Ayesha Khan
On 2nd of March, 2016 Janhastakshep , PUDR and PUCL organized a public meeting regarding 'The Colonial Law on Sedation and Attack on Freedom of Expression and Right to Dissent' at Gandhi Peace Foundation . It was in context with the ongoing attacks on institutions and on individuals with ideas. Justice (retd) Jaspal Singh being the first speaker of the evening threw light on the basic draconian nature of the law of sedition and the Right to Dissent. In a very witty way he thanked JNU , the recently retired Delhi Police Commissioner and the 'upright' politicians for showcasing this law of sedition and making it quite clear how lame this law actually is. Later he mentions the Hero of the Hour - Kanhaiya Kumar, JNUSU President who has been the much needed strong voice against fascism and extremism.
Nivedita menon , professor of JNU , basically talked about the last two decades, where 'so called Development ' actually is all about Corporates. How after 1947, merely asking questions is named as sedition. It is very important to note that though the rate of conviction under this Sedition act is very low, it develops certain amount of fear among the masses and helps in suppressing them. She , very clearly made her point clear that the students now are the game changer and how they have all the power to bring the change they want.
The Editor of Samyantar, Mr Pankaj Bisht, started by saying how the use of Law of Sedition on the president of JNUSU has showed it's true face , How it has been used to violate the Freedom of Expression and the Freedom of Speech ! He ended his words by quoting Mahatma Gandhi and B.R Ambedkar and how they knew that this Law was not only of no use in a free country like India but in fact harmful for its Democratic nature.
Mr Prashant, The next speaker , who came from Andhra Pradesh called himself the representative of Late Rohith Vemula and how condemning the Ban on documentary "Muzzafarnagar abhi baqi hai" from screening in DU by ABVP caused the unexplainable suspension and forced suicide of Rohith vemula. All of this was not enough that they labeled these students as anti nationalists. The right wing extremists hooliganism has exceeded to such a level that central universities are being dragged and blamed as anti-nationalists. All those who actually speak against the wrongs done by these extremists are termed as anti nationalists by them. First Hyderabad university, then JNU and now eyeing upon Mumbai , these right wing extremists have targeted the youth who actually have their own opinion. Those who have the courage to stand up for what they believe in. And it's saddening that Freedom of Expression is just for namesake.
Justice (retired) Sachar the last speaker , very beautifully concluded the whole discussion by laying down the main issue, the problem with the duality of words and works. What is said isn't always done. This difference in speech and action has been clearly shown by the Colonial Law of Sedition. This law, which should have been evoked by 1950 is still messing up with the Freedom of Expression and getting cartoonists, activists and students behind the bars. No ruling party actually wants to remove this Law of Sedition as it helps them to suppress people, the day parties come up and talk about removal of this particular draconian law, it'll be easily removed and it is actually not required in a free country. The law of sedition is actually for countries ruled by kings and queens where they are the power holders not in a Democratic country where the government is of the people, for the people and by the people ! It's so shameful that in a country like India, a Cabinet Minister while addressing the public particularly points out and threatens the minority and the Prime Minister is quite about it. It is shameful that the National Education Minister passes her own verdict on Rohith and Kanhaiya and calls them anti nationalists before the Judicial judgment. It's saddening that how media, which is said to be the fourth pillar of democracy has mislead the common people by showing things in a misconstrued way and not the reality. And at last , a resolution was passed against sedition law.
Justice (retired) Sachar the last speaker , very beautifully concluded the whole discussion by laying down the main issue, the problem with the duality of words and works. What is said isn't always done. This difference in speech and action has been clearly shown by the Colonial Law of Sedition. This law, which should have been evoked by 1950 is still messing up with the Freedom of Expression and getting cartoonists, activists and students behind the bars. No ruling party actually wants to remove this Law of Sedition as it helps them to suppress people, the day parties come up and talk about removal of this particular draconian law, it'll be easily removed and it is actually not required in a free country. The law of sedition is actually for countries ruled by kings and queens where they are the power holders not in a Democratic country where the government is of the people, for the people and by the people ! It's so shameful that in a country like India, a Cabinet Minister while addressing the public particularly points out and threatens the minority and the Prime Minister is quite about it. It is shameful that the National Education Minister passes her own verdict on Rohith and Kanhaiya and calls them anti nationalists before the Judicial judgment. It's saddening that how media, which is said to be the fourth pillar of democracy has mislead the common people by showing things in a misconstrued way and not the reality. And at last , a resolution was passed against sedition law.
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