Congress Accuses Culture Ministry of Funding Event Promoting Hate Speech
Congress alleges Culture Ministry funded event where hate speeches were made against Muslims.
The Congress criticised the Union Ministry of Culture for funding an event in December where, it alleged, hate speeches were made against the Muslim community. The event — Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsava, organised by the Sanatan Sanstha at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi — received ₹63 lakh from the Ministry of Culture. A Right to Information (RTI) response revealed that the Ministry of Culture gave the grant to commemorate 150 years of the National Song, Vande Mataram.
Speakers at the event targeted Muslims, describing them as “infiltrators”, and also made suggestions on how to convert them. Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Shripad Naik, and Sanjay Seth, as well as Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, were among those who attended the programme. The Congress questioned why the Union government had provided financial support to it and demanded an explanation.
Key Facts
The Congress criticised the Union Ministry of Culture.
The event was the Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsava.
The event was organised by the Sanatan Sanstha.
The event received ₹63 lakh from the Ministry of Culture.
The grant was to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram.
Speakers at the event allegedly targeted Muslims.
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Polity and Governance - Issues related to fundamental rights and freedom of speech
GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
Connects to syllabus topics on fundamental rights, secularism, and government accountability
Potential question types: Statement-based MCQs, analytical questions on balancing freedom of speech with restrictions
In Simple Words
A political party is upset because the government used public money to fund an event. They claim that at this event, speakers made hateful comments about a particular religious group. The party believes the government shouldn't support events that promote hate.
India Angle
In India, where many religions coexist, it's important that the government treats all religions equally. If the government appears to favor one religion or allows hate speech against another, it can create tension and distrust among communities.
For Instance
Imagine your local government funds a community festival, but at the festival, some speakers make offensive remarks about people from another community. Residents might feel the government is taking sides and not protecting everyone.
It matters because government actions can affect how different groups in society feel about each other. If people feel the government is biased, it can lead to division and conflict.
Public funds should promote unity, not fuel division.
Visual Insights
Key Figures from the Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsava Event
Highlights the financial support provided by the Ministry of Culture and the event's context.
- Ministry of Culture Funding
- ₹63 lakh
Funding provided to Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsava, raising concerns about promoting hate speech.
More Information
Background
Latest Developments
In recent years, there has been increasing scrutiny of events and platforms that allegedly promote hate speech. Several court cases have addressed the issue of balancing freedom of expression with the need to prevent incitement to violence and discrimination. The Supreme Court has issued guidelines on hate speech, emphasizing the importance of preventing the spread of misinformation and protecting vulnerable communities.
The government has taken steps to address hate speech through amendments to existing laws and the introduction of new regulations. However, concerns remain about the effectiveness of these measures and the potential for misuse. Civil society organizations and human rights groups continue to advocate for stronger legal frameworks and greater accountability for those who engage in hate speech.
Looking ahead, the issue of hate speech is likely to remain a significant challenge for policymakers and law enforcement agencies. The increasing use of social media and online platforms has created new avenues for the spread of hate speech, making it more difficult to monitor and regulate. Efforts to combat hate speech will need to be multifaceted, involving legal reforms, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with social media companies.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India: 1. It guarantees freedom of speech and expression to all citizens. 2. It allows for reasonable restrictions on this freedom in the interest of public order. 3. The restrictions must be defined by law and be proportionate to the need for restriction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
All three statements are correct. Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression to all citizens. However, this freedom is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restrictions as mentioned in Article 19(2). These restrictions can be imposed in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. The restrictions must be prescribed by law and be proportionate to the need for restriction.
2. Which of the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony?
- A.Section 124A
- B.Section 153A
- C.Section 295A
- D.Section 499
Show Answer
Answer: B
Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. Section 124A deals with sedition, Section 295A deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and Section 499 deals with defamation.
3. The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, aims to promote which of the following?
- A.Secrecy in government functioning
- B.Transparency and accountability in government functioning
- C.Centralization of information within government departments
- D.Restriction of information to protect national security
Show Answer
Answer: B
The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, aims to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of every public authority. It empowers citizens to seek information from the government and hold them accountable for their actions. While the Act does provide for certain exemptions to protect national security and other sensitive information, its primary objective is to promote openness and transparency.
4. Assertion (A): The Ministry of Culture's funding of an event where alleged hate speeches were made raises concerns about the government's commitment to secularism. Reason (R): Secularism, as a basic feature of the Indian Constitution, requires the state to treat all religions equally and not endorse any particular religion. In the context of the above, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- B.Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- C.A is true but R is false
- D.A is false but R is true
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion. The funding of an event where hate speeches were allegedly made does raise concerns about the government's commitment to secularism. Secularism, as a basic feature of the Indian Constitution, mandates that the state treat all religions equally and not endorse any particular religion. Funding an event that promotes hate speech against a particular community goes against this principle.
Source Articles
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