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Indian cartoonist jailed in sedition case
Source: Agencies |
September 11, 2012, Tuesday
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A political cartoonist whose drawings mock Indian government corruption has been jailed in a sedition probe that was condemned yesterday as evidence of political leaders' growing intolerance of criticism.
A defiant Aseem Trivedi refused bail at a court hearing yesterday in Mumbai, saying he would remain in jail until the sedition charges against him were lifted. The court then extended his stay in police custody from one week to two.
"I am proud of what I have done. If telling the truth makes me a traitor, then I am one," Trivedi said as dozens of police escorted him out of the court.
He was arrested on Sunday after police issued a warrant based on an activist's complaint Trivedi's cartoons were "insulting" to the country. Students, opposition politicians and free speech advocates protested that Trivedi's arrest - on the very serious charge of sedition no less - showed politicians' increasing sensitivity to criticism.
However, state Home Minister R.R. Patil said the government would review Trivedi's case and the charge, which is punishable by up to life in prison.
Trivedi, a freelance cartoonist, was one of two winners of the 2012 "Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award" by the United States-based Cartoonists Rights Network International. His cartoons lampooning widespread corruption among Indian politicians were displayed at a Mumbai protest in December by the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.
A Mumbai-based lawyer's complaint to police cited one of those drawings that showed the four lions that form India's national symbol replaced by four wolves and the national slogan "truth shall prevail" replaced by "corruption shall prevail."
A defiant Aseem Trivedi refused bail at a court hearing yesterday in Mumbai, saying he would remain in jail until the sedition charges against him were lifted. The court then extended his stay in police custody from one week to two.
"I am proud of what I have done. If telling the truth makes me a traitor, then I am one," Trivedi said as dozens of police escorted him out of the court.
He was arrested on Sunday after police issued a warrant based on an activist's complaint Trivedi's cartoons were "insulting" to the country. Students, opposition politicians and free speech advocates protested that Trivedi's arrest - on the very serious charge of sedition no less - showed politicians' increasing sensitivity to criticism.
However, state Home Minister R.R. Patil said the government would review Trivedi's case and the charge, which is punishable by up to life in prison.
Trivedi, a freelance cartoonist, was one of two winners of the 2012 "Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award" by the United States-based Cartoonists Rights Network International. His cartoons lampooning widespread corruption among Indian politicians were displayed at a Mumbai protest in December by the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.
A Mumbai-based lawyer's complaint to police cited one of those drawings that showed the four lions that form India's national symbol replaced by four wolves and the national slogan "truth shall prevail" replaced by "corruption shall prevail."
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