HRF condemns the arrest of British doctor Sangram Patil in India for his alleged defamation of Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Detaining critics for political speech marks a dangerous escalation in IndiaтАЩs crackdown on dissent.
Dr. Patil, a British national of Indian origin, runs a popular YouTube channel for political commentary. After a member of the BJP filed a complaint against him, Dr. Patil was held for more than 15 hours upon arriving in India. He was released after police served a notice requiring him to cooperate with an investigation. (Scroll.in)
This case underscores the erosion of freedom of dissent in India, where legal and administrative measures are routinely deployed to silence criticism. HRF calls on India to uphold constitutional protections for free expression and to end the misuse of law enforcement against dissenting voices.
