EXPENSIVE/FREE SPEECH

The Constitution of India gives us- its citizens, certain rights. One such inclusion is Article 19 1 (a). In judicial terms, Article 19 1 (a) states that – All citizens of India shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression. In simple words, this part of the article states that Indians are allowed to speak and express freely whatever they wish to convey. Thus the original constitution had only this form of the right, which excluded any kind of restrictions or conditions. I agree, that, there might have been a few drawbacks to this right. But, the major problem that was raised against this right was by the Nehruvian Government.

In 1950, a left wing journalist named Romesh Thapar, published critical views about the Nehruvian Policy, and hence was banned by the Madras State. The Madras State filed a petition in the Supreme Court and the case resulted in their favour. This therefore led to the First Amendment of the Indian Constitution, and certain restrictions were included under the new section called Article 19 2. This was the biggest loss to the media industry because it resulted in a lot further restrictions in their duties and way of functioning. Here, I quote Article 19 2 – “Article 19(2) in The Constitution of India 1949 states that-           Nothing in sub clause (a) of clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence”.

Also, the Economic and Political Weekly faced harsh criticism as they raised arguments about Indira Gandhi. Is this why the right was introduced in the first place? To be reduced to such a minimal that the existence of the right hardly makes a difference. I’m not completely unhappy with the right, but the value of the right is so minimal due to the restrictions imposed. On the other hand, as if the right is being granted or equally utilised by ALL the citizens. As is it, there are only a few people who speak up and stand for the truth, on top of that, these restrictions are laid down. Now, even those who want to speak up, think a million times about the consequences they would have to face.

I want YOU to think for a minute. Does your maid know object her husband’s orders, like, maybe you do? Does the lady in the Burkha have the guts to become a news reporter for an English News Channel or let alone marry or even talk to a Hindu man in public? Does your college/ office watchman have the right to tell you to leave the premises on account of absence of our ID card without being ridiculed or abused? Does anyone have the guts to point out that a man who is 45 years of age is the Political Youth Icon of the country? Then maybe, ‘youth’ just got a new definition. And why is there such reluctance when someone wants to speak his/her mind?

The right therefore, isn’t establishing any kind of equality, integrity, morality or any kind of factual matter. Everything is just fake, or so censored that the truth is CHOPPED OFF!!! Everyone just wants to protect himself and let his secrets be buried away with his corpse. But nothing stays hidden for a long time. So, I wanted to know the sole purpose of having such a right which doesn’t cut across the cultural, social, economical of gender barriers!?!??

Basically what happened was, they kept a block of cheese infront of a rat and a few milliseconds later, they placed the block of cheese on a trap. So that, when the rat comes to eat the cheese, the rat gets trapped inside and dies. In the same way, citizens either don’t have access to free speech or the right to ‘free-wala’ speech comes at an expensive price. 

POT-HOLED TO DEATH

Work hard and you will reach the road of success. Good!! But, don’t reach the roads of Bangalore ever in your life. They say that Bangalore is the silicon capital of the country and also the Garden City. I don’t question any of these tags associated with my hometown. But I have a few doubts to raise regarding the transport system of this city.

We Bangaloreans know, that traffic is a 24/7 thing. If there’s no traffic on a day, then ‘Gods must be crazy’. There are areas where there’s no traffic at all, and then there are places where we move at around 2km/hour speed. I tend to leave an hour early if my destination is via the Silk Board route. Me and brother sometimes, “where are these people headed?” But I realised, they might have the same question in their minds too. It’s easier to travel by a two-wheeler or so we thought.

Now, there’s this rule that even the pillion riders have to wear helmet for safety, else are heavily fined. My first question is, how many pillion riders die due to head injury? Is this a way to loot money from the two wheelers? Yes! Anyone who has visited Bangalore will agree with me on the point that the roads aren’t maintained and are neglected when development is concerned. Only a fortnight before the elections, the contesting candidates show their love for their home city by laying down fresh roads, that too of the lowest quality possible. Where is all our tax money going? If not for development, what is the money being used for? I’m one among the tax payer, and I deserve to question the Government as to where my money is being utilised.

Silk Board, Marathahalli, Banashankari, Majestic are few names of places you definitely wouldn’t want to enter if you’re new to the city. Nevertheless, all the other areas too are victimised by traffic. Autos are a major pain in our day to day life. They speed around and are ignorant when they have a customer, else don’t make way for the vehicles behind them. Drunk driving, speeding, wrong way driving, skipping traffic signals, ignorant driving including confusion about the route, harmful overtaking, and similar such unhealthy habits practised which lead to fatal accidents and death of many innocent lives. The Government shouldn’t employ rules like pillion riders helmet when they don’t even take speed limit rules seriously. Speeding, drunk driving, etc are causes that can be avoided by implementing strict laws and fines applied to those found guilty. Taxi drivers, auto drivers are to be fined equally in case of rash driving as they are a main cause for minor accidents.

Also, action must be taken against offences like parking in a no parking zone, causing any kind of hindrance to the flow of traffic, or similar cases. When two wheelers are to be fined, one must make sure that there are a maximum number of times that one can be fined, after which the rider’s riding license would be withheld. Does anyone know that this is already being practised? No, because the Government is being lenient in matters that require strict action and implementing rules which are of least relevance.

Practically speaking, when women are seated in the back seat of a two wheeler, how are they expected to wear a helmet? If they wear a helmet, where are they supposed to carry it once they reach their destination? If they are heavily dressed and have made their hair perfect for the day, how should they wear a helmet? How are people coming from outside Bangalore know and follow the pillion rider helmet rule? Even if they do wear a helmet, will their hands and legs be safe if they meet with an accident? Not really. And the amount of pollution, specially air pollution and noise pollution. More traffic, more air pollution and more noise pollution. The cycle will never end.

But, how many lives are going to be saved if all the pot holes of Bangalore are closed? If all the roads of Bangalore are well maintained? Will there ever exist a day in the near future where we can decide to go to a place and not worry about the traffic we would have to go through?

And they say, we are developing!