In India, there have been many cases where people have been publicly humiliated in terrible ways. This kind of punishment is meant to scare and hurt people and their families. Sadly, it has happened for a long time. But now, the Chief Minister (CM) of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, has said something shocking—he threatened that anyone who speaks badly about women in his family would be stripped and paraded.
As a CM, Reddy has promised to follow and protect the Indian Constitution. But his words suggest that he supports a punishment that is both illegal and cruel. Instead of treating all citizens fairly, he seems to put his own family above the law.
Why Is This a Big Problem?
By talking this way, Reddy is making things worse for the people in his state. His words could encourage mobs to take the law into their own hands. Also, he is attacking free speech—the right of every person to express their thoughts.
Reddy’s anger comes from a video made by two women on YouTube, where some people criticized him and his family. Instead of handling it in court, he had them arrested. But even that wasn’t enough for him. He now wants media organizations to decide who counts as a “journalist” and send lists of names. He warned that anyone not on the list would be treated as a criminal.
What Does the Law Say?
Indian law does not give special free speech rights to journalists—everyone has the right to express their opinion, with some limits, like not spreading lies or harming the country’s relationships with other nations. Some of these limits are debatable, but the real danger comes from police actions controlled by politicians.
Only courts can decide when free speech should be restricted. It should not be decided by complaints from angry neighbors, moral opinions, or the frustration of politicians like Reddy. Free speech is a fundamental right, and no leader should try to take it away.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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