Cleanse public sphere of wanton tripe talk
Kamal Haasan finds himself cornered for his statement on language links that he insists was made out of affection. That did not stop a section of social media users from calling it an insult that breached their definition of linguistic decorum. Meanwhile, an IAS officer has drawn criticism for suggesting that students should learn to clean toilets and hostel rooms. A BJP minister faces public ire for remarks against a woman army officer that have been considered Islamophobic. Comedian Kunal Kamra's 'gaddar' jibe against a government functionary refuses to leave him in peace. These are the latest instances of prominent figures venting thoughts that are uncalled-for or avoidable in public—inadvertently or with intent—on the one-way communication lanes that characterise today's public sphere.
We have also recently seen comedians, politicians, film stars, activists, and influencers on the wrong side of the law because their social messaging, humour, or satire is deemed discriminatory, divisive, polarising, or outright abusive. The result is a polity overwhelmed by innumerable debates on free speech limits and eroding ethics, and courts overcrowded by the likes of Rahul Gandhi, Prem Shukla and Munawar Faruqui, who insist they are victims of deliberate attempts to misinterpret or twist their comments out of context.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
10 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
BJP govt conspiring against minority institutions: Akhilesh
Lashing out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that it was conspiring to dismantle all minority institutions and target both Muslims and Christian organisations. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also alleged corruption in government departments. (HT FIle) Addressing a press conference at the SP headquarters in Lucknow on Friday, Akhilesh said: 'The BJP follows the British policy of divide and rule. Madrasas are being shut down, land records are being scrutinised, and bulldozers are being used on madrasa properties. The BJP is not just targeting Muslims, but is now trying to enter Christian institutions too. Lakhs of posts are vacant across departments, including two lakh in the education department. Yet the government boasts of a trillion-dollar economy and a developed India. Does this happen in a developed country?' On the inauguration of Gorakhpur Link Expressway by chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday, Akhilesh said, 'The trillion-dollar budget is not being spent on education, health and welfare for the poor, but on the highway of loot.' 'The 91-kilometre expressway has been built at a cost of more than ₹ 7,000 crore. It is not an expressway, but a four-lane highway. If you want to know the difference, pick up a book and see what the Indian Road Congress (IRC) says. Is this expressway built as per IRC standards? Will the government take action against those who flouted the norms?' asked Akhilesh. On the recent issue of alleged anomalies in transfers, Akhilesh said, 'There is a dispute as officers and ministers want to work as per their own free will. A deputy CM has complained that the officer of his department did not show him the list of transfers.' The SP chief alleged corruption in departments such as education, PWD, and urban development. 'There is a fixed rate for transfers. Despite Smart City funds from both Delhi and Lucknow, cities like Mathura, Agra and Unnao are struggling with clogged drains. The level of corruption in U.P. today is unprecedented,' he alleged. Akhilesh further alleged that the BJP was against PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) and reservation. 'The rules of reservation are not being followed in recruitments. We all have to come together and protect reservation and the Constitution given by Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. PDA is our emotional slogan and it connects people,' the SP chief said.
Indian Express
14 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Himanta says will tighten cattle slaughter law after series of arrests bring issue to centre stage in Assam
Politics over cattle and beef have taken a centre-stage in Assam after a string of incidents in which suspected cattle remains have been recovered near places of worship, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma saying Friday that the government would tighten the enforcement of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, while Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has alleged BJP involvement in these incidents ahead of next year's elections. In the past two weeks, at least 72 people have been arrested in Dhubri, Goalpara and Lakhimpur after three separate incidents of suspected cattle remains being recovered from near temples in the first two places, and near a namghar (community prayer hall) in Lakhimpur. Sarma Friday referred to these as an attempt to create unrest 'since Eid ul Zuha.' Speaking at a press conference, he said that all these incidents have taken place in 'sensitive areas.' 'When we look at all these incidents and wherever they have taken place, they are near localities where there have been arrangements of eating beef during Eid ul Zuha. Our cattle preservation bill says that if Hindu people stay in an area, or if there are temples or namghars, this kind of meat cannot be consumed within 5 kilometres radius near these. That is a legal provision,' he said. The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, that he was referring to has a section which prohibits the sale of beef and beef products in areas 'which are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities or within a radius of 5 km of any temple, satra, or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu religion or any other institution or area as may be prescribed by the competent authority.' Sarma said that the state government would prepare an SOP to stop qurbani (sacrifice) of cattle within a 5-km radius of such premises saying the enforcement of this 'can be a permanent solution.' 'Dhubri has one of the leading gurudwaras in the country. And there are many temples near that… But this time around Eid, the district administration had not enforced this provision the way it should have been done… So, we have directed district administrations that this significant section in our cattle preservation bill has to be enforced very strictly… This can be a permanent solution. If the 5 km provision is implemented, no one can eat and no one can slaughter within Dhubri town,' he said. Last week, he had also alleged that beef is being 'weaponised' against Hindus in the state to force them away from places. Hitting out against these developments, MP and Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi has accused Sarma of 'Jinnah-like politics' and alleged a BJP role in these incidents. 'There should be investigation into all these people who have been held so far on who gave them this idea, who gave them the advice. Those who have done it have done an offence, but who gave them the idea?… Elections are close, failures have to be hidden, and this is their whole strategy,' said Gogoi on Friday. 'There are some criminal minded people within them. Within the BJP, RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, there are some criminal minded people who seek to do these kinds of things before elections. Our aim is not to let a communal environment be created inside Assam… We will not let him do his 'Jinnah-like' politics,' he added.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
U.P. CM inaugurates 91.35 km long Gorakhpur Link Expressway
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday (June 20, 2025) inaugurated the Gorakhpur Link Expressway built at a cost of over ₹7,000 crore. Calling the inauguration in Azamgarh a game changer, Mr. Adityanath stressed that U.P. is no longer a 'BIMARU' State but is emerging as an 'Expressway State'. BIMARU is a term used in reference to a group of States, including U.P. and Madhya Pradesh, that were historically considered to be lagging in terms of social and economic development. The Chief Minister added that Azamgarh, which once faced an identity crisis, has now transformed into a stronghold of indomitable courage. The change witnessed in the region owing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance and the efforts of the 'double-engine government' has transformed Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Adityanath said. Inaugurating the 91.35 km long Gorakhpur Link Expressway built at a cost of ₹7,283 crore, Mr. Adityanath said the expressway will provide world-class connectivity not only to Azamgarh but also to adjoining districts of Sant Kabir Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar and Gorakhpur. 'After 2017, U.P. focused on strengthening its infrastructure. Coming out of its BIMARU tag, the State is playing a key role as the growth engine of the nation,' he pointed out. 'Before 2017' Touching upon the condition of U.P. before 2017, Mr. Adityanath said the State lacked both a developmental agenda and basic amenities. 'Any scheme for the welfare of the people failed to reach their rightful beneficiaries. Traditional industries of U.P. were on the brink of extinction, and a criminal culture of 'One District, One Mafia' thrived under the previous governments,' the Chief Minister added. He said development projects started in previous regimes were marred by corruption and criminal interference, while in contrary the situation drastically changed under the BJP government in the State. 'However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a mafia-free, riot-free, and conducive environment for both tourism and investment,' Mr. Adityanath said. Highlighting the growth of expressways in U.P., the Chief Minister added that the State boasts of the 340 km Purvanchal Expressway, the 300 km Bundelkhand Expressway, and now the 91 km Gorakhpur Link Expressway that is operational, with work underway on six more expressways. 'These [expressways] will bring massive change in the development outlook of U.P.,' he said.
