Issue 239

www.samajweekly.com
NEWS ART & CULTURE POLITICS RELIGION LITERATURE FASHION KIDS FILMS
03/08/2017
15
Here’s why the freedom of
expression is important
There is no need for Congress workers to be agitated over Madhur Bhandarkar’s upcoming movie
The last week was eventful for those
keeping track of the debate on freedom
of expression in India. The movie Indu
Sarkar gained a degree of fame because
an event related to its launch was disrupted,
apparently by some members
of the Congress party, of which I am a
part. Before that, the Mumbai police
filed a case of defamation and obscenity
against the comedy group All India
Bakchod (AIB) for applying a
Snapchat dog filter to a photo of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
Unsurprisingly, many who were
furious with AIB for its portrayal of
PM Modi were vociferously supportive
of the freedom of expression of
Madhur Bhandarkar, the filmmaker
behind Indu Sarkar. Many who supported
AIB’s freedom of expression
were relatively subdued in speaking up
for Bhandarkar. I am unsurprised
because we have seen this movie
before. In India, freedom of expression
is mostly about whose freedom is being
violated. Selective outrage is the norm.
In India, as in most countries, freedom
of expression is not unfettered.
However, beyond legal restrictions, we
conspire to further restrict each other’s
freedoms. Surely, a book or a painting
about religious figures is not going to
doom the great religions of the world. I
am reasonably confident that the legacy
of one of India’s greatest leaders is
not about to be fundamentally undermined
by a movie that most people
would have likely ignored in the
absence of its recent publicity.
This should not mean
that people can’t protest
what they don’t like. Of
course they can. It is their
democratic right. But we
must encourage peaceful
dissent and stand against
threats, intimidation and
violence.
I personally prefer a maximalist
position on free expression with rare
restrictions such as for incitement to
violence. However, I do recognise that
at this time most Indians may not agree
to such a standard. A Pew Survey from
2015 clubbed India with countries like
Russia, Turkey and Pakistan as being
Salman Anees Soz
“less supportive” of free expression.
But, what we must watch for is the trajectory
of free expression in India. Will
we have more of it or less?
I believe there is much
scope for progressively
removing restrictions on
free expression. Freedom
of expression is not just
about protecting offensive
speech. It is about the free
flow of ideas, debates and
inquiry that leads to inventions,
discovery and
progress. Crucially, it is also about protecting
us from those in government
who may want to restrict our freedoms.
So, if citizens restrict each other’s freedom
of expression, we are in effect
weakening our democracy and paving
the way for authoritarianism. Who
wants that?
Public Consultation on Caste in
Great Britain and Equality Law
Today there was a Ravidassia
Summer Festival organised by
Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha,
Bedford. This festival was
attended by hundreds of people.
Ms Santosh Dass MBE,
President of the Federation of
Ambedkrite & Buddhist
Organisations UK (FABO UK)
and Vice President of ACDA UK
was especially invited to give a
talk on the Public consultation
on Caste discrimination
launched by the Government.
Listening to her presentation,
there was an overwhelming support
from the congregation for
the participation in the consultation.
We had set up a stall to help
and guide people to fill the consultation
forms. Local Member
of Parliament, Mr Mohamad
Yessin and local councillors visited
our stall and assured us for
their full support. Even one of
the police officer also filled the
form. Our places of worship and
other community groups need to
take active part in the public
consultation and support to
impllement caste legislation
accepted by both Houses of
Parliament. United we stand,
divided we fall.
2 Punjabis in John Horgan’s
British Columbia cabinet
CHANDIGARH : Two Canadians of Punjabi origin figured in the
cabinet of Premier John Horgan, who was sworn in as the 36th
Premier of British Columbia on Tuesday.
Ravi Kahlon from Delta North is now the parliamentary secretary
for sport and multiculturalism while Harry Bains is now the Minister
of Labour, Surrey-Newton. Horgan, along with his new cabinet, was
sworn-in by lieutenant-governor Judith Guichon.
Canada has a sizeable Sikh and Punjabi population with the community
actively involved in politics. Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau’s cabinet , sworn in in 2015, had four Sikh faces.
US blocks
$350mn aid to
Pakistan for
failing to act
against terrorism
WASHINGTON: In another
sign that the Trump administration
is taking a tough line
on Islamabad’s counterterrorism
efforts, the Pentagon said
on Friday it had decided not to
pay Pakistan the remainder of
military reimbursements earmarked
for 2016 over its failure
to do enough against the
Haqqani network. “The funds
could not be released to the
Government of Pakistan at
this time because the (defence)
secretary could not certify that
Pakistan has taken sufficient
action against the Haqqani
network per the requirement
in the FY 2016 National
Defense Authorization Act,”
Adam Stump, a Pentagon
spokesman, told HT in a statement.
Pakistan was to be paid
$900 million as military reimbursement
in 2016 under the
Coalition Support Fund for its
support of the US-led international
forces in Afghanistan.
Payments, however, are
tied to a certification the
Pentagon must give Congress
about Islamabad’s actions
against the Haqqani network.
Of this amount, it had
already been paid $550 million.
But according to the
Pentagon, Pakistan had been
denied an amount of $300 million
earlier, which had not
been reported.
One day National Convention of All
India Milli Council in New Delhi
Over five thousand
people from different
parts of the country
came to attend a one day
National Convention
organised by All India
Milli Council, in New
Delhi at the Talkatora
Stadium which saw a
galaxy of activists,
political leaders, academics
and other concerned
citizens condemning the
attempt of the government to
muzzle freedom of expression
and creating fear psychosis
among the minorities and vulnerable
sections of people.
The people stood in silence
for one minutes in memory of
those sacrificed their lives on the
border as well as all those who
have been killed by the lynch
mob, the innocent pilgrims
killed by the terrorists in
Amarnath as well.
There is no doubt that this
was a huge show of strength and
it reflected the mood of the community,
particularly the Muslims
though the participation of
Dalits, OBCs as well as Sikhs
was pretty high. Presence of
Muslim and other women were
also visible in the convention.
Those who spoke on the occasion
were Justice Rajinder
Sachar, Justice A M Ahmadi, Ms
Teesta Setalvad, Mr Sharad
Yadav, Mr Mani Shankar Iyer,
Mr S N Gautam, Mr Thomas
Mathew, Bhai Tej Singh, Shri
Chandra Singh, Mr Zafaryab
Jilani, Mr Ram Puniyani and
many others. Actually, it is for
the first time that we saw such
huge presence as speakers also.
The convention passed a resolution
asking all the like minded
people irrespective of their caste,
communities and other affiliations
to join hands and fight to
not just protect the constitution
but also build the nation.