MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE

GUJARATH: We always knew that Coca Cola or Pepsi like beverages had harmful effect on consumers of these drinks. But somehow, the power that be, and of course, the business lobby managed it to remain outside the prism of health authorities all over India.

The recent news report about the declaration by mega cine star Amitabh Bachchan that he shall no more appear in the advertisement for cola’s while speaking at IIM Ahmadabad, is a positive development.

While it is a welcome decision, the government both in the centre and states, must necessarily insist on its laboratory testing to know what are the harmful contents it has. And, as alleged, if harmful ingredients are found, the government must necessarily insist on its removal. In food and beverages, the transparency, should be the by-word. Should these cola companies, refuse to fall in line because of so-called trade-secrets, these products should be banned. Instead, govts must encourage local drinks. Surely, Indians were drinking varieties of local beverages, even before cola’s made into the country. Cola companies are only making money for Shah Rukh Khans, Tendulkars and Bachchans, and of course for themselves at the cost of Indian consumers.

‘Make in India’, campaign of Narendra Modi, should also takeup “Make for India” slogan of RBI governor Raghuram Rajan.

UTTAR PRADESH: Punishment to juveniles who commit heinous crimes is unfortunately still being debated, due to the pressure of so-called civil society activists, who think, the depraved can change if they are kept in juvenile homes.

We have seen and witnessed umpteen cases of boys above 15 are being used by others to commit crimes of serious nature including rape and murder only because of this senseless law which forces a judge to release the convict, if he has already undergone 3 years in custody, since it is only 3 years in juvenile homes that these young criminals are forced to stay.

Despite articulated arguments in favour of including those who are over 16, as adults, has fallen on deaf ears.

And comes this story of an ‘accused shot dead by youth in court premises’ in Muzaffarnagar. Entering the court premises in a lawyer’s outfit, this absconding youth reportedly shot dead an alleged gangster, Vicky Tyagi. Report informs, that this youth had shot the gangster multiple times before escaping into anonymity. However report further states that according to police, this youth had escaped from a juvenile home last year. He was in the juvenile home (JH) for the crime of having killed, also by shooting, an eye-witness in another court and for which he was lodged in the JH after being declared juvenile, police sources had reportedly corroborated.

Hence it is very clear that there should be serious deliberations and laws amended, so that, these young criminals are made to suffer as adults for adult crimes.

CHHATTISGARH: Something is seriously wrong with naxalite Maoists, or else there’s no reason for the 4 attacks in 72 hours, resulting in the death of 15 combat men. The movement that started over 45 years ago, has lost its way. Lost its core agenda of empowering the marginalised, instead, became very violent in pursuance of the hegemonistic agenda of its left over leaders. As of now, it is still very much alive, since, those who are riding a tiger have a dilemma at the inability of getting off the back of tiger. As you try to get off the tiger’s back, chances are tiger may swallow you. Hence, perforce, they have to sustain the naxalism, if not the movement. Over a period there have been many who managed to retrace the steps and have surrendered. Hence, there is a definite slowing down of their activities since authorities in Chhattisgarh, as elsewhere, have been working towards reaching out to locals in naxal hit areas and trying to win them over. This has greatly affected Naxalites. To keep their perceived relevance intact, these sporadic violent attacks are thought to be a way out, for these naxal leaders. All affected states must take this menace head-on, to snuff out this naxalites at whatever cost. Only then, the governance, if any, can become effective in these affected states by making available to people, the larger share of the national pie, which is otherwise lost in combating this lunacy called Naxalism. 

BIHAR: This is nothing to do with Bihar per se. But happened in Bihar all the same. Notorious for being loud mouth or loose cannon, a Union Minister, Giriraj Singh is at it again.

First time he became infamous for his remark that “those who are opposing Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan”. At which time Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advised likes of Giriraj Singh to stop mouthing such ‘smart’ expletives. And comes the latest. Chatting freely among his supporters in Hajipur in Bihar, Singh had reportedly said “Had Rajeev Gandhi married a Nigerian and if she was not white-skinned, would the Congress have then accepted her leadership?”

In his remark, this union minister in Narendra Modi government, not only lowered himself in the eyes of the world, he degraded his own government and his Prime Minister. He also degraded all women besides directly insulting Nigeria. In all fairness, Narendra Modi, instead of leaving it to party spokesperson to mouth inanities, should have sacked him. That he didn’t react, even by way of a verbal reprimand like earlier instances, is a poor reflection as the man and the Prime Minister.

Ever since, BJP came to power there has been increasing bad mouthing by persons holding ministerial positions. This development is not only unhealthy but also has a sinister design. Prime Minister Modi, should he want to return to power after 5 years, then he better rein in such elements in its earliest. Or else an unpleasant surprise at the hustings need not surprise anybody.

KERALA: THE WEEK, 'the journalism with a human touch', belonging to Malayala Manorama stable, which claims itself as ‘ACTIVE WITNESS TO HISTORY’, carried under its ‘Guest Column’, a piece by a Pakistani writer, Ali Sethi.

He was writing on the violent reaction by the Christian groups on the aftermath of suicide bombing of two of their churches in a Christian area of Lahore. He was fairly critical of his country’s men and managers and how they have failed to protect Christians. He also talks about the low social placement of Christians in Pakistan, as he says “Most of Pakistan’s 2.8 million Christians are descended from low caste tribes converted by Anglican and Catholic missionaries during the British rule.

While saying Christians are worse off in Pakistan he wrote, “Unlike in India where the pressures of representative government and an ostensibly secular polity have offered some protection to disenfranchised castes”. This was a reflection of ignorance by someone who claims to be a writer.

This man called Ali Sethi simply does not know India and what India stands for. He could be a post partition product. But in these days of information revolution, it is eminently possible to update his knowledge about Pakistan’s biggest neighbour. His barbs reflect more than his ignorance, his prejudiced mind set which does not want to accept that his motherland is far behind its eastern neighbour in socio-economic & political indicators.

But what shocks the reader far more is that minorities, who formed 30% in 1947, is to-day just 3%. This 30% consisted not just Christians, but mostly Hindus and Sikhs, who were either forced to become Muslim, killed or they managed to runaway. Ali Sethi himself must be from high caste Hindu descendents, Sethi itself shows his Indianness. And there have been innumerable demolition of temples and this is what is written in the DAWN, a Pakistani English daily, published just few months ago.

Quoting a Sindhi gentleman, it reported from Karachi “We are completely insecure here. We are looted, but our voice is not heard, our temples are attacked in broad day light, but no one takes action, our girls are kidnapped and forcibly converted, only to hear more empty promises of justice. Nothing happened in the last 67 years and we don’t expect any improvement in the future. Things will only become worse”.

There have been reams of documented history of gradual annihilations of all minorities in Pakistan. Hindus constitutes the biggest and the most vulnerable and this Ali Sethi has nothing to say. And the tragedy is this THE WEEK, despite being part of active witness to history, thought it fit to publish his  grossly prejudiced views. Was it because, he wrote in favour of Christians, and Malayala Manorama group’s owners are Christians!

NEW DELHI: A completely avoidable controversy was created by Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph for the 3 days’ judicial meet organized by the Chief Justice of India. These 3 days unfortunately had included Good Friday. There were many who agreed with Justice Joseph, irrespective of their faith affiliations. There were also those who disagreed with Justice Joseph, who were from different religious back ground. 

Thus essentially, do we see the issue of a meet of Supreme Court judges through the prism of faith? At least, that is what Justice Joseph want us believe. “I only wanted to raise the serious concern-future of secularism in this great country,” was his take, on enquiry to his letter to the Prime Minister on the issue of this judicial meet and the dinner with PM the following day.

That Justice Joseph doubted the secular credentials of our country only because of this meet on Good Friday, is indeed very sad. We are given to understand that, this meet is routinely in the 1st week of April every year.

A retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Khan, while speaking to NDTV did say, that “for me as a judge, my duty comes first, and all else later, and therefore, when there is a call of duty, what day it is, does not matter’

For a highly decorated position of Supreme Court Judge, his duty certainly means far more than the religious significance of the day, in this case Good Friday. Interestingly, United States, it is reliably understood, does not have a holiday on Good Friday, even though Christians are more than 95% of its population. Can U.S. be declared non-secular for this reason, Justice Joseph?

Then you have these politicians, an M.P. from Kerala, mouthing inanities in TV channels, of hurting religious sentiments ever since the BJP dominated NDA came to power. These muck raking politicians should know that in 2007, a similar meeting was organised on a Good Friday and nobody complained. Was it because, it was not BJP dominated NDA in power, but Congress dominated UPA was! Besides, these politicians, including Justice Joseph should worry about the 23 years old unresolved Sister Abhaya murder case involving clergy, or the over 19 years infamous Suryanelli rape case involving P J Kurian, the present Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman where the last word is yet to be said or the 18 years old suicide case of Sophia College hostelite Indu Anto in Mumbai. These cases are all involving young girls from Kerala. Do you hear Mr Kerala politician? Secularism in this country is safe with or without Justice Joseph or these politicians, while it is also true that BJP need to be more sensitive to the concerns of all sections of our society without any distinction, period.

AAP is in turmoil. Sad but true that this newest political outfit is going through some unprecedented churning. 

In the generally corroded political landscape of the country, emergence of AAP was seen as an answer to those myriad questions making its rounds interminably, needing redress and address. But the latest development has thrown up serious questions about the future of this, otherwise harbinger of hope among the aam aadmi of India, that is Bharath.

The recent rupture within the ranks of its founding members is a matter of serious concern. Two of the country’s most respected names, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, being expelled from the Political Affairs Committee and the National Executive has clearly shown a measure of intolerance for dissent rarely seen in any political party. That their ouster was insisted upon by Arvind Kejriwal, the central figure in AAP, was the strangest development, devoid of any logic.

From what is available in the public space, despite briefings to the contrary, it is clear that the duo of Yadav/Bhushan combine have been rather badly treated by Kejriwal and his coterie. Their expulsion from crucial committees has the possibility of the birth of a breakaway faction. If that happens, there is going to be polarization of voters across the national spectrum. These two gentlemen may not have the vote catching charisma of Arvind Kejriwal, but the kind of esteem they are held in the media and public space across India, is very commendable, for their intellectual integrity, which is the greatest need of our time. Should they form another political party, it is sure to grow, in the long run, if not in the short run as Kejriwal led AAP had grown. 

Of course, the best thing to happen is, these two gentlemen are reinstated to their original position in AAP in the interest of aam aadmi and natural justice. But will that happen? It’s a very very big question.

Since many years, there has been a story going round for whatever it is worth. But certainly deserves repetition. There are 4 good things, we are told, American Salary, Indian Wife, Chinese Cook and British Discipline. Then there 4 not so good, or bad things. They are, Chinese Salary (now probably it is increasing) American Wife, British Cook and Indian Discipline. Hence, notwithstanding the debatability of all else, Indian indiscipline or lack of discipline stands out.

Indian’s are indeed the most indisciplined, which includes a great many educated, elites and non-elites. We, as a rule, like to break the law of the land with least remorse or remote concern. Whether it is spitting anywhere or littering garbage, using toilets in the train when the train is stationery on the platform/station, or wasting water, allowing the running water to keep running. Not only we do not close a public tap left open by somebody irresponsibly, we keep it open during the entire process of using the tap water, even when it could be on and off. We close the taps, after our complete use. Then of course, the road rage, signal jumping, over speeding, dangerously over taking, all heavy vehicle, rickshaws and tankers always driving on the emergency fast lane. There are umpteen kind of traffic offences we commit, as a nation. Of course Traffic police anywhere in India, could be a harassed lot, especially the one’s from Delhi, where the per k.m density of vehicle is the highest in the country.

And comes the news of an innovative approach to tackle the menace of bad-road-use. Delhi Police have hit upon an innovative way of teaching driving manners to Delhi’s bad road users. Reportedly, Delhi’s motorists are notorious for flouting traffic rules. For a starter, the traffic police have started with the idea of sticking the self sticking stickers with print in bold letters “I AM UNCIVILIZED”, on the front glass of the vehicle, which are wrongly parked or parked in No-Parking areas. Reportedly, there will be no-challans to fine these law breakers. Police is hoping that these erring road users do realise their sense of civic responsibility. Hope, at long last, this newer way of Gandhigiri can work, to make Indians in the capital city more disciplined. 

Our secular media men and women always accused mostly Hindus and their institutions and organisation for their alleged ‘intolerance’. That’s a done thing. And comes “Thampu strikes back”. The St. Stephen’s College principal Valson Thampu, is a known interlocutor who articulated with likes of Barkha Dutt and her ilk, that Christians are always under attack in India, which is far from truth, except for some sporadic idiocy from a miniscule section of idiots. But likes of Barkha Dutt and Thampu have always exaggerated and blew it out of proportion to make it sound like national disaster.

The Stephen’s Weekly, a digital magazine, edited by one Devansh Mehta, who is also the co-founder, appears on the net on March 7, and Principal Thampu bans it on March 11. A single member disciplinary committee was headed by a Professor. In the meanwhile the editor speaks to the press about the ban which irks Principal Thampu greatly, and upload an essay 'St. Stephen’s and Freedom of Thought’ lashing out at Mehta and the media.

In the mean while Devansh Mehta, a 3rd year Philosophy (Hon’s) student was recommended for Rai Saheb Banarasi Das Memorial Prize. Reportedly the said student was recommended for the prize for his high moral character, above average academic performance and extensive involvement in co-curricular activities and was slated to receive the award from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on April 18.

The Professor heading the Disciplinary Committee reportedly concluded Devansh Mehta of gross indiscipline. Taking the report as basis, Principal Thampu over-rules and rejects the name of Devansh Mehta.

Prof. Vijay Tankha, the head of the Philosophy Deptt. so also the son-in-law of Dr Manmohan Singh, and most of the faculty are upset at the unilateral action of the Principal Thampu. ‘It is disgusting that a man of religion will refuse a student the reward of his hard work.

Now certainly, this is no way, of encouraging youth to ask uncomfortable questions and ‘the principal has definitely crossed the limit’ was the response of teachers. So much for tolerance.

An Indian couple, settled in Canada, since over 40 years had reportedly adopted a child through a Canadian Government licenced adoption association, sometime in early 2009. After a series of interviews, home visits, the eligibility of the couple was cleared for the adoption of a child by name Bimala, who was 4 years and 8 months then. There is a Supreme Court mandated ‘two months’ deadline to clear all adoption related legal hurdles, in the interest of the child to be adopted. Its now April 2015, over 6 years have passed, but the child is still living in a Kolkata orphanage.

“I was approved by the Indian government through the Central Adoption Resource  Authority (CARA), fulfilled all the steps required by the governments of India and Canada for international adoption” was the exasperated desperation of the adoptive mother Mytreyi Bharadwaj. Unfortunately it was the judicial process that has stymied her attempt of getting the child out to Canada. Despite knowing fully well, the stated position of Apex Court, the Barasat district court in West Bengal rejected the application on the ground that “Bimala’s adoption would take her out of the court’s jurisdiction, making it impossible to monitor her welfare”. This was a ridiculous stand, which if accepted, shall stop all adoption. Besides, in Canada, laws are far more child-friendly and therefore the welfare of the child will be better monitored than India. The rejection on this ground simply made no sense. Calcutta High Court rejected, reportedly on technical ground. Approaching Supreme Court, despite over 18 months, has not helped the matter. It was, reportedly, getting routinely adjourned, despite clearance by, CARA, the union govt, West Bengal govt. Ms. Bhardwaj is planning to present the case to the Chief Justice, and hopefully the matter may after all be cleared. But in all this rigmarole child’s welfare was not considered at all. Could it be that all those manning the judicial process from district court onwards, 6 years ago, to the last attempt at Supreme Court, this month, were looking at Canadian $ to come their way, since the adoptive parents could afford to pay hefty speed money? Oh! How bankrupt we are as a country!

WORLD: Intolerance has different shades, in Arab countries. There is this blasphemy law in most Muslim countries and they are very harsh.

Hence when Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was sentenced for 10 years in jail plus 1000 lashes for allegedly insulting Islam, it was taken with the usual helpless stoicism. He is in jail, and was handed 50 lashes already, sometimes in January last. These lashes are supposedly in weekly installment of 50. Reportedly after the first 50, further lashes have not been executed on Badawi.

But what is shocking and incredible is that the lawyer, who represented the case of Badawi, has now been jailed unheard. The report date lined Dubai informed that “Saudi appeals court upholds 15 years’ in jail for rights lawyer”.

This is the saddest commentary on the Arabian Gulf’s power house Saudi Arabia that it is suffering from an extreme kind of intolerance that human rights lawyer Waleed Abulkair refused to apologise to the court, for having observed that he “refuses to recognise the legitimacy of the trial court.

That was indeed a sad day for the human rights and come to think of it, Saudi Arabia swear by Islam!

Supremacy in cricket by way of WORLD CUP has come and gone. Australia proved beyond any doubt, why they are the champions, sledging or no-sledging.

But the ceremony post the final match between Kangaroos & Kiwis, has left a completely avoidable bitterness and controversy.

Rightly or wrongly, our great N. Srinivasan, the reigning cricket moghul, is at the centre of it all. By some quirk of events, the chairman of ICC N Srinivasan presented the trophy to the winning side, although according to the rules of ICC, the president, who is a ceremonial head, has the honour of presenting the trophy.

Reportedly, the ICC president, Mustafa Kamal, who is also the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, had taken strong exception to some of the decisions of umpire in the quarter final match between India and Bangladesh. Reportedly his vituperative remarks went on record, and the ICC asked him to withdraw it or apologise for generalising umpiring as ‘bad’. Since, Mustafa Kamal refused to do either, he was denied the pleasure of presenting the trophy to the winner. So far so good. But what was really shocking, reportedly, Kamal was at his stinging best on ICC chairman N.Srinivasan, as he tendered his resignation as the President of ICC. He called him “rotten and controversial” and that he ‘feels’ bad even to mention his name. If that man is in charge of cricket, how will cricket run”. According to Srinivasan, Kamal wrote “These type of people should be away from cricket. These kind of people are polluting the game”.

Indeed, all that Mustafa Kamal stated are true. All knew it, but not many said it in so many words. But Mr Kamal, how did you manage to carry on till this world cup final with this disgusting ‘gentleman’ as your all powerful chairman? You knew all the while that he is rotten but stayed on to enjoy the crumbs of office. You too are like one of those from the BCCI. Yes, in all probability you would have lived for another day as the ICC President, wouldn’t have said what you said, if you were allowed to present the trophy and would have compromised your ‘honour’ to live another day with this ‘rotten’ Mr N. Srinivasan. Mr Kamal, keep smiling, there are ‘N’ number of men in BCCI, who are just like you, enjoying the crumbs but keeping their mouth shut.

That U.S President Barrack Hussain Obama is a visionary, was never in doubt. He is not merely a visionary but also a trend setter in international relation. As an advocate of co-operative co-existence, he had famously observed in his equally famous book AUDACITY OF HOPE, “We have a stake in one another, and that what binds us to-gether is greater than what drives us apart, and that if enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every problem, but we can get something meaningful done”. 

That he tried to translate the above statement is there for all of us to see. Like he said, he has not been able to solve all problems that needed solution but he sincerely tried to address as much as he could. The fact that Americans believed in his commitment and honesty, they gave him the 2nd chance to be at the White House, despite not being very successful. 

As he had envisioned a world of détente, he has honestly tried to address issues involving Palestine, Iraq, Iran and now comes Cuba, the closest neighbour of U.S.

Cuba, as TOI Washington correspondent, Chidanand Rajghatta termed it was ‘demonised and victimised’ for over half a century, as an extended fall out of cold war dynamics has, at long last, been removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism by the U.S. Of course, as was known, all these years, the isolation of Cuba, as a supporter of terrorism is only due to its ideological proximity to the then USSR , with whom U.S. had a running differences which led to Bay of Pigs-fracas.

President Barrack Obama, realizes the strong arm tactics of earlier U.S governments over unequal powers to force their point of view. All through his political life he had advocated detente. And the handshake with Cuban President on the side lines of the Summit of Americans in Panama city only signalled the steady arrival of good days for the long suffering Cubans due to international sanctions of over 4 decades’ economic blockade. Obama deserves to be applauded for what he is doing and plans to do more to make this world a better place. Two cheers to Barrack Hussain Obama.

J.Shriyan