Natural Justice will Prevail
The book “By Many a Happy Accident” published by Rupa is on the life of Hamid Ansari, former Vice-President of India. In this book there is a dialogue which took place with Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujrat, who had called on the Vice-President. The dialogue runs as under:
“I referred to the post-Godhra happenings in his state in 2002 and asked why he allowed it to happen. He said that people look at only one aspect of the matter and pay no attention to the good work he has initiated, particularly for the education of Muslim girls. I sought its details and suggested that he should publicize it; ‘that does not suit me politically’ was the revealingly candid response,” the book says. (The Indian Express dated January 31, 2021)
As many as 2000 innocent people lost their lives in 2002 in Gujarat, and around 53 in Delhi in 2019, all these souls were poor people. Natural justice will prevail and will take action on the murderers.
Abdul Rahman Sharief
Via Email
Republic Day Guest
According to news published in a section of press that ‘Boris Johnson cancels R-Day visit’, a few points merit consideration. India was under British rule for 190 years (1757-1947 CE). During that period our country was exploited by the colonial rulers in all possible ways. The country achieved Independence through the sustained struggle of its brave sons and daughters. They made sacrifices undergoing torture, imprisonment and even their lives.
The tallest among them formed an army abroad and bravely fought the enemy in the battlefield. Is it not a gross insult to the sacred memory of those martyrs to invite the head of the county of that colonial power as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade?
Sanjit Ghatak
Narendrapur, West Bengal
Worst Ratings on Economy
On January 31, The Times of India reported that the Modi government in 2020 got the worst score on the economic front since it came to power in 2014, as per the IANS-CVoter Budget Tracker. As many as 46.4 per cent said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the performance of the Central government on the economic front so far has been worse than expected. A lesser number of 31.7 per cent said the performance is better than expected.
This is worst score for any government since 2010, except in 2013 when Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister and P. Chidambaram was Finance Minister. In 2013, 60 per cent respondents said the delivery on the economic front was worse than expected. The dwindling ratings on the economic front is a cause for concern for the concerned citizens. There is no mark of any improvement unless the Government takes measures to shun wrong policies and devise pro-people policies.
Shakeel Mazumdar
Kolkata, West Bengal
An Attempt to Sabotage RTI?
Information panel prohibits 4 from filing pleas under RTI Act (Jan 29, 2021, Indian Express)
In two separate orders, the Gujarat State Information Commission (GSIC) has prohibited four persons from filing applications under the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act before the state authorities, stating that the RTI Act “cannot be used as a tool for taking revenge”, the Indian Express reported on January 29.
Taking objection to the two orders of the GSIC, former chief minister Suresh Mehta and eight other citizens have submitted a memorandum to the Commission requesting it to ‘re-think’ the orders or to constitute a full-bench to review the same. It will be in the fitness of things if these orders are junked, the sooner the better.
Tariq Hasan
Dhubri, Assam