It was C. P. Scott who said, “Comment is free, but facts are sacred.” Unfortunately, though, what he has not said is whether it is safe to state the facts and how free one is to voice his/her comments.
The recent attack on the house of the resident editor of Loksatta, a Marathi daily, by Shivasangram sainiks raises many such questions. What was Kumar Ketkar’s sin? An editorial that he wrote criticising the Maharashtra government’s move to construct a 309-ft statue off Marine Drive in Mumbai. And the attackers, it is alleged, has strong connections with Nationalist Congress Party.
Freedom of speech has been guaranteed to every citizen by the State’s constitutions. But the reality seems just the opposite. Though the Constitutions guarantee freedom of speech, the State, on its part, seems to be unwilling to guarantee the same to anyone who opposes or criticises its fanciful projects. Recently Ahmedabad police filed a case of sedition against the resident editor of Times of India and a reporter and photographer of another daily. Their crime was that they had carried an article criticising the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner. Such incidents only corroborate the State’s refusal to ensure freedom of speech to everyone, including those who need it the most, the journalists and the media practitioners who are supposed to be the watchdog of the State.
Coming back to the issue: What was wrong with Mr Ketkar’s comments? Is it not ridiculous that the government has crores of rupees to spend on a whimsical project and no money to give as subsidies or as support price for the produce of the distressing Vidarbha farmers? The region has the dubious distinction of having one of the largest suicide rates in the whole country. According to a survey, every eight hours a farmer commits suicide in that region (DNA Aug 24, 2006). Nearly 30,000 farmers have ended their lives in the whole of Maharashtra between 1997 and 2005. (The Hindu Nov 14, 2007). Even after the Central Government’s loan waiver scheme to the tune of over 60,000 crore rupees during this year’s Budget, the rate of suicides does not seem to come down in that region just like the rate of inflation these days.
Helping the Vidarbha region farmers may not win the government many votes; but appeasing the cultural sentiments of the larger Marathi population will definitely bring them greater dividends in terms of votes and popularity, especially as the state is going for polls next year. Hence, Shivaji, the great Marathi warrior, unfortunately, has been made a scapegoat.
Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it.” The State needs to realise this and defend citizens’ right to expression and not terrorise them for being critical.
The recent attack on the house of the resident editor of Loksatta, a Marathi daily, by Shivasangram sainiks raises many such questions. What was Kumar Ketkar’s sin? An editorial that he wrote criticising the Maharashtra government’s move to construct a 309-ft statue off Marine Drive in Mumbai. And the attackers, it is alleged, has strong connections with Nationalist Congress Party.
Freedom of speech has been guaranteed to every citizen by the State’s constitutions. But the reality seems just the opposite. Though the Constitutions guarantee freedom of speech, the State, on its part, seems to be unwilling to guarantee the same to anyone who opposes or criticises its fanciful projects. Recently Ahmedabad police filed a case of sedition against the resident editor of Times of India and a reporter and photographer of another daily. Their crime was that they had carried an article criticising the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner. Such incidents only corroborate the State’s refusal to ensure freedom of speech to everyone, including those who need it the most, the journalists and the media practitioners who are supposed to be the watchdog of the State.
Coming back to the issue: What was wrong with Mr Ketkar’s comments? Is it not ridiculous that the government has crores of rupees to spend on a whimsical project and no money to give as subsidies or as support price for the produce of the distressing Vidarbha farmers? The region has the dubious distinction of having one of the largest suicide rates in the whole country. According to a survey, every eight hours a farmer commits suicide in that region (DNA Aug 24, 2006). Nearly 30,000 farmers have ended their lives in the whole of Maharashtra between 1997 and 2005. (The Hindu Nov 14, 2007). Even after the Central Government’s loan waiver scheme to the tune of over 60,000 crore rupees during this year’s Budget, the rate of suicides does not seem to come down in that region just like the rate of inflation these days.
Helping the Vidarbha region farmers may not win the government many votes; but appeasing the cultural sentiments of the larger Marathi population will definitely bring them greater dividends in terms of votes and popularity, especially as the state is going for polls next year. Hence, Shivaji, the great Marathi warrior, unfortunately, has been made a scapegoat.
Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it.” The State needs to realise this and defend citizens’ right to expression and not terrorise them for being critical.
1 comment:
Hi Pintaam,
It's a thrill indeed to browse through your blogs!
I wish and pray that, much ink may flow through pen.
Kudos to you
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