"We're Doing What Nehru Couldn't": Centre In Sedition Case

The hearing on sedition in Supreme COurt came a day after the government said it had decided to review the legislation.

Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who has often been at the receiving end of many a barb courtesy the ruling BJP and its leaders found mention on Tuesday during a hearing on pleas challenging the sedition law. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana was hearing the matter.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal who was representing the petitioners was arguing about the misuse of sedition law when he said, "We are in post-constitution era. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said that this provision is obnoxious and the sooner we get rid of sedition the better."

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing the Centre, responded by saying, "What Nehru couldn't do, the current government is doing. We are trying to do, what Pandit Nehru could not do then."

The Solicitor General was referring to the fact that the centre had told the top court that it is ready to re-examine the law in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision on human rights and the country celebrating 75 years of Independence, as part of which colonial baggage is being done away with.