16 July 2010
Press Statement
The Citizens’ Initiative for Peace (CIP) expresses its concern over Maharashtra Government’s move to enact a law curtailing freedom of expression
The Citizens Initiative for Peace (CIP), a conglomeration of Mumbai-based NGOs, individuals and other organisations, hereby expresses its strong concern over the reported initiative of the state government to enact a new law to protect iconic figures from defamation and thereby impose newer gags on books to be published. This is clearly antithetical to the spirit of free and rational inquiry and fundamental democratic values.
Even in the past there were violent agitations against books. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ’The Riddles of Rama and Krishna’ is just one prominent example. A new law is sure to open up a Pandora’s box and considerably murky the situation.
The CIP opposes the move.
In this context, the CIP also decries the attempts by certain political forces to whip up parochial passions and issue threats of violence over the order delivered by the highest court of the land in favour of freedom of conscience, rational inquiry and free speech by confirming the High Court order of lifting the ban on a controversial book concerning an iconic figure.
The CIP takes this opportunity to put on record its strong commitments to democratic values including the right to free speech and dissent including those of the protestors freely critiquing the author and his book.
It records its strong distaste of attempts at muzzling of discordant voices through intimidatory tactics.
Asad Bin Saif
Bhagwan Keshbhat
Jatin Desai
Madhav Menon
Nandita Shah
Neha
Sudhir Badami
Sukla Sen & others
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