OK, I know the state has been pretty ruthless at times (Indira Ghandi’s emergency decrees, etc) but I’ve always considered India to be basically a liberal democracy, valuing much the same basic freedoms as the West.
Which is why this story shocked me.
Mocking the constitution is a crime in India? When did that happen, or has it ever been thus and I’m way off track (as usual)?
It’s Gandhi
India is a liberal democracy. However, the world is complicated, so things aren’t always that simple. There are times when an official oversteps and democracy has to be defended.
India is very much a society in transition, and as Acsenray has hinted, a complex place even by the standards of a complicated world. I would caution you against drawing any conclusions based on the odd newspaper story. In this case for instance, the police have already given up custody of the cartoonist after widespread outrage over his arrest. That said, freedom of speech and expression is far more restricted in India than in the West. In particular, speech that is critical of religious communities is not looked at kindly. Also, India’s political and governing class is used to much more power than they currently wield, and much more deference than they currently get. They’ve been terrible at handling a growing tide of (sometimes well deserved, if not always well directed) criticism. This is just another faux pas in that list. Think bumbling and ham-fisted bureaucrats, not evil repressive dictators.
Genocidal style massacres between religious factions are part of the landscape in India. There is a lot more sensitivity (with some justification) re people doing things that will potentially stir shit up between these groups.
No relation to the other famous Gandhi.
Unless you count long long ago as part of the landscape, no, ‘genocidal style’ massacres are not exactly common. However, you’re right in that the laws exist because of tension between religious communities.
I think he was referring to sectarian riots, like the 2002 Gujarat riots (1,000+ killed) or the 1992-3 Babri Masjid riots (2,000+ dead).
I don’t think 10 or 20 years qualifies as “long long ago.”
leave aside 1984 sikh riots as an aberration. Hindus and Sikhs have always lived peacefully.
You will find Islamic extremists involved in all other major riots (there havent been many I believe). Islamic extremists have been at war all over the world with all kinds of people and places where you will least expect for ex. you might recall 2009 Uighur riots in China which left 1000 dead, or south Thailand insurgencywhich has left 5000+ dead and 10000 injured so far.
SO , thats not a problem specific to India. And India tries hard to maintain peace between all communities. Very rarely does a riot happen.
@Topic:
Present day government is highly unpopular among people due to corruption charges and is rattled and so is behaving in such way. This incident have be looked at as just an act of stupidity by some in the authority. Bail has already been granted in this case. India is in desperate need of
I don’t think those qualify as Genocidal-style riots either.
Yes, really. Which of those qualify as ‘Genocidal-Style’ events for you? :dubious:
I didn’t use the word “genocidal.” The poster clearly meant “sectarian.” But your disingenuous nit-picking has been appropriately noted.
You keep on fighting that good fight, my friend.
India is one of the most corrupt countries on Earth.
It’s a mistake to buy into its propaganda and that of other countries with much political and monetary interests in it that India is the “world’s biggest democracy.” It’s a cess pool of corruption, injustice and religious strife internal and imported.
It should not be surprising that a corrupt government and its police toadies gag a popular protestor, especially when there’s a newspaper involved.
Analytically speaking, it can be all that and still be the world’s largest democracy.
Yes. Plus, as I always remind people, independence was only achieved in 1947! It is now 2012. In 65 years they have made leaps and bounds. Give them a couple of hundred to get to the entrenched corruption of the US.
Not Mohandas, but she’s certainly related to famous Gandhis: Feroze, Rajiv, Sonia and Rahul.
Sonia Gandhi was only famous by accident/marriage!
…Whoa, that was kind of snotty of me.
You are being too harsh. We are around 95th best out of 182 nations in Corruption Perceptions Index 2011. We aren’t one of the most corrupt even with more mainstream media tv channels and newspapers than you can count on your hands to expose Governments and which would tend to magnify the perceived corruption. Anyways, to fight corruption, you require anti-graft department with an independent investigation team. Once that comes, 60-70% corruption in India as per some estimates will be eradicated. And thats what the civil society here is fighting for.
21st century is definitely going to be India’s and China’s. Just check out the GDP growth rates of last decade, you will come to know. China has got a 20 yr headstart wrt the economic reform policies. But India is bound to get there.
The Kardashians may not be deservedly famous, but they’re famous nonetheless. 