Dinesh Kaath's Editorial 'Respect basic Human Rights' that was published in Newsband

Respect basic Human Rights

Comedian Kiku Sharda was arrested under Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code for presumably “outraging” the religious sentiments of Dera Sacha Sauda adherents by mimicking their leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, a court accepted a plea by a local leader of the Hindu Mahasabha for proceedings against actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan for wearing shoes in a temple on the sets of a television show. We have been witness to the intimidatory outrage that inhibited the release of films such as Bajirao Mastani and Jodhaa Akbar, the shooting of Water, Wendy Doniger’s book The Hindus: An Alternative History, A.K. Ramanujan’s ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas’, Salman Rushdie book, Shah Banoo, Satanic Verses, film Vishwaroopam etc. etc.  

This is the sign of intolerance to creative, literary and academic work. There is no doubt that Section 295(A) of the IPC is in urgent need of amendment to limit its misuse. A section of Indian blame the BJP government. Blame the society at large for intolerance not Hindus alone and BJP in particular. In democracies worldwide, questions of representation and liberty have been taken forward in the political sphere, and in India even more so. Congress had suppressed every form of literature that is anti-Gandhi family for decades in this country. Barring Left every regional party has abused freedom of expression. Calling BJP and Sangh parivar as the only elements responsible for marching on freedom of expression is not right.

The phenomenon where an "outraged" but vociferous minority group sabotages the functioning of society or social institutions is not new, and neither is it confined to one religious group. The persecution of artists like Salman Rushdie and Deepa Mehta for instance are two sides of the same coin, the only difference being the groups that are doing the persecuting. The so-called 'intolerance' existed even during earlier governments. While freedom of speech and expression are guaranteed by the constitution, they have been violated even during previous regimes. Have we forgotten the 'emergency'?

Opposing should not be done for the sake for opposing. Religion is not someone’s personal belonging, to get hurt so easily. Every religion teaches us a lesson of 'Compassion', of 'Acceptance'. A religion could not survive in any civilization which is so Intolerant. And how can someone forget that none of our legal right is absolute. The one who is claiming for hurting of religious sentiments should not forget to respect others right of speech and expression, a basic Human Right.