Opinion
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| Military and Common Public | | Hope and Paradox in Kashmir | | The Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) have become the daily routine of the forces. The CASOs have not only made the social lives hell, but have also destroyed the economic properties as well. | | | During the phase of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led collation with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, the approach to deal with separatists like the Hurriyat, youth stone-pelters and militants had remained very much aggressive. No doubt, in their common minimum programme of alliance, it was mentioned to create an environment of talks with all stakeholders in the Kashmir Valley. But, in practical terms there was something else. Many of the separatist leaders were under house-arrest and some of them were jailed too. A few of the leaders were raided by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The same was the case during the National Conference and Congress-led previous governments. The only difference, which is now marked, was the rise in the brutality of the arm... |  | |
| | | Happy Birthday India..! | | | | There's a big birthday bash for India today, as all the countries line up to greet the young seventy-one year old. " Happy Birthday India!" says China as it marches up with jade bowl gift and a smirk, "May you become as great a super power as I am!"
"I already am," smiles India, "with a billion and more people who can think what they want, say what they'd like to and not get butchered in Tiananmen Square when trying to express themselves! I am a super power!"
"May your rulers rule long!" sniggers Pakistan.
"Ah," smiles India indulgently, "my rulers rule as long as my people wish them too, not like yours who rule at the whim and wish of your khaki clad generals who bring down governments which don't tow their line! My rulers are the people, and may their rule be long!"
Tibet who h... | | |
| | | Lynching to Nowhere | | | | More gruesome details about the Alwar lynching have come to light. Rakbar Khan, the victim, could have been saved if the police had acted in time. In fact, the force stopped for tea and wasted three-and-a-half hours in reaching the victim to the hospital. He bled to death. If one were to put all the pieces together, one would come to the conclusion that the police delay was deliberate.
The religion of the victim-he was a Muslim-has been his undoing. Inquiry would give details but there is no doubt that the police were keener on recovering the two cows from him than saving his life. The cows were taken to a gaushala (cow shed) 10 kilometres away, a good one hour before Khan was brought to the community health centre, a six-kilometre drive from the attack site.
According to data available... | | |
| | | Make Mistakes..! | | | | Singing in one of the best choirs in the country; the Paranjoti Academy Chorus, and under the illustrious Coomi Wadia, I think I have been spoilt silly. A point she emphatically enforces is that in case a choir member makes a mistake during rehearsals or even during a performance no other member is to turn round, correct the person or even show disapproval.
With this beautiful, but simple rule, members of this secular choir sing out, make mistakes, get corrected only by the conductor and learn to sing vibrantly, harmoniously and produce great music together!
It was last week I was invited to sing for another choir, for a concert they were practicing for!
It was a whole new lot of choristers and new music I was going through. I followed what I'd always done; sang out and made a mistake... | | |
| | | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Beef & Hindutva Gang | | | | "The violence unleashed by Hindutva cadres on vulnerable sections of Indians also underscores hypocrisy as an integral trait of the RSS. In fact, to say that it indulged in double/triple speak would be an understatement in its case. RSS cadres are killing indiscreetly poor Indians, not only for slaughtering cows but for even transporting these animals."
The denigration of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first PM of India and a prominent leader of the anti-colonial freedom struggle by the Hindutva gang is endless. After Gandhi, he continues to be the punching bag of the Hindutva no holds barred attacks crossing all civilized norms. In fact, the Hindu nationalists who assassinated Gandhi (January 30, 1948) also discussed whether Nehru could also meet the same fate.
He is the same character who in... | | |
| | | Playing T20 in Test cricket..! | | | | And with the freedom my imagination gives me, I take a flight to England, where the emigration officer asks, "Purpose of visit?"
"To watch our young lads beat yours on the cricket field!" I say pleasantly. He scowls and waves me in, and as I bask in perfect summer weather, I can't help think it's the ideal setting for an Indian win; peaceful, calm, no chilly English wind, but a cheerful sun, people lazily sipping beer, sportingly lifting their glasses when there's a good stroke or ball bowled from either side.
I wave to Virat who walks over a marked scowl on his otherwise determined face, "What's wrong?" I ask cheerfully, "Everything!" says the Indian captain, "My boys are playing T20 cricket in a Test match!"
"Are you guys always in such a hurry mate?" chuckles an Englishman looking ... | | |
| | | Article 35-A | | | | "Article 370 of India's constitution records a compact between the centre and Kashmir, so does Article 35-A; Articles 370 and 35-A form an inseparable whole, which was negotiated over May to October 1949. It was agreed between Jawaharlal Nehru and J&K's delegation headed by Sheikh sahib. Nehru recorded it in a note dated July 20, 1952. The terms of the agreement were explained to the Lok Sabha and to the J&K constituent assembly."
ARTICLE 35-A of India's constitution says that no law for Jammu & Kashmir, existing or future, shall be void as being violative of the fundamental rights if it touches "permanent residents" or confers on them "special rights" on government jobs, acquisition of immovable property, settlement in the state or rights to scholarship or other forms of government aid.... | | |
| | | Majority of a Majority..! | | | | Mumbai was terrified a few days ago!
So was Pune, Nashik, Thane, Aurangabad, and most towns and cities around the financial capital. "Will the mob enter our shops, destroy our offices, raze our homes?"
"Will there be the burning of buses, forcible stopping of trains!"
"Could there be violence, police shooting, deaths?"
"Will our children be safe?"
Mumbai trembled as Maharashtra shivered!
There was reason to fear: 31% of the people of the state were angry. Thirty one percent, who wanted a reservation quota! Quotas created to help the weak and marginalized were now demanded by those with only one advantage, the advantage of not being disadvantaged, but having the luxury of numbers!
What an irony!
Today a Chief Minister tears his hair, as he tries to give in despite a supreme c... | | |
| | Human Rights | | Govt dependence on NGOs for welfare responsibilities exposed | | Muzafarpur Shame | | | “Muzafarpur shelter home expose has blown over the lid of such horrific crime. The National Human Right Commission Reports testify to the fact that such sexual abuse of girls and women are more of a norm than exception in Mental Hospitals government, private or NGO run homes.”
The horrifying news from a state sponsored shelter home at Muzafarpur town in Bihar has lowered the national esteem beyond imagination. All over the country there has been shock and dismay at this shameful news. No one believed that even such kind of ghastly act can take place in a state run shelter home.
Now, when the heat and dust of over such monumental shame is settling down, it is time to take stock of the situation. This should begin with the acknowledgment of those who are the prime movers of this news into... | | |
| | Patriarchy | | Section 497 of IPC is Archaic | | | | The SC reasoned that Art. 15(3) allows the legislature to make special provisions for women and Art. 14 allows to make classifications in pursuance of the same. It held that it being a sound classification on the grounds of sex, Art. 14 was not attracted. It was also contended that this section denies right to women to prosecute their husbands.However, the SC repelled the argument that on the ground that woman can initiate a suit for divorce on the grounds of cruelty.
By Snehil Kunwar Singh
“It is also pertinent to note that 42nd Report of the Law Commission (1971) and the Malimath Committee in Criminal Law Reforms (2003) suggested that the section must be amended to the effect that both erring wife and the person who had sexual intercourse with her be held liable for adultery.”
A Cons... | | |
| | | On whose side is Imran? | | | | The democratic countries have said openly that Pakistan was under the Army rule. Will Imran Khan's credentials be acceptable to the West? The next few months of Khan's rule will show this. It would depend on Imran Khan whether he can please both rulers-the Army and the people.
The Army in Pakistan seems to have devised a way where a particular person is elected even without a valid cause. Imran Khan is a product of such a phenomenon. Long before the elections, his name was tossed around. One can now assume that probably nobody else fitted into the scheme of things which the Army wanted. Nawaz Sharif had been elected in the past but was found wanting in the eyes of the Army. Even the military regime of General Pervez Musharraf was not up to the mark.
Why then has the Army come into the... | | |
| | | Scars, wounds and suicide..! | | | | For those who think of suicide as a way out, or those in depression, do I pen this little story:
The fourteen-year old boy and sister standing by his side looked questioningly at their parents who were pulling the drapes across the windows. The father then pulled a gun and pointed it to his son's head.
"What are you doing father?" asked the scared teenaged boy.
"I am going to kill you my son, after which I will kill your sister then your mother, then take my own life!"
"No!" screamed the little girl as she clung to her brother.
"Father put down your gun," said the fourteen- year old suddenly very calm.
"I can't my son, we all have to die together."
"Why dad?"
"Because our money is over! My fault! I made some wrong decisions and we are heavily in debt. If only I die, then your moth... | | |
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