MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE
NEW DELHI: Unexpectedly, the floor managers of the ruling NDA alliance have managed to rope in enough support to the much debated Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). It was a tough call. But the current Chanakya of the Indian politics, Amit Shah, has managed to get the bill through the Rajya Sabha where the ruling alliance did not have the requisite numbers.
Does this clearly show that the bill-CAB- is acceptable to the majority of the nation! So it seems! Rajya Sabha did not allow either any inspired amendments to the bill so also rejected the move to send the bill to a Select Committee. Thus there was clarity in the stand taken by all those who supported it.
While Loksabha, due to the strength of NDA alliance had more supporters and therefore had no difficulty in getting it passed, in Rajya Sabha, there were those who were concerned about the issue covered by the CAB.
In Loksabha it was 293 in favour and only 82 against. But in Rajya Sabha the numbers were 125 for and 105 against. Most importantly, the CAB as a bill has passed the muster awaiting assent of the President.
Coming to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, it has to be categorically stated that it is a very positive development. All parties, in the past, mostly Congress, has been giving lip service to the problem with even resolution having been passed to the effect, that is to give citizenship to those who were persecuted in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. But it is only the NDA which has spoken and has also acted. All parties in the past have recognized the problem repeatedly but did not act.
Hence in the words of Subramania Swami, Rajya Sabha MP, ‘BJP should be congratulated for acting on a long held belief of persecution of minorities in Pak/Afg/Bdesh troika, by confirming citizenship to those persecuted non-Muslims in these countries’. Hope world recognizes this truth.
NEW DELHI:Union Finance Minister, a first lady in such a job, Ms. Nirmala Sitaraman, has proved that at least she is a better manager of issues of personal nature.
The other day, a situation, which could easily be described as something that could pique anybody had happened out of the blue. As a finance minister at the center, she had to face a barrage of questions everywhere she went around, due to the sluggish economic figures, which may be purely cyclical. In the midst of which if one has to be publicly bombarded by the closest person in your life, one can very well understand the situation Ms. Sitaraman was in. Her husband completely unknown to the public at large until he published an article in an English daily, lampooning all that she was justifying about the economic policies of the government of the day at center. It is to her credit that she stayed out of the controversy, by not referring at all to the piece by her husband.
He was a bureaucrat with Andhra government in the past as a political economist. However as a spouse of an important functionary of the central government, who is certainly known far more, to take her on publicly is just not done. That’s being a bad husband and a bad model for their only daughter.
But strangely neither the media- electronic or print- or the social media, which are looking only for sensation, somehow did not react too much. In fact there was hardly any response.
Could it be that the wronged is an NDA/BJP government functionary and the wrong doer belonged to the opposite camp, that all those ‘saviours of the nation, the intellectual brigade etc.’ just ignored the pique the lady finance minister, Ms. Sitaraman had to face.
The whole write up whether it had logical inputs or not, was in bad taste especially in the context of a domestic relation. No wonder The Hindu, the usual BJP/NDA, beite noire was quick to grab the article by Parakala Prabhakar, the ‘disgruntled’ husband of a famous wife. It was a new low in journalism.
NEW DELHI:A bill drafted by the central health ministry and cleared by the Ministry of Law of the union government has been reportedly vetoed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Is this a case of showing off as a big brother, or is it because MHA is manned by a strong man, blessed by the stronger leader!
Or else, it does not make sense.
We are all privy to the knowledge of attack on doctors all across India by the disgruntled people, who more often than not target health personnel in hospitals for perceived wrong doing. Generally these doctors are victims of circumstances and certainly there is case of legal protection to these medical men and women. The history of these attacks on medicos has a history of long years. Hence the new proposed law by the Ministry of Health had specifics as suggested by the medical fraternity and Law Ministry must have clearly gone into the nitty gritty of the framing of the legislation.
The Health Service Personnel and Clinical Establishment (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill 2019 sought to punish people who assault on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals by imposing a jail term of up to 10 years and fines between Rs.2 lakhs and Rs.10 lakhs. In case of non-payment of compensation, the same was provided as recovery- as arrears of land revenue.
This had requisite teeth since doctors had this specific demand and a separate law was called for.
However, the officials of MHA opposed the new proposal from Ministry of Health, in the inter-ministerial consultation saying there are enough provisions in the existing laws which can take care of such circumstances with a rider that such separate law can lead to Lawyers & Police or others professionals asking for having separate law for each group. This is nonsense, for the simple reason the exposure and suffering of doctors are real and increasing by the day. They certainly need protection. It is because the existing legislations have failed, the need has arisen. Hope doctors demand Indian Medical Association to pressure the government for this legislation.
NEW DELHI:This Monday (16/12/2019) Times of India had carried an editorial under a title “Diplomatic Setback”. It had highlighted “Citizenship Amendment Act is jeopardizing India’s foreign policy objectives”. As a responsible citizen of India, I call it a load of rubbish. As a responsible media member TOI should have reacted more responsibly. At the outset, I fully endorse the CAB/CAA as a very important piece of legislation.
There is no country in the entire world of homosapians, like India, in its all inclusive approach to the issues involving humanity in general and Indians in particular.
This editorial, like some stupid intellectuals have also called CAA discriminatory. As maintained by different quarters and interlocutors in the public space, this Act is not discriminatory at all. It is very specific with the intention to help those who have suffered in the hands of majority in those countries, namely Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, in this case Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Parsis and not Muslims. Muslims in these countries are part of the majority and hence, rightly not considered. If there is problem between Sunnis & Shias or Sunnis & Hazaras or Sunnis & Ahmediyas, it is not the problem of India. It is the domestic issue of these countries. If in India there is problem between upper caste Hindus and lower caste Hindus, it’s a problem of Indians, which perforce India itself has to solve it. So, how the non-inclusion of Shias, Ahmediya or Hazaras of Pakistan, within the ambit of CAB/CAA becomes discriminatory?
This TOI editorial further tells about “unintended consequence of CAA on the diplomatic front”.
It is another load of hogwash. It gives instances of Bangladesh ministers cancelling their India visit and Japanese Prime minister Shinzo postponing his trip for the annual bilateral summit with PM Modi.
It is very apparent, it had its own compulsions and Bangladesh was probably addressing sentiments of its own citizens, which may have bigger expectation from India. PM Shinzo has postponed due to possible law and order scene during his visit. He has only postponed. Besides, whether it is UN Human Rights Office or US Commission on International Religious Freedom and House Foreign Affairs Committee, they are all reading without books. These organizations have neither any idea of the proper history of India and suffer from fixated syndrome. They only deserve to be ignored with the contempt they deserve. Editorial’s worry about democracy in India is completely misplaced. I am 100% sure democracy in India is safe and thriving whether the world sees it or not through whatever the prism it likes to see through.
NEW DELHI:Without doubt most Indians would agree that unemployment, financial and political corruption, violence against women, violence against dalits, violence in the name of cow are some of the issues that have gripped the thoughts of most Indians. But sometime truth can be stranger than fiction. With all the apparent problems the government at the center led by Prime Minister Modi facing, a report datelined New Delhi has noted that “72% Indians believe that the country headed in right direction”. Strange but true! They actually voted in a survey by an international consultant.
Ipsos, is a global market research and consulting firm with headquarters in Paris, France and has branches all over the world. Some weeks ago it came out with a survey “what worries the world”. In a survey of some 30 countries around the world, held between August 23 and September 6, 2019, from among some 2000 adult respondents, questions similar to what most Indians have got worked up with; Ipsos have concluded that some 72% Indians in cities have faith in the overall development trajectory for the country and overall optimism among citizens.
Clearly, if the survey has to be taken on its face value, it appears that the current ups and down in the economy is a passing phase and the economy and the country will turn around. This is the take away of this survey. Hope it holds good and proves all prophets of doom wrong.
UTTAR PRADESH: Uttar Pradesh is increasingly in the news these days, mostly for wrong reasons. It is slowly emerging as not so Uttam Pradesh.
The latest to hit the bull’s eye, is the investment of entire PF amount of UPPCL employees into a tainted, Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFCL), a private outfit. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) having 40000 employees whose provident fund contribution and that of the employer’s contribution amounting Rs. 2600 crores, reportedly has been invested in the fixed deposit scheme of this DHFCL. Whatever is the attraction of rates, it’s a huge risk. Such risks are taken on the money that does not belong to you for a consideration which is always shady. Clearly, the people involved are close to power center and now that it has exploded into open with DHFCL failing to meet their payments commitment, some ‘bakhras- sacrificial lambs’- are being made to suffer.
Prima facie it’s a wrong decision. Entire board of trustees of the UPPCL PF Trust is responsible for the dubious transactions involving such a huge amount. What is questionable is the entire amount lying with the trust was transferred to DHFCL. Assuming, even if just 2% was the consideration for their wrong doing, it can be Rs. 52crores. Certainly, all trustees could be beneficiary of such a deal. So the head of all concerned should roll and the Yogi Adityanath government, must go public with exposure of all involved and make them liable for the entire amount, not as stated by the chairman of UPCCL that the government of UP will pay to employees if DHFCL fails to pay. Reportedly, the General Manager of the trust PK Gupta has been suspended and arrested, besides former director of finance Sudhanshu Dwivedi. This is not enough; the chairman of UPCCL Alok Kumar should also be made accountable for this fraud on 40000 employees of UPCCL. Do you hearken Yogi Adhityanath!
UTTAR PRADESH: Something is seriously wrong with UP and its administration and general level of law & order. With all his encounter rhetoric Yogi Adityanath has failed to stem the rot, when it comes to attack on women and girls. Close on the heels of declaring this anti-social UP-MLA Sengar by the Supreme Court as accused there were these 3 reports, from Pilibhit, Banda near Fatehpur city and Mau town, all in Uttar Pradesh. The report datelined Pilibhit said “Dalit girl burnt alive dies in hospital, 4 booked” & the one from Banda said “Man arrested for raping & setting ablaze woman”. The one from Mau “6 booked for raping class 10 student in UP”, was the reported title. All of them were in their teens. All these reports appeared in the print on the same day.
Surely, something is radically wonky with the state Yogi Adityanath is managing. Why are these increasing incidents of physical assault of young school going girls?
The one in Pilibhit was a 15 year old girl working in the house of accused. The one in Banda was an 18 year old, allegedly was in relationship with the accused. In Mau it was a girl on her way to school in the morning but never returned till late night.
Clearly life of young girls in Uttar Pradesh is not safe. It is indeed a sad reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state under Yogi, who had forced himself as the chief minister of the state from being a Mahant of a temple. His competence to administer the largest state of India is clearly called to question. Under the circumstances only voters are the ones who can call the shot. His party leadership appears to be not too concerned about the happenings in the state under the standard observation, law and order is a state subject. The election due in 2022 March could be the only way to give Yogi Adityanath some lessons that he is answerable to people of Uttar Pradesh.
UTTAR PRADESH: With quantum of punishment pending, notorious lecherous lumpen MLA Kuldeep Sengar has been convicted after all for raping a minor girl from Unnao in 2017. Of course, it is rather very sad that the victim couldn’t be saved, because of animals in human form in Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh.
However, District Judge Dharmesh Sharma should be congratulated for passing strictures against CBI for the questionable and shoddy way its officials went about making a case against the 4 time, powerful MLA. Judge Sharma observed that victims testimony was “truthful and unblemished” against a ‘powerful person’.
Reportedly court convicted this wayward Kuldeep Sengar under both IPC and POSCO Act for his sexual assault of a minor. However, his woman accomplice Shashi Singh was strangely acquitted of all charges. Clearly somebody has helped her case.
Observing that the ‘victim is a village girl and she was under threat, Sengar was a powerful person so naturally she took time to complain’. Several criminal cases filed against the girls’ family had all imprints of Sengar were visible in those cases. The judge found fault with CBI dragging its feet in delaying the charges being filed against Sengar, so also not having a woman officer in conducting the probe without bothering for the kind of harassment against and revictimisation that occurs for a victim of sexual assault. Accusing the CBI, the Judge Sharma observed “According to law there should be female officers in CBI to record statement of female victims but surprisingly the girl was called many times to CBI offices instead of going to her residence”. There is clear mandate to this effect in POSCO. But the insensitive and overbearing approach of CBI officials towards the case involving a village girl has clearly exposed the double standard of the premier investigation agency of the government of India. By acting without a serious sense of purpose CBI has not helped in truly addressing the issue of crimes against women and children that only helped powerful politicians go unpunished or inadequately punished. In this particular case, due to the contacts of this powerful MLA Sengar, even the safety of the victim was not guaranteed. Her father died under mysterious circumstances, after a false charge was filed against him by the UP police. Later two of her aunts have died under questionable traffic accident, with victim and her lawyer escaping with serious injury. Its time Home Minister Amit Shah, instead of harping on construction of 'sky touching Shree Ram Temple', should read the judgment on this disgraced former BJP MLA Sengar, to improve the quality and commitment in the service provided by CBI, which is under his ministry.
UTTAR PRADESH: ‘Unnao Victim died’ was news in most newspapers in front page on Sunday, the 8th December. As most Indians are privy, to the news, she, the rape survivor, was set ablaze by the rape accused, who was granted bail only a week earlier. Victim was on her way to a court in Rae Bareli. Reportedly she suffered 90% burn injury and had a very slim chance of survival, yet the police took her to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi, in a last minute effort to save the victim. It was the same police which did not provide her security when her taxi was hit by a speeding truck and she almost died some weeks earlier. Suddenly Yogi Adityanath woke up and ordered a fast track court. Too little too late. Unfortunately Uttar Pradesh is getting seriously a bad name, with this non-stop attack on women, by men in power and those who are close to power. So, either the police are impotent to act or made powerless by these lumpen elements. The truth is, the present battery of lumpen elements belong to Bharathiya Janatha Party. It is an issue that both PM Modi and his deputy Amit Shah should be deeply concerned, not just for the welfare of women in UP, but also their party BJP’s future. Sadly rape culture has spread all across India from Kerala to Kashmir, but UP is certainly emerging as the rape capital of India. While Adityanath is making noise about his encounter policies that destroyed unlawful elements of UP, his record to render justice to victims of rape by Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies is deplorable. It is time he must consider using encounter techniques against these VIP criminals.
UTTAR PRADESH: Truth at times can be stranger than fiction. Believe it or not, a judge of Allahabad family court adjudicated a dispute between a Muslim couples by applying Hindu Marriage Act, and even fixed an interim maintenance amount for the wife. It happened in 2015, strangely; even the advocate appearing in the case has not questioned the judicial order.
However, unhappy with the order the husband went to the Allahabad High Court to redress the issue and get back his wife. Taking the usual labyrinth, it was only in 2019, that the judge in the Allahabad High Court was shocked to find out the travesty of the whole order.
As it happened, wanting to know firsthand, why this mistake had to happen from the family court, HC bench summoned the family court judge. Manoj Kumar Shukla, the family court judge, dispite being irked by the HC summons, appeared before the HC bench and reportedly stated that, it was his predecessor who had passed the wrong order and that this must have happened due to “heavy work load and lack of stenographers”. HC bench pointed out that “even if there is heavy rush of work or infrastructural deficiency, a judge is duty bound to apply correct law”.
Strangely however, the junior judge of family court Manoj Kumar Shukla, misbehaved by raising his voice and commented adversely on the functioning of the HC itself.
Shocked at his misdemeanor, HC bench cautioned him to behave, but this junior judge challenged the bench to act against him.
It is another matter that HC bench played cool for the moment, but it rightly noted that “in a hierarchical system of courts, if a judge of a subordinate court fails to conduct himself in a manner expected of a judicial officer, it is not only bound to lower the dignity of majesty of the court but it may even jeopardize the faith and the trust of the litigant in the justice dispensation system itself. After all, litigant is the most important stakeholder in the system,” while reporting the incident to the chief justice of Allahabad HC.
The report certainly brought to the fore, certain disturbing aspect of our justice delivery system. Prima facie the behavior of junior judge Mishra, is clearly inappropriate. His behavior can indeed shake the faith of the litigant in the system. But that left a question unanswered “whether higher courts can summon junior judicial officer for examination or questioning?” There should be clarity in such issues and how to go about it.
Then the ‘bogie of Heavy Work’, with Summer Holidays, Winter Holidays, Dassera Holidays, Diwali Holidays there may not be even 50% of working days available to courts! For sure, with these holidays the pending cases can go on and on. Its time, government intervenes to regulate court timings for the larger good.
TELANGANA:India is privy to the dastardly attack and murder of a Veterinary doctor in Hyderabad and the encounter killing of four suspected accused by the Telangana police. A large section of Indians, across the national spectrum have, kind of celebrated the summery killing of these bad men by police. In a democratic set up, it is supposedly a government of the people, by the people and for the people. All recognize that the way this young lady doctor was physically assaulted and killed by burning the dead to destroy the possible proof of wrong doing was extremely dastardly and diabolic. All those, including the family of the young lady probably wanted to lynch these men, if they could have been caught. But reportedly, post midnight when the police were transporting these suspected criminals, allegedly tried to ‘escape’ after ‘attacking’ the police and police ‘retaliated’. All four died on the spot. Most Indians expressed satisfaction at their summery end. It was the end of 4 despicable men. But did the issue die with them! Probably not! No wonder Supreme Court has stopped the cremation of dead bodies, pending enquiry. Hence the question that left unanswered was, did the police shoot to kill or shoot to stop the escape? It was clearly-shoot to kill. Was the unending court proceeding that prompted the police to take the law into their own hands! Examination, cross examination, availability and non-availability of proofs, and the usual procrastinations by the legal fraternity all added up for the police to decide the course of action without the approval of its political masters? Such a development has dangerous portends in any system of governance especially in a democratic set up, where there are clear functional demarcations. Now apex court is in the picture. What next, has to be awaited?
KARNATAKA:‘School re-creates Babri-Demolition & Construction of Ram Temple’ was news that print media published yesterday 17/12/2019. This is news that I should have reacted yesterday itself for the sheer insensitivity involved. Reading the entire news report was delayed. But the justification of RSS leader and the conductor of Sri Rama Vidya Kendra Kalladka, Prabhakar Bhat that ‘its faithful to facts’ clearly amounts to hurting of religious sentiments of a section of Indians.
It was only some weeks ago that the Supreme Court has given its unanimous judgment to construct the temple in the over 70 year old disputed land case, which has a history of over 500 years. It is true that the highest court of the land has gone into all details before coming to the conclusive judgment. It is also true that there is still a section of Indians who do not buy the apex court theory in giving the judgment in favour of temple construction. But the fact of the matter is there are two sides to every litigation, both cannot be right and therefore both cannot win. But in victory the victor has to be gracious in underplaying his victory. For the one who lost, time is the only healer. That is being gentleman. And for the victor it is always easier to play gentleman. Under the circumstances, it is patently in bad taste for this Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat to stage such a show involving hundreds of children.
He has a tremendous responsibility, as an elder, as a leader and as a politician, to mould the sensitive dimension of students under his care and management. It was highly improper for the school management to showcase the demolition of Babri Masjid, attended by a state governor and a central minister.
KARNATAKA: There appears to be a clear agenda when it comes to print media especially. To-day’s (24/12/2019) Times of India had this, “80000 Bengalooru protesters say No to CAA and NRC”, as a headline in the front page. On 4th page another news “In one voice, 80,000 citizens reject CAA” was the headline. “7000 people hit the streets in Karwar” was another report on the earlier one in the same page. Under “CAA DEBATE: unity Mantra Rent the air” was the 3rd report in page 4. So, in 2 pages there were already 4 reports. But the editor appeared to be not-happy with the repetition of the same stuff as long as it was against Modi led BJP led NDA government in New Delhi.
Come to 5th page it was “Congress top guns sit in ‘Satyagraha’ at Rajghat; DMK rally in Chennai” highlighting “Oppn Steps Up Protests Across Country Against Amended Citizenship Act”, “CMs against implementing CAA in MP, Rajasthan”. “Protest against CAA in Assam”.
Thus it is very clear major part of the TOI space was occupied by CAA opposition gang, supported by media, Congress and Communist parties, and of course our award wapsi intellectual brigade. What really surprising was the complete black-out of those rallies or demonstrations in support of CAA. It is known to all Indians that there are groups, big and small, who had openly come out in support of CAA, without any party affiliations.
This was a completely unrelenting exhibition of the bankruptcy of media members like the TOI, so also the Congress Party and its fellow travelers.
Unfortunately, the tag reserved for Congress as the party misleading the misguided crowd of students and others is now can be used against the media houses. The truth of the matter is these protests and their interlocutors in the public space are clearly agenda driven.
KERALA: ‘JOURNALISM WITH HUMAN TOUCH’ is a statement on the cover by this THE WEEK, the weekly from Kochi. For sure it has a human touch or else, they wouldn’t have published the photograph on the cover of their May 19, 2019, issue and called it “WORLD EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW” of ZAKIR NAIK.
This fugitive from the Indian laws is needed for varieties of wrong doing. And this THE WEEK or its editor thought of talking to this fugitive in his Malaysian home and thought it’s a scoop, only for the Anti-BJP/Anti Modi sound bites. There were many readers who protested for the eulogizing of a criminal on the run, by letters to the editor. Some THE WEEK published and some they didn’t, which included one from the undersigned. That was a signal. They must respect views from readers.
But clearly, refusing to learn lessons, THE WEEK is at it again with utterances of another jailbird, who spent over 100days in prison, but currently on bail. Of all the people, they caught hold of this ‘intelligence - reincarnate’, Palaniappan Chidambaram (PC) only for his spiteful venom against his tormenters, the present NDA government at the center. No wonder the cover said it all “BEST MODI CAN DO IS QUIT”, ascribing to PC. This kind of chasing hate news will, neither win friends nor influence people Mr. Editor.
Through this piece I request readers and advertisers to boycott this THE WEEK, after all it’s you who are sustaining it! The duty of a paper is to be objective rather than looking for sensation quotient.
WORLD: The startling news that Pakistani Supreme Court appointed special court sentencing former military ruler of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf to death has shaken the Military Establishment in Islamabad. No wonder, the army top brass has come out strongly in support of the former dictator and has condemned the court.
Having ruled Pakistan for almost half of its number of years in existence, army is not likely to take the judgment of the special court lying down. It is an existential crisis for the army, that one of their very own has been adjudicated as traitor by the Pakistani court headed by Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth. Reportedly condemning the judgment, army issued a press statement: “An Ex - Army Chief, Chairman & Joint Chief of Staff and President of Pakistan, who has served the country for over 40years, fought wars for the defense of the country, can surely never be a traitor”. Not surprisingly the government of Imran Khan too has come out in support of the army stand.
The court in its wisdom going clearly by the provisions of the constitution, is a text book case without going into the nitty gritty of the presidential action of suspending the constitution.
Of course, it can be challenged in the higher courts, which those concerned will take up for sure. After all, despite his age – 76years – and not so healthy state of his physical fitness, he had in the past declared his intention to return to active politics. Surely the present judgment of the special court will only delay his entry into politics, if and when it happens.
What course the army and civil administration of Imran Khan will take has to be seen.
Does this clearly show that the bill-CAB- is acceptable to the majority of the nation! So it seems! Rajya Sabha did not allow either any inspired amendments to the bill so also rejected the move to send the bill to a Select Committee. Thus there was clarity in the stand taken by all those who supported it.
While Loksabha, due to the strength of NDA alliance had more supporters and therefore had no difficulty in getting it passed, in Rajya Sabha, there were those who were concerned about the issue covered by the CAB.
In Loksabha it was 293 in favour and only 82 against. But in Rajya Sabha the numbers were 125 for and 105 against. Most importantly, the CAB as a bill has passed the muster awaiting assent of the President.
Coming to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, it has to be categorically stated that it is a very positive development. All parties, in the past, mostly Congress, has been giving lip service to the problem with even resolution having been passed to the effect, that is to give citizenship to those who were persecuted in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. But it is only the NDA which has spoken and has also acted. All parties in the past have recognized the problem repeatedly but did not act.
Hence in the words of Subramania Swami, Rajya Sabha MP, ‘BJP should be congratulated for acting on a long held belief of persecution of minorities in Pak/Afg/Bdesh troika, by confirming citizenship to those persecuted non-Muslims in these countries’. Hope world recognizes this truth.
NEW DELHI:Union Finance Minister, a first lady in such a job, Ms. Nirmala Sitaraman, has proved that at least she is a better manager of issues of personal nature.
The other day, a situation, which could easily be described as something that could pique anybody had happened out of the blue. As a finance minister at the center, she had to face a barrage of questions everywhere she went around, due to the sluggish economic figures, which may be purely cyclical. In the midst of which if one has to be publicly bombarded by the closest person in your life, one can very well understand the situation Ms. Sitaraman was in. Her husband completely unknown to the public at large until he published an article in an English daily, lampooning all that she was justifying about the economic policies of the government of the day at center. It is to her credit that she stayed out of the controversy, by not referring at all to the piece by her husband.
He was a bureaucrat with Andhra government in the past as a political economist. However as a spouse of an important functionary of the central government, who is certainly known far more, to take her on publicly is just not done. That’s being a bad husband and a bad model for their only daughter.
But strangely neither the media- electronic or print- or the social media, which are looking only for sensation, somehow did not react too much. In fact there was hardly any response.
Could it be that the wronged is an NDA/BJP government functionary and the wrong doer belonged to the opposite camp, that all those ‘saviours of the nation, the intellectual brigade etc.’ just ignored the pique the lady finance minister, Ms. Sitaraman had to face.
The whole write up whether it had logical inputs or not, was in bad taste especially in the context of a domestic relation. No wonder The Hindu, the usual BJP/NDA, beite noire was quick to grab the article by Parakala Prabhakar, the ‘disgruntled’ husband of a famous wife. It was a new low in journalism.
NEW DELHI:A bill drafted by the central health ministry and cleared by the Ministry of Law of the union government has been reportedly vetoed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Is this a case of showing off as a big brother, or is it because MHA is manned by a strong man, blessed by the stronger leader!
Or else, it does not make sense.
We are all privy to the knowledge of attack on doctors all across India by the disgruntled people, who more often than not target health personnel in hospitals for perceived wrong doing. Generally these doctors are victims of circumstances and certainly there is case of legal protection to these medical men and women. The history of these attacks on medicos has a history of long years. Hence the new proposed law by the Ministry of Health had specifics as suggested by the medical fraternity and Law Ministry must have clearly gone into the nitty gritty of the framing of the legislation.
The Health Service Personnel and Clinical Establishment (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill 2019 sought to punish people who assault on-duty doctors and other healthcare professionals by imposing a jail term of up to 10 years and fines between Rs.2 lakhs and Rs.10 lakhs. In case of non-payment of compensation, the same was provided as recovery- as arrears of land revenue.
This had requisite teeth since doctors had this specific demand and a separate law was called for.
However, the officials of MHA opposed the new proposal from Ministry of Health, in the inter-ministerial consultation saying there are enough provisions in the existing laws which can take care of such circumstances with a rider that such separate law can lead to Lawyers & Police or others professionals asking for having separate law for each group. This is nonsense, for the simple reason the exposure and suffering of doctors are real and increasing by the day. They certainly need protection. It is because the existing legislations have failed, the need has arisen. Hope doctors demand Indian Medical Association to pressure the government for this legislation.
NEW DELHI:This Monday (16/12/2019) Times of India had carried an editorial under a title “Diplomatic Setback”. It had highlighted “Citizenship Amendment Act is jeopardizing India’s foreign policy objectives”. As a responsible citizen of India, I call it a load of rubbish. As a responsible media member TOI should have reacted more responsibly. At the outset, I fully endorse the CAB/CAA as a very important piece of legislation.
There is no country in the entire world of homosapians, like India, in its all inclusive approach to the issues involving humanity in general and Indians in particular.
This editorial, like some stupid intellectuals have also called CAA discriminatory. As maintained by different quarters and interlocutors in the public space, this Act is not discriminatory at all. It is very specific with the intention to help those who have suffered in the hands of majority in those countries, namely Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, in this case Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Parsis and not Muslims. Muslims in these countries are part of the majority and hence, rightly not considered. If there is problem between Sunnis & Shias or Sunnis & Hazaras or Sunnis & Ahmediyas, it is not the problem of India. It is the domestic issue of these countries. If in India there is problem between upper caste Hindus and lower caste Hindus, it’s a problem of Indians, which perforce India itself has to solve it. So, how the non-inclusion of Shias, Ahmediya or Hazaras of Pakistan, within the ambit of CAB/CAA becomes discriminatory?
This TOI editorial further tells about “unintended consequence of CAA on the diplomatic front”.
It is another load of hogwash. It gives instances of Bangladesh ministers cancelling their India visit and Japanese Prime minister Shinzo postponing his trip for the annual bilateral summit with PM Modi.
It is very apparent, it had its own compulsions and Bangladesh was probably addressing sentiments of its own citizens, which may have bigger expectation from India. PM Shinzo has postponed due to possible law and order scene during his visit. He has only postponed. Besides, whether it is UN Human Rights Office or US Commission on International Religious Freedom and House Foreign Affairs Committee, they are all reading without books. These organizations have neither any idea of the proper history of India and suffer from fixated syndrome. They only deserve to be ignored with the contempt they deserve. Editorial’s worry about democracy in India is completely misplaced. I am 100% sure democracy in India is safe and thriving whether the world sees it or not through whatever the prism it likes to see through.
NEW DELHI:Without doubt most Indians would agree that unemployment, financial and political corruption, violence against women, violence against dalits, violence in the name of cow are some of the issues that have gripped the thoughts of most Indians. But sometime truth can be stranger than fiction. With all the apparent problems the government at the center led by Prime Minister Modi facing, a report datelined New Delhi has noted that “72% Indians believe that the country headed in right direction”. Strange but true! They actually voted in a survey by an international consultant.
Ipsos, is a global market research and consulting firm with headquarters in Paris, France and has branches all over the world. Some weeks ago it came out with a survey “what worries the world”. In a survey of some 30 countries around the world, held between August 23 and September 6, 2019, from among some 2000 adult respondents, questions similar to what most Indians have got worked up with; Ipsos have concluded that some 72% Indians in cities have faith in the overall development trajectory for the country and overall optimism among citizens.
Clearly, if the survey has to be taken on its face value, it appears that the current ups and down in the economy is a passing phase and the economy and the country will turn around. This is the take away of this survey. Hope it holds good and proves all prophets of doom wrong.
UTTAR PRADESH: Uttar Pradesh is increasingly in the news these days, mostly for wrong reasons. It is slowly emerging as not so Uttam Pradesh.
The latest to hit the bull’s eye, is the investment of entire PF amount of UPPCL employees into a tainted, Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFCL), a private outfit. Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) having 40000 employees whose provident fund contribution and that of the employer’s contribution amounting Rs. 2600 crores, reportedly has been invested in the fixed deposit scheme of this DHFCL. Whatever is the attraction of rates, it’s a huge risk. Such risks are taken on the money that does not belong to you for a consideration which is always shady. Clearly, the people involved are close to power center and now that it has exploded into open with DHFCL failing to meet their payments commitment, some ‘bakhras- sacrificial lambs’- are being made to suffer.
Prima facie it’s a wrong decision. Entire board of trustees of the UPPCL PF Trust is responsible for the dubious transactions involving such a huge amount. What is questionable is the entire amount lying with the trust was transferred to DHFCL. Assuming, even if just 2% was the consideration for their wrong doing, it can be Rs. 52crores. Certainly, all trustees could be beneficiary of such a deal. So the head of all concerned should roll and the Yogi Adityanath government, must go public with exposure of all involved and make them liable for the entire amount, not as stated by the chairman of UPCCL that the government of UP will pay to employees if DHFCL fails to pay. Reportedly, the General Manager of the trust PK Gupta has been suspended and arrested, besides former director of finance Sudhanshu Dwivedi. This is not enough; the chairman of UPCCL Alok Kumar should also be made accountable for this fraud on 40000 employees of UPCCL. Do you hearken Yogi Adhityanath!
UTTAR PRADESH: Something is seriously wrong with UP and its administration and general level of law & order. With all his encounter rhetoric Yogi Adityanath has failed to stem the rot, when it comes to attack on women and girls. Close on the heels of declaring this anti-social UP-MLA Sengar by the Supreme Court as accused there were these 3 reports, from Pilibhit, Banda near Fatehpur city and Mau town, all in Uttar Pradesh. The report datelined Pilibhit said “Dalit girl burnt alive dies in hospital, 4 booked” & the one from Banda said “Man arrested for raping & setting ablaze woman”. The one from Mau “6 booked for raping class 10 student in UP”, was the reported title. All of them were in their teens. All these reports appeared in the print on the same day.
Surely, something is radically wonky with the state Yogi Adityanath is managing. Why are these increasing incidents of physical assault of young school going girls?
The one in Pilibhit was a 15 year old girl working in the house of accused. The one in Banda was an 18 year old, allegedly was in relationship with the accused. In Mau it was a girl on her way to school in the morning but never returned till late night.
Clearly life of young girls in Uttar Pradesh is not safe. It is indeed a sad reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state under Yogi, who had forced himself as the chief minister of the state from being a Mahant of a temple. His competence to administer the largest state of India is clearly called to question. Under the circumstances only voters are the ones who can call the shot. His party leadership appears to be not too concerned about the happenings in the state under the standard observation, law and order is a state subject. The election due in 2022 March could be the only way to give Yogi Adityanath some lessons that he is answerable to people of Uttar Pradesh.
UTTAR PRADESH: With quantum of punishment pending, notorious lecherous lumpen MLA Kuldeep Sengar has been convicted after all for raping a minor girl from Unnao in 2017. Of course, it is rather very sad that the victim couldn’t be saved, because of animals in human form in Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh.
However, District Judge Dharmesh Sharma should be congratulated for passing strictures against CBI for the questionable and shoddy way its officials went about making a case against the 4 time, powerful MLA. Judge Sharma observed that victims testimony was “truthful and unblemished” against a ‘powerful person’.
Reportedly court convicted this wayward Kuldeep Sengar under both IPC and POSCO Act for his sexual assault of a minor. However, his woman accomplice Shashi Singh was strangely acquitted of all charges. Clearly somebody has helped her case.
Observing that the ‘victim is a village girl and she was under threat, Sengar was a powerful person so naturally she took time to complain’. Several criminal cases filed against the girls’ family had all imprints of Sengar were visible in those cases. The judge found fault with CBI dragging its feet in delaying the charges being filed against Sengar, so also not having a woman officer in conducting the probe without bothering for the kind of harassment against and revictimisation that occurs for a victim of sexual assault. Accusing the CBI, the Judge Sharma observed “According to law there should be female officers in CBI to record statement of female victims but surprisingly the girl was called many times to CBI offices instead of going to her residence”. There is clear mandate to this effect in POSCO. But the insensitive and overbearing approach of CBI officials towards the case involving a village girl has clearly exposed the double standard of the premier investigation agency of the government of India. By acting without a serious sense of purpose CBI has not helped in truly addressing the issue of crimes against women and children that only helped powerful politicians go unpunished or inadequately punished. In this particular case, due to the contacts of this powerful MLA Sengar, even the safety of the victim was not guaranteed. Her father died under mysterious circumstances, after a false charge was filed against him by the UP police. Later two of her aunts have died under questionable traffic accident, with victim and her lawyer escaping with serious injury. Its time Home Minister Amit Shah, instead of harping on construction of 'sky touching Shree Ram Temple', should read the judgment on this disgraced former BJP MLA Sengar, to improve the quality and commitment in the service provided by CBI, which is under his ministry.
UTTAR PRADESH: ‘Unnao Victim died’ was news in most newspapers in front page on Sunday, the 8th December. As most Indians are privy, to the news, she, the rape survivor, was set ablaze by the rape accused, who was granted bail only a week earlier. Victim was on her way to a court in Rae Bareli. Reportedly she suffered 90% burn injury and had a very slim chance of survival, yet the police took her to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi, in a last minute effort to save the victim. It was the same police which did not provide her security when her taxi was hit by a speeding truck and she almost died some weeks earlier. Suddenly Yogi Adityanath woke up and ordered a fast track court. Too little too late. Unfortunately Uttar Pradesh is getting seriously a bad name, with this non-stop attack on women, by men in power and those who are close to power. So, either the police are impotent to act or made powerless by these lumpen elements. The truth is, the present battery of lumpen elements belong to Bharathiya Janatha Party. It is an issue that both PM Modi and his deputy Amit Shah should be deeply concerned, not just for the welfare of women in UP, but also their party BJP’s future. Sadly rape culture has spread all across India from Kerala to Kashmir, but UP is certainly emerging as the rape capital of India. While Adityanath is making noise about his encounter policies that destroyed unlawful elements of UP, his record to render justice to victims of rape by Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies is deplorable. It is time he must consider using encounter techniques against these VIP criminals.
UTTAR PRADESH: Truth at times can be stranger than fiction. Believe it or not, a judge of Allahabad family court adjudicated a dispute between a Muslim couples by applying Hindu Marriage Act, and even fixed an interim maintenance amount for the wife. It happened in 2015, strangely; even the advocate appearing in the case has not questioned the judicial order.
However, unhappy with the order the husband went to the Allahabad High Court to redress the issue and get back his wife. Taking the usual labyrinth, it was only in 2019, that the judge in the Allahabad High Court was shocked to find out the travesty of the whole order.
As it happened, wanting to know firsthand, why this mistake had to happen from the family court, HC bench summoned the family court judge. Manoj Kumar Shukla, the family court judge, dispite being irked by the HC summons, appeared before the HC bench and reportedly stated that, it was his predecessor who had passed the wrong order and that this must have happened due to “heavy work load and lack of stenographers”. HC bench pointed out that “even if there is heavy rush of work or infrastructural deficiency, a judge is duty bound to apply correct law”.
Strangely however, the junior judge of family court Manoj Kumar Shukla, misbehaved by raising his voice and commented adversely on the functioning of the HC itself.
Shocked at his misdemeanor, HC bench cautioned him to behave, but this junior judge challenged the bench to act against him.
It is another matter that HC bench played cool for the moment, but it rightly noted that “in a hierarchical system of courts, if a judge of a subordinate court fails to conduct himself in a manner expected of a judicial officer, it is not only bound to lower the dignity of majesty of the court but it may even jeopardize the faith and the trust of the litigant in the justice dispensation system itself. After all, litigant is the most important stakeholder in the system,” while reporting the incident to the chief justice of Allahabad HC.
The report certainly brought to the fore, certain disturbing aspect of our justice delivery system. Prima facie the behavior of junior judge Mishra, is clearly inappropriate. His behavior can indeed shake the faith of the litigant in the system. But that left a question unanswered “whether higher courts can summon junior judicial officer for examination or questioning?” There should be clarity in such issues and how to go about it.
Then the ‘bogie of Heavy Work’, with Summer Holidays, Winter Holidays, Dassera Holidays, Diwali Holidays there may not be even 50% of working days available to courts! For sure, with these holidays the pending cases can go on and on. Its time, government intervenes to regulate court timings for the larger good.
TELANGANA:India is privy to the dastardly attack and murder of a Veterinary doctor in Hyderabad and the encounter killing of four suspected accused by the Telangana police. A large section of Indians, across the national spectrum have, kind of celebrated the summery killing of these bad men by police. In a democratic set up, it is supposedly a government of the people, by the people and for the people. All recognize that the way this young lady doctor was physically assaulted and killed by burning the dead to destroy the possible proof of wrong doing was extremely dastardly and diabolic. All those, including the family of the young lady probably wanted to lynch these men, if they could have been caught. But reportedly, post midnight when the police were transporting these suspected criminals, allegedly tried to ‘escape’ after ‘attacking’ the police and police ‘retaliated’. All four died on the spot. Most Indians expressed satisfaction at their summery end. It was the end of 4 despicable men. But did the issue die with them! Probably not! No wonder Supreme Court has stopped the cremation of dead bodies, pending enquiry. Hence the question that left unanswered was, did the police shoot to kill or shoot to stop the escape? It was clearly-shoot to kill. Was the unending court proceeding that prompted the police to take the law into their own hands! Examination, cross examination, availability and non-availability of proofs, and the usual procrastinations by the legal fraternity all added up for the police to decide the course of action without the approval of its political masters? Such a development has dangerous portends in any system of governance especially in a democratic set up, where there are clear functional demarcations. Now apex court is in the picture. What next, has to be awaited?
KARNATAKA:‘School re-creates Babri-Demolition & Construction of Ram Temple’ was news that print media published yesterday 17/12/2019. This is news that I should have reacted yesterday itself for the sheer insensitivity involved. Reading the entire news report was delayed. But the justification of RSS leader and the conductor of Sri Rama Vidya Kendra Kalladka, Prabhakar Bhat that ‘its faithful to facts’ clearly amounts to hurting of religious sentiments of a section of Indians.
It was only some weeks ago that the Supreme Court has given its unanimous judgment to construct the temple in the over 70 year old disputed land case, which has a history of over 500 years. It is true that the highest court of the land has gone into all details before coming to the conclusive judgment. It is also true that there is still a section of Indians who do not buy the apex court theory in giving the judgment in favour of temple construction. But the fact of the matter is there are two sides to every litigation, both cannot be right and therefore both cannot win. But in victory the victor has to be gracious in underplaying his victory. For the one who lost, time is the only healer. That is being gentleman. And for the victor it is always easier to play gentleman. Under the circumstances, it is patently in bad taste for this Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat to stage such a show involving hundreds of children.
He has a tremendous responsibility, as an elder, as a leader and as a politician, to mould the sensitive dimension of students under his care and management. It was highly improper for the school management to showcase the demolition of Babri Masjid, attended by a state governor and a central minister.
KARNATAKA: There appears to be a clear agenda when it comes to print media especially. To-day’s (24/12/2019) Times of India had this, “80000 Bengalooru protesters say No to CAA and NRC”, as a headline in the front page. On 4th page another news “In one voice, 80,000 citizens reject CAA” was the headline. “7000 people hit the streets in Karwar” was another report on the earlier one in the same page. Under “CAA DEBATE: unity Mantra Rent the air” was the 3rd report in page 4. So, in 2 pages there were already 4 reports. But the editor appeared to be not-happy with the repetition of the same stuff as long as it was against Modi led BJP led NDA government in New Delhi.
Come to 5th page it was “Congress top guns sit in ‘Satyagraha’ at Rajghat; DMK rally in Chennai” highlighting “Oppn Steps Up Protests Across Country Against Amended Citizenship Act”, “CMs against implementing CAA in MP, Rajasthan”. “Protest against CAA in Assam”.
Thus it is very clear major part of the TOI space was occupied by CAA opposition gang, supported by media, Congress and Communist parties, and of course our award wapsi intellectual brigade. What really surprising was the complete black-out of those rallies or demonstrations in support of CAA. It is known to all Indians that there are groups, big and small, who had openly come out in support of CAA, without any party affiliations.
This was a completely unrelenting exhibition of the bankruptcy of media members like the TOI, so also the Congress Party and its fellow travelers.
Unfortunately, the tag reserved for Congress as the party misleading the misguided crowd of students and others is now can be used against the media houses. The truth of the matter is these protests and their interlocutors in the public space are clearly agenda driven.
KERALA: ‘JOURNALISM WITH HUMAN TOUCH’ is a statement on the cover by this THE WEEK, the weekly from Kochi. For sure it has a human touch or else, they wouldn’t have published the photograph on the cover of their May 19, 2019, issue and called it “WORLD EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW” of ZAKIR NAIK.
This fugitive from the Indian laws is needed for varieties of wrong doing. And this THE WEEK or its editor thought of talking to this fugitive in his Malaysian home and thought it’s a scoop, only for the Anti-BJP/Anti Modi sound bites. There were many readers who protested for the eulogizing of a criminal on the run, by letters to the editor. Some THE WEEK published and some they didn’t, which included one from the undersigned. That was a signal. They must respect views from readers.
But clearly, refusing to learn lessons, THE WEEK is at it again with utterances of another jailbird, who spent over 100days in prison, but currently on bail. Of all the people, they caught hold of this ‘intelligence - reincarnate’, Palaniappan Chidambaram (PC) only for his spiteful venom against his tormenters, the present NDA government at the center. No wonder the cover said it all “BEST MODI CAN DO IS QUIT”, ascribing to PC. This kind of chasing hate news will, neither win friends nor influence people Mr. Editor.
Through this piece I request readers and advertisers to boycott this THE WEEK, after all it’s you who are sustaining it! The duty of a paper is to be objective rather than looking for sensation quotient.
WORLD: The startling news that Pakistani Supreme Court appointed special court sentencing former military ruler of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf to death has shaken the Military Establishment in Islamabad. No wonder, the army top brass has come out strongly in support of the former dictator and has condemned the court.
Having ruled Pakistan for almost half of its number of years in existence, army is not likely to take the judgment of the special court lying down. It is an existential crisis for the army, that one of their very own has been adjudicated as traitor by the Pakistani court headed by Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth. Reportedly condemning the judgment, army issued a press statement: “An Ex - Army Chief, Chairman & Joint Chief of Staff and President of Pakistan, who has served the country for over 40years, fought wars for the defense of the country, can surely never be a traitor”. Not surprisingly the government of Imran Khan too has come out in support of the army stand.
The court in its wisdom going clearly by the provisions of the constitution, is a text book case without going into the nitty gritty of the presidential action of suspending the constitution.
Of course, it can be challenged in the higher courts, which those concerned will take up for sure. After all, despite his age – 76years – and not so healthy state of his physical fitness, he had in the past declared his intention to return to active politics. Surely the present judgment of the special court will only delay his entry into politics, if and when it happens.
What course the army and civil administration of Imran Khan will take has to be seen.
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