A Stain on Our Parliamentary System
In politics, public opinion is shaped more by the conduct of leaders than by the policies of a party. This applies more to the ruling parties because the power they get often makes people arrogant and ill-tempered.
The makers of the country’s constitution took the parliamentary system from Britain, in which debate in the House is the backbone of democracy. But it operates within certain limits. Respecting the opposing views in the House and not suppressing the voice of the opposition with the power of majority is its precondition.The indecent words used by a ruling party MP in the Lok Sabha against an opposition MP will always remain as a stain on our parliamentary system.
All this happened in the new Parliament House in which the hon’ble Prime Minister had talked about learning not only morality and dignity but also good governance from the ‘Sengol’ (scepter) kept in the House.
Similarly, when an MP, MLA or minister behaves badly with officials at the airport, railway station or in his area, it becomes news, and the party’s image gets tarnished.The crowd and its applause at meetings of top party leaders alone are not the barometer of the public’s inclination. Big parties will have to control the ego of their leaders.
N Ashraf
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Only Weapon Sellers Win Wars
Apropos Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, when countries are at war, only weapon sellers win. No country wins any wars; only private weapon manufacturing companies benefit from wars as they make huge profits. Only peace is the most powerful weapon in the world. All countries should strive to make the world peaceful.
T.S.Karthik
27/120 Halls Road Kilpauk,Chennai
Kenyan Muslims March against LGBTQ
Kenyan Muslims are protesting against LGBT rights. Hundreds of Kenyan Muslims marched to the country’s Supreme Court on October 7 in protest against a recent decision upholding the right of LGBTQ groups to associate and form non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Muslims carrying printed placards with slogans like “LGBT is not African”, “Only 2 Genders Male & Female: No to LGBT”, “LGBT Must Go”, etc. decried “neo-colonialists” and the immorality of homosexuality. The protesters demanded the three justices, who affirmed the LGBTQ community’s right to associate, “resign and repent.”
Last month, the three judges had ruled that Kenya’s Non-Governmental Organization Board had discriminated against an LGBTQ group by not allowing them to register their association with the body. Two further judges dissented, saying there could be no discrimination as same-sex relationships are illegal in Kenya.
Parliamentarian Mohamed Ali said the court had failed to recognize that Kenya “is a religious country,” saying: “Islam and Christianity are against gayism. Our country’s constitution doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages. Three people in a court should not go against the societal values.”
The protesters are also planning a march to Kenya’s parliament in support of a draft bill proposing further criminalization of same-sex relations and carrying jail terms of up to 50 years in certain cases.
Tariq Hasan
New Delhi
Powerful quake jolts Afghanistan
Last week, Delhi and NCR felt quake the epicentre of which was in Nepal. Today, on October 7 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit western Afghanistan.The epicentre was close to the city of Herat. At least 15 people have been killed and 78 rendered injured, and more fatalities are feared.
The US Geological Survey said the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck about 40km from the western city of Herat, close to the border with Iran, at around 11:00 local time (06:30 GMT).
At least three powerful tremors followed the initial earthquake. It is high time we seek forgiveness from Allah.
Abdul Qadir
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh