The Indian Liberal Group is appalled at the assault on journalists by the police at the Sabarmati Ashram, the sole symbol of peace in strife-torn state of Gujarat. The police mayhem, which followed the assault on Medha Patkar by BJP activists at a peace meeting, indicates the extent to which the Gujarat government has either lost control of the situation or is conniving with the VHP/Bajrang Dal mobs.

This is just the latest in the month-long uninterrupted chain of violent incidents in the state. Gujarat, once the pride of the country and a beacon for foreign investment, is apparently competing with Bihar for the label of the most lawless state in the country.

The Prime Minister does not seem to be able to do anything more than give emotional speeches, even a month after the most horrendous kind of violence began rocking the state. His words would have been far more convincing if he had acted to dismiss the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi soon after he made statements trying to explain, if not actually justify, the post-Godhra violence.

Chief ministers have been removed for far less, even by the BJP. UP chief minister Kalyan Singh was removed only because of intra-party rivalries. So was Shankar Singh Vaghela, ironically, in Gujarat itself. It has also never shied away from imposing chief ministers from Delhi, a trait that was once unique to the Congress. In fact merely replacing the Chief Minister is not enough. The continued violence and state-sponsored terror in Gujarat justifies the imposition of President's rule in the state.

Besides, the April 7 incident, which started with Medha Patkar being attacked by BJP activists at a peace meeting, and then degenerated into the police assault on journalists, also reaffirms another disturbing trend in the Indian society and polity - increasing intolerance and assault on the freedom of expression.

This is not something that is confined to the state. There have been several incidents in the past 20 years when ideological and religious groups have been attacking those who dare to differ with their views. Noted historian Mushirul Hasan was roughed up by students of Jamia Milia Islamia when he dared to criticise the ban on Satanic Verses. When he was appointed vice-chancellor of Jamia Milia, he wasn't allowed to take charge. The students were encouraged by a suave England-educated Congress leader Salman Khursheed who said "liberals must pay the price of their beliefs".

The Republican Party of India blackened Arun Shourie's face because of his book on Ambedkar and warned him against coming to Bombay.

Medha Patkar was hounded out of Gujarat because of her Narmada Bachao Andolan.

The environmental lobby destroyed trial fields of Bt Cotton in Andhra Pradesh in 1998.

The Shiv Sena tried to stop the screening of Fire and other Hindu fanatics forced the shooting of Water to be suspended.

Some Muslim groups attacked theatres showing Bombay because the film showed a Hindu boy marrying a Muslim girl.

Are we now to be ruled by vigilantes of various kinds and hues, and get every word we utter, and every act we take or wish to take screened by these groups? What, then, is the value of the right to freedom enshrined in our Constitution.