Constructive criticism is part and parcel of democracy. In democracy constructive criticism is must. It is one of the basic needs for the survival of democracy. However, in India what we are witnessing since 2014 is mindless criticism. Criticizing someone is good as long as its constructive but making a career out of criticism is wrong. PM Modi is facing senseless criticism since he has come to power. In the name of criticism, people are abusing, ridiculing and trolling him. He has been subjected to comments and labels like maut ka saudagar (merchant of death), chaiwala, neech (a lowly person), “jawano ke khoon ki dalali”, “Gali gali mein shor hai, Hindustan ka chowkidar chor hai” etc.
People who make abusive comments and derogatory memes on PM Modi escape the consequences hiding behind the veneer of freedom of speech and expression. However, this time someone decided to take the bull by its horn. The Uttar Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against the Congress IT cell head Divya Spandana for tweeting a morphed and offensive image of PM Modi over Rafale deal controversy.
#ChorPMChupHai pic.twitter.com/Bahu5gmHbn
— Ramya/Divya Spandana (@divyaspandana) September 24, 2018
#BREAKING — @INCIndia's I-T cell chief @divyaspandana booked by UP police | @pranshumisraa with more details pic.twitter.com/VC0cE0tbzl
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 26, 2018
The case was registered against Divya Spandana over her objectionable tweet at Gomtinagar police station under Section 67 of The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 and Section 124A (sedition) of the IPC.
Lucknow-based activist and lawyer Syed Rizwan Ahmad reacted sharply against Divya Spandana’s tweet and he also registered complaint against her. Before registering complaint against her, Syed Rizwan Ahmed requested Divya Spandana several times to delete her objectionable tweet.
https://twitter.com/DrRizwanAhmed1/status/1044322968669736960
https://twitter.com/DrRizwanAhmed1/status/1044430726299623425
Ahmed also said that Divya Spandana’s tweet has made him so angry that it prompted him to support BJP.
https://twitter.com/DrRizwanAhmed1/status/1044325586817241090
https://twitter.com/DrRizwanAhmed1/status/1044516554757623810
On 25th September, Syed Rizwan Ahmad tweeted that he lodged a case of sedition against the Congress IT Cell head.
https://twitter.com/DrRizwanAhmed1/status/1044612462262341632
Not just Ahmed, her tweet angered many people, another lawyer, Vibhor Anand, asked her to delete her tweet in 24-hour otherwise he will file a FIR against her.
24 hrs ultimatum given to @divyaspandana ends, as expected she neither deleted the tweet nor issued an unconditional apology, So I would initiate the necessary legal process of filling 10k Cr defamation case and further criminal cases against her tomorrow… https://t.co/WwWwN6266l
— Adv. Vibhor Anand (@vibhor_anand) September 25, 2018
Following the FIR, Ahmed asked the BJP to follow the case. He tweeted, “Myhumble knowledge says that Defamation in capacity of Individual is not maintainable..BJP as an organization is more fit to initiate (sic).” He also requested people to support Vibhor Anand in his initiative.
Actions like these are required against people like Divya Spandana and other trolls as well. Presence of social media trolls like Divya in the Congress party is a testimony of the fact that the party has lost its dignity and they also don’t care about the dignity of the PM office. This filthy mentality of the Congress party would only end up helping the BJP in 2019 general elections.
No one has a problem with dissent and criticism but abusing someone in the name of dissent is unacceptable. No one has any right to call PM ‘chor’ without any evidence. In fact, calling anybody a thief is a crime and one must be punished for such abuse. Ahmed has rightly observed that abuse is not a dissent.