Freedom of Expression Indian Style By Agha Masood Whenever there is a cricket match or hockey match between India and Pakistan, the public on both sides take enormous interest to the extent as if both are fighting battle in cricket ground. Last week Pakistani Cricket team beat the Indians in Decca in Asian Cup where huge crowd cheered Pakistani cricket team especially Shahid Afridi whose sixes filled the spectators with huge joy. Even the Bangladeshi who do not entertain friendly feelings for Pakistan supported Pakistani team and raised slogan in favour of Pakistani cricket team. But in Indian city of Meerut when some Kashmiri students watching the match were so excited that they started dancing and raising the slogans in favour of Pakistan which infuriated the Hindu students and brawl started resulting in injuries on both side. The Vice Chancellor of the University immediately expelled at least seventy students from the university without conducting any inquiry into the incident. The expelled students according to a report will be charged for high treason. The Kashmiri leadership fighting for the rights of the people of Kashmir were deeply hurt and annoyed by the behavior of the Ministry of interior of India as well of the Vice Chancellor, they approached the Prime minister Manmohan Singh who promised to look into the matter. Meanwhile, demonstrations are taking place in occupied Kashmir in favour of the students demanding their return to the university and dropping the charges of treason. The public pressure on both side of the divide forced the Indian Government to drop the charges of treason, however, still these students have not been asked by the University Authorities to come back and resume their studies. The final exams are around the corner. The treatment matted out to the Kashmiri students shows the extreme lack of tolerance in India which claims itself the great democracy in south Asia. In a cricket match like the one in Srilanka (Asia Cup) mere joy expressed by Kashmiri students in favour of Pakistani team could not be tolerated in India. Actually it is the guilt complex on the part of Indian Government with regard to Kashmiri students. In Occupied Kashmir seven lacs Indian army have been killing the innocent Kashmiris for demanding economic and political rights, but instead of listening their grievances and sowing their problems. They are maimed and brutally killed. The fear coupled with brutal treatment meted out to the people in Occupied Kashmir by Indian Army has pushed the people of Kashmir to demand complete freedom from Indian occupation . The freedom of expression is now officially being curtailed in India except for bashing Pakistan. The Indian electronic media of India is extremely harsh towards Pakistan while its counterpart in Pakistan is very talent rather pushing the idea of good neighbourly relations with India even promoting the idea of open trade but the feelings of Pakistani media are not reciprocated. The Government of Pakistan also condemned the incident of Meerut University and has offered expelled Kashmiri Students to come Pakistan and study here. The Indian government has turned down the offer. However, the game of cricket is now source of annoyance for Indian government which cannot see people expressing happiness and joy over winning the cricket match by Pakistani team against India. This is the reality and democratic face of India.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:00:20 +0000