Geelani, Arundhati to be booked under sedition charge

[Markus]

Geelani, Arundhati to be booked under sedition charge​

NEW DELHI: A go-ahead to file a case of sedition against hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and activist Arundhati Roy has been given to Delhi Police by the Union Home Ministry.

However, it is far from clear now whether the police will proceed with the case although legal advice received by it says that a case has been made out under Section 124 of IPC which applies to cases where disaffection against the State is advocated.

The police is now mulling over possible ramifications of proceeding with the case and is likely to seek political clearance to go ahead.

Delhi Police is said to be having some hesitation on going ahead with filing the case because once registered then arrests would have to be effected of those named in the FIR.

Officials of the Delhi Police met Union Home Ministry officials and had a detailed discussions in this regard earlier in the day, the sources said.

An unfazed Geelani said in Kashmir that there were already 90 cases have been registered against him. "I have 90 FIRs registered against me already, this will be 91st," he said.

The legal opinion of the Home Ministry was received by Delhi Police yesterday giving a go ahead to Delhi Police for registering a case against firebrand separatist leader Geelani and Roy besides others for purportedly giving "hate speeches" at a seminar held here last week.

The legal department had favoured registering a case against them under Section 124-A of Indian Penal Code which states "whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards" the State and can be sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment.

The seminar, in which Geelani was also speaking, had triggered sharp comments from the BJP.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley had accused the government of "looking the other way" when a number of separatist groups met at a conference to instigate session and to say that India cannot be one and must be broken.

However, rejecting the BJP leader's charge, home minister P Chidambaram had said Delhi police will take action in accordance with law over the speeches made by Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah and others at a seminar here on October 21.

At the convention on 'Azadi--The Only Way', Geelani shared the stage with writer Roy and pro-Maoist leader Vara Vara Rao among others. Geelani was heckled by the audience with one of them throwing a shoe.

Geelani, Arundhati to be booked under sedition charge - The Times of India

 

[IBRIS]

Arundhati is an attention seeker and she's getting it now. Hope the politicians are not going to take another few years to decide what to do with her. This insane women should of been booked in mental institute long ago. Well, better late than never.

 

[Hulk]

Leave Geelani but Arundhati should be sent to jail, that too ordinary one.

 

[scrumpy]

I don't support this. They have the right to say whatever they want. I hope this is just a case of media sensationalism and no such stupid act is done.

 

[LaBong]

I don't support this. They have the right to say whatever they want. I hope this is just a case of media sensationalism and no such stupid act is done.

I think there's a law against speeches promoting sedition, though the articles says 'hate speech'. This 'hate speech' business is bit murky deal.

 

[StingRoy]

I think there's a law against speeches promoting sedition, though the articles says 'hate speech'. This 'hate speech' business is bit murky deal.

People often misinterpret the freedom of speech. It does have some restrictions in order to respect the sanctity of the state and other citizens of the country.

Clause (2) of Article 19 of the Indian constitution enables the legislature to impose reasonable restrictions on free speech under following heads:

I. security of the State,
II. friendly relations with foreign States,
III. public order,
IV. decency and morality,
V. contempt of court,
VI. defamation,
VII. incitement to an offence, and
VIII. sovereignty and integrity of India.

 

[LaBong]

People often misinterpret the freedom of speech. It does have some restrictions in order to respect the sanctity of the state and other citizens of the country.

Clause (2) of Article 19 of the Indian constitution enables the legislature to impose reasonable restrictions on free speech under following heads:

I. security of the State,
II. friendly relations with foreign States,
III. public order,
IV. decency and morality,
V. contempt of court,
VI. defamation,
VII. incitement to an offence, and
VIII. sovereignty and integrity of India.

The bold part is dangerous trend, the state is as accountable to citizens as citizens are to the state. As Roy is an Indian citizen she has the right to question the state.

Also, booking Roy under the clauses mentioned above is giving kind of legitimacy to her. Surely, Sovereignty of India isn't that fragile to be threatened by Roy's fancy speeches.

 

[Speaker]

I think this action is to silence our critics before Obama's visit. I have an inherent dislike for phony activists like Roy, but then we are not a communist or fascist state, and must uphold her right to say what she wants. A successful democracy is one which is noisy, and we should not be above criticism. Like Abir says, our sovereignty is strong enough to withstand such statements..

 

[Moorkh]

Arresting Arundhati for sedition charges is going overboard. She simply speaks against the state everywhere. She supports the maosists, the kashmiri terrorists and whoever is going against the state. She is insane not a criminal.

As for Gilani,technically the sedition charges hold true , it would still be a negative step to arrest him. Many Kashmiris today see him as the sole representative of their voices. Maybe at a time when the Kashmiri people have marginalised him. until then, arresting him will turn him into a martyr.

 

[Jackdaws]

You know what disgusts me because of its irony? This is the same law of 1870 which was used to trump sedition charges against the likes of Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi. Does the Indian govt. want to put these people on par with them?

Sedition is a crime; an act which might lead to sedition is a crime. Being disaffected by the state because of the ineptness of the govt. is not a crime.

 

[Trichy]

I thing 1 bullet is enough for her, if im the leader of the nation(a stupid guy with Nazi mind set), MMS will see this in other way in Gandhi,,,

 

[Jackdaws]

I thing 1 bullet is enough for her, if im the leader of the nation(a stupid guy with Nazi mind set), MMS will see this in other way in Gandhi,,,

Huh? What are you talking about?

 

[Awesome]

Executing Arundhati Roy, a multi-award winning writer would be a big mistake.

If you don't like her, we would gladly call her our own.

 

[PAKFA]

Best thing would be hang both of them and it will be lesson to every one.

 

[Markus]

Executing Arundhati Roy, a multi-award winning writer would be a big mistake.

If you don't like her, we would gladly call her our own.

Take her, take her....

Please take her.