#FreeSpeech: Why should we support Abhijit Iyer-Mitra?
Because jokes and satire offended many in Odisha, defense analyst and writer Abhijit Iyer-Mitra is lodged at Jharpada Jail of the state. His tweet which read there is no such thing as Odia Rosogulla led to an FIR against him, and he was arrested on Tuesday outside the State Assembly. On Wednesday Magistrate Manoranjan Pradhan sent him to 14-days judicial custody. Here's why this is setting a wrong precedent.
First things first: Why was Abhijit arrested?
Abhijit's counsel Nikhil Mehra told The Hindu, he was arrested for tweets he posted months ago, about the origin of the popular sweet. In conversation with another Twitter user, he had written, "There is no such thing as a Odia roshogolla". As a result, an FIR was registered evoking several sections of IPC and IT Act, and Saheed Nagar police arrested Abhijit.
Apart from this, a letter has been sent to Twitter
Notably, Saheed Nagar Police also wrote a letter to Twitter seeking details of the e-mail through which he opened his account, and the phone he used for the same. They also want Twitter to furnish details about his 'defamatory' posts regarding Odisha.
Unfortunately, this isn't the only problem Abhijit faces
Notably, Abhijit's trip to Odisha last month spelled trouble for him. He was criticized for his helicopter-ride above eco-sensitive Chilika Lake. But a major problem arose when his videos on Konark Temple offended many. In his videos, he spoke about the scriptures (which depict sex), and Indian culture. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against him at Konark Police Station.
Abhijit was arrested, given bail but not bail extension
After the FIR was registered, he was arrested on September 20, and a trial court granted him bail till October 5. On October 4, he moved Supreme Court seeking a bail extension but was rejected. When Abhijit told SC his life was in danger and he should be granted bail, the bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi said there's no place safer than jail.
Separately, House Committee in Assembly summoned him, he apologized
Meanwhile, Odisha Assembly Speaker PK Amat set up a House Committee to probe the remarks and asked Abhijit to appear on October 11. After he didn't turn up, he was summoned on October 23. In Assembly, Abhijit tendered an unconditional apology. Chairman of the House Committee Narasingha Mishra said he has been asked to physically appear and submit affidavit on November 2.
No country for satire?
Seeing Abhijit's comments through a partial lens won't get anyone anywhere. His comments, the video, and the rosogulla tweet were laced in satire and that's about it. Even if he hurt anyone, his apology should have changed that. Only it didn't, and he is now a victim of state-sponsored clampdown of free speech. The way SC and magistrate denied him bail, reeks of arrogance.
There are many who stand by Abhijit
His arrest has invited enough criticism for the Naveen Patnaik government, with many saying it is a clampdown on free speech. Journalist Aarti Tikoo Singh started a petition on Change.org demanding the release of Abhijit. His arrest was called a politically motivated witch-hunt which didn't fall in lines with democracy. At the time of press, it had garnered 1,967 signatures.
Really? Why, though?
Dear Naveen Patnaik, is this how you want to govern?
Patnaik, who has projected himself as a champion of liberal rights, is doing a disservice to his own words by letting the charade around Abhijit go on for so long. The arrest won't solve the state's problems, but only pacify fringe groups. The usage of draconian laws to act on dissenting voices shows our leaders may be divided by ideologies, but prejudice unites them.
