The ‘Khela’ was Over
As the day began this Sunday (May 3), the figures suggested that the ‘khela’ was over. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee had convincingly whipped the heavyweight Bharatiya Janata Party netas –figuratively. Kicking them, while seated in a wheelchair with her injured left foot in a cast, could not have been easy. But Didi scored! And India cheered. It was the only bright moment in our depressing Covid-saturated lives. Here’s why: Her convincing win gave us hope. And hope is the one thing that was totally missing during this terrible month that saw death and devastation like never before. Hope that with determination and courage, it is possible to vanquish evil.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gigantic helicopter whirred above the unmasked faces of the vast crowds that marshalled for his rallies, a frail woman in a crumpled white saree with a blue border, mocked the man and his might, while he crowed about being elated at the sight of the crowds. He obviously forgot the nation was reeling under a hideous Covid calamity. I guess that’s what cost Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah – the state they were coveting as the ultimate feather in their cap. Had the BJP managed a win in West Bengal, India’s future would have been sealed this evening. But they lost – and Didi’s victory is going to rescript the narrative in 2024, let’s wait and watch.
Mohd Zeyaullah Khan
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Courts intervention
The Covid-19 crisis gripping the nation needs massive efforts to bring some semblance of unity of purpose between state and central Governments. It is high time to forget the differences and work together to provide immediate succour for the suffering people. It is predicted by medical experts that the second wave of Covid-19 is more deadly than the first. But it is seen that the Central Government and the political class are more interested in Assembly elections and public rallies, ignoring the Covid-19 virus protocols.
What is more galling is that several High Courts have to address the oxygen shortage in hospitals and castigated the Government for its lack of preparation to meet the impending crisis. If this is the case i.e. courts of the land are forced to intervene in the day to day functions of the government, it clearly shows the level our competence and governance have fallen to.
Nazeer Ahmed Kazi
Prof SECAB
Vijaypur, Karnataka
A Tribute to Abul Arif Sahab
A name suddenly disappeared from the rows of a group that has a certain mission to uphold the flag of Ela e kalimatullah. This name was of former Ameer Maqami JIH Jamshedpur, Abul Arif. Yes, he distanced himself from our rows in order to proceed towards actual abode, where we all have to proceed at a fixed moment however.
His fair job is striking at the memory due to his Ikhlaas towards the mission he chose. At times when he spoke about the duties of we all regarding the mission, seeking submission from the side of all mutawasseleen, his throat felt dried out and the eyes wet. This posture of Janab Arif was observed right at the podium several times. He could go further with speech only after taking water physically. This phenomenon clearly indicates that he used to tell something from the depths of the heart.
He had been suffering from some ortho problem for a long time, but when noticed him smiling every time. The very gesture proves he did not consider his physical pain in the way of his mission. We all can learn a lesson in this field from the departed soul.
May Allah accept this specific attitude of Arif Sahab.
Rizwanul Haque
Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
Dynastic Politics!
Winning in elections has always been a moment of great happiness; meanwhile, losing means better luck next time to work strongly enough of gaining the confidence of the people.
While some go the extra mile to really fulfill the promises made during the election campaign, many consider win as a mere opportunity of making some extra money during the five years tenure. These are some of the basic highlights that attract and compel one to continue with the political fight of re-contesting in elections.
Goa State Election Commission (SEC) announced April 23, as the polling date for five Municipal cities of Goa wherein 1.8 lakhs electorate cast their votes to elect the new Municipal Councilor and two days later the winners were announced.
This time our ward was reserved for ladies only; realizing his inability to contest owing to reservation, our elected ex-municipal councilor at the eleventh hour took a clever move of introducing his sister as the candidate for the post thereby provided full support of campaigning for her door to door only to be declared the winner by a massive margin.
It was a totally unprecedented win since we never witnessed a sibling winning in the history of Goa municipal elections. All in all, the battle was well fought single-handedly to achieve triumph of retaining power within the family.
Shaikh Imtiyaz
Margao-Goa
As January 2021 came, the Indian PM, Mr. Modi had claimed that he had equipped India with “COVID-specific infrastructure.” However, the month of April proved things otherwise claiming the collapse of Indian healthcare infrastructure. The Indians began perishing in record numbers, The man who had seduced voters in 2014 with promises of smart cities and abundant jobs had once again hoodwinked the country with a rhetorical Potemkin village: Behind the facade, there was only desolation and death.
India might have been spared this humanitarian crisis had Modi not neglected his duties and vilified those who offered him constructive counsel. He had the time, means, and access to expertise to proof the country against this inferno. As early as last November, a parliamentary committee had issued warnings of a second wave and urged the government to stockpile oxygen. But rather than bolstering India’s capacities, Modi used the virus to burnish his cult and pillage the country. He soon got busy with the elections in states like Bengal without actually paying a single heed to the disaster being created under the garb of Covid 19 second waves.
Last March, days after plunging India into chaos by announcing a nationwide lockdown with a four-hour notice, he sought tax-free donations for a fund called PM CARES to help the poorest of the poor, buy personal protective equipment, and build oxygen plants across India. The equivalent of more than a billion dollars flowed into it during the first week. What did Modi do with all that money? Nobody knows—and nobody is allowed to know. Because despite offering tax subsidies to contributors and using government organs to promote the fund, PM CARES cannot be reviewed by the state auditor because it is structured as a private trust.
Mohd Zeyaullah Khan
302, New Gandhi Lay Out,
Jafar Nagar, Nagpur
I would also like to refer to Sikandar Azam’s another column “Why to strive for the truth is inevitable” published in the magazine dt. 10th April, 2021.
Here also this column is backed and well supported by some verses from the holy Quran. While elaborating the point the columnist makes a very touching and appreciable remark. “The Quran (13:14-15) says: “To him is due the prayer aiming at the Truth. Those whom people invoke beside God cannot respond to them in any way. They are just like a man who stretches his open hands towards water, (hoping) that it will come to his mouth; but it will never reach it. The prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering in grievous error.” Columnist deserves praise for highlighting such vital points as mentioned above, in such a subtle and lucid way.
Yours faithfully,
S/d. Jamalur Rasheed
e-mail: jamalurrasheed333@gmail.com
EE-39/7, Sector-II
Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091