Democracy at Work Again
I feel disturbed. I wanted to write about something else but...I want to express myself about the two events.
TODAY Aseem Trivedi, the cartoonist was arrested in Mumbai as he, in one of his cartoons had replaced lions with wolfs and Satyamev Jayate with Bhrashtamev Jayate in the national symbol. According to Police he has been arrested, besides other clauses, on the charge of sedation, after an advocate, a congressman, complained. According to Police, they are acting according to law. Since when the Police in India, particularly of Mumbai and Delhi has become law enforcing? Only just less than a month ago crowds that gathered to demonstrate against atrocities on certain sections, turned violent, burnt many vehicles, insulted journalists and disturbed peace. What hasMumbai Police done so far? What action has the Maharashtra government taken on several complaints against those who want to disturb the peace of the state?
CARTOONS represent the health of democracy. Pt. Nehru, the first PM, had requested the great cartoonist Shankar not to spare him. Even Mrs. Indira Gandhi, despite several dictatorial actions, spared cartoons and cartoonists. But in recent months, Mamta di, the CM, the NCERT episode next and now Asseem's. Why are our politicians becoming more and more intolerant day by day? This because they must be uncertain about their future.
SECOND, the water satyagraha being undertaken by the people whose villages are to be submerged by incresed height of Omkareshwar dam. What are their demands? They are simply asking for the implementation of Supreme Court guidelines on rehabilitation, along with compensation for the loss they have incurred. Ironically, the rehabilitation policy of the government is lying in the Draft stage for the last five years. They could easily have forced the government to act if they had followed the methods of Jats of Haryana and western UP or of Gujjars of Rajasthan. But they have chosen the difficult Gandhian method which the present system does not understand.Is n't it?
TODAY Aseem Trivedi, the cartoonist was arrested in Mumbai as he, in one of his cartoons had replaced lions with wolfs and Satyamev Jayate with Bhrashtamev Jayate in the national symbol. According to Police he has been arrested, besides other clauses, on the charge of sedation, after an advocate, a congressman, complained. According to Police, they are acting according to law. Since when the Police in India, particularly of Mumbai and Delhi has become law enforcing? Only just less than a month ago crowds that gathered to demonstrate against atrocities on certain sections, turned violent, burnt many vehicles, insulted journalists and disturbed peace. What hasMumbai Police done so far? What action has the Maharashtra government taken on several complaints against those who want to disturb the peace of the state?
CARTOONS represent the health of democracy. Pt. Nehru, the first PM, had requested the great cartoonist Shankar not to spare him. Even Mrs. Indira Gandhi, despite several dictatorial actions, spared cartoons and cartoonists. But in recent months, Mamta di, the CM, the NCERT episode next and now Asseem's. Why are our politicians becoming more and more intolerant day by day? This because they must be uncertain about their future.
SECOND, the water satyagraha being undertaken by the people whose villages are to be submerged by incresed height of Omkareshwar dam. What are their demands? They are simply asking for the implementation of Supreme Court guidelines on rehabilitation, along with compensation for the loss they have incurred. Ironically, the rehabilitation policy of the government is lying in the Draft stage for the last five years. They could easily have forced the government to act if they had followed the methods of Jats of Haryana and western UP or of Gujjars of Rajasthan. But they have chosen the difficult Gandhian method which the present system does not understand.Is n't it?
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