Public Hooliganism In India In The Name Of Democracy

How long will we keep tolerating public hooliganism in the name of democracy? Isn’t it high time we understood that it is a disease that should simply be wiped out?

Just the other day a huge group of so-called “common people” created mayhem in the Hathras station, by putting five bogies of the Mahananda Express into fire. And the reason for their ire? Well, they were upset with the fact that a number of important trains do not stop at Hathras station. OK, there might have been some validity in their grievance. And in that case they had 100 per cent right to express their grievance. But was putting the bogies into fire the only way to display their displeasure?

It was by god’s grace that all the passengers escaped unhurt. But there was strong possibility of casualties, that too in huge numbers. The people who orchestrated that heinous attack must realize (provided they have brain) that by coming up with such a shameful act they actually humiliated their own grievance, which was probably a valid one.

India is a democratic country, and people always have the right to protest against any government decision or policy that they disagree with. But that protest must be in accordance with the norms of the civilized society. We must remember that our Constitution has given us the right to express our displeasure, and not the right to stoop to the level of hooliganism.

Before we could digest the Hathras incident, there came the incident of MNS high-handedness against newly released movie “Wake Up Sid”. And what is their complaint against this nice movie starring the two talented young bloods of Bollywood - Ranbir Kapoor and Kankona Sen Sharma? That in the movie the city Mumbai has been referred to as Bombay. Really, what a huge offense. What a terrible attack on the “Marathi sentiment”. No wonder, the dedicated MNS workers – the self-styled custodians of Marathi Manoos – immediately plunged into action by disrupting the screening of the movie. And eventually the producer, a film personality of the stature of Karan Johor, had to kowtow before them, “apologizing” for the “grave offense” that he has committed.

It is high time that we became strict of all these nonsense in the name of democracy and freedom of expression. 60 years have passed. India is no more a young democracy. Now it must learn how to behave like a matured democracy.

Finally, a message for Raj Thakre. Raj, please stop all your hooliganism in the name of safeguarding the so-called Marathi Manoos. The Marathi community is an educated and cultured community, which has produced so many respected personalities. Hooligans like you and your followers cannot be their true representatives. So please stop embarrassing them.

Pakistan - The Country That Cheats Her Own People

It had been suspected by the Indian intelligence agencies for a long time. And now their suspicion has been corroborated by the US government.

Pakistan has been preparing to use those weapons against India that she has received from the USA for fighting against Taliban activists on her own soil. This has come into light with Pakistan's alleged modification of Harpoon missile - received from the USA - on 23rd April this year. Harpoon is an anti-ship missile that the USA has given to Pakistan to help the latter in her fight against Taliban. However, through the alleged modification (that violates US Arms Control Exports Act) Pakistan has prepared the missile for use against land targets, for potential use against India.

The US government must have been upset that Pakistan has taken it for a ride. The Islamic Republic has taken so many high-powered weapons from the USA in the pretext of fighting against Taliban, and in reality she has used the same to strengthen her military potential vis-a-vis that of India. The Obama administration should seriously think that whether it would continue supplying the Pakistan government with high-powered weapons for fighting against Taliban, when there is no guarantee that those weapons will be used for the right purpose.

However, what I feel is that if the Pakistani government is actually cheating somebody, then it is her own people. The cultured and decent people of Pakistan (who must not be confused with their government) are terribly irritated with Taliban and other radical Islamic groups, and they want their beautiful country to get rid off those nuisance. The Pakistan government is trying to convince them that it is taking strong steps to wipe out those elements, but in reality it is doing pretty nothing to that effect.

Pakistan is probably the only country in the world that cheats her own people even in matters related to internal security. Really, what a country it is!

Indians Most Prone To HIV/AIDS

A very bad news for all Indians. A recent study has found that we Indians are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS among all population groups of the world. The study, which was the biggest even gene mapping exercise of the Indian people, has discovered that a protective gene marker against HIV-1 is almost absent among the Indian people. This explains the high vulnerability that we are cursed with.

The study also shows that the south Indians are at a greater risk in comparison to their north Indian brothers.

It is now time for us to see whether the Indian government takes any step to address this situation. At least the government can arrange for some suggestions and advices by experts, about how we can take some precautionary measures.

After 35 Years, Pakistan Gives Back “Kashmir” To India

It was a touching moment for presumably all the Indian citizens when Kashmir Singh, an Indian prisoner detained in Pakistan’s jail for 35 years, finally had the opportunity to reunite with his wife and children.

It was way back in 1973 that a young, 32 years old Kashmir was arrested in Pakistan on charges of espionage, and was put on a death row in a jail in the Pakistani city of Lahore. Since then his wife Paramjit Kaur had been patiently waiting for the return of her husband, while singlehandedly upbringing their children with great hardships.

Today, after more than three decades her long, anxious and cherished wait has finally come to an end. It is a different matter that the 32 years old dashing husband whom she had last seen 35 years back is now a 67 years old man, who has probably past the prime time of his life. But that is least likely to mar the happiness of the Singh family, who now know how it feels to get back a beloved one after decades of waiting.

A note of thanks should be attributed to Mr. Ansar Burney, Pakistan’s Human Rights minister. It was he who had traced Kashmir Singh while making an official visit to Lahore's Central Jail, and got Mr. Singh a pardon order from the Pakistan President Mr. Pervez Musharraf.

We eagerly await similar developments in the cases of all the Indian citizens languishing in the Pakistani jails, and all Pakistani citizens languishing in Indian jails. India and Pakistan have had enough of hatred and malice. But now time is changing, with both the countries trying their best to strengthen the relationship. It is now time to give love and compassion a chance.

So can we except the Human Rights activists taking up the issue on both sides of the border, eventually resulting in a pro-active diplomatic initiative by both the governments in this regard?