The other side of sedition

Media Watch

The sedition law got much media attention in the past week, thanks to the Supreme Court’s freezing of the colonial law. Not one newspaper or magazine that I read supports the sedition law. Every one of them welcomes and appreciates the SC’s interim order.

Writing in the Hindustan Times of 13 May, former judge of the SC, Deepak Gupta, asserts in no uncertain terms that the “sedition law has no place in a democracy.” Who wants to retain such an antiquated law? Those who are afraid of criticism do. Stifling criticism is to create a police state, argues Gupta. Certain restrictions are required when it comes to freedom of expression. No nation can afford to compromise its security, foreign relationships, public order, decency and morality. But putting charges of sedition on people who criticise the government’s policies is to invite troubles.

Gupta quotes Mahatma Gandhi who was arrested for sedition by the British. “Affection (for the government or country) cannot be manufactured or regulated by law,” said Gandhi. “If one has no affection for a person or system, one should be free to give the fullest expression to his disaffection, so long as he does not contemplate, promote or incite to violence.” The disaffection that Gandhi was referring to was the one mentioned in Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises “exciting disaffection against the government”. Gupta implicitly suggests that no government with self-confidence requires the sedition law.

The Times of India’s editorial on 12 May bluntly asks the government to scrap the sedition law. “Don’t just reform – remove,” screamed the title of the editorial. Even a mild version of the law will be misused, the editor thinks. This law in any shape will provide the opportunity for politicians to settle scores with rivals or critics. The newspaper goes on to say that even UAPA needs be scrapped.

The Free Press Journal’s editorial of 13 May mentions that about 13,000 people are in prisons now charged with sedition. The number alone hints at the blatant misuse of the law. Many of these prisoner won’t be convicted since their crimes won’t amount to anything like sedition. But the mere detention is punishment.

The Morning Standard also mentions the number 13,000 and adds that 60% of them were implicated after the BJP came to power at the centre. The newspaper’s editorial (12 May) states explicitly that the ruling party is abusing the law.

D Raja of the CPI wrote an article in the Indian Express of 13 May arguing vociferously against the sedition law and added that cases under the UAPA have increased by about 75% between 2017 and 2020. The BJP is obviously too scared of criticism. The party does need a stronger backbone.

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The Open magazine has Siddharth Singh writing a long article about the freebies being given to people by governments for the sake of (cheap) popularity. Interestingly, the writer cites examples only from Punjab and Rajasthan, two non-BJP states. One wonders why he fails to see more freebies being given by the Modi government as well as the BJP state governments.

His question is valid, however. Should governments indulge in such populist measures which are rather costly by any criterion? Shouldn’t governments focus on policies and acts that bring in welfare for all instead of select groups? Shouldn’t governments have clearer vision about brighter future for all people instead of giving alms to the people?

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The Week this time has dedicated half of its pages to the preeminent Bengali film maker, Satyajit Ray. His classical movie Pather Panchali has survived 7 decades. The Week argues that the contemporary Bengali cinema is too substandard in comparison with Ray’s movies. There is a parallel decline in Bengali literature too. It is quite amazing that a people that had artists and writers who scaled enviable peaks of excellence are now fumbling in the dark alleys of mediocrity. What has happened to Bengal? The Week wonders.

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That question about Bengal can be extended to the whole of India now, I think. That is quite tragic. Why are we obsessed with the past? Why are we interested in the dark chambers of the Taj Mahal instead of the bright possibilities that should be explored for the sake of the emerging young population of the country? Why are we stuck in the quagmire of history instead of dealing with the present and its innumerable problems?

PS. Last Media Watch:  Exotic India