Comedy, Controversy, and Control: The Battle Over Free Expression in India
Comedy, Controversy, and Control: The Battle Over Free Expression in India By Abhay Pandey Welcome to this New India, a country that has made remarkable progress in various fields—infrastructure, technology, global recognition, and economic achievements. However, while we take pride in these advancements, we must also ask: What about the state of free expression? Gone are the days when artists, celebrities, and TV channels could freely criticize politicians or create parodies of the government without fear. The recent Kunal Kamra controversy is yet another example of how political satire is increasingly under scrutiny. Kamra’s remarks may be debatable, and people are free to agree or disagree with his views, but the government’s response vandalism, threats, and administrative action cannot be justified in a democracy. This raises a serious concern: How can a government, which should be tolerant of criticism, take such arbitrary actions? Meanwhil...