MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
NEW DELHI: In some of the houses and establishments and even office of political parties there was a completely unexpected earthquake on 10 Richter scale. Some were devastated. Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the unprecedented historic step in demonetizing Rs. 1000 & Rs. 500/- currency notes. It is likely to impact all aspect of black money circulation in the parallel economy prevalent in some of the economic activities of the country. Even political parties barring may be CPM/CPI would have serious problems on hand. Opposition parties, like the earlier Surgical Strike of 29th Sept., is groping for words to react in a coherent language. This is going to hit some sectors of the economy very hard. Modi has once again proved that he is a very decisive prime minister. Surely, this single act alone can propel him and his government to unprecedented popularity, which is making the opposition politicians sleepless.
Nobody should die prematurely. More so, nobody should commit suicide, whatever be the reason. Generally it is believed that, people commit suicide only when they cannot manage their thoughts. They feel they are at the end of the road. It is very unfortunate and therefore should not happen. But this ex-serviceman Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal committing suicide for the non-receipt of pension, or delay in the receipt of pension, is an extreme case of action as reaction. According to the report, he wrote in his suicide note “I am sacrificing my life for other soldiers”.
Prima facie, it looks rather weird that somebody can take his life for some money issue due to him. We have heard of people committing suicide, when one cannot pay an outstanding loan or liability for a long time and does not have means to pay. Or a state of financial helplessness towards family or something similar.
As for this Subedar Grewal, there were organizations who could have taken up the issue. Or was he desperate for this money due to him? Of course, the political parties are fishing in the troubled water trying to fix the central government and the Defense Minister. They are also targeting PM Modi, as if he is personally responsible. Surely it needs to be probed and solution to the OROP is found within the agreed framework without much delay. But what all those, who attack the government, post the Subedar death, should recognize that this is the government which worked on OROP and awarded it. There may be some lacuna here and there, to be addresses and redressed. That can be attended surely, without the dirty politics.
Yapping with unsubstantiated allegations has become a trade mark with our ‘hero’ Arvind Kejriwal. It has become so regular a feature with the Delhi Chief Minister, nobody seem to take him seriously. But as a media member, some reaction may have to be posted in the public space. It is, as if, he is on the lookout always, for newer issues to sensationalise and there are persons in the media, picking it up only for its own sensation quotient.
Besides his latest histrionic display on the demonetization along with Mamata Bannerji, he had the singular honour of irresponsibly accusing the central government, of phone tapping of judges.
Addressing the gathering at the Golden Jubilee function of the Delhi High Court, sharing the stage with Prime Minister Modi, Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad and CJI T.S. Thakur, Kejriwal is reported to have stated “I have heard judges talking among themselves- let us not talk on our phones as phones are being tapped”. When asked to name the judges, he looked the other way as he does typically after making an outlandish statement.
Of course instead of completely ignoring with contempt, Minister Ravishankar Prasad is reported to have rejected the charge stating “I deny with all the authority under my command that there has been any tapping of the phones of judges”. Such denials only give grist to the media .
If anybody, who should have cut short Arvind Kejriwal, it was CJI T.S. Thakur. His intervention, purely on its merit, could have helped matter so also send an appropriate message to the central government in these troubled times, between the Judiciary and the Executive.
It’s been some weeks since demonetization took place of Rs. 1000 & Rs. 500 currency notes. Some called it bold while some other called it invitation to disaster. There is absolutely no-doubt that it’s a bold surgical strike of another kind.
But the experience on the ground, of thousands of Indians, from different parts of the country, going through a harrowing time, trying to get hold of some currency which could be used for exchange of goods and services, tells another story. Those who do not have enough, those who are on the margins, the daily wage workers, small traders are experiencing untold miseries.
Does this show, some level of overconfidence that, at ground zero, things can be managed without much hassle? Ask somebody who had to wait for hours and then told, cash finished. Ask the bank staffs, who probably come very early to the bank leaves only after tallying the daily cash at past 11P.M, then again return to the bank by 8.00 AM. Stories are revealing.
Somewhere, something has gone haywire. Yes, the government is monitoring it every day and coming up with newer measures, both to help the general public so also trying to fix the loopholes. Among Indians, like all other nationalities, there are crooks everywhere, who are just waiting to strike. Some have reaped the bonanza, exploiting the system and loopholes. May be someday, authorities will fix them.
But the fact remains, thus far, the scene is tricky. There are far too many questions, how to replace the quantity of currency demonetized with the working currency in both smaller and bigger denominations. Situation is almost like emergency. Of course, it is sad, political parties are hell bent upon exploiting the difficulties of aam aadmi only to embarrass the government and more precisely Prime Minister Modi. However, it is to the credit of President Pranab Mukharjee, to have commended the government for the bold move. But strangely Dr. Manmohan Singh seem to have gone underground with people like Arun Shouri having a free run with full of negativity.
It is very clear, the central government has to do more to alleviate the difficulties of general public and small trading community, but the government also needs our support for the war it launched on black money, fake currency and parallel economy. Hope by another week or so, ease is visible.
Commenting on the ongoing debate on ‘intolerance’ involving Amir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao, Taslima Nasrin had commented on Nov 24, 2015 in ‘theindianpage.in’, that is one year ago, “Amir Khan you earned 300 crores by mocking Hindu gods in PK if you would have done this in Pakistan, Bangladesh or on Muslim religion you would have been hanged and still you say India is ‘intolerant’.
Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi writer, and she has been persecuted in her own country and she left her country, since she was not sure if she would remain alive. After travelling all over the world, she is settled in India, as a ‘guest’. All governments of India, of all political hues, have helped her stay in India safely, despite vehement opposition from some Muslim groups. Thank God, in India she has remained safe including a house arrest.
Recently, PTI reported from New Delhi, that how grateful she is for India, because, in her own words “I have only India”.
In her memoir ‘EXILE’, published by Penguin Random House, she has covered her “struggle leading to my ouster from West Bengal, Rajasthan and then house arrest in government safe house, harassed by a scheming array of bureaucrats and ministers desperate to see me gone”.
Indeed, Taslima has suffered a great deal for decades. Starting from her own country of birth and the problems she faced in India, she tried to live in different parts of the world, somehow she truly believes she belongs to India, she always kept coming back to India since she is categorical “I have only India”.
Government of India, under the stewardship of Narendra Modi should recognize her spirit and feelings for India and grant her citizenship. Surely she will be grateful and proved to be a proud Indian.
Women empowerment, whenever one tried to analyze some of the causes that have impacted negatively, were the role of women themselves. More often, men helped women in their causes, but there are any number of cases where women became impediments and problem creators in realizing the goals of women’s group.
No wonder comes this news “Muslim women move apex court in support of triple talaq”.
Reportedly some 15 women, probably goaded by AIMPLB has written to the apex court saying the same thing as AIMPLB has stated in their affidavit, that these women have no problem with triple talaq and other issues and that their rights are protected.
In the same report however there are references to two other women Nazneen Sayed from Belgaavi and Shayara Banu from Baramati, Pune, both have urged the Supreme Court to declare, Triple Talaq, Polygamy and Nikah Halala unconstitutional.
Triple Talaq is not a religious issue; it is an issue of gender justice. It is an issue of ending gender discrimination. It is an issue of equality before law, which is granted by the article 14&15 of the constitution.
Here it is very clear, these two ladies are fighting for their human dignity and basic rights as human beings whereas these 15 women from Kurnool are fighting for their Islamic identity. Court must tell these 15 women, not to be carried by what AIMPLB stands for.
They want to perpetuate the dominance of man, as husband, as father, as uncle or as brother or whatever. As women, they should recognize the vulnerability of these helpless women and should instead, join them to support the judicial intervention, so that there is justice, equity and fairness.
MADHYA PRADESH: Killing of 8 SIMI under trial prisoners, who escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail after killing the police guard, has raised hackles of human rights violation.
As usual, nobody really cared much about the human rights of the police guard killed by the escaping prisoners. But it is also true that the police action in eliminating all 8 escaped prisoners, is disproportionate to the killing of one police guard, if police reacted violently on the killing of one of their very own. It is also true that police guard’s throat was slit by these prisoners before escaping. This was rather very cruel.
But, killing all 8 was not needed under the prevailing circumstances the escaped prisoners were found. They could have been forced to surrender. In the absence of fuller unbiased details, encounter claims are somewhat suspect. No wonder NHRC has suo moto acted by giving notice to the government of Madhya Pradesh.
Of course as usual, political parties have jumped into fish in the troubled waters.
Hope truth comes out and guilty, if any, are punished, to serve the cause of justice.
MAHARASHTRA: There was this Mumbai datelined report “City pub in dock for blasphemous decor”.
Some people the world over; take the freedom of expression to stupid lengths. They do it either to spite somebody or to humiliate their sense of self respect. It is generally an European phenomenon. But, it has come to India as well in recent times, all in the name of freedom of expression. And most forgets that ‘price of freedom is its responsible exercise’. And we have media members, some justifying it and some decrying it, depending on its own standard of political correctness.
A popular pub chain ‘GOREGOAN SOCIAL’ in north Mumbai decorated its interiors with some artifacts which has reportedly hurt the sentiments of Christians. Reportedly, artifacts included Jesus holding a leather bag, Mother Mary a chain, Moses holding a computer tablet, St. Anthony wearing glasses. So also Tabernacle as having some liquor bottles with inscription of Holy Cross etc.
Clearly, the pub owner had absolutely no business to drag revered figures of Christian faith into a liquor den. It would certainly hurt the sentiments of Christian faithfuls. Objective may be promotion of business. But you don’t promote business by hurting people’s sentiments. The decor was designed by Basrai brothers- Ayaz & Zameer for owner Riyaz Amlani. It was strange, how a Muslim could be an owner of an alcohol joint. It is unislamic. Strangely no Mulla came to issue fatwa against the pub. The facebook page had an intriguing introduction of the pub as a “Church of anti-consumerism”. Irked Father Warner D’Souza of the nearby parish said “Let them try something similar with Islam and see the consequences”. It is a valid observation, needs to be taken seriously. Of course, reportedly, after an NGO approached the police on the matter, the owner had it pulled down on his own realizing his mistake. Wisdom had dawned, lest his pub attacked. However, on asking by a reporter, “You belong to a minority community; does this make you feel vulnerable?” Riyaz had replied “I have never felt like a minority in this country”. That was indeed a saving grace.
These people’s representatives and those who are nominated to Parliament, Legislative Councils & Municipal Corporators are there in their exalted positions only to serve the man on the street. But truly speaking, what could be the % of honest workers among such members of parliament, or Legislative assemblies and councils or other in lower levels, who are truly, in every sense, representing the aspirations of common man? We have heard, umpteen times, how once they are elected or nominated to their august positions, these servants of people become their masters. For being there, they get huge salaries, perks and of course pension & other lifelong benefits.
All these representatives, rightly or wrongly, are allotted some funds to be used for works of development nature in their respective areas. Starting from Rs. 5 crores for Members of Parliament, to Rs. 1.6 crores to municipal corporators in big cities like Mumbai. This fund is available for any kind of legitimate work for the betterment of their respective area of representation. But most have failed even to spend this amount.
And comes this report from Mumbai “Most corporators fail to spend allotted funds.” Reportedly some Rs 212 crores of the allotted Rs. 363 crores is set to lapse early December, that is close to 60% left unspent. Among the defaulting corporators are Mayor Snehal Ambekar and Alka Subhash Kerkar, the Deputy Mayor. In a corporation, where there are 227 corporators, an amount of Rs 212 crores unused means, all of them have failed. The failure is all the more glaring, since the amount was increased only this year from Rs. 60 Lakh per corporator to 1.60 crores, due to corporators’ persistent demand.
And look what happened?
Whose fathers what goes? Its public money after all, this is a sad reflection of the lack of sense of responsibility of these people’s representatives, who are apparently there only to enjoy the power and the perks that goes with it.
KARNATAKA: There was this editorial in the Deccan Herald, “Ban on burqa not justified”. It had its own wonky justification for writing what the editor wrote. Among other things paper highlighted, “It is a matter of individual choice to wear burqa”, in a box.
Indeed it is left to the individual to wear burqa or not or for that matter any dress one likes. This is the crux. The fact of the matter however is, side stepping the college controversies, burqa is forced on to a very significant %, may be even in majority of cases, to vulnerable young girls. It is the father or the brother or other elders who are forcing their young daughters to wear burqa. And there are any number of men who let their daughter go to college in other normal dresses. And there are men among Muslims, who admit the burqa practice as a sign of backwardness.
Unfortunately, keeping the circulation in mind, these news papers, and there are many, too pander to the whims of this male chauvinism. These media houses have their own agendas of how to write and what to highlight and what not to write and what to ignore. Problem in India, is the hide and seek attitude of the press, in being political and apolitical, as it chooses to suite its own programme.
If media takes an unbiased view of things, then most problems in public space may die a natural death. Will that happen!?
Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has become the chief executive of the state due to a democratic process. But he do not seem to believe in democracy when it comes to giving or yielding ground to others. For him it appears to be a one-way traffic. Respecting opposite views is the foundation of democratic living. It has been very evident, in recent times, that any decision he takes on persons or issues, despite strong opposition, he will not yield or change his decision.
Since last year, that is 2015, Karnataka government had decided to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanthi. All those who have read history acknowledge that the record of father and son duo of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan has been controversial, to say the least. There are sections of Kannadigas who vehemently complains of atrocities by both Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. They constitute over 90% of the Karnataka population. So despite this opposition, the government led by Siddaramaiah went ahead and ‘celebrated’ this Tipu Jayanthi, where the state Education Minister Tanvir Sait was caught enjoying some porno matter in his cell phone.
Prior to this celebration, the issue figured in Karnataka High Court, where the Chief Justice asked “What is the necessity of Tipu Jayanthi?” remarking that Tipu was not a freedom fighter, but just another princely ruler. The governments stand was that Tipu was a freedom fighter and he fought against British. But all know that he fought to save his kingdom only. Also, during the earlier 67 years, nobody in this country thought of celebrating Tipu Jayanthi and Karnataka had over 50 years of one party rule, to which Siddaramaiah belongs.
So, this undemocratic Chief Minister not only had this Jayanthi ‘celebrated’ at state expenses, but now refusing to sack the erring minister caught enjoying porno, while ‘celebration’ was on. Was he trying to please a section of society as a votebank exercise?! Surely his love for Tipu looks of recent origin, certainly not deep rooted, as the first 3 years of his government, Tipu was lost in the political amnesia.
While on the subject, it is pertinent to discuss, his selection of Justice SL Nayak, whom he is trying to make as Lokayuktha, despite opposition by the majority in the committee to select Lokayuktha. This SL Nayak, has already had two stints of public office after retirement. He appears greedy for more. But CM Siddaramaiah is insistent to bring Justice SL Nayak as Lakayuktha,
There are other instances of this leader of a backward community being rigid in his approach to management of men and matters. This is not healthy in a democratic environment.
There were two news reports in the media about two senior functionaries of a leading political party. One is a national party president and the other state party president. Both were favorably disposed off, one by the Supreme Court and the other by the CBI.
A former bureaucrat and presently an activist Harsh Mander had asked the Supreme Court for the reconsideration of its judgement which had upheld the acquittal of Amit Shah in the gangster Sohrabuddin encounter case.
Amit Shah, the National President of BJP was the Home Minister of Gujarat when the above encounter took place. While it is true that Apex Court did go through the details of the case before rejecting the appeal of Harsh Mander, court also stated that he is not in any way connected to the case and hence has no locus standi. But with due respect to the learned judges, what is wrong if Harsh Mander is merely a concerned citizen and he should have been given the opportunity to express his misgivings as to why he thinks ‘the acquittal of Amit Shah should be reviewed’. The stand taken by the bench of Justice S A Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan leaves much to be desired.
The acquittal of Karnataka BJP president Yeddyurappa in the iron ore mining kickbacks and land denotification case by the CBI needs to be explained. A former chief minister of Karnataka Yeddyurappa was indicted by Lokayuktha and was sent to judicial custody in 2011. He was out on bail after 3 weeks. There was a contribution by Jindal Group of Rs. 40 crores to the education trust of Yeddyurappa family. Jindal Group was a beneficiary of mining lease. A quid-pro-quo was very much could have been there.
However, on technical grounds, former Karnataka CM appears to have been exonerated. Clearly nobody will pay such a huge sum of money as donation, unless there was reason enough to be so generous to an educational trust of a political family. Something is amiss. It does look little wonky.
KERALA: For a 100% literate state, to have a father who denied his new born baby being breast fed for a whole day is the height of illiteracy.
One Aboobacker Siddque of Amassery had stopped his wife from feeding the new born, despite hospital authorities insisting that child should be breast fed immediately after the birth. Siddique apparently insisted that child must hear 5 prayer calls from mosque before it can be fed. Thus for 21 hours, the infant was without its first feed. Reportedly a local preacher had influenced the infant’s father.
Child Rights panel in Kozhikode, reportedly has asked the police to book the father and those who abetted the superstition under Juvenile Justice Act. Kozhikode Collector was reported to have remarked that both father and the abettor needed treatment. Indeed it is shocking, that a literate state like Kerala can be having such ignorant bigots. Even God may not be able to save them.
WORLD: One of the pre-election writings on the U.S presidency was a cover page on the TIME, and it read ‘THE END IS NEAR’. It appeared rather prophetic for Hillary Rodham Clinton. In the event, on November 8, majority of voters of United States of America, rejected Hillary, signaling the end of her political career for good.
Donald Trump, termed unendorsable, whom Joe Klein of the TIME described “There hasn’t been a major-party candidate less fit for the presidency (than Donald Trump) in American history” had hit the bulls eye.
Donald Trump has been a total outsider. Never held any political office. But decided to throw the hat into the ring, and rest as the cliché goes, is history. None in the public space gave Trump even an outside chance. Entire American media was against him. His own party was hesitant to nominate him. There were critics galore in his own Republican party, forget about those among Democrats and other public figures. Probably, he had a vision for his beloved America, which he wanted to see ‘it happens’. Single handedly he faced all negatives about him, and there were dozens of it. At the end he made it, very resounding at that.
So, Donald Trump, as the most powerful man on the earth, as the U.S President, is a fact of life. He is going to be around at least for another 4 years from Jan. 2017, whether anybody likes him or not. Under the circumstances, the endorsement by the outgoing U.S President Barack Obama is of significance and in pleasant taste. He had been a strident critic of Trump during electioneering.
Speaking to the Asia-Pacific leaders at Peru, President Obama was reported to have remarked “United States is such a big country that after any election people are uncertain. It will be important for everybody around the world, to not make immediate judgements but to give this President elect, a chance”. Adding “How you campaign isn’t always the same as how you govern”.
This is a very pragmatic observation and is good for the U.S and for the world. So we have to wait and see, while it is true that President elect Donald Trump has been making sensible noises, as compared to his earlier jingoistic filibusters. Hope, the pragmatism which President Obama expects, becomes more visible in coming days from the administration of the newly elected president, Donald Trump.
However, despite concerns among Indians in the U.S and the possible Indo-U.S relation turning over a new leaf, the latest news of “Trump meets Indian business partners” has lent a newer dimension to the emerging Indo-U.S relations.
Of course the visible conflict of interest needs to be managed in the larger context. This dimension need not be of concern, as President-elect Donald Trump has his family who can take care of the business without any role for the President-elect. But, it is true that in the larger picture, everything counts, especially when it is of business nature.
Let’s all hope, we as Indians, that President-elect Donald Trump turns out as a good human being, responsible and responsive to his own citizens first and then to the world at large for the good of the entire world of Homo sapiens. There is little room for absolutism in the emerging world scenario; co-operative co-existence is the name of the game. Like Barack Obama, as an author, had observed in his epochal work “Audacity of Hope”, “there are far more things that unite us than things that divide us”. Hope the President- to be, harkens to this sane observation. Amen.
So after all Bob Dylan will visit Stockholm and personally receive the Nobel! In all probability, he may even sing.
In our last issue, we had mentioned about the Nobel to the Singer Musician, a first to any Singer Musician of the past. Of course, Nobel prizes being awarded by the Swedish Academy is a private initiative to recognize excellence in different fields of human endeavors. So they certainly have their own rules and basis on which an award is considered and awarded.
Of course, they too are humans and can have their share of errors, and hence they took over four decades to recognize the excellence of Bob Dylan. It could be that the sense of self respect of Dylan was hurt and hence remained incommunicado ever since the announcement of the award.
But then Dylan too is a human. After initial hesitation he has come on board to confirm “Absolutely. If it’s at all possible”, despite an Academy member accusing Dylan of being “impolite and arrogant”.
For the first time, in over 6 weeks, he has admitted “It’s amazing, incredible. It’s hard to believe” that he has been awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.
Reportedly, Swedish Academy is keen that the American Singer Musician speaks or sings at the Academy prize distribution function on the 10th Dec. at Stockholm. Chances are Bob Dylan, shall oblige, not just speaking on the occasion but shall sing too as a fitting tribute to the occasion. Hope, it happens.
Nobody should die prematurely. More so, nobody should commit suicide, whatever be the reason. Generally it is believed that, people commit suicide only when they cannot manage their thoughts. They feel they are at the end of the road. It is very unfortunate and therefore should not happen. But this ex-serviceman Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal committing suicide for the non-receipt of pension, or delay in the receipt of pension, is an extreme case of action as reaction. According to the report, he wrote in his suicide note “I am sacrificing my life for other soldiers”.
Prima facie, it looks rather weird that somebody can take his life for some money issue due to him. We have heard of people committing suicide, when one cannot pay an outstanding loan or liability for a long time and does not have means to pay. Or a state of financial helplessness towards family or something similar.
As for this Subedar Grewal, there were organizations who could have taken up the issue. Or was he desperate for this money due to him? Of course, the political parties are fishing in the troubled water trying to fix the central government and the Defense Minister. They are also targeting PM Modi, as if he is personally responsible. Surely it needs to be probed and solution to the OROP is found within the agreed framework without much delay. But what all those, who attack the government, post the Subedar death, should recognize that this is the government which worked on OROP and awarded it. There may be some lacuna here and there, to be addresses and redressed. That can be attended surely, without the dirty politics.
Yapping with unsubstantiated allegations has become a trade mark with our ‘hero’ Arvind Kejriwal. It has become so regular a feature with the Delhi Chief Minister, nobody seem to take him seriously. But as a media member, some reaction may have to be posted in the public space. It is, as if, he is on the lookout always, for newer issues to sensationalise and there are persons in the media, picking it up only for its own sensation quotient.
Besides his latest histrionic display on the demonetization along with Mamata Bannerji, he had the singular honour of irresponsibly accusing the central government, of phone tapping of judges.
Addressing the gathering at the Golden Jubilee function of the Delhi High Court, sharing the stage with Prime Minister Modi, Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad and CJI T.S. Thakur, Kejriwal is reported to have stated “I have heard judges talking among themselves- let us not talk on our phones as phones are being tapped”. When asked to name the judges, he looked the other way as he does typically after making an outlandish statement.
Of course instead of completely ignoring with contempt, Minister Ravishankar Prasad is reported to have rejected the charge stating “I deny with all the authority under my command that there has been any tapping of the phones of judges”. Such denials only give grist to the media .
If anybody, who should have cut short Arvind Kejriwal, it was CJI T.S. Thakur. His intervention, purely on its merit, could have helped matter so also send an appropriate message to the central government in these troubled times, between the Judiciary and the Executive.
It’s been some weeks since demonetization took place of Rs. 1000 & Rs. 500 currency notes. Some called it bold while some other called it invitation to disaster. There is absolutely no-doubt that it’s a bold surgical strike of another kind.
But the experience on the ground, of thousands of Indians, from different parts of the country, going through a harrowing time, trying to get hold of some currency which could be used for exchange of goods and services, tells another story. Those who do not have enough, those who are on the margins, the daily wage workers, small traders are experiencing untold miseries.
Does this show, some level of overconfidence that, at ground zero, things can be managed without much hassle? Ask somebody who had to wait for hours and then told, cash finished. Ask the bank staffs, who probably come very early to the bank leaves only after tallying the daily cash at past 11P.M, then again return to the bank by 8.00 AM. Stories are revealing.
Somewhere, something has gone haywire. Yes, the government is monitoring it every day and coming up with newer measures, both to help the general public so also trying to fix the loopholes. Among Indians, like all other nationalities, there are crooks everywhere, who are just waiting to strike. Some have reaped the bonanza, exploiting the system and loopholes. May be someday, authorities will fix them.
But the fact remains, thus far, the scene is tricky. There are far too many questions, how to replace the quantity of currency demonetized with the working currency in both smaller and bigger denominations. Situation is almost like emergency. Of course, it is sad, political parties are hell bent upon exploiting the difficulties of aam aadmi only to embarrass the government and more precisely Prime Minister Modi. However, it is to the credit of President Pranab Mukharjee, to have commended the government for the bold move. But strangely Dr. Manmohan Singh seem to have gone underground with people like Arun Shouri having a free run with full of negativity.
It is very clear, the central government has to do more to alleviate the difficulties of general public and small trading community, but the government also needs our support for the war it launched on black money, fake currency and parallel economy. Hope by another week or so, ease is visible.
Commenting on the ongoing debate on ‘intolerance’ involving Amir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao, Taslima Nasrin had commented on Nov 24, 2015 in ‘theindianpage.in’, that is one year ago, “Amir Khan you earned 300 crores by mocking Hindu gods in PK if you would have done this in Pakistan, Bangladesh or on Muslim religion you would have been hanged and still you say India is ‘intolerant’.
Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi writer, and she has been persecuted in her own country and she left her country, since she was not sure if she would remain alive. After travelling all over the world, she is settled in India, as a ‘guest’. All governments of India, of all political hues, have helped her stay in India safely, despite vehement opposition from some Muslim groups. Thank God, in India she has remained safe including a house arrest.
Recently, PTI reported from New Delhi, that how grateful she is for India, because, in her own words “I have only India”.
In her memoir ‘EXILE’, published by Penguin Random House, she has covered her “struggle leading to my ouster from West Bengal, Rajasthan and then house arrest in government safe house, harassed by a scheming array of bureaucrats and ministers desperate to see me gone”.
Indeed, Taslima has suffered a great deal for decades. Starting from her own country of birth and the problems she faced in India, she tried to live in different parts of the world, somehow she truly believes she belongs to India, she always kept coming back to India since she is categorical “I have only India”.
Government of India, under the stewardship of Narendra Modi should recognize her spirit and feelings for India and grant her citizenship. Surely she will be grateful and proved to be a proud Indian.
Women empowerment, whenever one tried to analyze some of the causes that have impacted negatively, were the role of women themselves. More often, men helped women in their causes, but there are any number of cases where women became impediments and problem creators in realizing the goals of women’s group.
No wonder comes this news “Muslim women move apex court in support of triple talaq”.
Reportedly some 15 women, probably goaded by AIMPLB has written to the apex court saying the same thing as AIMPLB has stated in their affidavit, that these women have no problem with triple talaq and other issues and that their rights are protected.
In the same report however there are references to two other women Nazneen Sayed from Belgaavi and Shayara Banu from Baramati, Pune, both have urged the Supreme Court to declare, Triple Talaq, Polygamy and Nikah Halala unconstitutional.
Triple Talaq is not a religious issue; it is an issue of gender justice. It is an issue of ending gender discrimination. It is an issue of equality before law, which is granted by the article 14&15 of the constitution.
Here it is very clear, these two ladies are fighting for their human dignity and basic rights as human beings whereas these 15 women from Kurnool are fighting for their Islamic identity. Court must tell these 15 women, not to be carried by what AIMPLB stands for.
They want to perpetuate the dominance of man, as husband, as father, as uncle or as brother or whatever. As women, they should recognize the vulnerability of these helpless women and should instead, join them to support the judicial intervention, so that there is justice, equity and fairness.
MADHYA PRADESH: Killing of 8 SIMI under trial prisoners, who escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail after killing the police guard, has raised hackles of human rights violation.
As usual, nobody really cared much about the human rights of the police guard killed by the escaping prisoners. But it is also true that the police action in eliminating all 8 escaped prisoners, is disproportionate to the killing of one police guard, if police reacted violently on the killing of one of their very own. It is also true that police guard’s throat was slit by these prisoners before escaping. This was rather very cruel.
But, killing all 8 was not needed under the prevailing circumstances the escaped prisoners were found. They could have been forced to surrender. In the absence of fuller unbiased details, encounter claims are somewhat suspect. No wonder NHRC has suo moto acted by giving notice to the government of Madhya Pradesh.
Of course as usual, political parties have jumped into fish in the troubled waters.
Hope truth comes out and guilty, if any, are punished, to serve the cause of justice.
MAHARASHTRA: There was this Mumbai datelined report “City pub in dock for blasphemous decor”.
Some people the world over; take the freedom of expression to stupid lengths. They do it either to spite somebody or to humiliate their sense of self respect. It is generally an European phenomenon. But, it has come to India as well in recent times, all in the name of freedom of expression. And most forgets that ‘price of freedom is its responsible exercise’. And we have media members, some justifying it and some decrying it, depending on its own standard of political correctness.
A popular pub chain ‘GOREGOAN SOCIAL’ in north Mumbai decorated its interiors with some artifacts which has reportedly hurt the sentiments of Christians. Reportedly, artifacts included Jesus holding a leather bag, Mother Mary a chain, Moses holding a computer tablet, St. Anthony wearing glasses. So also Tabernacle as having some liquor bottles with inscription of Holy Cross etc.
Clearly, the pub owner had absolutely no business to drag revered figures of Christian faith into a liquor den. It would certainly hurt the sentiments of Christian faithfuls. Objective may be promotion of business. But you don’t promote business by hurting people’s sentiments. The decor was designed by Basrai brothers- Ayaz & Zameer for owner Riyaz Amlani. It was strange, how a Muslim could be an owner of an alcohol joint. It is unislamic. Strangely no Mulla came to issue fatwa against the pub. The facebook page had an intriguing introduction of the pub as a “Church of anti-consumerism”. Irked Father Warner D’Souza of the nearby parish said “Let them try something similar with Islam and see the consequences”. It is a valid observation, needs to be taken seriously. Of course, reportedly, after an NGO approached the police on the matter, the owner had it pulled down on his own realizing his mistake. Wisdom had dawned, lest his pub attacked. However, on asking by a reporter, “You belong to a minority community; does this make you feel vulnerable?” Riyaz had replied “I have never felt like a minority in this country”. That was indeed a saving grace.
These people’s representatives and those who are nominated to Parliament, Legislative Councils & Municipal Corporators are there in their exalted positions only to serve the man on the street. But truly speaking, what could be the % of honest workers among such members of parliament, or Legislative assemblies and councils or other in lower levels, who are truly, in every sense, representing the aspirations of common man? We have heard, umpteen times, how once they are elected or nominated to their august positions, these servants of people become their masters. For being there, they get huge salaries, perks and of course pension & other lifelong benefits.
All these representatives, rightly or wrongly, are allotted some funds to be used for works of development nature in their respective areas. Starting from Rs. 5 crores for Members of Parliament, to Rs. 1.6 crores to municipal corporators in big cities like Mumbai. This fund is available for any kind of legitimate work for the betterment of their respective area of representation. But most have failed even to spend this amount.
And comes this report from Mumbai “Most corporators fail to spend allotted funds.” Reportedly some Rs 212 crores of the allotted Rs. 363 crores is set to lapse early December, that is close to 60% left unspent. Among the defaulting corporators are Mayor Snehal Ambekar and Alka Subhash Kerkar, the Deputy Mayor. In a corporation, where there are 227 corporators, an amount of Rs 212 crores unused means, all of them have failed. The failure is all the more glaring, since the amount was increased only this year from Rs. 60 Lakh per corporator to 1.60 crores, due to corporators’ persistent demand.
And look what happened?
Whose fathers what goes? Its public money after all, this is a sad reflection of the lack of sense of responsibility of these people’s representatives, who are apparently there only to enjoy the power and the perks that goes with it.
KARNATAKA: There was this editorial in the Deccan Herald, “Ban on burqa not justified”. It had its own wonky justification for writing what the editor wrote. Among other things paper highlighted, “It is a matter of individual choice to wear burqa”, in a box.
Indeed it is left to the individual to wear burqa or not or for that matter any dress one likes. This is the crux. The fact of the matter however is, side stepping the college controversies, burqa is forced on to a very significant %, may be even in majority of cases, to vulnerable young girls. It is the father or the brother or other elders who are forcing their young daughters to wear burqa. And there are any number of men who let their daughter go to college in other normal dresses. And there are men among Muslims, who admit the burqa practice as a sign of backwardness.
Unfortunately, keeping the circulation in mind, these news papers, and there are many, too pander to the whims of this male chauvinism. These media houses have their own agendas of how to write and what to highlight and what not to write and what to ignore. Problem in India, is the hide and seek attitude of the press, in being political and apolitical, as it chooses to suite its own programme.
If media takes an unbiased view of things, then most problems in public space may die a natural death. Will that happen!?
Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah has become the chief executive of the state due to a democratic process. But he do not seem to believe in democracy when it comes to giving or yielding ground to others. For him it appears to be a one-way traffic. Respecting opposite views is the foundation of democratic living. It has been very evident, in recent times, that any decision he takes on persons or issues, despite strong opposition, he will not yield or change his decision.
Since last year, that is 2015, Karnataka government had decided to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanthi. All those who have read history acknowledge that the record of father and son duo of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan has been controversial, to say the least. There are sections of Kannadigas who vehemently complains of atrocities by both Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. They constitute over 90% of the Karnataka population. So despite this opposition, the government led by Siddaramaiah went ahead and ‘celebrated’ this Tipu Jayanthi, where the state Education Minister Tanvir Sait was caught enjoying some porno matter in his cell phone.
Prior to this celebration, the issue figured in Karnataka High Court, where the Chief Justice asked “What is the necessity of Tipu Jayanthi?” remarking that Tipu was not a freedom fighter, but just another princely ruler. The governments stand was that Tipu was a freedom fighter and he fought against British. But all know that he fought to save his kingdom only. Also, during the earlier 67 years, nobody in this country thought of celebrating Tipu Jayanthi and Karnataka had over 50 years of one party rule, to which Siddaramaiah belongs.
So, this undemocratic Chief Minister not only had this Jayanthi ‘celebrated’ at state expenses, but now refusing to sack the erring minister caught enjoying porno, while ‘celebration’ was on. Was he trying to please a section of society as a votebank exercise?! Surely his love for Tipu looks of recent origin, certainly not deep rooted, as the first 3 years of his government, Tipu was lost in the political amnesia.
While on the subject, it is pertinent to discuss, his selection of Justice SL Nayak, whom he is trying to make as Lokayuktha, despite opposition by the majority in the committee to select Lokayuktha. This SL Nayak, has already had two stints of public office after retirement. He appears greedy for more. But CM Siddaramaiah is insistent to bring Justice SL Nayak as Lakayuktha,
There are other instances of this leader of a backward community being rigid in his approach to management of men and matters. This is not healthy in a democratic environment.
There were two news reports in the media about two senior functionaries of a leading political party. One is a national party president and the other state party president. Both were favorably disposed off, one by the Supreme Court and the other by the CBI.
A former bureaucrat and presently an activist Harsh Mander had asked the Supreme Court for the reconsideration of its judgement which had upheld the acquittal of Amit Shah in the gangster Sohrabuddin encounter case.
Amit Shah, the National President of BJP was the Home Minister of Gujarat when the above encounter took place. While it is true that Apex Court did go through the details of the case before rejecting the appeal of Harsh Mander, court also stated that he is not in any way connected to the case and hence has no locus standi. But with due respect to the learned judges, what is wrong if Harsh Mander is merely a concerned citizen and he should have been given the opportunity to express his misgivings as to why he thinks ‘the acquittal of Amit Shah should be reviewed’. The stand taken by the bench of Justice S A Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan leaves much to be desired.
The acquittal of Karnataka BJP president Yeddyurappa in the iron ore mining kickbacks and land denotification case by the CBI needs to be explained. A former chief minister of Karnataka Yeddyurappa was indicted by Lokayuktha and was sent to judicial custody in 2011. He was out on bail after 3 weeks. There was a contribution by Jindal Group of Rs. 40 crores to the education trust of Yeddyurappa family. Jindal Group was a beneficiary of mining lease. A quid-pro-quo was very much could have been there.
However, on technical grounds, former Karnataka CM appears to have been exonerated. Clearly nobody will pay such a huge sum of money as donation, unless there was reason enough to be so generous to an educational trust of a political family. Something is amiss. It does look little wonky.
KERALA: For a 100% literate state, to have a father who denied his new born baby being breast fed for a whole day is the height of illiteracy.
One Aboobacker Siddque of Amassery had stopped his wife from feeding the new born, despite hospital authorities insisting that child should be breast fed immediately after the birth. Siddique apparently insisted that child must hear 5 prayer calls from mosque before it can be fed. Thus for 21 hours, the infant was without its first feed. Reportedly a local preacher had influenced the infant’s father.
Child Rights panel in Kozhikode, reportedly has asked the police to book the father and those who abetted the superstition under Juvenile Justice Act. Kozhikode Collector was reported to have remarked that both father and the abettor needed treatment. Indeed it is shocking, that a literate state like Kerala can be having such ignorant bigots. Even God may not be able to save them.
WORLD: One of the pre-election writings on the U.S presidency was a cover page on the TIME, and it read ‘THE END IS NEAR’. It appeared rather prophetic for Hillary Rodham Clinton. In the event, on November 8, majority of voters of United States of America, rejected Hillary, signaling the end of her political career for good.
Donald Trump, termed unendorsable, whom Joe Klein of the TIME described “There hasn’t been a major-party candidate less fit for the presidency (than Donald Trump) in American history” had hit the bulls eye.
Donald Trump has been a total outsider. Never held any political office. But decided to throw the hat into the ring, and rest as the cliché goes, is history. None in the public space gave Trump even an outside chance. Entire American media was against him. His own party was hesitant to nominate him. There were critics galore in his own Republican party, forget about those among Democrats and other public figures. Probably, he had a vision for his beloved America, which he wanted to see ‘it happens’. Single handedly he faced all negatives about him, and there were dozens of it. At the end he made it, very resounding at that.
So, Donald Trump, as the most powerful man on the earth, as the U.S President, is a fact of life. He is going to be around at least for another 4 years from Jan. 2017, whether anybody likes him or not. Under the circumstances, the endorsement by the outgoing U.S President Barack Obama is of significance and in pleasant taste. He had been a strident critic of Trump during electioneering.
Speaking to the Asia-Pacific leaders at Peru, President Obama was reported to have remarked “United States is such a big country that after any election people are uncertain. It will be important for everybody around the world, to not make immediate judgements but to give this President elect, a chance”. Adding “How you campaign isn’t always the same as how you govern”.
This is a very pragmatic observation and is good for the U.S and for the world. So we have to wait and see, while it is true that President elect Donald Trump has been making sensible noises, as compared to his earlier jingoistic filibusters. Hope, the pragmatism which President Obama expects, becomes more visible in coming days from the administration of the newly elected president, Donald Trump.
However, despite concerns among Indians in the U.S and the possible Indo-U.S relation turning over a new leaf, the latest news of “Trump meets Indian business partners” has lent a newer dimension to the emerging Indo-U.S relations.
Of course the visible conflict of interest needs to be managed in the larger context. This dimension need not be of concern, as President-elect Donald Trump has his family who can take care of the business without any role for the President-elect. But, it is true that in the larger picture, everything counts, especially when it is of business nature.
Let’s all hope, we as Indians, that President-elect Donald Trump turns out as a good human being, responsible and responsive to his own citizens first and then to the world at large for the good of the entire world of Homo sapiens. There is little room for absolutism in the emerging world scenario; co-operative co-existence is the name of the game. Like Barack Obama, as an author, had observed in his epochal work “Audacity of Hope”, “there are far more things that unite us than things that divide us”. Hope the President- to be, harkens to this sane observation. Amen.
So after all Bob Dylan will visit Stockholm and personally receive the Nobel! In all probability, he may even sing.
In our last issue, we had mentioned about the Nobel to the Singer Musician, a first to any Singer Musician of the past. Of course, Nobel prizes being awarded by the Swedish Academy is a private initiative to recognize excellence in different fields of human endeavors. So they certainly have their own rules and basis on which an award is considered and awarded.
Of course, they too are humans and can have their share of errors, and hence they took over four decades to recognize the excellence of Bob Dylan. It could be that the sense of self respect of Dylan was hurt and hence remained incommunicado ever since the announcement of the award.
But then Dylan too is a human. After initial hesitation he has come on board to confirm “Absolutely. If it’s at all possible”, despite an Academy member accusing Dylan of being “impolite and arrogant”.
For the first time, in over 6 weeks, he has admitted “It’s amazing, incredible. It’s hard to believe” that he has been awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.
Reportedly, Swedish Academy is keen that the American Singer Musician speaks or sings at the Academy prize distribution function on the 10th Dec. at Stockholm. Chances are Bob Dylan, shall oblige, not just speaking on the occasion but shall sing too as a fitting tribute to the occasion. Hope, it happens.
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