let's talk about how any insult to vande mataram, the national song, is now criminalized, with imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.
any legitimate criticism, whether crude or not, towards the national song, now may be considered criminal, because the word "insult" allows subjective interpretation. and anything allowing interpretation has often been misused in this country.
let's talk about how india ranks 157th out of 180 countries on the freedom of its press.
let's talk about how it has only dropped further since narendra modi came into power.
let's talk about how the state can restrict the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression for reasons with undefined limits like "public order," "morality," and the "sovereignty and integrity of india", again, allowing subjective interpretations.
let's talk about how it's been misused.
let's talk about how the fundamental right to protest peacefully has very often met by severe restrictions and police violence in the form of lathi charges, tear gas, pellet guns, legal consequences, and illegal detention.
you have freedom to use your mouth. oh — but don't dare to use it too boldly. don't infringe on someone's personal ideal of "morality" and "order", who has the power to make you a criminal. don't practise your freedom too loudly. don't protest — unless you're prepared to deal with police violence for practicing your fundamental right.
dance within their ideals of patriotism. don't criticize the government. shh. you might be called "anti-nationalist" or "pakistani". but the fact that many indians consider being chinese and pakistani inherently derogatory is a conversation for another day.
we don't talk about how the constitution is often just a piece of paper now — a suggestion they may or may not listen to.
whatever is convenient for the government prevails, right? we voted for them, didn't we?
there is no freedom here — if you aren't constantly prancing within boundaries which are getting smaller and smaller, day by day.
stormborns
areudirty
dailybridgerton
romaincrisis
yousharknotpass
pixelskylines
