Sandese Aate Hain - Border

Editorial, 'TERROR STRIKES AGAIN' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 July 2011 issue

TERROR STRIKES AGAIN

the commercial capital of India, this time claiming 21 lives in addition to causing hundreds injured. This is some fourteenth such blast by terrorists in Bombay and the fourth major terrorist operation since the gruesome 26/11 attacks and every time the cliché cheer of the ‘spirit of Bombay’ standing up to such gory carnages is freely raised by all and sundry leaders in and out of government. But, regretfully, nothing is done to see to it that the necessary preventative/detective mechanisms are installed to come to grips with such artificial calamities. Kishwar Desai in guardian.co.uk , one of the TV reporters who covered the first serial bomb blasts 1993 in Mumbai, witnessing and feeling the ‘unimaginable shock of 13 coordinated explosions going off simultaneously’ when “the deadly twisted wreckage spread through the city, and the enormous death toll revealed the malevolent design to hit India where it would hurt most,” was rightly furious about “the shocking admission by the … chief minister, Prithviraj Chavan, that even the purchase of 5,000 CCTV cameras for Mumbai [a suggestion by the Ram Pradhan Committee 2009] is still pending with the central government,” and justified in questioning “…is it any surprise that Mumbaikars are furious with ministers who surround themselves with high security and bodyguards, but have no money to spend on the aam aadmi, the common man?” It is a matter of unshakable common sense that such attacks cannot take place without solid local links, and especially the bombs planted on this occasion seem to be homemade improvised IEDs, but unfortunately, it is alleged, due to the nasty vote-bank politics effective investigation through widespread arrests and interrogations is not done and this holds good even in case of the 26/11 mayhem. We concur with Keith Jones that “…the wanton slaughter of ordinary people can only strengthen reaction … helping poison relations between Hindus and Muslims in India and between the peoples of India and Pakistan,” and condemn such genocidal crimes in no uncertain terms. We demand that governments reacting with alacrity and gravity unravel the conspiracy behind such repeated terrorist attacks and do their best to prevent their reoccurrence §§§

TELUGU JAATHI MANADI-NTR

Editorial, ROILING OIL' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 June 2011 issue, Vol. 7, Part 1, No. 12

ROILING OIL

is really foiling all the prospects of a fair living for the vast masses of our country, and the too obvious incompetence of the governments at the helm to control the same that comes in the wake of the worldwide decline in the prices of crude oil naturally points out to corruption and other vices also contributing to the gruesome decisions of the Central Government to go on increasing the prices of oil commodities. When Oil prices fell from the peak $145 in July 2008 to $17 in January 1999 and then rose to $90 by October 2007 and to more than $140 in July 2008, but again started falling down, and on 24 June 2011 The Hindu Business Line reported a further dip to about $90 dollars, the tail-end consumers here are getting no relief at all in all these fluctuations. The prices of petrol, diesel, etc. are being constantly increased; the very recent steep increase in the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas is indeed a “cruel blow struck at the people.” The entire energy sector in our country is mainly a public sector monopoly though in recent decades private sector is also being allowed some space. As such the State has more responsibility and cannot leave things to the so-called free market, especially when a prime part of the price structure is its heavy taxation. It should ensure reasonably low and fixed prices, not to be disturbed for long periods, to all these essential oil commodities. It should tax the corporate rich heavily, strictly curb conspicuous consumption, economize government consumption and adequately subsidize the common consumers. There should be an Oil Prices Regulatory Authority [on the lines of Electricity Regulatory Authority] where people can complain and pressurize at every step to get economical and reasonable prices. Finally, realizing that all these non-renewable fossil fuels are getting fast depleted, but meanwhile are polluting the earth and atmosphere causing an almost irreversible eco-damage, the governments and the peoples should take initiative in switching over quickly to renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power, etc. and take effective steps to innovatively develop these sectors to provide cheap and clean energy §§§

Miru Kim: Making art of New York's urban ruins

Editorial, 'THEY NEED ALL PROTECTION' in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 June 2011 issue

They need all protection

possible; this, of course, doesn’t mean that other citizens do not. But whistleblowers who take much pains and run great risks in exposing various scams, oppressions and atrocities, etc. in public interest are in real danger of their lives and limbs from the corrupt and cruel lawbreakers and anti-social elements within or outside the government. Perhaps the life of Satyendra Kumar Dubey, a conscientious engineer, could have been saved if there were to be some legal mechanism at the relevant point of time to protect his anonymity and provide security. Likewise the precious life of a Satish Shetty would also not have been lost if the police were to be alert to the dangers posed to him by his land scams-exposures. More recently, Ramesh Agarwal, a social activist advocate of Chattisgarh, would not be suffering arrest, handcuffing and continuance in custody, were his revelations in a public hearing not to carry any legal risk of incrimination. Scores of RTI activists all over the country, several investigative journalists, and umpteen citizens from various walks of life fighting against corruption and malpractices are today facing grave dangers to their lives, and murders of intrepid and outspoken citizens and journalists are not infrequent either. Former Central Vigilance Commissioner, Sri N. Vittal, reveals that Satyendra Dubey’s murder and subsequent proceedings to bring the murderers to book had resulted in the Supreme Court issuing a directive to CVC to take necessary action to protect whistleblowers whereupon he had moved the Law Commission of India in the matter, which drafted a Public Interest Disclosures (Protection of Informers) Bill, 2002, but it never saw the light. And now, the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons making the disclosure Bill, 2010, reported to have been cleared by the Cabinet in August 2010 itself, has also not been moved in the parliament so far. Statutorily guaranteed effective protection for whistleblowers is certainly the desideratum and so a good beginning needs to be made by getting it enacted forthwith §§§

Editorial "Ati Sarvatra Varjayet" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 31 May 2011 [Vol. 7, Part 1, No. 10] issue

Ati Sarvatra Varjayet

is a golden axiom of Hindu philosophy applicable to all human streams, which applies to the strivings for good and noble ends too. In an exquisite verse attributed to Chanakya we are enlightened: “Ati daanaat Balirbaddhoh - atimaanaat Suyodhanah, vinashto Ravano laulyat - Ati sarvatra varjayet” {Excess of giving tied up Bali; excess of pride hurt Duryodhana; excess of lust (for women) destroyed Ravana; [hence] excess everywhere is [bad and is] to be discarded}. Unfortunately what we are witnessing today in our country is an excess of excesses of various sorts. We have seen and are yet able to see poverty and destitution in excess, corruption in utmost excess, social repression and police atrocities in excess, various types of governmental excesses and what not. Add to that, we have counter movements in excess, pressure groups, caste and religious and, in some spheres, regional and local chauvinistic movements all leading to anarchy in excess, etc. And sadly it seems even the anti-corruption movements are flowing into an excess. May be the Jan Lok Pal desired by social reformists like Anna Hazare is different from the various ombudsmen in developed democracies but then there is no point in stretching its powers or jurisdiction to an excess (while, strangely, not vesting in it any adjudicatory powers which we feel to be a default in excess). If the government at the helm has come down to include parliament members and ministers also in its compass, then, we feel there is no need to go on pressurizing for inclusion of the Prime Minister too. After all, in our setup, it is the Prime Minister who acts as the real head of state though not so designated in the constitution, and his privileged position ought not to be disturbed too easily. Also we see the strange spectacle of a modern yoga guru, selling that art/skill to gullible persons at high prices, jumping into the fray to bring another wave of popular rising with excessive demands like ‘hang the corrupt!’ – more easily said than ever can or ought to be done. We also see money in excess spent in such a spree, know not from where accessed. And, as usual, the government applies its lathi yoga in excess and we know not what next will be the reaction in excess §§§