The apex court once again admonishes the hate mongers who are pulling down our country
The supreme court of India has once again said that the hate speeches are poisoning the atmosphere of the country. The apex court made this observation while hearing the PIL on hate speech filed by Harpreet Mansukhani. Earlier on September 21, the SC had made a similar observation that hate speech was poison contaminating the atmosphere of the country. The apex court had also said that TV channels were using ‘hate’ to enhance their ratings. It also wanted to know why the government was a ‘mute spectator.’ That was SC's take on Nupur Sharma hate jibe for which she was suspended from the BJP but no legal action whatsoever was taken against her even though a couple of people lost their lives in the aftermath of the incriminating statement. The government maintains that it has ‘zero tolerance’ against any incitement to sectarian speeches. But it doesn’t hold much water as as the BJP's MLAs and MPs keep delivering hate speeches. In the PIL on hate speech the plaintiff has told the apex court that hate speech has been converted into a “profitable business” by certain political parties but the government is doing nothing to stop it.
The PIL has merit in it as the menace of hate speech is spreading and showing no signs of letting up. One thing is clear, even if the government is serious about tackling hate crimes, hate mongers are not taking the government seriously. Videos of the ‘Virat Hindu Sabha' organised by VHP are doing rounds in social media in which the BJP MLA from Ghaziabad Nand Kishor Gurjar has allegedly said that he will not desist from killing ‘jihadis’ if they murder any Hindus. Even as the hearing is underway in the SC the BJP MP Parvesh Verma made an open appeal to boycott Muslim vendors and restaurants. After objections, he said that he was misquoted. That has now become a standard modus operandi; first make an inciting statement then withdraw it saying 'I never said so'. This serves the purpose of spreading hate and one is absolved of legal implications. This must be stopped else there is a danger of the country plunging into the dark era where hate rules and the reason is cornered. People indulging in hate crimes must be brought to the book and made an example of so that the garbage on social media (and also on mainstream media) can be wiped off.