Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Gagan Thapa has accused the government of trying to shut the mouth of people through information technology and media council bills.
Taking special time in the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday, Thapa said laws are being brought in a way that one can defame and disparage others under government patronage while anyone can be shut up in the name of defamation, decorum and morality if the government does not like it.
He also pointed at the information technology bill with provision of fine of up to Rs 1.50 million and jail of up to five years for posting a message with an intention of teasing, threatening and disparaging any individual, and asked what the definition of teasing, threatening and disparaging is.
Stressing that such ambiguous provisions curtail freedom of expression, he pointed how the Supreme Court of India removed a clause of the information technology bill. "The information technology court will have the final say in deciding what constitutes teasing and misleading. We must remember, the government will get to choose the persons it wants for the information technology court," he added.
He also pointed how singer Pashupati Sharma was forced to remove the song that criticized the government from YouTube .
He cited the use of excessive force on the protesters who opposed the guthi bill and arrest of Pranesh Gautam for reviewing a movie with use of absurdist humor, and stated that one can read the government's intention by keeping the information technology and media council bills together. "Like writer Brazesh Khanal says, the government seems to say 'speak only what I want to hear, see only what I want to show. I will draw the lines for your independence. Do you know me? I am the government.'"
He claimed that only the trolls paid by the government will remain safe and warned the people of consequences for criticizing the government.
He then recited the famous verse of German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller to urge the people to oppose the draconian information technology and media council bills.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
