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No freedom of speech? Former Union Secretary's speech questioning govt's secular credentials gets cancelled

Former Union Secretary's speech criticising Modi government gets cancelled.

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Was Godbole silenced for criticising the government?
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A lecture on lack on secularism rapping the BJP government has been cancelled abruptly, reports the Times of India.

Union Home Secretary Madhav Godbole at Mantralaya was supposed to give a lecture 'Is India a Secular Nation?' on April 4. The event was organised by Maharashtra branch of Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), which is an independent body.

As per the report, Godbole, was called for the BG Deshmukh memorial lecture by state chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya, the honorary chairman of IIPA's state win. 

Godbole had twice delivered BG Deshmukh memorial lecture before. For the April 4 event, his lecture was critical of the current government and panned the banning of cow slaughter. He was told by the organisers that his lecture was cancelled as it would clash with the budget session in the assembly. But organisers, who set the date of the lecture are expected to know the schedule of the assembly.

His speech heavily criticises the current government for allowing 'brazen' discussion on 'Hindu Rashtra'. It also talks about Babri Masjid demolition, Godhra riots (2002) and anti-Sikh riots (1984) critiquing the governments of during that period. It also condemns the successive governments for failing to act against the perpetrators of violence.  

As per the norm, Godbole had sent the contents of  lecture to the organiser so it could be sent to participants.

Here are some parts of the lecture as per the report.

Madhav Godbole Former Union Secretary

"The concept of secularism has lost all credibility... It is disconcerting that in recent times, serious questions are being raised about India's secularism. It is for the first time since Independence that the 'Hindu Rashtra' ideology is being talked about so openly, defiantly and persistently,

"The demolition of the Babri Masjid is a shameful chapter in India's recent history, raising serious doubts about its secularism," he says. About the Gujarat riots, he says, "The Godhra riots were qualitatively different in that it was state-sponsored violence against the minorities." 

"What is striking is the total lack of political will on the part of all political parties to address these critical issues, raising serious doubts about their real commitment to secularism, whatever may be the rhetoric indulged in by them for public consumption," the lecture says.

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