Pseudo-secularists talk of free speech, but look what they did on Indu Sarkar
The recent controversy surrounding the release of Madhur Bhandarkar's film, Indu Sarkar, has re-ignited the debate over freedom of expression. Surely, Bhandarkar is not the first film-maker to be the target of individuals nor will he be the last. Noted film-makers Sanjay leela Bhansali and Prakash Jha too had been subjected to the public's ire for their films. But what is certain is that most of these controversies have had to do with politics. The fight is strictly between the liberals and the conservatives who have but made a mockery of the freedom of expression. What complicates the problem is the politicisation of the entire episode. And this is what has happened with Bhandarkar, who has been hounded by self-proclaimed custodians of freedom of expression. This tribe of intolerant people, who belong to various groups, including the Congress, believe that Bhandarkar's film, Indu Sarkar, portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her son, Sanjay Gandhi, in bad light.They have employed means to express their anger. On one occasion, protestors threatened to blacken Bhandarkar’s face. In yet another instance, he was to be garlanded with footwear. A woman even issued a legal notice to him. Indeed, Bhandarkar has been through much. But such hooliganism on the part of Congress workers surely does not give a good name to a party which is already struggling to survive meaningfully on the national stage. One fails to understand what's the harm in having a film on the EmergencyIJ Have there not been documentaries on itIJ Why is the Congress rattledIJ The party’s allegations show that they are assuming things. They have, after all, not even seen the film. Whatever allegations have been made are on the basis of the trailer of the film.
What is appalling, however, is the hypocrisy of the Congress on freedom of expression. The party claims to be a voice against intolerance. In a rabble-rousing speech at Jawaharlal Nehru University not too long ago, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had said: “What is anti-nationalIJ The most anti-national people are the people who are suppressing the voice of this institution.” And yet, his party has been the worst offender and silencer of freedom of expression. Even as Bhandarkar expressed his outrage at the supporters' behaviour to Rahul Gandhi, the Congress scion did not take action. The silence of the so-called left-liberal intellectuals on this issue, too speaks volumes about their double-standards. Where is the award wapsi brigade whose memebers had returned their national awards because of the so-called climate of ‘intolerance' in the countryIJ Why are they silentIJ Is it because they view Bhandarkar to be Right-wingIJ If that is the reason, it’s silly. By this attitude, we must be given to understand that freedom of expression is meant only for the leftists and the so-called secularists, because voices are raised only when they are supposedly in trouble.