Letters to the Editor: December 05, 2018

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Web Team

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December 5, 2018

Advent is…

Advent is a time of reflection; let us reflect.

While we think of Jesus Christ this Christmas, let us think about having:

Love instead of hatred.

Joy instead of misery.

Peace instead of strife.

Patience instead of intolerance.

Kindness instead of brutality.

Goodness instead of wickedness.

Faithfulness instead of an illusion of faith.

Gentleness instead of harshness.

Self-control instead of self-indulgence.

Fellowship instead of divergence.

Accord instead of dissension.

All these characteristics of a Christian must be to bring Christ’s light into the world. The good we bring into the world will show.

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (Romans 14:19)

– Jubel D’Cruz

Prithvi Shaw’s ankle injury really unfortunate!

Prithvi Shaw’s ankle injury a few days before India’s test series against Australia is really unfortunate. The youngster who began his test career with a century a few months back was a certainty and our team would miss his skills at the top of the order. Injuries are part and parcel of sport and I hope Prithvi gets well soon to be available for the 2nd Test.

Prithvi Shaw is an amazing talent and Australian tour is a great opportunity for the youngster to cement his place in the side. India has always struggled with openers and Prithvi has it in him to end this vacuum acquiring the solid defence of a Gavaskar and aggression of a Tendulkar. Wishing him good luck and hope he gets back to action soon!

– S.N.Kabra

Mumbai buildings in danger

Dilapidated conditions of 525 buildings are a matter of concern. It is high time to reconstruct these unsafe buildings or it may cause disasters during monsoons. The major places where such unsafe buildings have been located are Mahim, Bhandup, Sion Koliwada, Antop Hill, Kurla, Tilak Nagar. The water soaking of these buildings during heavy rains may cause dampness and leaves high chances of these buildings coming down. To avoid life-loss and loss to the property, BMC has served notices well in advance. Now, it is up to the inmates to vacate their buildings and go for safer places. It is time for unsafe building residents to evacuate and give their buildings for reconstruction so that they can get back their homes by the next monsoon and avoid the embarrassment of shifting at short notice. Let the residents not make it a prestige issue and risk their lives against the instructions of TMC/BMC.

– Akhilesh Krishnan

Tennis big three

It is happy to note that the big three of tennis circuit finished number 1, 2, and 3 and it is a good news for competitive tennis. Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are top-ranked in the ratings and this is happening after nearly 4 years. It happened the last time in 2014. This is the first time though that each of these men spent some time at No.1 during the same year. Thus, the seven changes the year saw at the top position were the most since 1999, when there were eight. In the 2018 encore, the big three remains at the top and the old guards kept things going their way despite injuries and absence from top-class tennis.

– R. Jayanthi

Making an issue of Maratha Quota Bill

Time and again, the Ministry in power face stiff resistance from the Opposition when a bill is being presented in the Assembly. Maratha quota bill is not an exception to this. Not only the Opposition but even the coalition partner Shiv Sena is causing a ruckus in the Assembly on sensitive matters. The government is keen on granting 16% quota to the community, which is a good bargain, but the major problem is that even other castes may demand such allowance in jobs and admission to educational institutions. Currently, reservations in Maharashtra add up to 52%, which is more that the Supreme Court mandated cap of 50%. Thus the Maratha quota is calling shots for the time being in the winter session.

– Abhishek Rama

Kartarpur peace road

It is notable that the Kartarpur corridor will link Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan, to Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur and it is a welcome move. But political circle is trying to score brownie point on the eve of elections in States. Sushma Swaraj felt that she started the comprehensive bilateral dialogue with Pakistan. Navjot Singh Sindhu is trying to take full credit for the initiative now that Pakistan is publicising and ready to open the corridor for political gains and to have better bilateral relations. Even in religious places like Sabarimala and Kartarpur corridor political wings are trying to take credit. In the meanwhile, terror and talks cannot together and the Khalistan leader’s presence at the groundbreaking ceremony had an impact on the Kartarpur peace road.

– Arati Abhishek

Another case of fraud

Another case of fraud has been exposed as officials of the Enforcement Directorate seized documents and 126 rubber stamps of various shell companies, revealing Rs 5,700 crore of bank loan frauds by companies controlled by the TDP Rajya Sabha MP Y S Chowdary, the former junior minister for science and technology in the NDA government, and by his associates. I am so confused whom to trust as both the ED and political parties have lost their credibility. Most probably it is the conspiracy of the BJP because Naidu is emerging as a powerful Opposition stalwart trying to form an effective Mahagathbandhan. The search can also be linked with the subsequent rivalry events, right from TDP protest within and outside the Parliament, the no-confidence motion, the exit from government citing special package to AP, the overnight marriage with Congress, the pilgrimage to various states for anti-BJP tie-ups, and the recent blocking of central investigative agencies within the state etc. all points are creating massive obstacles in the way of the BJP to win 2019 election, and that’s why the BJP has played revenge politics. However, the case should be investigated properly. The truth must be revealed and if he is found guilty, then the action must be taken against him.

– QB Malik

Good opportunity for peace

It is very pleasing that India accepted Pakistan’s invitation to Kartarpur ceremony. Really, it would be better for both countries if a good and peaceful relationship exist between them. I hope Pakistan will take this opportunity to heart and come to the table to talk about peaceful existence.

– M Azim

Imran’s outreach bogus

Political gimmick of Pakistan continues to haunt relations between the two countries on peace talks. After the LoC attack and the regular intrusion of terrorist from Pakistan entering India and causing extensive damage to life and property, now Imran Khan, the Pakistani Prime Minister is extending red carpet for talks with the old enemy. It is just like pushing the cradle to make the baby sleep and at the same time pinching to make the baby weep as well. There is no hope even after 2019 polls also as Pakistan is having vested interests not to have a fruitful talk for peace in the sub-continent. Imran’s outreach is just for the benefit of people of Pakistan and India should not fall in the trap.

– Abhi Rama

Letters to the Editor: December 04, 2018

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 5, 2018

Public hospitals lack health infrastructure in our country

It was shocking to know that nearly 3.4 lakh emergency patients, including women in labour, heavily pregnant women, victims of road accidents, falls, burns and heart attacks, are shunted from one public hospital to another in only the state of Maharashtra last year. Data from the state’s emergency ambulance service ‘108’ shows this. This lack priority of public hospitals raises the question concerning whether they are motivated by the commission or was unavoidable due to poor primary and secondary health infrastructure. Also, it is a reality that the situation is the same in most of the states of India. So, at first, the government must ensure full equipment of modern basic health infrastructure in public hospitals, because in emergency cases – it becomes a matter of life and death, particularly in the cases of childbirth, road accident, heart attack etc.

– Mohd Faheem

Wrong media-reporting

Indian media is confused in making general public thrilled about new-to-be issued silver-alloy commemorative coin to be issued on December 30, 2018, on occasion of 75th anniversary of tricolour-hoisting by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose with 50-percent silver in a coin weighing 35 gms to be available at its face-value of just rupees 75 for silver-content worth approximately rupees 700.

But the bitter fact is that the general public is kept out of such celebrations through the issue of commemorative coins because silver-alloy coins are now not issued to the general public on its face-value. Silver-alloy commemorative coins for the first time after independence was issued on October 2, 1969, to commemorate Gandhi Birth Centenary and were available at face-value of rupees ten at a time when value of silver-content in the coin was much lower than rupees ten. These coins and their coin-sets were issued to general public right from date of issue on October 2, 1969.

The system has now been changed when face-value of silver-alloy coins is much much less than the silver content of the coin, evidently doing away with the system of providing commemorative coins at face-value to general public. System adopted in the year 1969 should be restored by having a face-value of silver-alloy coins higher than the silver content so that these may be made available to general public on face value right from date of issue. Different categories of plastic-packed sets of commemorative coins should be merged by having one single category of Proof-sets with coins of all denominations issued on the occasion abolishing category of uncirculated coin-sets to be available through bank-branches, RBI offices and philatelic centres right from date of issue.

– Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Extend deadline

Security and Exchange Board of India SEBI has fixed December 5, 2018, as the date from which shares of companies will not be allowed to be transferred in physical form. But still, there are a very large number of old shareholders who are not aware of SEBI decision. SEBI should extend the deadline till say March 31, 2018, but with regular and adequate media-publicity. Even all companies should be directed to inform individual share-holders to intimate about the decision both in Hindi and English so that aged ones especially may be able to transfer their holdings in physical form to their near ones or sell without requiring the cumbersome procedure of Dematerialization DEMAT of shares. DEMAT accounts must have compulsory nomination unless in joint names with DEMAT accounts allowed only in banks and public-sector companies like Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited to avoid frauds through private depository-participants.

All companies should also be directed to put on the website – details of shareholders who have not got shares dematerialized. Companies should also be directed to transfers regularly updated details of shareholders along with their holdings and unclaimed dividends to Investor Education Protection Fund IEPF of Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Also, IEPF should follow the same by putting such regularly updated details on its website. IEPF should revert back share-holdings and dividends in a time-bound period of lodging claim. Presently such revert-backs are not done despite repeated visits to IEPF office at Jeevan Vihaar Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi where the excuse is given about inadequate staff to deal with heavy incoming of postal-articles daily.

– Madhu Agrawal

From Christmas 2018, US Christianity should work also for Lord Jesus Christ

By

Web Team

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December 5, 2018

Christmas, Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus, Christianity, Christmas 2018 — Image for Representational Purpose

Christianity has no meaning if it does not spread the message of compassion of Lord Jesus Christ all across the world. The US Christianity should remove its mind from other matters and from this Christmas should devote itself on spreading this message of Lord Jesus Christ, globally. From this Christmas, the US Christianity should start working for bringing relief to suffering mankind in Asia, Africa, Central America etc. The US Christianity can easily start this mission from India. The US Christianity in the first stage should not think of converting non-Christian-suffering-mankind to Christianity. The US Christianity should jointly launch non-profit PPI for health-care by mainly taking Asian-Indian-Americans, as members.

The overwhelming majority of the population in the USA is Christian and as per survey reports, the Christian denominations in the United States are usually divided into three large groups namely Evangelical Protestantism, Mainline Protestantism, and the Catholic Church. There are also Christian denominations in the USA that do not fall within either of these group, such as Eastern Orthodoxy and Orient Orthodoxy but they are much smaller. Unfortunately, the US Christianity is busy in other activities and does not devote itself in the mission of spreading the main message of Lord Jesus Christ of compassion all across the world. Therefore, from the Christmas 2018, the US Christianity should start working, as given below, for bringing relief to suffering mankind including and especially, as widely reported, in Asia, Africa, Central America etc.

No other prophet from any other religion has sacrificed and suffered so much as Lord Jesus Christ in the path of God for bringing relief to the suffering of mankind and abundant life to all. Therefore, when Christian West (led by the USA) has become so powerful economically and militarily, it is expected that Christianity will work for removing the suffering of the harassed mankind. But the way Christianity is apathetic towards sufferings of the mankind (which Christianity can easily remove), then it gives a logically valid impression that Christianity is betraying the Lord Jesus Christ.

It should be a matter of concern for the Christianity in the USA (economically and militarily the supreme power of the world) that The suffering thousands of people are coming to the USA from Central America through Mexico in Caravan (all Christian majority countries) but the US Christianity is watching this sordid event apathetically. The majority of people in Asia and Africa are suffering because their religions (Islam and Hinduism) are not bothered about their sufferings. But the US Christianity does nothing to convert these people to Christianity by making lame excuses (despite the fundamental right to freedom of religion as enshrined in the human rights-related laws of UN) that governments of these countries in Asia and Africa oppose religious conversion even by complicit violence.

The US Christianity should first realise that the people in Asia, Africa, and Central Americas etc., who are suffering, is due to a simple reason that they are incompetent to manage their political affairs and the establishment (people in power) in these countries oppose conversion to human rights friendly Christianity (even by violence) despite fundamental right to freedom of religion as enshrined in the human rights-related laws of the UN.

The solution to the said problems of the people in these suffering countries are three — By launching ‘Participatory Philanthropic Institutions’ (PPIs) for health-care and education by taking contributions from the people and giving them a place in the management of these PPIs (which will boost the moral and knowledge of these people). These PPIs will be on no-profit no loss basis where capital will be from charity and revenue from fees. By launching of ‘International Political Parties’ (IPPs) which will (with the support of progressive and human-rights-friendly local people) become a powerful force (also politically) on the ground to resist anti-human rights and powerful corrupt local people (who otherwise will resist PPIs too). By mobilising human rights friendly world community especially governments of Christian majority countries to constrain UN to replace Optional Protocol OP-1 of ICCPR with Mandatory Protocol MP – 1 so that UN can intervene (even militarily on the complaint of citizens of the member Countries) if related erring member country violates their human rights brazenly.

The dereliction of the US Christianity about spreading the real message (of compassion) of Lord Jesus Christ is due to the reason that it has given up the philanthropic activities (of health-care and education) all over the world. Earlier Christianity was known for these philanthropic activities but US Christianity too gave it up because it could not develop a working model for these philanthropic activities commensurate with changing time, the democracy.

The people should give-up existing model of health-care which is not up to the mark (for to be effective, the healing of sick persons should be not only by medicines etc but also by praying to Lord Jesus Christ that is why health-care should not be by State but through PPI by US Christianity). The members of these PPIs shall have voting rights commensurate with the number of their donations for the purpose of electing management body (leaving ownership/title with US Christianity) of these PPIs.

The US Christianity can start this missionary activity of PPI first of health-care from constitutionally secular-democratic India. Despite hollow boast of Indian government about its good GDP growth etc., the overwhelming majority of 1.32 billion Indian population lives in villages where tens of thousands of farmers are committing suicide every year due to economic distress. Moreover, the majority of Hindu population in Hindu majority India is comprised of oppressed (‘Dalits’) castes, various backward castes and tribes who are looked down upon socially hence mainly they are the people around poverty line in India. The bad economic condition of the majority of the 200 million Muslim (including illegal immigrants) population of India is reported in various Commission reports (these Indian Muslims, once get succour through US Christianity sponsored PPI, will take US Christianity in Muslim majority countries of Asia and Africa). On the basis of experience gained from these health-care PPIs, the education (especially and initially up to 11th standard) can also be brought under the direct control of the people by US Christianity through educational PPIs.

It is hoped that the US Christianity (jointly the Evangelical Protestantism, Mainline Protestantism, Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Orient Orthodoxy etc) from this Christmas 2018 will start spreading the message (of compassion) of Lord Jesus Christ all over the world starting from India (through health-care non-profit Participatory Philanthropic Institution to be launched from USA), as mentioned above, in the interest of bringing relief to suffering mankind.

– Hem Raj Jain

(The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

‘Please take it’ says Vijay Mallya; offers to repay 100% loan to Indian banks

By

Web Team

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December 5, 2018

Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Wednesday appealed to various Indian banks to accept his offer to pay back 100 per cent of the principal loan amount he owes to them, days ahead of a UK court’s decision on his plea not to extradite him to India.

The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airline boss, who has been on bail in the UK on an extradition warrant since his arrest in April last year, is fighting extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crores.

In a series of tweets, the embattled businessman said that the huge loans he took from banks went into keeping his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines afloat despite high jet fuel prices.

“Airlines struggling financially partly because of high ATF prices. Kingfisher was a fab airline that faced the highest ever crude prices of USD 140/barrel. Losses mounted and that’s where Banks money went. I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it (sic).”

Mallya also claimed that his vast liquor empire, the United Breweries, contributed “handsomely” to the state exchequer.

“Sad loss of the finest Airline but still I offer to pay Banks so no loss. Please take it,” he said.

“Politicians and the media are constantly talking loudly about my being a defaulter who has run away with PSU Bank money. All this is false. Why don’t I get fair treatment and the same loud noise about my comprehensive settlement offer before the Karnataka High Court,” he said.

“I see the quick media narrative about my extradition decision. That is separate and will take its own legal course. The most important point is public money and I am offering to pay 100 per cent back. I humbly request the banks and Government to take it,” he said.

Mallya’s tweets came hours after alleged AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal middleman Christian Michel was brought to India from Dubai, the first successful extradition since India initiated similar proceedings against economic offenders like Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

A ruling at the end of Mallya’s extradition trial is expected at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on December 10.

The extradition trial, which opened at the London court on December 4 last year, is aimed at laying out a prima facie case of fraud against Mallya and establishing there are no bars to him being extradited to face Indian courts over the allegations relating to loans made out to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

In separate legal proceedings, the businessman had also lost his appeal in the UK’s Court of Appeal against a High Court order in favour of 13 Indian banks to recover funds amounting to nearly 1.145 billion pounds.

Bulandshahr Violence: A cruel conspiracy by UP cops

By

Shreejit Guha

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December 4, 2018

The police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh who was posted as the station house officer (SHO) at Syana police station and was shot dead during the mob violence at Bulandhshahr by the members of right-wing outfits as he was investigating the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq, his sister told media. The location and timing further fuels the suspicion that it was a planned attempt to stoke tension as nearly 10 lakh Muslim devotees had gathered in Bulandshahr to pray on Monday. The 47-year-old SHO was shot in the head by mobsters as he tried to pacify the violent protesters triggered by rumours of cow slaughter.

“My brother’s killing is a conspiracy as he was investigating Akhlaq case and that is why he was killed. It’s a plot by the police. He should be declared a martyr and a memorial should be built. We do not want money,” she said.

The slain cop’s relative also lashed out at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that he only keeps saying “cow, cow, cow,” when the law and order situation in his state has deteriorated.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Welfare Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar too alleged that the violence, which claimed two lives, was a “pre-planned” conspiracy by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Rajbhar said, “This is a pre-planned conspiracy by the VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS, now police are even naming some BJP members. Why did protest happen on the same day as the Muslim Ijtema event? It was an attempt to disturb the peace.”

Four people have been arrested so far. A suspected local Bajrang Dal leader, Yogesh Raj, is the main accused in the murder and rioting case. Two separate FIRs were filed — one in the violence leading to the two deaths and the other in the alleged cow slaughter case.

The Dadri lynching case had taken place on the night of September 28, 2015, in Bisada village of Dadri when a mob dragged 50-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq from his house and allegedly beat him to death.

Hailing from Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, Singh had been in police service for more than 30 years. He had been posted in Bulandshahr in September this year. He had succumbed to the bullet injury on Monday after the mob did not let police personnel take him to a hospital.

Subodh Kumar’s driver Ram Ashray told Afternoon Voice, “My Sir was mercilessly attacked by the mob with all sorts of slogan shouting. He was lying on the ground. I drove the car to a field and put him in it. As soon as we began moving, a mob landed and started shouting, ‘maaro, maaro’. They were hiding behind the trees and were throwing stones at us. Everyone started running away. I ran as well. The SHO was already injured and we were trying to take him to the hospital. We could hear gunshots from the sugarcane fields”.

Under the condition of anonymity, a subordinate of the cop said, “Attack on police is not a new thing in UP and there is no security to our lives if we are performing our duty; most of the police department works on the instructions of the political leaders.”

He went on saying, “Subodh Kumar-like cops are not liked by the ministers and the violent groups as he was doing what is right, but not what the violent communities want.”

Abhishek, the son of the deceased policeman while struggling to hold back his tears, wondered how many more lives will be lost over the Hindu-Muslim dispute. “My father wanted me to be a good citizen who doesn’t incite violence in the society in the name of religion. Today my father lost his life in this Hindu-Muslim dispute, tomorrow whose father will lose his life?” he asked.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 50 lakh assistance to the family members of Subodh Kumar Singh and also promised a job to a family member as well as “extraordinary” pension for the dependent family members.

Bulandshahr district magistrate Anuj Jha said, “I would say that the police officer was brave that he ventured into the crowd alone to pacify them. He was just doing his job. He was known to be a person who never backed down from any tough situation. We have lost an asset.”

The incident led to a political slugfest, with the Congress hitting out at the Chief Minister, saying he should first set his own house in order before “gallivanting” around the country for the election campaign.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that it was a shocking state of affairs how a mob killed a police officer investigating the Akhlaq case. “Who gives these people the authority to take law in their hands? Instead of taking care of his state, Yogi is going to Telangana and spewing venom,” he said.

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the incident in Bulandshahr has let down humanity. “The state government has said that whoever is responsible will be brought to justice without any bias. I appeal to people to stay cautious of the elements who are creating unrest for their own interests.”

The Uttar Pradesh Police condoled Singh’s death and said that he “sacrificed his life” to uphold law and order in the district. “With his demise, we have lost one of our finest officers who will always be alive in our hearts as our hero. Our condolences for his family members and prayers for his noble soul,” the department’s official tweet read.

Congress leader Ankit Parihar from UP’s Bhagwantnagar told AV, “What Subodh Kumar Singh’s sister is claiming stands true whether you link it with Akhlaq’s case or the fact that he was rightfully doing his duty. He was shot dead on duty by them (right-wing activists) and it’s also the government’s responsibility which consists of people who claim that they are protecting their religion. Innocents are getting killed — this is shameful and the government should feel ashamed!”

Singh was posted as the station house officer (SHO) at Syana police station after having held the same post at Bisada village in Dadri. Notably, he was the first investigating officer in the Dadri lynching case in which Mohammed Akhlaq was killed over rumours of cow slaughter and beef consumption in 2015. Singh was associated with the probe from September 28, 2015, to November 9, 2015.

Reportedly, Singh’s prompt action in bringing evidence samples to the lab in time aided the arrest of the accused. Singh was later transferred to Varanasi, and the chargesheet of the case was filed by another investigating officer in March 2016. However, the start of the trial has been delayed as the city court is still hearing arguments against the 18 accused. All of the accused are currently out on bail.

Bulandshahr Barbarism: Is there any Solution beyond Sympathies?

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 4, 2018

Uttar Pradesh is known for its lawlessness, be it BJP or SP, there is no deterrence for the law as most of the time crime is committed in the shadow of the powerful politicians and police has a very limited role in such violence. Most of the cops are doormats of power corridors; they do not have any powers to execute their duties independently. The Bulandshahr tragedy is one of the horrible sagas in such episodes. The first-hand accounts of the eyewitnesses of this tragedy point towards a pre-planned attempt at spreading communal tension. The rumours were spread about slaughtering of cattle, whereas that was just a plot to trap a cop. Soon after the rumours spread, a violent mob gathered at the spot attacking police. A clash between the police and the villagers of Mahaw after a mob turned violent resulted in the death of station house officer (SHO) Subodh Kumar Singh and a youngster. The autopsy report of the SHO revealed that he was shot in the head. He was hit with a 32 bore bullet near his left eyebrow. Sumit, 20, breathed his last after coming in the way of police’s retaliatory firing. The sequence of events that led to the clash, however, is too interconnected to be all but a coincidence.

Dead cow meat was hanging in a sugarcane field. Head and skin of a cow were hanging as if they are clothes on a hanger. It was really strange because anybody who would indulge in cow slaughter would not put it out for display knowing the situation in the state. It was visible from far away. The Tehsildar said that as soon as the news of dead meat spread, members of Hindu Yuva Vahini, Shiv Sena, and Bajrang Dal appeared on the spot and started agitating. The crowd then loaded the carcass on a tractor and tried to take it towards Bulandshahr-Garhmukteshwar State Highway to protest. The location and timing further fuels the suspicion that it was a planned attempt to stoke tension as nearly 10 lakh Muslim devotees had gathered in Bulandshahr to pray on Monday as it was the last day of Ijtema, an essential part of the Tablighi Jamaat. The devotees were also supposed to take the Bulandshahr-Garhmukteshwar State Highway to return the very day. Back in Mahaw, the state-officers and the local police stood in front of the tractor and requested the mob to calm down. They wanted the matter to end in the village itself. However, the crowd did not budge. Almost a hundred men in tractors reached Chingravati police post on the highway. The crowd soon multiplied in size. The police tried to reason with them and questioned them to register an FIR, but the mob turned violent. Meanwhile, one of the villagers residing very close to the field where the carcass was found said that he did not see any cow meat on the preceding day. He lives right opposite the field. There was no dead meat during the previous day. It was only on Monday when the villagers saw these things. Also, they didn’t see anybody cutting the meat.

Subodh Kumar Singh was an investigating officer of the infamous Dadri lynching case in which a man named Akhlaq was killed by a mob in 2015 for allegedly storing and consuming beef.

The angry villagers and the members of various Hindu groups brought the animal remains in tractor-trolley. The activist of a prominent right-wing organisation is “Accused No. 1” in the frightening murder of the police officer by a mob that chased his car and shot him in violence over the slaughter of 25 cows. Yogesh Raj, the main accused, is a member of the Bajrang Dal. He was the man who had filed a complaint about cow slaughter after 25 carcasses were found in the forests in the area. Four people have been arrested so far. Two separate FIRs were filed — one in the violence leading to the two deaths and the other in the alleged cow slaughter case. The second FIR was filed by a sub-inspector a couple of hours later, and in this Raj is named as Accused No. 1. This FIR lists 28 people who have been booked under the charges of murder, sedition, rioting, arson, assaulting a public servant who is on duty among others. The crowd pelted stones, sticks, and illegal weapons to attack the police team and during this, the SHO was injured.

Subodh Kumar Singh joined the Uttar Pradesh Police in 1994 and after that, he was posted in UP from Bundelkhand to western Uttar Pradesh. Subodh Kumar was a resident of Pargwa, a village under the Jethra police station of Etah district. The Inspector was posted in Jhansi, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida and his last posting was in the Syana Police Station of Bulandshahr. While being in charge of Mathura’s Vrindavan, Subodh Kumar conducted an encounter with the miscreants on January 23, 2016, where he received a bullet injury on his hand. The cop is survived by two children and a wife. The brutal killing of cop hit the headlines and some right-wing supporters justified this killing on social media in the name of Cow, and other condemned; however, no one has solutions or any control over such barbaric act.

Finally, to cover the incidence, Chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 50 lakh assistance to the family members of Subodh Kumar Singh. The government also promised a job to a family member as well as “extraordinary” pension for the dependent family members. The Uttar Pradesh Police condoled Singh’s death and said that he “sacrificed his life” to uphold law and order in the district. With his demise, we have lost one of our finest officers who will always be alive in our hearts as our Hero. Our condolences for his family members and prayers for his noble soul, because they know nothing can be done beyond sympathies.

In India, where cows are venerated by a large segment of the population, cow vigilante violence involving mob attacks in the name of “cow protection” targeting mostly the Muslims, has swelled since 2014. Cattle slaughter is banned in most states of India. Recently emerged cow vigilante groups, claiming to be protecting cattle, have been violent leading to a number of deaths. Cow-protection groups see themselves as preventing theft, protecting the cow or upholding the law in an Indian state which bans cow slaughter. So far in the name of Cow and under BJP rule, 32 Indians – 24 of them Muslims – were killed and 124 injured. Many vigilante groups feel “empowered” by the victory of the Hindu nationalist BJP in the 2014 election. The Supreme Court of India in September 2017 ruled that each state should appoint a police officer in each district as the Nodal Officer to take strict action against cow vigilantism, but unfortunately, these police officers are strategically eliminated.

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

Mohammad Aziz — Voice will always be alive in the people

By

Vinod Dixit

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December 4, 2018

Popular veteran singer Mohammad Aziz passing away is a great loss of a vocalist in the film industry. He left the mortal world, but the need for his voice will felt strongly. Aziz had a vast range. He could sing at a staggering pitch. Born July 4, 1956, as Syed Mohammed Azizunnabi into a spiritual family, near Kolkata, he began to sing Rafi’s songs since childhood and was a singer in Kolkata’s pubs. A big fan of veteran singer Mohammed Rafi, Aziz started singing when he was a child.

Aziz, who was known for his love for Mohammad Rafi, started his musical career in Kolkata and then moved to Mumbai. He has sung for several A-list actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Rishi Kapoor, and Mithun Chakraborty. He had also sung several popular duets with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Sadhana Sargam, Anuradha Paudwal, and Kavita Krishnamurthy. The singer has lent his voice to over 2,000 songs in Hindi, Bengali and Odia films. His career began to flag after the onset of a new breed of singers in Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, and Abhijeet, who collectively began making a mark in the early ‘90s.

With Mard (1985), Karma (1986), Khudgarz (1987), Pyaar Ka Mandir (1988), Ram Lakhan (1989), Tridev (1989), and then some, he clearly was at the right place at the right time. As the title song, “Mard tangewala, main hun mard tangewala”, hit the charts, Hindi cinema knew there was a singer who could sing for Amitabh Bachchan and still be himself. He sang for every star and composer, big or small.

Lata Mangeshkar has rightly said, “I recall him as a very kindhearted soft-spoken man with a good mastery over the seven notes. Woh sur achcha lagate the (he pitched his voice well). Composing maestros Laxmikant-Pyarelal were very fond of Mohd Aziz’s voice. We sang the duets Patjhad sawan basant bahaar and Naam sare bhool jaaane lage for Laxmi-Pyare. These were melodious numbers at a time when melody was on the wane. I enjoyed singing with him.”

Aziz was a great human being who always met you with open arms. He could sing at a staggering pitch. He had a quite a repertoire of popular songs to his credit. The song from the movie ‘Ram Lakhan’ was one of the top hits of 1989. Although the lyrics “One Two ka Four… Four Two ka One” barely had a meaning, the song attained wide popularity. We have come across many singers who have wonderful voices and can sing well but there are a very few singers who could put life into a song the way Mohd Aziz did. He did playback singing for famous actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty and several others. In his long career, he has sung many superhit songs. He has sung almost 20 thousand songs in different Indian languages. He has recorded hundreds of devotional Bhajans and Sufi songs as well. Though he has gelled quite well with other female singers, his duets with Anuradha Paudwal, Asha Bhonsle and Kavita Krishnamurthy have been most popular during most of the 1980s and early 1990s and are still heard and watched. His voice had just the right amount of ornate density that was the crying need of the hour. From the flashy rhythms of “Aapke Aa Jaane Se” to the simpering patriotism of “Har Karam Apna Karenge”, from the excited revelry of “One Two Ka Four” to the loud proclamation of “Main Teri Mohabbat Mein”, Mohammad Aziz reflected all that made the 1980s. The songs were well-received by the masses.

A shining musical light of the 80s and early 90s has dimmed but shall never ever switch off. He shall live in the hearts and minds of music lovers forever. It’s a huge loss for all of us and the film industry and may his soul rest in peace. Mohd Aziz is not with us today but his voice will always be alive in the people.

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

In a setback to Congress, SC allows IT department to re-open tax assessment of the Gandhis

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 4, 2018

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Income Tax Department to reopen the tax assessment of top Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi for 2011-12 in connection with the National Herald case.

The apex court, however, restrained the I-T department from implementing its order in the proceedings against Rahul, who is the Congress president, and his mother Sonia till the pendency of the matter before the court.

The court also said it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the pleas filed by Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in the case

The tax matter is related to the National Herald case in which the Congress leaders are also facing criminal proceedings.

A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri posted the matter for further hearing on January 8 next year.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the I-T department, said the court should not restrain it from implementing the assessment orders against the Gandhis and others.

He said the court should hear the matter and pass appropriate orders.

The Gandhis and senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes have challenged the Delhi High Court’s September 10 verdict by which their plea against the re-opening of their tax assessments for 2011-12 was dismissed.

Stop Child Marriage: Lack of knowledge enfeebles law enforcement

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 3, 2018

Politicians of India are a curse; on the one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shouting slogans “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (save girl child and educate her). But that was for political mileage! In reality, the picture is very cruel and no state government or central government has made any efforts to save the girl child. Rape, abuse, molestation, honour killing — all these are happening on a daily basis but the law is clueless. There are many reasons for child marriage in India and multiple barriers to its elimination. Poverty, weak enforcement of laws, patriarchal social norms intended to ensure family honour are significant factors that increase the risk of a girl being married off while still a child. Also, girls from poor households are more likely to marry as children since marriage becomes a solution to reduce the size of the family. The cost of marriage plays a big role in families sliding further into poverty and these high costs contribute to girls being forced to marry when other ceremonies are taking place in the family or when older siblings are being married. Neither the government could address poverty nor girl’s safety. Moreover, some of the BJP leaders were more vocal in advocating child marriages.

Child marriage is another curse; India has the largest number of child brides in the world. One out of every three women (20-24 years) in rural India is married before she is 18. Globally, the proportion of women aged between 20 and 24 (who were married before their 18th birthday) dropped from 32 per cent around 1990 to 26 per cent around 2015.

Evidently, early marriages have social acceptance and this attributes to the low number of reported cases in India. Girls standing up to stop their own marriage also get resolved without any case lodged against parents. As per NCRB, 169, 222 and 280 cases have been registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively, and in 2016, it is 326. This indicates that reporting of child marriage has increased. Another dilemma is lack of age proof. Birth certificates are not made for girl children and hence, the reporting becomes difficult. Child marriage is a violation of child rights and has a negative impact on physical growth, health, mental and emotional development, and education opportunities. It also affects society as a whole since child marriage reinforces a cycle of poverty and perpetuates gender discrimination, illiteracy, and malnutrition as well as high infant and maternal mortality rates. Child marriage can be seen across the country but it is far higher in the rural than in the urban areas. Girls from poorer families, scheduled castes and tribes, and with lower education levels are more likely to marry at a younger age. Because there are limited education opportunities, low quality of education, inadequate infrastructure, lack of transport, and therefore, concerns about girls’ safety while travelling to school significantly contribute to keeping girls out of school and therefore, it tends to favour child marriage. Although there is a widespread awareness of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 (PCMA) and the illegality of child marriage, individually people feel that the traditions and norms are stronger than the law and the institutions and rarely report cases. On top of this, there is limited capacity among the officials and lack of willingness to go against community decisions, since officials are themselves part of the community. And above all, the politicians to gain vote assure further non-interference. We might be fighting for equality, no gender biases but girls are often seen as a liability with the limited economic role. Women’s work is confined to the household and is not valued. In addition, there is the problem of dowry. Despite the fact that dowry has been prohibited for five decades (Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961), it is still common for parents of girls in India to give gifts to the groom and/or his family either in cash or kind. The dowry amount increases with the age and the education level of the girl. Hence, the “incentive” of the system of dowry perpetuates child marriage.

Law enforcement to prohibit child marriage is relatively weak. Limited and detailed knowledge on how to apply laws and little understanding of the consequences of the laws, as well as limited trust in institutions enforcing them, undermines the implementation of the PCMA.

We all know that the Child Marriage is widespread across India, with nearly half of brides married as girls. While there has been a decline in the incidence of child marriage nationally (from 54 per cent in 1992-93 to 27 per cent in 2016) and in nearly all states, the pace of change remains slow, especially for girls in the age group 15-18 years. There are also variations across different groups, particularly excluded communities, castes, and tribes — those are the vote bank of the political parties. A girl with 10 years of education has a six times lower chance of being pushed into marriage before she is 18. Otherwise, they face violence, abuse, and exposure to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases because they have fewer skills and less negotiating power. Nearly 13 per cent of married girls between 15-19 years of age experience sexual violence by their husbands compared with 10 per cent of women experiencing such violence between the age group of 30-39.

We the people randomly talk about it, present statistics, and feel bad about it but just feeling bad is no solution to growing problems. Hope every citizen senses responsibility and the politicians who advocate early marriages realize what they are up to.

– With Inputs from Agencies

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

Rest in Peace ‘Beti Bachao’: Govt should hang its head in shame!

By

Moumita Mukherjee

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December 3, 2018

Prime Minister seems to be least interested in his declaration of “Save Daughters, Educate Daughters” (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao). He just made such announcements to please the voters and his party leaders have exactly the opposite approach. Meanwhile, according to data obtained from all the PPOs of Haryana, the number of child marriage cases registered in the state has risen from 71 in 2008 to 614 so far in 2018. The rise was 155 per cent between 2014 and 2018. That is when BJP came to power in both the state and the centre. Earlier this year, UNICEF had also released a report stating that Child Marriage still remains a social evil that India has seemingly had a hard time eradicating.

BJP volunteer Vikas Kumar Gunjan stated, “Be it BJP or Congress, they don’t care about the social cause and betterment. All that matters to them are votes even if it comes by backing the social evil. The common people really need to think now what is needed to lift their lives.”

As per a statement by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to the Lok Sabha, 326 cases were registered in 2016 under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, an increase from 293 cases that were registered in 2015. There is also a year-on-year in child marriage cases from 2014, when 280 cases were registered. The highest number of cases was registered in Tamil Nadu (55), followed by Karnataka at 51. Other states witnessing a high number of cases of child marriages were West Bengal (41), Assam (23), Telangana (19), Andhra Pradesh (19), Maharashtra (16), Haryana (14), and Gujarat (12). Even Puducherry, which had zero reports of child marriage cases in 2014 and 2015, registered 5 in 2016.

Child marriage, which leads to the exploitation of young girls and damage to their health, childhood, and education, is still a curse on India, a country seeking to be a global leader and one of the major problems in states like Haryana and Rajasthan. Rajasthan hasn’t grown out of child marriage traditions but the political leaders are known to clearly support the social evil for their political gains. However, now we have to see how the saffron party will respond to the irresponsible statement from one of its candidates — Rajasthan (Sojat) BJP leader Shobha Chauhan.

A BJP candidate for 2018 State Assembly polls from Sojat in Pali district, Shobha, said that there will be no intervention in child marriages conducted by a particular community in the area if she wins the poll. She was addressing a public rally at Sneh Sammelan at Peepaliya Kala area of Sojat and the comment reportedly came after she was informed that some members of the Dewasi community hold child marriages but are interrupted by the police. Her address was captured on video and it took no time to go viral and started getting sharp criticism.

Hindu Mahasabha member Ambika Nayak expressed her disgust saying, “Where will they take this country! What is the Constitution for?”

Aam Aadmi Party leader Preeti Sharma Menon reacted, “Shobha Chouhan is the truck face of BJP, a regressive and anti-women party that actually promotes child abuse.”

She further added, “I wish the Election Commission in India was not a puppet; else it would have disqualified a candidate that was openly threatening to commit crimes against children.”

Rajasthan will vote for 199 seats of the 200-member assembly on December 7 and counting will take place on December 11. Chouhan has been served a notice and an explanation has also been sought for her remarks. While the entire country is busy reacting on the controversy, the focus should be on the gloomy state of violence against minor girls foremostly raising the question on the government’s determination to address the issue.

Another BJP supporter said, “Absolutely ridiculous promise! The 21st-century leadership has to reinvent itself.”

The practice, where an underage girl (below the age of 18 years) is married to another underage boy (below the age of 21 years) or an adult man, is banned in India under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. The law has provisions to punish any adult participating in or facilitating such a marriage with up to two years in prison or a fine of as much as Rs 100,000 or both. Moreover, the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment last year ruled that sexual intercourse with a wife under 18, the legal age of consent, is rape.

With the BJP in power, there has been a rise of regressive forces around the country and especially in Rajasthan. Moreover, such irresponsible statements are nothing new as there are more than one representatives of the incumbent government who endorses the illegal act of child marriage.

In an interview this year, BJP legislator from Madhya Pradesh Gopal Parmar blamed late marriages as the reason for Love Jihad and expressed his support for early marriages because child marriages, including those who never saw each other before, used to last “forever”, unlike divorces that are commonplace today. He also said, “Adolescent girls will not get ‘distracted’ if their marriages have already been fixed.” He also said, “I married as a child, and I ensured that marriages of my children — two daughters and a son — were fixed before they attained youth. They are all happy.”

There is another leader from Jharkhand, BJP President Tala Marandi who faced an accusation of marrying his son Munna Marandi (20) to an 11-year-old girl. The minor had submitted an application before the State Commission for Women against Munna for sexually abusing her for two years with the promise of marriage.

Advocate Amol Sutrale stated, “In India, no one questions our age-old customs to preserve the delicate ties of maintaining good relations. This is why customs create laws and not vice versa. Can BJP or any other party promise any support to child marriage at present in India? I don’t think so. Such support for child marriage is illegal and is made only to gather votes.

If the people of a particular region in India follow a tradition without any compulsion, then the candidate can only assure legislative provisions after making laws in support of such tradition by passing it in Assembly by vote. But empty assurances are not going to help such a candidate.”