Why no action against those who make hate speeches, asks MP Manoj Jha in Rajya Sabha

During the question hour in Rajya Sabha on ‘Review of Content Regulation process’, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha brought up the issue of fact-checker Mohammed Zubair’s arrest on 21 July. He questioned the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, about difference of the actions taken against those who make hate speeches and actions taken against the people who fact-check these hate speeches.

Jha remarked, “I want to ask the minister, what the modus operandi behind no action is taken against those who make hate speeches, while the action is taken against fact-checkers? We have witnessed this a lot recently.”

In a reply to the RJD MP’s question, I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said, “We have to proceed with the case as per the rules and regulations laid down by the Ministry of Information and Technology on digital media content. It is also important to know who is a fact-checker and who intends to cause tension in society in the name of being a fact-checker. If there are complaints against such a person then the law agencies work on it and the ministry has nothing to do with it.”

It is to be noted that on 20^th July Alt News co-founder got released from Tihar jail after almost a month when Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with 6 FIRs registered against him in parts of Uttar Pradesh while Delhi court previously granted him bail in the case of 2018 tweet registered with Delhi police. Zubair was arrested for calling hate speakers “hatemongers”.

Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha expressed happiness after meeting him and wrote on Twitter, “Zubair wants to convey his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stood by us and supported us in the last few weeks. He’ll be back real soon.”

However, when former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was reprimanded by the Justice Suryakant of the Supreme Court, he was trolled by many people on social media. Now, after Justice Chandrachud grants bail to Zubair, he was being trolled by many people who supports Nupur Sharma.

Recently at a function, Chief justice of India, CV Ramana said, “It is the vigorously promoted ignorance among the general public which is coming to the aid of such forces whose only aim is to run down the only independent organ. i.e., the judiciary. Let me make it clear. We are answerable to the Constitution and Constitution alone.”