However, he should also note that this right is subject to restrictions under Subclause (2) in relation to incitement to an offence.
He claims to respect the Indian Constitution but I think if he truly did have any respect he would have a more indepth knowledge of the Constitution and would have refrained from making such a violence inciting comment. He is a public figure with a huge fanatical following and he should have some sense about the ripples such kind of comments would cause.
Furthermore, I believe that nobody has the right to force anyone to say or do anything that the person doesn’t want to say or do. By doing so we would only be trampling on the person’s fundamental rights. I am not standing up for anyone, but in my opinion, Asaduddin Owaisi has all the right to refuse to chant the “Bharat Mata ki jai!” slogan (he could have refused a little subtly though). But we should note that at least he is not chanting any negative or degrading slogans. I am being the devil’s advocate here.
By making such violent comments Baba Ramdev is only displaying his violent outlook and primitive dictatorial point of view. He claims that if it hadn’t to be for the law then he would have gone ahead with the beheadings. In saying this he is portraying his inherently lawless self. He should understand that two wrongs don’t make a right.
I strongly believe in the famous quote by the French writer and philosopher, Voltaire: “I may disagree with your opinion, but I am will give my life for your right to express it.”
But this doesn’t mean you say just about anything senselessly. All you will end up doing is make a fool of yourself. He – Baba Ramdev – should also realise that the times that the country is seeing today are very sensitive and delicate. We are already facing issues in relation with intolerance, nationalism, religion, language, etc. Everybody should recognize this and make an attempt to tread carefully and responsibly. We should all strive to promote peace and harmony and not instigate any sort of communalism or violence.
Such violence inciting comments are only making a bad situation worse. We are up-in-arms against each other. Violence is rampant and tempers are flaring. In this situation, as responsible citizens of our splendid country, let’s ask ourselves a question: Should we be adding fuel to the already raging fire? Or should we together move towards putting the fire out?
