Acquitted by SC in a case of alleged hate speech against fellow-natives of Meghalaya, Shillong Times Editor and Padma Shri award winner Patricia Mukhim speaks to Midhat Fatimah about majoritarianism, press freedom and democracy. Excerpts…
On the case: I found support from all quarters except my own community who thinks I am pro-non-tribals and against my own people. So, the trolling continues even after the verdict. But I have taken it all in my stride because I have been writing on the issue for a long time. I have been pleading that non-tribals are a minority in Meghalaya and it is our duty to stand by them. Every person is a majority at some place and a minority at another.
On press freedom: We are not really free to speak our minds because today people are being booked for sedition and being termed anti-national for flimsy reasons. How can citizens stay quiet when things go wrong?...(But) everyone wants to play safe. I don’t think one can...
