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. §§§

Editorial, "DELHI RIOTS: A DANGEROUS TREND", in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, Vol. 16, Part 1, No. 4, 29 February 2020 issue

DELHI RIOTS: A DANGEROUS TREND

that the national capital should be convulsed by ugly communal riots which seem to have never occurred since the notorious 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the wake of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, and that too the current riots occurring right at the time of the American President Trump’s visit to India, especially Delhi. This does not appear to be any sudden and unexpected eruption but reveals a deliberate and inhuman sort of plotting behind to intentionally provoke, attack, injure and kill persons of other communities, even the law enforcement officers, and in this editor’s opinion reveals the utter incompetence of the Union Government and its Home Minister who should have well anticipated all this mess and geared up the security and law and order mechanism to meet such dangers. Of course, one cannot condone the roles of various parties/ groups either. The anti-CAA protests indefinitely going on at Shaheen Bagh, a nerve center of the city, and a total roadblock due to it, was a standing provocation, aggravated by demands of the Hindu fanatic leaders to get it vacated even by force. Though the Supreme Court had to and did interfere to solve it by sending negotiators to persuade the protesters see reason, lift the roadblock and close/shift their protests, the situation was further intensified by extremists trying to extend the protests to block other centers, especially when they occupied the roads in Jaffrabad-Maujpur area and even barred entry/exit to/of a metro rail station. This generated a lot of discontent, strong provocation to the irate opponents and exacerbated the situation. But all this was only a preparation of the soil, and the real gory work of riots was deliberate and well planned and it seems the hands of Islamic terrorists are behind it if the free use of acid tanks, petrol bombs, country made pistols, guns, etc. be taken into note as also that a big number of police personnel got injured and a high ranking intelligence officer and a senior constable were cruelly killed even. Nearly 50 human lives and crores of properties have been lost and the communal atmosphere has been much vitiated. Now people should rise above petty communal considerations, do all to get law and order situation restored to normalcy first, get vacated all protests pro or against the CAA/NPR/NRC tangle and mandate that any protests can take place at only some indicated maidans for a limited period and never permitted to block roads and cause troubles to the public and inflame communal/inhuman passions. §§§