The Indian government has put forth a bill in Parliament with the intention of substituting the British colonial-era sedition law with an updated indigenous version.
Initially enacted by the British in 1860 to suppress India’s independence activists, the sedition law targeted activities that aimed to incite individuals to oppose or act against the government. Although India gained freedom from British rule in 1947, the sedition law persisted.
Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have alleged that his administration employs the sedition charge to brand dissidents as unpatriotic. A conviction under this charge could result in a sentence of life imprisonment.
On Friday, Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the proposed legislation would revoke the British sedition offense and establish a novel provision in its place.
Legal expert Chitranshul Sinha stated that the new provision introduced by the government would penalize “actions that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.” The range of punishments for such actions would span from seven years to life imprisonment.
