Supreme Court's Poetic Justice: Free Speech Vindicated

The Supreme Court cleared Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi of charges linked to a poem on social media, ruling it did not incite hatred. Opposition MPs welcomed the verdict, criticizing government tendencies to suppress free expression. The case underscored debates on dissent and use of police in curbing free speech.

On Friday, opposition MPs expressed approval of the Supreme Court's decision that exonerated Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi, whose poem shared online was deemed non-inciteful by the court. The poem had been allegedly linked to promoting disharmony.

The case arose in Gujarat, where Pratapgarhi was accused of sharing an edited video with a provocative song. The Supreme Court's ruling quashed the FIR lodged against him, highlighting discussions around freedom of expression in India.

This verdict has ignited a broader conversation about governmental response to dissent and the role of law enforcement in stifling free speech. Opposition members, including Karti Chidambaram and Priyanka Chaturvedi, have urged the government to heed the court's reasoning on free speech.

(With inputs from agencies.)