They say, "give a man power and you know his true character". Looks like, the AAP is proving it absolutely true. In its latest carefully crafted political farce, last week, AAP started a protest seeking suspension of four Delhi police officers for "disobeying" Law minister Somnath Bharti's order to arrest some Ugandan and Nigerian women on charges of prostition and drug peddling during his racist vigilante
style midnight raid. When Delhi police declined to perform any task which was against the law, the Law minister behaved in shockingly unruly manner. The reports say that the treatment meted out to women in question during this drama was appallingly shameful.
I am
always jittery over anyone/group/ that claims to be a voice of
community/group/nation, articulating well-crafted rhetoric! I am yet to
understand if "protests"/dharanas lead to any alternate
suggestions/answers in constructive ways. There are ways to address any issue
in a democracy like India. Why go on streets, create anarchy, stall governance, create civil unrest by blackmailing as means to meet political agendas?
Isn't it a very dangerous precedent to set? AAP's political jambooree;
romanticized both by media and the mindless rhetoric of various people suddenly
looking at an opportunity to have piece in the pie appears to have completely lost the plot.
Sadly, what we often fail to realize is that, headlines do not always translate into meaningful action that addresses the root cause of the issue. Instead, we fall in to trap of tail chasing scenario of hype and brouhaha the end result of which is nothing except outrage and helplessness.
Today, aggression has become our way of life. The frustration of a citizen due to complete absence of law and order, break down of the system that is becoming chaotic, unapproachable and deeply corrupt is brewing dangerous levels. Our judicial system that is bogged down by corruption and shrouded personal agendas of the individuals responsible for serving citizens of this country does not provide any hope. That is precisely why the onus is all the more on educated class, the enlightened minority to do something constructive about it and giving it voice that has potential to unite entire nation, shake us and compel us to look within and find our conscience.
National
pride is a remarkable sentiment but when it is used to malign other political
parties/race/country/culture, then it loses its very essence. Patriotism is not
about temporary titillation of acrimonious acts of rancour.
Politics is not my forte but my blood brews every time I witness such sad events that embroil the nation and create easily avoidable conflicts. We need to address the REAL issues not just indulge in mindless rhetoric. The AAP's pathetic attempt to position itself as voice of silent desperation and giving it cathartic release has fallen flat on its face. Voice of people is one of the most important pillar for any democracy but when the modus operandi of any protest is conducted and projected in a manner that reflects complete disregard for the constitution and judiciary, some serious doubts are raised about its credibility. I am not at all impressed by Mr.Arvind Kejriwal and his clans' antics for gaining political mileage out of this whole melodrama and its desperate attempt to position its politics as "revolution"!!! (Give me a break!)
It is time for AAP to realize that snide remarks for other political parties, glorifying Mr.Arvind Kejriwal and AAP's antics as patriotism and the cupidity of its politicians who gain from such genre of politics is not going to serve them much in long run. The nation and media might have paid them attention so far but to take it for granted and assume that all those eyeballs would
automatically convert into votes would be a political Harakiri.
Liked.
ReplyDeleteHi, this is Vivek and I'm sharing my views:
ReplyDeleteWell voiced (English), but for the factual discrepancies:
1. "disobeying" Law minister - the police was only being urged to do their duty, as these crimes cannot be booked otherwise. The Act 9 of 2001 allows search and seizure without warrants even through the night.
2. You probably have never lived in a society, where open prostitution goes on? I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate it. Living in gated communities is quite a different luxury.
3. You forget, India became free from the British, basis long drawn mass protests and many 'dharnas'. So the precedent was set long ago.
4. Headlines are made by media - go post against the media's concocted tales.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteGlad to know you liked the article Mahesh.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr. Vivek Luthra for your participation. My answer is as follows;
ReplyDelete1) To best of my knowledge, it is against the Supreme court guidelines for search and seizure specially of women during night hours unless the crime of very heinous nature like murder. There is no doubt that there was complete disregard for this guideline and that is beyond debate.
2) You are right, I have been very blessed to have a safe and secured life. Guess its my good karma ! Having said that, I must add that I do understand the plight of people who are forced to live in such horrible surroundings and my sincere sympathy for them.
3) If you read the article, you would know, I am not against anyone protesting if the reason for it is justified. My problem with AAP's "protest" is stalling the governance, creating civil unrest and use it to meet its political agendas as part of its super ambitious political game plan.
4) Headlines are made by media and attention hungry political parties like AAP do all the circus to ensure they remain in the limelight and it doesn't matter what level they have to stoop down to for that. Looking at the antics by AAP so far,it seems its part of AAP's game plan to stay in news till LS election, 2014. Sad, despite having such fine motley of eminent people AAP is no different from any other political party. Hope it wakes up to reality from its its core character of delusion of grandeur and realizes India is democracy and democracy is NOT a joke.
5) Mr. Vivek Luthra, please go through my other articles to know my views on media. I have been writing about media too .
Delete
Reply
Simi Mehta
Since you are so well read, to your #1 reply: please READ the Act 9 of 2001, Section 19; the provisions are undoubtedly "beyond debate". Take the time to read it, before 'passing judgment' - the problem with knowing English and not Law!
ReplyDeleteMr. Vivek Luthra, Act 9 of 2001, Section 19, has been debated over and over in media in context of a few cases and the controversy around this particular case by legal experts and known names in media. I am not a lawyer to argue but I maintain my opinion that what the law minister asked Delhi police to do was against the law. I am not passing judgment sir, just stating the blatant fact which was on record and was aired on television repeatedly. By the way, I neither claim to know English well nor the law :) Just voicing my anguish over a wrong done by power hungry AAP and I think I am entitled to my opinion sir.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments sir.