Freedom of press a myth or reality? An open letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Freedom of press a myth or reality?

An open letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Over 200 employees of ABP Sanjha left jobless in Punjab

By Kiran Deep

Sir,

Freedom is what we all need or we all born to live with freedom. Journalism is considered to be such profession where one can expect full freedom to fight for cause of people and to express yourself whenever something wrong happened with Journalists. Fight for freedom is what we all taught since childhood. We all have grown up by listening stories of great sacrifice of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi during Independence struggle to get freedom for all the countrymen. The press too had played a great role in freedom struggle and now considered to be fourth pillar of democracy in India. The people still have much faith on media and banking on its support to highlight their plight and for social reforms. Then why the rights and social security of the Journalists are not considered to be seriously. Journalists have been deprived of even basic rights. Even it’s strange that Journalists who highlight the plights of all the sections of society, usually left helpless when they face professional problems and threat to their jobs, when asked to leave their jobs without any reasons following political pressure, due to unethical practices or when any organisation all sudden decided to shut its operation or when they face threat to their lives due to professional work. 

 To much aghast, over 200 employees of the ABP Sanjha the sister concern of the Anand Bazar Patrika (ABP) news channel in Mohali district of Punjab were left jobless when the channel shut down its operation on November 26 all sudden. The news channel ABP Sanjha was alleged to be shut down due to pressures from Punjab government. But this does not happened first time in Punjab.  Earlier it happened with the news channel Punjab Today, then with the Day and Night News Channel. And it will keep on happening all over country in the absence of proper rule and regulations, laws and rights of Journalists. Every channel should have right to access cable network to go on air and also on other satellites channel without any political pressure by paying required fees and completing formalities.  Now it is up to the central government to frame uniform policy for all the channels to go on air without any hindrance or political interference but with great social responsibility and without any bias.  Now it is also high time that where one strong body is needed to hear the media grievances and to protect its right. As Journalists have no definite rights as for as their job security is considered. At many places it’s hire and fire policy mostly based on moods and whims and fancy of the organisations. Unfortunately if the Journalists fall in the line of sycophants then they have more chances of survival in present scenario in many organisations but not in all. The Press Council of India is there but it does not considered to be powerful enough to take up all the issue concerned with the journalists.      

 Although it’s not in India, but the people across the world who are fighting for the one or other cause have to struggle hard for their safety and their rights. People are coming up strongly for cause and specially for freedom in India and abroad as the pressure to suppress the freedom has increased manifolds these days.

 Julian Assange the founder of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks has exposed much wrong doing at different scales which happened never before.He is fighting a legal battle with one of the most power country like US and others. But he did not give up and continuously fighting and is currently living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Edward Snowden, the computer analyst who turned whistleblower and provided the Guardian with top-secret NSA documents leading to revelations about US surveillance on phone and internet communications of the people. While US has its own version, Assange and Snowden point of view is about the rights of individuals, privacy and freedom.

Besides the Journalists, activists in India and abroad also are fighting in different forms for human rights protection, environment protection and for other cause. For the last 14-years Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila has been on a fast unto death demanding the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). On November 23, The New York Times had carried a story about Wu Lihong, an environmental activist, who was jailed for speaking out about pollution in China’s Lake Tai. Now he is free, but is still calling attention to the industrial waste that flows into the lake. Activists and people all over the world are fighting for different cause by various ways, now it is high time for the Journalists to fight for their rights.  

The issue of the employees of ABP Sanjha has to be taken seriously and need great introspection by the media. The employees were asked to tender their resignations by the Channel and informed that the Punjab government did not let it go on air so the channel left with no choice other than closing its operation. Although nothing in writing was given to the employees what actually transpired to shut the channel. So for the Punjab government also did not come up its version on the issue. A little relief they have is that they were given three months salary in lieu of their resignation.  All the Journalists who were left jobless later on November 27 had organised a candle light march highlighting the issue. Besides the journalists, the legal fraternity, human right activists, civil society members also participated in this movement. In addition to it, on November 28, a press conference was organised by the former employees of ABP Sanjha while highlighting their plight at Chandigarh Press on November 28 while terming it as the death of journalism in Punjab. They were of the view that when they all fight for basic human rights of people and also for animal rights, then why they should not fight together for the journalists rights. The journalists, be it in print or electronic media, don't have much rights to protect themselves. To much surprise while coverage to this protest and press conference was given by the Print media in India and also by radio stations and newspapers abroad, the ABP news did not even show single story about this episode. Now a group of advocates of Punjab and Haryana High Court have decided to file PIL in this regard. This is high time that we all who are feeling concern with Journalism and Journalists should fight together for the freedom of press, for the rights of Journalists and their social security and access of cable network must made free from political pressure.

The struggle for real cause always yield results, however it is not single day work, it will take years and joint efforts by all Journalists and also activists. 

While describing Freedom of the Press  Reader’s Editor of The Hindu newspaper A S Panneerselvan wrote column on December 1, 2014 with headline "A new template for media regulation – 3" said that “the legal provisions for the freedom of the press are clear. Freedom of the press is not recognised as a fundamental right but is folded into the freedom of speech and expression. When it comes to the media’s responsibilities, governing rules are murky, the regulatory framework is weak and the onus of holding the media accountable is left to a byzantine maze of enforcement mechanisms that fails the credibility test. Another important point he highlighted was “It is vital to understand the difference between a media carrier and other forms of carriers. For instance, a power grid is a carrier that transmits electricity from the generating point to the end user. Though there are many forms of power generation — hydro, thermal, nuclear and renewable — the content from one source seamlessly merges with the content from the other. A media carrier on the other hand can play the role of either promoting or inhibiting a particular content source depending on a range of issues — ideology, politics, preference, urban bias, among other things. In the era of convergence, the new regulatory framework must ensure that the carrier is a neutral pipe that will not prohibit smaller players. The digital revolution should not be the preserve of those who can afford a hefty carriage fee” he further added. 

Journalists all over India requires to be united so that they can fight for the cause of journalists. If we all will not fight for our cause then who will fight for us. We all Journalists and like minded people have to be united and fight together.

 Sir, as you are doing great work since you have become the Prime Minister of the

country, I am writing this letter to you with a hope that you will look into matter and  will make require amendments in  existing Cable Television Network (Regulation)  Act so that every channel can go on air without any political pressure. In addition to it  I hope that the central government will make amendments in constitution to make special laws for freedom of press,  journalists definite rights and also responsibilities.

And for most, something urgently needs to be done for 200 young former employees of ABP Sanjha who are jobless.

Jai Hind

KIRAN DEEP

LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARY, GOES BEYOND TIME...“The substance and the shadow” – an Autobiography by Dilip Kumar

   LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARY,GOES BEYOND TIME               

                    By KIRAN DEEP

“The substance and the shadow” – an Autobiography by Dilip Kumar

As I opened the autobiography – “The Substance and the Shadow”, the first stanza on the opening page struck me as it speaks a lot about the depth of love…

“Sukoon-e-dil ke liye kuchh to ehtemaam karoon

Zara nazar jo miley phir unhein salaam karoon

Mujhe to hosh nahin aap mashwara dijiyey

Kahan se chedoon fasana kahan tamaam karoon….”

Saira Banu had been in love with Dilip Kumar since she was all of 12 years. Dilip Sahab took time to respond, but it happened one day while strolling at a beach. Both of them were listening to the gentle sound of waves when Dilip Kumar looked at her and said: “Saira, you are not the kind of girl I want to drive around with or be seen around with…I would like to marry you…will you be my wife?” Saira was only 22 and Dilip Kumar 44 when they got married on October 11, 1966. It’s a real love story, one that only embellishes the fact that true love can never be overrated. A true story of love and truth beyond time.

While reading Dilip Sahab’s autobiography, it reminded me about the 2008 movie “Sorry Bhai”. “Love can never be overrated. Either you have never been in love or you are too much in love and it is driving you nuts,” lead actor Chitrangada Singh (playing the role of a teacher) had said while answering a student who said love was overrated in classic Hollywood movie “Casablanca”. This accidental watching of “Sorry Bhai” evoked the urge in me to watch “Casablanca” and I had to shelve out 750 rupees to procure the original VCD of the movie as Google search engine failed to fulfill my hunger for an unedited version of the classic. After watching Casablanca, I could easily relate to the statement that love can never be overrated and yes, Dilip Kumar’s movie “Mughal-e-Azam” falls in the same class. That was the caliber of Dilip Kumar.

“The Substance and the Shadow” presents Dilip Kumar, an institution in himself, in the true light and dispels many notions about his life which have been hitherto reported, the biggest being on his relationship with Madhubala. This nearly 500 pager is replete with details about his magnetic personality, status, hard work, style of functioning and nature which is a clear reflection of the respect that he gets from everyone in the industry.

Bringing to you interesting facts from the book:

On moving to Pune…

Dilip Kumar’s family hailed from Peshawar and was into the business of fruits. Though they enjoyed a good economic status, the family saw rough times during the Second World War. To beat the financial odds, Dilip Kumar moved to Pune to work as an assistant to manager at Army Club. Going was so rough that he even sold sandwiches outside the club. But things looked up due to this sandwich business and he managed to earn an amount of five thousand rupees in those days within a small period.

Accidental Actor Dilip Kumar…

It can surprise many that Dilip Kumar had no inclination or ambition to become an actor and his first break was an accidental one. It all happened when he came to Mumbai from Pune looking for a job and this one incident changed his life entirely. One morning, he was waiting at Church Gate for psychologist Dr Masani, who had once given a lecture on vocational choices for arts students at Wilson College, to discuss his job prospects. Dr Masani took Dilip Kumar to Bombay Talkies studio and introduced him to Devika Rani, the owner of the studio. This meeting proved to be a turning point not only for his life but for the entire Bollywood industry. She offered him a salary of 1250 rupees per month – an amount hard to believe in those days and rechristened him Dilip Kumar from Yusuf Khan. His first movie was Jwar Bhata in 1944 and the rest as they say is history. He never looked back and went on to give us great movies like Devdas, Kohinoor, Naya Daur, Mughal-e-Azam, Ram Aur Shyam, Ganga Jamuna, and later, blockbusters like Shakti, Kranti and Saudagar.

On his teacher…

It was Devika Rani who taught Dilip Kumar the nuances of acting. She had pointed out that a director may be satisfied with the shot an actor has given, but it is for the actor to discern for himself whether he had really given his best. The actor, she told me was within his rights to request for another take if he felt he could do better…This lesson helped Dilip Kumar reach the heights that he did in the Bollywood industry.

On team work…

“If coordination is well orchestrated, it shows in the final product. If not, it shows equally in the frayed look of the product. Film making, unlike some other art forms like painting or writing poetry, for instance, has a great deal to do with communication. Communication between actor and the director, between the director and the cameraman and the art director, between the director and the editor, between the artiste and the cameraman and so on.”

On actor’s instincts…

While explaining a particular situation that every actor has to go through, Dilip Kumar mentions that: “I became aware that an actor needed to strengthen his instincts because the duality between the real and unreal cannot be sorted out by the mind, which is more concerned with truth and logic in any normal situations. The mind will always tell you this is nonsense.”

On Madhubala…

While commenting on the break-up with Madhubala, Dilip Kumar says that: “I did feel sorry for Madhu and wished she had the will to protect her interest at least on the professional front without thoughtlessly bowing to her father’s wishes all the time. Such submission had an adverse impact not only on her professional reputation but also on her health. He also said that parting of the ways did not affect me as was concocted by writers in the media. Journalists were not as rash as they are now but they were just unmindful of factual accuracy when they wrote about actors.”

Dilip Kumar proved that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. The clear message that Dilip Kumar has tried to give through is autobiography is to the youngsters – to never give up under any circumstances. He has shown by example that you must find new ways and methods to overcome crisis in your life rather than giving up… Wherever he was and whatever he did, he did whole heartedly with innovative ways. That’s why today, he is an institution in himself.

This Opinion published in the newspaper lokmarg with this link

http://lokmarg.com/true-love-can-never-be-overrated-2/

FOR MANMOHAN, COMPULSIONS OF COALITION POLITICS OR SOMETHING ELSE?

                                                       By KIRAN DEEP

Once termed harmless accountants responsible only for auditing, former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai had beyond doubt proved what CAG can do to expose the wrongdoings in the Central government. The CAG report has exposed some of the biggest scams that defamed the UPA government and the country. The 2G scam caused a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore and the coal scam was responsible for a loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to the exchequer. The CAG report was sharply criticised when it was tabled in the Parliament.

Taking his fearless act of exposing the ill practices of the government further, Rai has got his experiences published “Not Just an Accountant”. In this soon-to-be released book, Rai has printed new evidence directly accusing former PM Dr Manmohan Singh of being fully aware of issues in 2G and coal allocations during his tenure. However, Rai says, Dr Manmohan Singh did nothing to stop it, presumably because his hands were tied by the strings of coalition politics. He also accused MPs of pressuring him to omit former PM names from the reference in the report.

I have no doubt about former PM’s honesty, but the big question baffling me is why did he not resign as PMduring UPA-II when he was aware of all these wrongdoings in his cabinet? Why did he not speak up against the politicians behind the scams? Why did he remain a silent spectator? Is it only compulsions of coalition politics or something else? Having enjoyed all the benefits of being the head of the state, the former PM must answer all these questions. And, an honest answer at that.

 

The former PM has not only kept quiet about Rai’s allegations, but also those of his own media advisor Sanjay Baru (Accidental Prime Minister) and former secretary, Ministry of Coal, PC Parekh (Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and other Truths). While Baru laid bare some facts about the way the PM functioned during the UPA-II, the coal secretary went on to allege that there was coal mafia inside the UPA government. Not only this, former Minister of External Affairs K Natwar Singh alleged that former PM did not respond to the wrongdoings in the government in his autobiography  “One Life is Not Enough” released after the Lok Sabha elections results.

Although Daman Singh, former PM Manmohan Singh’s daughter, has also written a book “Strictly Personal”, she has chosen to only highlight the struggle of Manmohan Singh from his school days, hard work, intellect, scholarship for higher studies at Cambridge University and Oxford, his achievements as the RBI Governor, Finance Minister and then as the Prime Minister. She has refrained from making any references to the allegations leveled against PM in connection with any of the scams that the UPA-II has been accused of. I feel the credit for exposing this level of corruption also goes to the Supreme Court and media – the two other organs of the system.

I was eagerly waiting for the book and managed to get hold of “Not Just an Accountant” before its official release, as many book stores across the country have got it delivered in advance. In his 267-pager, Rai dedicates 24 pages to the 2G scam and concludes the chapter by saying: “This is a story that reflects lack of probity. This is a story of the total bankruptcy of any pretence of morality. This is a story of the misguided belief that the underlying objective of all action is to remain in power and keep a coalition secure – the nation and its people be damned. Hence, this is a story worth narrating”.

As far as the scathing attack on Rai by Congress politicians, in terming CAG reports as baseless and bundle of lies, goes, the apex court has rightly come to the rescue of this constitutional authority. In its observation, while dismissing a petition challenging CAG reports on 2G spectrum, Coalgate, etc, a Bench of the Supreme Court said: “CAG is not a munimji or an accountant or something like that. He is a constitutional authority who can examine the revenue allocation and matters relating to the economy. CAG is the principal auditor whose function is to go into the economy, effectiveness and efficiency of the use of resources by the government. If the CAG won’t, then who else will do it”.

In a democratic system, nobody is above law be it the Prime Minster, Members of Parliament, senior functionaries of government or big industrialists. The functioning of the government has to be transparent and there has to be a strong check on the crony capitalists preventing them to loot the natural resources and getting contracts by adopting corrupt practices. All that the country needs from Dr Manmohan Singh is an honest answer and not just “I did my duty” as he said at his daughter’s book launch in Delhi.

I could not find anything better than lines from the foreward to “Not Just An Accountant” written by Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India, “I find that in countries across the globe, a new paradigm is emerging – that of transparency in functioning, not only within the government but also in private institutions and civil society, with morality and righteousness being fundamental principles. “Not Just An Accountant” draws attention to these principles and emphasises the importance of ethical governance in our country. This has to be the long term goal of all nations. Let us work to make India a great nation, with righteousness in the heart and the pursuit of excellence in our endeavours. All I can say is Amen to that!

This Opinion published in the newspaper Lokmarg with this link 

http://lokmarg.com/for-manmohan-compulsions-of-coalition-politics-or-something-else/

ELECTIONS IN HARYANA: WHICH WAY THE WAVE WILL SWING?

                                                        By KIRAN DEEP                     

I remember the year 2004, when people from far flung areas of Haryana were eagerly waiting for Congress president Sonia Gandhi as part of her road show before the Lok Sabha elections at Gohana town of Sonepat district in Haryana. People of all ages were there to see the “lady with a beautiful skin”, with some women even expressing their desire to touch her. The small place located in the market was barricaded so that Sonia Gandhi could meet and greet the people. But, as is the norm during elections, Sonia Gandhi, who was scheduled to reach in the morning, arrived quite late in the evening. On her trail was a cavalcade of vehicles carrying politicians, party workers and journalists from the national capital. People waited patiently the whole day, but lost their cool when they were told that an interaction with her wouldn’t be possible. People broke the barricade and NSG commandos had to swing into action while the police resorted to a lathicharge to manage the crowd. I also had to run for safety, as I was also camping at the spot since morning for my assignment with national English daily. Such was the charisma of Sonia Gandhi!

Cut to the present situation….a decade later, the scene is quite different. Congress is carrying the weight of a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP has made history by winning complete majority. In Haryana too, the Narendra Modi wave secured 7 of the 10 seats for BJP, with one seat going to Congress and two going the INLD way.

Under these circumstances, the state Assembly elections, scheduled to be held on October 15, are expected to throw up many surprises. The Congress headed by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who ruled the state for the 10 years now, is facing a strong anti-incumbency wave due to his style of functioning and dissension. To Hooda’s and the party’s consternation, many of Congress senior leaders have already joined hands with BJP. Leading the pack is Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh. Recently, senior leader Chaudhary Birender Singh also quit the party to join the BJP. In a major setback for the Congress, Vinod Sharma, considered the right hand of the CM Hooda, too quit the Congress and floated his own party, Jan Chetna Party. So, Hooda is on a sticky wicket.

The Indian National Lok Dal, headed by Om Parkash Chautala, was voted out of power in the 2005 assembly elections. Among other things that went against the INLD were the leader’s autocratic style of functioning and increase in the crime rate. This time situation is better for INLD than the last assembly election. However, the INLD supremo Om Parkash Chautala is in jail along with his son Ajay Chautala following their conviction in the JBT recruitment scam. By the time the state went into the next elections, I felt the situation had not improved for INLD. It turned out true when Congress managed to win the elections and Hooda once again formed the government with the help of Haryana Janhit Congress breakaway MLAs and independents in 2005.

However, the INLD seems to be in a better position this time, mainly due to the strong anti-incumbency wave against the Congress and the allegations of corruption against the Congress in allotting agricultural land to builders at throwaway prices. But it still not that strong that it would be able to form the next government all alone. It would need a partner, but who is the question. Had the supremo Om Parkash Chautala been out of jail, he would have been able to swing the voters in his favour. But, it is his son Abhey Chautala who is at the helm of affairs and he definitely does not enjoy the same appeal.

On the other hand, Haryana Janhit Congress led by its chief Kuldeep Bishnoi, who broke his alliance with BJP to join hands with Vinod Sharma-led Jan Chetna Party, will have to really work hard to tilt the balance in his favour. And, he doesn’t even have the sympathy and loyalty factor enjoyed by his father former chief minister Bhajan Lal.

The flavor of elections in a state known for its “Aaya Ram and Gaya Ram” politics has changed this time due to the breakaway factions. One of them, Congress MP from Karnal, Arvind Kumar Sharma, who joined the BSP recently and is being projected as its chief ministerial candidate, will have a tough time proving his credentials. BSP had won the Chhachhrauli seat in the last assembly elections and had supported the Congress government. Then there is former Haryana minister and Independent MLA from Sirsa city, Gopal Goyal Kanda, who had withdrawn support to the Hooda government and launched his own political party, Haryana Lokhit Party. As Kanda is facing trial in the suicide case of air-hostess Geetika Sharma and is currently out on bail, he is not expected to have a smooth sail.

Finally, the Aam Aadmi Party! Though it was expected to add to the spice in the state elections, the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections compelled AAP to stay away from Haryana.

There is no doubt that issues in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are different, with the Assembly elections being more about local issues. It will be much interesting to see this time whether BJP riding high on the Modi wave will be able to form the government all alone or whether INLD can assume power independently or even more interestingly, Congress would rewrite history by making a hat trick or whether it would be a hung house!!!

This Opinion published in the Lokmarg online Newspaper 

 http://lokmarg.com/elections-in-haryana-which-way-the-wave-will-swing/ 

Soulful Rain...

By Kiran Deep

When mystical music of raindrops is all around

When peacocks are singing beautiful songs and dancing in tune with raindrops

When trees are dancing in harmony with leaves songs

When wind speed is in resonance with trees all around

When fresh breath of air and musical notes of raindrops are as if rain is everything and much needed

When it’s raining heavily within and outside

 When raindrops are creating much loveable ripples as if life is all about circles within and all around

When distance view of small range of mountains, green fields,  

And clouds are making their amazing presence all around

When my neurons are in harmony with raindrops

As if every neuron is rain drop only

When everything seems to be in harmony with nature all around

When I merge in raindrops and water engulfed me all around

I start missing my friend “Speaking River” as never before

As the presence of raindrops and water ripples all around reminds of water waves

of river waves as never before  

As nature is great healer of everything and realise me as if I am raindrops only

Then my soul is in complete resonance with nature all around

And finally “Speaking River” realise me her soul connection

 Raindrops all around realise me that eventually raindrops will finally merge in “Speaking River” only

And you are no more but “Speaking River” only…

God Bless all

Truth is forever same as divine love…

By Kiran Deep

Power is blessing same as truth

Truth is forever same as pure Soul

Power is not forever same as matter

Presence of pure soul is forever same as truth

Truth is everywhere

Same as power of trust

Truth remains everywhere same as love

Peace is only there when truth is there

Presence of pure soul is forever and everywhere

Same as the presence of divine love

When truth, faith and trust is there

Truth always prevails same as divine love within and everywhere

God bless all

Speaking River...

 Feeling like a river as never before
As if everything is water only
Within and all around
Free flow, freedom, soulful journey and sometime complete silence
And flowing with same intensity as river as never before,

While passing through different areas
Beautiful eyes and soulful smile of river reminding me its true nature 
Despite so many hurdles on the way, it flow continuously 
 Presenting trust as its true nature same as truth
Crystal clear river is in tune with nature as never before,

 Sun rays are illuminating the face of river as if red is its true colour  
 Showing its true nature of freedom while surrounded by the green trees all along the way
Soulful music of water waves is freezing my neurons as never before

Much free flow during day
 And same flow with soulful music during night
When darkness is all around as black is its true colour

Accompanied by Moon and its light all along the way
Moon light is illuminating the river as never before
I am no more
As I am completely lost in river as never before
As if I am no more but river only...

 Kiran Deep
God Bless all

A Wake-Up Call for UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav...

By Kiran Deep

Why UP CM Akhilesh Yadav can not find time and consider it viable to meet kin of Badaun’s victim so far even after the United Nations condemned the “brutal” gang rape and murder of two teenagers and asked for immediate action against the accused?. The sensitivity of the SP party towards such crime against minor girls can be gauge from the fact that SP’s Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav visited the victim’s village only five days after the crime. The minor Dalit girls were gang raped and their bodies found hanging from a tree on May 28. The incident has shocked the people across the nation and also abroad. The CM being head of the state is duty bound to make visit and to meet kin of victims in such crime to built confidence among the poor people and ensure safety for them. The CM has to be much above the religion and caste politics and has to set example of justice. Now many questions are being raised on the credibility of the CM. The five accused who were arrested in the case so far are three brothers and two police constables All happen to be Yadavs. Is this the reason, CM does not want to go Badaun? In the absence of proper control and vision of UP's CM, law and order situation is deteriorating day by day  in  UP. 

Sir, CM Akhilesh Yadav, Just making the Chief Secretary Javed Usmani scapegoat would not serve any purpose. It is open secret that after suffering humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections as SP has won only five seats, your government was all set to remove Chief Secretary. After CS, it is now Principle Secretary(Home).  More than the Chief Secretary, first you have to take decision about DGP whose duty is ensure the speedy action in such case and to tell police personnel what is their duty, ethics and principles. But to much aghast, police constables who were supposed to protect the victims, himself turned out to be accused.

  

Seeing the gravity of the case, besides the coverage of the heinous crime in the national print and electronic media, matter is also reported in the BBC and other international newspapers. But this does seems to have impressed the CM to meet the victims family members.  In 2012, Nirbhaya was brutally gang raped in Delhi and later she had succumbed to her injuries. This incident had led to protest across the nation for justice. As a result of protest across nation had led to amendment in rape laws. The court had awarded death penalty to 4 convicts in the case. However in Nirbhya case also, many national leaders had condemned the incident after the International news papers like New York Times wrote editorials against the heinous crime.

It is very sad that many of our political leaders could not find time to meet the people when they really need them. The CM Akhilesh Yadav had visited villages across the state and organised rallies during assembly elections and also Lok Sabha elections as he need people votes. But why he is not meeting Kin of victims now when they really need his support. The CM is miserably failed to maintain the law and order in UP and also to act of timely to ensure safety to the kin of the victims.  The CM has recommended CBI inquiry in the case only after it become political issue and opposition parties demanded CBI probe. While the family members of the victims have refused compensation from the state government stating that they just need justice not its money.   

  Another issue raised in the case is that the two teenagers met the ill fate when they have gone to defecate in the nearby fields in the absence of toilet in their homes and has exposed failure of the centrally sponsored total sanitation campaign or Normal Bharat Abhiyan to construct toilets in the rural areas. Now positive development came to light is that in order to prevent such incidents in the absence of toilets, the central government is learnt  to preparing a proposal involving over 1.5 lakh crore to tackle open defecation. 

Prominent among who met the family members of the rape victims include Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, BSP supremo Mayawati, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, former Lok Sabha speaker Meria Kumar and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. BJP women workers to held protest today in UP protesting against the crime and justice. Hope that CM Akhilesh Yadav will find time to meet family members of gang rape and murder victims. 

Meanwhile yesterday the UP government has sent a detail report to the Union Home Ministry claiming that the victims does not belong to SC/ST, but belong to other Backward caste. Earlier the Home Ministry had asked the UP government that why stringent provisions of the SC/ST Act were not slapped against the accused in the case. 

Jai Hind

EOM

When tree and birds sing melodious songs

By Kiran Deep

When tree and birds sing melodious songs

When Sun rays woke up you in the morning

When a tree in front of your house turned out to be true companion

When birds accompany you all around the house

When birds sing amazing songs all the times

Good morning, Good morning, good morning my friends tree and birds utter as Sun rays penetrate into room and illuminate it

Tree filled with green leaves is so astonishing as if green is true nature of life

Continues chanting by leaves while playing with slow winds produce musical notes and sing harmonious songs

While tree sometime dance when it's in tune with wind speed

While remaining static a tree is friend of much movement within and all around

While birds are much active and generating positive energy always all around

And finally birds get together and are now singing their much loved song “Freedom is what we all need” 
 “Freedom is what we all need”… 
“Freedom is what we all need”...
"Freedom is what we all need same as love"

EOM

Silent water...

By Kiran Deep

Water is calm and utter nothing as if everything is silence

Water waves presence is negligible same as the reduced visibility of moon

Moon light is also reduced much same as water waves and moon

Eyes and face of the moon light is much silent as never before as silence has engulfed everything   

Silence is killing and troubling much as never before

The only guiding angel my friend  “Moon light” is also not responding as never before

Walking silently all along the water and witnessing much troubled silence as never before

Silence all around finally led to my neurons freeze as never before

As if everything is silence today as never before

Love all

EOM

An Open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

By Kiran Deep

Sir,

It is utter shocking and outrageous incident of National shame that after so many years of independence two Dalit teenaged cousins were allegedly raped and then murdered by three brothers in connivance with police personnel in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. This episode has exposed the vulnerable condition of Dalits in rural areas and failure of the centrally sponsored total sanitation campaign or Normal Bharat Abhiyan to construct toilets in the rural areas and corruption is such projects. As when the incident took place the two teenage girls had gone to defecate in the nearby fields as there was no toilet in their home. There was urgent need that such incident should be dealt seriously and the trial should be conducted in speedy manners to set an example so that no one again dares to commit such crime. There should be exemplary punishment to the accused and they should be hanged to death. To much aghast, the police is meant to prevent the crime but in this case police officers also found involved in this crime. Now whom the people can trust and bank upon for help?.

Besides the state government serious responsibility to get the justice of the deceased family members and prevent such incidents, this episode of neglect also requires serious attention of the central government to empower Dalits. It is also responsibility of the central and state governments to make all the states free from open defecation.  In 2012, much gruesome incident of gang rape case has come to light, when  Nirbhaya gang raped in Delhi. The court has awarded death penalty to 4 convicts in the case. Now again this incident of UP has shocked the nation. How and when things will improve. Much amendments are made in the rape case and now I feel much more required to save the lives of Dalits and also poor girls across the country.   

There are many reasons that prompt me to write a letter to you. First and foremost  your style of functioning and Gujarat model of development as mentioned in different books. I read in a book that during the girl child education drive  it was found that the absence of separate toilets for girls is the main reason for the parents for not enrolling their girls in the primary schools and also withdrawing them, then your government had constructed  thousands of toilets across the state. And your government’s action has improved the girl child school ratio in the state. So you can understand the plight of girls. The two teenaged girls Badaun district were helpless to leave their home late at 9 pm on Tuesday in the absence of toilets in their homes and their bodies were found hanging from a tree 250 meters away from their home on Wednesday at 4 am.  Although I have not got so far chance to explore Gujarat practically, I wish I could do that too whenever I will get chance first hand account of Gujarat Model.

Secondly people has to be educate and empower politically to end such incidents. The incident took place in the state which represent maximum 80 Member of Parlaiment in Lok Sabha in the country and the state which virtually shape the politics of the country. This time, BJP 72 seats in UP  and you ( Prime Minister Narender Modi) also voted to power from Varanasi constituency  of  UP this time. The stalwart leader of BSP Kanshi Ram had worked hard in UP to unite the various castes include Dalits as he understood that political empowerment is important for Dalits for the upliftment and other backward classes. He learnt that much of area of Uttar Pardesh was  neglected and people were  in miserable state. He campaigned on cycles in UP and also across the country, later he was joined  Mayawati. Later BSP managed to become resourceful. BSP Supremo Mayawati remained the Chief Minister of UP four times even with the support of SP and BJP. In this Lok Sabha elections BSP is miserably failed to get even a single seat in UP.

People of the country have much hopes from you to end such crime against humanity and they have voted for you as never before. After a gap of 30 years a single party BJP voted to power with majority of 282 seats on its own, it is historical victory for the party. Now your government can take hard decisions to curb crime and empowerment of poor  people of the country. Otherwise from the next time in Dalits, Dalits will either go for BSP or AAP or SP which party will appear more powerful in next Lok Sabha elections.

 Third point which I wanted to make is that Badaun’s incident  is not an isolated one, many states have been witnessing such incidents on regular basis. A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by five youths in Chandpur village of Kanpur Dehat on the night of February 8, 2014. The girl along with her six-year-old sister had gone to defecate in the nearby fields. Like UP, Haryana too is infamous for rape of girls include Dalits.

I wish you can understand the plight of poor people who are livening in the vulnerable condition in the rural area as you have gone through tough time and even serve tea at railway station in your childhood.

The forth point which I wanted to pin point is that even after 67 years of independence the conditions of Dalits are much miserable and not much improved in rural areas. There is need to change of mind set of the people across the country include politicians. Unless the all the people irrespective of their castes get equal opportunity, it will not be possible to change the system. Dalits needs to be empowering economically and politically. There has to be equal opportunities and basic amenities for all in rural and urban areas for all the people irrespective of their castes. In the absence of overall upliftment include politically and economical empowerment, these incident could not be stopped. Things have changed much but still things are much required to be improve in the rural area as for rights of Dalits are concerned.

 Education is must to end the crime. There is urgent need of equal opportunity for all in all the sectors. All the children in country should have free and mandatory education in similar kind of syllabus and facilities. Let all the children get the same environment to grow and there should be no classification of schools.  Theoretical education is not enough for the country to make the change it has to be based on practical experience also. To much aghast in many parts of the country rape of Dalit girls or girls of poor strata still continue as those in power consider its their right to exploit the poor. Even during my visit to villages in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, I found there is much needs to be done to provide equal status and opportunity for all.  Unless there was change in the mind set of the people, crime can not be stopped. Education will help people to understand the meaning of freedom and equal rights for all.

Fifth and last point which I wanted to highlight is that Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar the father of Indian constitution had worked hard for upliftment of Dalits and made provision of reservation for their upliftment. However it do not yield desire lack of 100 percent commitment for the upliftment of Dalits and poor specially in rural areas. So far neither the Congress, BJP, SP and BSP nor any other party able to provide equal rights and opportunity for all. As a result the rich are becoming more rich and poor people are still struggling hard to cop  up the system. I strongly feel Dr Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar,  was right in the sense as he understood  the importance of freedom and education. He knew that education would ultimately help the poor people to understand the meaning of freedom and also to ensure freedom for others. But does Dalits in rural areas are empowered enough economically or politically to get enough education to know about their rights or get proper education to get the benefits of reservation?.  Still things are not improved much, powerful are still exploiting the poor across the country. There is much needs to be done to uplift the poor people living in the rural areas of the country.

Jai Hind