Alliance of subversion prevailing on varsity campuses, says Jaitley
LONDON: Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday saw “an alliance of subversion” prevailing on varsity campuses by which separatists and ultra-left elements were speaking the same language, and said the idea of free speech could not extend to assaulting India’s sovereignty.
Answering a query at the London school of Economics on the recent turmoil in Ramjas College in Delhi, Jaitley said there was “no space for violence”, but there needed to be a debate whether assaulting the country’s sovereignty should be permitted under the idea of free speech.
On a four-day visit to London —mainly to represent India at a reception at Buckingham Palace on Monday to mark the UK-India Year of Culture — Jaitley spoke on historical and contemporary developments in India’s economy and said the country was now clear about the path ahead.
On Ramjas College incidents, he said, “I don’t think there is or could be any space for violence. I personally believe that this whole issue has to be debated whether free speech permits you to assault the very sovereignty of the nation”. “If somebody speaks about breaking India into pieces and thinks that is part of free speech — don’t forget under Article 19 (2) sovereignty is an exception to free speech —but assuming you wanted that right, be liberal enough to believe that within the democratic framework a majority will stand up to you and counter your free speech”.
“Then don’t say that my free speech is being hindered. I find it strange that an argument is being raised that I have free speech to advocate that India should be broken into pieces but those who oppose me are hindering my free speech. They also have a right of free speech to oppose what you are saying,” Jaitley said in a response that met with applause from students in the audience.
Replying to question on banks and loan defaults, and without naming London-based businessman Vijay Mallya, who is wanted in India in connection with alleged economic offences, Jaitley said, “There is a series of steps which we have taken about money stashed abroad. These are steps which have to be taken in parallel”.
“It is for the first time that strong action is being taken. It has never happened that the defaulters are on the run. The fact they are on the run and their properties are being attached , is a signal which India is sending for the first time. Otherwise we had learnt to live with defaulters”.