Have you changed your opinion? Shashi Tharoor slams Modi over FIRs against intellectuals

In a letter, Tharoor said, "In 2016, when you addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress, you said, 'For my government, the Constitution is its real holy book. And, in that holy book, freedom of faith, speech and franchise, and equality of all citizens, regardless of background, are enshrined as fundamental rights.'

However, some of the actions of your government have contradicted your statement. Does this mean that you have changed your opinion on these fundamental issues?"

Forty nine Intellectuals including filmmakers Adoor Gopalakrishan, Shyam Benegal, Anurag Kashyap, Aparna Sen, Goutam Ghose, Kaushik Sen, actor Soumitra Chatterjee, historian Ram Chandra Guha in late July wrote a letter to Modi saying the slogan in the name of God has become a "war-cry". 

Citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports, which states no less than 840 incidents of atrocities took place only in 2016, the intellectuals said, "The lynching of Muslims, Dalits and minorities must be stopped immediately."

The letter had also highlighted the report claiming 254 religious identity-based hate crimes were reported between Jan 1, 2009 and Oct 29, 2018.

The sedition case was lodged two months after an order was passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Surya Kant Tiwari couple of months ago in reply to a petition filed by local advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha.

The police said the FIR was filed under sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) which include sedition, public nuisance, hurting religious feelings and insulting with an intent to lead to beach of peace, report said.

Taking a jibe at Modi's "Naya Bharat", Tharoor also reminded the Prime Minister of a Supreme Court's observation where it considered "dissent" as the "safety valve of democracy".

Image Credit: Shashi Tharoor Facebook