Polity

Criminalising words

Source: The Hindu

Context

• The Delhi Lieutenant Governor sanctioned prosecution of Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain for alleged "unlawful activity" from speeches made in 2010.
• This action revives an old case, raising concerns about the current regime's crackdown on dissent and critical voices.

Details

Key Points

• Sanction under UAPA:
  • The Delhi Lieutenant Governor granted sanction to prosecute under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for speeches made in 2010.
• Section 196 of CrPC:
  • The earlier sanction order was under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• Role of Central Government:
  • The recent sanction, likely on behalf of the Central Government, pertains to Chapter III of UAPA.
• Historical Context:
  • The case dates back to a 2010 conference, where the speeches were initially not considered seditious by the Delhi police.
• Judicial Directive:
  • Despite police reluctance, a Metropolitan Magistrate in 2010 directed the registration of an FIR including Section 13 of UAPA.
• Political Motivation:
  • The revival of this case may indicate a political motive to suppress dissenting opinions and criticism.
• Change in Ground Situation:
  • The ground situation has significantly changed, especially post-2019 with the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
• Freedom of Speech:
  • There are doubts if mere speeches, without instigation of violence, qualify as "unlawful activity" under UAPA.
• Criminalization of Speech:
  • The continued criminalization of dissenting speeches highlights an ongoing issue of freedom of expression in India.

Sources:

The Hindu

Social Justice

Two steps back

Source: The Hindu

Context

• The Global Gender Gap report 2024 shows that gender parity has slightly improved globally, but the pace of change is slow.
• India has slipped to 129th out of 146 countries in the gender gap rankings, with declines in education and political empowerment.

Details

Key Points

• Global Gender Gap:
  • The World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Gender Gap report 2024 states that the global gender gap is 68.5% closed.
• Slow Progress:
  • The rate of change is slow, with only a 0.1% improvement from 2023, predicting 134 years to reach full parity.
• India's Rank:
  • India ranked 129 out of 146 countries, slipping from 127 in 2023 and 135 in 2022.
• Gender Gap in India:
  • India has closed 1% of its gender gap, showing a need for significant improvements, especially in education and political empowerment.
• Labour Force Participation:
  • Measures to bridge gender gaps in labour force participation (currently 45.9%) include preventing girls from dropping out of higher education and ensuring workplace safety.
• Literacy Rate Gap:
  • The literacy rate gap between men and women in India is 17.2 percentage points, ranking the country 124th in this indicator.
• Political Representation:
  • Women's representation in the Lok Sabha is low, with only 74 women MPs out of 543 members (13.6%).
• Women's Reservation Bill:
  • The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023 aims to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women, yet to come into effect.
• Call for Action:
  • WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi urges governments to strengthen conditions for business and civil society to achieve gender parity as an economic imperative.

Sources:

The Hindu

International Relations

A Fitting Frame

Source: Indian Express

Context

• The criticism of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the G7 summit is part of political sparring between the opposition and the government.
• PM Modi's presence at the G7 summit underscores India's growing importance on the global stage amidst shifting Western political landscapes.

Details

Key Points

• PM Modi's G7 Visit:
  • Criticism of PM Modi's travel to the G7 summit is seen as political sparring between a charged-up opposition and the government.
• Global Summits:
  • Summits like the G7 serve as photo-ops for leaders to display their global reach to domestic audiences.
• India's Growing Salience:
  • India's increasing economic growth and geopolitical role highlight its rising importance to the G7, especially amid Western internal divisions.
• Shifting Western Leadership:
  • Current G7 leaders face significant domestic challenges, contrasting with Modi's strong position after winning a third term.
• Strategic Compact:
  • The need for a strategic compact between India and the West is driven by geopolitical tensions with China and the restructuring of the global economic order.

Sources:

Indian Express