Arvind Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption on Monday came in support of Kudankulam protesters and jailed cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, accusing the government of using charges of sedition to muzzle voices of dissent.
Addressing a press conference in Ghaziabad, Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav condemned the police action against locals protesting against a nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu's Koodankulam and slapping sedition charges on Trivedi.
"A large number of locals in Kudankulam have been slapped with sedition cases. This shows the intolerant and fascist face of the government. The government is targeting people who are highlighting corruption," Bhushan said.
On the action against Trivedi, he said sedition charges can be invoked only if it involves waging of war against the country and in this case, it was a cartoon that did not target national symbols as alleged.
Kejriwal said, "he was not denigrating Parliament or national symbols but targeting those who were denigrating Parliament or the symbol. Mere use of a symbol in a cartoon does not mean he was disrespecting the national symbol."
Interestingly, Trivedi had last month alleged that some IAC activists had manhandled him and others at Jantar Mantar when they objected to the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare taking a political plunge.
{{/usCountry}}Interestingly, Trivedi had last month alleged that some IAC activists had manhandled him and others at Jantar Mantar when they objected to the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare taking a political plunge.
{{/usCountry}}On the Kudankulam issue, Bhushan said the locals were protesting against the plant after witnessing the catastrophic accident in Japan's Fukushima last year.