Month / July 2015

by Manmohan Dhar

When Rest Of The World Sleeps, India Awakes, Supreme Court Gets Underway.

Under some very unprecedented circumstances, the supreme court of India gets underway at 02.30A.M on Thrusday 30th july 2015, just to hear the last minute legal petition of the counsel for Yaqub Memon to seek a 14 day repreieve after the rejection of his mercy plea by the president.

Well, whatever be the legal points that were discussed during the hearing,  this is what needs to be commended.

Something which makes every Indian to feel proud about the judicial system of the country.

After the accused uses all possible resources in order to evade the death sentence, the Supreme court just before a few hours of the hanging, sits in the supreme court premises to hear the last moment plea of the accused’s counsel during wee hours.

Though the plea is dismissed on legal grounds, but what needs to be applauded is the landmark hearing in the most unprecedented and unusual circumstances, just to give the accused the last chance to defend himself.

The defence counsel perhaps knew that they are defending the indefensible, but they moved the highest court of the country and the case was heard, thereby setting an extraordinary example of legal jurisprudence, which, we as Indians should really be proud of.

Although this court hearing is not something to celebrate, because it was something which was related to the death of a human being.

But at the same time it was something which related to the justice to be meted to  the families of those 257 human beings who lost their precious lives in the bomb blasts. And also the families of  about 100 victims who got injured in the dastardly and barbaric bomb blast.

“No one is big or small in the eyes of Justice, as Justice is blind.”

JAI HIND

 

 

by Manmohan Dhar

Why Only Judicial Death Penalty Is Debatable For Intellectuals, Why Not The Death Caused By Terrorism.

Yaqub Memon while talking to Madhu Trehan,an Indian journalist, in his only interview, with Newstrack in August 1994, accepted that he played a very vital role in the Mumbai bomb blast, though he was not the master mind. He named his brother Tiger Memon as the Master mind.
Friends, what is your take on that? Should he be hanged? Or should the court accept his latest plea, through eminent citizens and bollywood actors, for imprisonment for life?
And to how much extent is Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatama Gandhi, right, when he says that he is against capital punishment and that there should be no capital punishment at all?

I sometimes wonder, if judiciary is supreme, then why does these so called intellects and high profile citizens indulge in futile representations and discussions.
I really pity them.

Justice Markandey Katju, who is the former Chairman, Press Council of India, and prior to his appointment as Chairman, Press Council of India, he served as a Judge at Supreme court of India, says he found weak evidence in this case.

Well, Justice Katju has his own say.
Rest of India has its own.

No person with a humanist approach to life would see an eye to eye with the capital punishment prevalent in the country. But with all this said and done, how can we ignore the barbarism at the very same place.

I would like Tushar Gandhi and the likes of him to answer just one question; ” when you advocate doing away with death penalty, how many times, you think, have you advocated for the justice to be meted out to bereaved families whose kith and kin have fallen victim to terrorist barbarism. What about the deaths imposed by terrorists to the innocent citizens of the country. Who, in your view, is going to give an account for those merciless deaths.

In 2014, at least 2,466 people were sentenced to death worldwide – up 28% on 2013. And in India out of 64 death sentences given, none has been executed. Which shows India has been very slow in pursuing the capital punishment. But, this does in no way neutralize the resolve that the rarest of the rare cases should not be taken cognizance of and punish the accused as per the law of the land which provides for capital punishment as the deterrent.

At the time when Nathuram Godse was to be hanged, in 1949, Gandhi ji’s two sons and pt. Jawahar lal Nehru had opposed the death penalty and pleaded that the hanging would bring dishonour to Gandhi ji’s Martyrdom. But the court still went with the order and the accused were hanged.

So judiciary should be left to do its part, with out any undue hinderences and obstructions.

And for God’s sake, if Supreme court once decides that a particular case comes under rarest of the rare catagory and that the same warrants death penalty, then how come the other agencies or intellects or prominent citizens can even think of commuting it.

I fail to understand why we tend to make irresponsible moves to make the highest judicial authority to look back into something which has been decided once and for all.

Death penalty can  not bring the martyrs back, but it can atleast leave an impact on like minded people, as the terrorists, to desist from the barbaric acts on humanity.

On that hopful note, I feel sad for the family of the person who will not see the sun tomorrow and for ever. And share sympathy with those who lost their dear ones in the barbaric bomb blast in 1993, in Mumbai.

JAI HIND

by Manmohan Dhar

Missile Man APJ Abdul Kalam Is No More

A finest human being, a true nationalist, scientist of a highest class, former President and supreme commander of the forces APJ Abdul Kalam breathed his last  to night at Shillong.

May his noble soul rest in peace.

We shall talk in detail about this super human in our future blogs.

Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and relatives of this great soul.

We Indians owe this fantastic personality, a lot. This also we shall discuss at length in our future blogs.

REST IN PEACE APJ.

by Manmohan Dhar

Kargil Conflict… A Tale Of Bravehearts, Their Valour And Gallantry.

By Manmohan Dhar.

It is now 18 years and the memories are still alive in the heart of every patriot.

Pakistan tried to stab India in the back, with all its military might, having nefarious designs on mind, to destabilize the biggest democracy of the world.

But the poor people never knew, or they forgot, that they are actually playing with fire. 

If the self exiled military head and former President of Pakistan, Parvez Musharaf utters words like, ” hum ne chudiyain nahi pehan rakhein hein, Bharat hum par invasion kar ke toa dekhe. Ham Mayinmar nahi hein, Pakistan ek nuclear country hai” I am afraid he is living in a fool’s paradise.

India can teach Pakistan a lesson, if Pakistan dares to engage in a war with India.

But, India, being a peace loving country, will never succumb  to the pressure tactics of  a country which is undergoing a tussle, wherein Army and Civil authorities play hide and seek game. And even provoke India to indulge in a war, though not in a position to face the might of Indian Army.

What can one make out of the statements coming from the under trial Army commander of Pakistan, is no less than a mockery.

Anyways let us not forget the importance of 26/07/1999. The day when our bravehearts had to lay their lives in a war which was thrust upon us.

It was Pakistan’s misadventure, ultimately resulting in its defeat, which forced Indian troops to give a befitting reply to the enemy’s nefarious designs.

We should have all our felicitations, salutations, admirations, approbations, acclamations and commendations for the valiant soldiers who fought the Kargil war with glory and honour.

More than 500 bravehearts laid their life at the altar of their great country.

More than 13000 sons of the soil got injured in the war raged by  our hostile neighbor Pakistan.

We ought to pay our deepest homage to these bravehearts and ensure their families that today and for ever, every Indian will remember these sons of the soil and the saviours of Indian honour and dignity.

Today, when we observe the 18th anniversary of Kargil conflict, we Indians proclaim and let it be heard loud and clear, as Gen. Suhaag had once said and I quote,  “we will not let another Kargil to happen.” Unquote.

Any country which dares to enter into a misadventure with India, Will have to face the ever increasing might of “DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF INDIA”.

Pakistan fought many wars, lost them miserably and still refuses to learn lessons.

This can simply be attributed to the devastating political image of Pakistan in the world arena. Also to deviate the attention of it’s people from the deteriorating economic health of the country, which has almost brought Pakistan on the threshold of bankruptcy.

Otherwise a country which has already been broken into two, and whose further fragmentations are inevitable, would never think in terms of a war with a country which is huge militarily as well as economically. That is why, perhaps, it is said that empty vessels make much noise.

And if  Pakistan,  on the basis of it’s having some nuclear weapons, thinks that it can engage the world in a rhetric of being able to face India,”The Giant”,  then in that case, it may have to think twice, in fact ten times before it enters into a war like situation with India.

Today if Pakistan can boost of self sufficiency, it is only in the field of militancy. Pakistan has become a safe paradise for terrorists and terrorist organisations.

Even America has recognized the inefficiency of Pakistan in dealing with the increasing terrorism perpetuated by the terrorist organisations having their roots in Pakistan.

America has cautioned Pakistan of further sanctions, after it blocked the $350 million aid to this terror friendly country, if it doesn’t mend it’s modus operandi in dealing with terrorism.

Pakistan dared kargil.

Paid the price and fled from the battlefield.

It dates war, now, ………

Well!! we all know. And Pakistan knows it too.

We salute the Kargil Heroes.

 
 

by Manmohan Dhar

Cricket Confronts Yet Another Tragedy, Warrants Rebuilt.

In yet another tragic incident, a young cricketer, Bavalan Pathmanathan, died on Sunday after being hit on chest by a ball in Long Ditton, Surrey, UK, on Sunday.

24-year-old was hit by the ball when he was batting for Hersham-based Manipay Parish Sports Club at Long Ditton Recreation Ground during a division three match of the British Tamils Cricket League (BTCL).

Immediately after the incident an ambulance, two cars, along with another air ambulance reached to the scene to assist him.

Pathmanathan was treated at the scene and then taken into Kingston Hospital in a serious condition.

But the cricketer subsequently passed away with the cause of death believed to be heart failure.

well, if this is cricket then I am afraid this is not the name of the game.

A complete overhauling is what is needed the most in this gentleman’s game.

Players’ life is what should be the supreme rule of law in cricket law books.

In fact what is the need of the hour is totally over looked by the authorities governing the game.

A cricket field is like a place of great sanctity atleast for those who worship cricket. So how come, in stead of being cool, sober, friendly and above all sporting, the players engage themselves into a sort of warfare, aggression and hatred. How, do they think, they are doing some kind of service to the game and the game lovers.

In sports, there is no room for hatred. then why is the unwarranted aggression shown by some players on the field, not being viewed with a sense of great concern.

Why do the players, who are bent upon maligning the sanctity of the game, roam scot- free.

Though this, yet another tragic event, may not be the outcome of any sort of aggression, but that doesn’t mean that everything is OK with the game.

Actions speak louder than words, then what is the need to destabilize your opponent by passing ugly and awkward comments while playing.

If a bowler bowls a bouncer, I think it is the out burst of his aggression, and can very easily be avoided. But then it needs rules to be amended, in order to call it a no ball ab initio accompanied by a huge penalty in the shape of fine imposed on the erring player.

They can change rules to make the game more sensational, but they will never frame rules to make the game more safe and player friendly. How ironical.

Discipline is what is slowly and steadily eluding the gentleman’s game. And that is the matter of grave concern for the cricket lovers.

Allowing the players to indulge in show business, advertising and adopting all sorts of means to amass wealth, has brought about a drastic change in the over all mind set and the psyche of the players, making them more arrogant and indisciplined.

All this needs to be checked, that too very fast, so that the game could be saved from any further damage.

Players who indulge in such practices and still give a good show on the field, makes some sense. But consistent flop shows should be dealt with punitive measures.

Last but not the least I would insist that the game of cricket is getting more and more popular the world over, let us take some corrective steps in order to make it much safer and near to being called “A gentleman’s game”.

My deepest condolences to the family of the departed young soul.

May his soul rest in peace.

JAI HIND.