Civic rights activist Teesta Setalvad and writer Baragur Ramachandrappa have expressed concerns over hate speeches and sought tough action against those making them.
‘Need for movement’
In her address at the valedictory function of Sahabalveya Saagara, the national conference of Komu Soharda Vedike, Ms. Setalvad expressed the need of a movement against hate speeches made to incite communal hatred and trouble.
“If you are in a position of power, you cannot use the Constitution as an excuse for making hate speeches,” she said, pointing to recent statements of Union Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma, Yogi Adiyanath, BJP MP, and Sangeet Som, BJP MLA.
Questioning statements by Mr. Sharma on the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, she said, “How can one digest the statement that Abdul Kalam was a ‘great man who was a nationalist and a humanist, despite being a Muslim’. How can a person like Yogi Adithyanath continue as an MP?”
She also questioned the inaction of the party against Mr. Som for his statement following the lynching in Dadri.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Ramachandrappa said that politicians do not have any control over the speeches that are made in public.
“There is no control over the speeches. There is lot of loose talk,” he said.
Terming hate speeches as poison from the tongue, he said, “the mouth has taken the form of a gun.”
The Swachh Bharat Mission, Mr. Ramachandrappa said, should actually start cleansing society of persons who are delivering such speeches.
Seeking strict action against persons delivering hate speech was among the decisions taken during day long conference.
‘Murder by caste’
Terming the deaths of Hyderabad Research Student Rohith Vemula and Professor Sudhesh from Madikeri as murder by caste system, the delegates called for a detailed inquiry into the two deaths. They also resolved to fight in a collective way against forces dividing the society.
