Rita Bahuguna Joshi, a member of India’s governing Congress party, has been arrested and will be held for 14 days. Ms. Joshi was taken into custody after she criticized the rape compensation policy of one of the nation’s provinces as being so low it is demeaning. She added that rape victims should offer to compensate the state chief minister who oversees the policy, and is a woman, should she ever be raped.
Since the speech Joshi has apologized, but citizens have still seen fit to burn down her house and set several cars on fire. So far, the government is charging her with making provocative comments which created “disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will” between people of different casts or communities. She has also been charged under a law that deems the making of statements against people of lower casts or tribespeople an offense.
India deserves much credit for its commitment to democracy. But what does it say about a nation when people of different classes are legally discouraged from criticizing each other? I have never been to India, but it seems as if the nation’s society revolves around a system of class that is far beyond anything I can imagine. If I were a member of a lower cast I would find it patronizing if the government passed a set of laws designed to prevent wealthier people from talking about me. Instead of worrying so much about the hurt feelings of its poor people India would be wise to do more to help them get out of the impoverished lives they are living.
Tags: BBC, democracy, freedom of speech, India, news, opinion, politics, Rita Bahuguna Joshi
