Things that cannot be said

Apoorwa Singh’s case is a timely reminder of the need to rethink and revise our idea of free speech.

The tragedy of moral bankruptcy in Nepali politics and society is fast turning into a farce. As if the state had no serious business to attend to, it re-incarcerated standup comedian Apoorwa Kshitiz Singh again on Monday. The Kathmandu District Attorney's office slapped four ridiculous charges against him, seeking up to five years behind bars. This, in a country that has yet to conclude the transitional justice process and give justice to tens of thousands of people. This, in a country where political biggies continue to openly violate the constitution, where a top judge deliberately misinterprets the law to reduce the sentence of a murder convict. And this, after the comedian and his family had repeatedly apologised for ‘hurting’ the sentiments of a community he had brought up in his gig.