Since its inception in 1979, MiDDAY has stood for and stridently defended free speech principles.u00a0Today, this newspaper takes one more step in defending the citizens’ right to free speech with the MiDDAY People’s Freedom Charter.u00a0It is no secret that governments do not like criticism. It is also no secret that political parties, regardless of their ideology, have opposed the principles of free speech and expression.

The latest instance of two women being arrested in Palghar in Thane district is a case in point, where the city Shiv Sena head complained to the local police when a 21-year-old girl questioned on Facebook as to why an entire city should shut down because Bal Thackeray had died.

The section says: “Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc. - Any person who sends, by means of a computer resource or a communication device,-(a) any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character; or (b) any information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, or ill will, persistently makes by making use of such computer resource or a communication device, (c) any electronic mail or electronic mail message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience or to deceive or to mislead the addressee or recipient about the origin of such messages shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine.”