Modi to attend G7 summit in Germany

The spate of first information reports (FIRS) filed against suspended BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma and expelled spokesperson Naveen Jindal for their remarks on Prophet Mohammed have revealed, once again, that Indian free speech law is not based on any coherent set of principles, but instead, is an easy weapon to be wielded in service of offended sentiments, writes Delhi-based advocate Gautam Bhatia. Hate speech is not speech that targets a religion or a religious figure per se, but speech that targets a group of citizens by virtue of their affiliation and calls for discrimination against that group, or their exclusion from mainstream social life. In a democratic society, no subject — including that of religion — should be off the table when it comes to scrutiny and critique. This includes speech that is distasteful, uncivil, or bullying. The response to this kind of speech is not the blunt hand of the law, but the force of moral and ethical criticism.

Germany as a special guest at the G7 Summit on June 26-27, before travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to hold meetings with the top leadership of the country, the external affairs ministry said on Wednesday. The Prime Minister will go to the German resort of Schloss Elmau at the invitation of Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the G7 Summit. Besides India, countries such as Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina and Senegal have been invited to the summit. From the G7 Summit, Modi will travel to the UAE on June 28. He will pay his condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president and ruler of Abu Dhabi. He will also congratulate Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as the new president.