Letters to the Editor: December 24, 2018

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December 24, 2018

Kamal Nath’s argument wrong for the country

Every citizen of India has the right to live and work anywhere in the country. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s argument that the youth of his state have been deprived of jobs because of migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is one unfortunate one. It may be that Kamal Nath’s statement is right in favour of MP’s youth but it is totally wrong in the interest of the country. The job’s selection should be on the basis of qualities and talent not the identification. If every State Government makes an effort to improve opportunities in its respective state, why would the youth go elsewhere?

Mohd Umar

Review all cases of awarded Bharat Ratna and Padma awards

It refers to Delhi State Assembly passing the resolution to take back the honour of Bharat Ratna from late Rajiv Gandhi who, took charge as Prime Minister after her mother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her bodyguards on October 31, 1984, leading to riots killing many Sikhs.

Congress – led Central Governments over-glorified the members of Nehru-Gandhi family including honouring them with Bharat Ratna. Undoubtedly, inexperienced Rajiv Gandhi proved to be a big failure as a Prime Minister taking many such decisions which proved to be disastrous for the country including his own murder, and as such did not deserve Bharat Ratna, but, taking back Bharat Ratna only from Rajiv Gandhi may be termed as a political vendetta. There are more such names of Bharat Ratna awardees which need snatching where even some of which like MG Ramachandran were given only for political reasons. Wrong policies of the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who gifted himself Bharat Ratna as head of the then Central Government, also make him undeserving for greatest civilian honour of Bharat Ratna.

There are numerous cases of Padma awards having been given to totally undeserving persons involved in big controversies only on lobbying. Present Central Government can review all cases awarded Bharat Ratna and Padma honours, and decide taking back from undeserving ones after making such list public and inviting comments from members of the public before taking a final decision.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Govt should not divert the main topic

Nowadays, encircled in news clips is a well-known actor Naseeruddin Shah owing to his remark that a cow’s death is being given more importance than a policeman and he is scared for his children. After this remark, the actor faced a flood of criticism from all over the country. Now, he is being asked to leave the country for Pakistan and he also received an air ticket to Pakistan at his home. I think this is a diversion from the main topic. The actor expressed his emotions what he felt, so the government must ponder over the mob violence, but no one seems to talk about this matter. If a senior citizen of our country is feeling scared in such circumstances it is the government’s duty to make him feel fearless rather than to criticise him or ask him to flee to Pakistan.

Mohd Faheem

Yashwant Sinha’s shocking revelations

The revelations of former union finance minister Yashwant Sinha are shocking not only for the BJP itself but also for the entire country. He claimed in his new book that the GDP numbers are misleading, RBI’s autonomy is in extreme danger and demonetisation is the biggest banking scam. Also, he appeared saying that the PM Narendra Modi’s idea of self-employment is a distraction from the more serious issue of unemployment and under-employment. Now, the question as to what the BJP leaders will say about these concerning issues that have been raised by Mr. Sinha. Really, the rapid fall in the economy of our country has shaken all of the citizens and destroyed their businesses. I think the government, now, should pay some attention to the economic growth rather than manipulating the people’s mind from these core issues.

MFU Tandvi

Every citizen has right to freedom of expression

It seems that the freedom of expression is being totally destroyed in our country. If a citizen expresses his concern towards the sensitive matters of the country, he falls in the whirlpool of critics from the so-called country’s patriots. As the same case occurred with Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah over his remarks on the Bulandshahr violence. The actor found himself at the centre of a major controversy over his remarks in reference to the killing of a policeman in Bulandshahr earlier this month that the death of a cow was given more importance than a policeman. Now, it is the government’s responsibility to satisfy him by ensuring the strength of law and order, but on the contrary to it the actor is being trailed by the government.

Mohd Usmani

Naseeruddin Shah needs meditation

It has become a fashion of some celebrities from the Muslim community and their supporting pseudo-secularists like the most recent case of the famous actor Naseeruddin Shah who was awarded Padma Bhushan by the BJP-led Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in the year 2003 to defame the country as if Muslims are living in the country in a fear. If it would have been so, the rate of population growth of Muslims would not have been higher than the majority Hindus.

Interestingly, comments from Naseeruddin Shah came at a time when recently-freed Hamid Nihal Ansari from Pakistani jails and his mother were in full praise for the Indian government and Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj in extending fullest help the Muslim youth freed from a Pakistani jail.

Naseeruddin Shah, who married a Hindu girl after divorcing his earlier Muslim wife, needs to take meditation lessons from his Hindu wife and Hamid Nihal Ansari for the fearless life of himself and his children born from his Hindu wife. It can only happen in India and not in Pakistan that his elder brother from minority community could be entrusted for being Lt. General in Indian army before being appointed as Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.

Madhu Agrawal

Christmas means spreading love

To Christians, Jesus Christ is believed to be the messenger of God. On this unique occasion of Christmas, even non-Christians remember, with due reverence, the Son of God, who suffered the terribly painful death on the Cross to deliver humanity. The spread of love and peace among mankind is the supreme message of Christmas.

Most people know that Christians celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ, but it also means much more. It means having fun with your family, spending time with them, seeing all the beautiful Christmas lights, decorating the Christmas tree, spending time in prayer and eating all the rich food and sweets.

Jubel D’Cruz

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

GST standard rate to be fixed between 12-18% as revenues increase: Jaitley

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Web Team

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December 24, 2018

Going forward, as tax revenues significantly increase, India will have GST slabs of 0 per cent, 5 per cent and a standard rate between 12-18 per cent for commonly-used items, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday.

Luxury and sin goods will, however, continue to be taxed in a higher bracket.

In a Facebook post titled Eighteen Months of GST’, Jaitley said, of the 1,216 commodities which are used, broadly 183 are taxed at zero rate, 308 at 5 per cent, 178 at 12 per cent and 517 at 18 per cent.

The 28 per cent slab is now a dying slab, he said. Currently 28 items, including luxury and sin goods, auto parts, dishwashers, AC and cement remain in the highest slab of 28 per cent.

With the goods and services tax (GST) transformation completed, we are close to completing the first set of rates of rationalisation i.e. phasing out the 28 per cent slab except in luxury and sin goods, he said.

A future road map could be to work towards a single standard rate instead of two standard rates of 12 per cent and 18 per cent, he said.

It could be a rate at some mid-point between the two. Obviously, this will take some reasonable time when the tax will rise significantly. The country should eventually have a GST which will have only slabs of zero, 5 per cent and standard rate with luxury and sin goods as an exception, Jaitley said.

Stating that only cement and auto parts are items of common use which remain in 28 per cent slab, Jaitley said the next priority will be to transfer cement into a lower slab.

All other building materials have already been transferred from 28 per cent to 18 per cent and 12 per cent. The sun is setting on the 28 per cent slab, he added.

The GST Council in its last meeting on Saturday cut rates on 23 items, thereby trimming the 28 per cent slab.

Jaitley said that the standard rate pre-GST rollout was 31 per cent on a large number of commodities.

The assessees had only two options either to pay a high rate of tax or evade it, he said, adding tax evasion was prevalent to a large extent. India comprised of multiple markets.

Those who oppressed India with a 31 per cent indirect tax and consistently belittled the GST must seriously introspect. Irresponsible politics and irresponsible economics is only a race to the bottom, Jaitley added.

BJP approaches SC seeking permission to hold Rath Yatra in WB

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Web Team

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December 24, 2018

The BJP on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to hold its Rath Yatra in West Bengal.

The party has challenged the order of the division bench of the Calcutta High Court which had set aside the order of a single judge allowing the Rath Yatra.

An official of the apex court registry said it has received an appeal from the BJP against the high court division bench’s order.

The officials said that the petition is under scrutiny.

The BJP has sought an urgent hearing of its special leave petition.

4 die in cloth godown fire in Mumbai

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Web Team

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December 24, 2018

Four men were charred to death in a fire that gutted a cloth godown in suburban Kandivli on Sunday, a civic official said on Monday.

The blaze was reported in the facility, located in Damu Nagar near MIDC bus stop, at around 4 pm Sunday, said an official from the Disaster Management Unit of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“Four casualties were recovered from debris of the godown by fire personnel who were conduction fire fighting operations at the spot by 5 am on Monday”, he said.

They were taken to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli, where doctors declared them brought dead, he said.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

The official said fire personnel are conducting search operations at the storeroom premises.

When asked about the identity of the deceased, the official said prima facie they are workers but it is yet to be confirmed.

Paperless banking

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C K Subramaniam

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December 24, 2018

Paperless banking encompasses the entire banking institution, from online banking to account management, including account opening. Financial institutions are always looking for new ways to make transactions easier. Paperless banking, until recently, has only been associated with paperless statements produced by a bank, and this is right to some degree, but it’s only a small part of a much larger equation.

When we say ‘paperless banking’, we are talking about all the practices we can automate and make available online to create more productive, environment- friendly and user-friendly service interactions and transactions. Customers are happier because there are less forms to fill, an improved sense of security and services are delivered in a much faster time frame.

The new digital feature set will increasingly progress towards a much richer set of banking offerings for the end customer, going beyond technology, security and infrastructure capabilities – opening up new business models (that at times include the adoption of Fin Tech), propositions, redefining customer experience and enabling new potential from employees and business networks.

‘Presence-less’ and ‘Paper-less’ banking as against ‘Brick and mortar’ banking has taken a significant stride in the last four years, especially post December 2016, particularly in Metro and Urban areas. Settlement of transactions through mode other than cash has increased many folds during this period – a welcome feature of the Indian economy. However, a lot has to be done more to take the country at par with developed ones where people make insignificant number of transactions through cash mode.

Paperless banking allows for a seamless and efficient user experience that can reduce the time of a transaction ten-folds as we will see in the next section. This easy functionality of service needs to translate seamlessly from desktops to cellphones to tablets as well as to the communication channels, which will need to be multi-channeled as some customers still have a requirement to interact on the phone, email, paper, through social media and at times in person.

Digital technology and good data work flows allow institutions to share and update information on customers and support cases on all of these channels and have them update quickly enough for it to be visible to all relevant employees. Ensuring that the case is handled at the same speed on all channels is also vital to making sure customers are satisfied.

I feel that vigorous campaign is to be made by the government and banks for augmenting “Financial Inclusion” and spread “Financial Literacy” in semi-urban and rural areas. We wish to usher in an era where you need not visit a bank at all, rather the bank makes its presence to you, in your laptop, in your tab, in your desktop, in your mobile app and that too with just a click of the mouse.

Let 2019 be a leap forward in this direction!

CK Subramaniam

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Pakistan violates ceasefire in Rajouri, targets residential areas

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Afternoon Voice

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December 24, 2018

The Pakistan Army on Monday violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

The Pakistani troops targeted forward positions and residential areas. However, no casualty or injury has been reported so far.

The latest ceasefire violation comes a day after the Pakistani Rangers resorted to ceasefire violation in the Karmara area of Poonch district on Sunday. The intermittent firing continued for hours.

On December 21, two Army personnel lost their lives during a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Keran sector of Kupwara.

Donald Trump says Erdogan assures ‘will eradicate’ any IS left in Syria

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Afternoon Voice

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December 24, 2018

Erdogan, Donald Trump, Trump, Donald, Syria, US President, Islamic State, ISIS — REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US President Donald Trump late on Sunday said his Turkish counterpart assured him that any remaining Islamic State group fighters in Syria will be eliminated after Trump abruptly ordered US troops in Syria to leave.

“President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey has very strongly informed me that he will eradicate whatever is left of ISIS in Syria,” Trump said in a Tweet around midnight Sunday, using another acronym for the jihadist group.

Repeating a pattern of admiring comments towards global strongmen, Trump added that Erdogan “is a man who can do it.”

Trump appeared to be elaborating on a phone call he had earlier on Sunday with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

They discussed Trump’s withdrawal of the US troops which were assisting in the multinational fight against IS, and whose departure has shocked global partners and American politicians alike.

“Our troops are coming home!” Trump said in his late-Sunday tweet.

RIP Man of Mumbai – Nana Chudasama

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 23, 2018

Nana Chudasama, this name is well-known to Mumbaikars. Constantly in the limelight, he was the author of the catchy, popular and thought-stimulating banners which appear regularly at Marine Drive which he had been writing for a record-breaking 30 years, a feat which deserves an entry in the Guinness Book of World Record.

I used to stay in Girgaon, south Mumbai, as a child whenever we used to go to Marine Drive there used to be a banner with a message. As a kid, I never understood why that banner catches so much attention of Mumbaikars and it used to become the talk of the town. But now, even I love reading them.

The banner, “Pen is mightier than sword…. Agitate, debate but don’t vandalise” was a very simple yet very meaningful slap to those so-called self-declared custodians of Mumbai. Nana’s banners are not only thought-provoking but they force you to think and reason. Marine Drive banners embedded in satire, puns and humour and a voice of the common man. The banner speaks about the dreams and anguish of the common man; the words reveal feelings of most of the common citizen of this mega city.

Nana, a very high profile yet simple person, gives a sense of belonging to every Mumbaikar and exactly that is what is even seen in his daughter Shaina, they know how important it is to voice for a common man and stay connected to them. Nana’s generation has contributed a lot to the glory of Mumbai city, and they are the legends of their time.

He was conferred with the title of Padma Shri by the then President of India on March 26, 2005, in a splendid inauguration ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi for his contribution towards the welfare of the society as a committed social worker. Nana was the pioneer of the only India based social service organisation Giants International which now has over hundreds of groups existing all over the globe. This organisation was solely started by him with a service to humanity as its main objective. Besides projects done in various fields – Family welfare, Disaster Management programmes during earthquakes, floods, and other Natural calamities, Environmental projects, Support to the differently abled, Medical, Educational and Water Harvesting Projects, he has motivated all the Giants’ members to take up Family Planning programmes in their areas.

In fact, he had introduced Family Planning as the top priority project for Giants and had instituted a number of Awards for Groups achieving the target operations to be carried out in their area. In the past, he had initiated 38,000 family planning operations which are certified. He had also initiated numerous awareness and educational camps in slum areas for Family Planning.

He was from a noted family of the Gondal, Dist. Rajkot, Gujarat. His father, Mansingh Chudasama, was a police commissioner. Nana was second of the three brothers, his elder brother the late Mota Chudasama was a noted businessman, and his younger brother Chota being associated with Air India for many years. Nana after graduation started his career in the early 1950s as an executive in a US petroleum company in Mumbai; he also managed an apartment at Prithviraj Chambers, on Narayan Dabholkar Road in the elite Nepean Sea Road area.

During his term as Sheriff he also started the Forum Against Drugs and Aids and was the President of this centre for the prevention of Drug Abuse and Aids. He was the pioneer in organising Drugs Abuse Awareness, through public support and medical assistance as well as providing cure through a rehabilitation programme. A Hospital for the purpose was founded and named as ‘The Bhardawadi Hospital’ for the cure of Drug addicts. Free Test for HIV are also carried on at the centre and those found HIV+ are given free medicine and counselling. He had also initiated in producing a film on Aids Awareness called ‘Roshini’. Nana was also the president of “I Love Mumbai” which he founded when he was Sheriff of Mumbai. The organisation focuses on the greening, beautification and cleaning of Mumbai. Clean Mumbai, Green Mumbai, had been the slogan coined by Nana, ‘I Love Mumbai’ has been distributing 50,000 free saplings annually, to make Mumbai green and reduce the pollution in the atmosphere. He had taken up a number of projects towards the beautification and cleanliness of the city, the major one being the protection, upkeep and illumination of heritage buildings. In recognition of his achievements in his term as Sheriff, he created history by being the only Sheriff to continue in the office for the second consecutive year 1990.

Mumbai need people like Nana to take care of the city and its people. His services to the welfare of mankind are worth applauding, at the age of 86 too, he was active and concerned about the city until his last breath. His daughter Shaina, a BJP MP too is doing justice to her father’s dreams by serving people under his guidance.

RIP Mumbai man! You will be always missed.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Mumbai mourns a true Mumbaikar: Former Sheriff Nana Chudasama departs

By

Twinkle Mehta

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December 23, 2018

Even before Twitter made its global appearance in 2006, social crusader and the former two-term Sheriff of Mumbai, Nana Chudasama who was on ‘Twitter Mode’ through his historic banners across Mumbai, passed away at the age of 86 on December 23, after a brief illness at his home. He was known for his succinct messages and comments on important issues of the day displayed through banners put up at Marine Drive, South Mumbai.

The father of the BJP spokesperson Shaina NC in his banners, in a few words, presented (and continued to do so until his last breath) the witty, sarcastic, and sometimes cool side of current events that were/are the talk of the town. Some of such banners that created a stir were: ‘IRONY: Majority of MPs crorepati; majority of people, poor.’ Or ‘Pen is mightier than the sword: Agitate, Debate but don’t vandalise.’ However, one of his latest ones was ‘Demonetisation: You can dash, smash or crash, but still no cash.’

Sharing his memories over Chudasama’s demise, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Atul Shah condoled, “Shaina’s father Nana Chudasama was indeed the father of the whole Mumbai City. I have numerous memories with him. He was a great fighter for the cause of our beautiful city. As a true messenger, he would send a pertinent message through his banners at Marine Drive giving signals to wrongdoers.”

He continued saying, “Me and all the office bearers Ward No. 220 and all the citizens hereby salute Nana and give respectful shraddhanjali to the departed soul.”

Chudasama, an eminent jurist was also the founder of an NGO, Giants International, which has a presence in several cities in India as well as abroad with 500 branches in India and several branches across the world, including USA, UK, South Africa, Mauritius and Ukraine. He carried out social work during his term as the Sheriff and was the President of centres such as I Love Mumbai, the National Kidney Foundation and the Forum Against Drugs. In the past, he had initiated 38,000 family planning operations which are certified. He had also initiated numerous awareness and educational camps in slum areas for Family Planning. He also produced a film on Aids Awareness called ‘Roshini’.

This Man of Mumbai always lived for the city and its people, as the voice of the common man. Nana Chudasama’s book, ‘History on a Banner’ is a compilation of his thought-provoking banners on Mumbai’s Marine Drive that caught the attention of thousands of commuters. It is an interesting chronicle of current events that shape our collective destinies. In 2016, on his 83rd birthday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a website to celebrate his life. CM Fadnavis expressed his grief on Twitter stating, “Pained to know about sudden demise of eminent jurist, former Sheriff of Mumbai Nana Chudasama ji. My deepest condolences to his family & friends. His works & contribution for clean & green Mumbai, in various rehabilitation initiatives and health sector will be remembered forever!”

When AV spoke to BJP Cabinet Minister of Finance and Planning and Forests departments Sudhir Mungantiwar, he reminisced, “Nana Chudasama was a great person. He contributed a lot for the betterment of this city. Whenever I used to see his banners, I used to feel he was doing something advanced for our city.” While BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha expressed, “He was a great man, a great Mumbaikar. Mumbai will remember him forever.” However, Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar chose to remain silent on the same.

From prominent political leaders to notable B-town celebs came forward on social media to express their grieve for the loss that city faced. While NCP Chief Sharad Pawar mentioned in his tweet, “Saddened to learn about the demise of former Sheriff of Mumbai Padmshri Nana Chudasama. His service to society through social work was exemplary. My deepest condolences to his family members,” on the other hand, BJP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe expressed his sorrow over the loss commenting, “Mumbai’s metropolitan public life will be poorer with the demise of former sheriff Nana Chudasama! Known for his thought-provoking banners, Nana ji was a public educator! Homage to the departed Leader!” Poonam Dhillion shared and recollected a few nostalgic posts with Shaina and the late Nana Chudasama on Twitter. Milind Deora, Poonam Mahajan, Shobhaa De and several other well-known personalities conveyed their sorrow and condolences for the former Sheriff.

In a conversation with AV, Actor Dalip Tahil mourned for the loss and shared, “It’s a very sad news and I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Shaina and her family. Nana was a stalwart of this city and he contributed a lot, certainly, to the city of Mumbai. It’s a huge loss.”

Nana who was conferred with Padma Shri in 2005 for his contribution to the social sector, left his sense of belonging with every Mumbaikar. His daughter Shaina is leaving no stones unturn to take forward his father’s legacy, to voice for a common man and stay connected to them. Nana’s generation has contributed a lot to the glory of Mumbai city, and they are the legends of their time. “With profound grief, we inform you that our beloved father Nana Chudasama breathed his last today,” Shaina NC said in a statement.

When we tried contacting Shaina but she remained unavailable to comment but a source close to Shaina NC said that the last rites were performed in the evening at 5:30 on December 23 at Banganga Crematorium in Mumbai.

Morari Bapu Invites Mumbai Sex Workers to Ram Katha in Ayodhya, Kicks Up a Row

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Web Team

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December 23, 2018

Spiritual leader Morari Bapu has kicked up a row by narrating the Ram Katha to around 200 sex workers from Mumbai.

Sex workers from Kamathipura, the red light area of Mumbai, were personally invited by Morari Bapu for the religious discourse.

Hindu religious leaders have raised objections over the gathering of sex workers in the “pious town of Ayodhya”.

“By inviting sex workers to the pious town of Ayodhya, Morari Bapu is trying to make this town impious. If Morari Bapu wants to reform society, he must organise such Ram Kathas in Naxalite and red-light areas,” said Santosh Dubey, president of Dharam Sena outfit and prime accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.

Another Mahant of Dandiya Temple in Ayodhya, Bharat Vyas, said, “Gathering of sex workers in Lord Rama’s city is not a good message. This is the town where devotees come to wash off their sins… what message does Morari Bapu want to give. We holymen of Ayodhya strongly oppose this move.”

Another local Hindu leader, Pravin Sharma, said he has written a letter to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against Morari Bapu.

Mahant Pawan Das Shastri, an Ayodhya-based preacher of Ram Katha, said the presence of “such women” in the town was not acceptable.

Reacting to the criticism, Morari Bapu said, “Tulsidas has mentioned ‘Ganikas’ (sex workers) in Ramcharitmanas. I will address deprived section as Lord Rama’s life was based on acceptance and reforms,” he said.