Congress manifesto promises to abolish sedition law if voted to power

New Delhi | The Congress Party today in its manifesto promised to abolish section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code that defines the offence of sedition.

In the released manifesto termed as ‘Hum Nibhayenge,’ the Congress party has promised to abolish and decriminalize various law against Human Rights. Congress stated that it will decriminalise law that are essentially laws directed against civil violation and can be subjected to civil penalties.

The manifesto stated that if voted to power the party will abolist section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code also know as the sedition law as it has been misused and become redundant because of subsequent laws. The party will also amend laws that allow detention without trial in order to bring then in accord with the spirit and not just the letter of the constitution as well as International Human Rights Conventions.

Congress also promised to pass a law titled the Prevention of Torture Act to prohibit the use of third-degree methods during custody or interrogation and punish cases of torture, brutalist or other police excesses.

The party in its manifesto promised to amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 with a motive to strike a balance between security forces power and human rights. The Congress party also promised to abolish section IPC section 499 and make ‘defamation ‘ a civil offence.

Section 124A which defines sedition in India was introduced by the British colonial government in 1870. It states that “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt,or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.”