"Freedom of ex-pression" - this is one phrase that has variety of meanings in Indian conditions. I remember a slogan, "You have every right to express your views as long as it agrees with mine!"Perhaps this is best suited to the so-called learned men (read securalists) of India.

If you had guessed it right, i am talking about the screening of film Parzania in Gujarat. I read a statement in the newspaper that the Opposition Leader of our state (Gujarat) will screen this picture in Gujarat at his own expenses because he respects the freedom of ex-pression.

Yes. He is right. Freedom of ex-pression should be respected. However, I do not understand that respecting this freedom of ex-pression do not have a validation whenever the subject is pertained to the sentiments of religion other than Hindus or issues pertained to Congress.MF should have the freedom of ex-pression to draw Hindu Goddess Saraswati nude but Salman Rushdie cannot have this freedom to write Satanic Verses of Quran nor the Dutch cartoonist can have this freedom to write about Mohummed the Prophet.

Parzania can be screened all over India since freedom of ex-pression has to be respected but Da Vinci Code has to be banned in India because it hurts the sentiments of minorities(?) and they cannot have this freedom of ex-pression.

Tehelka.com can have the freedom of ex-pression (and all wrong means they follow) but hinduunity.org cannot have this freedom of ex-pression because they blame Rahul Gandhi for a rape.

It is an irony that the term, "freedom of ex-pression" has got variety of meanings in Indian arena.