Hate speeches should not be fielded by parties: Teesta Setalvad

Civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad  on Saturday said the leaders who give hate speeches are a challenge for the democracy and should not be fielded by parties.

"Those who deliver hate speeches are the main challenge before the electoral democracy in the country so they should not be given tickets by parties to contest polls," Setalvad said in a programme here.

Addressing the XIth national convention of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Sitalwad said there was "an immense need to focus on the issues of human rights."

"Arrest of two girls for the Facebook comments in Maharashtra was made a big issue but none paid attention to the killing of Dalit people in Gujarat's Surendra Nagar in police firing one-and-a-half months back," she said while laying emphasis on shifting attention to the issues related with human rights.

Sitalwad also suggested that CCTV cameras should be installed in court rooms so that treatment with poor and Dalits in courts could be recorded.

"Not for public viewing, but for a record, it should be done in courts," she said.

The activist also laid emphasis on clearing pending cases in courts and said if justice is not delivered timely, the situation would worsen.

Former chief justice of Delhi High Court Rajinder Sachar and activist Aruna Roy were present at the function.