With the death of Bal Thackery, Mumbai yet again produced a live example of murder of freedom of speech. Shaheen Dhada, on Sunday (18th Nov’2012) was arrested for questioning the total shutdown in the city for Bal Thackeray’s funeral as
her facebook status. Her status said, “People like Thackery are born and die daily and should not observe a bandh for that.” The saddest part of the incident was that, another girl who liked the status was too arrested. The duo were booked under Section 295 (a) of the IPC (for hurting religious sentiments) and Section 64 (a) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This was not just the end, a mob of around 2000 Shiv Sena supporters attacked and ransacked the orthopedic clinic of her uncle at Palghar.
It’s said that in a democracy, the common people are the ultimate power, and they have the right to choose the government and question the ruling party any time. However, the present scenario is saying something different, where democracy is being ruthlessly murdered in every step.
It's totally clear that the government is solecizing, the Section 66A of the IT Act amended by the UPA II in the year 2008. This act was meant to stop the serious crimes that take place, due to heinous online activities, by a certain bunch of fatuous people of the society. However, this act is being used by the government in every step to curb the freedom of speech of the common people. Whenever and wherever the government is under threat for its misdeeds, they apply this act, clubbed with very idiotic allegations against the one who tries to point towards the wrong. Watching recent incidents one can perhaps say that the definition once given by Abraham Lincoln long ago, which said,”Democracy is for the people, of the people and by the people” is totally void. But, keeping in mind the government activities in India now people can certainly draw a new definition of democracy, which will say,”In Indian democracy, the government is neither for the people, nor of the people, it’s against the people”
Putting aside philosophical thoughts and sticking to the reality of Mumbai, Shiv Sena workers after Shaheen’s post, entered the orthopedic clinic of Shaeen’s uncle, Dr. Abdul Dhada, where the Shiv Sena goons manhandled patients, disrupted their treatment, and damaged the hospital premises inflicting a loss of nearly Rs.10 lakhs and as per expectations from the administrations they are yet to be nabbed. For a moment it’s assumable that Shaheen’s post questioning the Mumbai bandh was something that has hurt religious sentiments, but what about the Shiv Sena workers, who destroyed public property, private property and violated the basic human rights. Shaheen has just questioned a particular incident, but the Shiv Sena workers have taken the law in their hands. What’s Mumbai police doing now???
Though Justice Katju wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, stating the allegations against the two girls very much absurd and asked him to take actions against the responsible police officials. But, it would be interesting to see whether something is really done or unlike all other political drama this one too is forgotten as each penny of time passes. Lastly, I would conclude with the same thought, that the brave girl Shaheen Dhada, had put forward. Respect is earned not created or inflicted and one thing I can say without any hesitation that more than respect, the people of Mumbai has fear of Shiv Sena in their hearts.
her facebook status. Her status said, “People like Thackery are born and die daily and should not observe a bandh for that.” The saddest part of the incident was that, another girl who liked the status was too arrested. The duo were booked under Section 295 (a) of the IPC (for hurting religious sentiments) and Section 64 (a) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This was not just the end, a mob of around 2000 Shiv Sena supporters attacked and ransacked the orthopedic clinic of her uncle at Palghar.
It’s said that in a democracy, the common people are the ultimate power, and they have the right to choose the government and question the ruling party any time. However, the present scenario is saying something different, where democracy is being ruthlessly murdered in every step.
It's totally clear that the government is solecizing, the Section 66A of the IT Act amended by the UPA II in the year 2008. This act was meant to stop the serious crimes that take place, due to heinous online activities, by a certain bunch of fatuous people of the society. However, this act is being used by the government in every step to curb the freedom of speech of the common people. Whenever and wherever the government is under threat for its misdeeds, they apply this act, clubbed with very idiotic allegations against the one who tries to point towards the wrong. Watching recent incidents one can perhaps say that the definition once given by Abraham Lincoln long ago, which said,”Democracy is for the people, of the people and by the people” is totally void. But, keeping in mind the government activities in India now people can certainly draw a new definition of democracy, which will say,”In Indian democracy, the government is neither for the people, nor of the people, it’s against the people”
Putting aside philosophical thoughts and sticking to the reality of Mumbai, Shiv Sena workers after Shaheen’s post, entered the orthopedic clinic of Shaeen’s uncle, Dr. Abdul Dhada, where the Shiv Sena goons manhandled patients, disrupted their treatment, and damaged the hospital premises inflicting a loss of nearly Rs.10 lakhs and as per expectations from the administrations they are yet to be nabbed. For a moment it’s assumable that Shaheen’s post questioning the Mumbai bandh was something that has hurt religious sentiments, but what about the Shiv Sena workers, who destroyed public property, private property and violated the basic human rights. Shaheen has just questioned a particular incident, but the Shiv Sena workers have taken the law in their hands. What’s Mumbai police doing now???
Though Justice Katju wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, stating the allegations against the two girls very much absurd and asked him to take actions against the responsible police officials. But, it would be interesting to see whether something is really done or unlike all other political drama this one too is forgotten as each penny of time passes. Lastly, I would conclude with the same thought, that the brave girl Shaheen Dhada, had put forward. Respect is earned not created or inflicted and one thing I can say without any hesitation that more than respect, the people of Mumbai has fear of Shiv Sena in their hearts.
