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Sanction to prosecute Shehla Rashid over 2019 Tweets on Army given by Delhi L-G

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:34:55 +0000

Image Courtesy: livewire.thewire.in

New Delhi: The Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, V.K. Saxena, has granted sanction to prosecute former Jawaharlal Nehru Students’ Union vice-president Shehla Rashid over her three year ol tweets on the Indian Army, reported Hindustan Times.

The belated sanction relations to a 2019 FIR against Rashid registered under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code. The proposal for sanction to prosecute was put forth by the Delhi Police (which comes under the Union home ministry) and supported by the Delhi government’s home department, the L-G said while granting sanction.

The FIR had been filed on the complaint of one Alakh Alok Srivastava. Rashid’s August 18, 2019 tweets had reportedly accused army personnel of entering people’s houses in Kashmir and creating an atmosphere of fear. The army had then rejected the allegations and said such “unverified and fake news are spread by inimical elements and organisations to incite an unsuspecting population”.

“Not every tweet is to be proceeded with, under criminal law. But the tweet of the kind in this case needs to be processed against religious fault-lines have been created in J&K [Jammu & Kashmir] by the likes of Shehla Rashid,” the Delhi government’s home department reportedly said in its opinion to the L-G. “The case is made of for prosecution u/s 153A IPC [Indian Penal Code]. This relates to public order.”

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Hate bandwagon prospers under Narsinghanand’s patronage

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 11:27:32 +0000

Right-wing extremists are quick to take down anyone who dares to criticise any Hindu tradition, whether on social media or on the ground. Since law enforcement authorities have been cutting such hate offenders too much slack, such offences usually go unpunished, and therefore, continue unabated.

This time, the hate was directed against Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, for his declaration of ban on firecrackers. The hate was spread via a Facebook Live video uploaded by some followers of spiritual leader Yati Narsinghanand, who is himself a serial hate offender infamous for his limitless hateful remarks against women and the minority community. While Yati enjoys the security of UP Police, his followers enjoy his patronage.

Believing themselves invincible, these followers uploaded the aforementioned Facebook Live session, which shows Suresh Rajput and Rahul Sharma verbally abusing Kejriwal. They say to Kejriwal in this public video that he shouldn’t comment on Hindu festivals and that he only speaks up when it comes to Diwali and Holi. They also go on to verbally abuse in the most virulent manner the Shaheen Bagh protesters and say unspeakable things about the women who had bravely sat for days on end in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). They also mock and verbally abuse Safoora Zargar; even though they do not mention her name, the implication is clear. Further, they hail the recent incidents of violence in the state of Tripura and say that the Hindus in Tripura have awakened and have brought in Diwali in the right way. They also threaten that if all the Hindus in the country are awakened, then incidents of Tripura will resonate throughout the country.

Suresh Rajput is also known to have participated in and led a rally against ‘love jihad’ in Delhi, where they raised slogans like “Ka**Mullo ko goli maro (Shoot the Muslims)” and “Jab mulle kaate jayenge, tab Ram Ram chilayenge (When Muslims are killed, we will shout Ram Ram)” in the presence of the Delhi police.

The video has now been taken down from Facebook and is no longer available for viewing. However, there are snippets of the video uploaded on Twitter, criticizing what Rajput and his accomplice are saying in this vile video.

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I did my duty as an Indian: Shyam Meera Singh on his removal from Aaj Tak

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 10:45:56 +0000

Image Courtesy:freepresskashmir.news

“I am terminated from my channel Aaj Tak (India Today Group) for writing these two tweets on Prime Minister Modi,” tweeted journalist Shyam Meera Singh on July 19, 2021 after his removal for allegedly violating the media house’s social media and code of conduct policies.

On July 18, Singh received a letter from the ITG Digital Vanchha Garg that talked about how he was unable to follow the guidelines he signed and accepted at the time of his employment.

“You are well versed with ITG’s Social Media and Code of Conduct policies which specifically advise us to use social media for news that has been published or aired by the system and not for personal views. Besides being alerted on other breaches, you have received at least two formal warnings. Yet, the attached recent tweets show repeat transgressions,” said the letter sent by HR Business Partner Vanchha Garg.

The two tweets published by Singh are as follows:

I am terminated from my channel Aaj Tak (India Today Group) for writing these two tweets on Prime minister Modi. pic.twitter.com/L6JRlC3RDi

— Shyam Meera Singh (@ShyamMeeraSingh) July 19, 2021

Despite the sudden firing, Singh accepted the action in good humour, even sporting the words “Journalist, terminated from Aaj Tak” in his social media bio. Further, he dedicated the letter to his belated friend and renowned photojournalist Danish Siddiqui.

People dedicate their degrees, research papers to their Ideals. I have nothing to show but a termination letter from my company IndiaToday, So I want to dedicate my termination letter to my beloved friend Danish Siddiqui, who martyred in Afghanistan.

— Shyam Meera Singh (@ShyamMeeraSingh) July 19, 2021

If speaking against Modi equal speaking against India, then throw me in jail

Speaking to SabrangIndia, Singh said that he was well aware about the guidelines that barred personal views on social media. The guidelines demanded views that spoke in line with the content and voice of the organisation. Regardless, he decided to speak his mind. When asked about his view of such restrictions, he compared them to a bird who has wings but risks having them cut off if it tries to fly. Still, he did not blame the ITG for his termination.

“I consider my fight a fight of the company as well. I don’t blame anybody or any company. Instead, I question the system that has forced my termination on such grounds. That system is the Prime Minister, his government and his IT cell,” said Singh.

When asked whether he considered his removal, a violation of his fundamental rights, Singh said, “Definitely! While preparing for IAS, I studied freedom of speech. The Article makes any law that infringes on free speech null and void, even laws of a private company. Even if I sign a document saying otherwise, the real culprit is the maker of such a policy, not me.”

As for reasonable restrictions, he said that if criticising Modi was the same as threatening the security of the State or any similar clause, then we will gladly accept further legal proceedings. On his own part however, he is not keen on taking up legal action.

“I was well aware of what company I was working for. But I did this to put on record what is happening and how our democratic rights are being handled. If a journalist cannot criticise his own Prime Minister, then you can imagine the state of citizens in that country,” he said.

Incidentally, this is what Modi had to say about government criticism two years ago.

I want this Government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 18, 2018

Singh also emphasised that he expressed his views, not as a journalist but as a citizen who saw his family and kin suffer during the Covid-19 health crisis.

“I watched my own family members die during Covid-19. At this time, I feel every citizen should criticise the government as I have done. Even the company should have supported me but it didn’t. Anyway, I have done my duty as an Indian citizen,” he said.

Singh said he considered the recent incident an attack on the rights of his company as well.

Free speech in corporate media

A few months ago, India Today’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai also suffered a similar fate. He was taken off-air between January and February for two weeks for publishing a tweet on the farmer’s protest. His tweet that spoke of the alleged killing of farmer Navneet at ITO during the January 26 Farmers’ Parade also cost him a month’s salary.

Later, he even posted a video stating that “farm protesters’ allegations don’t stand.” Despite this, BJP leader Amit Malviya and many other right-wingers on social media called for Sardesai’s firing. Malviya even called him a “repeat offender.”

Do Indians truly have free speech?

Article 19 of the Constitution grants freedom of speech and expression to all Indian citizens. But Singh said that though people have free speech, the issue is the topic of the speech.

“There is free speech in India. People have a right to criticise Dalits, insult or attack IAS officers, abuse Rahul Gandhi or other political leaders but they do not have the right to demand their rights,” he said.

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Allahabad HC stays arrest of former IAS officer booked for tweeting pictures of Covid casualties

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 04:29:10 +0000

Image Courtesy:livelaw.in

The Allahabad High Court has put a stay on the arrest of a retired IAS officer against whom FIRs were filed for a tweet demanding respectful cremation of bodies of Covid victims. The bench of Justices Ramesh Sinha and Jaspreet Singh granted interim relief as they were assured that the petitioner would not misuse social media and will be careful in the future.

The petitioner, Surya Pratap Singh filed a plea to quash the FIR filed against him under sections 153, 465 and 505 of the IPC as well as sections of Uttar Pradesh Public Health and Epidemic Diseases Control Act, Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Information Technology Act. The FIR was filed suo moto by the police for a tweet dated May 13, stating that the photographs posted by him were posted deliberately to spread hatred and to cause social tension.

The counsel for the petitioner argued that he is a retired IAS officer and raised issues of public and social concerns through various social media. It was further contended that he has no intention to malign the image of the Government but only, by posting the contents and news items, wants to draw the attention of the Government towards the problems faced by the citizens. He further argued that he is a responsible citizen, and in his tweet had never intended to spread any rumour or panic among people, but the objective of the tweet was that bodies of dead persons be treated with respect and be cremated as per religious rituals.

He submitted that the FIR was an attempt to throttle the voice of dissent and is violative of freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution. He argued that no FIR could be lodged for reporting and venting grievances on social media.

When the court was given an assurance that the petitioner would be careful in future and shall not misuse social media, the court decided that a case for interim relief was made and granted stay on the arrest of the petitioner subject to the restraint that the petitioner shall fully co-operate with the investigation and shall appear as and when called upon to assist in the investigation.

The order may be read here:

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Cong raises concerns about EVMs

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:14:55 +0000

Image Courtesy:asianage.com

In a series of tweets, on Wednesday, veteran leader Digvijay Singh of the Congress, posted a series of tweets demanding a clarification from the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding concerns raised by former Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer Kannan Gopinathan, about Electronic Voting Machines (EVM).

Singh tweeted, “Kannan Gopinath has made very pertinent points which question the ECI claim of EVM being a ‘Stand Alone Machine’, if it is connected to an external device?” He added “Also ECI has always claimed that EVM has only OTP (One Time Programmable) Chip but there are reports that the Chip used in VVPAT is a MTP (Multiple Programmable) Chip. If so then the message to the Control Unit is what VVPAT gives and not what Ballot Unit gives.”

This was in response to a series of tweets by Kannan Gopinath himself, where he made serious allegations against the ECI. “It was upsetting to see @ECISVEEP & TEC lying through the teeth to the public that EVMs are stand-alone machines designed to connect only among itself. This when they were in full knowledge that it had to be connected to an external device for symbol loading,” Gopinathan had tweeted.

Gopinathan had raised similar concerns on January 25, while speaking at a webinar hosted by SabrangIndia titled The EVM Conundrum, to look deeper into various concerns raised by a variety of stakeholders. Gopinathan had then said, “I used to defend EVM saying they are candidate agnostic and secondly, they are not connected to anything else. But it was during the training related to EVMs before the 2019 elections that I noticed for the first time, the machine was connected to another device.” He explained his apprehensions saying, “Earlier the machine could only see candidate 1, candidate 2 without knowing the name or party of the candidate. But with VVPATs, now that identification became possible and that raised concerns.”

Now, Gopinathan has offered a possible solution to the ECI. “As an immediate suggestion @ECISVEEP , for upcoming elections, don’t do the 2nd randomisation of EVMs (assigning EVMs to booths) before the commissioning/uploading of symbols to VVPAT. Do it after. This will at the least close a window of targeted booth level manipulation,” he tweeted. He also suggested, “Till the design/process vulnerabilities in EVM-VVPAT is addressed, go ahead and do a 100% tallying of VVPAT slips with CU,” and “Immediately amend the rule that puts the threat of fine and prosecution on a test vote going wrong. It is her vote. Voter shouldn’t feel intimidated,” adding that these three changes “do not require any design changes to EVM-VVPAT. These are only administrative changes and can be immediately implemented.”

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Public’s faith in judiciary is founded on its own actions, not criticism: Kunal Kamra to SC

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:36:34 +0000

Image Courtesy:thelogicalindian.com

“Should powerful people and institutions continue to show an inability to tolerate rebuke or criticism, we would be reduced to a country of incarcerated artists and flourishing lapdogs. If this Court believes I have crossed a line and wants to shut down my internet indefinitely, then I too will write Happy Independence Day post cards every 15th August just like my Kashmiri friends”, reads Kunal Kamra’s affidavit in response to the contempt notice issued to him on December 18, 2020.

The comedian, who is facing contempt charges for his allegedly contemptuous and scandalous tweets against the judiciary and the Supreme Court of India, has refused to apologise for the same. He said that his tweets were not aimed to diminish people’s faith in the judiciary and that there is no defence for jokes and should not be treated as reality.

LiveLaw reported that his affidavit further stated, “The suggestion that my tweets could shake the foundations of the most powerful court in the world is an over-estimation of my abilities. Just as the Supreme Court values the faith the public places in it (and seeks to protect it by the exercise of its criminal contempt jurisdiction) it should also trust the public not to form its own opinions of the court on the basis of few jokes on Twitter. The public’s faith in the judiciary is founded on the institution’s own actions, and not on any criticism or commentary about it.”

His affidavit further draws an analogy, mentioning, “To believe any institution of power in a democracy is beyond criticism is like saying migrants need to find their way back home during an ill planned nationwide lockdown; it is irrational and undemocratic.” His affidavit also talks about the growing culture of intolerance in the country “where taking offense is seen as a fundamental right and has been elevated to the status of a much-loved national indoor sport.”

In this regard, Kamra referred to the case of comedian Munawar Faruqui and said, “We are witnessing an assault on freedom of speech and expression with comedians like Munawar Faruqui jailed for jokes they have not made and school students being interrogated for sedition. At such a time I hope this Court will display that freedom of speech and expression is a cardinal principle.”

Kamra has also said that he will respect the verdict given by the Supreme Court in the criminal contempt case against him. “Lastly, I may disagree with many decisions by many courts in many matters, but I promise this Bench that I will respect any decision that comes my way with a broad smile. I will not vilify this Bench or the Supreme Court in this matter specifically because that would actually be contempt of court”, states his affidavit.

The matter has now been adjourned for two weeks for the petitioners to file their reply to Kunal Kamra’s affidavit.

The Supreme Court Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah also heard cartoonist Rachita Taneja’s response to the contempt notice issued to her for her post on social media against the Supreme Court. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohtagi pointed out that “A criticism of the court is not contempt. The foundation of the Court is much stronger.”

LiveLaw reported that Justice Ashok Bhushan remarked, “We agree. But these days things are going a bit too far with everyone doing…..”. Thereafter, the court adjourned her matter for three weeks.

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Stand up comic Kunal Kamra faces contempt charges for tweets

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 04:50:37 +0000

Image Courtesy:dnaindia.com

Attorney General, KK Venugopal gave his nod for proceeding against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on charges of contempt for posting comments against the Supreme Court and its judges on Twitter. Kamra has been known to speak up against the socio-political scene through his social media handles and this time he has been found in trouble for it. Undeterred, Kamra, as if he expected such action, kept posting tweets from his Twitter handle about the contempt action against him.

Who am I to scandalise the already compromised ??? https://t.co/MQ49JjKXTv

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) November 11, 2020

Don’t even call it contempt of court call it contempt of future Rajya Sabha Seat ???

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) November 12, 2020

The tweets that landed Kamra in trouble are still on Twitter.

DY Chandrachud is a flight attendant serving champagne to first class passengers after they’re fast tracked through, while commoners don’t know if they’ll ever be boarded or seated, let alone served.
*Justice*

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) November 11, 2020

The pace at which the Supreme Court operates in matters of “National Interests” it’s time we replace Mahatma Gandhi’s photo with Harish Salve’s photo…

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) November 11, 2020

All lawyers with a spine must stop the use of the prefix “Hon’ble” while referring to the Supreme Court or its judges. Honour has left the building long back…

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) November 11, 2020

In one of his tweets, he posted a picture of the Supreme Court in the foreground and replaced the tricolour flag of India with the flag of the ruling BJP

Contempt of court it seems ??? pic.twitter.com/QOJ7fE11Fy

— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) November 11, 2020

Indian Express reported that those who wrote to the AG included Shrirang Katneshwarkar, a law student from Aurangabad; Rizwan Siddiquee, an advocate; and two Pune-based lawyers, Amey Abhay Sirsikar and Abhishek Sharad Raskar.

The AG, in his reply to the letters seeking consent for initiating contempt against Kamra, stated, “I find that today people believe that they can boldly and brazenly condemn the Supreme Court of India and its judges by exercising what they believe is their freedom of speech. But under the Constitution, the freedom of speech is subject to the law of contempt and I believe that it is time that people understand that attacking the Supreme Court of India unjustifiedly and brazenly will attract punishment under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1972”.

Kamra tweets were a comment on the Supreme Court’s observations made in the order granting interim bail to Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami.

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Twitterati bat for Farmers’ Rights, even as news media attempts distractions

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 12:14:42 +0000

Image Courtesy:indianexpress.com

September 25, 2020 saw an unprecedented outpouring of people on the streets with lakhs of farmers and workers coming together to protest the regime’s anti-people policies, including the recent spate of bills and codes, passed hastily in the Parliament.

Punya Prasoon Bajpai set the tone for the day presenting the bigger picture; touching upon the protests, distractions therefrom and the underlying political machinations.

आज किसान का दिन…
आज बॉलीवुड का दिन…
आज बिहार चुनाव के ऐलान का दिन….
आज मीडिया का दिन..
आज सत्ता प्रचार का दिन..
आज विपक्षी ताक़त के अनदेखी का दिन..
आज जुम्मा है…………….गुडमार्निंग

— punya prasun bajpai (@ppbajpai) September 25, 2020

Journalist Abhisar Sharma also threw his weight behind the Indian farmer and tweeted:

मैं देश के किसान के साथ हूँ। और आप ? #FarmerFirst #FarmersProtest

— Abhisar Sharma (@abhisar_sharma) September 25, 2020

Meanwhile, Arfa Khanum Sherwani quoted celebrated Hindi author Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and tweeted:

बैलों के ये बंधू वर्ष भर क्या जाने कैसे जीते हैं
बंधी जीभ, आँखें विषम, ग़म खा शायद आँसू पीते हैं !
-दिनकर
हमारे किसानों को आपकी आवाज़ की ज़रूरत है, साथ आइये।
एक अकेला थक जाएगा मिल कर बोझ उठाना।
साथी हाथ बढ़ाना। #किसान_बचाओ_देश_बचाओ #भारत_बंद

— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) September 25, 2020

However, a large section of mainstream media remained focused on either the Bihar election announcement or how actor Deepika Padukone had been dragged into the drugs in film industry controversy that broke out in wake of the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. While reporters fell over themselves to tail Padukone and her husband Ranveer Singh as they flew in from Goa yesterday, today, they considered it an achievement to drive alongside their vehicle! Many on Twitter rightly called out this desperate attempt to divert attention from the real issues being raised by the nationwide farmers’ protest.

एक दीपिका के पीछे 10 रिपोर्टर, करोड़ों किसानों के लिए एक रिपोर्टर भी नहीं. ये है न्यूज चैनल्स का सच.

— Ranvijay Singh (@ranvijaylive) September 25, 2020

Nationwide farmers are on strike today in India. #FarmersProtest against Modi’s #FarmBill2020 ignored by media, which is busy with Bollywood, IPL & Bihar election.

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) September 25, 2020

Meanwhile, civil society did its best to draw attention back to things that matter. Advocate and activist Prashant Bhushan tweeted this self-explanatory cartoon by Satish Acharya:

#FarmBills2020 #BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/7xkPLJwB32

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) September 25, 2020

Harsh Mander, who was recently dragged into the investigation into Delhi riots tweeted about solidarity for farmers being expressed by CAA protesters:

Farmers from Punjab came to Shaheen Bagh to establish a langar in solidarity with their sisters protesting CAA/NRC. Now Muslim youth from Malerkotla serve food in solidarity with protesting farmers of Punjab. With these bonds of love that bind us, India is safe @karwanemohabbat

— Harsh Mander (@harsh_mander) September 25, 2020

Tribal socio-political activist and son of a farmer, Hansraj Meena too asked the country to stand for Farmers’ Rights:

We stand with Farmers of the Country.

Raise your voice, And fight for Right.#5बजकर25मिनट

— Hansraj Meena (@HansrajMeena) September 25, 2020

Dalit Rights activist and convenor Dalit Army, Yash Meghwal urged people to vote out the current regime to protect Framers’ Rights:

एक ही विकल्प #भाजपा_हटाओ_किसान_बचाओ

— Yash Meghwal (@YashMeghwal) September 25, 2020

LGBT rights activist Harish Iyer also reminded people to stand by farmers:

Just like you don’t have to be queer yourself to support Queer Rights, you don’t have to be a farmer to support Farmers’ Rights.

Stand up. Speak up. Tweet on. Make your voice heard. #NoToFarmBills #FarmBill2020 #FarmersBill #FarmerFirst

— harish ?️‍? (@hiyer) September 25, 2020

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Aakar Patel arrested, then bailed for three tweets on Modi, BJP-RSS & Ghanchi Caste: Gujarat

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 13:35:59 +0000

Image Courtesy:thewire.in

Aakar Patel, well known columnist and former executive director of Amnesty International India, has stated on Twitter that he was arrested and then let out on bail earlier this week for allegedly posting “offensive” tweets against the Ghanchi community in Gujarat. It was the Surat City police registered an FIR against Patel, filed by Purnesh Modi, a ruling Bhartiya Janata Party MLA from Surat West constituency and president of the Samast Gujarati Modhvanik Samaj.

Was arrested and bailed yesterday for an FIR filed by BJP citing sections incl 153A (promoting enmity). Will fight it.

— Aakar Patel (@Aakar__Patel) September 22, 2020

The criminal complaint-FIR- registered on July 7 states that on June 24 and June 27, Patel had posted three tweets that were objectionable and against the community. Patel has been booked under Sections 153 A, 295 A, 505 (1) B, 505 (1) C, 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code. Most of these sections are non-bailable. The complainant has listed three tweets posted by Patel. In the first two tweets, Patel mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi belonged to the Ghanchi caste, which was added to the Other Backward Caste list in 1999 by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s regime. Patel goes on to say that the community is “well-off” and is “meat-eating” and that Modi has taken on the manner of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has turned vegetarian.

In another tweet that followed, Patel has alleged that those involved in the 2002 Sabarmati train carnage belonged to the Muslim Ganchi community.

On June 27, in this third tweet, Patel wrote, “The RSS and BJP always profit by the violence against other Indians, especially Muslims. Vajpayee more than Upadhyaya, Advani more than Vajpayee and Modi more than Advani benefitted from this. We have to stop this cycle of violence and blood profit by the RSS and BJP.”

Ghanchi Caste: Background

Patel’s claim that the crowd involved in the Godhra train fire of 2002 comprised Ghanchi Muslims is not something new, it has been reported widely in the media before. It is also unclear what offence the police believe his first tweet has caused, even though there was a factual inaccuracy.

The Surat police on September 21 recorded Patel’s statement and has now asked for the devices used to tweet to be handed over to the police. Patel says he will soon be handing them over soon.

Although this is not the first time that a criminal case has been registered against the columnist for his vocal stand against the current dispensation, he told the media that he was surprised when he was informed about the FIR. “I was surprised it was filed. The tweets are factual,” he responded in an email. Patel says he will defend himself and will be weighing his options to see if the FIR can be quashed.

In the past sixweeks, Patel has been informed of at least two police cases against him and he says both of them were registered in BJP-ruled states. “The state has become quite intolerant of dissent. This (the tweets) is not an original observation and is not a new phenomenon. What is new is the extreme to which it is taken, especially at a time when the government ought really to be focussed on its work,” Patel shared.

While Patel has been individually targeted, in the past, when he was associated with Amnesty International India, both he and the organisation had been targeted several times by both the state and central machinery. “There are other cases (I have lost count of the number) related to the organisation (Amnesty International India) I was working for until last year, which continues to be harassed through the (Central Bureau of Investigation) CBI, Enforcement Directorate and (Ministry of Home Affairs) MHA and through cases like sedition filed by the (Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad) ABVP,” Patel alleges.

In 2002, Aakar Patel, along with Dilip Padgaonkar and BG Verghese had authored the Editor’s Guild report on media coverage of 2002, Rights and Wrongs. The report had meticulously documented what had gone wrong within the media coverage (build up and fall out) of the communal carnage, also highlighting individual efforts that stood out for fair reporting upholding the ethics of the profession.

The post Aakar Patel arrested, then bailed for three tweets on Modi, BJP-RSS & Ghanchi Caste: Gujarat appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Cyberabad Police slammed for replying to Twitter user’s tweet on ‘Jihadis’

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 07:08:48 +0000

Image Courtesy: siasat.com

The Cyberabad Police found itself in a soup, minutes after it replied to a Twitter user, Suresh Kochattil who asked if the Cyberabad force was conducting background checks in American software companies citing that many ‘wannabe jihadis’ worked there.

https://twitter.com/kochattil/status/1214251486466564097

Many wannabe Jihadis work for American Software companies in Hyderabad? After #Iran threatened to hit US assets, has @hydcitypolice @cyberabadpolice @RachakondaCop done background check/risk assessment of these Peacefuls? Or cops are clueless? @KTRTRS @TelanganaDGP @USCGHyderabad

— Suresh Kochattil (@kochattil) January 6, 2020

The Cyberabad Police replied with the following response.

https://twitter.com/cyberabadpolice/status/1214256337288171520

Yes sir… We have specialised wings for collection of advance intel and our teams are on the job 24X7. Thanks for alerting us. Please keep us updated if you find anything suspicious.

— Cyberabad Police (@cyberabadpolice) January 6, 2020

Soon after, not only politicians and activists, but even the general public, began to question the police for implicitly endorsing Suresh’s partisan views against a particular community. Facing the heat, the Cyberabad police issued a statement to the Telangana DGP clarifying its reply to Kochattil.

https://twitter.com/cyberabadpolice/status/1214837710185103360

@TelanganaDGP pic.twitter.com/8qmg53jmGV

— Cyberabad Police (@cyberabadpolice) January 8, 2020

However, the people wouldn’t have it. From questioning how the Cyberabad police defined ‘wannabe jihadis’, what exactly they were monitoring, and why they hadn’t booked Kochattil for what constituted as hate speech instead, the angry Twitterati alleged that the police was indulging in the religious profiling of certain communities.

https://twitter.com/asadowaisi/status/1214765278355050496

@cpcybd sir you say “yes sir” please enlighten how many such “jihadi” are working in software companies kindly give a number if not please clarify what you exactly meant
Will you reply to an MP or only to a Bhakt? https://t.co/uEMhF7Or2v

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) January 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/Shehla_Rashid/status/1214734724901396482

Hi @cyberabadpolice @cpcybd can you provide legal definitions of “wannabe Jehadis”, “peacefuls” & “suspicious”?

What exactly is it that you are monitoring?

What kind of intel do you collect on Indian software professionals, and what does that have to do with Iran-US relations? pic.twitter.com/jKrblRcgTu

— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) January 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/indohistoricus/status/1215108299076636678

@KTRTRS There are psychological impacts on people who are routinely called terrorist and for being under suspicion for no reason.The Islamophobic tweet to @cyberabadpolice and their plant response enables these discriminatory biases. Please read attached. pic.twitter.com/TNIIFW6v1Y

— indohistoricus (@indohistoricus) January 9, 2020

https://twitter.com/yehlog/status/1214775028857704448

India’s Cyberabad Police, based in Hyderabad & headed by @cpcybd, was told by Hindutva fascists to conduct religious profiling of Muslims working in the IT sector. It not only obliged, but hinted that it was already doing so. Let the world know https://t.co/a1WmqtAJVS

— Yeh Log ! (@yehlog) January 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/zuberpasha33/status/1214954694751031296

What i just read? ?what is meant by jihadist and peacefuls?
Your response to this bigot shows how police encourage hatred and communalism.
Instead of booking him for his hate to justify and thanking him.slow claps ??#shame #cp_??

— zubbu aayan (@zuberpasha33) January 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/digitaldutta/status/1214813142502363136

I hope the @cyberabadpolice continues to respond to people’s queries and answer how they encountered 4 accused without trial as fast as they respond to bigotry. https://t.co/X8dsfQz2g2

— Srinivas Kodali (@digitaldutta) January 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/TawakkkalAllah/status/1215153662172884995

Yes @cyberabadpolice if you really want people to believe that you are not biased against a particular community please delete the tweet and report the person. https://t.co/GcYHcNanYd

— Nida (@TawakkkalAllah) January 9, 2020

Twitterati alleged that instead of reprimanding Kochattil, the police ended up encouraging his inflammatory thoughts; especially at a time when the country’s minorities are gripped with the fear of being branded as ‘outcasts’ in their own country.

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