MP's comment on NGO's freedom of speech
We are shocked at the implications of a comment by Suranjit Sengupta that NGOs do not have the right to freedom of speech and the precedence it sets. Our bafflement at the "Foreign Donations Regulation Act, 2016" continues to grow at the MP's comment. Not only is the comment unconstitutional, coming from a legislator it is baffling. Even the said Act, which the comment is related to, does not have such a draconian provision. And are we to assume that NGOs are not constituted of citizens of the country, who constitutionally enjoy the basic rights?
We have expressed our reservations to the legislation before, pointing out the lack of a proper definition of 'derogatory' comments, the wide scope of its misapplication, and the free pass this gives to democratic institutions from any form of criticism.
The law empowers the NGO Affairs Bureau to take punitive measures against foreign-funded NGOs in the name of curbing anti-state activities. While no one encourages anti-state activities, we feel obliged to point out that dissent and criticism are but part and parcel of a well-functioning democracy.
No democratic institution should be above criticism. Our Constitution safeguards these fundamental rights to voice grievances and opposing views. It is inconceivable to suggest, as the MP did, that one must be politically active to comment on affairs of the state.
The legislation threatens to curb voices of dissent. It is a threat to the accountability and transparency we expect from the constitutional bodies. The blanket denial of freedom of speech might point to graver implications in the future.
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