MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
Jammu & Kashmir: Judiciary’s actions and inactions have been subject of debates for varieties of reasons. More often they end up giving judgement rather than justice. Judgements depend upon evidence provided. Again there too, it depends what is acceptable to judges, in their interpretation of what constitutes reasonable. Salman Khan was acquitted despite the statement of star witness, because, the star witness had died in the meanwhile and judge in his wisdom thought it cannot be taken on the face value. This was despite the lower court taking cognizance of star witness statement as conclusive evidence, since he was sitting next to the driver Salman Khan. Such judgements forces general public to think that there may be factors at work which help forces working for the accused.
Similar case happened in Kashmir. Three minor girls had accused a self styled faith healer Gulzar Ahmed Bhatt alias Gulzar Peer, of having sexually exploited them at his Budgam Seminary. He was arrested on May 21, 2013, but was released on Feb. 12, 2015. However in the face of public anger, Bhatt was taken into preventive custody. The matter went to Jammu bench of J&K High Court. The court, while acquitting the accused reportedly came down heavily on the J&K police for ‘miserably’ failing to prove the case.
While it is nobody’s case, that, court should hold an alleged accused guilty, even without ‘enough’ evidence, the court, by its very authority as the last resort of justice, has a role that it has exhausted all avenues to explore, to come to reasonable and just conclusion. May be the police have failed, for reasons, best known to them, but the question here is of the sexual exploitation of 3minor girls, and the general public had expressed their anger at the acquittal of the accused. So the learned judges of Jammu bench could have gone an extra mile to know the truth, than just go by the ‘merit’ of the case where, the advocate of the accused appeared stronger than the prosecution backed by J&K police evidence. That police can be accused of questionable management of the case is a known truth and courts cannot be exonerated for taking a ‘rational’ view of the ground condition. Isn’t there scope for improvement!
Asking the Central Government for a comprehensive road map to address all issues raised in the PIL, Supreme Court expressed its dissatisfaction that governments’ measures like crop insurance is really not enough to help the nation’s food producers in distress and has asked to comeback with urgent steps to ensure that farmers in distress, especially of a financial type, do not surrender to a situation of sheer helplessness with the option of only committing suicide. Every government, which comes to power to serve the people ends-up serving themselves most of the time and only occasionally think of general public and their welfare. Although it is so late in the day for the Apex court to proactively pursue the issue of farmers’ suicide, hope it sends appropriate signal to all governments, both central and state, that it means business, in making these governments accountable to the solemn oath these men who run the government take while taking the office of government.
The other day, an MP from Uttar Pradesh, Giriraj Singh was reported to have stated “I urge you all to take an oath not to cut cake to celebrate birth days, instead offer prayers in the temple to celebrate it. In Indian culture, there is no tradition to cut a cake. These days children call their mother as ‘mummy’ instead of ‘maa’ or ‘maiya’ and father as ‘papa’ instead of ‘babuji’ or ‘pitaji’. The words like ‘maiya’ and babuji have an emotional connection”
Now this is not something that we are hearing for the first time. We are not wiser. There have been many, with these kinds of thoughts mouthing their angst for decades. There are millions who call their parents as Amma or Appa in the south in this 21st century, equally there are millions who call their parents as Mummy and Daddy.
Those who call their mother and father as Mummy and Daddy have not betrayed the country or sold themselves to foreign culture. They are as good if not better in being patriotic Indians like their country cousins who call their parents as Amma & Appa. This MP, who must be enjoying all modern gadgets, from car to air conditioners to cell phone etc., which are not Indian to begin with, is caught in a time warp when it comes to things like cutting cakes on a birthday. The idea of a birthday especially for small children is to give them joy and to share joy with others. This Giriraj Singh is clearly a kill joy and hence to be told accordingly by the media and his political party. These are personal choices and therefore best left to individuals. Besides, things Indian are very strong by themselves. Pizza could never replace Masala Dosa despite decades of globalization or Donuts could never replace hot crunchy Medu Vada. Let those who like pizza have it. No issue. More the merrier. These utterances by people like Giriraj neither win votes nor influence people. Instead let him say “Be Indian and Buy Indian” including Indian made cakes. He will be better received.
Student politics is getting worse. The higher institutions of learning are slowly becoming hotbed of competitive politics. In the name of freedom, it is alright to call for the destruction of the country. And there are media men and political parties, joining the crowd, all to score political points and less to do with any visible denial of freedom.
The recent controversy involving a student of Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi had its usual hype in the media and social sites.
Reportedly she is active on social media. Her father, a colonel, was killed in a militant attack in Jammu & Kashmir in 1999, when she was just six years old. At that age she had even tried to stab a burqa clad lady, as if the lady is from Pakistan, the country of her father’s killers.
So, some 15 years down the line, she releases a video with her picture holding a play card “Pakistan did not kill my dad. War killed him”.
Sure, the war killed him, but who waged the war and as a child of six years this young lady had tried to stab a woman in burqa, thinking she is Pakistani. 'So how did you transform from thinking Pakistan killed my dad to war killed my dad not Pakistan. How, who, and what transformed you?'
'There are appendages who talk about you being a pacifist and therefore hate war. But war does not happen on its own. Somebody forces on you. So, shouldn’t those forces be condemned instead of playing ambivalent to score some political points, because, you are a part of an ideology which promotes Pakistan! My dear young lady, it pays to play straight instead of playing 'maturity' card.'
Among those who criticized the student were wrestlers Yogeshwar Datt, Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat, Mahaveera Phogat and cricketer Virender Sehwag. Sehwag had tweeted a picture of himself holding a play card “I didn’t score two triple centuries, but my bat did”, which was apt reply to the controversial play card the student had. However sadly Jawad Akhtar had called Virender Sehwag “hardly literate” taking side of the student. That was simply uncalled for from the lyricist.
Of course, whatever she has conveyed in her video has to be handled same way without alleged threat of physical attack of four letter word. This has to be condemned and those who have threatened have to be booked forthwith. Lest, the so-called majoritarianism of ABVP allowed a free run.
“We have a life on our hands” apex court judges Justice Bobde and Justice Nageshwar Rao, are reported to have observed on an application to abort by an expectant mother of a ‘Down’s Syndrome’ feotus.
The feotus reportedly of 26 weeks, instead of 20 weeks allowed for Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP), was not allowed to be terminated on the grounds of exception, of endangering either the mother or the, to be new born.
Surely the world is not wiser, because of the observation of these learned judges. It’s a fact all know, more so the mother. It’s part of her-own self. She would certainly want it to live. But in what kind of a terrible condition it would live, once delivered! All would be most unhappy and suffering, for no fault of theirs. Judges need to put themselves in their position. They also need to ask the genuine response of other parents with ‘Down’s syndrome’ children. In their attempt to be sanctimonious, they ignore the fact of suffering of both the new born child and their parents. A fact court simply cannot ignore. Instead they should have referred to a medical tribunal to decide such cases, since ‘Down’s syndrome’ children tend to have multiple problems. Hope judges stop being know all.
UTTAR PRADESH: Mild face of BJP, the Home Minister Rajnath Singh had observed the other day, in the course of U.P campaigning, that Muslims should have been given some seats by BJP for the U.P assembly elections. This has clearly shown the Amit Shah mindset; probably PM Modi has approved it. Logic put forth for the denial of seats to Muslims was, ostensibly, the winnability. By the same token, it can be asked, are all those who are contesting on BJP tickets going to win?
BSP has reportedly given 100 seats to Muslims, SP- Congress combine have given 74 seats while BJP has given 0 seat. That’s very stark for a party, who want to be a national party No.1.
A senior journalist, during the course of an interview had asked Amit Shah, ‘How will you get any vote anywhere from Muslims in U.P. if you do not give seats to Muslims?’
According to this sr. journalist, Amit Shah was very categorical, “We do not need any Muslim vote”. If this is the mindset, it is not good for the body politic of the country. It is an invitation for polarization and is very divisive. In the planning, the BJP strategists may not be counting on Muslim votes, but there was absolutely no need to say it so. This is not a healthy sign for any political party, especially for BJP to openly alienate Muslims. By admitting it and saying it so openly, Amit Shah made life difficult for all those who are with the party, be it MJ Akbar, Naqvi, or others.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has reportedly stated that “Government is proud of Mohd. Sartaj,” the father of the suspected terrorist Saifullah killed in the Lucknow encounter, for disowning him.
While it is a very positive statement from the Home Minister, why only ‘government is proud’, he should have said ‘the nation is proud of such a father’. In fact Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress was better when he said “A father has rejected a son for the sake of the nation. My salute.” Indeed nation need to salute such individuals, who have risen above conditioned mindset. He has clearly signaled his unequivocal message to all his fellow Muslim brethren. If there are some who have reservation about his statement and action in refusing to take the body of his slain son, it is not surprising. Mohd. Sartaj is not a fence sitter. Community and the country should recognize it. It is fitting that Members of Parliament cutting across party lines have acknowledged his considered stand. Its people like Sartaj who make Mera Bhaarat Mahaan. Two cheers for him.
It is unfortunate, there is nobody trolling in appreciation of Mohd. Sartaj. Probably they are busy kissing in the Marina in Kerala. If ShivSena was stupid in attacking couples in the beach, these activists are double stupid. As usual, barking up the wrong tree.
During the course of election to the UP assembly there were two reports in the print media. ‘Tejashwi is future CM: Lalu’ & ‘Work is not Modi’s cup of tea, taunts Rahul’
Tejashwi is a son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. He is a school dropout. He was made deputy CM under Nitish Kumar, only because of RJD of Lalu being the party with largest number of seats in the Bihar’s ruling coalition government. Lalu himself a discredited politician with Chaara Ghotala and other scams. If his semi literate son is made the Chief Minister candidate of Bihar, in the next election, wonder even God may not be able to save party RJD, forget about saving Bihar. Rabri Devi, also a semi literate wife of Lalu Prasad had become the CM of Bihar in 1997, after the arrest of Lalu by CBI in Chaara Ghotala Scam. The demand is to replicate UP model were father Mulayam Singh made his son Akhilesh, the CM of UP.
In an India, were dynastic fiefdom is very normal, junior Lalu becoming CM like Junior Mulayam in UP, may happen with the help of India’s ‘great public’. But at least Akhilesh is a qualified engineer and a far better stuff than this Tejashwi. But in Bihar anything can happen. Mercifully Nitish Kumar is capable and a popular CM of Bihar. Hence chances of Tejashwi becoming CM of Bihar is bleak.
For Rahul Gandhi, who so far, has never been tried in any office of ministership, to say ‘work is not Modi’s cup of Tea’ is clearly a desperate attempt at winning some election point, while promising “We will change Uttar Pradesh”. If there is one thing, which PM Modi may be credited, is his work culture. He is probably, the only public servant, if a PM can be called so, who has worked the longest number of hours, day after day for all these past, close to 3 years, of his term as the head of the current NDA government in Delhi. Unlike Rahul, he has not gone on any holiday. Hence Rahul is so clearly off the mark. Of course, it is another matter that his party got a drubbing in the UP election as compared to PM Modi’s party, which ran away with the trophy of Lucknow seat of power with over 80% of seats. As for changing Uttar Pradesh for better, certainly UP electorates are acutely aware of the over 50 years of the Congress rule/misrule in U.P and the result was a clear message to Rahul to ‘Please take a walk’, which means ‘get lost’ in straight language. Hope the present dispensation in U.P provides a government that delivers, to all sections of U.P to make UP a Uttam Pradesh.
U.P always attracted national interest politically, since it is the only state sending more than 70 Members of Parliament with over 400 Legislative Assembly seats. Election to the assembly had drawn huge interest. For the ruling NDA combine, U.P election had very special significance. All parties tried their best to wrest the control of Lucknow seat of power. Result threw up huge surprises, while Congress was reduced to single digit, ebullient Maya could muster only 19 seats and the incumbent SP could get just over 60. Every party had claimed victory. There was an expectation that none would get majority and there could be a hung assembly. In the event, Modi magic worked incredible wonder, getting almost 80% of seats, that is more than 3/4th.
Even BJP was pleasantly surprised at the ‘historic outcome. They, in their wildest dream never thought they could get 312 seats. Reaction across the national spectrum was mixed.
But the latest development, a week later, was most unexpected even to the diehard BJP supporters. In the Union cabinet there is this Manoj Sinha, an IIT alumni, appeared the front runner, after many names making its rounds including that of Rajnath Singh, the Union Home Minister. The selection of Yogi Adityanath, a five times Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur, was least expected. There is an element of unease in the public space on this selection. He is already into the office of CM with over 40 ministers, making right noises of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas’.
Yogi Adityanath has a history of taking wild and divisive public posturing. During the last election, he left nobody in doubt, his programme of building Ram Temple, should BJP come to power. Now that BJP is in power and as luck would have it, he is the boss in Lucknow. Even in BJP central leadership, the unanimity is only for public consumption. All were not in support of him. Hope the high command would keep him in developmental leash.
ASSAM: Young singing sensation Nahid Afrin broke down and said “I am speechless” when, reportedly some 46 Islamic clerics issued a fatwa against her singing in reality TV show Indian Idol Junior. Probably they were more irked because she sang a bhajan. But the fact is, in her own words, she is a practicing Muslim and the music is not anti-Islamic.
In response to the fatwa of 46 clerics, there was a groundswell of support for the young girl from across the spectrum from both inside the film industry and outside. But sadly what is surprising is, the famous KHAN FOURSOME (Shahrukh, Salman, Aamir, Saif Ali) are strangely tongue tied. They have no response, even from the infamous ‘Intolerant India’ Amir Khan. That is indeed bad and sad.
However this young lady, all of 16, has to be congratulated for her courage to stand-up to this fatwa industry, unlike the Kashmiri girl Zaira Wasim who succumbed to the pressure tactics of her Kashmiri bigots. Nahid needs to be elevated as an icon especially when so-called intellectuals like Prof. Zoya Hasan, Prof. Irfan Habib, Prof Ayesha Kidwai, Dr. Gauhar Raza or even activist Shabnam Hashmi have lost their gumption to stand up to these fatwa jokers. This is tolerance for you, like it or not.
MADHYA PRADESH: RSS Pramukh of Ujjain, Kundan Chandrawat, has clearly gone off his head. Offering `1crore to behead Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, was the height of lunacy. He is clearly an aberration to his organization. They have disowned his statement. But they should disown him. RSS should immediately sack him to protect its credibility, or else such idiots will certainly ruin the ‘fair’ name of RSS, being a non-violent organization. Pinarayi Vijayan, is not worth giving this much importance, ask Comrade Achutanandan, he would agree. This mad offer has put lot of Sangh workers in Kerala in embarrassing situation. Yes, fortunately, wisdom prevailed rather soon on RSS biggies and reportedly, this Kundan Chandrawat has been given marching orders. All the noises of those who are anti-RSS has quietly died down.
Maharashtra: With ShivSena as your friend, you do not need an adversary to make things turtle. All that they crave for is power without accountability. That’s what Bal Thackeray did and his son is continuing. That Shiv Sena is the sole representative of Marathi Manoos has lost its sheen with the emergence of BJP as No.1 party in the country and they have a whole lot of Marathi Manoos supporting them. BJP for sure has its negatives as well as divisive tendencies besides many positives. But clearly the voters have positively supported the party whether others like it or not. This growth of the BJP has caused great discomfort to ShivSena as well , among other parties. Junior Thackeray, unlike his father Sr. Thackeray is brash and crude and doesn’t know the language of finesse and public relation. He is using his tabloid ‘saamna’ for his virulent attack of BJP including the country’s Prime Minister, who happens to be from BJP.
Both these parties, BJP & ShivSena, known as saffron combine, have been together since the time of Bal Thackeray and both enjoyed the fruits of this association. But BJP is a national party unlike ShivSena, which is only in Maharashtra, that too mostly in Mumbai. BJP is bound to grow and it has grown beyond their own expectation, especially after the emergence of Narendra Modi as its national leader. Their growth has naturally won them more seats in their joint venture with ShivSena. This was certainly not to the liking of Uddhav Thackery of ShivSena. Basically ShivSena is a family party of Thackerays, so what he says goes. Since he has a habit of shooting off his mouth, he has surely made more enemies than friends. Thus BJP and ShivSena did not remain together for the last assembly election. Thackeray thought ShivSena would win more seats by going separate, but BJP got more seats. Unlike his father, Uddhav Thackeray is unreasonable and more ambitions. He wanted to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. That didn’t happen. He can’t accept deputy CM position, so no alliance. On the day of floor test, NCP saved the blues for BJP. Somehow coalition between BJP &SS came about, to form the govt. From day one, this Thackeray was a pain to BJP. BMC election came, along with other municipal corporations of Maharashtra. Except Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation, BJP won all Municipal Corporations. It was a huge victory for BJP. In BMC too, S.S got just two seats more than BJP, 84&82. BMC is the richest corporation with close to 40,000 crore budget. For ShivSena politicians, this is the only source of income. BJP decided to play the watching game by giving up Mayoral position. Declared to remain within the ruling combine as watch dog. This will make S.S politicians including Thackeray sleepless. Despite tom-toming that they are the single largest party, they are aware that BJP can play its cards to embarrass S.S. As usual UddhavThackeray brags and brags, fully aware of the inadequacies of the declining strength of his ShivSena. But the tiger has to roar, fang or no fang. With the U.P election result going home to make its own political statement, it’s going to be better days for BJP, whether Shiv Sena recognizes it or not. It is for the better of both parties that ShivSena should accept its junior status in the changed circumstances and go along with BJP as a partner. This will serve both parties well, may be, even it would do good hopefully to Mumbaikars as well, if only Uddhav Thackeray tries to read what is written on the wall. By next election, BJP may not need S.S, and then ShivSena would have lost an opportunity for good.
The trend of youngsters leaving their aged parents to fend for themselves is in vogue since quite sometimes in India. Unlike the European countries, the culture of joint family is still living, but slowly becoming a thing of the past. Youth, these days have dreams of making it financially big, in different parts of the world, from Alabama to Adelaide. It is sad but most youth don’t give a damn that one day it may befall on them as well- left alone to fend for themselves, in the twilight years of their life.
Comes this story of Joe Monteiro & June Monteiro, 91 & 94, of Pali Hill Bandra, a Mumbai Suburb. Suddenly their only daughter left them to migrate to Sydney. Neighbour says, Joe was shocked when his daughter left Mumbai. “I don’t know how to explain this pain. She abandoned us.” One needs to be in the shoes of this Joe and June to realize the pain and sadness they were pushed into by their only daughter, who left them to helplessness in search of an El Dorado in far away Australia. Fortunately for Monteiro couple, there is this Pali Hill Residents Association and its very helpful secretary Madhu Poplai who comes around to help them with their knitty gritty of their finance, checking their hearing aids, if its battery is charged or not etc. ‘She is only a call away’ tell the couple and admit that they are blessed with neighbours like Madhu.
‘My daughter abandoned us but we are blessed with good people around us. Madhu and her family members have been doing everything for me and my ailing husband.” was the thanks giving by nonagenarian June Monteiro on International Women’s Day.
How many Indians remember this advertising man Barun Kashyap? It was in Aug 2016, he had gone on FaceBook with a story of some Gav Rakshaks who along with the driver of the rickshaw he was in, allegedly stopped him to ask, ‘if the bag he was carrying was made of cow skin?’ And on sayings that it wasn’t, they had allegedly told him “Ab bach gaya” and let him go. The story had gone viral, and all electronic channels and print media had extensively reported it and had slammed the Gau Rakshaks and their organizations.
However, a police investigation that followed with CCTV verification concluded that it was fake. But not many in print media reported the truth of the investigation and none in T.V. took the trouble to tell the truth to the world, as usual.
Now comes, the news about some relief being granted by the court. Reportedly Bombay High Court has asked the police not to resort to any ‘coercive’ action against him, responding to his plea to quash the case of “attempting to create communal hatred”.
Truly speaking court should not entertain characters like this Kashyap who are enemies of the society, when courts have enough pending cases to spend time on. Hope police actively pursue the case and this ‘intelligent idiot’ gets fixed soon.
KARNATAKA: U.T Khader (UTK) was always perceived to be a responsible and responsive minister. His statement that the bandh organizers are not even fit to be ‘sandals’ of Kerala CM was however most irresponsible.
Pinarayi Vijayan, is a controversial person. Dakshina Kannada does not need lessons in secularism and harmony from him. There was no need for this, so-called Sauharda organizers to invite him. They could have invited probably Sitaram Yechury, a less controversial person. But their intention was not clean and hence invited Pinarayi. This was clearly a stupid act. To make matters worse bandh organizers were two times stupid by forcing the bandh on people of D.K., and causing completely avoidable inconveniences. They could have just ignored his visit, as if of no consequence. ‘Sauharda’ people got publicity they did not deserve.
Under the circumstances for UTK to glorify Pinirayi Vijayan’s sandals was the ‘unkindest cut of all’. If minister UTK thinks highly of Pinirayi’s sandal, he should carry it on his head. May be Sauharda organizers would carry UTK on their head.
Tamil Nadu: Shooting dead of a young fisherman K Britjo of Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy is a matter of deep concern. Fishing within the territorial waters of each country is an internationally accepted covenant. But more often than not, fishermen, inadvertently or due to greed to catch more and big, do cross international maritime border. It happens with fishermen of all countries. Nothing unprecedented. In the normal course, these fisher folks are apprehended and taken into custody and boats confiscated. After usual verification of their persona, their identity, their boat etc are searched and after all legal process completed, they are released, generally without any harm.
But this shooting dead, apparently without any provocation, is a very serious matter. If the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has accused Sri Lankan Navy of “cold blooded, inhuman, horrific and illegal barbaric killing of a young Indian fisherman from Tamil Nadu” he cannot be faulted. It could have been a shocking incident for the entire fishing community of Tamil Nadu.
Responding to government of India’s ‘deep concern’, reportedly the Sri Lankan Navy has promised a full and a thorough probe. Here it is pertinent to recollect that Ranil Wickramasinghe, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, had in the past had remarked that “Indian Fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters will be shot”. Notwithstanding the prime ministerial hysteria of Wickramasinghe, there was a Joint Working Group in Dec 2016, which has decided that there will be no ‘physical harm’ to the fishermen found poaching in water across the respective borders. Hope Sri Lanka comes up with credible explanation to the tragedy and does everything to ensure that such tragic incidents do not recur.
World: The shooting of Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas in a supposedly hate crime by a U.S. Navy veteran has opened the Pandora’s box of uncertainties of huge magnitude for Indian Diaspora in particular.
Indians are a hardworking lot in the U.S., so they earn better and live better. Some even, may be, showing off. That may be rubbing some Americans, on the wrong side. Racial discrimination in the U.S has a long history. It was always there in some form or the other. But officially there was always legal protection for all legal immigrants and hence life was generally hunky dory with some hick-ups here or there with police taking, at times, a partisan stand. If there was racial hatred, it always more or less, remained dormant. But since the last election of President Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S., it has been, a kind of open invitation to chaos. All through his presidential campaigning, he sounded fairly clear that he is generally against immigrants. Hence those who had remained quiet so far, have become more bold, vocal and aggressive. That is how there have been a spate of attacks on Indians, whom, many Americans think, are the ones who have taken away their legitimate jobs. Yes, hate crimes are more open now.
Of course hate crimes against African Students in India is also a fact of life. But the gun culture or the right to carry a gun in the U.S. has far greater scope for mischief and mayhem than probably it is in India. That is the worrying dimension of this latest development in the U.S. India will certainly take up such issues diplomatically to help sort things out. After all U.S. as a whole, is a country of immigrants. Some have come early and some have come late. Hence, for U.S. to remain U.S., it has to keep its door open for all nationalities within its socio-economic and legislative constraints.
Here it is pertinent to quote a young lady Anusha Shankar, a scientist with Stony Brook University “It is sad to hear of shooting anywhere. But the potential of it being racially motivated is upsetting. It seems like it could happen anywhere and to anyone. There is a sense that there is hatred brewing and that it is indiscriminate. As a scientist, I was more worried that this government would attack the environment. But with the travel ban and shooting, the list of things to worry about seems endless.” That has put the concerns in right perspective.
Dalia Lama has always been a thorn in the flesh of Chinese authorities, whether it is right or wrong. Dalai Lama is a global citizen. He is welcome in most countries as a messenger of peace. He has been in India, ever since the annexation of Tibet in 1950s. He is in and out of India at regular intervals travelling to most parts of the world. There are over 100,000 Tibetan refugees in India in different parts of the country. They are also in India’s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which, at least some parts of it, is claimed by Chinese as theirs. Dalai Lama is slated to visit Arunachal Pradesh to meet Tibetan refugees. But as usual China is upset. This time their irritation at the proposed visit, facilitated by India, appears to be of an extreme kind. According to a press briefing from Beijing the proposed visit “would cause serious damage to peace and stability of border region and India-China ties” and warned New Delhi.
As expected, India dismissed the warning with the contempt it deserved. Reportedly Ministry of External Affairs has reacted stating “The Indian government’s position is well known and has not changed” without being verbose. India needs to stand its ground without being over-bearing.
Whether it is United Nations Organisation and those institutions under this organization besides WTO, GATT etc are there to serve some purpose of international co-operation for co-operative coexistence. The declared objectives of these institutions apparently are to serve some common objective where welfare of all was ostensibly thought about.
But what is the reality? UNO is known to be tooth-less in its attempt to transform things, due to the veto power vested with permanent members and the money clout they wield with donations to UN.
Or look at WTO, it has always been third world countries which took the beating. The dos and don’ts of these organizations may not be loaded in favor of western first world countries, but it has been a situation of might is right. Western governments, especially the U.S has always used unfair means to its advantage.
And comes this news about how United States nixed an Indian plea, along with 11 other South East Asian Countries, on ‘reforms in medicine’.
This block of 12 nations had proposed a discussion on an “Access to Medicine” report by the UN High Level Panel that had recommended reforms in funding of bio medical R&D, which aimed of reforming medical innovation that currently pump up drug prices to unaffordable levels.
Reportedly, a set of documents released by Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), reveals that both U.S and WHO (World Health Organisation) opposed the inclusion of proposal by India in the last (140th) meeting of the Executive Board of WHO. They had obtained the information under the Freedom of Information Act.
Reportedly Jimmy Kolker, Asst. Secretary at the U.S Deptt of Health and Human Services, so also a U.S member on the WHO Executive Board had emailed Dr. Thomas Frieden Vice Chairman of WHO “Access to Medicine- oppose proposal by India”.
Reportedly, this has drawn widespread criticism from Asian Civil Society. According to Leena Menghaney lawyer and access campaigner “The UN report says there is need for an R&D treaty and it recommended reforms in the area of bio-medical R&D. The U.S government has a policy of blocking all reforms that would lead to funding R&D system in a way that it prioritizes diseases that kill millions of people in the developing world. This is consistent with the U.S policy to pressure countries like India to have more IP (intellectual property) barriers while blocking all attempts at reforms”. This is United States of America, the champion of freedom of choice. With Donald Trump in the saddle, can this become more assertive!?
Similar case happened in Kashmir. Three minor girls had accused a self styled faith healer Gulzar Ahmed Bhatt alias Gulzar Peer, of having sexually exploited them at his Budgam Seminary. He was arrested on May 21, 2013, but was released on Feb. 12, 2015. However in the face of public anger, Bhatt was taken into preventive custody. The matter went to Jammu bench of J&K High Court. The court, while acquitting the accused reportedly came down heavily on the J&K police for ‘miserably’ failing to prove the case.
While it is nobody’s case, that, court should hold an alleged accused guilty, even without ‘enough’ evidence, the court, by its very authority as the last resort of justice, has a role that it has exhausted all avenues to explore, to come to reasonable and just conclusion. May be the police have failed, for reasons, best known to them, but the question here is of the sexual exploitation of 3minor girls, and the general public had expressed their anger at the acquittal of the accused. So the learned judges of Jammu bench could have gone an extra mile to know the truth, than just go by the ‘merit’ of the case where, the advocate of the accused appeared stronger than the prosecution backed by J&K police evidence. That police can be accused of questionable management of the case is a known truth and courts cannot be exonerated for taking a ‘rational’ view of the ground condition. Isn’t there scope for improvement!
New Delhi: The observation of the apex court that the “issue of farmers suicide was of extreme importance and paying compensation to the families of such victims ‘post-facto’ was not the real solution” has not come a day too early. It has been a burning issue of contemporary India for a fairly long time.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Citizens Resource for Action and Initiative for an overhaul of policies relating to agriculture, covering the whole gamut of issues like drought, issue of minimum support price, financial assistance in case of need, so also compensation to families of farmers committing suicide due to indebtedness and crop failures.Asking the Central Government for a comprehensive road map to address all issues raised in the PIL, Supreme Court expressed its dissatisfaction that governments’ measures like crop insurance is really not enough to help the nation’s food producers in distress and has asked to comeback with urgent steps to ensure that farmers in distress, especially of a financial type, do not surrender to a situation of sheer helplessness with the option of only committing suicide. Every government, which comes to power to serve the people ends-up serving themselves most of the time and only occasionally think of general public and their welfare. Although it is so late in the day for the Apex court to proactively pursue the issue of farmers’ suicide, hope it sends appropriate signal to all governments, both central and state, that it means business, in making these governments accountable to the solemn oath these men who run the government take while taking the office of government.
The other day, an MP from Uttar Pradesh, Giriraj Singh was reported to have stated “I urge you all to take an oath not to cut cake to celebrate birth days, instead offer prayers in the temple to celebrate it. In Indian culture, there is no tradition to cut a cake. These days children call their mother as ‘mummy’ instead of ‘maa’ or ‘maiya’ and father as ‘papa’ instead of ‘babuji’ or ‘pitaji’. The words like ‘maiya’ and babuji have an emotional connection”
Now this is not something that we are hearing for the first time. We are not wiser. There have been many, with these kinds of thoughts mouthing their angst for decades. There are millions who call their parents as Amma or Appa in the south in this 21st century, equally there are millions who call their parents as Mummy and Daddy.
Those who call their mother and father as Mummy and Daddy have not betrayed the country or sold themselves to foreign culture. They are as good if not better in being patriotic Indians like their country cousins who call their parents as Amma & Appa. This MP, who must be enjoying all modern gadgets, from car to air conditioners to cell phone etc., which are not Indian to begin with, is caught in a time warp when it comes to things like cutting cakes on a birthday. The idea of a birthday especially for small children is to give them joy and to share joy with others. This Giriraj Singh is clearly a kill joy and hence to be told accordingly by the media and his political party. These are personal choices and therefore best left to individuals. Besides, things Indian are very strong by themselves. Pizza could never replace Masala Dosa despite decades of globalization or Donuts could never replace hot crunchy Medu Vada. Let those who like pizza have it. No issue. More the merrier. These utterances by people like Giriraj neither win votes nor influence people. Instead let him say “Be Indian and Buy Indian” including Indian made cakes. He will be better received.
Student politics is getting worse. The higher institutions of learning are slowly becoming hotbed of competitive politics. In the name of freedom, it is alright to call for the destruction of the country. And there are media men and political parties, joining the crowd, all to score political points and less to do with any visible denial of freedom.
The recent controversy involving a student of Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi had its usual hype in the media and social sites.
Reportedly she is active on social media. Her father, a colonel, was killed in a militant attack in Jammu & Kashmir in 1999, when she was just six years old. At that age she had even tried to stab a burqa clad lady, as if the lady is from Pakistan, the country of her father’s killers.
So, some 15 years down the line, she releases a video with her picture holding a play card “Pakistan did not kill my dad. War killed him”.
Sure, the war killed him, but who waged the war and as a child of six years this young lady had tried to stab a woman in burqa, thinking she is Pakistani. 'So how did you transform from thinking Pakistan killed my dad to war killed my dad not Pakistan. How, who, and what transformed you?'
'There are appendages who talk about you being a pacifist and therefore hate war. But war does not happen on its own. Somebody forces on you. So, shouldn’t those forces be condemned instead of playing ambivalent to score some political points, because, you are a part of an ideology which promotes Pakistan! My dear young lady, it pays to play straight instead of playing 'maturity' card.'
Among those who criticized the student were wrestlers Yogeshwar Datt, Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat, Mahaveera Phogat and cricketer Virender Sehwag. Sehwag had tweeted a picture of himself holding a play card “I didn’t score two triple centuries, but my bat did”, which was apt reply to the controversial play card the student had. However sadly Jawad Akhtar had called Virender Sehwag “hardly literate” taking side of the student. That was simply uncalled for from the lyricist.
Of course, whatever she has conveyed in her video has to be handled same way without alleged threat of physical attack of four letter word. This has to be condemned and those who have threatened have to be booked forthwith. Lest, the so-called majoritarianism of ABVP allowed a free run.
“We have a life on our hands” apex court judges Justice Bobde and Justice Nageshwar Rao, are reported to have observed on an application to abort by an expectant mother of a ‘Down’s Syndrome’ feotus.
The feotus reportedly of 26 weeks, instead of 20 weeks allowed for Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP), was not allowed to be terminated on the grounds of exception, of endangering either the mother or the, to be new born.
Surely the world is not wiser, because of the observation of these learned judges. It’s a fact all know, more so the mother. It’s part of her-own self. She would certainly want it to live. But in what kind of a terrible condition it would live, once delivered! All would be most unhappy and suffering, for no fault of theirs. Judges need to put themselves in their position. They also need to ask the genuine response of other parents with ‘Down’s syndrome’ children. In their attempt to be sanctimonious, they ignore the fact of suffering of both the new born child and their parents. A fact court simply cannot ignore. Instead they should have referred to a medical tribunal to decide such cases, since ‘Down’s syndrome’ children tend to have multiple problems. Hope judges stop being know all.
UTTAR PRADESH: Mild face of BJP, the Home Minister Rajnath Singh had observed the other day, in the course of U.P campaigning, that Muslims should have been given some seats by BJP for the U.P assembly elections. This has clearly shown the Amit Shah mindset; probably PM Modi has approved it. Logic put forth for the denial of seats to Muslims was, ostensibly, the winnability. By the same token, it can be asked, are all those who are contesting on BJP tickets going to win?
BSP has reportedly given 100 seats to Muslims, SP- Congress combine have given 74 seats while BJP has given 0 seat. That’s very stark for a party, who want to be a national party No.1.
A senior journalist, during the course of an interview had asked Amit Shah, ‘How will you get any vote anywhere from Muslims in U.P. if you do not give seats to Muslims?’
According to this sr. journalist, Amit Shah was very categorical, “We do not need any Muslim vote”. If this is the mindset, it is not good for the body politic of the country. It is an invitation for polarization and is very divisive. In the planning, the BJP strategists may not be counting on Muslim votes, but there was absolutely no need to say it so. This is not a healthy sign for any political party, especially for BJP to openly alienate Muslims. By admitting it and saying it so openly, Amit Shah made life difficult for all those who are with the party, be it MJ Akbar, Naqvi, or others.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has reportedly stated that “Government is proud of Mohd. Sartaj,” the father of the suspected terrorist Saifullah killed in the Lucknow encounter, for disowning him.
While it is a very positive statement from the Home Minister, why only ‘government is proud’, he should have said ‘the nation is proud of such a father’. In fact Ghulam Nabi Azad of Congress was better when he said “A father has rejected a son for the sake of the nation. My salute.” Indeed nation need to salute such individuals, who have risen above conditioned mindset. He has clearly signaled his unequivocal message to all his fellow Muslim brethren. If there are some who have reservation about his statement and action in refusing to take the body of his slain son, it is not surprising. Mohd. Sartaj is not a fence sitter. Community and the country should recognize it. It is fitting that Members of Parliament cutting across party lines have acknowledged his considered stand. Its people like Sartaj who make Mera Bhaarat Mahaan. Two cheers for him.
It is unfortunate, there is nobody trolling in appreciation of Mohd. Sartaj. Probably they are busy kissing in the Marina in Kerala. If ShivSena was stupid in attacking couples in the beach, these activists are double stupid. As usual, barking up the wrong tree.
During the course of election to the UP assembly there were two reports in the print media. ‘Tejashwi is future CM: Lalu’ & ‘Work is not Modi’s cup of tea, taunts Rahul’
Tejashwi is a son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. He is a school dropout. He was made deputy CM under Nitish Kumar, only because of RJD of Lalu being the party with largest number of seats in the Bihar’s ruling coalition government. Lalu himself a discredited politician with Chaara Ghotala and other scams. If his semi literate son is made the Chief Minister candidate of Bihar, in the next election, wonder even God may not be able to save party RJD, forget about saving Bihar. Rabri Devi, also a semi literate wife of Lalu Prasad had become the CM of Bihar in 1997, after the arrest of Lalu by CBI in Chaara Ghotala Scam. The demand is to replicate UP model were father Mulayam Singh made his son Akhilesh, the CM of UP.
In an India, were dynastic fiefdom is very normal, junior Lalu becoming CM like Junior Mulayam in UP, may happen with the help of India’s ‘great public’. But at least Akhilesh is a qualified engineer and a far better stuff than this Tejashwi. But in Bihar anything can happen. Mercifully Nitish Kumar is capable and a popular CM of Bihar. Hence chances of Tejashwi becoming CM of Bihar is bleak.
For Rahul Gandhi, who so far, has never been tried in any office of ministership, to say ‘work is not Modi’s cup of Tea’ is clearly a desperate attempt at winning some election point, while promising “We will change Uttar Pradesh”. If there is one thing, which PM Modi may be credited, is his work culture. He is probably, the only public servant, if a PM can be called so, who has worked the longest number of hours, day after day for all these past, close to 3 years, of his term as the head of the current NDA government in Delhi. Unlike Rahul, he has not gone on any holiday. Hence Rahul is so clearly off the mark. Of course, it is another matter that his party got a drubbing in the UP election as compared to PM Modi’s party, which ran away with the trophy of Lucknow seat of power with over 80% of seats. As for changing Uttar Pradesh for better, certainly UP electorates are acutely aware of the over 50 years of the Congress rule/misrule in U.P and the result was a clear message to Rahul to ‘Please take a walk’, which means ‘get lost’ in straight language. Hope the present dispensation in U.P provides a government that delivers, to all sections of U.P to make UP a Uttam Pradesh.
U.P always attracted national interest politically, since it is the only state sending more than 70 Members of Parliament with over 400 Legislative Assembly seats. Election to the assembly had drawn huge interest. For the ruling NDA combine, U.P election had very special significance. All parties tried their best to wrest the control of Lucknow seat of power. Result threw up huge surprises, while Congress was reduced to single digit, ebullient Maya could muster only 19 seats and the incumbent SP could get just over 60. Every party had claimed victory. There was an expectation that none would get majority and there could be a hung assembly. In the event, Modi magic worked incredible wonder, getting almost 80% of seats, that is more than 3/4th.
Even BJP was pleasantly surprised at the ‘historic outcome. They, in their wildest dream never thought they could get 312 seats. Reaction across the national spectrum was mixed.
But the latest development, a week later, was most unexpected even to the diehard BJP supporters. In the Union cabinet there is this Manoj Sinha, an IIT alumni, appeared the front runner, after many names making its rounds including that of Rajnath Singh, the Union Home Minister. The selection of Yogi Adityanath, a five times Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur, was least expected. There is an element of unease in the public space on this selection. He is already into the office of CM with over 40 ministers, making right noises of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas’.
Yogi Adityanath has a history of taking wild and divisive public posturing. During the last election, he left nobody in doubt, his programme of building Ram Temple, should BJP come to power. Now that BJP is in power and as luck would have it, he is the boss in Lucknow. Even in BJP central leadership, the unanimity is only for public consumption. All were not in support of him. Hope the high command would keep him in developmental leash.
ASSAM: Young singing sensation Nahid Afrin broke down and said “I am speechless” when, reportedly some 46 Islamic clerics issued a fatwa against her singing in reality TV show Indian Idol Junior. Probably they were more irked because she sang a bhajan. But the fact is, in her own words, she is a practicing Muslim and the music is not anti-Islamic.
In response to the fatwa of 46 clerics, there was a groundswell of support for the young girl from across the spectrum from both inside the film industry and outside. But sadly what is surprising is, the famous KHAN FOURSOME (Shahrukh, Salman, Aamir, Saif Ali) are strangely tongue tied. They have no response, even from the infamous ‘Intolerant India’ Amir Khan. That is indeed bad and sad.
However this young lady, all of 16, has to be congratulated for her courage to stand-up to this fatwa industry, unlike the Kashmiri girl Zaira Wasim who succumbed to the pressure tactics of her Kashmiri bigots. Nahid needs to be elevated as an icon especially when so-called intellectuals like Prof. Zoya Hasan, Prof. Irfan Habib, Prof Ayesha Kidwai, Dr. Gauhar Raza or even activist Shabnam Hashmi have lost their gumption to stand up to these fatwa jokers. This is tolerance for you, like it or not.
MADHYA PRADESH: RSS Pramukh of Ujjain, Kundan Chandrawat, has clearly gone off his head. Offering `1crore to behead Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, was the height of lunacy. He is clearly an aberration to his organization. They have disowned his statement. But they should disown him. RSS should immediately sack him to protect its credibility, or else such idiots will certainly ruin the ‘fair’ name of RSS, being a non-violent organization. Pinarayi Vijayan, is not worth giving this much importance, ask Comrade Achutanandan, he would agree. This mad offer has put lot of Sangh workers in Kerala in embarrassing situation. Yes, fortunately, wisdom prevailed rather soon on RSS biggies and reportedly, this Kundan Chandrawat has been given marching orders. All the noises of those who are anti-RSS has quietly died down.
Maharashtra: With ShivSena as your friend, you do not need an adversary to make things turtle. All that they crave for is power without accountability. That’s what Bal Thackeray did and his son is continuing. That Shiv Sena is the sole representative of Marathi Manoos has lost its sheen with the emergence of BJP as No.1 party in the country and they have a whole lot of Marathi Manoos supporting them. BJP for sure has its negatives as well as divisive tendencies besides many positives. But clearly the voters have positively supported the party whether others like it or not. This growth of the BJP has caused great discomfort to ShivSena as well , among other parties. Junior Thackeray, unlike his father Sr. Thackeray is brash and crude and doesn’t know the language of finesse and public relation. He is using his tabloid ‘saamna’ for his virulent attack of BJP including the country’s Prime Minister, who happens to be from BJP.
Both these parties, BJP & ShivSena, known as saffron combine, have been together since the time of Bal Thackeray and both enjoyed the fruits of this association. But BJP is a national party unlike ShivSena, which is only in Maharashtra, that too mostly in Mumbai. BJP is bound to grow and it has grown beyond their own expectation, especially after the emergence of Narendra Modi as its national leader. Their growth has naturally won them more seats in their joint venture with ShivSena. This was certainly not to the liking of Uddhav Thackery of ShivSena. Basically ShivSena is a family party of Thackerays, so what he says goes. Since he has a habit of shooting off his mouth, he has surely made more enemies than friends. Thus BJP and ShivSena did not remain together for the last assembly election. Thackeray thought ShivSena would win more seats by going separate, but BJP got more seats. Unlike his father, Uddhav Thackeray is unreasonable and more ambitions. He wanted to be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. That didn’t happen. He can’t accept deputy CM position, so no alliance. On the day of floor test, NCP saved the blues for BJP. Somehow coalition between BJP &SS came about, to form the govt. From day one, this Thackeray was a pain to BJP. BMC election came, along with other municipal corporations of Maharashtra. Except Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation, BJP won all Municipal Corporations. It was a huge victory for BJP. In BMC too, S.S got just two seats more than BJP, 84&82. BMC is the richest corporation with close to 40,000 crore budget. For ShivSena politicians, this is the only source of income. BJP decided to play the watching game by giving up Mayoral position. Declared to remain within the ruling combine as watch dog. This will make S.S politicians including Thackeray sleepless. Despite tom-toming that they are the single largest party, they are aware that BJP can play its cards to embarrass S.S. As usual UddhavThackeray brags and brags, fully aware of the inadequacies of the declining strength of his ShivSena. But the tiger has to roar, fang or no fang. With the U.P election result going home to make its own political statement, it’s going to be better days for BJP, whether Shiv Sena recognizes it or not. It is for the better of both parties that ShivSena should accept its junior status in the changed circumstances and go along with BJP as a partner. This will serve both parties well, may be, even it would do good hopefully to Mumbaikars as well, if only Uddhav Thackeray tries to read what is written on the wall. By next election, BJP may not need S.S, and then ShivSena would have lost an opportunity for good.
The trend of youngsters leaving their aged parents to fend for themselves is in vogue since quite sometimes in India. Unlike the European countries, the culture of joint family is still living, but slowly becoming a thing of the past. Youth, these days have dreams of making it financially big, in different parts of the world, from Alabama to Adelaide. It is sad but most youth don’t give a damn that one day it may befall on them as well- left alone to fend for themselves, in the twilight years of their life.
Comes this story of Joe Monteiro & June Monteiro, 91 & 94, of Pali Hill Bandra, a Mumbai Suburb. Suddenly their only daughter left them to migrate to Sydney. Neighbour says, Joe was shocked when his daughter left Mumbai. “I don’t know how to explain this pain. She abandoned us.” One needs to be in the shoes of this Joe and June to realize the pain and sadness they were pushed into by their only daughter, who left them to helplessness in search of an El Dorado in far away Australia. Fortunately for Monteiro couple, there is this Pali Hill Residents Association and its very helpful secretary Madhu Poplai who comes around to help them with their knitty gritty of their finance, checking their hearing aids, if its battery is charged or not etc. ‘She is only a call away’ tell the couple and admit that they are blessed with neighbours like Madhu.
‘My daughter abandoned us but we are blessed with good people around us. Madhu and her family members have been doing everything for me and my ailing husband.” was the thanks giving by nonagenarian June Monteiro on International Women’s Day.
How many Indians remember this advertising man Barun Kashyap? It was in Aug 2016, he had gone on FaceBook with a story of some Gav Rakshaks who along with the driver of the rickshaw he was in, allegedly stopped him to ask, ‘if the bag he was carrying was made of cow skin?’ And on sayings that it wasn’t, they had allegedly told him “Ab bach gaya” and let him go. The story had gone viral, and all electronic channels and print media had extensively reported it and had slammed the Gau Rakshaks and their organizations.
However, a police investigation that followed with CCTV verification concluded that it was fake. But not many in print media reported the truth of the investigation and none in T.V. took the trouble to tell the truth to the world, as usual.
Now comes, the news about some relief being granted by the court. Reportedly Bombay High Court has asked the police not to resort to any ‘coercive’ action against him, responding to his plea to quash the case of “attempting to create communal hatred”.
Truly speaking court should not entertain characters like this Kashyap who are enemies of the society, when courts have enough pending cases to spend time on. Hope police actively pursue the case and this ‘intelligent idiot’ gets fixed soon.
KARNATAKA: U.T Khader (UTK) was always perceived to be a responsible and responsive minister. His statement that the bandh organizers are not even fit to be ‘sandals’ of Kerala CM was however most irresponsible.
Pinarayi Vijayan, is a controversial person. Dakshina Kannada does not need lessons in secularism and harmony from him. There was no need for this, so-called Sauharda organizers to invite him. They could have invited probably Sitaram Yechury, a less controversial person. But their intention was not clean and hence invited Pinarayi. This was clearly a stupid act. To make matters worse bandh organizers were two times stupid by forcing the bandh on people of D.K., and causing completely avoidable inconveniences. They could have just ignored his visit, as if of no consequence. ‘Sauharda’ people got publicity they did not deserve.
Under the circumstances for UTK to glorify Pinirayi Vijayan’s sandals was the ‘unkindest cut of all’. If minister UTK thinks highly of Pinirayi’s sandal, he should carry it on his head. May be Sauharda organizers would carry UTK on their head.
Tamil Nadu: Shooting dead of a young fisherman K Britjo of Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy is a matter of deep concern. Fishing within the territorial waters of each country is an internationally accepted covenant. But more often than not, fishermen, inadvertently or due to greed to catch more and big, do cross international maritime border. It happens with fishermen of all countries. Nothing unprecedented. In the normal course, these fisher folks are apprehended and taken into custody and boats confiscated. After usual verification of their persona, their identity, their boat etc are searched and after all legal process completed, they are released, generally without any harm.
But this shooting dead, apparently without any provocation, is a very serious matter. If the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has accused Sri Lankan Navy of “cold blooded, inhuman, horrific and illegal barbaric killing of a young Indian fisherman from Tamil Nadu” he cannot be faulted. It could have been a shocking incident for the entire fishing community of Tamil Nadu.
Responding to government of India’s ‘deep concern’, reportedly the Sri Lankan Navy has promised a full and a thorough probe. Here it is pertinent to recollect that Ranil Wickramasinghe, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, had in the past had remarked that “Indian Fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters will be shot”. Notwithstanding the prime ministerial hysteria of Wickramasinghe, there was a Joint Working Group in Dec 2016, which has decided that there will be no ‘physical harm’ to the fishermen found poaching in water across the respective borders. Hope Sri Lanka comes up with credible explanation to the tragedy and does everything to ensure that such tragic incidents do not recur.
World: The shooting of Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas in a supposedly hate crime by a U.S. Navy veteran has opened the Pandora’s box of uncertainties of huge magnitude for Indian Diaspora in particular.
Indians are a hardworking lot in the U.S., so they earn better and live better. Some even, may be, showing off. That may be rubbing some Americans, on the wrong side. Racial discrimination in the U.S has a long history. It was always there in some form or the other. But officially there was always legal protection for all legal immigrants and hence life was generally hunky dory with some hick-ups here or there with police taking, at times, a partisan stand. If there was racial hatred, it always more or less, remained dormant. But since the last election of President Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S., it has been, a kind of open invitation to chaos. All through his presidential campaigning, he sounded fairly clear that he is generally against immigrants. Hence those who had remained quiet so far, have become more bold, vocal and aggressive. That is how there have been a spate of attacks on Indians, whom, many Americans think, are the ones who have taken away their legitimate jobs. Yes, hate crimes are more open now.
Of course hate crimes against African Students in India is also a fact of life. But the gun culture or the right to carry a gun in the U.S. has far greater scope for mischief and mayhem than probably it is in India. That is the worrying dimension of this latest development in the U.S. India will certainly take up such issues diplomatically to help sort things out. After all U.S. as a whole, is a country of immigrants. Some have come early and some have come late. Hence, for U.S. to remain U.S., it has to keep its door open for all nationalities within its socio-economic and legislative constraints.
Here it is pertinent to quote a young lady Anusha Shankar, a scientist with Stony Brook University “It is sad to hear of shooting anywhere. But the potential of it being racially motivated is upsetting. It seems like it could happen anywhere and to anyone. There is a sense that there is hatred brewing and that it is indiscriminate. As a scientist, I was more worried that this government would attack the environment. But with the travel ban and shooting, the list of things to worry about seems endless.” That has put the concerns in right perspective.
Dalia Lama has always been a thorn in the flesh of Chinese authorities, whether it is right or wrong. Dalai Lama is a global citizen. He is welcome in most countries as a messenger of peace. He has been in India, ever since the annexation of Tibet in 1950s. He is in and out of India at regular intervals travelling to most parts of the world. There are over 100,000 Tibetan refugees in India in different parts of the country. They are also in India’s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which, at least some parts of it, is claimed by Chinese as theirs. Dalai Lama is slated to visit Arunachal Pradesh to meet Tibetan refugees. But as usual China is upset. This time their irritation at the proposed visit, facilitated by India, appears to be of an extreme kind. According to a press briefing from Beijing the proposed visit “would cause serious damage to peace and stability of border region and India-China ties” and warned New Delhi.
As expected, India dismissed the warning with the contempt it deserved. Reportedly Ministry of External Affairs has reacted stating “The Indian government’s position is well known and has not changed” without being verbose. India needs to stand its ground without being over-bearing.
Whether it is United Nations Organisation and those institutions under this organization besides WTO, GATT etc are there to serve some purpose of international co-operation for co-operative coexistence. The declared objectives of these institutions apparently are to serve some common objective where welfare of all was ostensibly thought about.
But what is the reality? UNO is known to be tooth-less in its attempt to transform things, due to the veto power vested with permanent members and the money clout they wield with donations to UN.
Or look at WTO, it has always been third world countries which took the beating. The dos and don’ts of these organizations may not be loaded in favor of western first world countries, but it has been a situation of might is right. Western governments, especially the U.S has always used unfair means to its advantage.
And comes this news about how United States nixed an Indian plea, along with 11 other South East Asian Countries, on ‘reforms in medicine’.
This block of 12 nations had proposed a discussion on an “Access to Medicine” report by the UN High Level Panel that had recommended reforms in funding of bio medical R&D, which aimed of reforming medical innovation that currently pump up drug prices to unaffordable levels.
Reportedly, a set of documents released by Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), reveals that both U.S and WHO (World Health Organisation) opposed the inclusion of proposal by India in the last (140th) meeting of the Executive Board of WHO. They had obtained the information under the Freedom of Information Act.
Reportedly Jimmy Kolker, Asst. Secretary at the U.S Deptt of Health and Human Services, so also a U.S member on the WHO Executive Board had emailed Dr. Thomas Frieden Vice Chairman of WHO “Access to Medicine- oppose proposal by India”.
Reportedly, this has drawn widespread criticism from Asian Civil Society. According to Leena Menghaney lawyer and access campaigner “The UN report says there is need for an R&D treaty and it recommended reforms in the area of bio-medical R&D. The U.S government has a policy of blocking all reforms that would lead to funding R&D system in a way that it prioritizes diseases that kill millions of people in the developing world. This is consistent with the U.S policy to pressure countries like India to have more IP (intellectual property) barriers while blocking all attempts at reforms”. This is United States of America, the champion of freedom of choice. With Donald Trump in the saddle, can this become more assertive!?
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