Jawaharlal Nehru restricted freedom of speech: BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday said freedom of speech was also curtailed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, in 1951.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha in the debate on intolerance, she said, "Filmmakers and so-called intellectuals have returned their awards on so-called intolerance in the country."

"I'm sure there are lot of people who are actually worried about this atmosphere sought to be created in this country and who have not returned their awards and, according to me, these were probably the rewards for political consideration and not the awards, which were genuinely sought," she said.

"I would like to assure them that India is not becoming intolerant and there is absolutely no data to support this fact. In fact, all this atmosphere is sought to be created to malign the image of a democratic elected government and that is why I call them intellectual mercenaries, because they don't bother about tarnishing the image of a democratic government."

They don't even know how they are affecting the relationships among communities and affecting India's progress, she said. "The formula is simple, divide the majority community by caste and polarise the minorities in the name of religion," Lekhi said.

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