Free Speech And Nationalism Can Coexist, Says Arun Jaitley
Union minister Arun Jaitley today said the BJP supports freedom of expression and it can coexist with nationalism.
“We support freedom of expression. Free speech and nationalism co-exist,” he said, while addressing the media during the second day of the party’s national executive meeting. People have the “right to dissent”, the Constitution, he added, “gives freedom for dissent but not for destruction.”
The point — part of the political resolution adopted at the national executive – comes in the backdrop of the nationwide debate over freedom of speech following the arrest of JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar and the huge political controversy over the “Bharat Mata ki Jai” slogan.
Its adoption lays down the party line on both issues – during which many of the party leaders have made controversial comments, including suggestions that those who, like Muslim lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi, refuse to raise the slogan, be asked to leave the country.
The BJP stands for “determined leadership, nationalist policies and progressive governance,” said the minister, who is a key strategist for the party. “The ideology of the nationalism is the driving force of the BJP… Our goal is economic and social inclusion and social justice.”
Regarding the row at the Jawaharlal Nehru University – where anti-national slogans were raised during an event held in support of executed Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Mr Jaitley said, “Though on the first day, some people did come and raised anti-national slogans in JNU, by and large in the entire debate on the anti-national slogans, the ultra-left was in the forefront.”
The arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar had generated a huge controversy, with the opposition parties accusing the government of suppressing freedom of speech.
During his visit to JNU, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had said the “most anti-national are people, who are suppressing the voice of students in this institution”. “While anti-India sentiment is unquestionably unacceptable, the right to dissent and debate is an essential ingredient of democracy,” he had said.
Kindly send reply or comments on this topic to [email protected]
Source:Ndtv
Finance Minister Of India
