Sharmistha’s Words Were Wrong — But Is Her Arrest Justified?:-
Whatever 22 year old Sharmistha had said was wrong. But is whatever is happening with Sharmishtha right? Because whatever Sharmishtha was doing, the people who were fuelling the engine were retweeting it. We were saying even then that neither that language nor that idea is acceptable in a civilised society.
Bengal Police’s Priorities Under Scrutiny:-
But whatever the Bengal Police has done now, is it acceptable? The discussion on this will go beyond whether some people like it or not, and the question will arise that the Bengal Police which is reprimanded by the High Court for the riots in Murshidabad to Malda North 24 Parganas, is travelling 1500 km from Bengal to Gurgaon to arrest a 22 year old girl who has already apologized? It comes after travelling a distance of .
Selective Sensitivity and Political Messaging:-
She who could not manage her own house is so eager to arrest a girl. Why? Because the law had to be maintained or the state government there has a big vote bank and if this girl gets arrested then a message will go out that we are yours, my love. This question will arise because the police of this state was reprimanded by the High Court and now this question will arise in India that are the feelings of only one religion hurt and bars erected and at one place there is so called freedom of speech and expression because the Bengal Police which has travelled 1500 kms with a 22 year old apologetic girl, how can it ignore the fact that it has reached here on the orders of the state government. In the same state government, there are MPs who have also made comments about Hindu religion. Lord Shiva has been made fun of. Shivling has been made fun of. But on one hand Bengal Police could not see and on the other hand he was speeding away for 1500 kms.
The Double Standard in Freedom of Speech:-
What kind of law is this? What kind of law is this that is getting divided on the basis of religion and politics? And this question will be asked today. It will be asked to clarify that the support or opposition here is not for Sharmishtha but for two laws in one country in India. We had raised this issue earlier also. Even when Professor Saheb was arrested, we had said that in Madhya Pradesh the minister was not arrested but the professor was arrested. How can one person be punished for a crime and another be forgiven ? And today we will raise this issue regarding Sharmishtha also. We will raise this issue saying that whatever Sharmishtha had said was wrong. But you will arrest Sharmishtha and release the rest. How can this be right ? She is a 22 year old girl. One posts on social media. She apologizes. She repeatedly says that she was angry at what Pakistan-sponsored terrorism did to Kashmir. He had targeted the artists of Pakistan.
Unequal Law Enforcement Exposed:-
The language was bad, dirty, disgusting. But the intention was to reply to Pakistan. Growing in that grief, that anger and adding diesel fuel of retweets and comments of some people, that girl crossed the limits. Going beyond terrorism and fundamentalism, about Prophet Mohammad which should not have been done. It was hurtful to religious sentiments. But the truth is that he had apologized. It was written that apologize unconditionally. But the West Bengal police crushed that apology. The police which cannot handle the situation in its own state. She reached Gurugram quickly. Put on handcuffs.
When an Apology Isn’t Enough:-
The girl kept shouting that this is not a democracy and this same police is completely silent on those people who are threatening to rape the girl, who are talking about beheading her, who are talking about getting her picked up from her house, who are talking about burning her alive, whose social media posts are full on social media, whose names are out, the question is why and today many questions will be raised. Sharmishtha’s arrest has raised questions about the impartiality of law, priorities of the government and to what extent there is impunity on the freedom of speech. This story is no longer about that girl but about the soul of democracy. Because Bengal Police covered 1500 km. But the same Bengal Police remains silent on the issue of communal violence in Murshidabad, Malta, North 24 Parganas. She repeatedly says high court there and comes running after a girl. Is this justice? Is it a game of power?
Freedom, Fear, and Fragile Democracy:-
Is the words of a 22 year old girl a bigger threat than the murders happening in Bengal that it is such a big priority for the police or is the law playing politics in the name of religion because things are said about Hindus too and today the majority of Hindus in this country are raising the point that brother, when things are said about your religion, you show unity, the police comes and takes you away, but what about speaking about other religions, for example, Sayani Ghosh, TMC MP, made controversial remarks about Shivling, a complaint was also filed against her but no arrest was made. Mahwa, Mohitra, Rana, Ayyub are some of the names about whom there are posts on social media that many of their posts have hurt the religious sentiments of many people. But no punishment is taken against them. There are many such comedians, many such politicians, many such big people who have made many comments about the symbols of Hindu religion and no action has been taken against them.
Justice or Political Vendetta?:-
But a girl who is neither a politician nor an influential person, who has apologized on social media, whose track record has been clean and who is publicly saying that such a thing will not happen, a journey of 1500 kilometers to catch her, are religious sentiments more sensitive at some places than others or is the law of our country now working on the basis of religion that if you are speaking on Hindu religion then no action will be taken, if you are speaking on this then action will be taken, you must have also seen that recently there is a big YouTuber also. He made something about a religion. Had to apologize. The video had to be removed. But there are many such videos of his which are on other religions too.
Two Laws in One Country?:-
On Hindu religion and did not apologize there. How many threats did Sharmishtha receive? I got rape threats, threats of beheading, everything. But the police is active on Sharmishtha. The rest of the place is silent. Is threatening not a crime as long as the victim is an ordinary girl? The questions that are being raised regarding Sharmishtha’s life are not without reason. You should read the social media posts and understand that fear. Mamata Banerjee’s government says that the arrest of Sharmistha is a legal process.
The Social Media Trap: One Post Can Ruin Lives:-
If this is a matter of law, then why were no arrests made when their own MPs insulted Hindu sentiments ? Is Sharmistha’s arrest a warning that think 100 times before speaking, apology has no meaning. If the government accepts the crime, the Constitution of India gives freedom. However, we have been saying time and again that the freedom one gets in India should have limits. You cannot comment on anyone’s religion without any reason. Whoever you are. We are in favour of this and we have always said and it is the responsibility of every person who loves his religion that no one should speak about any other religion. Because if you are saying two dirty things, then it is possible that he/she might say ten dirty things. In such a situation, keep people of your religion quiet. No one will comment on your religion automatically.
Both Extremes Contributed to Her Fall:-
But is this freedom now being imprisoned on conditions that who will go to jail will be decided on the basis of which ideology he comes from or which religion he is speaking about and the law will now be used like a tool or weapon. Because Sharmishtha’s arrest is now being considered as a message. A message which might have been a punishment for hurting religious sentiments. But there is also a message: could Kolkata Police not have displayed the same promptness in cases of communal violence as it did in cases of one religion ? Had the High Court raised questions on the inaction of the police regarding the Murshidabad cases since 204 ? But they had the resources, the time, the priority to arrest a girl and the question arises whether this arrest was less than a legal process? There is more display of power. This shows that some emotions are more sensitive than others. Some crimes are more serious than others. Sharmishtha made a wrong comment. We are saying it again and again. We do not agree with that. But she is a 22 year old girl.
When Apologies Are Ignored and Hatred Wins:-
He is being sent to jail. What about those who threatened him ? Does the Constitution only protect religious sentiments and not someone’s life and dignity? So many nude pictures were made of Sharmishtha. There is strictness on one post. But being silent on threats is also not justice. This is not only injustice to Sharmishtha but also to thousands of those girls. Who are victims of online threats. If threats are not a crime, then does safety of a girl’s life have no meaning and the question will be raised again and again whether the law is biased based on which religion you are talking about. This question is very important. No action was taken. There are many other names of big journalists and big MPs, but an ordinary girl is picked up and put in jail. Now Sharmishtha’s life has completely changed. The girl who studied law is now stuck in legal troubles. His career is in danger. On social media, some people have called her a fundamentalist and some have called her a Hindu lioness.
The Lesson: Think Before You Speak Online:-
And these two people together ruined him. Both of them ruined it together. There are five FIRs against him. There is a fear of new complaints. Is apologising and sending to jail an abuse of the system? This discussion will continue. But the question that will arise is: did a post on social media ruin his life? This is also a lesson. This incident of Sharmishtha is a lesson for people like us and you. The lesson is to speak after thinking carefully. One word on social media can change your life. Exercise special caution on religious matters. Under the pressure of the crowd and power, the law here becomes politics. We live in a country where the police remain silent on rape and murder. But if 100 people get together and take up a social media post then it becomes the priority of the police. And the biggest thing is how much hatred was spread by this incident.
A System That Protects the Powerful, Punishes the Powerless:-
If you have to punish for a mistake then do not do it looking at religion. Do it the same way. Keep your decisions fair. We will appeal to this to the governments also. Sharmistha’s arrest is not just a case but a harsh reality of law, religion and power politics which raises the question whether our system is giving justice to everyone? Why is the protection of religious sentiments not the same for every religion? Why is freedom of expression imprisoned by power? Sharmishtha’s arrest is a warning. That you will be punished for speaking out. You will be forgiven but depending on the ideology. And this is good for democracy. It is time that we raise our voices for fairness, dialogue and equality. This is a matter of every citizen who wants the scales of law to be equal for everyone. Seeing the shattering dreams of superficial loyalty, we will have to ask whether we are really moving towards an unbiased India or are we simply becoming slaves of politics. Today you have to understand this because it is possible that you may be feeling good today. Sharmishtha went to jail.
Democracy or Fearocracy?:-
Tomorrow this scale may come from the other side, then perhaps you will realize what we were saying today. So if you are attacking us on this issue and saying that you are supporting Sharmishtha. No, we are going against the ideology where in a way the law does not work. For a mistake, there are different rules and regulations and different state governments have done this according to their own. The way state governments have started using the police is frightening. It’s scary. If the country’s laws are run on the basis of ideology and sentiments, then democracy will lose its meaning. Then the same thing will happen as Sharmistha said there that democracy is exploiting.
Appeal for Equality Before the Law:-
Also, this is a message for new kids like Sharmishtha that you should not get carried away by emotions and start saying things on social media. One word of yours can ruin your life. Be careful. Speak after thinking carefully. Don’t get swayed by the numbers, follows, comments or the atmosphere on social media. Because the fire of hatred first burns its own house. The fire in which Sharmishtha and her family burn today. This incident is a lesson. But with this lesson, this incident raises the question: will arrests now be made in India on the basis of religion or sentiment? The law will prevail and you should be the one asking this question.
The Fire of Hatred Burns Its Own House First:-
Another question is that one cannot be jailed just for commenting on a religion. Everyone has religion. Everybody will have to accept it. If jail sentences are being imposed for religious comments, then promptness will have to be shown in other cases as well. If this is done to please the vote bank, then this is a wrong message, which will be misused in different ways in the future through different ideologies. We hope that all of you will also come forward on this event. We will learn lessons from this, understand it and together we will raise questions of fairness or equality before the law.