“Democracy necessarily means a conflict of will and ideas, involving sometimes a war of the knife
between different ideas”
India is the largest democracy of the world in theory but in practice the spirit of democracy is
vanishing which is evident by the incident that took place in February 2016 in Jawaharlal Nehru
University when students gathered for a constructive discussion over the execution of Afzal Guru
and general Kashmir issue. Healthy discussions on political issues are detrimental for sustained and
long term democracy and the freedom of speech is not only enshrined in our Constitution but also
included in International law particularly in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in
1948.
It article 17 stated as:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any
media regardless of frontiers “
‘Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ‘ a student wing of BJP ruling party complained that led to the
government action in very similar manner of authoritarian governments which usually based on
‘Rule of One’ or ‘ Rule of Few
Police arrested the discussants including the Union President of the JNU Students. The Section
124A of the Indian Penal Code used for this arrest is charged in sedition cases and the product of
British Colonial Rule in India introduced in 1870 and this law was used extensively again prominent
leaders including Mahatma Ghandi who during their struggle against British Rule for the freedom of
India.
State Machinery and Media was used extensively for narrative building against the students to label
them anti-State and it was amplified by using advanced technological tools for editing and
spreading of the footages and videos related to this incident that led to national wide debates over
this issue
The socialogical lens give us true understanding of the matter particularly Conflict Perspective
which implies that State machinery is used only to serve the interstes of dominants and undermine
the interstes of weak, BJP government is the flagrant example in this regard as they are severing
the interests of those who provide foundations to their political agenda for their vested interests.
To conclude JNU incident unveiled non democratic attitude of authority and gave a great set back
to longstanding democratic traditions and free speech. It reflects colonial mindset to linger on its
rule by hook or crook. It is generally accepted freedom gives birth to new ideas and creative minds
that add value in society at large.
