MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
Punjab: Promising cleaner and leaner administration in Punjab, the new Chief Minister Captn. Amrinder Singh has reportedly banned foreign junkets for ministers. In India, political office, especially that of a minister is looked upon as a privilege and license to indulge in personal pleasures at the cost of state exchequer. That is fairly normal. In the past, we have heard of MLAs travelling to foreign countries, ostensibly to study and experience developments in those countries. That is only for public consumption. In their itinerary, visiting nightclubs were also included. So, it’s always been ‘Kiska baapka kya jaatha hai’.
Hence, the pre-emptive strike by the Chief Minister is a welcome development. Deciding issues in the first cabinet meeting, reportedly, all VIP culture shall be done away with. Except High Court judges, Ambulances and fire brigades, there shall be no red & coloured beacon lights on vehicle tops. Similarly no foreign travels for MLAs and ministers for the next 2 years, except mandated under some exchange programme etc.
Similarly all information regarding the declaration of net worth of all MLAs/Ministers to be made 1st Jan, every year. For 2017/18, 1st July has been fixed. So also, all salary and other payment to all MLAs/Ministers shall be uploaded on its official website for the information of public, and same shall be updated every month.
These are exemplary initiatives. Hope, Capt. Singh is serious about giving a clean and lean administration. We wish him all the very best to be a model government.
NEW DELHI: Aberrations like Tarun Vijay should be discarded by RSS if it wants to save its ‘fair’ name. This Vijay, who is neither Tarun (young) any more nor is fair skinned, has any right to mouth those stupidities like he did in a tele talk. He is reported to have stated “If we are racist, why would we have the entire south India and why do we live with them? We have black people all around us”.
This is the stupidest remark for any Indian to make with our multiple complexities. Besides, let’s face it, Indians, at least a good number of us, across the country, are racist. The attack on Nigerians is clearly racist, whatever the government try to portray. Drug dealers are all over India, and all are not Africans. There are whites in Goa doing the same besides many Indians and other nationals. How many of them have been attacked? We do have a problem, let’s accept it, and come up with some meaningful response instead of knee jerk reactions.
A Ph.d student from Africa was recounting his experience in Bengalooru with a rickshaw driver, some months ago. According to him, he was twice spat at by the rickshaw drivers for merely asking `2/- refund, after he paid `40/- for the rickshaw fare of `38/- and the rickshaw driver was reluctant to return the change of `2/-. He threw the 2 rupees coin after spitting at the student.
This is obnoxious. How can any civil society or government condone the behaviour of this stinker of a rickshaw driver? And he is doing it to a scholar, so what if he is black! In India, we have enough sick people. Thank God we are not a sick society. The governments, state and centre, as well as the civil society have a role cutout. We are talking about India’s inclusive, syncretic traditions. Where is it?
“Parents can evict abusive children”. The ruling by the Delhi High Court has not come a day too early. In this 21st century globalised world order, we have offsprings making life of their parents miserable. All their life these parents toiled to give their best to their children, through toddling days, to school, to college and until these children are on their own in terms of earning a livelihood. There are many who give their best in return to their parents, not because what they have given to them, may be even in spite of it, but because they are the parents. Many times, it may be difficult for parents to give even basic needs, but they gave their love and protection during their days of physical uncertainties.
Hence, an offspring has his duty to give as much happiness as possible to his/her parents in the evening, in the twilight years, of their life.
But as is the reality, there are enough and more children, who become a burden and even create difficulties to their parents as they walk towards their eventual sunset. There are sadly children, wishing their parents’ early demise even, only to acquire some property, a house or something tangible.
No wonder, the court has come heavily on these abusive children that they can be evicted from the residence by their ailing parents.
Two cheers to Justice Manmohan of Delhi High Court for this addition on the existing law of 2007 meant to protect life and property of senior citizens.
Samuel A Maverick, a Texan engineer and a cattle breeder who lived in Texas during 1803-1870, must be laughing in his grave, if he is still there in single piece. He was made famous by the Oxford University by including his surname Maverick in the Oxford Dictionary. Probably because of his uncertain and unsteady cattle breeding practices his name gave currency to the word. It fairly applies to the former professor at Harvard, an intellectual giant and currently a Member of Parliament, courtesy BJP, Subramanian Swamy. He is well known for walking in and out of controversy routinely. Either he follows the controversy or controversy follows him, so regularly.
And comes this report ascribing to Swamy, “Hindutva helped BJP win”. We all know, in the last assembly elections to 5 states, BJP did very well. It has done well for many reasons, whether its Modi’s win as Modi fans would say, or it’s a vote against the then ruling party in those states, or a possible churning among electorates to give BJP a chance or to a miniscule extent as Swamy says Hindutva helped, BJP win. So it’s not one factor that helped BJP win. Besides it was very likely, most Muslim women voted for BJP in the hope that this party, after all, may help them with their problem of triple talaq and other issues.
Hence for Subbu Swamy to say that its Hindutva only that helped BJP is a plain hogwash. These days, being only an MP does not keep him busy. He is certainly capable of bigger roles, but he is not being given. He is itching to take-up challenges, so either he is using his intellect to create a space for himself or somebody is using his immense potential to cause uncertainty/confusion in the minds of people.
In India, there are millions of Indians, who are not supporters of BJP per se, but may not mind it emerge a numero uno political party in the country. They are also aware that BJP can give a secular government which is truly secular in both precept and practice, if they honestly attempt.
Hence, those who are trying to use Swami to mislead the nation should rethink their strategy. This would help both the country as well as BJP in the long run.
Certainly Leander Paes, the Indian tennis ace deserved a better treatment by the non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathy. For sure, 43 year old veteran is not in the pink of his youth. He should leave on his own and allow others to come in. But that didn’t happen. Here the issue was not that he didn’t want younger players to come in. The issue was the simmering differences that were witnessed since last many years between Mahesh and Leander. They had broken off their partnership since over a decade. For whatever reasons, one could break a relationship. It is personal. But it should not affect their professionalism. Mahesh Bhupathi could have been more forthcoming with his decision to have youngsters for both singles and doubles for the latest Davis Cup tie. It is another matter that the Davis Cup match between Uzbekistan & India, ended in India winning 4:1 and the gamble worked. He probably had decided already not to play Leander, but kept to himself. Leander had reportedly travelled all the way from Mexico only to play in the Davis Cup doubles tie. But was told, on reaching Bengalooru, that he is not in the team. That was rather very unprofessional. This was the first time since 27 years that Paes has been dropped from Davis Cup team. He made his debut in 1990 while playing against Japan in Jaipur. Although it may not be the end of his tennis career, it has certainly left an eminently avoidable bad taste in the mouth.
There was this report in the media “Sachin & Rekha should resign from Rajya Sabha if not interested”.
That both of them are not interested is very clear from their abysmal attendance. Reportedly Naresh Agarwal, an MP from Samajwadi Party had remarked in Rajya Sabha that “The entire session is over but we haven’t seen them whether its Tendulkar or Rekha. If they do not have interest in attending parliament they should resign.”
Controversy involving both cricketer Tendulkar and film actor Rekha has been there in the public space since sometime for their dismal attendance in the Rajya Sabha, to which they are nominated.
There are some 12 members nominated by the President as per Article 80(3) of the Constitution. They are there for their special knowledge, or practical experience in the fields of literatures, science, art and social service. But more often than not, they are recommended for nomination for reasons other than what is mentioned in the constitution.
Among the current 12 members 5 were nominated by the earlier UPA government and they are Anu Aga, a Pune based industrialist, Sachin Tendulkar, a cricketer & Rekha, a film actor, all nominated together in 2012. All of them have a very poor record of attendance or participating in debate. K. Parasaran and KTS Tulsi are both senior advocates. Reportedly KTS Tusli is the most active with most questions asked. Remaining 7 members are NDA nominees, since April 2016.
Coming to Rekha and Tendulkar who will retire in less than one year from now are known for their poor show. There were 348days of session (RS) so far and Rekha has attended 18 of them and Tendulkar 23 of them, that is 5% and less than 7%, but both were paid Rs. 65 lakhs to Rekha and Rs. 58.8 lakhs to Tendulkar.
Their useless presence cost the exchequer some Rs. 1.24 crore that is Rs. 6.16 lakh per day of attendance. It is colossal waste of national resources. What was the purpose and to whose benefit they were nominated as Rajya Sabha members?
I have differences with the singer on some other issues, but on ‘azaan’ and other loud noises coming from places of worship; I am in complete agreement with him. In fact, I was mulling on this issue for quite some time, when a sick person I was attending, was rudely woken up by an afternoon ‘azaan’ call for prayer.
Hassan is social worker attached to a school run by a Masjid Committee. The school is very near the mosque. All through the school timing when the classes are on, ‘azaan’ goes on uninterrupted. When I asked him, if there is any way the mosque authorities can turn the blaring loud speaker away from the school, he expressed his helplessness. However he brought a smile on my face when he said, there were no loud speakers or even electricity when Prophet Mohammed started it all. Indeed, it is so very true coming from a Muslim faithful. There may be many among Muslims and others who are not happy about the noise from places of worship. As a citizen, I support any move to stop loud noise coming from all places of worship, be it temple, mosque or any other place of prayer. In fact, as a responsible citizen, I am all for a uniform policy about sound pollution in the public space. There has to be a regulation in this regard.
Sonu Nigam should be congratulated for bringing up the issue, unlike some condemning him on so-called religious intolerance.
Here I want to recollect what happened to an Englishman who had newly come to a middle-eastern country just across the blue waters. When he was woken-up by the early morning ‘azaan’, he complained to the authorities. Local police visited his residence and was promptly deported back to U.K by the first available flight. Any comments!
Rajasthan: Cow vigilantes and those ministers and leaders who support them or justify their actions are a disgrace to Hinduism and to RSS. Surely no true RSS member would ever do this. I am not an RSS member, but have friends who are RSS activists, who are embodiment of peace and harmony. Hence RSS must clearly take a stand condemning all cow vigilantism.
What happened in Rajasthan, is bizarre to say the least. A dairy farmer carrying a milking cow for his dairy activity was lynched in the presence of his son, despite the papers to justify the transportation of the cow. This is most cruel and the justification by the minister saying “Cow vigilantes did a good job, but broke the law by beating up people”, is outlandish. It shows the complete lack of sensitivity of the gravity where a person was lynched to death, without any rhyme or reason.
This is completely unacceptable. There has to be enough checks to control this vigilante lunacy. The election results favouring BJP is not a license to terrorise people who are law abiding and going about their livelihood earning without causing any problem to the law and order. The perpetrators of the crime at Alwar should be jailed without any bail, since they are a threat to the public order. Vasundhara Raje must take the call to rein in these anti-social elements masquerading as gau rakshaks.
Jharkhand: There is so much ruckus and even crap in the media, that news on human dimension are either ignored or relegated to innocuous space, since they neither have USP or TRP for media.
There was this report in the Deccan Herald (DH) of 20th March in its sports page on one Gopal Bhengra. I am grateful to DH for this beautiful report, which other papers did not care to carry and electronic media had no time for.
The report also carried the sunnier side, hither to unknown, of Sunny Gavaskar, the cricket maestro of yesteryears. Gopal Bhengra, an unknown hero to the present cricket crazy Indians, was the ace hockey player who played for India in the 1978 Buenos Aires World Cup, when India narrowly missed a semi-final spot.
Once his playing days were over, and he retired from the Indian Army, he was completely lost into the national amnesia. With just `1475/- monthly pension he had to take up stone crushing which gave him another `50/- a day, life was clearly difficult. May be this is the story of most of our sports persons of yesteryears, courtesy the apathetic policies of our sports ministries and associations affiliated to these ministries, including Indian Hockey Association.
And comes in CHAMPS -Caring, Helping, Assisting, Motivating, Promoting Sports persons- FOUNDATION, a Mr. & Mrs. Sunil Gavaskar initiative.
Beginning from 1990, Gopal Bhengra has been reportedly receiving `7500/- per month, every month for all these 26/27 years. That’s a staggering over `25 lakhs.
No wonder Gopal hailing from Vyur Gorai, some 55 KMs from Ranchi always wanted to meet his God sent saviour from the imminent squalor, even going to bed half hungry. His deep desire was fulfilled to his greatest joy at Ranchi’s JSCA stadium on 19th March, where he met the cricket legend, who was the commentator at the ongoing 3rd test between India & Australia. Recollecting his meeting, the ace hockey player remarked “I have waited for so long for this moment and I really don’t have word” was his grateful reaction.
Do you harken, Mr. Union Sports Minister, Goel! What it means to take care of sports & sportsmen? Mr. Sunil Gavaskar deserves a standing ovation. But where is the crowd? They have no time. This is Yeh Mera India.
Maharashtra: It is heartening to read that all Airlines have joined together to boycott this goonda Member of Parliament belonging to ShivSena. They should not buckle under government pressure, if any. But what is surprising and therefore saddening is, there is no out-pouring from the ‘freedom brigades’, whether communists or their fellow travelers or those social media icons coming to the defense of Air India duty manager. This shows the double standard of our ‘champions of civil liberties’ in the public space. Actually in the media, as well as in social platform, there should be pressure for this uncouth, uncivil & arrogant Member of Parliament to be sacked. It is surprising that nobody has gone to the court with a PIL to get this MP disqualified.
As ultimate arbiter of justice, courts whether sessions, high courts or even apex court, the highest court of India should apply themselves fully before pronouncing their judgement. The reports like “HC directs striking doctors to resume work.” Or “HC orders striking….” etc conveys a lack of understanding of the suffering of doctors working in the front line, like casualty deptt, outpatient deptt. etc. who are in direct contact with patients, at all times.
The recent case of a doctor being hit by the relatives of a patient, when the doctor lost his eye sight, is a serious issue. That seriousness, the authorities, both government as well the judiciary need to take it on its face value. How would a person work, if his physical safety is not certain? Judges concerned must put themselves in the position of a doctor in the line of front line duty.
Judges, everywhere, are provided with proper security cover for any physical apprehension. The same security, although not demanded by the doctors, their vulnerability to assault need to be appreciated and acted upon, and not just order them or direct them, because law empowers the judges. Case of doctors, although covered under essential services, should be dealt separately, as there have been many instances of doctors both male and female coming under physical attack.
The state must necessarily take it very seriously the issue of safety of doctors on duty. That’s prima facie, is no big deal.
Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation, reportedly the richest civic body in the country, has an annual budget of some `40,000 crores, and yet a fish market in Bandra built some over 80 years ago does not have a working toilet, either for men or for women.
Bandra is a Mumbai Suburb, where ShivSena chief Thackray and his family live. Daily, family helpers must be buying fish for Thackrays, but never bothered to know, if they need any help, especially when Thackray’s ShivSena controls the richest civic body.
Sitting in the ivory tower and mobilizing resources for the party, Thackray has little time for worrying about fish vending women folks, despite they are all being Marathi Manoos.
Reportedly the over 80 years old BMC market in Bandra, having some 500 vendors, including 140 fish vendors, all women, open from 9 in the morning till 10 in the night has four toilets, 2 for men and 2 for women. But none of them have access to water supply. In a toilet, which is already dilapidated with broken doors and without light, if water is not available, how at all it can be used? And Bandra is one of the top suburbs of Mumbai, the financial capital of India. Clearly a poor reflection on the successive administration of the civic body’s civic functions. And BMC takes all its rent from users, who used wash room of neighboring residential houses, especially women folks. They even pay for water to clean their work place in the market and for drinking water.
It is very sad commentary on the city fathers and their civic staff who are all alert to make their share of money, whether rightly or wrongly, and do not attend to even as basic as a toilet for women folks where they sit for close to 8 to 10 hours every day. When shall we have the deliverance from such nation servers? Oh poor mother India!
Kisan Baburao Hazare, aka Anna Hazare is a deeply saddened man at the free fall of his protégé Arvind Kejriwal. In a social interactive session in Ralegan-Siddhi, Anna is reported to have remarked “Arvind shattered my dream”. India Against Corruption was a movement by Anna Hazare and he was joined by many including Arvind Kejriwal. Indians are privy to the development how Aam Aadmi Party came about after Kejriwal deserted Anna Camp. Its 49 days Delhi government, its Loksabha attempt and then the Feb.2015 Delhi election that gave AAP 67 of 70 seats, and India thought AAP has arrived. But the unceremonious sacking of 4 founding members including Prof Yogendra Yadav and Prasanth Bhushan led to the beginning of disenchantment with the newest political party, the AAP. AAP was suddenly reduced to a one man party; some even called it Arvind Akela Party.
The huge majority in Delhi election destroyed Kejriwal’s sense of proportion. Almost on weekly basis, he had running feud with his Lt. Governor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has a mistaken notion of himself in superlative terms. Slowly and steadily, he didn’t realize, he was losing acceptability in the public space. Elections to Punjab and Goa came, where Kejriwal dreamt of capturing power. As luck would have it, he was a distant second to Congress in Punjab and in Goa, his party drew blank. But the proverbial nail on the coffin came in the recently held by-election in Delhi, where his AAP rules, where Kejriwal is the Chief Minister. AAP candidate came poor third losing to his arch rival BJP and Congress came second. That the AAP candidate lost even his deposit was the ‘unkindest cut’ of all. Suddenly high flying Arvind Kejriwal had landed on the solid earth with a thud. His dramatic penchant for wild and unsubstantiated allegation against Lt. Governor and PM Modi, had its singular impact after all.
Shunglu report added to the mental trauma AAP was undergoing. Anna was generally reacting to the report which accused AAP/Kejriwal of gross misuse of power besides the huge expenditure AAP was incurring on its promotional advertisements. That which goes-up has to come down is the law of nature. Do not rub people on the wrong side as you go up since you may have to meet them on your way down. That’s the lesson Arvind Kejriwal has to learn perforce.
TAMIL NADU: So, at long last some sense has prevailed on the warring AIADMK factions. Post Jayalalitha death Sasikala took over the AIADMK as if it was her property and none objected. O. Panneerselvam, ‘disturbed’ by his conscience rebelled and few members joined him. For Sasikala, it was a minor storm in the tea-cup. With the power of money she managed the huge majority of party MLAs to her side. Apex court came calling to tell her to go to Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengalooru. Before leaving for her prison term she made one of the MLA, EK Palaniswami, as Chief Minister and anoints her nephew Dinakaran as deputy general secretary, who was sacked from the AIADMK membership by the ‘almighty’ Jayalalitha herself, many years ago.
So here is a bunch of elected representatives, prostrating before a criminal in jail for political power and lure of money mortgaging completely their sense of any human values and their commitment to their electorates. To make them subservient even more, she hoists another ‘criminal’ Dinakaran to complete the servility of entire AIADMK apparatus to the diktats of a woman in jail for proven crimes of corruption. And sadly, very sadly indeed, they take it lying down.
Then you have another joker O Panneerselvam who is incapable, inefficient and a poor manager, but had the blessings of Jaya as an obedient worker. He had completely failed to galvanize the rank and file of AIADMK to muster support for his just rebellion.
Thus, overconfidence does the inevitable nonchalance. Dinakaran tries to bribe EC, and his broker-in-between gets caught.
Suddenly there is ‘awakening’ among AIADMK MLAs in the Sasikala camp. They realize that so far they had mortgaged their soul, which is now not letting them sleep. They call on the original rebel and build bridges to reach out.
And what should have happened immediately after the death of Jaya, happened. Sasikala and her over ambitions nephew Dinakar were dumped into the dustbin of AIADMK politics, hopefully never to be retrieved. This is the best thing to happen. O Panneerselvam should accept a number 2 or 3 position and leave CM to the incumbent EK Palaniswami. Surely they will live happily ever after. This is certainly better than the one family rule by Karunanidhi & company. Now Stalin, the CM hopeful is worried. Long Live Vox Populi.
Karnataka: If you had a joker of Tarun Vijay, a former Rajya Sabha MP, now we have another joker from Karnataka.
If Tarun Vijay had mouthed pearls of hatred while reacting to attacks on Nigerians in Noida, we have this Basavaraj Rayareddy, that too a higher education minister. Reportedly this joker of a minister in Siddaramaiah government in Bengalooru had remarked “Let Modi die, if he wants power”. This minister was reportedly reacting on the banning of red lights on VIP vehicles in Delhi and across the country. What is the relation between the banning of red beacon atop vehicles and “Let Modi die”, was not clear. But it clearly indicated the deep hatred this Rayareddy had for Prime Minister Modi for whatever reasons. But then there are many who do not like or even hate Modi, like Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mamata Bannerji and others. But surely they would never wish PM Modi death, at least publicly.
These mindsets where people announce awards on the head of somebody or wish somebody death, is reflection of a sick mind and sick society.
In a nation where a section, only harps on right to freedom of expression without a sense of responsibility, cannot go too far, either in its practice of democracy or in creating responsible and responsive society and citizenry.
There has to be concerted campaign to isolate and condemn people like Tarun Vijay and Rayareddy. There were media members who lampooned Tarun Vijay but none have strangely condemned this motormouth minister Basavaraj Rayareddy. That is media for you in India.
Kerala: This is truly nothing to do with Kerala per se. But a weekly THE WEEK had carried an interview with Alankrita Shrivatsav, the director of film “Lipstick Under My Burkha”.
When I first read the title of the film, I thought, some Muslim outfits will throw some fits. It did happen on a small scale. A Bhopal based group All India Muslim Tehwar Committee had alleged that the film was “against the dignity of our women and Tenets of Islam”. It ended is a whimper. But the earthquake was because of our great Censor Board under Nihalani. This gentleman has his own take on lot of issues and tries to force it. He routinely walks in and out of controversy.
But what is outlandish was the comment of this Alankrita Shrivatsav. She had blasted “CBFC is ill-equipped to judge a film. They are archaic, regressive and illogical. Shouldn’t they view cinema keeping the word cinema in the mind?” “It is becoming obvious that as filmmakers we do not enjoy the freedom of expression available to filmmakers in other democratic countries. Censorship of films in a democracy makes no sense”.
The fact, she said what she is reported to have said, clearly proves that there is enough and more freedom of expression. But clearly her statements were pretty sweeping bordering on arrogant anarchy. As children we were told, Right and Responsibility go hand in hand. You cannot have right without responsibility. May be Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has gone overboard with chairman calling the shot. May be his observation on the film needs a revisit but this outburst is disturbing.
In an evolving world, with digital platform airing all kinds of stuff including rubbish, to say that “Censorship makes no sense” is a misplaced hype, meant for college campuses. A film maker with a social message has a responsibility to be even handed because theatres unlike digital portals, are there for masses, and all films need be censured where needed, especially in a complex country like India. Of course that does not give license to Censor Board to behave with an attitude of “We know better”. It must try to be as liberal as is possible within our socio-political constraints without stretching it too far. Of course Nihakani need to circumspect his role vis-s-vis changing ethos of India in a globalised environment.
World: The great U.S President Donald Trump is a bit of a hard nut. He became a president purely on the strength of his hype about Great America to be made the greatest. It’s not that he didn’t have points. It’s also true that lot of Americans have been swept by his flourish.
With the same flourish addressing a Joint Session of Congress on 28th Feb, he was reported to have stated “Ninty four million Americans are out of the labour force”. Is it a hype or real! The TIME of March 13, informs “This statistic is misleading”. According to the TIME more than 88 million Americans who did not have a job in 2016 didn’t want any job, as per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This includes large number of retirees, stay at home parents, students and people who are disabled. Now, clearly, 45th U.S President Mr. Donald Trump is bluffing the nation and by extension, the world. So, does this mean, the Supreme Commander of U.S forces, as its 1st citizen cannot be taken on his face value?!
Like human urges are same all over the world, so are their emotions. But what about being reasonable or fair? Westerners have always claimed themselves to be more fair unlike others, which includes their judiciary consisting of judges.
In India, we have seen, heard and even witnessed cases of judicial miscarriage due to varieties of factors. These factors are believed to be non-existent in these western countries. Is it really so!
Comes this case from Jerusalem in Israel. Jewish judges in Jerusalem have refused a divorce to a victim of domestic violence, because they thought he had good reason to be violent with his wife and that he has regretted and expressed remorse and that it would not recur again.
But, these judges failed to or refused to acknowledge that the husband was jailed earlier for assaulting his wife. Since then charged with attacking her on two more occasion.
He is violent, and his wife says “I want to leave you’, husband gets angry and beats her again. But court says “because you said, ‘I want to leave you’, he has beaten you and hence he can be excused for his violence”.
Now, is this too much or three much! Wife is desperate to leave her husband since he is violent. But the court in Jerusalem thinks “Violence not good enough reason for divorce”.
What do we call this, if not miscarriage of justice?!
There was this report by REUTERS, datelined Beirut ascribing to United Nations “UN official quits over pressure to withdraw Israel report”.
There is nothing new, about UN being pressured at the instance of United States. The official in question, Rima Khalaf, the UN Under- Secretary General, is a Jordanian. Therefore, some vested interest can be ascribed, which may or may not be right, but Israel always got away with murder, especially during hard-line leadership of Netanyahu at Tel Aviv.
The report by the Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia comprising 18 Arab states had clearly charged that “Israel had established an apartheid regime that dominates the Palestinian people as a whole.” However Israel, protected and supported by the US, has fiercely rejected the allegation, as was the norm. Wide world is fully aware of the expansionist attitude of the present regime in Israel, which was building housing colonies for Israelis or construction of Jewish settlements in the land belonging to Palestinians occupied by Israel on the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Both Barack Obama and European Union Countries, including Germany and France had decried in the past, the Israeli occupation of the land agreed to be part of Palestine.
This once again proves, for the umpteenth time, the toothlessness of the United Nations Organization. That is rather sad.
Hence, the pre-emptive strike by the Chief Minister is a welcome development. Deciding issues in the first cabinet meeting, reportedly, all VIP culture shall be done away with. Except High Court judges, Ambulances and fire brigades, there shall be no red & coloured beacon lights on vehicle tops. Similarly no foreign travels for MLAs and ministers for the next 2 years, except mandated under some exchange programme etc.
Similarly all information regarding the declaration of net worth of all MLAs/Ministers to be made 1st Jan, every year. For 2017/18, 1st July has been fixed. So also, all salary and other payment to all MLAs/Ministers shall be uploaded on its official website for the information of public, and same shall be updated every month.
These are exemplary initiatives. Hope, Capt. Singh is serious about giving a clean and lean administration. We wish him all the very best to be a model government.
NEW DELHI: Aberrations like Tarun Vijay should be discarded by RSS if it wants to save its ‘fair’ name. This Vijay, who is neither Tarun (young) any more nor is fair skinned, has any right to mouth those stupidities like he did in a tele talk. He is reported to have stated “If we are racist, why would we have the entire south India and why do we live with them? We have black people all around us”.
This is the stupidest remark for any Indian to make with our multiple complexities. Besides, let’s face it, Indians, at least a good number of us, across the country, are racist. The attack on Nigerians is clearly racist, whatever the government try to portray. Drug dealers are all over India, and all are not Africans. There are whites in Goa doing the same besides many Indians and other nationals. How many of them have been attacked? We do have a problem, let’s accept it, and come up with some meaningful response instead of knee jerk reactions.
A Ph.d student from Africa was recounting his experience in Bengalooru with a rickshaw driver, some months ago. According to him, he was twice spat at by the rickshaw drivers for merely asking `2/- refund, after he paid `40/- for the rickshaw fare of `38/- and the rickshaw driver was reluctant to return the change of `2/-. He threw the 2 rupees coin after spitting at the student.
This is obnoxious. How can any civil society or government condone the behaviour of this stinker of a rickshaw driver? And he is doing it to a scholar, so what if he is black! In India, we have enough sick people. Thank God we are not a sick society. The governments, state and centre, as well as the civil society have a role cutout. We are talking about India’s inclusive, syncretic traditions. Where is it?
“Parents can evict abusive children”. The ruling by the Delhi High Court has not come a day too early. In this 21st century globalised world order, we have offsprings making life of their parents miserable. All their life these parents toiled to give their best to their children, through toddling days, to school, to college and until these children are on their own in terms of earning a livelihood. There are many who give their best in return to their parents, not because what they have given to them, may be even in spite of it, but because they are the parents. Many times, it may be difficult for parents to give even basic needs, but they gave their love and protection during their days of physical uncertainties.
Hence, an offspring has his duty to give as much happiness as possible to his/her parents in the evening, in the twilight years, of their life.
But as is the reality, there are enough and more children, who become a burden and even create difficulties to their parents as they walk towards their eventual sunset. There are sadly children, wishing their parents’ early demise even, only to acquire some property, a house or something tangible.
No wonder, the court has come heavily on these abusive children that they can be evicted from the residence by their ailing parents.
Two cheers to Justice Manmohan of Delhi High Court for this addition on the existing law of 2007 meant to protect life and property of senior citizens.
Samuel A Maverick, a Texan engineer and a cattle breeder who lived in Texas during 1803-1870, must be laughing in his grave, if he is still there in single piece. He was made famous by the Oxford University by including his surname Maverick in the Oxford Dictionary. Probably because of his uncertain and unsteady cattle breeding practices his name gave currency to the word. It fairly applies to the former professor at Harvard, an intellectual giant and currently a Member of Parliament, courtesy BJP, Subramanian Swamy. He is well known for walking in and out of controversy routinely. Either he follows the controversy or controversy follows him, so regularly.
And comes this report ascribing to Swamy, “Hindutva helped BJP win”. We all know, in the last assembly elections to 5 states, BJP did very well. It has done well for many reasons, whether its Modi’s win as Modi fans would say, or it’s a vote against the then ruling party in those states, or a possible churning among electorates to give BJP a chance or to a miniscule extent as Swamy says Hindutva helped, BJP win. So it’s not one factor that helped BJP win. Besides it was very likely, most Muslim women voted for BJP in the hope that this party, after all, may help them with their problem of triple talaq and other issues.
Hence for Subbu Swamy to say that its Hindutva only that helped BJP is a plain hogwash. These days, being only an MP does not keep him busy. He is certainly capable of bigger roles, but he is not being given. He is itching to take-up challenges, so either he is using his intellect to create a space for himself or somebody is using his immense potential to cause uncertainty/confusion in the minds of people.
In India, there are millions of Indians, who are not supporters of BJP per se, but may not mind it emerge a numero uno political party in the country. They are also aware that BJP can give a secular government which is truly secular in both precept and practice, if they honestly attempt.
Hence, those who are trying to use Swami to mislead the nation should rethink their strategy. This would help both the country as well as BJP in the long run.
Certainly Leander Paes, the Indian tennis ace deserved a better treatment by the non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathy. For sure, 43 year old veteran is not in the pink of his youth. He should leave on his own and allow others to come in. But that didn’t happen. Here the issue was not that he didn’t want younger players to come in. The issue was the simmering differences that were witnessed since last many years between Mahesh and Leander. They had broken off their partnership since over a decade. For whatever reasons, one could break a relationship. It is personal. But it should not affect their professionalism. Mahesh Bhupathi could have been more forthcoming with his decision to have youngsters for both singles and doubles for the latest Davis Cup tie. It is another matter that the Davis Cup match between Uzbekistan & India, ended in India winning 4:1 and the gamble worked. He probably had decided already not to play Leander, but kept to himself. Leander had reportedly travelled all the way from Mexico only to play in the Davis Cup doubles tie. But was told, on reaching Bengalooru, that he is not in the team. That was rather very unprofessional. This was the first time since 27 years that Paes has been dropped from Davis Cup team. He made his debut in 1990 while playing against Japan in Jaipur. Although it may not be the end of his tennis career, it has certainly left an eminently avoidable bad taste in the mouth.
There was this report in the media “Sachin & Rekha should resign from Rajya Sabha if not interested”.
That both of them are not interested is very clear from their abysmal attendance. Reportedly Naresh Agarwal, an MP from Samajwadi Party had remarked in Rajya Sabha that “The entire session is over but we haven’t seen them whether its Tendulkar or Rekha. If they do not have interest in attending parliament they should resign.”
Controversy involving both cricketer Tendulkar and film actor Rekha has been there in the public space since sometime for their dismal attendance in the Rajya Sabha, to which they are nominated.
There are some 12 members nominated by the President as per Article 80(3) of the Constitution. They are there for their special knowledge, or practical experience in the fields of literatures, science, art and social service. But more often than not, they are recommended for nomination for reasons other than what is mentioned in the constitution.
Among the current 12 members 5 were nominated by the earlier UPA government and they are Anu Aga, a Pune based industrialist, Sachin Tendulkar, a cricketer & Rekha, a film actor, all nominated together in 2012. All of them have a very poor record of attendance or participating in debate. K. Parasaran and KTS Tulsi are both senior advocates. Reportedly KTS Tusli is the most active with most questions asked. Remaining 7 members are NDA nominees, since April 2016.
Coming to Rekha and Tendulkar who will retire in less than one year from now are known for their poor show. There were 348days of session (RS) so far and Rekha has attended 18 of them and Tendulkar 23 of them, that is 5% and less than 7%, but both were paid Rs. 65 lakhs to Rekha and Rs. 58.8 lakhs to Tendulkar.
Their useless presence cost the exchequer some Rs. 1.24 crore that is Rs. 6.16 lakh per day of attendance. It is colossal waste of national resources. What was the purpose and to whose benefit they were nominated as Rajya Sabha members?
I have differences with the singer on some other issues, but on ‘azaan’ and other loud noises coming from places of worship; I am in complete agreement with him. In fact, I was mulling on this issue for quite some time, when a sick person I was attending, was rudely woken up by an afternoon ‘azaan’ call for prayer.
Hassan is social worker attached to a school run by a Masjid Committee. The school is very near the mosque. All through the school timing when the classes are on, ‘azaan’ goes on uninterrupted. When I asked him, if there is any way the mosque authorities can turn the blaring loud speaker away from the school, he expressed his helplessness. However he brought a smile on my face when he said, there were no loud speakers or even electricity when Prophet Mohammed started it all. Indeed, it is so very true coming from a Muslim faithful. There may be many among Muslims and others who are not happy about the noise from places of worship. As a citizen, I support any move to stop loud noise coming from all places of worship, be it temple, mosque or any other place of prayer. In fact, as a responsible citizen, I am all for a uniform policy about sound pollution in the public space. There has to be a regulation in this regard.
Sonu Nigam should be congratulated for bringing up the issue, unlike some condemning him on so-called religious intolerance.
Here I want to recollect what happened to an Englishman who had newly come to a middle-eastern country just across the blue waters. When he was woken-up by the early morning ‘azaan’, he complained to the authorities. Local police visited his residence and was promptly deported back to U.K by the first available flight. Any comments!
Rajasthan: Cow vigilantes and those ministers and leaders who support them or justify their actions are a disgrace to Hinduism and to RSS. Surely no true RSS member would ever do this. I am not an RSS member, but have friends who are RSS activists, who are embodiment of peace and harmony. Hence RSS must clearly take a stand condemning all cow vigilantism.
What happened in Rajasthan, is bizarre to say the least. A dairy farmer carrying a milking cow for his dairy activity was lynched in the presence of his son, despite the papers to justify the transportation of the cow. This is most cruel and the justification by the minister saying “Cow vigilantes did a good job, but broke the law by beating up people”, is outlandish. It shows the complete lack of sensitivity of the gravity where a person was lynched to death, without any rhyme or reason.
This is completely unacceptable. There has to be enough checks to control this vigilante lunacy. The election results favouring BJP is not a license to terrorise people who are law abiding and going about their livelihood earning without causing any problem to the law and order. The perpetrators of the crime at Alwar should be jailed without any bail, since they are a threat to the public order. Vasundhara Raje must take the call to rein in these anti-social elements masquerading as gau rakshaks.
Jharkhand: There is so much ruckus and even crap in the media, that news on human dimension are either ignored or relegated to innocuous space, since they neither have USP or TRP for media.
There was this report in the Deccan Herald (DH) of 20th March in its sports page on one Gopal Bhengra. I am grateful to DH for this beautiful report, which other papers did not care to carry and electronic media had no time for.
The report also carried the sunnier side, hither to unknown, of Sunny Gavaskar, the cricket maestro of yesteryears. Gopal Bhengra, an unknown hero to the present cricket crazy Indians, was the ace hockey player who played for India in the 1978 Buenos Aires World Cup, when India narrowly missed a semi-final spot.
Once his playing days were over, and he retired from the Indian Army, he was completely lost into the national amnesia. With just `1475/- monthly pension he had to take up stone crushing which gave him another `50/- a day, life was clearly difficult. May be this is the story of most of our sports persons of yesteryears, courtesy the apathetic policies of our sports ministries and associations affiliated to these ministries, including Indian Hockey Association.
And comes in CHAMPS -Caring, Helping, Assisting, Motivating, Promoting Sports persons- FOUNDATION, a Mr. & Mrs. Sunil Gavaskar initiative.
Beginning from 1990, Gopal Bhengra has been reportedly receiving `7500/- per month, every month for all these 26/27 years. That’s a staggering over `25 lakhs.
No wonder Gopal hailing from Vyur Gorai, some 55 KMs from Ranchi always wanted to meet his God sent saviour from the imminent squalor, even going to bed half hungry. His deep desire was fulfilled to his greatest joy at Ranchi’s JSCA stadium on 19th March, where he met the cricket legend, who was the commentator at the ongoing 3rd test between India & Australia. Recollecting his meeting, the ace hockey player remarked “I have waited for so long for this moment and I really don’t have word” was his grateful reaction.
Do you harken, Mr. Union Sports Minister, Goel! What it means to take care of sports & sportsmen? Mr. Sunil Gavaskar deserves a standing ovation. But where is the crowd? They have no time. This is Yeh Mera India.
Maharashtra: It is heartening to read that all Airlines have joined together to boycott this goonda Member of Parliament belonging to ShivSena. They should not buckle under government pressure, if any. But what is surprising and therefore saddening is, there is no out-pouring from the ‘freedom brigades’, whether communists or their fellow travelers or those social media icons coming to the defense of Air India duty manager. This shows the double standard of our ‘champions of civil liberties’ in the public space. Actually in the media, as well as in social platform, there should be pressure for this uncouth, uncivil & arrogant Member of Parliament to be sacked. It is surprising that nobody has gone to the court with a PIL to get this MP disqualified.
As ultimate arbiter of justice, courts whether sessions, high courts or even apex court, the highest court of India should apply themselves fully before pronouncing their judgement. The reports like “HC directs striking doctors to resume work.” Or “HC orders striking….” etc conveys a lack of understanding of the suffering of doctors working in the front line, like casualty deptt, outpatient deptt. etc. who are in direct contact with patients, at all times.
The recent case of a doctor being hit by the relatives of a patient, when the doctor lost his eye sight, is a serious issue. That seriousness, the authorities, both government as well the judiciary need to take it on its face value. How would a person work, if his physical safety is not certain? Judges concerned must put themselves in the position of a doctor in the line of front line duty.
Judges, everywhere, are provided with proper security cover for any physical apprehension. The same security, although not demanded by the doctors, their vulnerability to assault need to be appreciated and acted upon, and not just order them or direct them, because law empowers the judges. Case of doctors, although covered under essential services, should be dealt separately, as there have been many instances of doctors both male and female coming under physical attack.
The state must necessarily take it very seriously the issue of safety of doctors on duty. That’s prima facie, is no big deal.
Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation, reportedly the richest civic body in the country, has an annual budget of some `40,000 crores, and yet a fish market in Bandra built some over 80 years ago does not have a working toilet, either for men or for women.
Bandra is a Mumbai Suburb, where ShivSena chief Thackray and his family live. Daily, family helpers must be buying fish for Thackrays, but never bothered to know, if they need any help, especially when Thackray’s ShivSena controls the richest civic body.
Sitting in the ivory tower and mobilizing resources for the party, Thackray has little time for worrying about fish vending women folks, despite they are all being Marathi Manoos.
Reportedly the over 80 years old BMC market in Bandra, having some 500 vendors, including 140 fish vendors, all women, open from 9 in the morning till 10 in the night has four toilets, 2 for men and 2 for women. But none of them have access to water supply. In a toilet, which is already dilapidated with broken doors and without light, if water is not available, how at all it can be used? And Bandra is one of the top suburbs of Mumbai, the financial capital of India. Clearly a poor reflection on the successive administration of the civic body’s civic functions. And BMC takes all its rent from users, who used wash room of neighboring residential houses, especially women folks. They even pay for water to clean their work place in the market and for drinking water.
It is very sad commentary on the city fathers and their civic staff who are all alert to make their share of money, whether rightly or wrongly, and do not attend to even as basic as a toilet for women folks where they sit for close to 8 to 10 hours every day. When shall we have the deliverance from such nation servers? Oh poor mother India!
Kisan Baburao Hazare, aka Anna Hazare is a deeply saddened man at the free fall of his protégé Arvind Kejriwal. In a social interactive session in Ralegan-Siddhi, Anna is reported to have remarked “Arvind shattered my dream”. India Against Corruption was a movement by Anna Hazare and he was joined by many including Arvind Kejriwal. Indians are privy to the development how Aam Aadmi Party came about after Kejriwal deserted Anna Camp. Its 49 days Delhi government, its Loksabha attempt and then the Feb.2015 Delhi election that gave AAP 67 of 70 seats, and India thought AAP has arrived. But the unceremonious sacking of 4 founding members including Prof Yogendra Yadav and Prasanth Bhushan led to the beginning of disenchantment with the newest political party, the AAP. AAP was suddenly reduced to a one man party; some even called it Arvind Akela Party.
The huge majority in Delhi election destroyed Kejriwal’s sense of proportion. Almost on weekly basis, he had running feud with his Lt. Governor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has a mistaken notion of himself in superlative terms. Slowly and steadily, he didn’t realize, he was losing acceptability in the public space. Elections to Punjab and Goa came, where Kejriwal dreamt of capturing power. As luck would have it, he was a distant second to Congress in Punjab and in Goa, his party drew blank. But the proverbial nail on the coffin came in the recently held by-election in Delhi, where his AAP rules, where Kejriwal is the Chief Minister. AAP candidate came poor third losing to his arch rival BJP and Congress came second. That the AAP candidate lost even his deposit was the ‘unkindest cut’ of all. Suddenly high flying Arvind Kejriwal had landed on the solid earth with a thud. His dramatic penchant for wild and unsubstantiated allegation against Lt. Governor and PM Modi, had its singular impact after all.
Shunglu report added to the mental trauma AAP was undergoing. Anna was generally reacting to the report which accused AAP/Kejriwal of gross misuse of power besides the huge expenditure AAP was incurring on its promotional advertisements. That which goes-up has to come down is the law of nature. Do not rub people on the wrong side as you go up since you may have to meet them on your way down. That’s the lesson Arvind Kejriwal has to learn perforce.
TAMIL NADU: So, at long last some sense has prevailed on the warring AIADMK factions. Post Jayalalitha death Sasikala took over the AIADMK as if it was her property and none objected. O. Panneerselvam, ‘disturbed’ by his conscience rebelled and few members joined him. For Sasikala, it was a minor storm in the tea-cup. With the power of money she managed the huge majority of party MLAs to her side. Apex court came calling to tell her to go to Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengalooru. Before leaving for her prison term she made one of the MLA, EK Palaniswami, as Chief Minister and anoints her nephew Dinakaran as deputy general secretary, who was sacked from the AIADMK membership by the ‘almighty’ Jayalalitha herself, many years ago.
So here is a bunch of elected representatives, prostrating before a criminal in jail for political power and lure of money mortgaging completely their sense of any human values and their commitment to their electorates. To make them subservient even more, she hoists another ‘criminal’ Dinakaran to complete the servility of entire AIADMK apparatus to the diktats of a woman in jail for proven crimes of corruption. And sadly, very sadly indeed, they take it lying down.
Then you have another joker O Panneerselvam who is incapable, inefficient and a poor manager, but had the blessings of Jaya as an obedient worker. He had completely failed to galvanize the rank and file of AIADMK to muster support for his just rebellion.
Thus, overconfidence does the inevitable nonchalance. Dinakaran tries to bribe EC, and his broker-in-between gets caught.
Suddenly there is ‘awakening’ among AIADMK MLAs in the Sasikala camp. They realize that so far they had mortgaged their soul, which is now not letting them sleep. They call on the original rebel and build bridges to reach out.
And what should have happened immediately after the death of Jaya, happened. Sasikala and her over ambitions nephew Dinakar were dumped into the dustbin of AIADMK politics, hopefully never to be retrieved. This is the best thing to happen. O Panneerselvam should accept a number 2 or 3 position and leave CM to the incumbent EK Palaniswami. Surely they will live happily ever after. This is certainly better than the one family rule by Karunanidhi & company. Now Stalin, the CM hopeful is worried. Long Live Vox Populi.
Karnataka: If you had a joker of Tarun Vijay, a former Rajya Sabha MP, now we have another joker from Karnataka.
If Tarun Vijay had mouthed pearls of hatred while reacting to attacks on Nigerians in Noida, we have this Basavaraj Rayareddy, that too a higher education minister. Reportedly this joker of a minister in Siddaramaiah government in Bengalooru had remarked “Let Modi die, if he wants power”. This minister was reportedly reacting on the banning of red lights on VIP vehicles in Delhi and across the country. What is the relation between the banning of red beacon atop vehicles and “Let Modi die”, was not clear. But it clearly indicated the deep hatred this Rayareddy had for Prime Minister Modi for whatever reasons. But then there are many who do not like or even hate Modi, like Rahul Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mamata Bannerji and others. But surely they would never wish PM Modi death, at least publicly.
These mindsets where people announce awards on the head of somebody or wish somebody death, is reflection of a sick mind and sick society.
In a nation where a section, only harps on right to freedom of expression without a sense of responsibility, cannot go too far, either in its practice of democracy or in creating responsible and responsive society and citizenry.
There has to be concerted campaign to isolate and condemn people like Tarun Vijay and Rayareddy. There were media members who lampooned Tarun Vijay but none have strangely condemned this motormouth minister Basavaraj Rayareddy. That is media for you in India.
Kerala: This is truly nothing to do with Kerala per se. But a weekly THE WEEK had carried an interview with Alankrita Shrivatsav, the director of film “Lipstick Under My Burkha”.
When I first read the title of the film, I thought, some Muslim outfits will throw some fits. It did happen on a small scale. A Bhopal based group All India Muslim Tehwar Committee had alleged that the film was “against the dignity of our women and Tenets of Islam”. It ended is a whimper. But the earthquake was because of our great Censor Board under Nihalani. This gentleman has his own take on lot of issues and tries to force it. He routinely walks in and out of controversy.
But what is outlandish was the comment of this Alankrita Shrivatsav. She had blasted “CBFC is ill-equipped to judge a film. They are archaic, regressive and illogical. Shouldn’t they view cinema keeping the word cinema in the mind?” “It is becoming obvious that as filmmakers we do not enjoy the freedom of expression available to filmmakers in other democratic countries. Censorship of films in a democracy makes no sense”.
The fact, she said what she is reported to have said, clearly proves that there is enough and more freedom of expression. But clearly her statements were pretty sweeping bordering on arrogant anarchy. As children we were told, Right and Responsibility go hand in hand. You cannot have right without responsibility. May be Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has gone overboard with chairman calling the shot. May be his observation on the film needs a revisit but this outburst is disturbing.
In an evolving world, with digital platform airing all kinds of stuff including rubbish, to say that “Censorship makes no sense” is a misplaced hype, meant for college campuses. A film maker with a social message has a responsibility to be even handed because theatres unlike digital portals, are there for masses, and all films need be censured where needed, especially in a complex country like India. Of course that does not give license to Censor Board to behave with an attitude of “We know better”. It must try to be as liberal as is possible within our socio-political constraints without stretching it too far. Of course Nihakani need to circumspect his role vis-s-vis changing ethos of India in a globalised environment.
World: The great U.S President Donald Trump is a bit of a hard nut. He became a president purely on the strength of his hype about Great America to be made the greatest. It’s not that he didn’t have points. It’s also true that lot of Americans have been swept by his flourish.
With the same flourish addressing a Joint Session of Congress on 28th Feb, he was reported to have stated “Ninty four million Americans are out of the labour force”. Is it a hype or real! The TIME of March 13, informs “This statistic is misleading”. According to the TIME more than 88 million Americans who did not have a job in 2016 didn’t want any job, as per U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This includes large number of retirees, stay at home parents, students and people who are disabled. Now, clearly, 45th U.S President Mr. Donald Trump is bluffing the nation and by extension, the world. So, does this mean, the Supreme Commander of U.S forces, as its 1st citizen cannot be taken on his face value?!
Like human urges are same all over the world, so are their emotions. But what about being reasonable or fair? Westerners have always claimed themselves to be more fair unlike others, which includes their judiciary consisting of judges.
In India, we have seen, heard and even witnessed cases of judicial miscarriage due to varieties of factors. These factors are believed to be non-existent in these western countries. Is it really so!
Comes this case from Jerusalem in Israel. Jewish judges in Jerusalem have refused a divorce to a victim of domestic violence, because they thought he had good reason to be violent with his wife and that he has regretted and expressed remorse and that it would not recur again.
But, these judges failed to or refused to acknowledge that the husband was jailed earlier for assaulting his wife. Since then charged with attacking her on two more occasion.
He is violent, and his wife says “I want to leave you’, husband gets angry and beats her again. But court says “because you said, ‘I want to leave you’, he has beaten you and hence he can be excused for his violence”.
Now, is this too much or three much! Wife is desperate to leave her husband since he is violent. But the court in Jerusalem thinks “Violence not good enough reason for divorce”.
What do we call this, if not miscarriage of justice?!
There was this report by REUTERS, datelined Beirut ascribing to United Nations “UN official quits over pressure to withdraw Israel report”.
There is nothing new, about UN being pressured at the instance of United States. The official in question, Rima Khalaf, the UN Under- Secretary General, is a Jordanian. Therefore, some vested interest can be ascribed, which may or may not be right, but Israel always got away with murder, especially during hard-line leadership of Netanyahu at Tel Aviv.
The report by the Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia comprising 18 Arab states had clearly charged that “Israel had established an apartheid regime that dominates the Palestinian people as a whole.” However Israel, protected and supported by the US, has fiercely rejected the allegation, as was the norm. Wide world is fully aware of the expansionist attitude of the present regime in Israel, which was building housing colonies for Israelis or construction of Jewish settlements in the land belonging to Palestinians occupied by Israel on the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Both Barack Obama and European Union Countries, including Germany and France had decried in the past, the Israeli occupation of the land agreed to be part of Palestine.
This once again proves, for the umpteenth time, the toothlessness of the United Nations Organization. That is rather sad.
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