------------------------------------------------------------------------ * G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S * ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two new showrooms/office spaces, double height (135 sq m each with bath) for lease in upscale Campal/Miramar beach area, Panaji, Goa. Contact: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>I agreed by and large with almost everything that Sandeep wrote >>until I came to the above two paragraphs. First, in a free country >>the government should not have the power to take action >>against private citizens or political groups for selfish and political >>reasons. >>Everybody has the right to criticize the government and >>to show those in power in bad light, even if it is unfair. >>I thought our recent petition in support of Samir said as much. >>Second, unless there are explicit threats or direct incitement of >>violence, no secular democratic government should have the authority >>to crack down on any private citizen or group. This is not a secular test. >>It is being on a slippery slope to autocracy and repressive regime. >>Cheers, >>Santosh Hi Santosh, I believe that the Visual Illustrations are punishable under the following IPC Laws: 295-A Deliberate And Malicious Acts Intended To Outrage Religious Feelings Of Any Class By Insulting Its Religion Or Religious Beliefs. Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. 153-A. Promoting Enmity Between Different Groups On Grounds Of Religion, Race, Place Of Birth, Residence, Language, Etc., And Doing Acts Prejudicial To Maintenance Of Harmony. (1) Whoever - (a) by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, I see the Visual Illustrations as deliberate attempts to project entire communities in very poor light, and therefore there is prima facie evidence to act against such groups. They can be summoned and the law could then be allowed to take its own course. However, someone has to file a complaint first for that to happen. I have no real problems with the projection of politicians in humbling or embarassing postures. Rajan Narayan does it all the time in his Goan Observer. Those who are offended are free to file defamation cases against these groups under the prevailing Indian laws to protect their individual interests and honours. regards Sandeep
