Global Information2015 Priya Pillai offloading information
The Priya Pillai offloading of January 2015 was an incident in India where an environmental activist was offloaded from a flight in order to prevent her from testifying internationally on the activity of a firm registered in the UK.
Later, the Ministry of Home Affairs (India) argued that her deposition before a British parliamentary committee would have been "prejudicial to national interest"[1] In its judgment, the Delhi High Court observed that dissent "may not be palatable; even so, it cannot be muzzled."[2]
The incident has been widely discussed in India as evidence suggesting a possible trend towards eroding Freedom of expression in India under the Bharatiya Janata Party government.[3] [4][5] International media has also been critical of the Narendra Modi Government.[6] [7]
- ^ Manoj Mitta (Feb 16, 2015). "Govt defends activist Priya Pillai's offloading, slams west's rights reports".
- ^ "Lookout notice against Pillai illegal: HC". 12 March 2015.
- ^ Nayantara Narayanan (Feb 17, 2015). "As government denounces 'bad activist' Priya Pillai in court, 'good activists' come to her defence". scroll. quote: Nandini Sundar: "why is the Indian government so interested in defending the foreign companies’ right to exploit Indian resources and Indian adivasis?"
- ^ Sanjib Kr Baruah and Rajesh Ahuja (Jan 24, 2015). "Narendra Modi govt cracks down on NGOs, prepares hitlist". Hindustan Times.
- ^ G Pramod Kumar (Feb 20, 2015). "Gag order against Priya Pillai: Does India want to be like China, Saudi Arabia?". Firstpost India.
- ^ The editorial board, NYT (April 14, 2015). "The Right to Speak Out in India". New York Times.quote: Justice Rajiv Shakdher reminded the government of what should have been obvious: “You cannot muzzle dissent in a democracy.”
- ^ Fahad Shah (8 Nov 2015). "Silencing dissenting voices in India".