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India’s Hate Speech Conundrum needs to be tackled

by Anish Esteves 

On January 12, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Uttarakhand Government and the Delhi Police seeking action against the perpetrators of hate speech against the Muslim community in the Dharam Sansad held last year in Haridwar and at a congregation in Delhi. The actions of the apex court have come as a much-needed relief after the religious conclave brought shame to the country and its constitutional values.

From the toxic calls for genocide and violence to an open call for arms, and the fantasy of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ to vitriolic Muslim- baiting, the hate speech unleashed at the Dharam Sansad was deeply offensive. The organiser, Prabhodanand Giri, was himself seen asking the Hindus to do what was done in Myanmar, in an indirect reference to the ouster of Rohingya Muslims from that country. It is no surprise that most of the so-called religious speakers at the gathering are seen as being close to leading politicians from the hill- state. Videos of the gathering have been widely shared on social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Whatsapp for the past few weeks. The hate speech has been condemned even in International quarters, with foreign media houses covering the incident.

Yet, the executive has displayed profound silence, and this is a worrying sign. The lack of action from the administration lends itself to numerous questions. Most importantly, on what basis did the Uttarakhand Government give permission to the organisers of Dharam Sansad? The slow response of the police is a clear indication of the degree to which right-wing majoritarian nationalism has gripped the nation. Though the Uttarakhand state police have registered an FIR, only one arrest, that of Jitendra Narayan Tyagi has been made. The police, government officials, and political leaders stood, even as these offensive speeches were delivered.

The rising incidents of hate speech and right-wing activism in the country have not gone unnoticed. For example, in the aftermath of the former U.S. President’s visit to New Delhi, when violence broke out in the National Capital, a petition was filed before the Delhi High Court, demanding registration of FIR’s against the politicians who were involved in alleged hate speeches. Notices were even issued to the local police. It is a different matter that two years have gone and there has been no action on the case.

However, it is important to note that the existing laws dealing with hate speech are ineffective and need to be further strengthened. While the Supreme Court has asked the lower courts to review the interpretation of hate speech, there has been a lack of judicial guidance on the matter. As a result, we are seeing discordant judicial outcomes on hate speech. Legislative provisions to combat hate speech must be enacted as early as possible. There are several provisions in the IPC against hate speech, but the recent instances reinforce the fact that the administration is least bothered about combating such hateful rhetoric.

Unfortunately, the majoritarianism that we are witnessing today is threatening the rights of constitutional minorities. It is up to Indians to stop the rising tide of majoritarianism in whatever way they can. The calls for genocide and ethnic cleansing made at the Sansad in Haridwar are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and confusion among the country’s minorities and also to intensify the attacks against them. At this crucial juncture of our country, it is wise to ask ourselves, what kind of democracy do we wish to leave for our future generations?

The political discourse of the country has been muddied by numerous instances of hate speeches in recent times. India’s social fabric lies in tatters, with hate speech posing a grave threat and corroding the very foundation of our democracy. Strict action is the need of the hour for those who advocate violence through hate speech. If hate speech continues to go unchecked, the collapse of our beloved Republic would be inevitable. And lumpen elements will continue to go scot-free. It is time India’s apex court reasserts its role as a protector of the Fundamental Rights of the citizens. India’s citizens too have an integral role to play in reversing the polarization that has been caused..

About the Author:

Anish Esteves is a student of Mass Media and Journalism based in Mumbai. He has written numerous articles for Navhind Times and OHeraldo, among other publications. He tweets @AEthejourno.

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