A group of Kashmiri students were charged of sedition after expressing support for Pakistan's victory in a India-Pakistan cricket match at the Asia Cup. The cheering caused conflicts with other college students at Swami Vivekanand Subharti University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The university then suspended and took the Kashmiri students to Delhi. According to University vice-chancellor Manzoor Ahmed, these actions were taken to protect the students from the increasing hostility toward them. The sedition charge comes with a sentence to three years in prison in India.
The reactions in India were varied. Some people defended the Kashmiri students, but others disapproved of the students' behavior. "I have full sympathy towards the erring Kashmiri students, but what they did is not acceptable at all as it clearly reflects anti-national feelings and appropriate action must be taken in that regard," said a student at Ch Charan singh University, according to the Times of India. The controversial incident also became a major political issue. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the charges as "unacceptably harsh" and the federal government in India decided to look into the issue.
The officials in Uttar Pradesh later dropped the sedition charges against the students. Nonetheless, the issue still remains contentious. On Friday a Pakistani hacked the Swami Vivekanand Subharti University with anti-India posts. At the same time, the Vishwa Hindu Parish in Meerut resolved to hold protests that called for the arrest of the students, who they felt demonstrated anti-national behavior. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one of the two major political parties in India, condemned the retraction of the sedition charges. "BJP will not tolerate withdrawal of sedition charges against the people who have insulted the nation," said Laximkant Bajpai, President of BJP's unit in Uttar Pradesh.
It is unfortunate that in "the world's largest democracy," people do not have the fundamental right to freedom of speech. The sedition charges against the Kashmiri students sends a dangerous message that India's important officials and politicians may harbor baseless and unwarranted antagonistic feelings toward Pakistan. This incident further contributes to the already-existing animosity between the two nations and may strain political relations further. India and Pakistan have a long way to go before they achieving mutual-tolerance and understanding. Instead of charging students for sedition when they simply cheer for the other side in a cricket match, both countries should take measures to increase feelings of appreciation and respect towards the other.
The reactions in India were varied. Some people defended the Kashmiri students, but others disapproved of the students' behavior. "I have full sympathy towards the erring Kashmiri students, but what they did is not acceptable at all as it clearly reflects anti-national feelings and appropriate action must be taken in that regard," said a student at Ch Charan singh University, according to the Times of India. The controversial incident also became a major political issue. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the charges as "unacceptably harsh" and the federal government in India decided to look into the issue.
The officials in Uttar Pradesh later dropped the sedition charges against the students. Nonetheless, the issue still remains contentious. On Friday a Pakistani hacked the Swami Vivekanand Subharti University with anti-India posts. At the same time, the Vishwa Hindu Parish in Meerut resolved to hold protests that called for the arrest of the students, who they felt demonstrated anti-national behavior. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one of the two major political parties in India, condemned the retraction of the sedition charges. "BJP will not tolerate withdrawal of sedition charges against the people who have insulted the nation," said Laximkant Bajpai, President of BJP's unit in Uttar Pradesh.
It is unfortunate that in "the world's largest democracy," people do not have the fundamental right to freedom of speech. The sedition charges against the Kashmiri students sends a dangerous message that India's important officials and politicians may harbor baseless and unwarranted antagonistic feelings toward Pakistan. This incident further contributes to the already-existing animosity between the two nations and may strain political relations further. India and Pakistan have a long way to go before they achieving mutual-tolerance and understanding. Instead of charging students for sedition when they simply cheer for the other side in a cricket match, both countries should take measures to increase feelings of appreciation and respect towards the other.
Links to information:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/03/kashmiri-students-spared-sedition-charges-2014375156139913.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26463140
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26445411
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/bjp-against-withdrawl-of-sedition-charges-against-kashmiri-students/
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistani-hacker-vivekanand-subharti-university-page-svsu-website-anti-india-messages-kashmiri-students-pro-pakistan-slogans/1/347509.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kashmiri-students-charged-with-sedition-freed-after-controversy-erupts/articleshow/31553407.cms
- Nitya
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/03/kashmiri-students-spared-sedition-charges-2014375156139913.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26463140
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-26445411
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/bjp-against-withdrawl-of-sedition-charges-against-kashmiri-students/
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistani-hacker-vivekanand-subharti-university-page-svsu-website-anti-india-messages-kashmiri-students-pro-pakistan-slogans/1/347509.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kashmiri-students-charged-with-sedition-freed-after-controversy-erupts/articleshow/31553407.cms
- Nitya