Amnesty International today criticised the Indian government for using the "crude, colonial-era" sedition law to "silence" its critics. In its annual human rights report, the UK-based NGO said, "Human rights activists and journalists (in India) faced intimidation and attacks from both state and non-state actors."


The report mentioned a crackdown on civil society organisations with the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act or FCRA being repeatedly invoked to "harass organisations that receive foreign funding".


"The crude, colonial-era sedition law was unleashed to silence government critics," it added. "Caste-based violence and vigilante cow protection groups harassing and attacking people in states including Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka in the name of upholding laws prohibiting the killing of cows were also highlighted as areas of concern," it said.