Pardon me, His Excellency! You can’t pardon

Sanjay Dutt was never in news for his professional career so much, as he is for his recent conviction. Upholding the TADA court verdict, the Supreme Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment in connection with his role in the 1993 serial bomb blasts, which shook India’s conscience and India's financial capital on March 12, 1993. Death of 257 people, with more than 700 getting injured flung Mumbai into chaos. In the mean time, three AK-56 rifles, cartridges, 25 hand grenades and a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol finding their way in Dutt's house threw him behind the bars.

Dutt had been released on bail in November 2007. Recently he pleaded before the Hon’ble Supreme Court to let him off on probation on grounds of his past good conduct, but his petition was rejected. The bench of Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan said, “The circumstances and nature of the offence are so serious... they don’t warrant the benefit of the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act”. While upholding the death sentence of Y A R Memon and the life sentences of 16 (of the 18) convicts the bench further pruned its liberal stand towards Sanjay by saying- We could not have given a sentence less than what is prescribed in law*.
*Section 25 (1(A) of the Arms Act states that if a person has in his possession a prohibited weapon without a licence, he shall be awarded punishment of not less than 5 years imprisonment and not more than 10 years

Fortuitously or regrettably, no verdict of the Highest Court is ever executed in silence. Politicians have to score points, colleagues have to show emotions and people like me have to write blogs… Anyway, Mrs. Jaya Bachchan, Member of Parliament, announced that she will meet Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan to pardon Dutt. She subsequently got support from eminent scholars like Mr. Ram Jethmalani, Mr. Majid Memon; and politicians like Mr. Amar Singh and Mrs. Jaya Prada, who were never known to be on the bangs of any mercy controversy ever. Surprising pitched in Behen Ms. Mamata Banerjee showing solidarity to Sanju baba, and also joined in Congress leader Mr. Digvijaya Singh, who went on record to say- "Sanjay Dutt is not a criminal. He is not a terrorist. The atmosphere was bad in 1993 and he reacted to it like any child would."

So pardon him..! If my boss Mr. Ramesh Gupta wouldn’t have been Digvijaya’s lawyer, I would have asked him-Had a common man played this role would he have showed same leniency as he expressed for Dutt?

And interestingly the story didn’t end there. There were more tellers to tell it… Justice (retired) Markandey Katju wrote a letter to Sankarnarayanan, appealing to pardon Dutt. Pleading on humanitarian considerations, Katju J., said the power of pardon under Article 161 of the Constitution is different from judicial power. The Governor or the President can grant pardon or reduce the sentence of the court even if a minimum punishment is prescribed. Citing extenuating circumstances, he went on to compare this case with the Nanavati case and weighed it, in his great wisdom, to be a lesser crime than that of there. Though it is not unusual to see that a sympathetic ex-judges’ heart melting down for the cloud hovering over a convict’s head, however, the political divide between the Right and Mercy supporters was extraordinary.

However, I along with Mr. Mahesh Jethmalani, Sr. Advocate, are on very basic and fundamental point, which needs to be addressed first. In the chorus for pardon, we have failed to see whether the governor has the power to pardon at all! The queue in which Jaya Bachchan, Amar Singh, and others are standing, whether it leads to right person’s House! Whether Katju J.’s letter carries right address!

When this pardonwale mounted pressure, and media started hankering about Governor’s mercy, as a poor student of Constitutional law I asked myself- why not President? In which cases President pardons? In which cases Governor (as a follow up question)? Excitingly I opened up my bare act, putting aside my watsapp. But that little book told me something strange. How can eminent jurists like Kaju J. go wrong? So many scholars can’t be ignorant! But can’t distrust my reading of law also. At least Prof. Mustafa taught me this much. I can read and tell you what the law speaks, if can’t interpret it otherwise. Fortunately I have a friend who always supports me and listens to me…even if it is going against everyone. She gives me a chance to speak up! And this blog gives me a chance to write down!!

Anyway, coming to the topic straight, will reproduce the provisions of Constitution for those who don’t have one…
Article 161: The Governor of a State shall have the power to grant pardons…the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends.

Therefore the power of the governor is not absolute. The bold letters in the above para is self explanatory and determines the scope of governor’s power. However the subsequent article i.e. Article 162 makes it further clear. It reads:
Article 162: “…the executive power of a State shall extend to the matters with respect to which the Legislature of the State has power to make laws.”

Therefore Schedule 7, List II i.e. the State List determines where the governor can pardon. But the present case in hand does not find in anywhere in the list except Public order. However arms, ammunitions, terrorism is not part of Public order, as the argument developed by the Union Government while formation of NIA. On the contrary, the most fitted one is entry 5 of List I (Union List) i.e. Arms, firearms, ammunition and explosives. Therefore it is not within the power of state government. And to put it straight, it may be anyone else but not the Governor who have the power to pardon.

Obviously, I don’t enjoy the power, neither does my elected representatives. So it was to be an executive. Anyway the cumulative reading of Article 72(1)(b) and 73(1)(a) gives us an answer. Therefore, in this case the president can pardon Dutt.

Therefore the only recourse available to Dutt is to plead before the President or to file a review petition. Secondly, I will most humbly urge Katju J to stand corrected and request him not to put undue pressure on Constitutional body (President or Governor) by asking for mercy when Dutt has decided to surrender before expiry of the Supreme Court deadlines. When it is nowhere near to the mandate given to him as a chairman of Press Council of India, Self adornment of this duty and claiming right as a citizen simplicitor, doesn’t justify.

need 4 National Action !

Hello! My friends. After a long time, we are here again. Twitterattis’ and Facebookers’ silence should not be construed as ‘World-in-Silence’.

Condemning Midnight swoop at RamLila Maidan,  Mistreatment to Krittika Biswas, and Murder of J Dey,

Welcoming Supreme Court verdict on Salwa judum, and Mamata’s announcement on subsidized food,

Not entering into the discussion of Baba’s 11000 army, PM’s inclusion under Lokpal, Rift in UPA over VIP treatment, Azad’s comment on MSMs, and whom Bipasha is dating these days,

Praising Media’s role in Maran’s resignation, and unveiling Doping scandal,

Refusing to comment on Telengana crisis, Rahul’s padyatra, Release of Maria Susairaj, Pitt and Jolie’s decision to tie the knot, and Khan’s Delhi Belly,

Let me pay my tributes to Victims of Mumbai serial blast, Swami Nigamanand

and most importantly people killed in Forbesganj, Bihar (6 people killed); Noida, Uttar Pradesh (4); Dhanbad, Jharkhand(4); Jaitapur, Maharashtra (1); Kakkarapalli, Andhra Pradesh (2); Sompeta, Andhra Pradesh(3); Narayanpatna, Orissa(2); Mudigonda, Andhra Pradesh(8); Nandigram, West Bengal(11) and Kalinganagar, Orissa(13).

On June 2, Mayawati announced a new land acquisition policy under which its role in acquiring land for private developers would only be that of a ‘facilitator’. This is nothing but an attempt to woo farmers after getting them brutally beaten by the police in the backdrop of their agitations in Bhatta-Parsaul Village. To remind you, four persons, including two policemen, were killed in the clashes and firing in Bhatta-Parsaul on May 7. And here Maya was kind enough to say that in the affected villages where land has been acquired, the developer would have to construct a kisan bhawan as well as a model school.

The farmers have been agitating for higher compensation and demanding that only half of their lands should be acquired, while the rest should be handed back to the farmers after development. Their demand is 25% reservation in all schemes of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway. Moreover they are demanding that the authorities should give 120 square metre plots to landless farmers and a compensation of Rs. 5,00,000 for each acre of acquired land.

But the Chief Minister cleverly clarified her stand saying -areas where land has already been acquired and compensation distributed to farmers including Bhatta-Parsaul and Tappal will be out of the ambit of the policy(announced on June 2). This is not govt’s indifferent attitude for the first time. History of this country is evident of such attitude of every government, be it ruling or in waiting!


However the Supreme Court on July 06 ordered the return of the land to villagers and upheld an Allahabad High Court order quashing the UP notification to acquire 156 hectares of land for construction of residential apartments by private builders. The Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly concluded that the entire exercise of acquisition was a colourable exercise. Justice Singhvi lambasted the GNIDA and opined “You will not understand the psyche of the farmer. For him, land is a mother, his means of livelihood and sustenance...” Also the day before, the court criticised States for taking advantage of the colonial land acquisition law to divest farmers of their farmland.

The court on June 27 warned the UP government against invoking the "urgency" clause for acquiring prime agricultural land, saying it would step in if this continued as it did not want "more Nandigrams" and observed "We will not keep our eyes closed." However the argument of Advocate P Narasimhan, appearing for the Shahberi land-owners is worth considering. He advocated for redefining public purpose clause in Land Acquisition Act. He said, “Public purpose is only when there is access for the entire public to the benefits arising out of the acquisition, and for this the public trust doctrine must be applied."

Here, we appreciate his line of argument.

...demanding scrapping of L.A.Act
Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

Farmers, adivasis, dalits and working class people have sacrificed their life for development, while trying to defend their right over the natural resources. In 1998, during the tenure of Babugauda Patil, NAPM led siege to the Rural Development Ministry demanding primary right of Gram Sabha over the development planning and no forced displacement. Since then the issue has been raised at many levels which finally culminated in the 'National Development, Displacement and Rehabilitation' Bill approved by NAC I in 2006. Many organisations, alliances across the country have made their efforts to secure and protect land rights of the landless communities.

Once again after the Greater Noida incidents, an environment has been created whereby every political party is demanding passage of amendments to the existing Land Acquisition Act and UPA government proposed to do so in Monsoon Session. It is a welcome move that the new Rural Development Minister Sri Jairam Ramesh has accepted formulation of one comprehensive law and not two separate legislations. 

However, the people movements’ are demanding to:

·       1.  Repeal the Land Acquisition Act and Enact a comprehensive National Development, No Forced Displacement and Rehabilitation Bill instead of two separate legislations incorporating the progressive elements of the Standing Committee on Rural Development (2007-08) enunciating the principle of least displacement, just rehabilitation and a decentralized development planning based on Article 243 of the Constitution, PESA 1996 and Forest Rights Act, 2006 in consultation with affected communities, movement groups and farmers groups.

·         2. Put moratorium on all acquisitions until the process for a new comprehensive legislation is complete

·         3. Issue a White Paper on all the land acquisitions, displacement caused and rehabilitation completed since independence. The White Paper must also make public the extent of land utilized, unutilized and land acquired for public purpose but remains occupied by sick and non-functional industries and other infrastructure projects.

We here believe the demands to be genuine and reasonable so ask everyone to join hands to protect the agricultural land and secure land rights for the food security needs of the future generations. National Action Against Forced Displacement & Land Grab and For Community Control Over Natural Resources & Livelihood Rights is need of the hour.

..the extent to which we went wrong

Egypt, Libya and other countries might have witnessed a mass agitation against an INDIVIDUAL. But the civil society movement, against an ISSUE, which India witnessed in the recent past or witnessing today, is unique and sui generis. Some equated it with Jai Prakash’s movement and a few emotionally called it as a ‘second freedom struggle’ for the nation. And there is nothing to dispute if anyone have seen the way the people of country behaved.

On hunger strike and talking to National mediasPhoto courtesy: Jitendra Choudhary

We have participated in the first phase of crusade and are watching, very neutrally, the second phase which Swami Ramdev is leading today. We are neither here to justify his cause nor are part of the smear campaign. When govt is overreacting on his fast and he is getting VVIP treatment; there is nothing to be amazed about. Yes! Govt learned the lesson from history or Anna’s movement in specific. But citizens of this country is definitely surprised when today morning Hazare came up and announced that he will join Baba Ramdev's protest fast in Delhi on June 5.

When the national media is running the show of Civil Society Leadership and division among them, Anna’s step is definitely welcoming. But the justification which he gave to the nation, appears to be absurd. He lashed out at the Centre saying that the government has tried to cheat civil society members on the Lokpal bill and tried to sabotage the Lokpal panel.  

Here, I don’t understand how govt cheated? We asked for notification, govt did; we wanted panel, govt oblidged; we wanted PM and CJI to include under Lokpal, govt discussing it. Kiran Bedi said yesterday that there is no problem govt taking time. After all democracy is a govt by debate and discussion. What’s wrong in it and where govt cheated us?

Yes! There was conflict and controversy over membership from civil society. The issue of father son duo arised… But who raised it? It is Baba Ramdev and the nation and there is nothing wrong. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion may it be divergent. Secondly, the CD case... Is Anna trying to say that was govt sponsored? I don’t know it might be. But Truth should always see the light no matter when and where.

Am not in full agreement with Vinod Metha but the question remains, when civil society is working with the govt why this Ramdev fast then? Can the Blackmoney be brought with someone fasting? After all we have to give time to the govt. Agreed! they have not done what they should have done and Hon’ble Supreme Court is also annoyed but we have to be realistic. We should allow National debate and help in institution building.

The second most important is that of Lokpal issue. Our dead line was Aug 15, so why this step now? There are 28 more days to June 30^th. Don’t you think civil society doing something which they shouldn’t do now?

Let’s come to the issue of panel now. The objective behind the formation of panel was to debate and discuss on the matters of Lokpal mutually and prepare a draft. Objective was not to impose the society’s draft as the Panel’s draft. Both side have to compromise and ensure which suits the best. When civil society is taking the view of the citizens, govt is equally entitled to. Moreover govt has said that they will get back to them by June 6. Here Arvind Kejriwal threatening to leave the discussion is horrible and is not done. There might be differences of opinion on the so called “issue of divergence” but dialogue must continue. We understand the spirit of civil society (Now or Never) but we have to behave reasonably and not do something for which citizens have to burden their blogs writing all these...

WHY TWO OLD MEN WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY?

It was a genuine question which strike to my mind and might have stroked others, whom even I don’t know… The question goes like this: why Advani and Jaswant Singh were treated differently for the same crime. Both praised Jinnah but one had to resign from the President ship of the BJP, while other has to end his political career in BJP. This issue might be 4 point some months old but I found it, still in the last day of this English year 2009, in the column of my diary titled TO BE ANSWERED...

Narendra Modi banned Jaswant Singh’s book in Gujarat on the grounds that it denigrates that great son-of-the-soil hero, the ‘Iron Man’. Jaswant was expelled on 19^th Aug., he cried in front of media, Prabhu Chawla disturbed him like anything and so on. 
...............It is the reflection of the democratic culture we believe in. How can we punish (if you say it was not punishment, I can argue it was not an endowment either) someone just because s/he has a difference in opinion on the fact of history. This BJP people have to realize we are not in the era of Galileo, where the Catholic Church will condemn heliocentrism as "false and contrary to Scripture" and will warn Galileo to abandon his support for it and when he will later defend his views in Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, he will be forced to recant, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest.

"I disagree vehemently with what you say, but I shall defend to my death your right to say it." This dialogue of Voltaire is foreign to BJP and the same liners because suppression of all dissent is considered as parampara (tradition of great pride) here. My friends in KIIT may find it alien because Prof. Mustafa, Mr. Yogesh and Mr. Kartik had taught us in different line of thinking- to celebrate the differences, to respect the diversity and to defend others right to speak.  

However, my intention today is not to fight for it. I have in mind today to mark a line of difference between A and J. Pakistan govt. had invited Advani to lay the foundation stone for the ancient Katas Raj temples in Chakwal district. He had visited the Qaid-e-Azam mausoleum where he made entry in the visitor’s book and mentioned ‘There are many people who leave an inerasable stamp on history. There are very few who actually create history. Qaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was one such rare individual.’ Secondly he remarked, ‘Sarojini Naidu, a leading luminary of India’s freedom struggle, described him as an ambassador of Hindu Muslim unity. His address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, is really a classic, a forceful espousal of a secular state…’ But the media wala of this country highlighted it in a fashion which ultimately costs Advani. So, there is no mens rea of Advani for praising Jinnah. But Jaswant Singh wrote the book knowing well that even LKA could not survive his praise of Jinnah. This was the line of difference between two.

Here I am neither trying to defend the action and steps of BJP nor saying that what J has done is a blunder .... I am simply filling up the column to write ANSWERED next to it. So, that a fresh diary will not have old questions pending.

Akhand Bharat

Let me start with a story first,

A child of 4 yrs was going to a Gramin Mela (village fair) with his father. Ramp of different stuffs in the both sides.. Those appealed Little master a lot... He wanted those things to assure, hold, and play. But as all fathers do… “No” and then a full stop.

Little master: Papa, chocolate

Papa gave him.

Little master: Papa, this toy

Papa purchased it for him.

Little master: Papa, that one for little sis

Papa: We will buy while returning

Little master: Papa, video game

Papa: No beta

Little master: Papa, this little car

Papa: we will…

Little master: Papa, chat

Papa: Not now

Little master: Papa, dress and a shoe

Papa: tomorrow, when we will come again we will…

Little master: Papa, this glass, my friend have like this, ditto

Papa: You have already one na..

Little master: Papa, this, that…..

Papa: No. No.. and No…

Little master demanded all this within 15 min. or so; but his poor Papa also have to care for his wallet. After sometimes little master stopped saying Papa…

All his happiness started ‘hibernating’ and little master is now in ‘stand by’ mode. No grin. Little tongue stoped demanding… He started thinking in silence.. Could able to understand the teachings of Lord Buddha, “The world is full of sorrow.” How cruel my Papa, is? He never takes care of me… he never loves me… he never….  Mean time there is sudden rush and little master losses his cruel papa's little finger. The man who was walking behind and listening the demands and a statement of ‘non acceptance’ from Papa found Little Master. Little master understood the guilty intension of that Man in his own way..

The man started offering: beta, you wanted this na.. you want that na..

Come I will give you. I love you. I will take care of you. I can purchase everything for you.

Little Master should be happy

But now he is not ready……….

Papa, my Papa…he cried and shouted, “I don’t want anything, I don’t want anything, I want my PAPA, papa…my papa.”

Intension of the blogger was not to say you this senseless story but sth else. A Sovereign and independent country, and we are in... Rights conscious, we are. Chotte chotte baaton ko leke sadak mein beth jaana hamara aadat hai..While reading Article 12 of the Constitution of India, Professors preaches, “the State is in the best position to violate the fundamental rights of ours”- that State. But my friend I will tell you, State is in best position to violate but it is in best position to protect you also. There are people in this country who consider 15^th August, merely as a holiday- a day to sleep up to 9, a day to roam around, a day to go for shopping, a day to do everything else. They even forget that, outside there is flag hoisting celebration going on and a country is today to see him under her flag. Can't a country expect this also???

Myself is no exception. Today for the first time, I didnt sung my National Anthem before my National Flag. At 7:20 when there is a celebration going on in my school, I was with my pillow. I didn’t go KIIT, to celebrate the same in my colony. But when I went, no one was waiting for me... I saw from a distant the “tri colour” is flying. I felt guilty. I stood there and sang Jana Gana Mana… in a loud voice. I recalled my nursery days in St. James Convent School, I recalled my days in SS/VM and in B.J.B., I recalled the last year celebration in KIIT. I recalled the days when I was commanding a troop of Bharat Scouts and Guides in State Parade. I recalled.. and recalled all the experience of my father which he used to say, when he was in Air Force at Leh and Ladhakh in Jammu & Kashmir.

I returned home and downloaded videos of flag hoisting and sang my National Anthem again. What a pleasure..seriously! A feeling of patriotism overwhelmed me, as I celebrated India's 63rd Independence Day before my laptop. But I remained upset full day. I felt guilty of committing a sin. When Khudiram Bose, could able to die for this country, I could not able to… I could not able to link my sadness with any moments of the history. But at last…the 1947^th page of countrys' history book, when my country was divided on the basis of Islamic Pakistan and Secularist Indian. What the basis, it was really! Neither reasonable classification nor with intelligible differentia…

On the eve of Independence Day on 1947, Nehru gave one of the greatest speeches of all time, which stirred a nation.

“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem
our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight
hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which
comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and
when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”

But who know why this country was awaking that mid night???- for life and freedom or for death and division.

..blood flows on the street,
A wave of tears is looming
On the name of religion!
In that land where not for one or two decades,
For thousands and thousands years
People of diverse culture were on the stage of fraternity.
...Thousands of religious hostilities!
How brute the people can turn into?
Vicious alike at the instigation of any evil spirit.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

How this violence took the brutal form and pushed our nation
Towards dread, uncertainty and bloodshed.
My nation was smeared with blood and was divided, that day.
(Source: My poem criminalisation of Religion)

The time has come to roll back the history. To call back the picture of “Akhand Bharat”, what Aravinda Ghosh, Gandhi had envisioned… To recall the pages of that divesting history when my country was divided…

After the death of Hajrat Mohd., the kingdom of Saalya (previously known as Aaryahan) became Iran, on 644 AD. Up to 375 BC, Afganistan (Upaganastan, previously known as Gandhar) was the part of Hindustan. It was parted from India in 1903. In 1878 the Kethan area, mixed with China. As the result of the conspiracy of British, Sri Lanka (previously known as Singala) was alienated in 1911. In 1825, 1932, Champadesh (South Vietnam), Brahmadesh (Myanmar) was separated. In 4^th July, 1940, Philippines became independent State. In the midnight of 14^th August, 1947, Pakistan became independent and attacked Kashmir in 22^nd October and took 40% of Kashmir i.e. 78,114 sq. km. In 5^th August 1949, Bhutan (previously known as Madradesh) became independent. In 1950, China acquired Tibet (previously known as Tribistaka). In 1952 to 1962, China acquired 38, 000 sq. km. of Axai Chin, Ladhak. In 1960 Pt. Nehru gave the Birubadi area of West Bengal to Pakistan. Again in 1965, Pakistan attacked and acquired 500 miles. In 1947, Bangladesh was alienated and became independent in 1972. Kaccha and Tibu were given to Sri Lanka in 1973 and in 1985-86; Mosher Island was given to Bangladesh. Nepal became independent.

I doubt, was India, celebrating happiness because Lahore, where Bhagat Singh with his fellow comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev was hanged is now not part of India? Was India in a mood of joy because the birth place of Bhai Bal Mukand, Lala Pindi Das, Lala Jagat Narain, Kartar Singh Jhabbar (village Kariala, Vaniawaal, Wazirabad, Jhabian respectively) is in Pakistan now. Was Indian standing that day under the tri colour to bring sun set in the Imperialist regime or to see how the English men are deciding their fate by imposing the poison between brothers?

Once Yahudi, after being expelled from own land can come together after 1800 years. East and West Germany can come closer. Why not India? Why not Akhand Bharat??

Sabki aankhon mein Ekk hi Sapna, Akhand Banega Bharat Apna…

Mr. Varun Gandhi its India...

Very often it is highlighted by the intellectuals of all shade that India is committed to the democratic cause of helpless and hopeless people not only within India but also to those people who have suffered greatly from the exploitative, imperialist, and fascist regimes of the world irrespective to colour, religion, sex and other divides. In this stage the disturbing speech of Varun Gandhi, made the country debate on it from various dimensions and perspective. After going through Syed Ali Mujtaba's write up I made my mind to write something on this.
Well, in a democratic country like India, everyone enjoys the right to freedom of speech and expression. But it is to be remembered Art 19 of the Constitution of India, does not gives license for unnecessary talkativeness. Varun Gandhi is now claiming his speech was doctored. Its fine, if it is true and is proved, then it is well and good. But if Varun has really said so, I am sorry it's unfortunate. Varun should keep in mind it is not that communal country which he is thinking up. It's India - the land of diversity, where many religions and creed have come from outside. We are those Indians who have welcomed them, embraced them as our brothers. They lived with us and flourished, mingled in this land. After the partition of this country, nothing under the Sun would have prevented us, that day from making this India, as a Hindu Rastra. But we go for
Secularism. That made us different. Today we stand as "the" world power, but the country, which Muhammad Ali Jinnah, made that day, saying "minority is a Nation"is today standing before us as "a failed State". Mr. Varun's communal speech will hardly make any difference, when harmony and brotherhood is in the very blood of this nation!!!

Thanks to my great Constitutional law teacher, Prof. (Dr.) Mustafa, I think differently…

PUBlic attack...

It’s excellent to preserve the culture. But it’s not the way, in which the Shri Ram Sena is doing. Kalik Ji Maharaj, the International President of Shri Ram Sena, used to say, the job of Sena is to protect and respect the culture. (“Shri ram sena ka kaam hinduo ki raksha, hinduo ke adhikar, hinduo ke maan, samman aur hindu sanskruti ko bachana hai”). But today, I want to ask them “Is, chasing the girls into the street, slapping them, pulling their hair and pushing to the ground, is respecting and preserving the culture? “In our culture, we respect and salute women and give them the status of mother” Sastras used to say, the God is pleased, where women are respected (jatra najyastu pujyante ramante tatra devata). But it is regretted to see yesterday on the television screen that a group of 40 activists of the Sri Ram Sena barged into the pub "Amnesia — The Lounge" and beat up a group of young women and men, claiming the women were “violating traditional Indian values”.