MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE

NEW DELHI: Ever Since, state governments in different parts of the country started losing power in state assembly due to number games of different political parties at the centre, elections to state assemblies were timed differently. When we spoke of general elections, it was always both Loksabha for centre and Vidhan Sabha for states all over the country. It was a massive exercise. For a long time, close to 30 years only Congress was at the centre with most states also ruled by Congress. When some political parties in Kerala, West Bengal and the then Madras or Tamil Nadu or  Akali Dal in Punjab started gaining acceptance and became ruling parties in states, party at the centre had engineered the collapse of these state governments at different times, thus elections became imperative. But every time, it would be for the next 5 years and not for the remaining balance part of the government that lost power. 

Of course, not withstanding what President Mukherjee had said about combining both Loksabha & Assembly elections in coming years, purely as an administrative measure, it is easier to have state elections separate from Loksabha elections. Now that, it has become a trend, every year there is election to Vidhana Sabha or Assembly in some state or the other. Thus, ever since the new government of BJP dominated NDA has come to power in May 2014, there has been state elections every year. Hence, the Prime Minister of the country, who also happens to be the top spokesman for his party, becomes less of a national leader and more of a party leader. It is sad but a fact of life.

Thus when he started as the PM candidate of BJP for the first time there was a freshness of approach and many were bowled over to give him and his party a chance at the centre. So, for the 1st time in almost 30 years, a single party government became possible at the centre. Narendra Modi, as the Prime Minister for the first time, in his maiden speech on the 15th Aug. 2014 was a toast of the nation in general. He had promised a lot in his election campaign and his address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort indicated he meant what he said.

However looking back over last 27 months of NDA at the centre, what he had promised has not happened to a great extent. Of course, the opposition itself does not have its slate clean. When he started off, “It was development, jobs, growth and good governance, promise of alleviating poverty bringing back black money, bringing Acche Din for all”. But looking back over the shoulder, all these talks have largely remained incomplete. It is true there have been many efforts to bring about better life for aam aadmi. But Acche Din is distant. No doubt his clarion call for Swatch Bharath has remained in the national consciousness as a national imperative. How can you be dirty and still desire to be a ‘Super Power’! Smart City, Bullet Trains can all wait. There are farmers dying for want of some assistance, school children are not fed in drought affected areas. Modi must ask Yogendra Yadav, for details. YY had gone to Apex Court recently. It has even pulled up the centre. Seeing things are not as hunky dory on the ground, Modi started changing goal post. Suddenly, he has shifted to nationalism as the core issue to his party cadres. Modi should not think, Indians forget fast, they do remember, when needed. Modi should not take Indians for granted. 

On completion of 2 years, ministers were dispatched to different parts of the country. Nirmala Sitaraman had come to Mangalore. When asked about safe drinking water after 70 years is still a distance dream, she shifted the question to one Chaudhary, a minister of state, who said it is for the state government to attend. They clearly had no answer, when retorted “is Swatch Bharath in central list?” Safe drinking water for all is a priority not a Bullet train. Hope there is somebody in his cabinet, who is not a ‘Yes, Prime Minister’, who has the courage to disagree with the PM, to make a valid point.

There was this report recently about the suspension of 4 Home Ministry officials of the central government. Reportedly it was due to an apparent lack of awareness of ground conditions, of which they were supposed to have been fully in the know of.

Zakir Naik, was in the news in recent times for all wrong reasons, has this Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). This IRF has been receiving foreign funding and was registered to receive the same. Sometime ago, the license of FCRA for IRF had expired but was not renewed in time.

However, a full blown controversy blew up on the activities of Zakir Naik, the televangelist. Reportedly inspired by his talk, terrorists had struck in Bangladesh causing mayhem in the country. India took a serious note of the same and acted to investigate the activities of this controversial evangelist.

Activities of this Zakir Naik, was already under the scanner from different perspective since quite sometime. But the blast in Bangladesh and their findings on the man, pushed matters faster in India.

It was during this sensitive period probably IRF approached for renewal of their FCRA license. As usual they may be having friends in right places and they are aware of the tricks involved in getting such licenses renewed. And our babus, used to the usual system of work culture got the license renewed despite knowing fully the ongoing investigation of the controversial outfit. But these babus obviously were over confident that it will be all hunky dory.

But that was not to be and the Union Minister of Home Affairs acted with alacrity to show these babus their place.

Quoting, Michel De Montaigne, a French essayist, a paper had quoted “Stubborn and ardent clinging to one’s opinion is the best proof of stupidity.”

They were comparing a statement of our great ‘messiah’ turned opportunist Arvind Kejriwal. Reliance Jio in its enthusiasm to praise P.M. Modi had put his image in one of their ads. Of course, it was patently wrong on their part. P.M. Modi, appearing all over the media, for both right and wrong reasons, certainly did not desire it from Reliance stable. But Reliance had pulled a fast one.

But, ever on the lookout for a chance to pounce on P.M. Modi, Kejri couldn’t resist from going to the market to scream “Modiji you keep modeling for Reliance ads… P.M as Mr. Reliance. Any more proof required that Modiji is in Ambani’s pockets?” he has reported to have remarked on seeing the Reliance Jio ad.

Ever since Aam Aadmi Party has come to power in Delhi, Kejriwal has always accused P.M. Modi that PM is trying to destabilize AAP govt. in Delhi, since BJP had lost the election rather badly.

This antic of blaming PM Modi has been incessant as if he has become paranoid. Basically, the desire to be in the limelight has been a primary weakness of Kejriwal and it is irresistible. Because of his tantrums most media members have started making fun of him. But the overconfidence with which he is attacking Modi, he is clearly suffering from some kind of  a streak and he does not seem to recognize it. No wonder the above referred news paper called him even stupid and he is going about merrily as a hen, which laid only an egg but instead thinks it delivered an asteroid. Indeed Arvind Kejriwal is losing slowly and steadily his sense of proportion. That’s rather sad for an Anti-corruption poster boy. 

Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party is seeing the beginning of its end? The hope and enthusiasm that the party generated when it started off is slowly and surely waning. All had thought, one day AAP can become the one stop solution to all India’s socio/political ills. Despite its immature premature exit, when it formed the government with the help of Congress for the first time, it came back with an unprecedented unheard of majority in the Delhi Assembly. To win 67 out of 70 seats was not just a dream run, it was a dream itself. Kejriwal himself couldn’t believe the result.

It is true that Arvind Kejriwal, along with his band of committed party horses had all the visions of a clean and honest governance. But the sheer size of the majority, of an almost non-existent opposition, made the convener Kejriwal go over the bend. Power suddenly went to his vitals and he started to assert himself and decided to dump all those who questioned his decisions.

The day he dropped two very prominent members of AAP, disintegration had started. He displayed dictatorial tendencies when he dropped from the party, not just decision making body of AAP, two of the stalwarts in Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan. Power corrupted this Kejriwal so much he even used intemperate language which was recorded to embarrass him. But the thick skinned IRS did not feel at all to sideline likes of Shashi Bhushan, who contributed Rs. 2 crores for the initial launching of AAP. It was the height of ingratitude.

Slowly, his antics became more and more vocal. The messiah that Kejriwal thought to be, slowly degenerated into crass opportunism. Nursing an all India ambition, he started attacking Narendra Modi, for all his problems. He routinely blamed Lt. Governor Jung for all his failures. Some 14 of his MLAs were arrested for different illegalities. Some 3 ministers were dismissed for wrong doing. Except providing initially free water and subsidized power, the overall picture of governance has been rather poor. All those who stood by him, for the hope he generated, are clearly disappointed. While he is trying to spread his tentacles in other states like Punjab and Goa, things are getting more and more difficult for AAP to find increasing support. It clearly looks a dream that has gone sour.

Can you believe seeking or offering undue sexual favour was not bribe hitherto! Unbelievable as it may sound, but the truth is Union government in waking up to this naked reality, so late in the day. Reportedly the select Committee of Rajya Sabha deliberating on amendment to Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, has accepted the recommendation of Law Commission for the inclusion of ‘undue advantage’ of seeking sexual favour to do an act of commission or omission, involving pecuniary benefit to parties involved.

It is strange that the law enforcing authorities in India did not think of sex as a medium of exchange for the purpose of getting some work done.

There are lots of people in power, at all levels, who are not corrupt in financial terms. They do not take commission or expensive gifts or go on paid travels/holidays. But they can be influenced by woman or wine. I know of a small financial institution, which would give loans in lakhs sometime even in crores. Two of its chairmen, at different times, were victims of some personal weaknesses. Borrowers would take one of them for evening wine and dine, late into the night and get loan papers signed. The other one was a bachelor and probably teetotaler but would succumb to female baits.

Taking money as an illegal gratification is considered a moral turpitude for the purpose of dealing with law on corruption. But here are two gentlemen, and there are innumerable in position of power, who sold their souls and compromised on the security aspect of loan proposals. If all three Ws, Wealth, Woman and Wine are taken as weakness in men, why the same yard stick is not applied when dealing with sleaze?! That’s funny. Even sage Vishwaamithra was corrupted by Menaka! 

Modern history of nations, the world over, is replete with stories of men in high positions, whether in politics or in private sector corporate positions, even bureaucrats in government departments have sold themselves for sex as consideration for an act of commission or omission involving financial gain to the person offering the favour or succumbing to a demand.

The concerned legislators must take the call to include not just sex, but also for wine and other attractions which can be traded for some pecuniary gain. This practice is more in private corporations where money may not be an attraction. At least from now on all concerned will be careful in understanding the larger issues in proper perspectives.

JNU has in recent times blew lot of dust, more often completely irrelevant and unnecessary. In the name of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, some students had created ruckus within the JNU Campus, in the controversial 9th Feb event. In the name of freedom of speech, a section of students even demanded the balkanization and destruction of India. And unfortunately, there were politicians and media men and women who somehow did not think that call for the destruction of the country is seditious. They condemned police crackdown on these anti-national elements. It was politics of a worst kind, all in the name of freedom of expression.

College authorities, after due investigation had imposed financial punishments like fine, hostel debarment and rustication from the institute. 21 students, who have been handed these punishments by college authorities, for their anti-national acts, had approached the appellate authority for such institutions with their appeal for reconsideration of sentences or penalties.

Reportedly, the appellate authority has found all of them guilty of serious indiscipline and have kept all terms of punishment as it were set by the High Level Enquiry Committee of the college, except financial penalty. Some have been given remissions in the penalty.

This should send a strong message to not just intransigent student community, but the opportunistic political class and their friends in media, not to insult the nation in the name of freedom of expression.

That Digvijay Singh of Indian National Congress is a controversial person, is never in doubt. He walks in and out of controversy routinely. Recently he had remarked while talking about Kashmir unrest, as “Indian Occupied Kashmir”, giving Pakistanis a handle to beat India with. That was rather a stupid and insensitive remark, can even be termed as anti-national.

Because of his regular involvement with foot-in-mouth utterances, this Digvijay Singh is not taken seriously.

However, the other day, for a change he has made a serious charge and luckily also happens to be an accurate and correct charge. Nitin Gadkari, like Sharad Pawar is an ambitious man, if possible, he would like to have a pot-shot at PM gaddi.

He has been a minister incharge of infrastructural constructions in Maharashtra. Hence, he is in the know of the potential of infrastructural development as a money spinner. One of the Contractors involved with Maharashtra government is IRB Road Builders, with whom Gadkari has close relationship. This IRB Road Builders are the same group who got RTI activist Satish Shetty of Pune killed, for exposing them in a land scam in Pune. Through the help of Gadkari, IRB Road Builders got the CBI case closed. However it appears to have been reopened. But nothing seems to be happening. Under the circumstances, there are enough missiles to fix Nitin Gadkari, in what Digvijay Singh has disclosed in his letter to Prime Minister Modi.

Singh had accused Gadkari of awarding contract for the construction of tunnel in J&K, for some Rs: 10,000 crore, to the same IRB Road Builders, besides, helping with classified government information to his son and brother-in-law, relating to the higher use of ethanol in blending with petrol or the electronic rickshaw manufacturer being given the benefit of government scheme of 3% interest loan to its buyers. Thus for the first time, there is substance is what this joker Singh had stated. Only, the media and opposition must pursue it to a logical conclusion. 

     

WEST BENGAL: Apex Court verdict on the land at Singur, acquired by Tatas, during the Left regime in West Bengal has the potential of sending negative message to the industry. Temporarily Mamata Banerjee may celebrate her victory with the court annulment of land acquisition. But she knows pretty well that this political score has led to some economic self goal by her opportunistic stand.

It is true that Apex Court took the call to set right the wrongs under the Eminent Domain clause of 1894 law of British Parliament. It was patently anti-people for the benefit of those colonial masters. Democratic government of India unfortunately persisted with the law to continue the repressive erstwhile measure.

Recent experience of Modi government at the ordinance route adopted but failed miserably is a case in point. It is true that land is limited. But we have a growing uncontrolled population dependent on land. We also need employment creation for our people and therefore industries are to be created. Industries cannot come unless land is made available to industries. But it is also true that dishonest industrial houses always acquired more land than needed and then traded it with others for commercial gain. This has been an ongoing practice of most industry houses. Friendly elected governments, both at centre and state, who cry with the poor but always sided the rich, helped these industry houses, for mutual gain at individual and party level. This left the people, the owners of land, in lurch.

Hence, the need of the hour is the mutually beneficial policy initiative where the interest of small land holders, who are large in number, is protected. At the same time, industry pays a fair price without its hidden agenda. It has to be a win-win situation for both, which hitherto was only win for industry houses. Hope the government of the day takes the call where the processes of land acquisition should strike a balance between the rights of land owners and the needs of industries.  

BIHAR:  “Principal gets 17 years jail for death of 23 kids” was a report datelined Patna. On 16th July 2013, the school, Dharmshanti Middle School in the village Gandaman in the Saran district of Bihar, had served, as usual, Mid Day Meal to its 89 students. Post lunch 48 children fell ill, 16 children died in school itself, another 7 to 11 died in the hospital. Others were treated for different levels of food poisoning.

Reportedly, the Head Mistress was buying grocery from the shop owned by her husband. The cooking oil used for cooking was stored in a container, which earlier stored pesticide. Despite being told about the odd smell of the oil, prior to cooking, Head Mistress overruled the cook to assure that the oil was safe to use. Subsequent forensic tests reportedly confirmed the existence of very toxic level of monocrotophos, an agricultural pesticide.

After eluding arrest for some time, both HM & her shop keeper husband were arrested. It took little over 2 years for the court of additional district and session judge of Saran district, to sentence Ms. Meena Devi, the HM of the school. However, strangely, the husband, the supplier of killer oil was acquitted.

There has been in the past, incidents of food poisoning, in different parts of India, including, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal. Some deaths apparently had taken place, but not on this scale as happened in Saran district of Bihar.

Since then, there has been administrative measures in place to ensure safety of food provided to school children. And no recurrence of this kind had taken place.

However, not many in the print media or electronic media had covered the happening with the seriousness it deserved. Yes, they were children of poor farm hands, and neither media will have any TRPs.

MAHARASHTRA: If Union Ministry of Home Affairs have suspended 4 MHA officials for granting the renewal of a questionable outfit’s foreign contribution license, despite the full knowledge of why license should not have been renewed, the same could have been done against AAI and DGCA.

Airport Authority of India, and Director General of Civil Aviation were recently pulled up by the Bombay High Court for illegal skyscrapers around Mumbai airport.

The court was hearing a PIL by one Yashwant Shenoy, about the construction of a residential building close to the boundary wall of international airport.

According to the PIL, the building is 34 metres high, when permission can be only up to 19 metres. From this height, easily the runway of the airport can be seen, informs the PIL.

It was clear, but for the PIL, the whole issue could have gone unchallenged. It is very unlikely, that the private builders could have gone ahead without the concurrence of both AAI and DGCA, since they both have to give the clearance for the building in the vicinity of airports. Big money too may have changed hands, damn the safety of passengers or that of airport.

No wonder, the court asked these two government departments “It seems you have nothing to do with the passengers’ safety and security”, and reportedly asked them to initiate action against the builder and has asked BMC to demolish the building.

Should BMC give notice of demolition, the builder is likely to approach the same court with his side of the story. Hope truth comes out to fix responsibility for the apparent illegality by the builder and the role of AAI & DGCA in the murky affair.  

There is a debate raging in Bombay Municipal Corporation. As usual BJP/Shiv Sena ruling combine in the BMC, has tried to introduce Yoga, ostensibly to improve the health of school children. In Mumbai, almost all Christian children go to Church Schools hence they do not have the problem of CIVIC diktats for Municipal Schools. Only Hindus and Muslims go to Municipal Schools and therefore children in these schools are at the receiving end of ruling corporators' shenanigans.

When it comes to accepting yoga, there is opposition across the spectrum in Indian schools. Not because it would or would not help health, but because, it is seen as a Hindu religious symbol. Whole of western world has accepted yoga as part of daily regimen for physical and mental wellbeing. But in India itself, there is opposition from both Christians & Muslims, especially the later being vociferous.

Of course, the BJP and Shiv Sena have their own votebank programme for promoting yoga in schools, but they should not force it on those who do not want it. It is also true that good section of Muslims may not mind Yoga per se, but not Suryanamaskara. They are unhappy to bend before the Sun. So be it. Why force them? Since Muslim children are doing most of the exercise, Surya Namaskar may be given a go by. Why insist? BJP & Shiv Sena will only make more adversaries if they force this Suryanamaskara on Muslim children. They should desist in the name of co-existence. Living together is more important than Yoga or Suryanamaskara.           

KARNATAKA: Third world countries, more often than not, do suffer from want of resources. But it also suffers, unfortunately, from mental poverty as well. It is one thing, not to have resources, but to have resources, however inadequate, and to leave it unspent, despite all the well paid manpower resources, is quite another. In fact, this is no less a tragedy for a country like India.

There is this safe drinking water project, at which public are to get 20 liters of safe drinking water for a mere Rs. 2/-. There have been budget allocated to different states. Unfortunately, a report has come to light that 15 districts of Karnataka have returned Rs. 12.6 Crores, unspent. Districts are Bangalore, Bellari, Bidar, Chikmagalooru, Chikballapur, Chitradurga, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Haveri, Kalburgi, Kodagu, Kolar, Koppala, Uttara Kannada and Yadgir. Reportedly, amount was lying in the bank a/cs of these districts and government has withdrawn these amounts and transferred it to more efficient districts.

In the entire history of almost seven decades of independent India, if plundering by politicians with the help of babus, has been the reason for stunted growth of the country, the efficiency and lack of commitment of babudom has its equal share in bungling the national developmental paradigm.

Both politicians and babus, only worked to promote their own selfish interest and that of their friends and cronies.

These leaches are so well paid and looked after, it’s a crime that they should neglect their fundamental duty of at least spending the money allocated to such an important project as safe drinking water. It is well known that, there are pockets all over the country with water bodies chemically contaminated including traces of fluoride found in different levels. Therefore, these babus responsible for this criminal dereliction of duty should be suspended and may even be prosecuted. Only then, a sense of purpose may dawn on the incompetent self centered babus and their political partners in crime.

The Cavery water dispute, which led to violent demonstration, both in Bangalore and Chennai has a history, as old as India’s independence. Most years, when monsoon was below normal, we had this problem of water being released from Krishna Raj Sagar reservoir. As a nation, we are poor learners from past experience. The water problem is real, erratic monsoon is real. So what has to be done?, is a question ever present.

At different times, we toyed with the idea of interlinking of rivers. The debate started in the sixties with KL Rao, the then irrigation minister. Over 50 years, and we are still nowhere near the decision to link rivers. Andhra took some initiative to link Krishna and Godawari, to address the recurrent drought situation in Andhra.

Every time, there is problem of water, some discussion takes place and then lapse into inertia and amnesia, until the next time round, when problem explodes on our face.

There have been debate on the adoption of reverse osmosis technology to setup desalination plant to convert sea water into potable water. It is supposed be very expensive. But aren’t people’s life expensive? Aren’t the destruction of life and properties expensive? What is expensive, how much expensive has not been answered. There has to be initiative at least among Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, to form a team to go into this desalination plant project either as a PPP arrangement or any viable proposal.

It is absolutely within the realm of possibility, if all three states come together to form a Territorial Water Board and work out the economic model with all kinds of alternatives including public participation for their ideas. Other ideas like river linking, large water harvesting schemes, reviving dead water bodies, recharging ground water tables etc., can be thought of as well. Hope soon some such initiatives emerge.

KERALA: Bandh as a means of protest is probably prevalent only in India and no-where else. Except communist controlled unions, others do not indulge in this archaic form of protest. Even in Kerala, since Communism is still strong, Bandhs do not get support from Congress or other political parties. One of the most important reasons, why Bandhs fail, is the difficulties faced by ordinary public in going about their life. This time round, whether, it was the all India Bandh called by communist controlled trade unions, then bankers union called their own bank Bandh, and then you had Cavery water dispute Bandh called by Kannada agitationists in Karnataka. None of these Bandhs have helped in solving the problem for which Bandh was called, instead there have been loss of life and property, completely unwarranted.

One of the most suffered sections of society is the unorganized labours who suffer the most on Bandh days. They do not get their work for the day and therefore no payment. Daily wage earning class are the worst sufferers. But these trade union leaders, obsessed with their own issues are not concerned with the plight of these daily wage earning class.

What the organizers of these Bandhs do not understand and appreciate is the colossal scale of national loss of production due to mandays lost. But while, call for Bandh or strike is a legitimate right of the working class it should not be resorted at all in the national interest. Which means, the government of the day must invite their proposal, why they are going to strike work, or is there any way, it can be talked out. Of course, the governments too, have their own agenda of agreeing and disagreeing. Probably there could be some via-media where both the government and Bandh organizers could of declaring and calling for Bandh. It has not solved in past, it is not likely to solve problems in future, so why Bandh?!       

         

WORLD: Tragedy in the Muslim world is unabated with the emergence of ISIS. Continuing conflict in Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Yemen has increasingly made ordinary Muslims in these countries easy targets of terror attacks. Unfortunately, it is a fight between Sunny and Shia denominations. What is it that keeps these two groups daggers drawn at each other? Is it the leadership of these groups that has failed to reign in the intransigent section of its society? There is so much talk about Islam being a religion of peace and yet appears to have completely failed to stem the unremitting violence!

A recent blast at a wedding party that left some 60 dead, on the Syrian Turkey border town of Gaziantep has underscored the sheer helplessness of ordinary Muslims. That the blast was triggered by a boy of some 13 years, at the orders of some ISIS jihadi group, exemplifies the depth to which the rot has set in.

It is extremely saddening to see women and children are the worst sufferers of this unending chasm between these warring groups. What is even more tragic is that, the scar of these attacks and counter attacks will leave generations to come, affected. The power game that the Muslim world is playing among its own different dominations can leave its society completely divided forever. That is very tragic. Will there ever be deliverance?, is a hugely unanswered question making its rounds.       

  

One thing I never understood, why there are different players for different formats of the game of cricket. It’s the same ground, same cherry and same willow, and yet, a player succeeds on one format but fails in another format. It’s bit funny. It is clearly the mental approach to the ball, be, it Test, 50 overs or T20 or even IPL. And KL Rahul proved it beyond any shadow of doubt that it is possible to play in all formats with the same aplomb. In fact he has rewritten the rules of the game. From now on selectors must not go by their own likes and dislikes, which is the norm.

On 27th Aug. India played a T20 match in the U.S for the 1st time. It was clearly KL Rahul’s Day. But India had lost the 1st ever T20 international against West Indies in Florida, by just one run to equal the West Indies total of 245 runs. And there was a need of 2 runs to win the match. Of course the team was entirely dependent on Mahindra Singh Dhoni, to score the needed 2 runs in the last ball. In the event, he was caught, India being at 244. Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties and therefore India losing by one run is just fine. What we needed to celebrate was that the game was stretched to the last ball, and West Indies is not Zimbabwe. They have world class players. They were expected to play for their country with equal commitment. Under the circumstances, West Indies carried the day. But what sadly, is the Indians, by their very nature, did not celebrate the performance of KL Rahul, NITK lad from Surathkal, Mangalore. He scored 110 runs and remained not-out after facing 51 balls with the help of 12 fours and 5 sixes. That Indian captain failed to connect his last ball into 2 runs, is not the point. But this youngster in his 20’s need to be celebrated, win or lose.

Just the other day, 4th Sept, Mother Theresa, who passed away in 1997, after serving the destitutes of Kolkata was canonized by the Vatican. She will be known as St. Theresa from now on. The principle of canonization depends on some ‘miracle’ performed by the person to be canonized. Western world always ridiculed India for its belief in ‘Super Natural’ powers. Hence I find it rather odd, if not funny, that the whole world congregated at Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square to witness the canonization. But, quite frankly, with due respect to the feelings of all Christians from India or elsewhere, does it really matter that she has been canonized or she will be known as Saint! But personally, I would think my mother or any mother or even Mother Theresa as a mother to thousands on the streets of Kolkata is far greater than any Saint. She would remain permanently etched in the memory of all those, whose life she had touched with her limitless compassion. I bow in deep reverence for the persona she was. 

On September 3, most newspapers all over India informed that All India Muslim Personal Law Board filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court almost asking the highest judicial authority of India to keep off from interfering with the ‘triple talaq’ issue greatly troubling Muslim women.

A sample part of the affidavit goes like this, “If the husband does not at all want to live with her (wife) legal compulsion of time consuming separation proceedings and expenses may deter him from taking the legal course. IN SUCH INSTANCES, HE MAY RESORT TO ILLEGAL, CRIMINAL WAYS OF MURDERING OR BURNING HER ALIVE”. Another sample, “Personal laws of a community cannot be rewritten in the name of social reform”. “Polygamy ensures sexual purity and chastity and whenever polygamy has been banned, it emerges from history that illicit sex has raised its head”.

There are many pearls of ‘wisdom’ in the affidavit. Except reporting, media had no comment to offer for quite some time. If it was to do with Hindus, good part of the media would have gone hammer & tong almost instantly shouting hoarse. Strangely even electronic media did not yet find time to debate the affidavit.

Two Muslim ladies of Muslim Mahila Andholan had gone to court challenging this triple talaq.

A relook at the above paragraph clearly shows that this AIMPLB is still in their primitive days of lawless medieval era where woman was only subjugated to the carnal desire of man. They simply do not fit into a civilized democratic way of life. That the husband can murder his wife if he cannot get rid of her instantly is to exhibit a jungle criminal mindset like Taliban, with no respect for the rights of his wife. The affidavit has clearly shown their contempt for social reforms. They are caught in a time warp. How can they co-habit with other communities in a globalised atmosphere?

I am convinced that millions among Muslims would certainly decry the AIMPLB aberration, which is not having even a legal status.

Highest arbiter of the land must call the bluff of this Muslim board. 

That fugitive underworld criminal Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is in Pakistan is a well documented information since long time. He has always been there. There is no news value from the information let out by the United Nations. Almost a year ago, Foreign Office in the UK had uploaded information on its website about all his properties both in the UK and in Pakistan.

The denial republic that is Pakistan, had always refuted the existence of this fugitive within its borders. But then they had also denied the existence of terror master mind Osama Bin Laden. Of course it could have passed off as true, but for U.S Navy Seals, who in a rare feat of military exercise eliminated this terrorist right inside Pakistani garrison in Abbottabad.

Hence, there is a school of thought, floating a similar idea, if Indian military do an Osama on Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar! By hindsight, it may be the only way to capture this fugitive of over 20 years, dead or alive, to bring curtain down to some of the darkest pages of our contemporary history. Of course some other friendly countries may have to be roped in, to plan any such La Osama type operation annihilation.

We Indians are great in competitive politics, even if we are going to take sides with enemies. This is especially so, if it is between Congress Party or BJParty. And we do have jokers like Digviyay Singh, who will not blink to say Indian Occupied Kashmir, referring to Kashmir. Although his party will disown his statement, he will never regret. He is as incorrigible as that.

We have recently heard of the Ramya Saga. Having returned from Pakistan, Ramya, a former Congress MP had reportedly remarked “Pakistan was not hell”. She was responding to an earlier remark by Defense Minister Manohar Parikkar (DMMP). DMMP had during the course of a conversation had said that “Going to Pakistan was akin to a visit to hell”. He was making that statement in a context. His remark is half truth. Some parts of Pakistan, those infested with violence may be like hell, but there are areas in Lahore, which are pretty and ‘mehmaan navaazi’ is Pakistani culture. But DMMP is not a particularly polished individual and he can be excused for the remark since it was in a context.

This cinema brat Ramya was part of SAARC Youth Parliamentarians Conference. Being a lady and that too from film industry, she would be definitely better attended to. And she had every right as a good guest to praise her hosts. But, the streak of competitive politics among us is so great, she couldn’t help drag DMMP remark. She thought, she would score political points by joining issue with DMMP. In the event, it was not taken kindly. But like Diggy Raja there are jokers in BJParty as well, who filed a case of sedition against Ramya. Now that was little too much. While Ramya has all the right to praise her hosts, who may be our so-called enemy country, she was patently stupid in dragging DMMP remark to make her statement. Similarly, BJParty walas should have faulted her mixing of DMMP remark rather than going to the market crying sedition, ‘go to Pakistan’, ‘leave India’ etc. Both are wrong and therefore both do not deserve the space, we are currently wasting on.