THE OTHER SIDE: government

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'Main Chahe Jo Karun Meri Marzi' - Right To Privacy

In a unanimous ruling, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the right to privacy as a fundamental right under the Constitution. The top court overruled the previous judgments in the M P Sharma and Kharak Singh cases, which had found that the right to privacy was not protected by the Constitution. The bench observed that privacy is intrinsic to freedom of life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.(From The Indian Express)

The decision is instrumental because central government was fighting against it. They were of the opinion that government has full right over the body of the citizen in lieu of the grants given to them. They believed that privacy is an elite class issue and economic backward class needs food more than privacy which was completely overruled by the bench saying the constitution grants this right in every other right and even at the places where it has maintained the Golden Silence. The ruling is historical and will effect other pending cases. First being the provision of making Aadhar mandatory. By doing so government want to keep surveillance on each individual without his or her consent. The issue of removing article 377 which deals with rights of homosexuals will now be seen in a new light. Beef Ban, Liquor Ban, Particular dress code orders and many more such issues are getting new life with this judgement.

The citizen with this milestone judgement has won against the government and its ideas of suppressing individualistic choices. 'Main Chahe Ye Karun Main Chahe Wo Karun Meri Marzi' but off course it is not absolute and like other rights has limitations under particular situations. This is second ruling in this week after Instant Triple Talaq verdict which has made our democracy stronger. Not America , not Europe but India has shown the way to the world this time. I am sure this will increase the pressure on other world governments to grant this right to its people. The governments usually deny this right because it makes people stronger than the government. But in democracy people should always be stronger to question government at each step.

Now we can do whatever we like keeping in mind well being of others. It is my right to choose who to vote, which ideology to follow, who to marry and so on. Government neither indicate not interfere in my these decisions by bribing or beating or forcing me. India is great. Till next post God Bless India.

Death of Democracy

Democracy thrives with the participation of people in the process of government formation. For this voting percentage is set as a mark of people’s trust in democracy. So what to conclude from the statistic of meager 7.14% voters’ turnout? It means people have lost trust in the established government. The statistics I am quoting is from the Lok Sabha by polls of Srinagar constituency of Kashmir Valley. These violent elections also took away 8 innocent lives with clashes between protesters and security forces.

Kashmir Valley is at unrest since the formation of BJP-PDP alliance government. The incidents of protests has increased so is the case of violent protests. The trust with army has further declined among the people with increased incidents of use of pellet guns on the protesters and the stone pelters. More than hundred received serious injuries from pellet guns injuries last year which includes children who have lost their eyesight and many others who have received permanent disability. The current government has lost trust of the people with the incidents like Beef-Ban attacks, Vande Mataram row and many such incidents. The youth which looked more engaged with the mainland India before this government has detached itself again from the country.

Kashmir students were beaten in many universities of the country and in many others they were treated as agent of Pakistan by the ABVP affiliated students. ABVP which is the student wing of RSS has retorted to violence not only with Kashmir students but with all those students who supported liberal thinking. Kashmir needs our trust more than anything else. If we believe they are our own then we must believe in them also. Labeling every Kashmiri as a terrorist and Pakistan sympathizer will only drift them away from India. The separatist and Pakistan took advantage of that mistrust to lure unemployed youth to fall in their trap.

Looking back again to low voter turnout in Srinagar Lok Sabha by polls hints to that increasing mistrust in Kashmir people. These elections hold no value and must be annulled at once. Election Commission should also set a lower limit for the voter turnout for the elections to be valid. Lots of work has to be done by both the center and the state governments to bring back Kashmir people to them. I hope government will look at Kashmir issue with a different perspective without any prejudice and misconception. God Bless Kashmir.

Yaad Karo Kurbani!

On September 18, 2016 four terrorists attacked an Indian Army Brigade headquarters at the town of Uri near the Line of Control which killed 18 Indian Army Soldiers and injured about 30 army personnel. This is a second attack on army base in this year after the Pathankot Attack. The army which ensures our safety is unable to save its own base camps.

Did anyone care after the Pathankot Attacks to strengthen the safety measure of army base? From last one or two years the terrorists are mostly attacking police, CRPF and army personnel but in spite of these attacks authorities and government have no strategy to cater such attacks as a result we are losing precious life our soldiers. Every time there is an attack we blame it on Pakistan and in the case of Pathankot Attacks we reach to the extent of inviting their investigation agency to establish Pakistan link in those attacks but that move fall flat on the face of government and army when Pakistan denied any involvement in the attack after examining the site.

I know it is tough to stop infiltration in difficult terrains of Line of Control but it is not difficult to equip the Indian soldiers with better arms and artillery. According to an army report 80% of ammunition/arms/artillery used by soldiers is outdated. Soldiers are not provided with bullet proof jackets and such frequent attacks also shows negligence of army in protecting its base. There is a call for war from every corner of the country but according to CAG report Indian army ammunition won't last 20 days of war (Read Here). This is a serious matter for a country which lives in the constant threat of terrorist attacks. After every attack there are demands for retaliation but no one demanded safety for army-men. The political establishment of India on the other hand uses these martyrs to bake their political breads by playing with emotions of people for the soldiers.

Until Pakistan is not ready to punish people involved in Mumbai Attacks, Pathankot Attacks and other such attacks there should be no diplomatic relations between both the countries. India should boycott the meetings of organization where Pakistan is present; this will pressurize other nations to put pressure on Pakistan for action on terrorists because no nation will think of leaving a strategic partner like India. Cultural ties through artists should be strengthened and they should be used as tools to promote friendship in common people of both the nation. Direct trade treaties between both the nations should be nullified and any special status to Pakistan should be cancelled. These are my suggestions but government knows the best for the nation and its people. I like to advice the government and minister to comment less on relations of both the nation neither in the negative aspect nor in the positive way.

I appeal you to maintain two minute silence and remember all those who have lost their lives in terrorist’s attacks all over the country after reading this post. God Bless India.

The Death of A Poor Wife

The Death of A Poor Wife.

The country which aims to conquer moon has failed even in providing peaceful last rite to a dead woman. A tribal man of Odisha ‘Dani Majhi’ compromised the dignity of his dead wife by carrying her corpse on his shoulder after hospital administration denied ambulance for the purpose. He was noticed by a villager who informed local media which helped him getting an ambulance to his village which was 60km from the hospital only after covering the distance of around 10km on foot with his wife’s dead body on his shoulder and a weeping daughter walking by his side.

We city dwellers are not used to such news. We open newspapers either for Bollywood gossip or for political corruption or either to read about rape/murders to blame governments for everything. We don't care about social problems and believe that poverty is the word only in dictionary. Dani Manjhi‘s was so poor that he couldn't afford a private ambulance when hospital denied one to him. He found it easier to carry her burden on his shoulders than to beg the authorities for help. Acute poverty will never let India to reach the position it dreams. Unless the poor and deprived lot of the society feel safe, secure and happy any development work is incomplete and any success is a mere myth. You can measure the development in Kalihandi area where is Dani Manjhi’s village from the distance of nearest hospital to his village i.e. 60 km.

We often heard the real India reside in its villages if it is true then believe me that India is hungry, jobless, poor, don’t have proper schools, neither have access to health services and is extremely undernourished/ malnourished. Like many foreign nations India don’t have free medical services for all not even in government hospitals. Poor can’t afford costly medical treatment. They are forced to die by our system. There is a need to make hospitals affordable if not free for everyone. Dani Manjhi received government and hospital’s help only when the news reached the media. They even offered money to him. If this money would have reach in time his wife could have been saved.
Such images of helplessness really tear apart the heart and soul. I can only wish/pray that such things never happen anywhere in the country again. God Bless India.

Criticism- An Anti-National Activity

Criticism - An Anti-National Activity

A man was building a house. He put the base stone right but as he progressed with side walls, the structured started looking clumsy. His neighbors pointed out his mistakes and he realized where he was going wrong. He changed his strategy, consulted some professionals and then came out with a wonderful building praised even by those who didn't like him.

Another man on some other street was also doing the same thing making a building by his own. He also put the base stone right and his building too became clumsy. His neighbors pointed out his mistakes to which he became defensive and said that he knew what he was doing and they were criticizing him because they didn't like him and his ways. He keep on building in the same way as a result walls start tumbling when he reached the half way and eventually fell down. He looked at his neighbors in shame but now it was too late. Rainy season has arrived and he reached nowhere with his strategy.

Similar things are happening in our country and the ruling party is behaving like the second man the one who is unable to tolerate criticism not even when his labors who were helping him in constructing a strong building returning their tools like our authors, writers, scientists, historians, film makers returning their awards. Their affiliation to other ideologies consider alien by ruling party have snatched their right to protest according to the government. Is abusing them and labeling them anti-national tolerance?

When someone points at your weaknesses, your short comings you must thank them and pledge to overcome your weakness that is tolerance. Taking criticism in a positive way make one a better person. I a democratic country criticism help government in formulating better policies. A government neglecting criticism becomes authoritative. 'My way or the highway' attitude of the government create unrest in people which in turn inculcate intolerance in society. Take for instance increasing rate of road rage, hate crimes, rapes, etc. There is a Hindi proverb ' Jaisa Raja Waisi Praja' which means citizens are what the king is, the PM's indifference to some important issues in society are helping in their promotions and the common man is becoming indifferent to these issues being engulfed in earning bread and butter.

The economy is down, markets are slow even in peak festive season, crop yield is less due to which farmers are in pathetic conditions, inflation is high, property market showing no scope, no influx of foreign companies, estranged relations with two of our crucial neighbors - Nepal and Pakistan, no new employment opportunities and dealing with many other problems is need of the hour. It’s sad that we have no discussions on these issues on national level because those who criticize government for these problems are marked as anti-national.

Criticism uncovers truth hidden behind arrogance and egoism #quotes

If raising these national issues is anti-national then I am also anti-national, if criticizing government is anti national then I am anti-national, if questioning government's intention when its leader talks about Love Jihad, Ghar Wapsi, is anti-national then I am anti-national. Tolerance was and tolerance is the main ingredient of Indianness i.e. the unique quality which have sustained India in difficult times and if it is lost I fear about communal clashes, caste fights, regional discrimination and the India we know today will again gets shattered and tattered into pieces. God bless us, God Bless India.

Ab Tak 46

24 years in service as an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer has brought Ashok Khemka more than salary and government benefits in the form of 46 transfers. No matter who was leading the government he was transferred frequently from one department to another without any prior notice and without any solid reason.

Ashok Khemka became famous in the country after he found out loopholes in Robert Vadra land deals under Congress government. Robert Vadra the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi then became the face of corruption for the opposition party of that time BJP who used this issue to target corrupt practices of Bhupinder Singh Hooda government by supporting Khemka for his honesty. They labelled his transfer as a move to bury the allegations against Robert Vadra but after coming in power what BJP has done is not different from doings of the Congress Government. Haryana's present Chief Minister M L Khattar ordered his transfer in just five months of him in the transport department after complaints from some transporters of Haryana who objected his stopping of trucks from some mining sites at night. It is not difficult to understand that mining at night means they were engaged in illegal mining.

If he is an incompetent officer who doesn't fit in any department then he must be sacked from his duties but if he is competent then governments must give the reasons for his transfers. Honesty is a good policy but that seems different if you are talking about bureaucrats in our country. Who knows how many more transfers are waiting for him before his retirement but I stand with him for his honesty and injustice against him and if he is wrong we have a right to know his wrongdoings.

Winning Is Creating Winners

India Today conclave since its first edition in the year 2002 became a global platform for discussions on big issues of the country and the world. A different theme each year brings ideas of global leaders and personalities responsible for bringing change in world in front of the masses for that particular theme. We can't ignore the thoughts and ideas if a head of a state or a country is speaking,neither we can ignore those brains behind policy making or shaping public opinion through cinema and media. This initiative by India Today group put forward the hopes,aspirations,reality,truth,ideas,etc of common people much like the magazine itself on the bigger and impactful platform.

This years theme of India Today Conclave is 'Winning'. The theme will bring lots of new ideas to the public domain about this topic from the eminent speakers like Amitabh Bachchan,K. Radhakrishnan,Vasundhara Raje,Henrick Scharfe,Jairam Ramesh,etc.Winning is a small word which can be interpret in many ways by different people. Winning for me is creating an environment where every one emerge as a winner. Winning is creating winners whether in homes,in offices,in a state and in a country. A home where winning of a single person is celebrated reduce other members to mere spectators who just enjoy with him or her but never become part of that achievements. That person started seeing others inferior to him and thus suppress their hopes and aspirations. Same is the case with governments.

The governments which try to win only a section of society or if promote a single agenda make the whole nation a country of losers. Leading in a way where everyone emerge as a winner is the true leadership. Governments policies and decisions should aim at maintaining that balance. A project beneficial for one group may become obstacle for the growth of the other thus taking opinions of both the sides is required before the implication of the project, a mid-way or the other way may suits the both and will create winner out of both which in turn make the policy maker as winner.

Balance of resources will create winners. Winning doesn't mean stepping ladders upwards and become unreachable for those standing below but to stand among those who have faith in you infuse some goals in them and then to work towards achieving these goals. It takes time and it will take time. Winning is to stay with your goals even when the time is unfavorable to them. Winning is also not to lose hope ,keep your hopes alive along with the hopes of those associated with you.

All subsidiary points mentioned above strengthen my main point that winning is creating winners. This can be achieved by leading in a way where everyone emerge as a winner,by balancing the available resources by creating and staying with goals and by never losing hope in yourself. Winning is a continuous process and not a destination where sometimes a small defeat become a reason for a big win. So always think to win as a team and not as an individual. You can find yourself alone in this thought but escaping the fear to be alone is winning.

This post is written for 'Winning' for India Today Conclave 2014 and Indiblogger

Caged Parrot Of India (CPI)

" CBI a caged parrot speaking in master's voice". This statement by Supreme Court during coalgate hearing was enough to prove the credibility of CBI the main central investigating unit of Indian Government. CBI is reduced to a mere weapon of mass destruction of evidences and a way to hide crucial information and investigations from the masses.

The governments in center use this agency so as to bury allegations over them. There used to be a parrot in arabian nights and Hatimtai's story in which someone puts his on life in it than that person is only killed after killing of that parrot. Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) is also used for that purpose. Government has placed its life in CBI and thus secure itself.

This parrot only speaks against the present governments when these government becomes past i.e when it's master changes. It is an open secret now that this agency is definitely not free which concludes to that the investigations under it are also not free

There is a need for an investigation agency which will work independently and don't act as a puppet under central government,so that scams will be probed and culprits will be punished.

Dreams Shattered

An unauthorized building was collapsed in Shil-Phata area of Thane Mumbai killing 74 people,culprits were arrested and it was found that municipal corporation officials were also involved with builders in completing this seven storey building. Unauthorized buildings were made,they got collapsed,inquiry commissions set up,culprits get arrested , sometimes sentenced to few years of jail and get released to do this again thus this vicious circle goes on.

Everybody hopes for a home which one can call his own, builders take advantage of this situation,they provide cheap houses low in quality standards and even get clearance (obviously bu greasing palms of related government officials) thus such incidents happen. Governments are unable to give shelter to each because they themselves wants these builders to flourish as they give huge sum of money in bribes. As far as government housing schemes are concerned which are based on token system usually go to someone related to the official or may be to the officials themselves.

Today we are 66 but still we have people suffering from hunger,having no roofs on there heads and die due to lack of proper medical facilities.Who is responsible? always remains a question. May be we all are responsible in encouraging bribes. We offer bribes to ditch long queues or to make our work done before others,sometimes to get some benefit from that officer and sometimes out of habit. The system will change only when we change ourselves.