Gurmehar Kaur: 'Liberal' outrage against Hooda and Sehwag suggests freedom of expression is one-sided

Since 2014, the English-speaking media’s greatest fear seems to be the shrinking space for debate, dissent and freedom of expression, which we were informed about, one long-form editorial at a time. Despite the fact that India’s constitution is hardly conducive for free speech, and ‘bharat ke tukde’ a phrase which clearly comes under the sedition bracket in that beloved document written by Ambedkar, there are some among us who still tend to believe we live in a land with unlimited rights.  This was reiterated again when Ramjas College experienced a JNU Part deux where ABVP students took umbrage to the  possible presence of Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid and reportedly attacked Left students. I say reportedly because that’s all the reports I’ve read suggest that while ABVP students wreaked havoc, members of peace-loving organisations like SFI and AISA sprouted wings and stood still, turning the other cheek.

(Slogans for azaadi at Ramjas College)

Just received this video clip of ultra left protest inside Ramjas College. Slogan is: 'Hum Kya Chahte Azadi, Kashmir Maange Azadi'. Tragic. pic.twitter.com/9KF0eDqNxX — Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 22, 2017

The violence in Ramjas moved Kargil martyr’s daughter Gurmehar Kaur, who put up a sign saying that she wasn’t afraid of ABVP and that ‘every student of India was with her’. While the statement is low on both logic and maths, the trolling from those of a nationalistic persuasion was way over the top. Kaur become a lightning rod for criticism with trolls digging up one of her older videos which had her holding a placard stating: “Pakistan didn’t kill my father, war did.”

This became a new lowbrow joke format similar to ‘Osama didn’t carry out 9/11, bombs did’.  Things turned particularly ugly with one BJP MP comparing her to Dawood Ibrahim, who was the son of a cop and others sending her rape and death threats.  Now let’s be clear on acceptable guidelines of online behaviour since we live in times where nothing seems to be clear.  It’s wrong to send death threats, it’s criminal to threaten anyone with rape and anyone who does so should be charged.

Shame on @virendersehwag & @RandeepHooda. They're entitled to their own point of view BUT this behavior? SICK! https://t.co/OiTiHQYOlL — Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) February 27, 2017

However, Virender Sehwag (who tweeted “Bat me hai Dum! #BharatJaisiJagahNahi”) and Randeep Hooda who retweeted the tweet and looked to engage with several Twitter users including journalists of the ‘intolerance’ brigade who felt that he had overstepped his boundaries of good behaviour. Sehwag and Hooda were branded chauvinist and bullies, sexist and patriarchal and trolls and every other word that ‘liberals’ like to use criticise those who they don’t agree with. Some, taking a leap of faith of 'rape apologists', 

The reaction to Sehwag and Hooda, who were not abusive by any stretch of imagination tells us exactly what our liberal establishment actually thinks of freedom of expression. An actor or sportsman or even a common man’s freedom of expression will be only be supported by the cabal if it agrees with theirs. So, while Gurmehar Kaur will get a loudspeaker because her views on Pakistan matches their own, most martyr’s children who probably hate our neighbours won’t be allowed into the pulpit.

Sickened by @virendersehwag. Once an icon. Now a sick troll going after young women, part of a SM attack-dog pack issuing rape threats? — Prasanto K Roy (@prasanto) February 26, 2017

Similarly, while Hooda, Sehwag or Anupam Kher will be slammed for their comments, the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who spoke up against intolerance will get sympathy by the bucket load. So, while Mohammed Akhlaq’s murder for allegedly eating beef will signal the start of a dark era, a RSS man’s murder in Kerala will barely get a peep.  While a government sanction against NDTV  will launch a thousand editorials about a supposed Emergency, an FIR against Zee News for covering riots in Dhulagarh will barely raise any eyebrows.  And that tells you exactly what one needs to know about freedom of expression in this country. It will only be tolerated if it matches that of those seating in ivory towers