MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
NEW DELHI: Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) was in the news, post demonetization. They had issued an advisory that members of the institutes should refrain from ‘sharing or writing any negative personal views by way of an article or interview on any platform regarding demonetization’
This was thought to be proper as ICAI is part of Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and therefore of Government of India.
But then ICAI is only technically part of MCA, and it has global membership. Being chartered accountants, they are certainly better placed than most people to appreciate or criticize the demonetization move. Their critical inputs -both positive and negative- could have only enlivened the public space and contributed positively to the ongoing debate on demonetization, all over the country.
Thus the latest report ‘ICAI issues new advisory, removes controversial diktat’ is a welcome development. Hope these members of ICAI contribute positively on the raging debate.
It’s been a month since the so-called bold but truly unprecedented move of the Modi government to demonetize Rs.1000 and Rs. 500 currency notes. We have been told, in 50 days everything will be alright. Will it be? After 30 days, as we look back, it is a very difficult question to answer.
The objective of this unprecedented move was to strike a lethal blow on black money, parallel economy, fake currency and terror funding which in all probability shall happen to some extent, in the medium and long term, besides good number of men going digital. Wordsmith that Mr. Modi is, has been weaving a net of hope and a possible ‘achche din’ after this move. His deputies in parliament and cabinet have been talking continuously positively of the move, saying that 90% of Indians approve of it, while it is also true that bank staff has been harassed no end. Rural folks, ordinary labourers, small traders and those who do not have or not operated bank a/c have suffered enormously. Every trader has a story to tell of difficulties in getting cash or to buy all necessities. It has truly disrupted the normal life of most people, especially those who are not within the comfort zone. Everyday both TV channels and newspapers have carried stories of not enough is happening in the market place, be it long queues in bank and ATMs, of less and less cash available with the bank and sometime after all the wait, the NO CASH board hitting on the tired face.
We carried a story over 15 days ago in which we mentioned about ‘some level of over confidence that, at ground zero things can be managed,’ right enough Apex Court asked the Centre yesterday, “if mind was applied on note ban’. Could it be that they didn’t anticipate the size of the problem of cash crunch! May be the availability of Rs. 500 currency notes, could have greatly helped the situation on the ground as of now! Rs. 2000 currency notes is helping the ones who wanted to change it fast and in big quantities, with colluding bank staff, as we have witnessed the stories in the media, it helped both the bank officials to convert more to make commission for themselves and also helped black money holders of Rs. 500 & 1000 notes to change them into new Rs. 2000 notes. But the man on the street who needed new Rs. 500 notes hardly got it. None in the government was asked; none in the media, neither the Supreme Court questioned why Rs. 500/- new currency notes are not available? That is the crux. If Rs. 500/- notes were printed at least half the quantity of Rs. 2000/- notes, made available, the problem could have been greatly addressed. But nobody in the government is talking about the non- availability of Rs. 500/- notes. After 30 days the scene is still very tricky. Will the next 20 days bring smile on the face of harassed Indians?
MAHARASHTRA: Justice Vidyasagar Kanade of Bombay High Court commented the other day, “Even in Pakistan no one would have investigated like this. I believe Pakistan is more tolerant than you (police) in such sensitive issues”. He was reacting on the shoddy handling by the Mumbai police in a case involving a footwear dealer.
Dejal Shah, a Thane footwear dealer had sold a footwear, the bottom of which had several alphabets. According to one Amjad Ibrahim Sheikh, a Samajvadi Party member, the letter M in the footwear resembled the word ‘Allah’. He complaints to the police and police acts to confiscate all footwear of the dealer and detained him for over 10 hours in the police station.
This caused not only loss to the dealer but also caused mental and physical harassment to this Dejal Shah, according to his lawyer.
In the meanwhile, police had also booked the manufacturer of footwear, who happened to be a Muslim, submitted the lawyer for police.
Judge reacted sarcastically “In cases where you must take prompt action you don’t do anything. There has been no application of mind on your part in this case. You have to justify how can a Muslim person (the manufacturer) insult his own religion? We are shocked by such complaints”. The subsequent observation of the learned judge comparing Pakistan was inappropriate, unless he has a firsthand knowledge of the level of tolerance in that country, which according to a former U.S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright “an international migraine”. More than anything it was the sheer incompetence of police to take action on a hapless guy due to a complaint of a politician. Police had clearly failed to apply their head before acting. For a change court has acted fast to snub the police.
However, the interesting dimension to the whole episode is the innumerable instances of how Hindu gods have been denigrated by either MF Hussain or those fine art students of Baroda University or even the drama man Habib Tanvir branding Brahmins as children of prostitutes, or that English magazine that called Lord Rama and Lord Krishna as homosexuals, or those white men, from Oklahoma to Auckland painting or printing Hindu Gods on liquor bottles, on panties, on socks and umpteen other ways. Hindus have lived with the idiocy of the extreme kind, and neither police were around to book them, nor there were courts passing their learned observations on the arrogance of men bent upon insulting and trying the patience of Indian Hindus. That’s India and the world at large for you.
26/11/2016 has come and gone like any other day. Memory revisited the horrors of the day 8 years ago, when Pakistan had waged an undeclared war on Mumbai, by Pakistani based terror group. Some 170 or so had died, and hundreds injured.
Looking back on the horrible days which lasted for close to 3 days, stories of pluck and chivalry were bound to be recollected for the benefit of posterity.
While there were heroes like Tukaram Ombale, who is remembered reverentially by the Mumbai Police, there were others too who were forgotten. There were these two Mumbai datelined news items “Girl who identified Kasab pays dearly for helping cops”, and another was “won’t help police again says Chabad House Hero”.
Devika Rotawan, was only 10 years old when she deposed as a prosecution witness before the special court in Arthur Road jail. “During the trial many politicians and ministers had promised to help my education and provide house. After 8 years they are only promises. I didn’t depose for the promises, but that Kasab should get the punishment he deserved”.
As a result this deposition, Devika tells, every place we go for renting, apartment owners refuse to rent flat because they “do not want any lafda since you have been a prosecution witness in a terror attack”. She recollects how she was asked to leave the tuition class “just because I deposed as a witness.” So not only she has no protection from the state, the promises of help too never came.
Harishchandra Kashinath Awad, is a next door neighbor to the Chabad House that housed Israelis and their Rabbi and his family. Awad had seen two terrorists entering Chabad House. They held 6 Israelis hostage and when security forces entered the premises, before getting killed, these terrorists killed all their hostages. Being next door neighbor Awad played significant role in identifying the terrorists and was with the police for all three days of the mayhem. He was given a certificate by the Mumbai Police Commissioner, through a constable delivering it at his house. He was piqued by the cavalier action of the police. When so many were publicly honored why he was treated like this, has hurt his sense of pride. He is bitter that his efforts to help security forces went unrecognized. “I will not help the police in future” was his anguished remark to the reporter when contacted to mark the anniversary of 26/11.
In India, such things are not unusual. After all they are people with no influence and they are soon forgotten, like that families of blast victims at Patna 3 years ago. It was in Oct. 2013. Narendra Modi was still the CM of Gujarat. Targeting, probably the campaigning prime ministerial candidate, there were series of blasts at the meeting venue, Gandhi Maidan in Patna, on Oct. 27. 2013. Some six persons were killed, who had come for the meeting addressed by Narendra Modi.
Veena Devi, the widow of Vikas Kumar, one of the six victims of the blast, recalled that in the first week of Nov. 2013, Modi himself visited her at her native Nishiza village and promised her a job and assured free education to her two minor children at Sainik School. “But to date nothing has happened” was Veena’s disappointed remark. And she is not alone; all other five families of the victims have the same story. “I have been waiting for a call from PMO for the last 3 years”, was the painful remark of Shankar, son of Bharat Razak who was also killed in the blast.
It appears to be a season of “Empty Promises”, and comes this story of ‘Mountain Man’ Dashrath Manjhi who spent his 22 years cutting the Gehlor hills to make a connecting road, which reduced the distance between two blocks of Atri and Wazirganj in the Gaya district of Bihar by 40 Kms from 55 to 15kms. He still lives in a hut. He became a celebrity. Ketan Mehta made a film ‘MOUNTAIN MAN’ on him and promised 2% of the earnings, but ended up giving only Rs.1.5 lakh in two installments. Amir Khan who covered Dashrath Manjhi in his Satyameva Jayathe TV serial promised financial assistance and a pucca house. He has completely forgotten him. Reportedly Amir Khan used to make Rs. 3 crores for every weekly episode.
Sonia Gandhi invited him and gave him a cheque of Rs. 5001, a shawl and reimbursed his travel expenses. All that he wanted was a pucca house, and nobody gave it. What he did, as an ordinary citizen was incredibly unprecedented. Even Bihar CM Nitish ditched him, after he made Dashrath Manjhi sit on CM’s chair in his weekly janata darbar. This is Yeh Mera India, where promises by politicians and the elites of the society are only to be broken. Poor Mother India!
ANDHRA PRADESH: Prajwala is an NGO from Hyderabad, it wrote a letter to Justice HL Duttu who was the CJI at that time. Along with the letter, the NGO had sent two rape videos in a pen drive. Justice Duttu decided at that time to take suo moto note of the letter and the contents of pen drive and asked CBI to investigate and arrest the culprit.
The pen drive had the record of two videos uploaded on the ‘WhatsApp’. Taking it further, the Supreme Court asked recently for response from internet majors Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and FaceBook, on the letter of Prajwala seeking curbs on sharing of sexual offence videos on social networking sites and steps to check such cybercrimes.
Reportedly bench of justice MB Lokur and UU Lalit issued notice to these companies and asked their reply in a month’s time.
According to the NGO, these rape videos were shot and posted on the social networking sites. Obviously these videos when circulated on ‘WhatsApp’ are likely to travel far and wide and can lead to completely avoidable ramifications. The incidence of rape has increased to such an extent; it is becoming increasingly difficult for young girls to move around freely. In such circumstances such videos being circulated on sites like ‘WhatsApp’ can play havoc on young boys and can create fear among young girls.
It’s commendable that Prajwala has approached apex court and court has asked to make these internet majors accountable in bringing the offenders to book and also curb its uploading and circulation within its domain. Hope the initiative of both the NGO Prajwala and that of the Supreme Court has its salutary effects.
KARNATAKA: There was this observation by a former Advocate General of Karnataka BV Acharya “Speaker can’t head House Committee”. Surely! If he is the one to whom any ‘house committee’ should submit report, he simply cannot head the committee. No intelligence is required to know this. But the govt. headed by Siddaramaiah can do anything and still insist to carry on.
No wonder, former Law Minister Suresh Kumar, an MLA, who was in the House Committee, has resigned from it for exactly the same reason. As an Ex- Law Minister, he needs no explanation. It is true that the present speaker KB Koliwad was not a speaker when the House Committee was constituted to probe encroachments of lakes in Bangalore. But as soon as he was made the speaker, he should have quit. But he didn’t. Is it left to the Chief Minister to ask the speaker to leave the committee or speaker himself will resign from the position of House Committee (HC)? has to be seen.
However, it is another matter, although the HC was constituted in Oct. 2014, it is reportedly nowhere near submitting its report. With less than 18 months to go, will it complete its job in time for the government to act, is a moot point. This is Karnataka govt. for you.
Questioning the locus standi of CBI, for booking one Ibrahim Shereef in the case related to Rs. 2000/- new currency seizure of Rs. 4.8 crores involving senior government official S.C. Jayachandra, has the Karanataka High Court judge Anand Byrareddy gone overboard?
What this Shereef has done is prima facie violation of RBI guidelines on exchange of old currency notes. Besides banks which exchanged these old notes in such large quantity, when general public is restricted to 2000/4000, are certainly culpable under Banking Regulation Act. Hence CBI role in initiating action against both the banks and this Shereef is legally tenable. Therefore the HC order to CBI not to arrest this Ibrahim Shereef is questionable. CBI must challenge this order in higher court.
Concept of differential costing is a 20th century idea. It can be used for different productive purposes when fixed infrastructure is available. An infrastructure becomes a fixed cost and therefore can be used round the clock to make the cost per unit less and less. Hence differential costing, which is based on variable inputs can be a win-win idea.
India is a country in the low Human Development Index (HDI) group according to the United Nations Development Programme Report (UNDPR). For a country wanting to become a super power we are at 135, among 188 countries of the world, when tiny Cuba is at 44 in the High Development Index group, and they do not have even a millionaire, when India boasts of billionaires. That is the level of inequality in India.
We have enough schools and colleges all over the country. They are used to be occupied for about 6 to 8 hours during the weekdays, and not used at all on Sundays and holidays and partly used during vacations. Can’t these schools and colleges be used for greater purposes and for longer time for a larger section of the society?
It can be. But most Indians are self obsessed, they want their holidays and breaks, not because they are tired, but because they think they need breaks, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. We are not one of the most productive country in the world, and altruistic intentions are, kind of alien to us. We are in the know of poor standard of our primary/secondary education in govt. schools. Not because of children but because of the poor mind set and incompetence of our teaching class. They get comfortable government salaries, but what they give in return? They can certainly give more. Yes there are teachers who do give more, but they are few and far between.
In such a situation, comes a principal of a government college in Hassan, Dr. D.G. Krishne Gowda. He has started an evening college for working men and women with no age bar offering a dozen short terms courses during the weekdays evenings and Sundays and holidays. Fees are between Rs. 250/- to Rs. 7000/-. Courses are occupation oriented and hence empowerment driven. They are as diverse as ‘Gym instructor to mushroom cultivator’. It’s a personal initiative and certainly possible across the board. Now that Dr. D.G. Krishne Gowda has opened the path, there should be many, who are on similar wave length wanting to bring change. Hail change.
Those who are in business are not in love with their customers. They are in business only to make money and if possible make more and more money. To fulfill their objective, they are into all kinds of practices, mostly unethical. But there are also those, who do their business on ethical principles. They want to make money alright, but want to make it within the socially acceptable means.
The controversy regarding GM or genetically modified farm produce has been there since many years. After the WTO, dos and don’ts, companies involved in GM Crops are active to push their seeds into the third world. In India there has been opposition, some time active, sometime muted, to this GM crops. However politics and politicians play significant role in influencing decision on such issues. The latest news about the silence of state government on GM mustard seeds have got local farmers worried.
Reportedly some major mustard growing states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have strongly opposed GM mustard and its field trials. However strangely Karnataka, which too is a mustard producing state has shown no interest in debating the issue. This is despite several farmers’ groups and organic farmers urging the state government, not to allow open field trials.
Is there politics to it, or is it serving some vested interest? Farmers are aware, so is the political class, besides academics, that the use of these transgenic could bring along with it, its ill effects.
For a state, which was the first state to introduce organic policy, this silence is strange and disturbing.
There was this news about Prime Minister Modi not granting appointment to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Understandably the CM was upset. Of course, the PM’s party in state accused CM of not following protocols. But then as a CM, he has certain standing, unlike, an ordinary citizen seeking to see the PM. Protocol is certainly needed to see the Chief Executive of a country. But then there are always exceptions to the rule. A Prime Minister of the country is for the entire country and hence has responsibility to interact with all Chief Ministers without any party affiliation. It is true that, Karnataka CM has asked to see the PM in short notice to discuss the drought situation in the state. It is certainly a serious matter needing more time. However in the spirit of federal structure, PM could have given the CM some 10 minutes, as a courtesy, and ask him to leave his papers with the PMO for discussion on another day and time.
Of course, in a country like India professionalism takes a back seat. Both could have saved the situation but both failed. Of course, PM Modi since he is the top executive needs to be more sensitive, in such situations.
Earlier some weeks ago it was the Kerala delegation including the state CM, wanted to see the Prime Minister and he didn’t see them. This attitude neither wins friends nor influences people. Yes, Prime Minister Modi needs to be more circumspect.
The print media said, “Its Rahul all the way” and added to a good measure ‘misses double century by a run but helps India make a strong reply in pursuit of England’s 477’. There are three dimensions to this headline. The first, Congratulations to KL Rahul for the magnificent innings, and second, it has helped India come back in style with still 6 wickets in hand with only 87 runs needed to cross the England total. That’s far more important that we have saved the day for India, and that’s the larger picture. Of course, the 3rd, it’s disappointing that KL Rahul couldn’t make history of being only the 2nd opening batsman to have touched the double century figure. The crestfallen reaction of KL Rahul is quite understandable. Personal records are important in the larger picture of India winning, but should not be the only thing. In this Rahul Dravid’s record is better than Sachin Tendulkar. The junior Rahul must take heart looking at senior Rahul, who played for the game of cricket and the country than so called legend Sachin Tendulkar. Hope KL Rahul recovers soon to be a great batsman playing for the national purpose than accumulating his own record. Amen.
TAMIL NADU: Surely, there are any numbers of issues that Supreme Court could have taken on to address. Occasionally they do, suo-moto, take up issues of national relevance.
But that the apex court shall take up the issue of national anthem, in the midst of its own problem of shortage of judges, pending cases etc. and the demonetization mess the country is passing through, was entirely unexpected.
Reaction to the intervention by the highest court of the land was on expected lines. ‘Judicial Overreach’ said one eminent jurist, a former Attorney General reacted ‘judicial legislation’. Most media members took umbrage ‘why force people to stand up when the national anthem is being played’, and ‘why it has to be played in cinema theatre only, before the start of the movie,’ and that, all entry and exit doors are to be kept closed when the national anthem is being played. Of course the apex court has not envisioned that there will be some funny men and women, who would refuse to stand-up when the national anthem is being played. Hence there is no mention of the type and the quantum of punishment for such offence. May be the court may have to fall back on “Prevention of insults to National Honour Act, 1971”.
There have been debates on TV Channels, about some 20 men and women having been taken into custody for their refusal to stand-up while national anthem was being played, both in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The number of persons who offended the national honour was mere 20, when probably remaining 2000 had no issue to stand-up. And yet, these sentinels of human rights are up in arms to present a case saying, the apex court was not right in enforcing the national anthem in cinema theatres and that all should stand-up when it is being played.
Constitution of the country speaks about the rights of individuals as Indians; it also speaks of duties. There are Indians, who only make noise about their rights and not their duties. They need to be told in no uncertain terms, “Please mind your behaviour, when it comes to national honour” period.
KERALA: Kerala High Court has reportedly ruled that women devotees entering Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvanatapuram should not be allowed entry into the temple without tying a dhoti over the salvar kamees or chudidaar they wear.
Court intervention came on the petition challenging the earlier order of the temple Executive Officer, which allowed the women devotees to enter in salwar kameez or chudidaar.
The practice prior to this reportedly was either saree or a dhoti over chudidaars, jeans or skirts.
Except having been born to Hindu parents, I have no other identification to prove my religious background. Thus, as a Hindu, maybe I am entitled to criticize some of the practices forced upon devotees by whom-so-ever-concerned. My view is, between saree and salwar kameez, the later is a better dress, for its easy weareability, management on the persona and flexibility in situations of physical demands to act in case of need or crisis. Of course all dresses including saree can be corrupted to suit a corrupt mind. Having said that, what is the role of dhoti? is not clear, except it was the decision of the Chief Priest of the temple to impose dress code in the temple. Surely God in his sanctora sanctorum will not be unhappy if a particular devotee has come without dhoti. So it’s the writ of the priest class which decides and God has no role. Funny are the ways of this priest class. Does it matter, which religion?!
WORLD: Religious conversion is more often a means of convenience, or so it seems. Ever since, evangelization has been in vogue, it’s not often that a person has become a member of X or Y religion- due to spiritual vacuum he experiences in his existing state of being. Inducements or force or even attraction to become a part of a group have been reasons. Weakness to belong to a ruling class has also been an attraction in religious conversions.
And comes this news from Germany “Migrants convert to Christianity”, obviously meaning they are Arabs from different countries of the Middle East. In recent times, post Syrian crisis, thousands of fleeing migrants have landed in Germany, due to its open door policy. Other countries of Europe have not been as accommodative as Germany, due to the Islamic terror dimension. Some have been even openly hostile because of insistence of a section of migrants to practice their own customs as opposed to the law of the land where they are migrating.
Thus logically it seems to suite both the host country, as well as those who are open to change, and adjust to a new situation. Thus for these migrants, it is a practical solution to become Christians, to merge with the larger population. This will, for sure, reduce conflict and probably even bring about social harmony. The report informs that Muslim refugees have recently been taking the same step (of conversion to Christianity) throughout Germany, where nearly 900,000 asylum seekers have arrived in 2015.
So, it’s wishing all of them a very, merry and happy Xmas. May peace be upon Germany, and of course the entire earth. Amen.
Just before the last election to the White House, The New York Times and Columbia Broadcasting Service (NYT/CBS) had conducted a poll on the ‘State of American Politics’. Reportedly an overwhelming majority of voters were disgusted by the State of American politics. They saw presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who eventually won the presidential race, as dishonest and incapable of uniting the country after the election. According to the voters to the NYT/CBS poll, it was a historically ugly presidential campaign. More than 8 out of 10 voters stated they were repulsed rather than excited about both Clinton and Trump and viewed them unfavorably.
It was indeed praise worthy that media houses NYT/CBS took the initiative to understand the rot within their political atmosphere. U.S is an open society and debate things rather openly. Their media too is responsible and understand their duties well in educating their citizens. Of course they may have some programmed views on things outside their country for their own agenda, but at least for their own countrymen, they do take care to be positive and upfront. Sadly, same cannot be said about Indian media, both electronic and print. Of course, we have an added problem of linguistic and therefore regional chauvinism. Hence biased reporting is the done thing. We are also constitutionally a secular nation, with some half a dozen practicing religions. There are any number of instances where media has tried to muddy the recurring disturbed water of social harmony for their own commercial interest of circulation and viewership, the MSP & TRP. While it is true, that Press must be free, can that freedom be absolute?! Hope someday media in India lives up to its cherished objective of informing and educating the great Indian public about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Amen.
This was thought to be proper as ICAI is part of Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and therefore of Government of India.
But then ICAI is only technically part of MCA, and it has global membership. Being chartered accountants, they are certainly better placed than most people to appreciate or criticize the demonetization move. Their critical inputs -both positive and negative- could have only enlivened the public space and contributed positively to the ongoing debate on demonetization, all over the country.
Thus the latest report ‘ICAI issues new advisory, removes controversial diktat’ is a welcome development. Hope these members of ICAI contribute positively on the raging debate.
It’s been a month since the so-called bold but truly unprecedented move of the Modi government to demonetize Rs.1000 and Rs. 500 currency notes. We have been told, in 50 days everything will be alright. Will it be? After 30 days, as we look back, it is a very difficult question to answer.
The objective of this unprecedented move was to strike a lethal blow on black money, parallel economy, fake currency and terror funding which in all probability shall happen to some extent, in the medium and long term, besides good number of men going digital. Wordsmith that Mr. Modi is, has been weaving a net of hope and a possible ‘achche din’ after this move. His deputies in parliament and cabinet have been talking continuously positively of the move, saying that 90% of Indians approve of it, while it is also true that bank staff has been harassed no end. Rural folks, ordinary labourers, small traders and those who do not have or not operated bank a/c have suffered enormously. Every trader has a story to tell of difficulties in getting cash or to buy all necessities. It has truly disrupted the normal life of most people, especially those who are not within the comfort zone. Everyday both TV channels and newspapers have carried stories of not enough is happening in the market place, be it long queues in bank and ATMs, of less and less cash available with the bank and sometime after all the wait, the NO CASH board hitting on the tired face.
We carried a story over 15 days ago in which we mentioned about ‘some level of over confidence that, at ground zero things can be managed,’ right enough Apex Court asked the Centre yesterday, “if mind was applied on note ban’. Could it be that they didn’t anticipate the size of the problem of cash crunch! May be the availability of Rs. 500 currency notes, could have greatly helped the situation on the ground as of now! Rs. 2000 currency notes is helping the ones who wanted to change it fast and in big quantities, with colluding bank staff, as we have witnessed the stories in the media, it helped both the bank officials to convert more to make commission for themselves and also helped black money holders of Rs. 500 & 1000 notes to change them into new Rs. 2000 notes. But the man on the street who needed new Rs. 500 notes hardly got it. None in the government was asked; none in the media, neither the Supreme Court questioned why Rs. 500/- new currency notes are not available? That is the crux. If Rs. 500/- notes were printed at least half the quantity of Rs. 2000/- notes, made available, the problem could have been greatly addressed. But nobody in the government is talking about the non- availability of Rs. 500/- notes. After 30 days the scene is still very tricky. Will the next 20 days bring smile on the face of harassed Indians?
MAHARASHTRA: Justice Vidyasagar Kanade of Bombay High Court commented the other day, “Even in Pakistan no one would have investigated like this. I believe Pakistan is more tolerant than you (police) in such sensitive issues”. He was reacting on the shoddy handling by the Mumbai police in a case involving a footwear dealer.
Dejal Shah, a Thane footwear dealer had sold a footwear, the bottom of which had several alphabets. According to one Amjad Ibrahim Sheikh, a Samajvadi Party member, the letter M in the footwear resembled the word ‘Allah’. He complaints to the police and police acts to confiscate all footwear of the dealer and detained him for over 10 hours in the police station.
This caused not only loss to the dealer but also caused mental and physical harassment to this Dejal Shah, according to his lawyer.
In the meanwhile, police had also booked the manufacturer of footwear, who happened to be a Muslim, submitted the lawyer for police.
Judge reacted sarcastically “In cases where you must take prompt action you don’t do anything. There has been no application of mind on your part in this case. You have to justify how can a Muslim person (the manufacturer) insult his own religion? We are shocked by such complaints”. The subsequent observation of the learned judge comparing Pakistan was inappropriate, unless he has a firsthand knowledge of the level of tolerance in that country, which according to a former U.S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright “an international migraine”. More than anything it was the sheer incompetence of police to take action on a hapless guy due to a complaint of a politician. Police had clearly failed to apply their head before acting. For a change court has acted fast to snub the police.
However, the interesting dimension to the whole episode is the innumerable instances of how Hindu gods have been denigrated by either MF Hussain or those fine art students of Baroda University or even the drama man Habib Tanvir branding Brahmins as children of prostitutes, or that English magazine that called Lord Rama and Lord Krishna as homosexuals, or those white men, from Oklahoma to Auckland painting or printing Hindu Gods on liquor bottles, on panties, on socks and umpteen other ways. Hindus have lived with the idiocy of the extreme kind, and neither police were around to book them, nor there were courts passing their learned observations on the arrogance of men bent upon insulting and trying the patience of Indian Hindus. That’s India and the world at large for you.
26/11/2016 has come and gone like any other day. Memory revisited the horrors of the day 8 years ago, when Pakistan had waged an undeclared war on Mumbai, by Pakistani based terror group. Some 170 or so had died, and hundreds injured.
Looking back on the horrible days which lasted for close to 3 days, stories of pluck and chivalry were bound to be recollected for the benefit of posterity.
While there were heroes like Tukaram Ombale, who is remembered reverentially by the Mumbai Police, there were others too who were forgotten. There were these two Mumbai datelined news items “Girl who identified Kasab pays dearly for helping cops”, and another was “won’t help police again says Chabad House Hero”.
Devika Rotawan, was only 10 years old when she deposed as a prosecution witness before the special court in Arthur Road jail. “During the trial many politicians and ministers had promised to help my education and provide house. After 8 years they are only promises. I didn’t depose for the promises, but that Kasab should get the punishment he deserved”.
As a result this deposition, Devika tells, every place we go for renting, apartment owners refuse to rent flat because they “do not want any lafda since you have been a prosecution witness in a terror attack”. She recollects how she was asked to leave the tuition class “just because I deposed as a witness.” So not only she has no protection from the state, the promises of help too never came.
Harishchandra Kashinath Awad, is a next door neighbor to the Chabad House that housed Israelis and their Rabbi and his family. Awad had seen two terrorists entering Chabad House. They held 6 Israelis hostage and when security forces entered the premises, before getting killed, these terrorists killed all their hostages. Being next door neighbor Awad played significant role in identifying the terrorists and was with the police for all three days of the mayhem. He was given a certificate by the Mumbai Police Commissioner, through a constable delivering it at his house. He was piqued by the cavalier action of the police. When so many were publicly honored why he was treated like this, has hurt his sense of pride. He is bitter that his efforts to help security forces went unrecognized. “I will not help the police in future” was his anguished remark to the reporter when contacted to mark the anniversary of 26/11.
In India, such things are not unusual. After all they are people with no influence and they are soon forgotten, like that families of blast victims at Patna 3 years ago. It was in Oct. 2013. Narendra Modi was still the CM of Gujarat. Targeting, probably the campaigning prime ministerial candidate, there were series of blasts at the meeting venue, Gandhi Maidan in Patna, on Oct. 27. 2013. Some six persons were killed, who had come for the meeting addressed by Narendra Modi.
Veena Devi, the widow of Vikas Kumar, one of the six victims of the blast, recalled that in the first week of Nov. 2013, Modi himself visited her at her native Nishiza village and promised her a job and assured free education to her two minor children at Sainik School. “But to date nothing has happened” was Veena’s disappointed remark. And she is not alone; all other five families of the victims have the same story. “I have been waiting for a call from PMO for the last 3 years”, was the painful remark of Shankar, son of Bharat Razak who was also killed in the blast.
It appears to be a season of “Empty Promises”, and comes this story of ‘Mountain Man’ Dashrath Manjhi who spent his 22 years cutting the Gehlor hills to make a connecting road, which reduced the distance between two blocks of Atri and Wazirganj in the Gaya district of Bihar by 40 Kms from 55 to 15kms. He still lives in a hut. He became a celebrity. Ketan Mehta made a film ‘MOUNTAIN MAN’ on him and promised 2% of the earnings, but ended up giving only Rs.1.5 lakh in two installments. Amir Khan who covered Dashrath Manjhi in his Satyameva Jayathe TV serial promised financial assistance and a pucca house. He has completely forgotten him. Reportedly Amir Khan used to make Rs. 3 crores for every weekly episode.
Sonia Gandhi invited him and gave him a cheque of Rs. 5001, a shawl and reimbursed his travel expenses. All that he wanted was a pucca house, and nobody gave it. What he did, as an ordinary citizen was incredibly unprecedented. Even Bihar CM Nitish ditched him, after he made Dashrath Manjhi sit on CM’s chair in his weekly janata darbar. This is Yeh Mera India, where promises by politicians and the elites of the society are only to be broken. Poor Mother India!
ANDHRA PRADESH: Prajwala is an NGO from Hyderabad, it wrote a letter to Justice HL Duttu who was the CJI at that time. Along with the letter, the NGO had sent two rape videos in a pen drive. Justice Duttu decided at that time to take suo moto note of the letter and the contents of pen drive and asked CBI to investigate and arrest the culprit.
The pen drive had the record of two videos uploaded on the ‘WhatsApp’. Taking it further, the Supreme Court asked recently for response from internet majors Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and FaceBook, on the letter of Prajwala seeking curbs on sharing of sexual offence videos on social networking sites and steps to check such cybercrimes.
Reportedly bench of justice MB Lokur and UU Lalit issued notice to these companies and asked their reply in a month’s time.
According to the NGO, these rape videos were shot and posted on the social networking sites. Obviously these videos when circulated on ‘WhatsApp’ are likely to travel far and wide and can lead to completely avoidable ramifications. The incidence of rape has increased to such an extent; it is becoming increasingly difficult for young girls to move around freely. In such circumstances such videos being circulated on sites like ‘WhatsApp’ can play havoc on young boys and can create fear among young girls.
It’s commendable that Prajwala has approached apex court and court has asked to make these internet majors accountable in bringing the offenders to book and also curb its uploading and circulation within its domain. Hope the initiative of both the NGO Prajwala and that of the Supreme Court has its salutary effects.
KARNATAKA: There was this observation by a former Advocate General of Karnataka BV Acharya “Speaker can’t head House Committee”. Surely! If he is the one to whom any ‘house committee’ should submit report, he simply cannot head the committee. No intelligence is required to know this. But the govt. headed by Siddaramaiah can do anything and still insist to carry on.
No wonder, former Law Minister Suresh Kumar, an MLA, who was in the House Committee, has resigned from it for exactly the same reason. As an Ex- Law Minister, he needs no explanation. It is true that the present speaker KB Koliwad was not a speaker when the House Committee was constituted to probe encroachments of lakes in Bangalore. But as soon as he was made the speaker, he should have quit. But he didn’t. Is it left to the Chief Minister to ask the speaker to leave the committee or speaker himself will resign from the position of House Committee (HC)? has to be seen.
However, it is another matter, although the HC was constituted in Oct. 2014, it is reportedly nowhere near submitting its report. With less than 18 months to go, will it complete its job in time for the government to act, is a moot point. This is Karnataka govt. for you.
Questioning the locus standi of CBI, for booking one Ibrahim Shereef in the case related to Rs. 2000/- new currency seizure of Rs. 4.8 crores involving senior government official S.C. Jayachandra, has the Karanataka High Court judge Anand Byrareddy gone overboard?
What this Shereef has done is prima facie violation of RBI guidelines on exchange of old currency notes. Besides banks which exchanged these old notes in such large quantity, when general public is restricted to 2000/4000, are certainly culpable under Banking Regulation Act. Hence CBI role in initiating action against both the banks and this Shereef is legally tenable. Therefore the HC order to CBI not to arrest this Ibrahim Shereef is questionable. CBI must challenge this order in higher court.
Concept of differential costing is a 20th century idea. It can be used for different productive purposes when fixed infrastructure is available. An infrastructure becomes a fixed cost and therefore can be used round the clock to make the cost per unit less and less. Hence differential costing, which is based on variable inputs can be a win-win idea.
India is a country in the low Human Development Index (HDI) group according to the United Nations Development Programme Report (UNDPR). For a country wanting to become a super power we are at 135, among 188 countries of the world, when tiny Cuba is at 44 in the High Development Index group, and they do not have even a millionaire, when India boasts of billionaires. That is the level of inequality in India.
We have enough schools and colleges all over the country. They are used to be occupied for about 6 to 8 hours during the weekdays, and not used at all on Sundays and holidays and partly used during vacations. Can’t these schools and colleges be used for greater purposes and for longer time for a larger section of the society?
It can be. But most Indians are self obsessed, they want their holidays and breaks, not because they are tired, but because they think they need breaks, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. We are not one of the most productive country in the world, and altruistic intentions are, kind of alien to us. We are in the know of poor standard of our primary/secondary education in govt. schools. Not because of children but because of the poor mind set and incompetence of our teaching class. They get comfortable government salaries, but what they give in return? They can certainly give more. Yes there are teachers who do give more, but they are few and far between.
In such a situation, comes a principal of a government college in Hassan, Dr. D.G. Krishne Gowda. He has started an evening college for working men and women with no age bar offering a dozen short terms courses during the weekdays evenings and Sundays and holidays. Fees are between Rs. 250/- to Rs. 7000/-. Courses are occupation oriented and hence empowerment driven. They are as diverse as ‘Gym instructor to mushroom cultivator’. It’s a personal initiative and certainly possible across the board. Now that Dr. D.G. Krishne Gowda has opened the path, there should be many, who are on similar wave length wanting to bring change. Hail change.
Those who are in business are not in love with their customers. They are in business only to make money and if possible make more and more money. To fulfill their objective, they are into all kinds of practices, mostly unethical. But there are also those, who do their business on ethical principles. They want to make money alright, but want to make it within the socially acceptable means.
The controversy regarding GM or genetically modified farm produce has been there since many years. After the WTO, dos and don’ts, companies involved in GM Crops are active to push their seeds into the third world. In India there has been opposition, some time active, sometime muted, to this GM crops. However politics and politicians play significant role in influencing decision on such issues. The latest news about the silence of state government on GM mustard seeds have got local farmers worried.
Reportedly some major mustard growing states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have strongly opposed GM mustard and its field trials. However strangely Karnataka, which too is a mustard producing state has shown no interest in debating the issue. This is despite several farmers’ groups and organic farmers urging the state government, not to allow open field trials.
Is there politics to it, or is it serving some vested interest? Farmers are aware, so is the political class, besides academics, that the use of these transgenic could bring along with it, its ill effects.
For a state, which was the first state to introduce organic policy, this silence is strange and disturbing.
There was this news about Prime Minister Modi not granting appointment to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Understandably the CM was upset. Of course, the PM’s party in state accused CM of not following protocols. But then as a CM, he has certain standing, unlike, an ordinary citizen seeking to see the PM. Protocol is certainly needed to see the Chief Executive of a country. But then there are always exceptions to the rule. A Prime Minister of the country is for the entire country and hence has responsibility to interact with all Chief Ministers without any party affiliation. It is true that, Karnataka CM has asked to see the PM in short notice to discuss the drought situation in the state. It is certainly a serious matter needing more time. However in the spirit of federal structure, PM could have given the CM some 10 minutes, as a courtesy, and ask him to leave his papers with the PMO for discussion on another day and time.
Of course, in a country like India professionalism takes a back seat. Both could have saved the situation but both failed. Of course, PM Modi since he is the top executive needs to be more sensitive, in such situations.
Earlier some weeks ago it was the Kerala delegation including the state CM, wanted to see the Prime Minister and he didn’t see them. This attitude neither wins friends nor influences people. Yes, Prime Minister Modi needs to be more circumspect.
The print media said, “Its Rahul all the way” and added to a good measure ‘misses double century by a run but helps India make a strong reply in pursuit of England’s 477’. There are three dimensions to this headline. The first, Congratulations to KL Rahul for the magnificent innings, and second, it has helped India come back in style with still 6 wickets in hand with only 87 runs needed to cross the England total. That’s far more important that we have saved the day for India, and that’s the larger picture. Of course, the 3rd, it’s disappointing that KL Rahul couldn’t make history of being only the 2nd opening batsman to have touched the double century figure. The crestfallen reaction of KL Rahul is quite understandable. Personal records are important in the larger picture of India winning, but should not be the only thing. In this Rahul Dravid’s record is better than Sachin Tendulkar. The junior Rahul must take heart looking at senior Rahul, who played for the game of cricket and the country than so called legend Sachin Tendulkar. Hope KL Rahul recovers soon to be a great batsman playing for the national purpose than accumulating his own record. Amen.
TAMIL NADU: Surely, there are any numbers of issues that Supreme Court could have taken on to address. Occasionally they do, suo-moto, take up issues of national relevance.
But that the apex court shall take up the issue of national anthem, in the midst of its own problem of shortage of judges, pending cases etc. and the demonetization mess the country is passing through, was entirely unexpected.
Reaction to the intervention by the highest court of the land was on expected lines. ‘Judicial Overreach’ said one eminent jurist, a former Attorney General reacted ‘judicial legislation’. Most media members took umbrage ‘why force people to stand up when the national anthem is being played’, and ‘why it has to be played in cinema theatre only, before the start of the movie,’ and that, all entry and exit doors are to be kept closed when the national anthem is being played. Of course the apex court has not envisioned that there will be some funny men and women, who would refuse to stand-up when the national anthem is being played. Hence there is no mention of the type and the quantum of punishment for such offence. May be the court may have to fall back on “Prevention of insults to National Honour Act, 1971”.
There have been debates on TV Channels, about some 20 men and women having been taken into custody for their refusal to stand-up while national anthem was being played, both in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The number of persons who offended the national honour was mere 20, when probably remaining 2000 had no issue to stand-up. And yet, these sentinels of human rights are up in arms to present a case saying, the apex court was not right in enforcing the national anthem in cinema theatres and that all should stand-up when it is being played.
Constitution of the country speaks about the rights of individuals as Indians; it also speaks of duties. There are Indians, who only make noise about their rights and not their duties. They need to be told in no uncertain terms, “Please mind your behaviour, when it comes to national honour” period.
KERALA: Kerala High Court has reportedly ruled that women devotees entering Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvanatapuram should not be allowed entry into the temple without tying a dhoti over the salvar kamees or chudidaar they wear.
Court intervention came on the petition challenging the earlier order of the temple Executive Officer, which allowed the women devotees to enter in salwar kameez or chudidaar.
The practice prior to this reportedly was either saree or a dhoti over chudidaars, jeans or skirts.
Except having been born to Hindu parents, I have no other identification to prove my religious background. Thus, as a Hindu, maybe I am entitled to criticize some of the practices forced upon devotees by whom-so-ever-concerned. My view is, between saree and salwar kameez, the later is a better dress, for its easy weareability, management on the persona and flexibility in situations of physical demands to act in case of need or crisis. Of course all dresses including saree can be corrupted to suit a corrupt mind. Having said that, what is the role of dhoti? is not clear, except it was the decision of the Chief Priest of the temple to impose dress code in the temple. Surely God in his sanctora sanctorum will not be unhappy if a particular devotee has come without dhoti. So it’s the writ of the priest class which decides and God has no role. Funny are the ways of this priest class. Does it matter, which religion?!
WORLD: Religious conversion is more often a means of convenience, or so it seems. Ever since, evangelization has been in vogue, it’s not often that a person has become a member of X or Y religion- due to spiritual vacuum he experiences in his existing state of being. Inducements or force or even attraction to become a part of a group have been reasons. Weakness to belong to a ruling class has also been an attraction in religious conversions.
And comes this news from Germany “Migrants convert to Christianity”, obviously meaning they are Arabs from different countries of the Middle East. In recent times, post Syrian crisis, thousands of fleeing migrants have landed in Germany, due to its open door policy. Other countries of Europe have not been as accommodative as Germany, due to the Islamic terror dimension. Some have been even openly hostile because of insistence of a section of migrants to practice their own customs as opposed to the law of the land where they are migrating.
Thus logically it seems to suite both the host country, as well as those who are open to change, and adjust to a new situation. Thus for these migrants, it is a practical solution to become Christians, to merge with the larger population. This will, for sure, reduce conflict and probably even bring about social harmony. The report informs that Muslim refugees have recently been taking the same step (of conversion to Christianity) throughout Germany, where nearly 900,000 asylum seekers have arrived in 2015.
So, it’s wishing all of them a very, merry and happy Xmas. May peace be upon Germany, and of course the entire earth. Amen.
Just before the last election to the White House, The New York Times and Columbia Broadcasting Service (NYT/CBS) had conducted a poll on the ‘State of American Politics’. Reportedly an overwhelming majority of voters were disgusted by the State of American politics. They saw presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who eventually won the presidential race, as dishonest and incapable of uniting the country after the election. According to the voters to the NYT/CBS poll, it was a historically ugly presidential campaign. More than 8 out of 10 voters stated they were repulsed rather than excited about both Clinton and Trump and viewed them unfavorably.
It was indeed praise worthy that media houses NYT/CBS took the initiative to understand the rot within their political atmosphere. U.S is an open society and debate things rather openly. Their media too is responsible and understand their duties well in educating their citizens. Of course they may have some programmed views on things outside their country for their own agenda, but at least for their own countrymen, they do take care to be positive and upfront. Sadly, same cannot be said about Indian media, both electronic and print. Of course, we have an added problem of linguistic and therefore regional chauvinism. Hence biased reporting is the done thing. We are also constitutionally a secular nation, with some half a dozen practicing religions. There are any number of instances where media has tried to muddy the recurring disturbed water of social harmony for their own commercial interest of circulation and viewership, the MSP & TRP. While it is true, that Press must be free, can that freedom be absolute?! Hope someday media in India lives up to its cherished objective of informing and educating the great Indian public about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Amen.
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