India shining?

Article 19 of the Constitution of India: 'All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression' Shah Rukh Khan expresses an opinion on the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from IPL. His own opinion. None of us are obliged to either agree or disagree (As it happens, I don't agree). But we are obliged, as Indian citizens, to uphold his right to express that opinion.

Article 19 of the Constitution of India: 'All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression'
Shah Rukh Khan expresses an opinion on the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from IPL. His own opinion. None of us are obliged to either agree or disagree (As it happens, I don't agree). But we are obliged, as Indian citizens, to uphold his right to express that opinion.

Terrorism: the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear.
Bal Thackeray directs Shiv Sainiks to block the release of Shah Rukh Khan's film 'My Name is Khan' at all costs, Sainiks vandalise cinema halls, damaging property, tearing up posters and screens and threatening exhibitors. This is emulated by various right wing groups across the country.

Why India is great: What separates us from dysfunctional democracies (read: Pakistan) is the rule of law, which ensures the rights and safety of all citizens and their property.
Exhibitors, sufficiently terrorised by the Sena and with no faith in the ability of the police to protect their cinemas, finally agree to a token showing of MNIK in a few cinemas, effectively blocking the release of the film in our city.

So there you have it. Whether as a political stunt in order to recover from a battering in electoral politics or from deep antipathy to any point of view opposed to their own, Shiv Sainiks effectively used intimidation and violence to hold our fair city to ransom yesterday. What is more, they prevented me from taking my daughter to see, from all accounts, a delightful film, filled with lessons on tolerance and compassion.
India Shining? I think not.

--u00a0Tariq Ansari is the Managing Director of Mid Day Multimedia Ltd
These views express the opinion of this newspaper on the subject.

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