Free speech is a terrible, first-world idea. It makes no sense in India.

As a Hindu, I don't care about what people do with Islamic books, that's not my fight. I just don't want some edgy atheist burning Bhagwad Gita and getting away with it.

It makes no sense to me why I should give up my idea of sacred and the duty to protect it just for some high-sounding principles that don't even apply to my society and culture.

Even practically speaking, so long as every other side has the raw power to enforce silence *outside* the law, the best course for Dharmic people is to enforce this silence *through* the law, just to make it even.

How long has "Absolute FOE" been a civilizational idea? And where?

Do people outside those societies have no authentic human experience?

All cultures must be allowed to negotiate their ideals in light of their own values and experience.

https://twitter.com/TurbanRed/status/1301536465462202368?s=20

Freedom of religion is a great value worth cherishing but it's different from absolute freedom of speech especially in places like India where it's impractical to begin with, even on policy level.