For decades, successive governments have used India's colonial-era draconian sedition law against students, journalists, intellectuals, social activists and those critical of authority.
The ‘hue and cry’ rule simply meant that if a suspect or a criminal was running down the street in front of some bystanders, then each of them had to yell to help the police identify and catch them.
Indians generally believe that protecting religious sentiments is warranted, and that preventing incitement and subsequent public disorder is desirable.