New Delhi: The Central government on Monday decided to review the legislation of colonial-era Sedition Law. However, in the past few days, the government has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the plea challenging the law.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said that “PM Modi has asked to re-examine and reconsider the provision of sedition law. PM urged to remove obsolete sedition law.”
#PMModi has asked to re-examine and reconsider the provision of sedition law. PM urged to remove obsolete sedition law: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to ANI
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He further added that “ the government has urged the Supreme Court not to invest their precious time in examining the validity of Section 124A of IPC, 1860 and await the exercise of re-consideration of Section 124A to be undertaken by the Government of India.”
He further assured the stakeholders and said that the “Government will suitably take into account views of the stakeholders & ensure that the sovereignty & integrity of the nation is preserved while re-examining & re-considering the law on sedition.”
According to media reports, a new affidavit was filed in the Supreme Court in which the central government said that “In the spirit of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and vision of PM Narendra Modi, the government of India has decided to re-examine and reconsider the provisions of Section 124A, Sedition law.”
Talking about the move of the government, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that “Undoubtedly the sedition law should be repealed. However, the affidavit that the Centre has filled in the SC seems to be a rather curious submission. It almost seems as if they’re trying to pre-empt SC’s adjudication of this matter.”
Congress leader Harish Rawat doubted the approach of the central government and said that “Their (Centre) stand on sedition is not clear.”