In India Sikh Community Dubbed as Khalistanis; Muslim Community Labelled as Pakistanis to Win Elections – Be it 1984 or 2024. Indian National Congress and BJP are Alike!

 

by

P.S. Sahni

 

The corporate press in the service of ruling class parties – be it Indian National Congress or BJP – damns the Sikh and Muslim religious minority communities to be terrorists, anti-nationals and separatists. During those moments of slanderous campaign by the media, the rulers be it in 1984 or 2024 maintain a deathly silence. These minority communities are left to defend themselves. Both have faced genocidal violence. The entire election campaign by BJP during the 2024 General Elections was and is Islamophobic damning Indian Muslims. INDIA Bloc members have condemned it. The Akali Dal’s statement is significant: “If it is them today, it will be us tomorrow”. (The Wire, 22 April 2024).

 

Consider the recent recommendation made publicly on 3 May 2024 demanding the Union Home Ministry to probe into the AAP allegedly receiving political funding from the banned organization Sikhs for Justice based outside India. For the next 48 hours the media went into a frenzy to denigrate the entire Sikh community. The funding was allegedly received between 2014-2022.

 

The NIA probe was recommended on the basis of a complaint received on 1 April 2024 from the National General Secretary of the World Hindu Federation of India (WHFI). By getting a private Hindu body to complain, an attempt is being made to drive a wedge between the Hindu and Sikh communities. Tweets by former AAP worker Munish Kumar Raizada showing Kejriwal and Sikh leaders at a meeting in New York were mentioned.

 

The same allegation had been made in 2022; and in spite of the fact that in March 2022 itself, the Delhi High Court had dismissed a PIL seeking a high-level enquiry against AAP and Kejriwal that alleged that they have links with pro-Khalistani separatists as per a statement in media by an AAP Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj.

 

Yet the LG wrote to the Home Secretary on 3 May 2024 asking for an NIA enquiry. Is the LG of Delhi above the judiciary? Is he above the Indian Constitution?

 

A clandestine meeting allegedly took place in 2014 at Gurdwara Richmond Hill, New York. The Sikhs for Justice was banned through a Gazette Notification No. 2387 issued by the Union Ministry of Home affairs on 22 July 2019. Let us take LG’s statements to be true. In any case the SFJ was banned only in July 2019. Why is the LG talking about the period 2014-2019 when the SFJ was a legal entity? Remember the case of Kobad Ghandy, who was allegedly a member of CPI (Maoist) which had actually been banned only on 22 June 2009; none of the material alleged to have been recovered from him pertained to any period after 22 June 2009. Kobad Ghandy was charged under UAPA. He spent 10 years in jail. He was finally acquitted. Thus, it was left to the judge to tell the government when it had banned the CPI (Maoist).

 

Are we to understand that a judge of the Delhi High Court would have to teach the LG that between 2014 to July 2019 the SFJ was a legal entity?

 

Following pertinent questions arise:

·           Since SFJ was banned by the Government of India in 2019, what was illegal about the meeting at Gurdwara Richmond Hill, New York in 2014 – five years prior to it being declared a proscribed organization?

·           Isn’t funding received by AAP from SFJ while the latter was a legal entity between 2014 to 2019 a different matter?

·           Funding received between July 2019 to March 2022, as also AAP sympathising with the cause espoused by SFJ has been raised in the Delhi High Court, which nixed the PIL. So, is any pretext good enough to damn the Sikh community? The real issue of murder of a Canadian (Sikh) citizen and of attempts to eliminate other SFJ members ostensibly at the hands of the Indian intelligence agencies are being brushed aside.

 

The LG’s recommendation made on 3 May 2024 for a NIA probe into AAP and SFJ is being made precisely when Canadian authorities are pointing a finger at NIA over its involvement in the murder of a Canadian (Sikh) citizen.

 

It is in-fact the NIA and the LG whose role should be under the scanner.

Appeal to Delegates from 23 Countries Invited by Election Commission of India to Observe 2024 General Elections!

 

Hon’ble Delegates,

 

Indian voters have learnt through a Press Release issued on 4 May 2024 by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that 75 delegates representing various Election Management Bodies (EMBs) and organizations from 23 Countries have been invited to “witness democratic excellence first-hand.” The Press Release adds:

 

·      As a beacon of electoral integrity and transparency the ECI exemplifies its commitment to conduct general elections of the highest standards.

·      The program seeks to familiarize foreign EMB s with the nuances of India’s electoral system as well as the best practices used by the largest democracy in the world.

·      The delegates will embark on visits to six states – Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh – in small groups to observe polls and related preparedness in various constituencies.

·      The 1400 million people of India welcome you with their traditional hospitality ardently hoping that you shall try to seek truth in this noble venture from the Election Commission of India. A few simple questions you could request to be answered:

a.    Are there complaints lodged by opposition parties pending against the Prime Minister of India regarding violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC)?

b.    Whether any Notice has been sent to the Prime Minister himself by name to respond?

c.     If not, why not?

d.    Why is there a delay in taking necessary action against these violations of MCC?

 

Since the ECI sees itself as a beacon of electoral integrity and transparency; terms its functioning as of highest standards; talks of democratic excellence; and of best practices used by the largest democracy in the world, it should answer the above questions humbly and honestly.

 

Thanks,

Yours sincerely,

P.S. Sahni

Member, PIL Watch Group

Email: pilwatchgroup@gmail.com

Has The Model Code of Conduct Violation by the Prime Minister Turned the Election Commission of India to a ‘Tareekh pe Tareekh’ Court?

 

by

P.S. Sahni

·      The Prime Minister of India’s speech in Banswara, Rajasthan on 21^st April 2024 elicited a complaint by the Opposition Parties for violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) filed duly with the Election Commission of India (ECI).

·      The ECI issued a notice on 25^th April to BJP President, J.P. Nadda to file reply by 11 AM on 29^th April.

·      The BJP reportedly sought one week’s time beyond 29^th April to reply to the notice.

·      The urgent, crucial matter now stands to be taken up on 6^th May by the ECI

·      By the time the MCC violation case comes up for hearing on 6^th May or thereafter, campaigning for more than half the parliamentary seats would be over. Why did the ECI agree to give another week’s time for filing of reply? And there is no guarantee that further ‘adjournment’ on the matter would not be granted.

·      The PM appears to be a habitual violator of MCC since 2019, at least. A report by QUINT (27.04.2024) indicates that 27 cases of MCC violations have been filed by opposition parties against the PM for MCC violation since 2019. Except the notice in the instant case no action has been taken against the PM.

·      Recall the statement of the Chief Justice of India made last November to the effect that lawyers seek adjournment of the very same matters which were urgently listed on their request. The Chief Justice made it clear that he would not want the Supreme Court to be a Tareekh Pe Tareekh Court.

·      In the film ‘Damini’ (1993) the rape-survivor’s lawyer captured the lived-truth of litigants in the dialogue: “Tareekh Pe Tareekh, Tareekh Pe Tareekh, Tareekh Pe Tareekh milti gayi My Lord, Per Insaaf Nahi Mila”.

·      Over a period of five years the voters in India are up against a similar situation where MCC violations against the PM since the 2019 General Elections have elicited no action by the ECI, save the present case. Here, too the matter has got adjourned.

·      The ECI, a quasi-judicial body, has effectively got converted into a ‘Tareekh Pe Tareekh’ Court! 

Adieu to the Fragrance of Jasmine Flowers – Forever and Ever!

 

by

P.S. Sahni

The jasmine plant at the home of my parents (both since deceased in the year 2000 and 2002 respectively) is less than three decades old now, measuring 3 meters x 3 meters. It got planted at my sister’s insistence in 1996-97. I have been tending to it for over 25 years. In earlier times the fragrance would reach a few houses away from ours. Why, till about a year back the fragrance would reach my room – situated close to the small front garden; but not so any longer. This year when I plucked the first few flowers which had blossomed by mid-April, I realised that there was no fragrance at all left in these flowers even when smelt at close quarters – next to my nostrils. Stoically I accepted the loss and bid adieu to the fragrance which brought a feeling of well-being in so many lives. Our neighbour, a Kashmiri woman, would pluck the flowers from outside the boundary wall of our house for her ritualistic visit to a near-by Ram Mandir. A Bangla-speaking elderly lady would pick up the fresh flowers fallen on the foot-path adjacent to the plant and then go to Kalibari temple. A domestic help at a near-by house would pluck the flowers for his employer – a lady lawyer practicing at the Supreme Court.

 

I would collect the flowers every morning and keep them in the ‘baithak’ of our home; a few of these flowers were used by my sister to bring freshness in the small little area, where the holy book belonging to Sikh faith was kept. This arrangement worked well all along. On 20^th January this year my sister died due to an attack of acute bronchitis – precipitated by extreme cold in the second half of December 2023 and January 2024 in Delhi; high humidity; very high AQI-reaching over 350.

 

Within three months of her death the jasmine did blossom but there was no fragrance left in these flowers. The same factors – global warming, climate change which ensured my sister’s death as of millions of others worldwide due to the same reasons – were responsible for the loss of fragrance of these flowers. Now I feel the loneliness at home where I had stayed with my sister for about 73 years. Both of us were unmarried and did not adopt a child. She was into her 77^th year of life when she died; the jasmine plant around 27 years old at her demise. Adieu to both of them.

[Also see: What If Jasmine Loses Its Fragrance? Could Poetry, Nay Life Itself, Ever Be The Same?; Countercurrents.org, 29.07.2016.]

Ram Manohar Lohia Sowed the Seeds of Coalition Politics in India; Narendra Modi is Subverting It

by

 

P.S. Sahni

 

The following statements of Prime Minister merit attention:

 

·        INDIA alliance wants to give the PM’s post to each leader for 1 year.

·        No one trusts the coalition government; people want a stable regime.

·        For 5 years, they will stay busy in the swearing-in events; now can any country run like this?

 

Meanwhile the Home Minister of India has chipped in (Quote):

 

India wants a “mazboot” (strong) PM, not a “mazboor” (weak) PM.

 

Lately the Prime Minister of India has been cosying up to Japan; but he learnt nothing about their political history of the last twenty-five years. Japan has had a series of coalition governments from 1996 to 2008. There are currently ten living former Prime Ministers in Japan. It might surprise Narendra Modi that Japan has had ten Prime Ministers in fifteen years (1996-2011)      

 

Period                                                 Duration of Prime Ministership

 

1996 January                                        2 years 202 days

1998 July                                              1 year 251 days

2000 April                                            1 year 22 days

2001April                                             5 years 154 days

2006 September                                   1 year 1 day

2007 September                                   365 days

2008 September                                   358 days

2009 September                                   266 days

2010 June                                             1 year 87 days

2011 September                                   1 year 116 days

                                                                                                  (Source Wiki)

 

Narendra Modi questions if any country can run with a PM for a year? Well, Japan has run and run well, economically, too. Again, the Indian PM opines that no one trusts coalition government. In which case why is he putting trust in Japan which had coalition governments and ten Prime Ministers in fifteen years? Even during the period of frequent coalition governments and Prime Ministers with a tenure of about a year and a half, Japan was the second largest economy in the world until 2010!

 

For a long time it was the third largest economy in the world. It is now the fourth largest economy behind the US, China and Germany. Well, Mr. Narendra Modi till 2030 India will be behind Japan. Don’t try to fool the masses.

 

The longest serving PM in Japan was in office for eight years. Count yourself lucky for being in India where you can concoct fairy tales about the year 2050.

 

Your ‘friend’ Trump will tell you how long a President in America can stay in power – only eight years. Since 2014 you, Mr. Modi have brought a Presidential form of electioneering to India. Take heed, Presidents in western democracies like US don’t go on and on like you aspire in a semi-feudal country like India. Under your dictatorial regime the masses are yearning for a “mazboor” (weak) PM, certainly not a “mazboot” (strong) PM. You are off the mark when you say that people want stable regime. It is the corporate houses, stock-markets, big businesses which want a stable regime which may ensure a constant policy of loot. Stable governments help Adani and Ambanis.

 

As for the toiling masses, that government is best which is weak, preferably coalitional with the least propensity for authoritarianism. The weaker the government, the more power a citizen is able to experience for himself/herself. It is a lie you spread that no one trusts coalition government; masses certainly want such a government.

 

Even now if you feel strongly against coalition government and short-duration Prime Ministership, cancel all agreements/arrangements with Japan viz:

 

·        Bullet train project in which a Japan – backed soft loan will help fund 81% of the construction cost.

·        Japan to invest rupees 12,800 crore for 9 projects in various sectors in India.

·        Deal to procure 24 Bullet trains from Japan.

 

These are just a few examples for your perusal and necessary action.

 

Since your second-in-command, Amit Shah, is likely to come to your rescue and orchestrate a campaign about Japan being an exception, may I add Italy’s case, too. Of the 60 Prime Ministers only two have served for more then 10 years; 6 have served for 5 to 10 years; 35 have served for 1 to 5 years 17 have served for less than 1 year.

                                                                                                    (Source Wiki)

 

Are you not lucky to be in India and weave a dream for yourself for a third-term as Prime Minister?

 

The economy of Italy is a highly developed social market.

 

·        It is the third-largest national economy in the EU.

·        Second-largest manufacturing industry in Europe and seventh-largest in the world.

·        Ninth-largest economy in the world.

·        Eight-largest exporter in the world.

                                                                                                    (Source Wiki)

 

Is the Prime Minister of India listening?