Caged Under The Tricolor
"When only those in poverty are punished for their deeds, and not those in power, it's not justice. It's exploitation."
It’s deeply disheartening to witness how India, a nation with one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, has reached a point where democracy exists more on paper than in practice. And it’s quite practically evident from the latent show, a supposed platform for raw, unfiltered talent that got shut down because apparently, the sentiments of a few Indians were hurt.
When did we start prioritizing the fragility of a few over the constitutional rights of all?
There’s a thin line between what is legally wrong and what is morally uncomfortable. Our government and our society doesn't seem to get that.
Time and again, the government seems to blur that line to suit its own convenience. It's ironic how quickly action is taken when a comedian cracks a controversial joke, yet those accused of heinous crimes, such as rapists, corrupt officials, and violent criminals continue to roam freely, untouched by the hands of law.
Yes, my ideologies and beliefs are different from Samay Raina or Apoorva Mukhija. My values don’t align with them. But filing FIRs against comedians, dragging them into courtrooms, and turning their words into breaking news headlines, all while far more pressing issues are ignored, is simply barbaric.
What is “truth” to one group may be deeply hurtful to another. That’s the nature of a diverse society, that’s how a diverse country like India should function.
We can always express disdain on any topic, we can criticise such views but we cannot afford to criminalize dissent. But above all that, remains buried the brutal cases which still didn’t make it to the spotlight.
No one talks about election manipulation.
No one brings rape cases to national headlines unless it suits the narrative.
I do not see false FIRS, murder cases, acid attacks, domestic violence being broadcasted on national television.
And most of all, no one speaks of how the voice of the common citizen is suppressed the moment it challenges the so-called-government. You doubt that?
Go on, go on, criticize the government openly and see the world call you 'gaddar' and your name being labelled as an 'anti-national'.
Where is this freedom we claim to cherish? Because from where I stand, it seems that in today’s India, the right to express is no longer reserved for every citizen. It remains free of cost for those in power.
But for the rest of us?
We are expected to stay silent, or else we suffer under the hands of the government.
And here we are, ladies and gentlemen, proudly celebrating the 78th year of Independent India, a nation where comedians get arrested faster than criminals, where censorship has become a ritual, and where hurt sentiments of a group have more constitutional power than the Constitution itself.
This is our 'Akhand Bharat' that people are so proud of!
