According to news reports, recently, Roy was charged under sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of peace) and 505(false statement, rumor circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offense against public peace).
The current proceedings compel me to raise two questions about the current situation in India.
The first is, how feasible is the constitution’s Right to expression of speech? The constitution provides rights to every Indian, to express his/her views but with certain clauses tagged to it. The main clause is that the expression should not be a hate speech or it shouldn’t initiate riots. Now how do we define a hate speech? Roy’s comment about Kashmir is the voice of over thousands in the Kashmir, who either due to dissatisfaction or some other unknown cause call for independence. The action of the government should be to check in the problems and controversies over Kashmir and bring the turbulent situation in Kashmir under control and satiate the people there and make them realize the importance of united growth, instead of calling for action against those who voice over the current situation in Kashmir.
The second question that comes to my mind, which is in fact a ’fear’ more than a question regarding how the world would view our state of democracy from hence.
We already have negative remarks about artists leaving India to take asylum at another country fearing their right to expressions and few other instances of banning works of other writers and artists. Now there has already been news in and around the world quoted similar to above about author Roy.I now fear, about our country and its largest democracy, which boasts for its freedom of expression , doesn’t end up being quoted in the same lines of ” Burma jailing Aung San Suu” or“China jailing Liu Xiaobo” by the world. The unnecessary hype that got attached to the issue in India around Roy’s statement, which should have been worked upon or ignored like any other political-view, might actually demean India’s stature as a country that prides over its democracy and freedom of speech.
Finally,I end the article condemning the arrest and raising questions about the government’s ability to tackle criticism over the state of the nation. In general, views on both sides of the political-situation should be welcomed so there will be awareness about the great range of views and sentiments of the people of the nation.The check on speeches might get even heavier after this which is not good for democracy. The response answers by the government to the statements made by people of the country should come in terms of positive action on the situations but not on the people themselves.
Its only when the nation and is ’united’, we can take our country forward towards progress.
where was Ms.Arundati roy all these days, kashmir issue is no new to all of us. she is just doing a publicity gamble here and nothing else.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous,Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteThe matter of arundati roy - existing around core of issues or not existing isn't the matter of view here. The view is purely about the right to freedom of speech and everyone is entitled to it.
As you said,IF she is up to doing a publicity-gamble,its her own issue and if it's true, then, the Indian government should never at all concentrate on her statements. Its like adding weight to an empty bag.
The concentration should be on the problems and answering them.