Editorial, "ABRAHAM ACCORDS: DAWN OF PEACE?", in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 September 2020, Vol. 16, Part 2, No. 17 issue

 ABRAHAM ACCORDS: DAWN OF PEACE?

No doubt, they are the most happening events of the year, and have the potential to bring in durable peace in the region if other Arab States also follow/acquiesce in, Israel shuns aggression, Iran too tolerates this and is not attacked by the America-Israel evil axis. President Trump has to be certainly given much credit for brokering the deals and it seems he has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for this achievement. Naturally Ivanka Trump was elated and tweeted: “The Abraham Accords are signed! Today's historic signing proves that the nations of the Middle East are breaking free from the failed approaches of the past. After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East. Congratulations to all!” Well, will the failed approaches indicate the Camp David and Oslo Accords as also the two-state solution mooted when Arafat was alive and in charge of the PLO, the later coming into existence of the State of Palestine, UN grant of observer status to it and recognition of that state by several countries in the world, clear-cut condemnation by the UN of Israeli plans/efforts to annex the West Bank by driving out Palestinians and constructing more Jewish settlements, etc.? It is somewhat relieving to find the clarification that “This Treaty does not affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting, in any way, the rights and obligations of the Parties under the Charter of the United Nations,” in these accords and also the promise not to unilaterally construct any more Jewish settlements in the West Bank; but one would be quite anxious at not finding specific reference to the longstanding United Nations Security Council Resolutions that demand Israeli withdrawal from the 1967 war occupied territories and the two-state solution to the problem; we may further note that the states concerned recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Does that mean giving a go-by to the two-State solution once for all? Also reports are pouring in that even a war with Iran could be unleashed now in order to bolster up Trump’s re-election chances, which if happens, would be quite calamitous. Hope all such cataclysmic consequences won’t ensue but gradually all/most of the Arab/Muslim states agree for the existence of Israel ‘within secure borders’, the UN Security Council too unanimously consents and Israel also unequivocally accepts the Palestinian state with due recognition of its sovereignty and integrity and the needed just solution to the longstanding refugee problem. §§§

Editorial, "FREE CORONA CARE FOR ALL A MUST", in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 31 August 2020, Vol. 16, Part 2, No. 16 issue

 FREE CORONA CARE FOR ALL A MUST

and that should include free testing, treatment, food and other basic facilities/costs during treatment in all hospitals and approved laboratories – public or private, and that is the minimum any government should ensure to its citizens/residents and we know that this pandemic has grown to monstrous proportions in India now. Nowadays when jingoism is at its high pitch under the fake news spread and false propaganda of the fanatic communal central government and likeminded parties and governments in states too, and one too readily hates, despises and rivals China for all and sundry reasons, why can’t we rival with China in this field too and provide a better care and treatment facility to one and all. It may be underscored that in China not only the testing is free, but any cost related to COVID-19 including treatment or cost not covered by personal insurance is borne by the government. Why China, even the small African country Rwanda provides all Corona testing and treatment free to one and all and has been especially praised by the Director-General, WHO, in his media briefing on 10 August 2020: “… Rwanda’s progress is due to a … combination of strong leadership, universal health coverage, well-supported health workers and clear public health communications. / All testing and treatment for COVID-19 is free in Rwanda, so there are no financial barriers to people getting tested.” Then, there is the brilliant example of New Zealand, which the entire world knows. Further, the approved cost of testing in private labs in India runs up to Rs. 4500/- (charged costs may be much more) but it is only Rs. 500/- in Pakistan and moderate in Bangladesh too. We have seen so many videos of people virtually crying in agony when charged with lakhs of rupees for Corona testing/treatment in private facilities. It is utter shame on all of us that even after 70 years of so-called independence we have not been able to provide ourselves with any free, universal health care system. True, there is an Ayushman Bharat scheme for free treatment to economically, etc. disadvantaged sections, but it excludes too many categories and also the middle and upper middle income groups even, who have also gone broke in these times. So, this editor specifically stresses that whoever goes to any lab/hospital, for testing and treatment of COVID-19 at least, should be treated as a ‘guest’ and accorded all respect and care in consonance with the age old dharmic cum ethical principle of “athithi devo bhava” and the private facilities should seek and governments provide reimbursements at nominal/reasonable rates. §§§

Editorial, "CONTEMPTUOUS CONTEMPT?", in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 August 2020, Vol. 16, Part 2, No. 15 issue

 CONTEMPTUOUS CONTEMPT?

perhaps so until the charge of ‘scandalization of court’ as contemplated and laid down in Section 2(c)(i) of the Contempt of Courts Act 1971 continues in the statute book. As far back as in 2005, we had published an illuminating article with the same title by late Justice P.A. Choudary, then an editorial adviser of ours, in which he decried the existence of this provision in the statute and asserted, referring to H.M. Seervai, that “…in the context of our constitutional provisions for impeachment of judges for misbehaviour and incapacity, the common law offence of scandalizing the court becomes incompatible with our constitution. …this common law contempt power, by making the allegation of misbehaviour itself a punishable offence, makes the working of those constitutional provisions nugatory and renders the whole constitutional scheme itself otiose. Thus this power running directly counter to the letter and spirit of the constitution must be taken to have been forbidden by the constitution” and that “It is the total absence of reasonableness in this class of contempt that tolls its death knell. This class of contempt assumes sub silentio that administration of justice is an absolute value. That is its fatal weakness.” It is good that, at last, the constitutionality of this provision has been challenged by the trio of human rights champions: Prashant Bhushan, Arun Shourie and N. Ram in the Supreme Court now, but it is quite bad, we feel very sad, that Prashant Bhushan should be charged and convicted under the same provision and awaiting his sentence now for just two tweets posted by him criticizing the Chief Justice of India. The first tweet concerning the CJI violating lockdown norms is a personal hit and cannot be reckoned as contempt of court, the remedy for CJI, if he is hurt, is, if he is so advised, to sue for defamation in a civil court. Of course, this editor doesn’t agree with Arun Shourie that the CJI mounting such a costly motor bike is itself an affront to his high public status and feels he can freely dance, dine and enjoy just like any other person, of course with due decorum and attention to his public status. The other tweet of course seems to be a bit too harsh and controversial, but the Court could close the case with an admonition or post it to be heard along with the constitutional challenge referred to above to a constitution bench. In any case, this editor feels and asserts that either the judiciary or legislature should intervene and remove this obnoxious provision of ‘scandalization of court’ as a ground for contempt to protect and promote freedom of speech in our country. §§§

Editorial, "SUICIDES OR MURDERS?," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 31 July 2020, Vol. 16, Part 2, No. 14 issue

 SUICIDES OR MURDERS?

It is quite disturbing that so-called suicides of bright stars on the film skies, and of other arenas too, are occurring often; many of those alleged as murders, sought to be passed off as suicides, and some successfully so. Perhaps it is easier for the investigating agencies to close cases of suspicious deaths as suicides than to take up the onerous task of forensic research and thorough investigation to arrive at the truth. We had, about 2½ years ago, rued the case of what appears to be a patent murder of Sridevi, a most famous Indian heroine, being passed off as a suicide amidst allegations of hushing up the matters at the highest political levels. Citing the instance of the death of another star actress Priya Rajvansh that was also sought to be so passed off but due to public outcry and on closer investigation tried as a deliberate murder, this editor had expressed several doubts on Sridevi’s suspicious death, as also the earlier such deaths of Telugu film heroes Udaykiran and Ranganath, and hoped that “someday, somehow and by somebody the real truth would come out.” Now, the same holds good for the recent death of Sushant Singh Rajput, the lively rising star of Bollywood, and possible rape and murder of his secretary Disha Salian a week before; her autopsy report indicates some injuries to her private parts even. Seems the Bombay Police are not proceeding properly with the investigation and very surprising to know that even a FIR has not been registered by them since the last 6 weeks. Even for the cases taken up under S 174 of Cr.P.C., as suspicious deaths, the filing of a FIR is quite essential. Much furor and outcry from various circles arose and his own father filed a complaint in Patna, Bihar, the police there registered a FIR and took up investigation on the charges of murder by Sushant’s new lover Rhea Chakravarty/her family members. One famous hero-actor, Shekhar Suman, openly shouted ‘murder’ and has given a representation to the Maharashtra Governor, requesting the investigation to be handed over to the CBI. There is an urgent need to hand over both the cases to the CBI or any independent investigating agency, under the monitoring of some High Court, especially since allegations of involvement of persons in high political echelons, like the minister, Aditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena, is alleged in connection with both the cases. We also opine that it is essential for Section 174 Cr.P.C. to be suitably amended for handing over all cases of suspicious death to a Sessions Judge/Judicial Magistrate for necessary inquiry. §§§

Editorial, "INDIA-NEPAL RELATIONS AT A NEW LOW," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 July 2020, Vol. 16, Part 2, No. 13 issue

 INDIA-NEPAL RELATIONS AT A NEW LOW

now and that, no doubt, due to the chauvinistic attitude and measures of the current Nepali government led by K.P. Sharma Oli. It is very sad that entire Nepal Parliament stood behind this pervert PM as against India though for the last about 200 years the current control and arrangements, to say the least, are being followed in the Limpiyadhura- Kalapani-Lipulekh triangular sector. An insightful write-up by Naresh Koirala in The Khatmandu Post (4 June 2020) itself has refuted the bellicose statements/measures of the Nepalese PM and it may be sufficient to quote some salient portions of the same: “Nepal’s publication of a new map showing the Limpiyadhura-Kalapani-Lipulekh area within its territorial boundary has raised passions here and across the border in India. The area in question, a 370-square-kilometre strip located at the north-western corner of the country, has been under Indian administration for a long time. But Nepal argues that, under the terms of the 1815 Sugauli Treaty, it is her land and should be returned. It looks like the newly unveiled map will bring India to the negotiating table.” “The territorial boundary of modern Nepal was defined by the Sugauli Treaty signed with the British East India Company in 1815. It said that the course of the Kali River, called the Mahakali downstream, marked Nepal’s western boundary which is the subject of the current row. …… The Mahakali has two tributaries – one starting at Lipukekh and the other at Limpiyadhura. The treaty did not specify which of these two tributaries would be considered the Kali for the purpose of delineating the boundary. India says the Kali starts at Lipulekh, and Nepal says Limpiyadhura is the river's source.” “In the early 1960s, King Mahendra gave consent to Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to continue the use of the Lipulekh-Kalapani area, according to the then Home Minister Biswabandhu Thapa. In 1961, Mahendra signed a boundary treaty with China, which says, ‘The boundary line starts from the point where the watershed between the Kali River and the Tinkar River meet the watershed between the tributaries of the Mapchu (Karnali) River on the one hand and the Tinkar River on the other hand’. This treaty makes Tinkar, about 10 kilometres south of Lipulekh – the tri-junction where the China-India-Nepal borders meet – and supports India’s current position.” Further, the UN map of Nepal, the CIA facts book map, and the various maps by Nepal itself till now, do not claim the triangular portion and China entered into an agreement with India in 2015 for opening a trading post at Lipulekh, in effect recognizing the trijunction as within Indian jurisdiction. A shorter, more convenient route to a most sacred pilgrimage site, Manasarovar Lake, lies through Lipulekh, to facilitate which India has built a new road up to Lipulekh recently, which raked up the entire controversy now. However, it seems there is strong opposition to Oli in the ruling Nepal Communist Party itself and the faction led by Prachanda, who stood foremost in the militant struggle against monarchy and for achievement of democracy in Nepal, is bitterly opposed to the fanatic and perverse policies and actions of Oli, especially his rabid anti-Indian stance. Hope the Nepal Communist Party will oust Oli and install a saner, liberal leadership in that government, which then can mend relations with India for the better. §§§

Editorial, "A NEW COLD WAR!?," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 June 2020, Vol. 16, Part 1, No. 12 issue

 A NEW COLD WAR!?

It seems so as the Trump administration in the U.S., hard pressed by the fast spread of the Coronavirus contagion making America the No. 1 in that field too, as also by the countrywide George Floyd memorial “I can’t breathe” protests, which have in many places degenerated into mere chaos, is concentrating its guns on China now, spreading all sorts of malicious lies and inciting its protégés and ‘allies’ to attack it by all means. The Democrats in America, piqued by the shocking defeat of their candidate in 2016, tried all vicious tricks to first spread Hate Russia campaign under the directions of the deep state in America, shooting Trump with wild, false RussiaGate allegations and prolonged impeachment proceedings all of which boomeranged to their utter dismay. Now they are in the main leading the George Floyd protests also though, queerly, all the anarchy is concentrated in their controlled States. So now Donald Trump has targeted all his guns on China – against which there seems to be bipartisan unanimity in the U.S. in terms of wild hatred borne out of sheer jealousy at its phenomenal growth in the world economy despite all sanctions and vile measures of the U.S.-NATO coteries. They are spreading a venomous propaganda against China mainly on the issues of the so-called repression of ‘democracy’ in Hong Kong and their new National Security Law, of the allegedly deliberate spread/non-information on the spread of Coronavirus pandemic, and alleged ‘persecution of Uighur Muslims’ in China. More recently, America is trying to make best advantage by meddling in our [India’s] border clashes with the Chinese in an effort to shoot it over our shoulders. However, all the lies and schemes in their vicious propaganda and aggressive measures have been exposed by reputed scholars and wise statesmen all over the world and we Indians must realize that just as America had severely damaged the interests of world peace and progress by its stubborn cold war against the Soviet Union, it is again imperiling the welfare, even the very survival, of humanity by such confrontational moves in collusion with other Western coteries and trying to use us India as a pawn in their wicked game; we should strongly reject all such offers and moves, and build bridges of friendship and peace with China and Russia, as also other developing countries in the world, to foster not only our own national interests but also world peace and progress at large. §§§

Editorial, "DISPUTES LEFT BY HISTORY: SOLVE AMICABLY," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 June 2020 issue, Vol. 16, Part 1, No. 11 issue

 DISPUTES LEFT BY HISTORY: SOLVE AMICABLY

It is very sad that first time after 1967 Nathu La clashes, serious violence erupted again, this time in the Ladakh-Tibet border, specifically in the Galwan River Valley area, between Indian and Chinese armed forces though not with firearms but by the use of ordinary incendiaries, clubs and fists, etc. It is reported that at least 20 Indian soldiers have died and about 40 casualties [both dead and injured included] occurred on the Chinese side too, but given the usual recourse to lies in warfare, we can never know the real figures and situation it seems. E.g. the contrast between rival versions about the 1967 Nathu La [Sikkim-Tibet border area] clashes: “According to Chinese reports, the number of soldiers killed were 32 on the Chinese side and 65 on the Indian side in Nathu La incident, and 36 Indian soldiers and an 'unknown' number of Chinese were killed in the Cho La incident … [but] the Indian Defence Ministry reported: 88 killed and 163 wounded on the Indian side, while 340 killed and 450 wounded on the Chinese side, during the two incidents.” {Wikipedia}. Well, whatever be the real status of exact figures, it is doubtless that loss of human lives in hankering for these desolate border regions is extremely painful; and also harmful to the interests of the entire humanity, not just our two countries. There is also a danger that given the astounding levels of chauvinism and jingoism rampant in our country subsequent to these May 2020 clashes, the enmities which have so far remained under strict control may escalate further, with our country already joining the America-Israel evil axis and perhaps may be falling into the American trap and design to shoot China over Indian shoulders. Luckily, there is no such chauvinism apparent in the English media of the other side, though they assert their contentions and deny ours. It seems our government and people have not learnt anything much from the humiliating defeat in the quite unnecessary 1962 border war and even the official Henderson Brooks (-Bhagat) Report delineating in detail the miscalculations and blunders of our government and our army at that time has not been made public even after 60 years in this “world’s largest democracy”! This editor asserts and appeals, as he did time and again, that such disputes left over by history have to be solved through peaceful negotiations, with a friendly and liberal ‘give and take’ approach, but not further complicated by inflaming an irate people’s revanchist passions of revenge and retaliation. §§§

Editorial, "‘KNEE ON THE NECK’ TO TAKING A KNEE," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 31 May 2020, Vol. 16, Part 1, No. 10 issue

 ‘KNEE ON THE NECK’ TO TAKING A KNEE

Well, now we see American ‘exceptionalism’ not only in its imperial hubris but in the cruel, inhumane practices of its police officers also, queerly trained by the Zionist terrorist state of Israel, to adopt all the genocidal repressive policies and tricks against their own people. The ‘knee on the neck’ perhaps deliberately pressed by the police officer Derek Chauvin on the felon-turned-a-caring-family-man (‘gentle giant’) George Floyd, an Afro-American for many minutes amidst cries and pleas of “I Can’t breathe” and wails of ‘Daddy, mamma,  they are going to kill me’ – is a common method used by the Zionist police. Chauvin appears to be a psycho but this could also be a calculated murder out of some personal hatred – searching investigation needed. President Trump responded seriously condemning this excess, as massive people’s protests broke out this time, but also brashly hit out at looting and killings by vandals/felons in that process in many cities and for that has earned, still earning, the ire of the masses. But, it is interesting to note that this tragedy occurred in a stronghold of Democrats and most of the violence, looting etc. during the massive protests which virtually set America ablaze have also occurred in the Dems’ ruled States and cities. So, a vicious ploy against Trump’s reelection, as also the hands of the Antifa radicals/Islamic terrorists behind all the violence, cannot also be ruled out. As a netizen Shannon Lucas wryly commented: “Since we are honoring George Floyd [albeit his past felonious record] for his memorial .... The biggest memory of him dying will be the rioters who brought hammers, axes, ball bats, and two by fours and how they were beating the life out of and stomping their heads in concrete of innocent people. When will the innocents who were killed by the criminal rioters be memorialized... What was done to George Floyd was wrong but guess what – people get done wrong every day; he’s not the only one that shouldn’t have lost his life....... We all get done wrong in our lives, time and time again. That don’t give you the right to damage property, to steal, to commit arson; nor does it give you the right to beat innocent people down and stomp them to death." Also, it is true that more numbers of innocent whites were shot dead in police excesses than blacks in recent years. And, the protests also seem to be genuine outbursts of various sections of the people against such police excesses, and we see even police in some places taking a knee in memory of Floyd. Overall, what is needed direly in the American situation is to frame and strictly implement relevant police reforms to curb all forms of police excesses against all persons – as ‘All lives matter’. §§§

Editorial, "TOTALLY AVOIDABLE GAS TRAGEDY," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 May 2020, Vol. 16, Part 1, No. 9 issue

 TOTALLY AVOIDABLE GAS TRAGEDY

at Vizag intensely torments our hearts. If only a few basic, mandatory precautions were taken by the Government and the culprit company i.e. LG Polymers Ltd., the accident or at least its intensity could have been certainly avoided. This was not so calamitous, highly poisonous gas leak as in the shocking Bhopal Gas Tragedy of the 1980s and if the people could have been alerted by a siren before/even just after the gas leak almost all the lives lost could have been saved. But that a multinational company did not do so only points out to their reckless conduct and blatant violation of all environmental and pollution control norms too. The State Government also appears to be in cahoots with the corporates as evidenced by the Chief Minister himself arriving at Vizag, his camaraderie with the company management, assuring them of no harm, and declaring the same to the public too. What was needed was the immediate closure of the unit, sealing off the entire premises so that no evidence relating to this egregious human rights crime could disappear in any way. Instead we find the Government continuing their collusion, as they did in permitting its reopening during a lockdown, that too with no pollution control/public health officer taking the risks into concern and supervising, by now facilitating the shifting of Styrene tanks by shipping to their home country – a blatant erasure of evidence, and not even informing the National Green Tribunal, or the State High Court, which had taken suo motu cognizance of this tragedy. This editor had commented in social media on 7 May itself that “Like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy some decades back, today morning we hear of this Vizag Gas Tragedy and it seems these profit-oriented capitalists/corporations learn nothing. And the Governments do nothing to control them virtually. When a Chemical Factory is to be reopened, should not the govt take utmost precautions?” Later the irresponsible and dangerous conduct of the management in not blowing a siren even, on occurrence of the accident was decried. On 12 May this editor appealed to the people to not let any evidence disappear and demanded that not only the Company be closed down but also attached immediately and called for a thorough judicial inquiry into all aspects thereof. The same needs to be reiterated here with the hope that the National Green Tribunal and the High Court of AP would comprehensively consider about the accident and strictly punish the concerned culprits of the company, and also of the government, and reach full justice in the matter. §§§

Editorial, "CORONA CRISIS AMERICA: TRUMP'S ANTICS," in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 April 2020, Vol. 16, Part 1, No. 8 issue

CORONA CRISIS AMERICA: TRUMP’S ANTICS

It is amply clear now that American ‘exceptionalism’ has given rise to a cruelly devouring Corona Crisis therein, mainly due to the criminal negligence of the authorities there. Even on 9 March Trump tweeted that more people died of Flu in America for years but no shutdowns were imposed and Covid-19 had but 546 cases with 22 deaths i.e. took it very lightly, failing to take note of its more contagious, asymptomatic nature. Then, this editor reply-tweeted that it may be so but, yet, quarantining the suspects was essential as also treating people kindly. True, once the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 as a world health emergency on 30 January 2020, Trump banned all flights to and from China to be effective from 2 February, but later again fell asleep; showed much negligence and ignorance, but even the Democrats were worse – only busy with framing up false evidence to impeach him, caring the least for public health, and others no better. Sadly, America has become a divided house with ugly wrangling for partisan interests rather than sincere care for people’s health. And when the disease broke out in all fury, with thousands dying like fleas, there were not even enough masks, PPEs, ventilators, etc. to save them. This editor was constrained to comment on 29 March that “America, boasting to be No. 1 power in the world, is now also No. 1 in Coronavirus contamination! President Trump's arrogance and buffoonery is also a cause for this astronomical rise but hope he comes to senses and as indicated by recent tweet makes up with China, benefits from Chinese experience, ....... If President Trump succeeds in tackling this problem well, he is sure to get reelected but otherwise it is very doubtful.” And on 15 April again caustically commented: “Trump acting like a deranged clown. He, the Republicans, the Dems, all authorities of US, Congress and Senate have been criminally negligent and are solely responsible for this human tragedy in the US, and not WHO or China. ... America is no longer a superpower ... ... has not even the gratitude that Russia and China have flown emergency aid for Corona victims in the US.” The situation is no better now, Trump and others, even his opponents, are wildly accusing China as also WHO yet; are even thinking of lifting the lockdowns, which by the way were never implemented meaningfully. Trump talks much of ‘God’ nowadays, though he never was a sincere devotee it seems, and with such foolish measures of his, and worse such conduct by his opponents, one may hope ‘God’ alone can save America, and the world from America! §§§

Editorial, "CORONA SPREAD AND TABLIGHI JAMAAT," in 15 April 2020, Vol. 16:Part 1, No. 7 issue

 CORONA SPREAD AND TABLIGHI JAMAAT

True, there is a definite connection between the two though it cannot be said the latter is the only causative factor for the former. But, it has been amply confirmed that at a time when Delhi was complacent about the corona spread there and confident that it could be contained fully to set an example even - due to and since the general lockdown in the entire country from 24 March 2020 onward, this Jamaati explosion of Corona affliction had upset all calculations and the Jamaati Corona spread even affected Nepal, not just other States in India. Earlier inside the large Markaz buildings in Nizamuddin, Delhi also they did not implement self-isolation and social distancing measures and it is alleged that Maulana Saad, the Head, himself exhorted the participants to congregate and be not afraid. Anyway, they - some 2300 persons found inside – were vacated by 1 April and most of them were shifted to quarantine and some disease afflicted to the Covid19 hospitals. Later from various states also the dispersed and hiding Jamaati participants, including several foreigners, were traced and caught but by that time much harm was done by their transmissions. So much so that even Arvind Kejriwal, the liberal CM of Delhi, himself stated on 6 April that most of the then spurt in Delhi was due to Jamaat sources, some 67.4% [259/384 as on that date]; the same was the course in Telangana [about 80%], in AP also, in Tamil Nadu, etc. This was a very unfortunate defiance of lockdown and consequent increase in Corona spread, and the other violators are the migrant labor exoduses and occasional birthday/ religious celebrations at some places. Though Tablighi Jamaat is not a terrorist organization, studies point out that it is a very orthodox Islamic propaganda/conversion association with no formal structure and no membership details etc. reported to the governments. Considered in many countries as an extremist organization with links to terrorists, it is banned outright/officially discouraged in some like Russia, Uzbekistan, even Saudi Arabia, Iran, etc. Its annual conferences (‘ijtema’s) in India (its origin-country) and other countries draw lakhs of people (including thousands of foreigners). Recently Pakistan also found them quite harmful, had to close their Sind headquarters and arrest some of them too. Such rigidly orthodox religious extremist organizations [‘antechambers of fundamentalism’], dreaming of a religious-power-seizure, should be harshly dealt with, strict sanctions must be placed on, and due transparency demanded of, them. §§§

Editorial, "WAR ON CORONAVIRUS", in 15-31 March 2020 special issue, Vol. 16, Part 1, No. 5-6 issue

 

WAR ON CORONAVIRUS

the world over is going on now. We humans have been coexisting with lakhs of viruses all along, but some virulent ones played havoc with our lives. For example, Influenza is attributed to the work of a virus - the 1918 Spanish Flu had taken crores of lives all over the world [>1.5 crores in our country alone]. Earlier to that we were struck by Bubonic Plague in which also millions died; the arbitrary and cruel plague control measures by the British colonialists had even led to counter attacks by extremist nationalists [e.g. Chapekar Brothers] during 1897-99. In the recent past, we had HIV-AIDS, then SARS-Swine Flu and Ebola etc. killing lakhs of people – starting from the 1980s. The current coronavirus began since November-December 2019 in Wuhan, China it seems. But, suspicions as to whether from October 2019 itself it was there in the US, and if that was due to bio-war experiments conducted in the US Labs, later outsourced to the Wuhan Lab, also exist. Whatever it be, China imposed a very rigid lockdown in January 2020 in the entire Hubei province (capital Wuhan), also speedily built several hospitals and, mobilizing the health staff and medical resources of the entire country, has been able to contain it by now. The genome details, the danger of human to human transmission and the asymptomatic, highly contagious nature of the disease were quickly communicated to WHO when it declared a world health emergency on 30 January 2020 concerning this ‘2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease’; later it was named COVID-19 and declared a pandemic. The European countries and the US did not yet wake up and so are horribly suffering now with the attacks of COVID-19 in gargantuan proportions. Luckily, we Indians have taken to a nation-wide lockdown from 24 March, a bit belatedly though, which has helped us reduce the speed of the spread considerably. However, the lack of adequate prearrangements, prevalence of reckless orthodoxy [e.g. Tabligh Jamaat related spread], rumours and stupidity [e.g. migrant labour exoduses] have become main hurdles. Anyway, lockdowns can only limit the spread. We need to take feverish measures for the cure and eradication of the disease, for raising the civic consciousness, and helping the economically and socially most suffering sections with a wide range of workable schemes/measures; especially supply at cheap rates, or even free of cost, of masks to the people and PPE kits to the doctors, nurses and other paramedical medical staff, as also to other civic staff, is a MUST. Perhaps we have to live with this disease for a long time to come, pending invention of the right cures and creation of a scientific spirited, hygienic and enviro-friendly climate all over the country, but we have to march in earnest and unitedly to reach that goal. §§§