Political Hooligans Fuel Hijab Row

Politics in India has taken a very dirty turn. Opportunist politicians from different political outfits have succumbed to the fundamentalist ideology. It is a very precarious and volatile state of affairs and if not countered with a firm hand it is bound to take the whole country into its grip.

If Pakistan is giving an open support to the Hijab stir in India, what does that indicate? There is no rocket science needed to understand the link. To take you a little behind in the history a very senior congressman had almost begged before the Pakistani leadership in front of Pak media to do something to uproot Narinder Modi Govt.in India, and bring Congress to power. This is what political bankruptcy and thirst for power can do.These shameless leaders who stoop so low and are ready even to go against their own Prime Minister and the country, are the culprits who need to be shown their place politically. It has to be made amply clear to all these people that Anti national elements have no place in this country. “Nation First” is the new name of the game, and this they need to understand and understand fully.

Now, Coming to Hijab controversy which is a new opportunist tactics of some political parties to affect the on going elections in the country in different states more importantly in Uttar Pradesh and at the same time create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the country. Just to make it not look direct, they fabricated the dirty plan to start from Karnataka, with a malafide intention of taking the whole country as hostage and disrupt and polarise the election process.

The row started when some muslim girls of a Govt. pre university college in Udupi, Karnataka tried to enter the college wearing a Hijab. And they were stopped by the college administration from entering the college and this was the beginning of what can be termed as unfortunate for the entire educational system in India. The very basic issue of complying to the college norms in so far as the uniform or the college dress code is concerned, was given a religious colour by the political hooligans in order to start a big agitation in the wake of state elections in the country.

When things could be brought under control through a dialogue, some unruly misguided youth from another community thought they can not wait and watch. so, without wasting any time, they tried to add fuel to the fire by chanting slogans wearing saffron scarfs. These are the situations that threaten the integral fabric of Democratic India. All such provocative actions need to be dealt with a firm resolve.

What is Hijab ? Let us try to understand the interpretation of Hijab given by some muslim clerics. Hijab is a veil worn by muslim women. For some believers of the Quran, Hadith and other Arabic texts, the term Khimar was used to denote a headscarf, and hijab was used to denote a partition, a curtain, or was used generally for the islamic rules of modesty and dress for women.

Wearing hijab in public is not required by law in Saudi Arabia. In Gaza, Palestinians do not have a hijab policy for women.  It is required by law in Iran, Afghanistan and some of the Indonesian provinces. Other countries, both in Europe and in the Muslim world, have passed laws banning some or all types of hijab in public or in certain types of locales. Women in different parts of the world have also experienced unofficial pressure to wear or not to wear a hijab.

So, with different schools of thought, a comperative analysis on the importance of Hijab may look to be something which has not a religious binding and that it has not been considered to be an essential dress code for women. And, quite obviously if it would have been a binding for the muslim women then in that case all muslim women the world over would have been wearing hijab without any fail, or otherwise they would face a religious Fatwa for not following the set rules of the Holy Quran. But, for the progressive muslim women across the world, it is found that hijab can be considered to be a muslim dress code, but it is more optional than essential. However, in India that is for the courts to decide and the matter is already being looked into by the Karnataka High Court.

when muslim women especially girls are made to understand the very essence of a school or college uniform which has nothing to do with anybody’s religious belief, it is very much possible that the misunderstanding which has been created by some self centered politicians, can be removed and there can once again be calm in the country. But, if that would have been the case then the whole controversy would have not even arisen.

For some politicians it is now becoming a habit to incite unlawful activities by misleading the youth of the country. And this time it is the innocent muslim girl students who have fallen prey to the nefarious designs of these opportunist politicians. It is unfortunate that the country is facing yet another Shaheen Bagh like situation. And, it looks as if the disruptors of peace and tranquility will not rest till they put the country to a test, yet again.

The mere practice of wearing hijab by the muslim women is being given credence over the interpretations and explanations about hijab by the Quranic scholars. So, it is evident that there is a clear contradiction between the law and the practice. And when there are some loop holes somewhere in the system, the opportunists take the advantage and try to exploit the situation. That is where the political hooliganism comes into action.

It is quite evident that those who do not want the country to march on the path of progress with tranquility and peace, fan the flames of hatred to satisfy their nefarious designs. Unlawful agitations have become a toolkit in the hands of Anti national elements which is not a very healthy state of affairs.

Now that the issue is subjudice, therefore, it should be left to the court of law to decide and the verdict should be binding for everyone.

Well, it is not desirable for a country with diverse culture, to let destructive and atrocious mentality play with the sentiments of the people. Undue advantages taken by certain sections of the society cannot be left unnoticed. Such unmindful hooliganism cannot and should not be tolerated at any cost. And, if the Govt. yields to such illogical and absurd demands of some handful of disruptors of peace, then the day is not far when the country will have to face a state of Chios, uncertainty, anarchy and a frightening and dangerous threat of division on the basis of religion.

Therefore, fundamentalism of any kind, whether it is behind the hijab or the saffron scarf, in schools and colleges, if not crushed, is bound to result into a political hooliganism.

Political hooliganism is death of a democratic polity.And a country like India, which believes in a collective development for all, irrespective of caste, colour, creed or religion, cannot afford “POLITICAL HOOLIGANISM”.

All Budget, No Politics

Budget 2022-23 has been a land mark in the history of Indian financial and economic pursuit. A forward looking and a long term budget with a lot of promise and a clear road map for INDIA100.

Though there are elections in five states and Govt. could make the most out of Budget but that is not the way Modi Govt. wanted the financial system to run in the country.

Despite measures being taken to make the system more transparent and citizen friendly, opposition leaves no stone unturned to demean and defame the incumbent Govt. Almost all political parties in one voice termed this budget as election budget, with congress leading the lot. There are leaders who have been expounding the blatant statements regarding the budget labelling it as zero budget for the people.

Mamta Benarjee has been wheedling that budget has been made with a callous mindset and that the tax payer and middle class has been ditched. People living under the poverty line and the down trodden have not even been considered in this budget. TMC leader Derek O’Brien has said that there is nothing for the farmers in this budget. And ironically his leader goes a step ahead terming the budget as ” Pegasus spin budget”.

Rahul Gandhi, who understood the budget in one go immediately after Finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman announced the budget in the parliament, labelled it to be a “Zero sum budget” having nothing for the youth and the farmers.

Similar reactions came from the left, and all those regional parties which have decided to oppose just for the sake of opposition.

While opposition ridiculed the Budget, Finance minister asserted that Budget 2022-23 looks at India100. She was critical of the opposition saying it has not understood the substance and the expression that Govt. has tried to articulate in the budget. She made a very simple and unpretentious explanation of the budget saying the budget is aimed at setting a clear cut road map for futuristic policies where we have scope for modern technology and a state of art infrastructure signifying the parameters set for digital India of the 21st.Century.

A vision for the next 25 years, the budget has everything that a developing economy can perceive for the upliftment of farmers, poor, down trodden, youth, salaried class and the common man. It has everything that could be thought of keeping in view the defence, agriculture, economy, education, tourism, Housing for the needy and above all a proper plan for every investment.

The budget is a befitting reply to those who believe in the formula of repeating the used up and worn out phrases viz. rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. In fact, being blind to every progressive step taken by the Modi Govt. seems to be the compulsion of the opposition just to make their presence felt.

Highlighting some important features of the budget 2022-23 ; India’s economic growth has been estimated to be 9.2% for the current year. PM Gatishakti , Inclusive development, Increase in productivity and financial investment, introduction of 400 new Vande Bharat trains, extension of highways by 25K KMs during 2022-23, creation of 100 new cargo terminals in next 3 years, boost to EDTECH, E-Vidya to be extended to 200 TV channels, Portal for National digital health mission, promotion of digital infrastructure, 100% Post offices to come on core banking system, Rs.1500 Crores for development of North East, 75 digital banking units to be set up in 75 districts signifying Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, issuance of E-Passports roll out in 2022-23, upgradation of electric vehicles infrastructure, green push for public transport in urban areas, push to EV Infra and batteries to be considered a service, End to End E- Bill system to be launched for transparency, 5G spectrum auction in 2022, 5G spectrum to get production incentive from Govt., push to technology, optical fibre in all villages by 2025, 68% defence procurement from domestic market, a big boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Rs.19500 Crore in PLIs for high efficiency solar modules, Capex stepped up by 35.4%, Rs.7.50 lakh crore for 2022, Rs.10.68 lakh crore estimated for 2022-23, over 4% of GDP, Digital Rupee by the Govt., to be issued by the RBI, Blockchain technology for digital Rupee, Rs.1 lakh crore Interest free loan for States, Fiscal deficit revised to 6.9% of the GDP, Co-op. surcharge reduced to 7% for income 1 crore-10 crore, Corrected income tax returns can now be filed in 2 years, Tax deduction for state employees increased to 14%, bringing them at par with Central Govt. employees.

After reviewing the highlights of the 2022-23 budget, hardly can one draw the conclusion that the budget has been presented keeping in view the forth coming elections in five states . This is definitely a budget with a vision, a budget envisaging a desirable future of Contemporary India. A budget that has in store the hope, aspiration, dream and expectation for every Indian rich or poor.

Opposition must have been searching for something that could keep their ball rolling, but alas, they have been left dejected and disappointed because if this budget has nothing in store for it is the POLITICS.

Yes, it is an “ALL BUDGET, NO POLITICS” Budget.