MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
NEW DELHI: Some 24x7 high strung T.V channels went ballistic and some English dailies went hyper with front page top billed news item ‘Personal Liberty of individual under attack’. It was, as if, emergency was re-declared. All that had happened was an anxious government reeling under parliament logjam had issued direction to telecom operators and internet service providers to block pornographic websites. Reportedly, there was widespread outrage on social media and other media platforms, and central government as a ‘guardian angel’ of personal liberty responded with alacrity to restrict the directions to only those websites hosting child pornography.
Equally as guardians of liberty newspapers too had published elaborate editorial on the issue, wasting its precious newsprint on issues as pedestrian as a pornographic views portal. Other day, Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh Babulal Gaur had remarked “drinking as a fundamental right’, and why not! If decadent pornography could be elevated to the arena of personal freedom why not drinking liquor? There could be any number of health experts, who advocate limited liquor consumption as ‘good for health’. So at least there is health aspect to some extent, in alcohol consumption, what is there in pornography, except titillation?, which, if not controlled, lead to some disasters in public space finding explosive expression for suppressed sexual desire in young and not so young!? And our 24x7 media will have another sensational rape case!
For I & C, pornography or right to see pornography is not relevant at all, but the bankruptcy of our media and computer savvy intelligentia going overboard on this jaded issue of sex on internet, when there are any number of issues to get worked-up in our Mera Bharat Mahan! Do we all need to recognise, that these women who have been filmed in the act of sex only to make money are somebody’s sister, wife, daughter or even mother! More often, it could be the poverty of these women, which drives them to depravity in market place. Surely, all those guardian angels of personal liberty perhaps had no time to ponder on this miserable aspect of this money spinning business of pornography only because none of their relations are in this body selling commerce !
Supreme Court reportedly pulled up the central government for being casual in their approach to the serious issue of missing children in India. “Get your facts right” court had remarked to the ministry of Women and Child Welfare (MWCW) headed by Maneka Gandhi.
Court was reacting to the petition by the NGO headed by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi. MWCW was responding to the query by the apex court to furnish the details of all missing children since 2013, and gave the figure as about 25000. This was in total variance with what the ministry had informed the parliament during question hour. According to reports datelined New Delhi, Maneka Gandhi, the minister had furnished the figure of missing children to be nearly 80000.
This clearly exposes the ministry. For whose welfare is this ministry functioning?
If they can give one figure to the parliament, the highest legislative body of the country, and other to the highest judiciary of the country, which are different from each other by over 200% then there is a serious lack of application. Either the bureaucracy is incompetent or the minister is not in control. Either way it is a poor reflection. This shows, how a grave issue involving helpless, vulnerable children is being handled in a way of completely disappointing and utterly irresponsible.
The news datelined New Delhi “Iranian Foreign Minister to meet PM & Sushma today” is a welcome one. Happening close on the heels of historic deal the Iranian leadership had with the western powers, it can augur well for both India and Iran.
While there will be many commercial interest discussion, there shall also be long term, socio-commercial arrangements discussed, primarily due to our long standing friendship. The strategic Chabahar port development, Oil exploration by ONGC, Railways and Highways development in Iran, besides long term oil & gas supplies agreement.
Coming to this so-called historic nuclear deal which Iran concluded, has no doubt hastened the lifting of economic sanctions of long years which did cripple the Iranian economy. But why Iran wanted to go nuclear? Was it because, it really wanted to have an alternative source of energy?! But Iran is sitting on rich oil & gas reserves, which is unlikely to run out in the foreseeable future. So why go nuclear? Could it be, for a secret desire to have a bomb? And that’s what got the West worried. And that’s why, Iran’s nuclear facilities are now kept open for inspection by the West. There is an element of explicit distrust. So for the next 10 years Iran is not likely to pursue its nuclear ambition, hopefully.
Of course, there are any number of opponents of this deal. From Republicans in the U.S. for Obama, who personally was involved in the deal, to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the Middle East, are very unhappy with this agreement. They wanted Iran to suffer from sanctions. But Obama is a visionary and he wanted Iran to be a partner in the middle eastern detente.
In the ultimate analysis, it may be good for the world and it will do good for India too.
Narendra Modi as Prime minister of the country is on missionary vision. A person, who want to be seen on world arena needs to be a visionary. But visionary also needs to be a person who translates these visions in the shortest possible time with least cost with most benefits to largest number of people, if not all of them. A law or an enactment or an initiative has to be, per force, people centric, not group centric. In all political arrangements, be it democratic, autocratic, centrist, leftist, rightist, there are always group dynamics working for groups only. A visionary leader who is a ‘karma yogi’ like Shri Narendra Modi, is expected to be pro people, pro-weak and pro-vulnerable. He made right noises on 15th August 2014, from the ramparts of the Red Fort. So all thought, we are in for, as he rightly referred, ‘Achhe Din’. After over an year, although ‘Burrey Din’ has not come, ‘Achhe Din’ too look little distant. Not because he is not sincere. But because, he thinks only he can do good and that others have failed. Of course 68 years as a time factor, is little too long for an effective delivery system to be in place. It is true; India of 1947 is not the same as India of 2015. There have been progress and very laudable in many sectors. There has been a growth of a huge middle class society. An affording class has emerged, especially post 1991 liberalization, which is of attraction to global financial and business players. But this has also left a larger section looking at the growth with dismay and looking forlorn, not being part of this growth. This disparity needs to be urgently addressed before it goes out of sync. Modi was voted, hoping this could happen. His 15th Aug 2014 independence day speech enhanced this optimism. But the hope generated then simply tapered off. Modi need to pull up his socks. Surely he means well, but then there are others too who means as well in the political landscape. He has failed to co-opt their participative support. In his eagerness to prove his point, he failed to build bridges with other political players. ‘If you want to get along you need to go along’ is a time tested principle of leadership. He has failed to go along with his political opponents. It is true; corruption has been the bane of Indian politics and economics for all these 7 decades. All political parties have been party to the growth of this disease including BJP. But it is also true, that all political parties are also committed to the welfare of the people, despite polarization of vote bank politics. Hence, it is eminently possible to join hands for the common objective of growth with welfare. Managing whole of India is not same as managing Gujarat. Of course the withdrawal of Land Acquisition Ordinance is indication, that he is prepared to climb-down from his considered stand. This is indeed the need of the hour to take everybody along towards the growth trajectory.
Coming to the appeal by the Prime Minister to give-up the LPG subsidy, it has generated lot of reaction from across the national spectrum. Reports inform that some 20 lakhs have already surrendered their subsidy. There may be millions in the pipe line wanting to join. Yes there are crores of people who want to do their bit for the country, not just Modi and his BJP. But they have something to say.
‘Charity begins at home’ is a dictum we learnt from times immemorial. Indians are asking why this ‘subsidy giving up’ does not start from parliament canteen! Its a good question and needs to be answered in right earnest. Like general public, there are good parliamentarians who have suggested that subsidy in the parliament canteen should be scrapped and have asked Lok Sabha speaker to initiate action, while there are many who have objected to it. Hence the Prime Minister and all his party MPs should set an example by paying the market rate for the canteen supplies. Arrangements for those wanting to pay market rate can be made by displaying two rate lists, subsidized & non-subsidized. Once majority of MPs take the call, rest will automatically follow. Honorable Prime Minister, please think it over. Some food for thought. It will also help your political stock so also that of your party, BJP.
UTTAR PRADESH: Most populous state of India, has its share of problems also in equal measure. Probably this too is another dimension of increasing uncontrolled population. The state is in the news most of the time, unfortunately for wrong reasons.
The latest is the action of senior IPS officer Amitab Thakur in moving an application before the Chief Judicial magistrate of Lucknow for filing an FIR against currently uncrowned king of UP politics, Mulayam Singh Yadav. ‘Netaji’ as is referred to Mulayam had reportedly threatened this IPS officer during a phone conversation, which Thakur had recorded as proof.
Saga of Amitab Thakur goes back in time. He is an activist police officer. His wife Nutan is his partner in his spare time activism. The couple is known to be no-nonsense type, trying to do their bit for a cleaner governance in the UPs otherwise murky environment.
In a move, that can be clearly called vendetta, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, the son of Samajawadi Party supremo Mulayam, has reportedly unleashed a series of retaliatory measures. One of the charge is, believe it or not, a case of alleged rape has been registered with his wife being named as co-accused. Hence he has been suspended.
Anurag Thakur had incurred the wrath of SP supremo for following up the case of journalist Jagendra Singh burnt by four policemen at the behest of a UP minister, whose illegal mining activities were the target of Nutan, an RTI activist, who is also the wife of Anurag Thakur.
In a state, which is notorious for politician-police nexus, here is a sterling example of policeman living upto the ideals of policing. He and his wife deserves all support, moral and material, in their moments of its greatest need.
“Jagendra immolated himself, says his son’, informed a report datelined Shahjahanpur, and why not? After all, when money speaks even the living go dead. That’s the power of money. Some 6 weeks earlier, in mid-June, the family of Jagendra Singh, who was set on fire by four policemen, had called on UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, son of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh, the ‘Netaji’. They reportedly narrated the killing of Jagendra Singh, at the behest of a Minister in UP government Ram Murthy Verma. Jagendra Singh, the slain journalist had exposed the wrong and illegal deeds of minister Verma, who probably was funding SP supremo and his party. Reportedly Verma had ordered policemen to finish this Jagendra Sigh, which they obediently did. Also UP government coming under severe attack, suspended these policemen. But the family had filed an FIR against the minister. Probably via some middlemen inspired by the authorities, asked the family of the slain journo to call on the CM who is the ultimate arbiter of ‘justice’ in the state. Justice, the CM, indeed did. He announced Rs.30 lakhs as an ex-gratia to the bereaved family.
It was only an announcement but the whole story turned upside down, and the son Rahul Singh, of slain Jagendra Singh, goes to town to tell “Jagendra immolated himself”, and gave all cock and bull story to the media to give a clean chit to minister Verma, a friend in need to CM & his friend ‘Netaji’ father. Indeed UP Chief Minister must be laughing at the fickleness of human mind. But, what if CM does not keep his promised announcement of Rs: 30,00,000 ex-gratia?!, now that minister Verma got a ‘clean chit’.
WEST BENGAL: That Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a decisive leader is never in doubt. That was at work on June 7th, 2015, when he visited Bangladesh, and in less than 60 days of following the visit, the historic day had arrived for those 168 enclaves, the residents of which were stateless for all the 68 years of post independence from the British colonial masters.
On the midnight of 31st July 2015, the complex issue that lingered since independence, was put to rest into the pages of history of both India and Bangladesh. These enclaves were transferred to their respective recognized geographical area and all those living therein had the wholesome option of opting to the country of their choice. The human element was allowed a fair play by the leadership of both countries in the movement of people to their chosen landmass and to a nationality. They all will be, from now on, citizens of a country, either India or Bangladesh and hence shall be entitled to an identity card and access to all those services provided by the government to their respective nationals like, education, health care and other facilities, including a passport to travel around the world to either chase their dream or to simply go around the places of interest.
This resolution shall surely mark a new water mark in the evolving socio-political relationship between the two neighbours and should hold out promise of better days for all those who suffered so long for no fault of theirs. Hope it does.
NAGALAND: The historic peace treaty between Naga insurgent and New Delhi with a framework to finalise issues involving the nationalist socialist council of Nagaland led by Thuingaleng Muivah is one more instance of a decisive prime minister of the country. The present treaty is an outline within which both parties to the agreement shall try to work to bring lasting peace to the insurgency infested state. Of course, Narendra Modi, as a leader, has a tendency to decide things without consulting all stake holders. In this case too, he didn’t talk to states affected by the Naga insurgency and their demands. But, reportedly has assured subsequently that all stake holders will be on board while finalising the long-term terms of reference.
It appears there is an element of climb-down in the demands of the group and more scope for a possible settlement. In any case, it is a good beginning for both the central government and the people of Nagaland, so that the initiative by the present governments in the troubled North East will start bearing fruit in better development of North Eastern states in general.
With the longest insurgency in the North East coming to terms with the reality that insurgency cannot win against an organized state machinery, it is hoped that all those groups, including naxals would realise the futility of violent protests and come to negotiating table for a peaceful settlement so that all Indians can co-exist and enjoy the fruits of development. Hope it does happen.
MAHARASHTRA: Post hanging of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon has catapulted the issue of death sentence to the centre stage as never before.
Even when Ajmal Kasab was hanged for the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, this debate had cropped up.
Surely, death sentence, as medium of punishment is in a way ‘Statutory murder’. This is not a situation of action reaction. People get killed when there is an attack. But as a punishment, death sentence, has not been an effective deterrent.
However, even the hardened criminal like that barbaric ISIS beheader Jehadi John is reportedly on the run to save himself when his identity was reliably found out. Reportedly he has deserted ISIS operation and is in hiding somewhere in Syria. So, everyone loves to live and live as long as he does not naturally die. Even Yakub Memon, made, many attempts to save himself from the gallows, including the now famous, past midnight hearing by the 3 member team of Supreme Court judges. That the court decided to stick to the original judgement of ‘hanging by death’, surely shall have its own valid reasons. However, the principle of ‘rarest of rare’ is probably not always used with adequate clarity. There are any number of cases, the application of this principle was stopped short, according to many in the public space, due to interpretation of what constitute ‘rarest of rare’. Hence in many cases, death sentences have escaped by a whisker. Indeed there are countries, who have removed death penalty as a form of punishment from their statute books. Will India follow their footsteps? Probably not. Because India is not a country, but a continent with its own innumerable ideas of what is right and what is not right.
Lot of white has become black writing about the hanging of Yakub Memon, the 1993 Mumbai serial blast accused. It is true that hanging of an accused cannot bring back the life of victims or reduce the suffering of those, who were injured. But the gravity of the killing of 260 people, almost in cold blood, and injuring thousands has to be addressed and redressed. Unfortunately, it became a debate because Yakub Memon happened to be a Muslim, and there are likes of Owaisi who are waiting only to fish in troubled water. In fact people like Asaduddin Owaissi and his diabolic brother are completely misfits to live in a country like India. In a larger picture this man and his sibling are anti-socials and anti nationals.
The courts, from trial to apex court, have surely gone through all relevant details and confirmation of the guilt before deciding on the death rap. The fact that the highest court of the land, opened its doors after midnight and sat through until almost dawn only shows the seriousness, sincerity and honesty of the system. It was an unprecedented gesture by any standard.
Of course, to disagree, in a democratic milieu, is the right of all, and therefore one can forward all theories including some sensible and not unfair. But being the ultimate custodian of the law of the land, apex court took the call and responded the way it did.
Indeed, being vindictive may not help the larger cause of humanity and its co-operative co-existence. But then there are social dynamics which play its role, rightly or wrongly, where ‘to err is human and to forgive divine’.
But it is also true, that despite the claim of surrender, which has been contested by the police, he has reportedly never admitted to his guilt and ask for forgiveness, although a newspaper carried the headline on 31st July. “I am guilty, May Allah forgive me” reportedly uttered just before the hanging.
We all feel sad, when there is a death, especially when it is untimely. However, under the circumstances, we can only pray May His Soul Rest in Peace: Amen.
As a culmination of the over 22 year’s trial of Mumbai serial blast of March 12, 1993, Yakub Memon was convicted to be hanged until death. On 30th July he was hanged. Muslim society was divided on his death sentence. But they were united in demanding conviction of those who were indicted by Justice SriKrishna Commission.
Post Babri Masjid demolition in Dec. 1992, there was widespread protest which turned violent. Although Babri Masjid was in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, it was Mumbai, which saw the protest and violence. Why in Mumbai, why not in other places? Nobody has so far asked this question. Could it have been engineered by the likes of Dawood Ibrahim! So it was not a spontaneous protest, it was clearly motivated. When a violence is motivated and therefore funded by motivator, it is bound to be on large scale, retaliation was a follow up action. Of course, may be retaliation went berserk and close to 900 perished. In just over 2 months after the riot, the serial blast took place. This serial blast too was funded and was orchestrated from outside Mumbai, where Memon brothers turned out to be key players. Before the serial blasts Justice SriKrishna Commission (JSC) was constituted in Jan 1993 immediately after the riots had stopped, to inquire into the riots. Sensing trouble in the findings, the state government led by Shiv Sena and BJP disbanded the JSC within 3 years time in Jan. 1996, only to be reconstituted after 4 months in May 1996.
The commission had indicted many policemen and politicians including many Shiv Sainiks. The government of the day rejected the report. But even the government of Congress/NCP that came after did not do justice to the report and it languished. All the governments that came to rule Mumbai did not do justice to the dead in which Muslims were in larger numbers than Hindus. Hence when Yakub Memon, accused of March 1993, serial blast was hanged, and those accused of Jan 1993 riot remained unpunished, naturally Mumbai Muslims had a very valid reason to feel deeply let down. Will justice ever come to them who suffered in riots? is unanswered as of now.
TELENGANA: Hyderabad born Sania Mirza has been awarded with Rajeev Gandhi Khel Rathna for her top class tennis exploits both in India, but mostly in international tournaments. The recent high profile win has been her doubles crown at the Wimbledon, the Mecca of Lawn Tennis. While there is no doubt that she has been playing extremely well and deserved all awards that are available for such performances, she needs to be celebrated as case of women’s emancipation especially from among her Muslim sisters and cousins. That is unfortunately not happening. Is it because, she appears more cosmopolitan and not a victim of male domination in her attire and public posture! While she is a model for all Indian women to be emulated, she is particularly so for her country cousins, who can look at her and take inspiration to grow in life. After all she is one of them. Community also did not rejoice when Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was made the Bharat Ratna, followed by being made the 1st citizen of the country. Could this be because, he never overtly indulged in the practice of his faith? Or he was more Indian and less Muslim? which is what all Indians should be, more Indian and less Hindu or less Christians etc. There is certain degree of aversion from among a section of the community, about these icons being accepted by the majority Indians. This attitude is certainly not right in the context of a larger picture of plural India.
Community need to accept differences within with more openness for its own larger good. Hope its leadership take the call when needed.
WORLD: So our western neighbour Pakistan is at it again. They did a Kasab on Naved, the second terrorist to be caught alive in Udhampur in Kashmir, although his father Mohd. Yakub has reportedly confirmed to Indian media sources that Naved aka Usman Khan is his son and is an LeT operative.
As usual Pakistan is on a perpetual denial mode, despite the reported submission of Naved to Indian security forces that he is from Pakistani Punjab’s Faisalabad city in the area called Ghulam Muhammadabad. But Pakistan says, his name is not there in the national data on citizens. If Indian records of such data can have millions missing, it is no surprise there may be similarly millions missing in Pakistan’s official data. After all, by any stretch of comparison, India is better managed and administered than Pakistan.
But then, to borrow from Narendra Modi, denial syndrome is in the DNA of Pakistan. It has a long history. Among many such denials, the case of Ajmal Kasab is a classic one. Ajmal Kasab was the lone terrorist caught alive by the heroics of our hero Tukaram Ombale during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. But Pakistan kept consistently lying that this terrorist is not a Pakistani and one of their newspaper even ridiculed Indian claim saying Faridkot (Kasab’s village) is in Bangladesh. And Nawaz Sheriff, the Prime Minister, then out of office, ridiculed Pakistanis and newspaper stand. A Pakistani youngster, Shahryar Ali, wrote in a Pakistani promotional website “The most embarrassing development now proves that the terrorist in fact is a Pakistani from the same Faridkot which we could not find on our map. His father identified him. It’s a day of national humiliation for us. Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani form Faridkot, a fact we kept on denying at every level. But will we learn but alas we still need proof.”
Thus denials is a part of Pakistan’s political culture. Will Pak ever come out of this weird dimension of its public life? is a question making its interminable rounds.
In a direct contrast, or can we say challenge to ISIS, although not intended, PTI reports from Kathmandu, “Muslims in Nepal want a Hindu State” (TOI –Bangalore 13th Aug). In a world of Islam, where ISIS wants to rule the world, it is very heartening to see that Nepalese Muslims expressly desire being ruled by another religious group.
Reportedly, in an unusual move Muslims in Nepal have chosen not to go with the proposed secular constitution instead back the campaign for reinstating Nepal’s former Hindu identity.
According to Amjad Ali, Chairman of Rapti Muslim Society, “It is to protect Islam.” He feels, Islam is better protected under Hindus, than under secular constitution, where, Anarkali Miya, a member of CPN-UML CA, feels, ‘missionaries shall be trying to influence people from other faiths to follow Christianity’.
This is interesting, especially, because, in India, Nepal’s big neighbour to the South, the whole press and a section of political class is accusing Hindu organisations of conversion, while the reverse is true.
Echoing similar sentiments, the report informs, that Babu Khan Pathan, the President of Rashtrabadi Muslim Manch Nepalgunj has stated on record, “We don’t need a secular identity, but want to see the country called Hindu state as this ensures safety and security for all, and 80% of Muslims are in favour of Hindu state identity”.
Whether it is right or wrong, it is for Nepalese Muslims to decide. But one thing is loud and clear, that they have no problem with a Hindu state. Do you harken Asaduddin Owaisi, brothers & cousins of India?!
This uncrowned king and dictator of North Korea – Kim Jong-un must be a lunatic, competiting with ISIS barbarians in his cruelty to his fellow men, who either disagree with him or criticise him.
Ever since he took over the reigns of managing North Korea after the death of his father Kim Jong II, there have been executions.
Latest to be silenced was the Vice Premier Choe Youg-gon. He was executed by a firing squad, sometime in May, as per report from Seoul, for voicing frustration and opposition at the policies related to forestry being promoted by Kim, the dictator. Choe Yong-gon did not survive even a year in his premiership after taking over in June 2014.
Earlier this year in April reportedly, Defence Minister Hyon Yong-chol was executed by Anti Aircraft fire for insubordination and dozing off during formal military rallies.
The hands of this intolerant and cruel leader is full of blood of all sorts of people in his country who disagree with him and his methods. None of his forefathers have been as cruel, although they have ruled this impoverished portion of earth called North Korea, with an iron fist, for more than six decades.
Ever since this Kim took over the power after the death of his father in 2011, South Korea's intelligence informs that there have been dozen of senior officials executed for different ‘offences’. He has also executed his own uncle, Chang Song-thack for alleged acts of treachery. Uncle's two aides were reportedly executed earlier for aiding him in his ‘act of treachery’.
Thus, in his paranoia, in his attempts to remain unrivalled & unquestioned, he has taken to killing all his opponents in cold blood. Such people are disagrace to humanity and it is time, there is a mass upsurge within North Korea, and the world should support any such move, to dethrone this cunning despot.
Equally as guardians of liberty newspapers too had published elaborate editorial on the issue, wasting its precious newsprint on issues as pedestrian as a pornographic views portal. Other day, Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh Babulal Gaur had remarked “drinking as a fundamental right’, and why not! If decadent pornography could be elevated to the arena of personal freedom why not drinking liquor? There could be any number of health experts, who advocate limited liquor consumption as ‘good for health’. So at least there is health aspect to some extent, in alcohol consumption, what is there in pornography, except titillation?, which, if not controlled, lead to some disasters in public space finding explosive expression for suppressed sexual desire in young and not so young!? And our 24x7 media will have another sensational rape case!
For I & C, pornography or right to see pornography is not relevant at all, but the bankruptcy of our media and computer savvy intelligentia going overboard on this jaded issue of sex on internet, when there are any number of issues to get worked-up in our Mera Bharat Mahan! Do we all need to recognise, that these women who have been filmed in the act of sex only to make money are somebody’s sister, wife, daughter or even mother! More often, it could be the poverty of these women, which drives them to depravity in market place. Surely, all those guardian angels of personal liberty perhaps had no time to ponder on this miserable aspect of this money spinning business of pornography only because none of their relations are in this body selling commerce !
Supreme Court reportedly pulled up the central government for being casual in their approach to the serious issue of missing children in India. “Get your facts right” court had remarked to the ministry of Women and Child Welfare (MWCW) headed by Maneka Gandhi.
Court was reacting to the petition by the NGO headed by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi. MWCW was responding to the query by the apex court to furnish the details of all missing children since 2013, and gave the figure as about 25000. This was in total variance with what the ministry had informed the parliament during question hour. According to reports datelined New Delhi, Maneka Gandhi, the minister had furnished the figure of missing children to be nearly 80000.
This clearly exposes the ministry. For whose welfare is this ministry functioning?
If they can give one figure to the parliament, the highest legislative body of the country, and other to the highest judiciary of the country, which are different from each other by over 200% then there is a serious lack of application. Either the bureaucracy is incompetent or the minister is not in control. Either way it is a poor reflection. This shows, how a grave issue involving helpless, vulnerable children is being handled in a way of completely disappointing and utterly irresponsible.
The news datelined New Delhi “Iranian Foreign Minister to meet PM & Sushma today” is a welcome one. Happening close on the heels of historic deal the Iranian leadership had with the western powers, it can augur well for both India and Iran.
While there will be many commercial interest discussion, there shall also be long term, socio-commercial arrangements discussed, primarily due to our long standing friendship. The strategic Chabahar port development, Oil exploration by ONGC, Railways and Highways development in Iran, besides long term oil & gas supplies agreement.
Coming to this so-called historic nuclear deal which Iran concluded, has no doubt hastened the lifting of economic sanctions of long years which did cripple the Iranian economy. But why Iran wanted to go nuclear? Was it because, it really wanted to have an alternative source of energy?! But Iran is sitting on rich oil & gas reserves, which is unlikely to run out in the foreseeable future. So why go nuclear? Could it be, for a secret desire to have a bomb? And that’s what got the West worried. And that’s why, Iran’s nuclear facilities are now kept open for inspection by the West. There is an element of explicit distrust. So for the next 10 years Iran is not likely to pursue its nuclear ambition, hopefully.
Of course, there are any number of opponents of this deal. From Republicans in the U.S. for Obama, who personally was involved in the deal, to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the Middle East, are very unhappy with this agreement. They wanted Iran to suffer from sanctions. But Obama is a visionary and he wanted Iran to be a partner in the middle eastern detente.
In the ultimate analysis, it may be good for the world and it will do good for India too.
Narendra Modi as Prime minister of the country is on missionary vision. A person, who want to be seen on world arena needs to be a visionary. But visionary also needs to be a person who translates these visions in the shortest possible time with least cost with most benefits to largest number of people, if not all of them. A law or an enactment or an initiative has to be, per force, people centric, not group centric. In all political arrangements, be it democratic, autocratic, centrist, leftist, rightist, there are always group dynamics working for groups only. A visionary leader who is a ‘karma yogi’ like Shri Narendra Modi, is expected to be pro people, pro-weak and pro-vulnerable. He made right noises on 15th August 2014, from the ramparts of the Red Fort. So all thought, we are in for, as he rightly referred, ‘Achhe Din’. After over an year, although ‘Burrey Din’ has not come, ‘Achhe Din’ too look little distant. Not because he is not sincere. But because, he thinks only he can do good and that others have failed. Of course 68 years as a time factor, is little too long for an effective delivery system to be in place. It is true; India of 1947 is not the same as India of 2015. There have been progress and very laudable in many sectors. There has been a growth of a huge middle class society. An affording class has emerged, especially post 1991 liberalization, which is of attraction to global financial and business players. But this has also left a larger section looking at the growth with dismay and looking forlorn, not being part of this growth. This disparity needs to be urgently addressed before it goes out of sync. Modi was voted, hoping this could happen. His 15th Aug 2014 independence day speech enhanced this optimism. But the hope generated then simply tapered off. Modi need to pull up his socks. Surely he means well, but then there are others too who means as well in the political landscape. He has failed to co-opt their participative support. In his eagerness to prove his point, he failed to build bridges with other political players. ‘If you want to get along you need to go along’ is a time tested principle of leadership. He has failed to go along with his political opponents. It is true; corruption has been the bane of Indian politics and economics for all these 7 decades. All political parties have been party to the growth of this disease including BJP. But it is also true, that all political parties are also committed to the welfare of the people, despite polarization of vote bank politics. Hence, it is eminently possible to join hands for the common objective of growth with welfare. Managing whole of India is not same as managing Gujarat. Of course the withdrawal of Land Acquisition Ordinance is indication, that he is prepared to climb-down from his considered stand. This is indeed the need of the hour to take everybody along towards the growth trajectory.
Coming to the appeal by the Prime Minister to give-up the LPG subsidy, it has generated lot of reaction from across the national spectrum. Reports inform that some 20 lakhs have already surrendered their subsidy. There may be millions in the pipe line wanting to join. Yes there are crores of people who want to do their bit for the country, not just Modi and his BJP. But they have something to say.
‘Charity begins at home’ is a dictum we learnt from times immemorial. Indians are asking why this ‘subsidy giving up’ does not start from parliament canteen! Its a good question and needs to be answered in right earnest. Like general public, there are good parliamentarians who have suggested that subsidy in the parliament canteen should be scrapped and have asked Lok Sabha speaker to initiate action, while there are many who have objected to it. Hence the Prime Minister and all his party MPs should set an example by paying the market rate for the canteen supplies. Arrangements for those wanting to pay market rate can be made by displaying two rate lists, subsidized & non-subsidized. Once majority of MPs take the call, rest will automatically follow. Honorable Prime Minister, please think it over. Some food for thought. It will also help your political stock so also that of your party, BJP.
UTTAR PRADESH: Most populous state of India, has its share of problems also in equal measure. Probably this too is another dimension of increasing uncontrolled population. The state is in the news most of the time, unfortunately for wrong reasons.
The latest is the action of senior IPS officer Amitab Thakur in moving an application before the Chief Judicial magistrate of Lucknow for filing an FIR against currently uncrowned king of UP politics, Mulayam Singh Yadav. ‘Netaji’ as is referred to Mulayam had reportedly threatened this IPS officer during a phone conversation, which Thakur had recorded as proof.
Saga of Amitab Thakur goes back in time. He is an activist police officer. His wife Nutan is his partner in his spare time activism. The couple is known to be no-nonsense type, trying to do their bit for a cleaner governance in the UPs otherwise murky environment.
In a move, that can be clearly called vendetta, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, the son of Samajawadi Party supremo Mulayam, has reportedly unleashed a series of retaliatory measures. One of the charge is, believe it or not, a case of alleged rape has been registered with his wife being named as co-accused. Hence he has been suspended.
Anurag Thakur had incurred the wrath of SP supremo for following up the case of journalist Jagendra Singh burnt by four policemen at the behest of a UP minister, whose illegal mining activities were the target of Nutan, an RTI activist, who is also the wife of Anurag Thakur.
In a state, which is notorious for politician-police nexus, here is a sterling example of policeman living upto the ideals of policing. He and his wife deserves all support, moral and material, in their moments of its greatest need.
“Jagendra immolated himself, says his son’, informed a report datelined Shahjahanpur, and why not? After all, when money speaks even the living go dead. That’s the power of money. Some 6 weeks earlier, in mid-June, the family of Jagendra Singh, who was set on fire by four policemen, had called on UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, son of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh, the ‘Netaji’. They reportedly narrated the killing of Jagendra Singh, at the behest of a Minister in UP government Ram Murthy Verma. Jagendra Singh, the slain journalist had exposed the wrong and illegal deeds of minister Verma, who probably was funding SP supremo and his party. Reportedly Verma had ordered policemen to finish this Jagendra Sigh, which they obediently did. Also UP government coming under severe attack, suspended these policemen. But the family had filed an FIR against the minister. Probably via some middlemen inspired by the authorities, asked the family of the slain journo to call on the CM who is the ultimate arbiter of ‘justice’ in the state. Justice, the CM, indeed did. He announced Rs.30 lakhs as an ex-gratia to the bereaved family.
It was only an announcement but the whole story turned upside down, and the son Rahul Singh, of slain Jagendra Singh, goes to town to tell “Jagendra immolated himself”, and gave all cock and bull story to the media to give a clean chit to minister Verma, a friend in need to CM & his friend ‘Netaji’ father. Indeed UP Chief Minister must be laughing at the fickleness of human mind. But, what if CM does not keep his promised announcement of Rs: 30,00,000 ex-gratia?!, now that minister Verma got a ‘clean chit’.
WEST BENGAL: That Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a decisive leader is never in doubt. That was at work on June 7th, 2015, when he visited Bangladesh, and in less than 60 days of following the visit, the historic day had arrived for those 168 enclaves, the residents of which were stateless for all the 68 years of post independence from the British colonial masters.
On the midnight of 31st July 2015, the complex issue that lingered since independence, was put to rest into the pages of history of both India and Bangladesh. These enclaves were transferred to their respective recognized geographical area and all those living therein had the wholesome option of opting to the country of their choice. The human element was allowed a fair play by the leadership of both countries in the movement of people to their chosen landmass and to a nationality. They all will be, from now on, citizens of a country, either India or Bangladesh and hence shall be entitled to an identity card and access to all those services provided by the government to their respective nationals like, education, health care and other facilities, including a passport to travel around the world to either chase their dream or to simply go around the places of interest.
This resolution shall surely mark a new water mark in the evolving socio-political relationship between the two neighbours and should hold out promise of better days for all those who suffered so long for no fault of theirs. Hope it does.
NAGALAND: The historic peace treaty between Naga insurgent and New Delhi with a framework to finalise issues involving the nationalist socialist council of Nagaland led by Thuingaleng Muivah is one more instance of a decisive prime minister of the country. The present treaty is an outline within which both parties to the agreement shall try to work to bring lasting peace to the insurgency infested state. Of course, Narendra Modi, as a leader, has a tendency to decide things without consulting all stake holders. In this case too, he didn’t talk to states affected by the Naga insurgency and their demands. But, reportedly has assured subsequently that all stake holders will be on board while finalising the long-term terms of reference.
It appears there is an element of climb-down in the demands of the group and more scope for a possible settlement. In any case, it is a good beginning for both the central government and the people of Nagaland, so that the initiative by the present governments in the troubled North East will start bearing fruit in better development of North Eastern states in general.
With the longest insurgency in the North East coming to terms with the reality that insurgency cannot win against an organized state machinery, it is hoped that all those groups, including naxals would realise the futility of violent protests and come to negotiating table for a peaceful settlement so that all Indians can co-exist and enjoy the fruits of development. Hope it does happen.
MAHARASHTRA: Post hanging of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon has catapulted the issue of death sentence to the centre stage as never before.
Even when Ajmal Kasab was hanged for the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, this debate had cropped up.
Surely, death sentence, as medium of punishment is in a way ‘Statutory murder’. This is not a situation of action reaction. People get killed when there is an attack. But as a punishment, death sentence, has not been an effective deterrent.
However, even the hardened criminal like that barbaric ISIS beheader Jehadi John is reportedly on the run to save himself when his identity was reliably found out. Reportedly he has deserted ISIS operation and is in hiding somewhere in Syria. So, everyone loves to live and live as long as he does not naturally die. Even Yakub Memon, made, many attempts to save himself from the gallows, including the now famous, past midnight hearing by the 3 member team of Supreme Court judges. That the court decided to stick to the original judgement of ‘hanging by death’, surely shall have its own valid reasons. However, the principle of ‘rarest of rare’ is probably not always used with adequate clarity. There are any number of cases, the application of this principle was stopped short, according to many in the public space, due to interpretation of what constitute ‘rarest of rare’. Hence in many cases, death sentences have escaped by a whisker. Indeed there are countries, who have removed death penalty as a form of punishment from their statute books. Will India follow their footsteps? Probably not. Because India is not a country, but a continent with its own innumerable ideas of what is right and what is not right.
Lot of white has become black writing about the hanging of Yakub Memon, the 1993 Mumbai serial blast accused. It is true that hanging of an accused cannot bring back the life of victims or reduce the suffering of those, who were injured. But the gravity of the killing of 260 people, almost in cold blood, and injuring thousands has to be addressed and redressed. Unfortunately, it became a debate because Yakub Memon happened to be a Muslim, and there are likes of Owaisi who are waiting only to fish in troubled water. In fact people like Asaduddin Owaissi and his diabolic brother are completely misfits to live in a country like India. In a larger picture this man and his sibling are anti-socials and anti nationals.
The courts, from trial to apex court, have surely gone through all relevant details and confirmation of the guilt before deciding on the death rap. The fact that the highest court of the land, opened its doors after midnight and sat through until almost dawn only shows the seriousness, sincerity and honesty of the system. It was an unprecedented gesture by any standard.
Of course, to disagree, in a democratic milieu, is the right of all, and therefore one can forward all theories including some sensible and not unfair. But being the ultimate custodian of the law of the land, apex court took the call and responded the way it did.
Indeed, being vindictive may not help the larger cause of humanity and its co-operative co-existence. But then there are social dynamics which play its role, rightly or wrongly, where ‘to err is human and to forgive divine’.
But it is also true, that despite the claim of surrender, which has been contested by the police, he has reportedly never admitted to his guilt and ask for forgiveness, although a newspaper carried the headline on 31st July. “I am guilty, May Allah forgive me” reportedly uttered just before the hanging.
We all feel sad, when there is a death, especially when it is untimely. However, under the circumstances, we can only pray May His Soul Rest in Peace: Amen.
As a culmination of the over 22 year’s trial of Mumbai serial blast of March 12, 1993, Yakub Memon was convicted to be hanged until death. On 30th July he was hanged. Muslim society was divided on his death sentence. But they were united in demanding conviction of those who were indicted by Justice SriKrishna Commission.
Post Babri Masjid demolition in Dec. 1992, there was widespread protest which turned violent. Although Babri Masjid was in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, it was Mumbai, which saw the protest and violence. Why in Mumbai, why not in other places? Nobody has so far asked this question. Could it have been engineered by the likes of Dawood Ibrahim! So it was not a spontaneous protest, it was clearly motivated. When a violence is motivated and therefore funded by motivator, it is bound to be on large scale, retaliation was a follow up action. Of course, may be retaliation went berserk and close to 900 perished. In just over 2 months after the riot, the serial blast took place. This serial blast too was funded and was orchestrated from outside Mumbai, where Memon brothers turned out to be key players. Before the serial blasts Justice SriKrishna Commission (JSC) was constituted in Jan 1993 immediately after the riots had stopped, to inquire into the riots. Sensing trouble in the findings, the state government led by Shiv Sena and BJP disbanded the JSC within 3 years time in Jan. 1996, only to be reconstituted after 4 months in May 1996.
The commission had indicted many policemen and politicians including many Shiv Sainiks. The government of the day rejected the report. But even the government of Congress/NCP that came after did not do justice to the report and it languished. All the governments that came to rule Mumbai did not do justice to the dead in which Muslims were in larger numbers than Hindus. Hence when Yakub Memon, accused of March 1993, serial blast was hanged, and those accused of Jan 1993 riot remained unpunished, naturally Mumbai Muslims had a very valid reason to feel deeply let down. Will justice ever come to them who suffered in riots? is unanswered as of now.
TELENGANA: Hyderabad born Sania Mirza has been awarded with Rajeev Gandhi Khel Rathna for her top class tennis exploits both in India, but mostly in international tournaments. The recent high profile win has been her doubles crown at the Wimbledon, the Mecca of Lawn Tennis. While there is no doubt that she has been playing extremely well and deserved all awards that are available for such performances, she needs to be celebrated as case of women’s emancipation especially from among her Muslim sisters and cousins. That is unfortunately not happening. Is it because, she appears more cosmopolitan and not a victim of male domination in her attire and public posture! While she is a model for all Indian women to be emulated, she is particularly so for her country cousins, who can look at her and take inspiration to grow in life. After all she is one of them. Community also did not rejoice when Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was made the Bharat Ratna, followed by being made the 1st citizen of the country. Could this be because, he never overtly indulged in the practice of his faith? Or he was more Indian and less Muslim? which is what all Indians should be, more Indian and less Hindu or less Christians etc. There is certain degree of aversion from among a section of the community, about these icons being accepted by the majority Indians. This attitude is certainly not right in the context of a larger picture of plural India.
Community need to accept differences within with more openness for its own larger good. Hope its leadership take the call when needed.
WORLD: So our western neighbour Pakistan is at it again. They did a Kasab on Naved, the second terrorist to be caught alive in Udhampur in Kashmir, although his father Mohd. Yakub has reportedly confirmed to Indian media sources that Naved aka Usman Khan is his son and is an LeT operative.
As usual Pakistan is on a perpetual denial mode, despite the reported submission of Naved to Indian security forces that he is from Pakistani Punjab’s Faisalabad city in the area called Ghulam Muhammadabad. But Pakistan says, his name is not there in the national data on citizens. If Indian records of such data can have millions missing, it is no surprise there may be similarly millions missing in Pakistan’s official data. After all, by any stretch of comparison, India is better managed and administered than Pakistan.
But then, to borrow from Narendra Modi, denial syndrome is in the DNA of Pakistan. It has a long history. Among many such denials, the case of Ajmal Kasab is a classic one. Ajmal Kasab was the lone terrorist caught alive by the heroics of our hero Tukaram Ombale during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. But Pakistan kept consistently lying that this terrorist is not a Pakistani and one of their newspaper even ridiculed Indian claim saying Faridkot (Kasab’s village) is in Bangladesh. And Nawaz Sheriff, the Prime Minister, then out of office, ridiculed Pakistanis and newspaper stand. A Pakistani youngster, Shahryar Ali, wrote in a Pakistani promotional website “The most embarrassing development now proves that the terrorist in fact is a Pakistani from the same Faridkot which we could not find on our map. His father identified him. It’s a day of national humiliation for us. Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani form Faridkot, a fact we kept on denying at every level. But will we learn but alas we still need proof.”
Thus denials is a part of Pakistan’s political culture. Will Pak ever come out of this weird dimension of its public life? is a question making its interminable rounds.
In a direct contrast, or can we say challenge to ISIS, although not intended, PTI reports from Kathmandu, “Muslims in Nepal want a Hindu State” (TOI –Bangalore 13th Aug). In a world of Islam, where ISIS wants to rule the world, it is very heartening to see that Nepalese Muslims expressly desire being ruled by another religious group.
Reportedly, in an unusual move Muslims in Nepal have chosen not to go with the proposed secular constitution instead back the campaign for reinstating Nepal’s former Hindu identity.
According to Amjad Ali, Chairman of Rapti Muslim Society, “It is to protect Islam.” He feels, Islam is better protected under Hindus, than under secular constitution, where, Anarkali Miya, a member of CPN-UML CA, feels, ‘missionaries shall be trying to influence people from other faiths to follow Christianity’.
This is interesting, especially, because, in India, Nepal’s big neighbour to the South, the whole press and a section of political class is accusing Hindu organisations of conversion, while the reverse is true.
Echoing similar sentiments, the report informs, that Babu Khan Pathan, the President of Rashtrabadi Muslim Manch Nepalgunj has stated on record, “We don’t need a secular identity, but want to see the country called Hindu state as this ensures safety and security for all, and 80% of Muslims are in favour of Hindu state identity”.
Whether it is right or wrong, it is for Nepalese Muslims to decide. But one thing is loud and clear, that they have no problem with a Hindu state. Do you harken Asaduddin Owaisi, brothers & cousins of India?!
This uncrowned king and dictator of North Korea – Kim Jong-un must be a lunatic, competiting with ISIS barbarians in his cruelty to his fellow men, who either disagree with him or criticise him.
Ever since he took over the reigns of managing North Korea after the death of his father Kim Jong II, there have been executions.
Latest to be silenced was the Vice Premier Choe Youg-gon. He was executed by a firing squad, sometime in May, as per report from Seoul, for voicing frustration and opposition at the policies related to forestry being promoted by Kim, the dictator. Choe Yong-gon did not survive even a year in his premiership after taking over in June 2014.
Earlier this year in April reportedly, Defence Minister Hyon Yong-chol was executed by Anti Aircraft fire for insubordination and dozing off during formal military rallies.
The hands of this intolerant and cruel leader is full of blood of all sorts of people in his country who disagree with him and his methods. None of his forefathers have been as cruel, although they have ruled this impoverished portion of earth called North Korea, with an iron fist, for more than six decades.
Ever since this Kim took over the power after the death of his father in 2011, South Korea's intelligence informs that there have been dozen of senior officials executed for different ‘offences’. He has also executed his own uncle, Chang Song-thack for alleged acts of treachery. Uncle's two aides were reportedly executed earlier for aiding him in his ‘act of treachery’.
Thus, in his paranoia, in his attempts to remain unrivalled & unquestioned, he has taken to killing all his opponents in cold blood. Such people are disagrace to humanity and it is time, there is a mass upsurge within North Korea, and the world should support any such move, to dethrone this cunning despot.
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