India: Be careful what you write

from People of Shambala:

India: Be careful what you write Posted: 18 Jan 2012 05:06 PM PST Not smiling now: Subramanian Swamy (Left) is currently under investigation for his "inflammatory article" on how  to stop Islamic terrorism.  India, as we are often reminded, is the world's biggest democracy. At the moment, however, a cloud hangs over its commitment to freedom of expression. A couple of day ago Subramanian Swamy was questioned by Delhi Police because he had written an "inflammatory article" on how to prevent Islamic terrorism.  Swamy, who is head of India's Janata Party and a well-known columnist, also lost his professorship at Harvard over the article, which -- at its most controversial -- suggested that Muslims should feel proud of their Hindu roots, and those that could not, and saw themselves as separate, should not be allowed to vote. In other words, for Swamy, loyalty to the nation that gives you a vote should be prerequisite to getting the vote. Whatever one might think of this, it should be remembered that acts of violence and aggression against Hindus and Buddhists in the region are common. According to India Express, "Delhi High Court had on Friday last granted interim protection to Swamy and asked him to give an undertaking that he would not write such articles in the future. The court also issued notice to the Delhi Police, seeking its response to Swamy's anticipatory bail plea." Next up: Salman Rushdie. Rushdie's Satanic Verses was published in 1988. Or, to put it less technically, a long time ago. But the prospect of Rushdie attending a literary festival in India "sparked protests from some Muslim leaders who have demanded he be prevented from entering the country," says Reuters. "The vice-chancellor of India's Darul Uloom Deoband seminary has called on the government to block Rushdie's visit, accusing the 65-year-old of hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims. In response to a protest march planned on Friday January 20, the festival's opening day, organizers have rescheduled Rushdie's sessions, but event sources told Reuters that his invitation to take part still stood." Think all of this worrying about people expressing themselves won't affect you? Well, it just might. The High Court at Delhi is currently hearing a case against Google and Facebook -- which the two internet giants are fighting. Chairman Justice Markandey Katju has called for social networking sites to be prosecuted if users post "objectionable" material, and this unfortunate sentiment is getting some traction among the nation's most easily offended.