On the 17th of May, Pradeep Kumar Yadav, an advocate filed a writ petition against the arrest of 12 people for putting anti Modi posters.
On the 17th of May, 12 people were arrested for putting up posters and brochures criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The posters read, “Modi Ji Hamare Baccho Ki Vaccine Videsh Kyu Bhej Diya?” (Why did Modiji send our children’s vaccine abroad?} A 19 year old school dropout, a 30 year old e rickshaw driver, a 61 year old maker of wooden frames are among the arrested.
The incident took a political turn after the Delhi police arrested 12 people and registered a first information report (FIR) against 25 people. Later, on the 16th of May, the Delhi Police released a statement, according to which, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Arvind Gautam was behind the act and is currently absconding.
Pradeep Kumar Yadav in his petition asked the SC to direct the Police to quash FIRs registered against at least 25 persons. He said, “Citizens have not committed any offence by questioning the Centre’s vaccination policy.”
He said, freedom of speech and freedom of expression is the fundamental right, guaranteed under the Constitution of India. He said the information sharing on social media does not constitute a criminal offence under the IT Act. Mr. Pradeep Yadav also cited recent directions of the Supreme Court regarding Tweets and social media posts, which criticise and express their thoughts over the current situation due to the Wuhan virus pandemic.
Recently, during a petition hearing, the SC passed specific directions not to register any criminal case over the public seeking medical help in the social media.
The petition of Mr. Yadav said contrary to the above decision of the court, authorities and police are registering FIRs against innocent persons over their “hate speech” against the Prime Minister with regard to his official functions over the second wave of COVID-19 crises and Government’s vaccine policies.
The Twitter post of the Delhi police read, “Police while patrolling to enforce Lockdown announced by DDMA, created by GNCTD, noticed walls in several areas being defaced by pasting posters. Accused persons on questioning told an AAP member & President of Ward 47, Arvind Gautam was behind it in Mangolpuri. He is absconding.” Responding to this, another leader of the AAP Durgesh Pathak held a press conference and said, “यह Poster आम आदमी पार्टी ने लगाए हैं, और अब तो पूरे देश में लगाएंगे।अगर आपको गिरफ्तार करना है तो हमें करिए उन बेचारे गरीब पोस्टर लगाने वालों को नहीं।
आपको जवाब देना होगा हमारी Vaccine विदेश क्यों भेजी? पाकिस्तान क्यों भेजी?”
Reacting to the incident, opposition parties took a dig at the Central Government for sending vaccines to other countries, when there is a shortage of vaccines in India for the citizens.
Rahul Gandhi, the former President of the Indian National Congress, tweeted the poster image with a caption “Arrest me too.”
Jairam Ramesh, a political leader of the INC also took to Twitter and said, “Putting up critical posters against PM is now a crime? Is India run by the Modi Penal Code now? Is the Delhi Police so jobless in the middle of a raging pandemic??
I am putting up posters on my compound wall tomorrow. Come get me.
@DelhiPolice @AmitShah (sic.)”
P. Chidambaram said, “Celebrate, India is a free country. There is freedom of speech
Except, when you ask a question of the Honourable Prime Minister
That is why the Delhi Police arrested 24 persons for allegedly pasting a poster in Delhi.”
Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi also said, “हमारे बच्चों की वैक्सीन इमेज मैनेजमेंट के लिए विदेशों में किसने बेच दी ?”
Mahua Moitra, a leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) tweeted, “12 Arrested Over Posters Against PM Modi In Delhi
“Modi ji, aapne humare bacchon ki vaccine videsh kyu bhej diya?”
Perfectly valid question.”
According to the sources, the Central Government exported close to 6.5 crore vaccines of the Wuhan virus to several nations. Of the total, approximately 1 crore vaccines have been granted to other nations, 3.5 crore vaccines were sent as a commercial export and 1.98 crore vaccines were sent under the global initiative COVAX. The aforementioned data was confirmed by the Union External Affair Ministry.
