Jinnah on Press Freedom
Jinnah’s speech to the Calcutta session of the All-India Muslim League in December 1917 is still relevant:
“Instead of government meeting the complaints of the people, what do they do in the country? They want to muzzle you. They say we shall pass a Press Act. If you write anything, we will, they say, strangle you. They have passed the Seditious Meeting Act to stop meetings of the people. Is this really the method by which you can continue governing the people? Is it possible for any statute to destroy the soul of the people?”
On another occasion, he said opposing the Press Act:
“… I say, protect the innocent, protect those journalists who are doing their duty and who are serving both the public and the government by criticising the government freely, independently, honestly, which is an education for any government.”
Add comment November 20, 2007
