Misuse Of Sedition Law: Prosecute Officials Responsible; Accountability A Must – By Ruben Banerjee
Spare a thought for Kishore Chandra Wangkhem, possibly the most powerful symbol of one who has suffered the most for the rampant and continuing misuse of our colonial-era sedition law. By all accounts, this journalist from Manipur fell foul of some who are very powerful in the north-eastern state and is paying a heavy price….
The point to be noted is that Wangkhem is incarcerated with impunity by officials who fear virtually no consequences for misusing a law that clearly lays down that unless accompanied by incitement or call to violence, mere criticism of a government cannot be labelled as sedition.
… Manipur officials signing Wangkhem’s repeated detentions – obviously under instructions of the state’s politicians – have had no reason to be chastised. When the High Court the first time set Wangkhem free, it criticised the state government. But no officials were named or penalised. So, the officials have had no reason to mend their recalcitrant ways. This is precisely where the problem rests with the sedition law….
