Mob Lynching Presents a Gory Picture
India has become a sorry-affairs-state because of mob lynching as also due to a number of unaccounted rapes and murders taking place in recent times. The recent killing of a 28-year old Akbar Khan by a group of mob in Alwar district of Rajasthan on suspicion of cow smuggling is unfortunate and condemnable. It was more painful when the Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said “such incidents will occur” while linking the same to PM Narendra Modi’s ‘rising popularity’ soon after this incident.
The global executives of WhatsApp, while confronting with the policymakers, are taking steps to prevent the misuse of messaging by spreading rumours of “child kidnapping and cow vigilantism” by the law breakers through social media due to which 21 people have been killed in mob violence within a span of two months as also to prevent this misuse ahead of 2019 elections is somewhat a good sign. There should be an end to stop such horrendous crimes.
Syed Amjad Ali
Secunderabad
Telangana
Great Move by Apex Court on Mob Lynching
Several cases of lynching and mob violence have been reported from across the country in recent past. Such incidences are splotch on society. They not only stain its fabric but also have potential to tear it down if not acted in a cautious manner. Condemning the rising incidents of lynching, the Apex Court has intervened, terming it as ‘horrendous acts of mobocracy’ and asked the Parliament to enact an immediate law to deal with it.
Coming from the constitutional court, this is welcome as we have seen an increase in mob lynchings, both on religious ground and of individuals mistaken to be child lifters. At present there is no law that criminalises mob killing though Sec 223(a) is there but its provision falls far short of an adequate legal framework for prosecuting lynch mobs. But simply by making a new law you are not addressing anything. The root problem is lack of political will, effective policing, prosecution and fair investigation. Let us hope besides legal move, social, political and moral ways and means will also be adopted to curb these inhuman nasty acts.
Dr Majeed Mulla
Via Email
Citizenship to Minorities from Neighbouring Countries
Recently the Government of India brought in Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament. The Amendment seeks to allow select “persecuted minorities” (i.e. Hindus, Christian, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains) from the neighbouring countries to settle down in India. This amendment will legitimise migration of these minorities from neighbouring countries.
I do not say that these persecuted minorities should not be granted citizenship. If their grievances and problems are genuine, they should be given all possible help on humanitarian ground. But it seems that the Government of India grants citizenship on the basis of religion. The Constitution of India says that the Government shall not distinguish against its subjects on the basis of caste, creed, religion, region, colour, language, etc. Isn’t it violation of the provisions of the Constitution of India? Isn’t it partiality?
One more point to be noted here. India repeatedly failed to protect its own minorities and it shows concern for minorities of neighbouring countries. Isn’t it strange?
Farooq Abdulgafar Bawani
Rajkot, Gujarat
Social Democracy
This refers to the new item “Political Democracy should be Based on Social Democracy: Hamid Ansari” (Radiance Viewsweekly, 29 July-4 August). It is true that we have attained electoral democracy or political democracy but not institutional or social democracy and without social and institutional democracy the real meaning of democracy or the real purpose of democracy cannot be realised in the desired manner. Social democracy requires social equilibrium and peaceful coexistence of societies and communities. If the members of a community are not allowed to practise their faith or culture or custom or personal laws or if one community is always in the grip of fear psychosis of being lynched and when fear of law is completely absent then it is against social democracy. Caste and communal politics is the biggest hurdle against the realisation of social democracy.
Iftakhar Hussain
New Delhi