This regime fears the sound of dissent, says Prakash Raj at Kerala Lit Fest

Kozhikode: In a charged discussion on the criminalisation of political disagreement, acclaimed actor and activist Prakash Raj on Thursday took a swipe at the Union government, labelling it a regime that was systematically silencing the voices of those who dared to ask questions.

At the inaugural Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) 2026 session titled "Criminalising Dissent! Who Gets Locked Up For Speaking Out?", Raj was joined by investigative journalist Josy Joseph in a dialogue that traversed the arrests of activists Sonam Wangchuk and Umar Khalid, the capitulation of mainstream media, and the perceived erosion of judicial independence.

Responding to Joseph’s opening question about the scores of legal cases filed against him, he said, "I’ve been called anti-national, a Periyarist, and anti-Hindu. These cases are meant to tire you out or waste your time, but they don’t know we are made of different stuff." 

Raj also spoke about Ladakhi educator and innovator Sonam Wangchuk and activist Umar Khalid. He recounted his journey to Ladakh to support Wangchuk’s protest against corporate interests in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

"They have jailed Wangchuk in Rajasthan, far from his territory, behind a three-layered wall where even his wife cannot meet him. Does anyone believe he is a terrorist?" Raj asked.

Similarly, he questioned the use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA against Khalid: "When did blocking a road during a CAA protest become a terrorist activity? This ‘Maha Prabhu’ (referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi) sitting in power does not like the sound of dissent."

The actor expressed deep concern over the state of Indian institutions. While he acknowledged that previous governments had misused the police, he lamented that the judiciary, once the "final hope", was now viewed by many as a "joke."

"The trial should be for the conscience of the judges, not just the criminals," he noted.

Urging the public to stop being "footballs" in the match of electoral democracy, Raj concluded by calling for a more politically active citizenry.

"Education is not a degree; it is being aware and liberated. We are very happy talking in small groups, but we must take this awareness to our neighbourhoods. If there is a hole in the boat, we must fix it together, or we will all sink regardless of ideology," he said.