I'm not a Congress supporter, not even remotely, but I think it's important to acknowledge moments like this regardless of which party was in power. In 2005, students at JNU greeted Dr. Manmohan Singh with black flags and slogans over his economic policies. When the university issued notices to the protesters, he reportedly asked that no action be taken against them, recognising their right to peaceful protest. What's even more striking is how he began his speech that day. He quoted Voltaire: I may disagree with what you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it. That is the kind of democratic principle we should expect from every government, regardless of its political ideology.