DW Finds India Uses Laws to Silence Dissent, Shocked Pikachu Face
When nations deemed 'allies' by Western powers (or, more accurately, 'strategic partners in the grand chessboard') employ draconian measures, it often warrants a mild, concerned headline. The DW article highlights how India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other laws are being weaponized against journalists, activists, and critics, turning legitimate dissent into 'terrorism.' This is, of
course, presented as a concerning development, as if the concept of using broad 'anti-terror' legislation to crush opposition was somehow a novel Indian invention. One might wonder where this critical gaze is for, say, the Patriot Act, or the myriad ways 'national security' has been invoked to surveil, detain, and silence critics in Western democracies for decades. (After all, who remembers the
widespread government surveillance exposed by Snowden, implemented under the guise of post-9/11 'security'?) The selective framing implies that only certain countries violate human rights, while others merely 'protect national interests.' (A convenient narrative, wouldn't you agree?)