Constitution gives freedom of expression, not freedom to abuse: Allahabad University VC

Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor Sangeeta Srivastava has said the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression but does not give people the “freedom to abuse”. Addressing the university’s Independence Day celebrations on Saturday, Srivastava claimed that educational institutions across India were facing challenges because of the influence of certain “anarchic elements”.

“We are the world’s largest democracy, and our Constitution gives us freedom of expression. But we must remember that it gives us freedom of expression, not freedom to abuse. The freedom to abuse is absolutely wrong,” she said. The Vice-Chancellor also expressed concern over abusive remarks directed at the prime minister and his late mother, questioning what she described as an erosion of Indian traditions and values.

Srivastava did not name any person or group while making the remarks. Indiatoday.in reports that she said, “Look around the world. We abuse the prime minister and even his mother, who is no longer in this world. How unfortunate is this? Where have our traditions and values disappeared?”