ANOTHER ABUSE OF SEDITION LAW BY THE STATE
Sedition law was drafted and
implemented by the British colonial
government when India was a
colonised country. Even after 68
years of ‘independence’, this law
is often used by the rulers of Indian
states, proving themselves to be
the real heirs of the colonial rulers.
The colonial rulers are used
this draconian law to suppress any
criticism against their rule and the
expression of the aspirations of the
people for independence. Like
those brutal rulers, the presentday Indian rulers too are using the
sedition law against their
opponents. These ‘democratic’
rulers are ruthlessly quashing any
dissent, with the misuse of this law
of sedition against people who
express their dis-satisfaction
against the anti-people policies of
the governments in power. This
draconian law came handy to the
rulers easily to incarcerate the
dissenters after harassing them. In
Enginner Rasheed, on
Independent MLA from north
Kashmir Langate Constituency for
criticising the march is only a part
of this game. By such activities the
Hindu Communalists are not only
dividing the people in Kashmir but
also sowing new problems there.
The Narendra Modi Govt is
also using the slogan of
development and empty and loud
promises of economic aid to create
illusions among the Kashmir youth
about the economic upliftment and
employment prospects. Narendra
Modi’s much tom-tomed visit to Sri
Nagar on Nov.7, 2015 and his
announcement of 80,000 crore aid
in a public meeting were only a part
of this attempt.
But the Kashmir people have
enough experience of similar
announcements and their fate in
the past and in the last 18 months.
6
spite of various Supreme Court
judgments that have strictly
circumscribed the limits of sedition,
given the constitution’s guarantee
of the speech and freedoms, the
rulers are investing this colonial law
of sedition against the dissenters.
On one hand the rulers are
touting that they are quashing the
colonial era old laws, that are not
suitable for the present-day
circumstances and are mooting to
do away with certain laws that
really provide at least a nominal
protection to the toiling masses-like
the labour laws-but at the same
time, they are retaining such
draconian laws of sedition, to
continue their totalitarian rule.
Now it is the Tamil Nadu state
government that has abused the
sedition law, by incarcerating the
folk singer S.Kovan, a dalit rights
activists and a lead singer of
peoples art and literary association
(Makkal Kalai Ilakiya Kazhagam),
just because he is campaigning for
total prohibition in Tamil Nadu state
and closure of TASMC liquor shops.
Kovan has been organizing
skits and similar events with sharp
comments against the governments’
policies, demanding a total ban on
alcohol- a hot- button issue in a
state where National Crime Records
Bureau data shows more than
1,500 people died because of
spurious or illicit liquor between
2005 and 2014.
In Tamil Nadu there are about
6,800 state-run alcohol shops, and
TASMAC earned about Rs.24,
000crores a year in 2013-14.
He pointed his finger at AIDMK
government and criticised the Chief
Minister Jayalalita and her
government for profiting from sale
of liquor in the state’s chain alcohol
shops.
He uploaded electronic
content like videos, lyrics etc and
Despite announcement of massive
aid by Modi himself to provide relief
and rehabilitation to the flood
affected people of Kashmir, the
people are still struggling to restore
their devastated life. The way Modi
held his November 7th public meeting
in Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium
in Sri Nagar only made mockery of
democracy and the popularity of
Modi. The activists and the entire
leadership of Hurriyat which had
announced a “Million March” on the
same day at a different venue were
arrested in advance. The Venue of
the PM was kept under tight security
and the pavilion from where; Modi
addressed was kept 30 metres
away from the gathering. So it was
a meeting of selected and screened
audience.
Kashmir people are forced
with innumerable problems of life.
They are struggling for their
resolution and even relief in every
possible form. At the same time, the
onslaught going on their lives and
democratic rights for decades has
become a matter of serious concern,
and life and death struggle for
them. It will be sheer illusion for the
Indian rulers if they think that they
can win the hearts of Kashmir
people by throwing some crumbs
out at them while at the same time
brutally crushing their just national
and democratic rights by force. So
what is needed is: Abandon all
divisive, diversionist and manipulative
methods; ensure free, democratic
and peaceful conditions and
atmosphere where the people can
express their views on what should
be the political future of Kashmir.
Left to them self, the people of
Kashmir are capable and mature
enough to take a correct decision
- a decision in their interests.
contd on page 9
Class Struggle