Register FIR in Hate Speech Cases
The Supreme Court’s directive that First Information Reports (FIRs) should be registered in cases involving hate speeches, even without the receipt of a formal complaint is a welcome move. The Supreme Court has rightly viewed it as a menace that is damaging the secular fabric of the country. Hate speech involves not only religion but all divisiveness relating to ethnic origin, race, disability, gender or sexual orientation, and all such talks vitiate the society.
The Law Commission has suggested that hate speech should be made a criminal offence under IPC. In view of the hate speeches taking alarming proportions which end in blood shed, this is the need of the hour. If the Supreme Court’s directive is implemented in letter and spirit, no hatemonger will be outside the jail without bail.
Nazeer Ahemed Kazi
Prof Secab, Vijaypur, Karnataka
Karnataka Poll – BJP Promises UCC, NRC
The BJP manifesto released recently by its president J.P.Nadda, entitled“PrajaPranalike”, for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, promises implementation ofUniform Civil Code (UCC), National Register of Citizens (NRC), a special wing – KarnatakaState Wing against Religious Fundamentalism & Terror (K-SWIFT) – three free gas cylinders toall BPL families and many other things, etc.
Speaking in an election campaign in Karnataka, the seniorCongress leader Rahul Gandhihas targeted Prime MinisterNarendra Modi,asking him to “speak about the BJP government’s work and future programmes for Karnataka”. Hefurther said,“You never speak about what you did for Karnataka and what would do in the next fiveyears? This election is not aboutone person, not about Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister has tounderstand?”
Chowdhry Nisar Ahmed
Noorullah pet, Ambur, Tamilnadu
Bloody Sudan
Sudan has a blood-soaked history of military coups and the ongoing crisis is nothing short of a humanitarian disaster.
The bitter power tussle between the RSF and the country’s armed forces has yet again shown the amount of harm the leaders can do to a country in order to fulfil their selfish ambitions. However, the 72-hour ceasefire is a ray of hope for the civilians who have been forced to flee their homes.
It is high time that the international organisations such as the UN intervene to prevent the escalation of the clashes between the two power hungry leaders and bring the desert nation back to peace and normalcy.
- Chaturvedi
Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh
Violence in Manipur
Manipur is burning. The army was called in to assist law enforcement authorities after a curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur following violence that erupted during protests against the inclusion of the non-tribal Meitei community in the “Scheduled Tribes” category.
The majority of the Meitei community in the state practices Hinduism, but they also have different deities from other parts of India. Hindus are divided into four castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Outside of this are the Dalits or untouchables. The Dalit community is at the bottom of the Hindu caste system. On April 19, the Manipur High Court in its ruling directed the state government to submit recommendations for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category, which enraged the state’s tribal population. If a community is granted Scheduled Tribe status, it is entitled to political representation, reserved seats in schools, and government jobs. Because of existing laws, the Meitei community, which accounts for 60% of the state’s population, is not permitted to settle in hilly areas. The tribespeople are concerned that if they are granted Scheduled Tribe status, their proportions in government jobs and land ownership will shrink.
Arun Kumar
Hojai, Assam