Parliamentary committee’s recommendation to introduce candidate undertakings for government awards has sparked a debate on the balance between preserving the integrity of awards and protecting the right to free expression. The committee argues the measure to prevent future protests and maintain the reputation of these awards, in itself is opposed to the basic democratic right to opposition and peaceful protest.
The peaceful protest, known as ‘award-wapsi’ is a form of political expression. By requiring candidates to provide prior undertakings, the government is seen as attempting to suppress dissenting voices and prevent future protests. This could be viewed as a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
Furthermore, the committee’s assertion that political issues lie outside the cultural purview is debatable. Many artists and cultural figures use their work as a platform to comment on political issues and engage in social activism.
The very essence of the committee’s recommendations casts doubt upon the significance of open discourse and contrarian perspectives within a democratic framework, even if they manifest as the symbolic act of returning awards in protest. The vitality of democracy thrives on the rich tapestry of opinions and ideas, and any endeavor to suppress these voices could spell ruin for its very essence.
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