Supreme Court must set guidelines against hate speech: Najeeb Jung

In an exclusive interview with India Today, former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung discusses the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court against alleged hate speech by constitutional figures, specifically citing a controversial video posted by the BJP's Assam unit. Jung states, 'Muslims have tolerated being called barking dogs, being called cut Mullah... but this was born with great patience, thinking that it will ride over.' He highlights that the video, which allegedly showed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma targeting individuals in skull caps, served as a 'trigger point' for the legal action. Jung expresses disappointment that the courts did not take suo moto action earlier. The PIL, filed by a group of concerned citizens including Jung and Harsh Mander, seeks clear judicial guidelines for police response to hate speech. Jung emphasises that the petition is not just about one individual but aims to protect all minority communities, including Christians and Dalits, from demonisation and inflammatory rhetoric by those in high office.