Crackdown on Free Speech

Why in news?

• Cartoonist G.Bala was arrested for expressing his displeasure with the TN government.
• This is in line with the emerging trend of stern government crackdown on free speech, which spells trouble for democracy.

Why is Freedom of Expression important?

• India is regarded as the world’s largest democracy.
• Freedom of expression is at the forefront in ensuring a robust democracy and is backed by constitutional guarantees.
• But many Indian politicians aren’t willing to comply with the basic values that sustain a democratic culture.
• Developed western democracies are strengthened by their stong free press, which neither spares the royalty nor heads of states.
• Emulating their tolerance to freedom of expression is needed.

What is cartoonist Bala’s case?

• His cartoon was on the suicide of an indebted family that was being harassed by loan-sharks went viral on social media.
• This was despite their repeated appeals to the district collector seeking protection.
• Hence, the cartoon parodied indifference of the administration to the plight of the citizens.
• The complaint was lodged by the district collector on the flimsiest of charges and his arrest and imprisonment was secured.
• This was in utter disregard for court-mandated guidelines and noticeably, none of those parodied took the judicial route.

What are other such high profile incidences?

• Coersive action - 2 journalists were sentenced by the Speaker of the Karnatraka Assembly for violation of parliamentary privileges.
• Rajasthan government passed an ordinance that mandates prior sanctions for reporting accusations against bureaucrats & judges.
• A court in Gujarat, recently restrained a website from publishing a report on BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah.
• Self Censoring - A television channel chose to drop the telecast of comedian, Shyam Rangila’s mimicking of the Prime Minister.
• Notably, the comic episode that later went viral online doesn’t even qualify for a soft criticism.
• Fears of displeasing a regime (which is vitriolic to even the mildest of critics) had led channels to rigorously self-censor themselves.
• Non-Media Entities - Apart form the media houses, people form other domains are also being besieged by fringe groups.
• A fringe group threatened actor Deepika Padukone with physical harm in its protest against the film Padmavathi.
• Writers and civil society activists have also been targeted for their comments against the rising religious intolerance and violence. 

Source: Business Standard