Free speech is a fundamental right to question what may undermine your own limitation or oppression. It can't include you walking with a loudspeaker and unleashing your wild mind on others as then you become the tyrant. The backlash to Nupur Sharma's statement is definitely disproportional. Pelting stones, attacking security forces, hanging effigies and calling for the rape and beheading of Nupur Sharma, the protesting Islamists want to act as the judge, jury, and executioner, stating that an FIR against her is not enough. The state must come down heavily against such acts of Islamic radicalism. But it was unnecessary for Nupur to get into that argument. She chose to legitimately exercise her freedom of expression. Does free speech under Article 19(1) and 19(2) allow criticism of religions? If it's yes, then all religions and religious figures should be given the same protection.
