‘Act against hate speech’
INDIA’S secular character must be preserved and protected, and states must take action to stop hate speeches, the country’s top court said last Friday (21).
The ruling came in response to a petition asking for action on such utterances against the Muslim community.
A two-judge bench of the country’s Supreme Court asked police chiefs of two states and the national capital of Delhi to take action against hate speeches, “irrespective of the religion that the maker of the speech ... belongs to.”
The petition, filed by a Muslim man, wanted state authorities to act against what he said were widespread hate speeches against the Muslim community.
“The complaint of the petitioner is one of despondency and angst,” justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy said.
Muslims are the biggest minority group in India, accounting for 13 per cent of the population of 1.4 billion, the majority of whom are Hindu.
Prime minister Narendra Modi’s party is accused of marginalising the country’s Muslims, but it strongly denies the claim and says it treats people of all religions equally.