Even dissent has a religion here


"Dissent is what rescues democracy from a quiet death behind closed doors." - Lewis L Lapham. 

Dissent in a democracy is essential, and there are no two ways about it. The Indian state has presented itself to the world as the largest democracy in the world, but Indians know the truth. And the truth is quite different. The constitution of India guarantees its citizens the right to dissent under Article 19 via three vehicles. The right to freedom of speech and expression, freedom to assemble peacefully and without arms, and freedom to form associations or unions. But, the Indian citizen knows, it is not so simple. 

Although governments have never been welcoming to criticism, the environment of dissent and protest has worsened under the UPA government. The right-wing coalition government led by BJP has wrongfully used the Unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA) to silence thousands of dissenting voices. A total of 5,128 cases were registered under UAPA in India from 2015 to 2019. However, less than 2% of those arrested were convicted. The court, in many cases, like that of Natasha Narwal, denied conviction based on insufficient proof. 

But there is a rather disturbing side to the dissent saga in India. Not only have political activists, reformers, lawyers, academicians, students, and others been wrongfully accused of anti-nationalism and unlawful activities, particular sections of them have been targeted. In 2016, a case was registered against three students of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. Kanhaiya Kumar (the student union president for 2015-16), Anirban Chatterjee, and Umar Khalid were accused of raising anti-national slogans during an event. The media took no time in tarnishing the image of three ordinary students, the planners of an apparent, anti-national event. But the media had more to add. 

In an interview with The Quint, Anirban and Umar openly verified how the media vilified Umar since he comes from a minority community. Journalists went as far as accusing Khalid of being a militant with ties to Kashmir and Pakistani terrorist organizations. The media had been successful in portraying an inaccurate image of Khalid. The police were no less when it came to treating the dissenters differently. While Khalid was treated as if he was an expected dissenter, Anirban was repeatedly questioned about his need to indulge in an inti-national program. Undoubtedly, this was an overt reflection of the religious bias with which the media and police operate in 'democratic' India. 

In 2020, Khalid was arrested again, this time under the pretext of propagating violence during Anti-CAA protests in Delhi. His friend and former ally Kanhaiya chose to remain silent, this time. Perhaps, he had learned his lesson. To support a dissenter from a minority could hinder his political aspirations. The case of Umar Khalid is only one of the several cases where dissenters enjoy privileges or are denied even basic rights depending on what family they were born into, which god they believed in, and what caste they belonged to. In India, caste and religion haven't left the space of dissent untouched. In this 'democracy' even dissent has a religion. 


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