The left-leaning public figures, journalists, celebrities, etc are often found cribbing that India under Modi is a fascist state and that there is no room for freedom of expression.
But the fact remains and ironically much that none of it would have been possible if Narendra Modi was actually a fascist. The pseudo-liberals as they’re prominently called should wake up and smell the coffee, they need to realize that they’re in this echo chamber of theirs which keeps repeating the same irrational argument when it comes to ‘Freedom of Expression’.
They are far too privileged and have all the freedom in the world to say whatever they want and get out of it scot-free. The moment the aforementioned section comes under any kind of reasoning from a rational thinker, they immediately play the ‘victim-card’ to steer their way away from logic.
Last few days, many celebrities from the Kerala film industry have come out and spoken for actor Prithviraj who apparently has been a victim of ‘online hate’. The celebrities claim that Prithviraj exercised his right to express an opinion on a given topic and that it should be protected.
Even the Chief Minister of Kerala expressed his concerns and exclaimed ‘intolerance’ by the ‘Right-Wing’. However, in a quick inspection of the flak, the actor has been receiving on his social media post on Lakshadweep, most of which seems to be logical rebuttals to the actor’s claims of the island.
Many social media users pointed out the difficulties faced by the Anarkali team while shooting for the movie on the island to an extent the production team had feared shelving of the movie or even relocation. Also, the actor’s own interview wherein he categorically mentioned that the “social-political scenario of the island (Lakshadweep) denies the island from a much-needed development and reform”. The actor goes on to say it’s easier to get hold of an American Visa than to get a permit to visit Lakshadweep. In his now infamous interview, he also mentions how the Island didn’t have accommodation facilities as the only hotel there had been shut down. Wondering how the actor changed his position completely today, a toolkit maybe, or is he just playing to the gallery in Kerala and securing himself a safe career?
Why are people asking such questions to the actor being called ‘intolerant’, aren’t these questions legitimate? Isn’t logical discussions a sign of a healthy democracy? Lastly, where were these celebrities who were out supporting Prithiviraj, when actors like Krishnakumar, Suresh Gopi, Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Unni Mukundan, etc received hate for expressing their views on their social media? In fact, Unni Mukundan had only put up a congratulatory message for Narendra Modi for winning a second term, he then had to issue multiple clarifications for that post.
Why is the left of the political spectrum of India (or even the globe) so hypocritical about their positions? Aren’t they champions of liberalism and freedom of expression on every given day, why do they turn off on a selective basis.
Journalist Vinitha Venu, on her social media, has said that her family and she have been put through immense mental trauma by the ruling LDF government factions because of the family’s political views which apparently isn’t in line with that of the LDF. Vinitha is the wife of a police officer from the left bastion Kannur. She claims she and her family had tried to file multiple complaints with regards to this issue at the local police station, however in vain. The family that had borrowed money to buy a small plot of land, is today in a position that may have to sell it off and move to a different location because of being in this constant state of fear and trauma. She exclaims that rather than torturing her and her family in bits and pieces she rather wished they were finished in one go. An interesting bit here is that the majority of people who spoke for actor Prithviraj or for some journalists in a BJP ruled state are shamelessly silent about Vinitha Venu. The same pseudo-liberals that are flag bearers of women empowerment are suddenly disinterested in what seems like a clear case of harassment against a woman.
Guess it was never about free speech or woman empowerment or a healthy democracy. All these pseudo-liberals care about are their ilk, they never spoke when Arnab Goswami was hounded for over 6 months, they in fact supported it. They wanted the advertisers at Republic India media house to pull out, they wanted the channel shut. The same guys went berserk when Rajdeep Sardesai was allegedly suspended by India Today for spreading fake news during the Delhi Riots.
They will cry for a Siddique Kappan who is being charged with serious sections including 153A (promoting enmity) of the Indian Penal Code but will celebrate the death of a Rohit Sardana. They will shout at it loudly for a Prithviraj Sukumaran for being counter questioned on the actor’s hollow arguments but will look the other way for a Vinita Venu, this seems to be the unfortunate reality of an average Indian liberal (pseudo-liberal) and they aren’t even ashamed of it.