KOCHI: Is there freedom after freedom of speech, asked Shashi Tharoor MP speaking at a discussion on the topic ‘Dissent and Discourse’ held on the sidelines of the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016 here on Tuesday.
“The main issue now is not whether we have freedom of speech or the freedom to dissent, it is whether you will continue to be able to dissent. In the older days the state would have booked you, but nowadays there are other ways to silence you. For example, the state could pressure your employers to censure you or throw you out of your job,” said the former UN diplomat.
Tharoor held the anti-defection law as a major impediment to dissent inside political parties. “In most cases, the important decisions of the parties are taken by a few and the others are kept out. Even if they want to speak out, they can’t. The law stifles free speech.”
BJP leader Shazia Ilmi said more than political parties, religions have a bigger impact on free speech. Reacting to questions on the growing intolerance in the country after the ascent of the Modi regime, Ilmi brushed aside allegations that it has grown. “The incidents like the outcry against Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen and the arrest of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi happened before Modi came to power. It is unfair to put the blame on one government,” she said. Secretary of Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) Riyas Komu said that the driving force behind the Biennale was to create a space for dissent through art. “We are happy we could create an ecosystem for debate and dissent in Kochi. I hope the city leads the country in cultural resistance,” he said.
‘Focus on triple bottom line’
Kochi: The two-day international conference on ‘Triple bottom line for sustainability: The role of government, corporate & nonprofit sectors,’ jointly organised by De Paul Institute of Science & Technology (DiST), Angamaly & De Paul University, Chicago, concluded here on Tuesday. Shashi Tharoor MP was the chief guest of the valedictory ceremony, which was presided over by Prof M C Dileep Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Sanskrit University, Kalady. T He said that even though we are a developing country, we should not forget the fact that 99 per cent of the Indian population breathe polluted air. Prof Sanjeev Kumar Singh was the convenor of the event. Rev James Chelapurath, Principal, DiST welcomed the gathering and Prof Unny C J, director, School of Management, proposed the vote of thanks.