Freedom of expression seriously threatened by black laws in Modi’s India
New Delhi: Questions are once again being raised about the implementation of controversial laws and their unrestrained use during the Modi Hindutva government in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a report by the international journal DW (Deutsche Welle) has said that the black law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), is being used as a dangerous law for the Indian people, especially minorities.
According to the report, under UAPA, any person can be detained for years without being presented in court.
According to DW, student leaders Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have been in jail without trial for the past five years in the Delhi riots case, while the Indian Supreme Court has rejected their bail applications.
Communist Party of India leader Brinda Karat has criticized this situation and said out of the 18 accused named in the Delhi riots, 16 are Muslims, while the leaders affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party are still free.
The DW report also refers to the alleged misuse of the controversial anti-terrorism law, Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), in the past.
In addition, former head of Amnesty International India Aakar Patel has also expressed strong reservations about the ambiguous provisions of the UAPA.
The report further states that human rights organizations are constantly raising questions about state actions in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the name of security.
According to experts, the Modi government is using the controversial laws as a weapon against dissent and minorities, the effects of which are being felt not only in India but also in the entire region.
