of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Recent Observations at a Conference of State Home Ministers Includes a potentially unexpected explanation for why academics, students and lawyers are jailed on terrorism charges. He called for an end to all forms of Naxalism, be it the gun-wielding kind or the kind that uses the pen “to garner international support” and “to mislead the youth”. The remarks came in line with his emphasis on how the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act provided an impetus to counter terrorism. In fact, he has sent out a disturbing message that if the government suspects consent in his approach, the police will treat armed extremists and intellectuals alike. Given that the UAPA has been invoked frequently and even in cases that have nothing to do with terrorism, Mr Modi’s views raise a question as to whether his remarks have been the constant appeal of many. There is a kind of justification for imprisonment, which it doesn’t seem to involve. in a particular extremist act. Incitement to violence, especially soliciting support for an armed rebellion, is indeed a serious offence, but unless there is a proven link between the nature of the support given and the actual act of terror or conspiracy to commit, Until then it is difficult to treat. Two things as one.
The recent judicial orders denial of bail to activist Umar Khalid in the Delhi riots case, and Jyoti Jagtap of Kabir Kala Manch in the Elgar Parishad case are good examples of how the police intertwine the nature of their participation in protests or demonstrations. Crosses a big gap. incident and a genuine act of violence by invoking the UAPA, and thus eliminating the need for solid evidence to show their involvement in a communal or Maoist conspiracy. While this may highlight the potential for abuse of UAPA and the constraints of freedom found in both the law and its judicial interpretation, it also has a distinct side effect: manipulation of political discourse in such a way that those who question the action, State methods and procedures that generate mass outrage are criminalized. It is in this background that the use of political terms like ‘Urban Naxal’ should be seen, a term that Mr Modi has used recently. Far from being associated with any terrorist or Maoist conspiracy, the term is only used to stigmatize people with alternative viewpoints. The government arming itself with more stringent laws is part of a solution to the threat posed by violent extremism. Finding a cure for the underlying cause is more important than hatching conspiracies in the name of destroying its support structure.