Right to criticize administration is the soul of democracy says Omar

By: Musaib Iqbal MK

Srinagar

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah Friday said that every citizen has the right to criticize the bureaucracy and the people in power so that democracy thrives.

He said that criticism of people enjoying power is the right of every citizen in a democracy and thin-skinned leaders should stop hiding behind out-dated laws.

According to KNT Omar Abdullah was reacting to recent invoking of sedition law against a lady activist in Lakshadweep. KNT in its report said that Abdullah’s remarks came a day after the Lakshadweep police registered a case of sedition against local resident and film activist Aisha Sultana for calling the Union Territory’s administrator, Praful K Patel, a bio-weapon being used by the Centre on the island’s people during a TV debate. The complaint against her was filed by BJP.

“Criticism of Patel (Lakshadweep administrator Praful Patel) does not constitute sedition. In a democracy, if that’s what we still want to claim to be, criticism of people in positions of authority is the right of every citizen. These thin skinned ‘leaders’ should stop hiding behind such archaic laws, he wrote on Twitter.

With inputs from KNT