Adoor Gopalakrishnan, others booked for sedition over ‘letter to PM Modi’
Famed director expresses dismay at sedition case
Noted film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan has expressed dismay over a court in Bihar admitting a sedition case against him and 48 other celebrities for writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over mob lynchings in the country.
The registration of a sedition case based on the contents of the letter was unimaginable on any count, he said.
“The spirit of the letter was completely misinterpreted as its tone and tenor were very positive. It was written giving full respect to the democratic values in the country. It pointed out that in a democratic system like India’s, the plurality of opinions and the criticism of the government should not be misinterpreted as
sedition,” he said.
The people believe that they have a role in running the country, not only as voters, but also as citizens until they realise that democracy has completely ceased to exist, he said.
As a responsible citizen, he was concerned when terrible things like mass lynching take place and continue unchecked. “The victims of mass lynching are poor people. Nobody will lynch people who are powerful, have high connections and money,” he said.
He charged that the petition filed in the court was aimed at silencing the critics. There was no political motive behind the letter and it was aimed at drawing the attention of the Prime Minister to the grave issue. “Those abusing Gandhi are being made MPs,” he commented pointing a finger at the situation prevailing in the country.
The police registered the case on Thursday following an order by Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Surya Kant Tiwary. The CJM court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by social activist and lawyer Sudhir Kumar Ojha who said that the “letter has tarnished the country’s image”.
Talking to this newspaper on the phone, Mr. Ojha said that the case has been filed under Section 124 B which amounts to sedition as well as 153 B, 160, 290, 297 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).