Not on India’s soil!

Slowly the disturbing visuals of the violence and arson in Delhi are emerging. It leads to a question, is there at all any law and order maintenance machinery in Delhi. Delhi government escapes, stating that the police are not under their control, while the Union government puts the blame on the local government for inciting the mobs.

Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra of the BJP brought disgrace to their party, BJP, by their conflagratory speeches, as did a few others in the opposition. There are others from the minorities, who never stop bragging about India coming under their control if they are united together. The Congress party lost no time in supporting the protests and meeting the President to voice their disapproval of Modi’s Government. The line dividing issues and the country was dumped to convert the nation’s capital into a warzone.

The preparations to hijack the peaceful protests and to turn the heat on Modi’s government was meticulously planned and coincided with the visit of the US President. Incidentally, the US President has also invited the wrath of the Islamic fundamentalists who find the POTUS a stubborn wall in their plan to Islamize the world. Their aversion to PM Modi is also well-known.

Notwithstanding whatever is said, the police grossly failed to act in time to prevent the sad deaths, which is unpardonable in any civilized society. I read with horror an attempt at a repeat of Arab-spring kind of protest, capitalizing on the disapproval of CAA or NRC. The Shaheen Bagh protesters may have had the best of intentions while sitting on a roadblock, but they yielded to the infiltration of hardcore criminals who soon took over.

The saddest part at present is the absence of national opposition prevailing upon the government. Congress is in deeper sickness than ever, its uncharismatic interim president Sonia Gandhi showing no hurry or intent to call organizational polls. If she is waiting for a hibernated Rahul to return and take the reins of the Congress party, it will cease to exist or will split and merge with any and every party in the country.

Amid the protests, forty-two people have died, many with gunshots, a few stabbed and a few lynched. Many are still missing, which might push the number of causalities higher. The protesters perhaps expected a strong police retaliation and with opinionated media crying hoarse over the persecution of minorities in India.

There will be repeats of the attempts, to divide, to provoke and to foment trouble and put our government on the mat. Such situations benefit a few neighbouring countries, a few Western Nations, a few religious zealots. The success or failure of their actions though are entirely in our hands, we the people of India.

The post does not in any way, absolve the government’s liability and responsibility in ensuring peace, safeguarding the lives and the properties of its citizens.

Jai Hind!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

In pic: the AAP councillor and the face of the riots, who’s absconding, facing murder charges!

Unpardonable!

Unpardonable!

The deaths from Delhi riots are (officially) 27, many grievously injured and in various hospitals. Delhi is a stark reminder of our lives on the tenterhooks, which may not see another day in a jiffy. The riots were not in a faraway place from civilization, but right in the heart of the capital of an often bragged ‘world’s largest democracy.’

The divide seems to get deeper, the place of occurrences of the disturbances mostly in those areas where BJP had won in the recent Delhi Assembly elections. Was it a victory march by the supporters, or a trial exercise to drive away from the minorities from those “Hindu ruled’ areas? The riots expose the unforgettable sufferings of the majority during the partitions and the recent growth of a militant Islam in India.

The passive and submissive Hinduism steered by Brahmanical ideology during the past is now controlled by the surge of hitherto snubbed members. This may be debatable though!
The role of the political leaders, the intelligence apparatus, the security forces and the courts have all been despicable, not to mention the notorious gleeful media, which thrives on every riot and death to inflame passions.

What is the limit of legal tolerance limits of the fiery speeches of the political leaders? We have deplorable levels of communal barbs and threats from many, cutting across the party lines. Does an election time bar the courts to intervene and leave it only to the Election commission to take any action for violations? Why was no FIR filed against the Anurag Thakur for his infamous, ‘Goli Maro,’ remark? Why was Kapil Mishra not promptly arrested for inciting his supporters?

The intelligence machinery is usually reactive in India and not preventive. All these messes could have been avoided if sufficient security forces were present and doves from the minorities had taken control. It seems that the mayhem helped a few in further polarization of communities for their petty political gains. Disciplinary action must be initiated against the officers of the security forces on the ground, sending a strong message in the maintenance of law and order and not wait for the orders from the above!

The courts in India have become laughable. They send interlocutors to the Shaheen Bagh protesters, engage in days of tête-à-tête, submitting their opinion to the court in a sealed cover. The court has now indefinitely adjourned the hearings, and the matter lies in limbo.
Multiple organisations meddling delays or deny timely address of problems. Delhi suffers from a unique faultline. The local government has no control over the police, and the brooding Central government run by the BJP, licking its wounds of electoral defeat is looking for a return-punch. By blaming each other, neither the Delhi Government nor the Central government, which controls the state police, the RAF, the CRPF and the military are helping the return of peace, now or ever.

The killing of the IB officer, a constable on duty is cruellest, and so is each one dead. Many have lost their businesses and wares, who have to be rehabilitated.

Rather than concentrating on the stones, the government must reach the minds of those hurling stones. Homogeneity and plurality have to be redefined again, and again, and again!

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

In Pic: IB officer, 26-year-old Ankit Sharma gruesomely killed by Mobs.

Delhi and the deaths!

Delhi has witnessed many battles in the past. It was mostly between invaders and local kings. This time it is different, it is between citizens, divided by communities, the minorities or seculars fighting for withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Population Register, the National Register of Citizens and the Census. The protests, mainly by the Muslim community, apprehensive of a rumoured disenfranchisement of their right and citizenship have been sitting in ‘dharna’ in Delhi and few other parts of India, including Kolkata and has been going on for the last two months.

The Delhi elections came in the midst, during which no political party wanted to engage with the protesters and find a solution. Those who did, mostly from the opposition, only poured oil on the flames and made the situation worse.

Then came the much-touted visit of Donald Trump, the President of the United States, whose trip included Delhi, besides Gujarat. Any crisis during the presence of the US President, whose colleagues have earlier spoken out over threat to religious freedom and unease of the minorities would have made the issues attract the attention worldwide.

That may not have been the only purpose. The intention could be to embarrass Modi and his government, as the opposition has been unable to undermine his invincibility, despite electoral reverses in a few states, the last in Delhi itself. Trump eased out of controversies and flatly stated that there is no minority targeted actions by the Modi Government, adding that he firmly believed in Modi. The apparent disappointment of the protesters over America’s declination to indulge in CAA matter may have been the fuse-blown moment for many.

It may be foolhardy to believe that only the minorities indulge in brandishing pistols and guns, as many apprehended are from the majority as well. The police may have taken a partisan stand, turning a blind eye towards the non-minority cowboys. The continued riots expose the political bigotry and disengagement from meaningful discussions by the political opposition with the government.

Strangely Triple Talaq and Ram Mandir issues failed to enrage the minorities despite provocations from their leaders and as well from the other opposition parties. The pilots steering the CAA protests, soon changed course from their destruction of public properties, in particular busses and trains and resorted to peaceful ‘dharna.’ Women and children were the most participating, to evoke sympathy and to erase the militant minority image.

There are also print and electronic media, who vehemently despise Modi and his BJP party and do their best to inflame passions and keep the protests on for their petty gains.

The police have grossly failed in their duty, who should have been non-partisan and should have dealt with all trouble mongers with the same intent and speed cutting across communal lines.

Twenty lives are lost, and many may have indulged in peaceful protests. Their families would suffer for long. The family of the slain constable Ratan Lal too will suffer silently throughout their lives, as we would forget his name soon to engage in newer street fights.

Are there something called peace initiatives, fasting, peace-marches, candle lights, hugs and flowers etc. Why some political leaders don’t begin a fast-unto-death?

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Simply pathetic!

Many in India are unable to digest the visit of the US President Donald Trump, his family members and a real massive delegation comprising of officials and business leaders.

While Trump has been euphoric and excited about his visit to India and to meet his ‘great friend’ Modi, more posts critical and abusive filled our social network walls. Many voiced dismays over walls hurriedly built along Trump’s route to Motera stadium to hide the slums. Some knew even the going cost of hauling and filling the stadium with people as if it is voluntary and free of any charge in the opposition-led rallies.

Secondly, another friend wrote soon after Trump remarked in the logbook praising India’s cultural heritage, that Trumps should be shown some toilets, which is real India! I had to seek from him if he diligently shows his home toilet to every visitor, regardless of any urge to use it. A surgeon (I do not know their natural aversion with Modi, cutting their perks enjoyed from Pharma companies perhaps could be the reason!) who was waiting with bated breath for the Trumps to twitch their noses on the stinking Yamuna! Rushing water to help flow and dilute any stench came under severe criticism too! Trumps not saying anything about the Yamuna must have dealt a body blow to these perpetual pessimists.

A few lamented to no end over Arvind Kejriwal’s name missed out in the state banquet hosted by the President of India. Later when it became known that AK and Didi’s names are indeed in the list, the critics hurriedly ducked for cover not to be seen for some hours.

I have my bit of misgivings about Modi and have written about those periodically and harshly. But one should remember that the US is the deciding factor in today’s world economy, and President Trump is the defining factor as well. He has his political compulsions in the US election season and has to prove to his citizens of India’s steadfast support, in the wake of geopolitical constraints.

It is childish to find faults with everything, for example, from raising walls in front of slums. The security of the POTUS is one of the severest in the world. We have in agonistic elements peeved by actions of the Indian government over CAA and the like. Many are also inimical to the US President over Iran and his stand to neutralize radical Islamic elements. Therefore, to seal any potential threat sectors is very basic, and security concerns could have driven the intention of raising the walls.

No Prime Minister and I can dare say from Nehru to MMS, have been able to build a personal rapport with world leaders, including Trump, as Modi has made. One must learn to give him due credit on that issue. If such a relationship is helping India’s security, it’s economy, and it’s growth, it requires wholehearted support. This is not the time to fight rabidly but to stand together for the nation.

I am waiting eagerly at the trade deals which would follow in the next weeks, which would show the diplomatic win for our country, through the efforts (sadly for a few) of PM Modi. We can resume our fights after the guests depart.

Jai Hind

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

Trump arrives!

Donald Trump’s visit to India 24-25 February will dwarf every other news in the subcontinent for a while. The timing is unique as he is facing re-election and has to prove to his country that he is genuinely more significant than what many of his citizens make him out to be.

He has already a preamble that India has been treating the US bad and that the eagerly awaited trade deal between India and the US had to wait. He did precisely the same to China, starving them of business until the Asian giant yielded after its quid-pro-quo sanctions failed to budge inimitable Trump. Donald makes no bone in repeatedly stating that he is for America and therefore to expect any significant concessions could be over-optimism by India. I do not think that the withdrawal of GSP privileges on many goods could be anywhere on the plan.

He is speedily into building the wall with Mexico as promised, and I do not think he would relax the visa norms for IT professionals either. The POTUS is peeved at our recent defence acquisitions, Rafale et al., from non-US sources. The present mission of the president might see a few high-end military deals MH-60R multi-role sea-based helicopters and missile systems totalling over USD 4.5 Bn.

The US President was too sure of winning a Nobel for his peace efforts in the Korean peninsula, but the wily Kim proved too slippery to handle, and the Chinese might have thwarted any thaw in the region. He then tried his luck in the millennium-old Israeli Palestine conflict, but the Arab world has rubbished his peace plan. I guess he despises his predecessor Obama winning a Nobel, while he still has not, a disappointment the outspoken Trump already has made public.

He is trying to bring an elusive peace by a deal to in the next couple of days with the Taliban, which might bring relative calm to the region. The US-Taliban deal will also do away with the US need to rely on the Chinese satellite, Pakistan for future logistics support. Therefore his other dice-play, trying to mediate between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. If he persuades the two countries to sit and help reach out an agreement, sure Don would be entitled to a Nobel. What he does not visualize is Modi’s overfeed of Nationalism, and ‘not yielding an inch of Kashmir,’ rhetoric, which might come in the way.

India is essential, merely because of the Chinese military overgrowth, which is threatening the US. The Chinese are cleverly getting closer to Russia and Iran, which could be a formidable challenge to the US plans. The US strategically needs India more than ever in the global context to restrain China. Modi has shown chivalry in the earlier standoffs with China, be it relating to Kashmir or at Doklam. Modi’s rapport with Trump and his overall higher ratings might help India secure some advantages to regain India’s power in the sub-continent.

In all, Ahmedabad, Surat and Agra are spruced up as never before, which is excellent. I wish Trump drives as well on my road, where the Electricity guys had dug up the pavement in front of my home for giving a new meter connection to my neighbour a year ago. The Kolkata Municipal corporation is in no hurry to repair as our councillor is from BJP! Well, these are local travails, like Arvind Kejriwal’s omission in the invitee list.

In these days of slapping of sedition cases with alacrity, I limit my chant with Indo-Indo zindabad!

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix

A deadly virus!

The Coronavirus casualties have crossed 1120 with 45000 more infected with the deadly virus in China alone. The virus that spreads by humans has spread to 25 other countries, the US, Germany, Singapore, France, Japan, Australia, India, Philippines.

Wuhan, the origin of the virus, is a ghost town now, none venturing out of their self-imposed confinement for fear of being infected and imminent death. Many bizarre theories float over the virus including the meltdown of a bio-weapons laboratory built with clandestine support from researchers from reputed Universities of the west, to the uncontrolled bushmeat and wildlife trade in the Wuhan market. The fingers point out at snakes which habitually consume a few bat species or pangolins as the reason for the outbreak of the virus.

People travelling in airplanes could be the most vulnerable carriers of the virus, and many thousands have flown out of China all over the world, presumably a few carrying the potential virus. A few cruise ships with virus affected people are anchored away from any cities to prevent further spread. It takes fourteen days to manifest and attack the human immune system until which time the carriers remain unaware of their new acquisition and spread the virus to others.

The Chinese government is combating a mammoth threat by speedily building new hospitals and disinfecting large affected areas. Wuhan is an out-of-bound city, with all roads leading to it walled up to prevent transport. Many countries have already suspended-the rail services and flights to and from China. The country, it seems, will be severely affected for sometimes to come, their economy taking a beating this year.

My heart goes out to the doctor who first warned about the virus two months ago, and who sadly succumbed to the infection, treating many patients. The other two civil activists who have gone on social networks to expose the tardy Chinese reaction to the virus are under arrest, which is sad. China must reveal real statistics of the cases and the casualties to help other nations follow the spread and to take preventive steps.

The world has come a long way from the 14th century Black Plague which killed between 75 and 200 million people. We have better amenities to combat diseases, but the recent spurt of AIDS, SARS and Ebola did pose a challenge to our abilities as thousands died. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the chief of the World Health Organisation, said that the virus poses a very grave threat, adding that viruses have more powerful consequences than any terrorist action.

There are three cases identified in Kerala, all returnees from China, the affected duly quarantined. Whatever the reason be, the virus has the potential of becoming a pandemic with no foreseeable solution. India must be in readiness with all preventive measures, breathing masks, trained medicos in these type of emergencies, fumigation trucks, medicines and hospitals. The World Health Organization has also helped with funds besides naming the virus Covid-19.

I hope the medical fraternity soon finds a solution to save those affected and prevent further proliferation of the disease.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

Truly mature mandate!

AAP has done it again, winning 62 out of 70 seats in Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal has grown into a seasoned politician and leader in steering his party to a resounding win, limiting the runners-up BJP with only eight seats and decimating the Indian National Congress and all other contestants like RJD, JDU.  The BJP has cocooned itself into introspection meetings following their defeat in the hands of a political novice, Kejriwal. The BJP campaign included those of Modi and Amit Shah.

The election defines the aspirations of people into more local issues, like electricity, water and clean air, which AAP has been honestly trying to provide. Despite stand to the contrary by the BJP, AAP has also profoundly contributed to the education sector.

From 28 seats in 2014 to 67 in 2016 AAP managed to win 62 seats now. The win also presents the maturity of voters, when they elected all seven members of Parliament from the BJP only months ago, in 2019, AAP scoring zero. However, the 2019 elections were for the Parliament, and now it is for the Assembly and local governance, where the citizens have preferred AAP over BJP.

One thing that does not miss the eye is the influence of Prashant Kishore and the sharp change in the campaign-style of Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP. He did not once abuse Modi or the BJP and steered clear of negative campaigning. He forsook skullcaps and shunned public hobnobbing with Imams and Maulvis like he used to do earlier. He did not visit Shaheen Bagh protestors or comment on the roadblock protests, save advising the Centre to intervene urgently. On the contrary, Kejriwal adopted a soft Hindutva, visiting Hanuman temples and chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai, stealing the religious weaponry from the BJP.

BJP is happy over the decimation of their avowed political adversaries; the Gandhis led Congress party. BJP alone could not have achieved the stunning but expected defeat of the Congress, which the AAP helped accomplish. Licking its wounds, Congress seems happy that AAP has dealt a body blow to the BJP. The defeat has made BJP, and in particular Amit Shah more vulnerable than ever.

Or was all this win and loss a grand plan, orchestrated by the BJP and AAP through their poll strategist Prashant Kishor? Is he a Trojan Horse working for BJP? How come such resounding mandate fail to reflect in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections? Was BJP less communal than now? Did the vociferous campaign on withdrawal of Art 370 in J & K, CAA and NRC non-issues for the Delhiites? Is Arvind Kejriwal a B-team of BJP? Many questions arise in mind for which there are no ready answers.

What cannot be overlooked is the type of governance by AAP, which was inclusive and development-oriented. Delhi people rejected polarization politics of the BJP.

Congress lost their deposit in 67 of the 70 seats it contested in this Delhi election. I have been writing for the last few years that the Indian National Congress must look for leaders beyond the uninspiring Sonia Gandhi and directionless Rahul Gandhi, besides a few sycophants like Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot and Digvijay Singh. Several young faces could energize the dying party. It is up to them to resuscitate the party, cremate or bury it.

It was in great tradition for PM Modi to wish Arvind Kejriwal on his massive win, which the latter responded with equal sincerity, expressing his desire to work closely with the Centre. That is all democracy is all about — my best wishes to Arvind Kejriwal on his third time electoral win.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix