India, Oct. 20 -- More than 400 Indian-origin students, researchers and alumni of universities across 27 countries have signed a statement condemning what they describe as attempts to erode public confidence in constitutional institutions. They accuse unnamed groups of "election denial" and of using street protests to delegitimise democratic processes. The statement, titled "Spare India from Anarchy," was released on Monday through a press note, with a list of 402 names appended.

"We understand dissent is an essential ingredient of democracy, but we refuse to be silent spectators to the subversion of democratic apparatus in its guise," the signatories said. They added that they were speaking as people who "have stakes in the future of th...