visibility comes amid a police crackdown on demonstrations organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and other groups.
Bora was among several activists detained by police over the weekend as protesters attempted to demonstrate against alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the electoral process.
The student leader has said that activism was not her original career goal. According to a Reuters report, her political journey began with theatre before she became involved in student-led protests against a citizenship law in 2019 and 2020.
Neha Bora Calls for Protests to Continue After Detention
On Saturday, police prevented protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar, New Delhi’s designated protest site. In response, Bora urged demonstrators to gather at Dilli Haat, a crafts market located around 10 kilometres away.
“Dilli Haat becomes Jantar Mantar today,” she wrote on X before heading towards the location. She chanted slogans as other protesters followed her.
Police subsequently detained Bora along with several other activists. However, she continued to encourage supporters to keep the protest movement alive while she remained in custody.
“I am in detention. The movement is not,” she said in a video shared online. She also urged protesters who had been stopped by police to continue demonstrating wherever they were.
Authorities released Bora later on Saturday. Her participation in the demonstrations and her call for supporters to continue protesting have made her one of the prominent student voices in the ongoing movement against the electoral roll revision process.
