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When I first saw the edited version of the AIB Roast, it wasn’t a matter of if but when someone would get offended. And I haven’t been disappointed. The offended include Akhilesh Tiwari (President of Brahman EktaSevaSanstha), Cultural Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde and Congress MLA Krishna Hegde.
Tiwari filed a complaint against Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh for using filthy and abusive language during the AIB Knockout. He said: ‘I have handed over a letter to Sakinaka police demanding a criminal complaint be lodged against these so-called youth icons Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. The show, which can be seen on YouTube and other websites, was extremely abusive and it is not only ruining the clean image of the Indian culture & women, but is also misleading today’s youth.’ He also said: ‘I sought action against the event organisers and other performers as well, who passed dirty comments with such audacity. The police action would be a deterrent to them so that they would not dare to do such acts publicly in future.’
Maharashtra’s Minister for Cultural Affairs Vinod Tawde said: ‘We will register an FIR against them as they appear to have performed without any performance license. Such vulgarity is a crime and based on facts which will emerge, the government will file a case against them.’
Another MLA Krishna Hegde (Congress) slammed the entire event saying: ‘AIB knockout (All India Bakchod) as they call it is totally gross. Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor in the name of charity have dished out filth and totally abusive content. These are so called role models of millions. In the guise of western culture these people have stooped to a ridiculous low. Abusing, homosexual actions and filth is not freedom of expression. They can be real role models if they take up other real issues like saving the environment, cleanliness, etc.’ Last time I checked, Mr Hegde was busy dressing up a nude Aamir Khan poster (I am not making this up)! It’s nice to see politicians putting their ideological differences aside to fight what is really ailing the nation – dark humour!
Seriously, there should be a law which prevents people from wasting the police’s time with mundane matters. Why is it so important to preserve this so-called clean image of Indian culture and women? Have they even opened any of the major dailies lately? Or seen what’s on websites everywhere? The video clearly said: ‘Following video is filthy, rude and offensive’. Can’t you read? But I guess everything is fair game for 15 minutes under the spotlight.
Apparently in a Country where riots, female foeticide, people dying of cold and hunger is common, it is AIB Roast which is “DeshkaKalank”
— Joy (@Joydas) February 2, 2015
This issue is so clear cut that even Chetan Bhagat spoke out against any action!
Frankly, the potholes on Mumbai’s roads offend me far more than the AIB roast. — Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) February 2, 2015
Thy shall get offended
The taking offense at random statements is an ailment that has maligned our nation ever since we became a republic post-independence. And our founding fathers, specifically Ambedkar, Nehru and Sardar Patel are to blame for the current set of affairs. The original draft of the constitution actually had complete right to the freedom of speech, irrespective who it offends. A year after its inception however, the constitution was amended to allow Freedom of Speech within reasonable restrictions which include:
Along with this there are another bit in the constitution which spoke about hate speeches albeit vaguely. The Section 153A of the penal code says:
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, or (b) commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquillity, . . . shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Along with that Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) enacted in 1927 says:
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.
And the Information Technology Act states:
Section 66 A of the Information Technology Act
Any person who sends, by means of a computer resource or a communication device,—
(a) any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character; or
(b) any information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will, persistently by making use of such computer resource or a communication device,
(c) any electronic mail or electronic mail message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience or to deceive or to mislead the addressee or recipient about the origin of such messages.
Is it time to change the Constitution?
Combined, these three laws have been used by idiots to harass people and waste the law and order’s time. The laws are so ambiguous(who decides what’s decent or moral) that anyone can be booked for anything. The starkest example was when the police arrested two girls – one for putting up a status asking why Mumbai needed to shut down when the Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray passed away – and the other for simply liking the post! A mob forced the police to register a case. Rather than protect people, the aforementioned laws are mostly used by zealots to target books movies, painting and others without actually doing any work.
Meanwhile, politicians and other people in power have the right to say anything without facing any consequences. Till date, there have been 99 amendments to the Indian Constitution and I think it’s time for the 100th amendment – the right to Freedom of Speech restrictions – no matter who that speech hurts.
As for all the offended, I have got some very simple advice. Don’t like something, don’t watch it! Just don’t go around pretending to be the upholders of your own prescribed moral values.
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