A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna said that country is now witnessing hate speeches from all camps and it has led to a vicious cycle of action and reaction.
“Where are we heading? There were orators like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.. The midnight speech and people from rural areas used to come (to listen to them). Now fringe elements from all sides making these statements,” Justice Nagarathna bemoaned.
Intolerance comes from lack of knowledge and education, she added.
Justice Joseph also came down upon statements made by fringe elements towards minority communities.
“They are saying things which are denigrating and most important thing is dignity which is demolished on a regular basis by statements like ‘go to Pakistan’… They chose this country.. they are like your brothers and sisters. Remember our school oath. We are from the old generation.. this cannot be allowed to go to that level,” Justice Joseph said.
“We will never go to that level as long as my client is a majority in this country,” counsel for Hindu Samaj responded.
The observations were made by the bench while responding to arguments by Hindu Samaj counsel who claimed right to hold religious procession.
The Hindu Samaj moved the Court seeking intervention in the batch of pleas seeking that steps be taken against hate speech incidents.
The Court was specifically dealing with a plea regarding hate speeches being made in Maharashtra by Hindu right wing leaders.
Advocate Vishnu Jain, appearing for intervenor Hindu Samaj, said that they have a right to hold religious processions.
“Right to hold procession is fine but what you do in the procession is different,” Justice Nagarathna said.
“What happens to the minorities and their rights which was envisaged by the founding fathers…we were all handed down a legacy. What is tolerance. Tolerance is not putting up with somebody but accepting the differences,” Justice Joseph weighed in.
“My client believes in that,” advocate Jain responded.
Source: Barandbench
