Freedom of speech and expression

Some people contend that Hindi should be the official language of the country as it is an Indian language. These people posit that having one national language is logical as India is one country and doing so will bring about uniformity in communication.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Justice for All expressed alarm over the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly as the nation undergoes significant political transition.

The number killed in violence last year was the highest since the military coup in 2021. Over 1,800 civilians were killed in 2024, many in indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery shelling, with attacks on schools, places of worship and healthcare facilities having become routine.

According to the United Nations in Sri Lanka, over 35 per cent of all gender-based harmful speech recorded in November was targeted at women candidates campaigning for the parliamentary elections.

In contrast, when Trump had said on Wednesday in Miami that USAID had spent $21 million in India, most papers not only latched on to the news but also displayed it well on Page 1.

UNAMA’s quarterly report highlighted sections of the ministry’s law, claiming it imposes new restrictions on women. It stated that the law formalises previous decrees and broadens existing limitations while introducing additional ones.

The mass mobilisation saw participation from people across different backgrounds, including women and children. Faced with this growing opposition, the former government resorted to increasingly violent means to maintain power. The UN report describes a deliberate strategy orchestrated at the highest levels of the former administration.

Even those journalists who otherwise feel social media is being misused find the current law distasteful.