SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira opposed the resolution passed by the Goa Assembly against BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that it is an assault on democracy as it includes press and the freedom of the press will be suppressed if such things are allowed to come up.
Adv Ferreira who opposed the private member’s resolution tabled by Vasco MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar said, “We are falling in a trap,” he said, “This resolution is dangerous, unconstitutional, anti-democracy and anti-India. I urge all my colleagues to think of long term effect and oppose it. It is not a government resolution but a private member’s resolution. Use your conscience, exercise your right. Don’t let your voters down. Oppose it. I oppose it.”
Adv Ferreira said, “Why do you get scared? Is it in your culture that you don’t want dissent? Is it in your culture that you don’t like people speaking against you?”
Adv Ferreira also cited Delhi High court’s observation.
It said, “Society’s outrage is no justification to suppress free speech. Dissent in democracy is vital. This was our Chief Justice Dipankar Datta now a Supreme Court Judge had said.”
He further said that on April 5, 2023, the Supreme Court in the matter of Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd (MBL) said, “An independent press is vital for robust functioning of a democratic republic. Its role in a democratic society is crucial for it shines a light on the functioning of the State. The press has a duty to speak the truth and present citizens with hard facts enabling them to make choices that propel democracy in the right direction. The restriction on the freedom of the press compels citizens to think along the same tangent. A homogenised view on issues that range from socio-economic polity to political ideologies would pose grave dangers to democracy.”
Adv Ferreira further recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet dated April 8, 2013 which read, “Till there was DD (Doordarshan), Akashwani, what did common people discuss. We heard it on BBC. There was no faith in DD, Akashwani. This is what he (Modi) had said when he was in opposition and today when he is under attack, the same BBC he is attacking,” the MLA said adding that no individual is greater than the nation.
According to former Advocate General, the matter is subjudice as a PIL has been filed by the Supreme Court challenging the Government of India’s decision to ban a BBC documentary.
Ferreira said that a raid on BBC, NDTV or any new channel, person or individual who speaks against the supreme leader is like what was happening during Nazi regime in Germany.
Stating that “We are falling in a trap,” he said, “This resolution is dangerous, unconstitutional, anti-democracy and anti-India. I urge all my colleagues to think of long term effect and oppose it. It is not a government resolution but a private member’s resolution. Use your conscience, exercise your right. Don’t let your voters down. Oppose it. I oppose it.”
