New Delhi, March 03: Government of India has hinted that “anti-national slogans” like “Azaadi” would be brought under strict sedition law, said a media report.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu has said that the act of raising “azaadi slogans” is “treason”.
“If this is not treason then I don’t know what is,” Naidu said.
He also said the government is planning to change the existing sedition law to make it more stringent, reported India Today..
Talking about the violent incident at Delhi University’s Ramjas College, Naidu said, “The slogan of azaadi is followed by violence”.
When asked about the government moving towards bringing a bill to amend the sedition law, Naidu said the Law Ministry in consultation with the Home Ministry will bring a bill, the report said.
He said certain people were raising anti-national slogans, trying to celebrate the memory of Afzal Guru, and raising the issues of separatism and independence to Kashmir.
“These people giving slogans are taking to arms in Kashmir, in Chhattisgarh, in Jharkhand. They believe power comes from the barrel of the gun… Sponsors of terrorism (also) believe that they can get azaadi by use of force. The slogan of azaadi is followed by violence,” Naidu was quoted as saying.
The minister said that “such acts on university campuses are trying to create a divisive mindset, and we have the right to condemn it”.
