Omkar Dattatray
The constitution of the largest democracy of the world-that is India has given and guaranteed the right to freedom of speech and expression to its citizens. Therefore, every citizen is free to express his or her views in democratic India. This right to freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed in article 19 of the constitution. But the rights given in the constitution to its citizens are not absolute but relative and this fact should not be overlooked while exercising these rights. Thus, right to freedom of speech is relative and not absolute and so every citizen while practicing and exercising the right to freedom of speech and expression should do it within limits. This right to freedom of speech is subject to public order and it should not impinge the rights of the other people. Therefore no one can be allowed to exercise the right to freedom of expression and speech to the determent of other citizens and at the same time under the guise of this act no citizen should misuse it for his selfish and narrow ends. What is happening in different parts of the country under the guise of the right to freedom of speech and expression is worrisome and unfortunate. It is very unbecoming and disturbing that the right to freedom of expression is misused and the political parties use double standards in condemning the misuse of the right to freedom of speech. Unluckily it has become a habit and fashion of some film makers and producers to insult and disrespect the Hindu deities and they take pleasure in showing disrespect to the Hindu gods and goddesses under the so called artistic freedom. Recently there was much hue and cry and anger as well as resentment on the unfortunate remarks against Prophet Mohammed by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma who has been suspended from the party. All the political parties as well as the common men condemn these uncalled for remarks. But unfortunately the radical elements among the Muslim community had taken law into their hands and have beheaded people ostensibly because they have posted their views in favour of Nupur Sharma. Since India is governed by the constitution and law and both these are supreme and there cannot be the Sharia law and no one can be given the punishments as prescribed by the Islamic law. Now Leena Mackmalai, the producer of the documentary Kali has insulted and disrespected the goddesses Kali and showed her smoking which is has no coherence with the reality. She is making tweet after tweet against Hindu deities and she is doing so because she is finding support among the so called secularists and the left wing politicians and because there is an ecosystem in the country which supports her. The so called secular lobby is maintaining stoic silence on the anti Hindu and anti deity remarks and tweets of Leena but have been very vocal against the remarks of Nupur Sharma. This double standard about the remarks of Nupur Sharma against the prophet which cannot be justified and remaining silent about the tweets of Leena about the Kali and Shiva and Parvati is very unfortunate and has no place in our democracy. Similarly Mohuva Mathri the TMC parliamentarian has also denounced Hindu deities and has shown disrespect to Kali which cannot be allowed and accepted. Some film producers are habitual of insulting and demeaning Hindu deities under the guise of their so called artistic creation and liberty. The tweets of Leena and Mohuve Matri are condemnable and should rightly are attracting criticism and opposition throughout the country. Anti Leena and anti Mohuve Matri protests are rightly taking place in different parts of the country but these film producers are in no mood to apologize for their tweets and for showing disrespect to Hindu deities. Leena has tweeted that she will uphold her so called artistic liberty and artistic creation come what may There are protests against the documentary Kali and the people and the political parties are demanding ban of the film Kali because it is against Hindu deities which are shown in bad taste and therefore there is no place for such films and the producers and directors of such film should dealt with under the law of the land for showing disrespect to Hindu deities. Unfortunately the so-called secular lobby and liberals and so-called progressive politicians are maintaining silence on the tweets of Leena and the disrespect shown by Mohuva Matri and the same politicians were very vocal against the Nupur Sharma and were demanding her arrest. But when it is the insulting and disrespecting tweets of Leena these very politicians are keeping their mouths shut because of their appeasement policies and the vote bank politics. It is very sad that the so called secularists, liberals and progressive politicians are using double stands and do not condemn those persons and artists who denounce Hindu gods and goddesses but only condemn those who make indiscreet remarks on prophet Mohammed. It seems that some film producers and film makers are disrespecting and showing the Hindu deities in poor light and are thus provoking tolerant Hindus but the Hindus by and large will not be swayed by the insulting tactics of these film producers and will not resort to violence in the country. The anti-Hindu and anti-deity tweets and remarks are made by some film producers to incite Hindus but Hindus are not that stuff who will be provoked to indulge in violence. Some film producers make anti Hindu and anti deity tweets because they know well that there are no radical elements in the Hindu community who will warn beheading of the film producers who show deities in poor light. It is so sad that there is full ecosystem in the country which rallies behind these film makers who denounce Hindus and show their deities in poor light.TMC of west Bengal has distanced itself from its MP Mohuva Matri, so-called artistic creation and artistic freedom. But TMC should expel her from the party for showing disrespect to Hindu deity and merely disassociating from her statements is not sufficient. The anti Hindu, anti deity and anti-Prophet remarks should be seen with the same spectacles and there should be no biased spectacles to denounce and condemn the those who make unbecoming remarks. It is ironical that anti Hindu and anti deity remarks and showing the Kali, Shiv and Parvati in poor light has become a past time and fashion of some artists and they are justifying such anti Hindu remarks and showing of the Hindu deity in poor light as their artistic creation and freedom, but there are no takers of their biased view.. FIR,s should be filed against Leena and Mohuva Matri and they should be booked under law and punished for their acts so that in future no artist will dare to show the Hindu deities in poor light. For this it is necessary that these film producers should be challenged in the court of law and after speedy trial should be awarded severe punishment to assuage the hurt feelings of Hindus. But it seems most unlikely that these film producers will be prosecuted and given severe punishment as the powers are playing the game of appeasement and vote bank politics. It is unwarranted and unfortunate that Leena Manimakelai and Mouvha Matri are making fun and ridicule of Hindu deities and insult Hindu sentiments. Leena is living in Canada and posting indiscreet tweets against Hindu gods and goddesses but is saying that she feels insecure in India. She has also accused India of being hate machine. Leena is not going to apologize for her comments. Both Leena and Mouvha are making fun of Hindu deities and of the Hindu sentiments and Hindu religion and this cannot be allowed at any cost.. It is good that Delhi BJP has filed a complaint against Mouvha Matri and it has come to light that FIR,S have been filed in MP against Leena. MEA has asked Canada Government to proceed against Leena for insulting Hindu sentiments and to delete her controversial and objectionable tweets. Mamata Banerjee of TMC who swears by his slogan of Manush, Maa and Matti should denounce attacks and remarks against Hindu deities and come clean on this issue. To conclude it can be argued that the double standards and double stands of the politicians and so called secularists should stop for the flourishing of the true secularism. The freedom of speech and expression should be exercised with care, caution and restraint as these freedoms are not absolute but are relative and should be taken and used as such for the good of the volatile society.
(The author is a Columnist and Social Activist).