No room for dissent

Refer to ‘Dissent is not sedition’; the dispensation at the Centre is under the illusion that every action, policy or programme rolled out by it is sacrosanct, unquestionable and the gospel truth. The invoking of the sedition law at the drop of a hat and unleashing investigating agencies against dissenters have become commonplace. Rather than taking criticism positively in its stride and undertaking requisite course correction, it chooses to crack down on its own citizens, whose only fault is a difference of opinion. Even outsiders are not spared. The latest report by the US-based ‘Freedom House’ that puts India under ‘partly free’ category speaks volumes and is an eye-opener. We must mend our ways before India is bracketed by the world along with our rogue northern neighbour.

Deepak Singhal, Noida

Perils of sedition law

The law of sedition as defined in Section 124 A of the IPC is a relic of British colonialism which was enforced to counter the Wahabi movement and subsequently became a tool to suppress freedom fighters. Certainly, parallels can be drawn today with regard to its usage. The provision has become an instrumentality of the Centre as well as the states to prevent people from vocalising dissent. This provision is legally antiquated and opposed to individual liberty, a principle embraced by the Constitution. Barring exceptional circumstances, the government has no role in regulating speech and dictating to people what they can and cannot say. Furthermore, the problem lies not merely in the substance of the provision but in the procedure, too. Sedition is a cognisable and non-bailable offence. The pre-trial process causes harassment to the arrested person. The law must either be repealed or amended to establish ‘incitement to violence’ as the sole standard capable of invoking this provision.

Nissim Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Dignity, above all

Apropos of ‘No country for women’, women are subjected to exploitation even in the four walls of their own home. Our society is male-dominated, where theoretically, there are many laws to grant rights to women, but practically their dignity is not intact. Every day, there are news reports of atrocities against the womenfolk. I remember the lines from Adrienne Rich’s poem, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers — ‘When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.’ The same applies to women even today. They are treated cruelly. It is time for women to gather on a common platform and fight collectively for their rights. The men need to respect women’s dignity, irrespective of her rank and position.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

‘Think local’ overdrive

We hear about one-India one-ration card. Integrity of India and integration of Indians signal assurance of our national pride and identity. But then, we have legislation in certain states, reserving 75% jobs for local people. In principle, the Centre is empowered under Article 16 (3) to offer domicile-based preference in public employment. Do states have such power? Strangely, one state after another is intent on such legislation, especially with regard to blue-collared jobs. You can have labourers from other states. Our Constitution does not permit discrimination based on place of birth.

Lalit Mohan Sharma, DHARAMSALA

Punjab’s debt

The news ‘Pb debt to double in five years: CAG’ is not good for the state. Punjab is a developed state, but with such a huge debt, it might fall in a debt trap. The development of the state will be hampered. The government should now give importance to the generation of more revenue and unnecessary subsidies should be discarded. As far as possible, cheap politics to lure people to create a vote bank should be done away with.

Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

A long struggle

Reference to ‘100 days of farm stir: Farmers hold their ground, but no solution in sight’; it was unusual to learn that the farmers had taken out a ‘shav yatra’ of the Centre at Tikri following no solution being in sight even after the expiry of 100 days of their unending struggle. Despite taking a recourse to ‘chakka jam’, holding mahapanchayats, mobilising support, blocking roads and organising countrywide ‘rail roko’ programme, nothing appears to be working in their favour. The farmers should shed their extant demand for the repeal of the new farm laws, if they wish to amicably resolve this matter.

SK Gupta, New Delhi

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