Let us not criminalise dissent: Manish Tewari

CHANDIGARH, November 30, 2017: Former union minister and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari today warned against criminalising dissent, which he said can subvert the very idea of India.
“Let us learn to respect dissent and not criminalise it”, Tewari said while interacting with a panel of experts and audience during the Chandigrah launch of his second book, ‘Tidings of the Troubled Times’.
The book is a collection of his articles published recently in different newspapers on various contemporary issues ranging from domestic to international.

The senior Congress leader maintained that during the last 42 months a dangerous trend of criminalising dissent had emerged which was not good for the democracy. He agreed that over the years, for a long time, there was gradual erosion in the freedom of expression.
He also called for strengthening the journalists at the field and cutting edge level. He agreed with a questioner that the ‘freedom of press’ was ending up as the freedom of a few media owners only.
Commenting on the diplomatic front, Tewari said, while cosying up to new friends, India must not ignore traditional and trusted friends. He suggested that India should participate in the Chinese project of ‘One Belt, One Road’ and take economic advantage from it. He said, India had nothing to lose if it became part of the OBOR corridor.
At the same time however, Tewari asserted that India has real concerns and objections against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor which was running through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, which is part a of India.

The discussion was moderated by senior journalist and Resident Editor of the Indian Express, Nirupama Subramanian.
Prof SK Sharma, Professor Emiretus, Panjab University was the guest of honour.