New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today said it will not intervene to stop politicians from delivering hate speeches.
"We are a country of 128 crore people and there may be 128 crore views. This is the maturity of a democracy. For a person making such a speech, it may not be a hate speech," said the judges who heard the case.
Their verdict was based on a Public Interest Litigation or PIL which said the top court should instruct the Election Commission to stop politicians from making hate speeches and "flash promises" designed to influence voters.
"Let all shades of opinion come before the public. Let them decide," said the Supreme Court judges.
They underscored that an order from them on hate speeches would amount to an infringement of the right to free speech.