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Maharashtra Politics – Bargain, Betrayal, Breach of trust and Beyond

November 12, 2019

Maharashtra is presenting a perfect example for political imbroglio. The confusion and dithering are reflecting a political quagmire. Who will rule Maharashtra was a million-dollar question? Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari finally recommended the President’s rule in the state as uncertainty over government formation prevails, the single-largest party and the second largest Shiv Sena have failed to stake a claim to form a government in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena and Congress were planning to approach the Supreme Court in case, the President’s rule was imposed in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena’s attempts at cobbling an anti-BJP alliance hit a wall with the Congress, after a day of discussions, stating that it needed to hold more discussions with Sharad Pawar. Congress president Sonia Gandhi sent her top party leaders to Mumbai for discussions on government formation after speaking to Sharad Pawar on the phone. However, Sonia Gandhi is uncomfortable with the idea of having a truck with the Shiv Sena. The Congress both the state and the national leadership is also of the view that any talks for government formation with the Shiv Sena can happen only after Uddhav Thackeray’s party declares complete dissociation with the BJP. This is where the Shiv Sena finds it most scratchy but they had to obey the condition by asking their leader to resign from Modi cabinet. This is also evident from the Shiv Sena’s reported outreach to the RSS for a possible truce with the BJP. Some reports said that the Shiv Sena specifically wanted Union minister Nitin Gadkari to oversee the power-sharing negotiation with the BJP, but none of them came for intervention.

Assembly polls results were announced on October 24. NDA alliance of BJP and Shiv Sena which emerged victorious failed to form the government due to differences over power-sharing. Later, BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party in Maharashtra assembly polls with 105 seats declined to stake the claim. Shiv Sena which bagged 56 seats in the 288-member Assembly expressed its willingness to form the government. However, they failed to do in the stipulated time and did not get additional time from Governor to submit letters of support from the NCP and Congress. The NCP with 54 MLAs has currently a discussion with its alliance partner Congress to support Shiv Sena and to cross halfway mark of 145. But NCP and Congress failed to prove numbers, and Governor was not in mood to give time to any of these parties. Finally, he took on to twitter and opted for Presidential rule in state.

In India, President’s rule is the suspension of state government and imposition of direct central government rule in a state. Under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, in the event that a state government is unable to function according to constitutional provisions, the Central government can take direct control of the state machinery. Subsequently, executive authority is exercised through the centrally appointed governor, who has the authority to appoint other administrators to assist them. The administrators are usually nonpartisan retired civil servants. When a state government is functioning correctly, it is run by an elected Council of Ministers responsible to the state’s legislative assembly (Vidhan Sabha). The council is led by the chief minister, who is the de facto chief executive of the state; the Governor is only a de jure constitutional head. However, during President’s rule, the Council of Ministers is dissolved, vacating the office of Chief Minister. Furthermore, the Vidhan Sabha is either prorogued or dissolved, necessitating a new election. Though the purpose of this Article is to give more powers to central government to preserve the unity and integrity of the nation, it has often been misused by the ruling parties at the centre, who used it as a pretext to dissolve state governments ruled by political opponents. Thus, it is seen by many as a threat to the federal state system. Since the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950, the central government has used this Article several times to dissolve elected state governments by imposing President’s rule. Article 356 has always been the focal point of a wider debate of the federal structure of government in Indian polity. Anyways, Governor need to be unbiased by giving required or similar time to each party to prove its stand.

Sena was pretending to be tough. NCP was sitting on the fence. Congress has declared it will sit in the opposition. Sena+NCP do not have majority. BJP+Sena has majority. BJP+NCP has equal number as BJP+Sena. Sena wanted to form government with NCP and outside support from Congress. Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut tried their best to fall on the laps of Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar, but nothing worked for them. However, big or mighty the elephant is, at times, even a small insect can be an eyesore to it. But as long as it avails the option of exercising restraint and patience. When pushed to the edge, then you will see the elephant’s nascent nature. BJP did not give in to the Shiv Sena’s demand for power tactics, as their demands were not affordable to BJP and also exudes temerity and that too with a major party or the incumbent govt, which has won almost double the number of seats. It looks Shiv Sena has strayed too much from the expected behaviour and a reversal is not so easy. Surprisingly, in such crucial scenario Amit Shah played behind the curtains, Raj Thackeray was dead silent and no one from central government even remotely tried to mitigate. Finally, the President’s rule was imposed and polls might be held later, BJP can romp home without much hiccups or the others three may reached expected majority, what ever had to happen will happen with the time. In nutshell, Shiv Sena succeeded in keeping Devendra out of power, and BJP too made sure that no one forms government in state.

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Parliamentary panel says make cancer treatment affordable, upgrade infrastructure

Web Team

November 12, 2019

A parliamentary panel has urged the government to upgrade the infrastructure for cancer treatment and make it affordable by enlarging the network of a leading healthcare institute, as it expressed concern over nearly two-thirds of the patients dying in the country.

The parliamentary standing committee on science and technology, environment, forest and climate change submitted its report on “an expanded role for the department of atomic energy in cancer treatment in India through an enlarged network of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in Mumbai”.

The report was submitted by the panel members, including chairman Jairam Ramesh, to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday, the upper house secretariat said in a statement.

The panel has recommended to set up a hub and spoke model under the Tata Memorial Centre, which is the leader in cancer treatment and is supported by the Department of Atomic Energy.

“It (committee) recommended wider adoption of ‘Hub and Spoke’ model proposed by Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) across the country,” the statement said. “TMC has proposed that common and less complex cancer care facilities should be provided close to patients’ homes (spoke) to create minimum disruption in their lives and that of their families.”

As per the report, the treatment of uncommon cancers and those with complex treatment protocols can be provided by the expert centres of excellence (hubs).

Expressing concern over 68 per cent of cancer patients dying in the country, the committee has strongly urged the government to expand and upgrade cancer-treatment infrastructure for affordable and quality care by enlarging the network of the Tata Memorial Centre, the panel said in the report.

It also suggests setting up of a high-level steering committee, which will be headed by the minister of state for atomic energy. It will also include chief secretaries of all the states and administrators of Union territories, as well as director of the TMC as members to work out modalities for rolling out of hub and spoke model in a time-bound manner.

After presenting the report to Naidu, Ramesh explained that the parliamentary committee took up the cancer care issue since the Department of Atomic Energy is in the jurisdiction of the committee, besides the environmental aspect of incidence of cancer, the secretariat said.

Naidu complimented the committee for submitting the report and said he would ask the ministers concerned to have the recommendations of the committee examined for necessary action.

Lord Ram gets his land-Part II

Vinod Dixit

November 12, 2019

The Indian National Congress also deserves praise for respecting the verdict of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya case and also for appealing to all the parties concerned and to all communities to abide by the secular values and spirit of fraternity enshrined in our Constitution and to maintain peace and harmony. This is the historic day for India – the largest secular democracy in the world that saw the end of a dispute spanning several centuries which had pitted the Hindu and Muslim communities against each other in the courts. History books clearly establish that there was a temple and it is the unshakeable faith of believers that this is the birthplace of Ram which itself is the greatest evidence. It is nice that at last the temple justice has resolved the decades old case amicably.

The verdict is good news for all, ultimately a controversial dispute ended peacefully. We both the Muslims and Hindus should obey the court verdict. The judgement of the Honorable Supreme Court is on equitable principles and acceptable one by all. The honest act of the judiciary on a sensitive issue pending since decades on silly pretexts deserves all praise and shows the backbone of Indian judicial systems. The verdict has awarded the land at the heart of the clash to a Hindu litigant over Muslim objections and represents a major victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Credit goes to Ramchandra Paramhans, engineered by Ashok Singhal and charioted by L K Advani the Ram Janmabhoomi movement which catapulted the BJP to the national limelight in the 1990s. Ayodhya and Advani gets justifiably equal space as he took lead on the Ram chariot that traversed the entire country. Ashok Singhal was also a part who came to the forefront of the movement in 1984 when he was VHP joint general secretary who organised the first “dharam sansad” and mobilised saints in support of the Ram temple issue.

Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya title dispute case, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has rightly said that the judgement should not be seen as anybody’s victory or loss. The government had always did its best to persuade Vishwa Hindu Parishad to postpone the Shilanyas or the foundation stone lying ceremony till the court delivered its judgement. Alternatively it was suggested that the leaders of Babri Masjid Committee and VHP sit together to work out a compromise formula. Various ways suggested but to no avail. The Shilanyas was duly performed at a distance from the disputed territory with a clear and a firm declaration that Shri Ram Temple when constructed would cover the disputed territory and structure also. What we need is to give due respect to the law and the temple should come up where it is given permission to setup as it affects the belief of close to a billion people. PM Modi has praised 130 crore Indians for maintaining calm during the verdict and has expected that this very spirit of unity and togetherness power the development trajectory of our nation and every Indian be empowered. Let us hope that the verdict brings more peace and harmony to the country and strengthen the social fabric.

Also Read: Lord Ram gets his land-Part I

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

Letters to the Editor: 12 November, 2019

Web Team

November 12, 2019

Team India clinch T-20 series

The much expected series victory of Team India was registered at Nagpur against babes Bangladesh. The visitors frittered away a good start to seal the second match and played into the hands of Team India in the decider. Deepak Chahar made a splash by becoming the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in T-20 internationals. The feat will go down in history for another reason as he took six wickets for 7 runs in 3.2 overs, which are the best figures by a bowler in the format. It surpasses the previous best of 6 for 8 by Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis. It was indeed a magic spell of bowling which saw Team India clinch the T-20 series 2-1.

Calicut Ramani

Make public transport safer for women

Tejaswini BEST buses exclusively for the fair sex may not necessarily be safe for women. Mumbai is a responsible city and it is the men who come to the rescue of women whenever there is a security threat or crisis. I travel on local trains daily and it is the men on adjacent compartment to women’s bogey (which is separated by a half grill) who come to women’s rescue whenever a drunkard, thief, men with dubious intentions etc try to enter their space. Also, it is the men who jump for help whenever there is a medical emergency and a few untoward incidents are no reason to differentiate separate travel facilities on basis of gender.

CCTV cameras, earmarked seats for women or dividing bus seating arrangements between sexes are good enough for their safety and there is really no need for separate bus facilities for them. Bus drivers and conductors are mostly men keeping in mind the nature of their physical jobs and they too can misbehave in buses exclusively for women. Education is the need of the hour and stringent punishment for men who play with the modesty of the fair sex during travel would bring down or eliminate cases of molestations in public transport.

S.N. Kabra

Introduce Bengaluru-New York, Sydney flights

The recent announcement related to commencement of new winter schedules from Kempegowda International Airport is welcome. One is overwhelmed with the announcement of new connections from Bengaluru to UDAN cities like Tuticorin and Jharusguda and also most importantly to the international destinations like Amsterdam and Addis Ababa.

Further it is given to understand that the international airport at Bengaluru has no direct connectivity to New York and Sydney. The aviation authorities should now emphasise to introduce a new direct flight connectivity, subject to schedule availability, to both the cities of New York and Sydney. This will further enable faster and easier direct connectivity to these cities, as most of the business/operations of USA and Australia are based in Bangalore.

Further Bengaluru International Airport is now witnessing frequent new additions to daily/weekly schedules to both domestic and international destinations including UDAN flights and also towards Asia Pacific and South Asian cities. Thus it is high time that airline carriers now consider to develop a new hub at Kempegowda International Airport to facilitate and support such a massive growth of airline route network from Bengaluru.

Varun Dambal

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

Ball is in NCP’s court – Maharashtra still in turmoil

Afternoon Voice

November 12, 2019

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had invited BJP and Shiv Sena to form the government but they were unable to prove their majority. So the governor has now invited NCP to form the government. The governor has given NCP time till 8.30 pm on Tuesday to prove majority. Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah’s silence on Shiv Sena-BJP tussle was very much surprising. The political scenario of Maharashtra took a dramatic turn. Arvind Sawant, Sena’s lone minister in Modi Cabinet, too resigned from his ministry. That meets the prime condition of NCP to align with Sena. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that the Governor has given them less time to prove majority on the floor. He further added that BJP was given 72 hours to stake claim but Shiv Sena has been given only 24 hours. With in this time, Uddhav not only asked his minister to resign for Modi cabinet, he also sought support from Sonia Gandhi.

When asked MNS spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande he said, “Shiv Sena- BJP has betrayed voters who voted for the alliance. People will teach them a lesson in next election.”

BJP spokesperson Vishwas Pathak said, “Essentially all spokesperson are not supposed to give reactions to media. Only Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil can speak on this issue.” And he just refrained making any comments. It is worth mentioning that people have voted the BJP-Sena alliance to the power. But Sena broke this pre-poll alliance on account of denied promises by BJP for the Chief Minister’s chair. Outgoing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denied stating that there was no agreement on so called 50-50 formula and Amit Shah never assured Sena of sharing chief minister’s chair for 2.5 years tenure to each. Sena remained adamant for chief minister’s post till last moment and rifted apart. Eventually, CM Fadnavis resigned on November 8 as tenure of existing assembly was ending on next day i.e. November 9.

There are speculations that the BJP is going to replace Sena’s Arvind Sawant with Narayan Rane to irritate Shiv Sena. Rane had started his political career with the Sena but he abandoned party due to differences within. Later on, he joined Congress. After resigning from Congress he launched his own political party called Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha. Recent past he was about to join BJP and now he would be even given a ministry.

Addressing the media in Mumbai Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray said, “Rather than going into if’s and but’s and anticipatory questions both the parties have been speaking to us however, all the talks are going on. Shiv Sena is the second-largest party. We have asked for more time, but the Governor has refused us.”

Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena – New political chapter in chaos

Vaidehi Taman

November 11, 2019

Very much unexpected and some new combination, Maharashtra is in political confusion. In a fresh twist to the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena conveyed its willingness and staked its claim to form the government in the state. They showed their willingness and also risked our claim. They sought additional time of two days from the Governor, which was declined. Meanwhile, now governor has invited NCP to prove its majority. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to discuss getting together to form government in Maharashtra in anticipation that he would immediately get some help to prove his majority. The meeting took place after the Sena’s only minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s government, Arvind Sawant, resigned. That was NCP’s first condition for alliance with Shiv Sena to cut the complete ties with BJP and enter in new coalition. The Sena’s pullout was a key condition of the NCP to discuss an alliance in Maharashtra. In spite of obeying all the orders of Pawar, Uddhav could not get go ahead from him. Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi too kept him on hold stating they will revert back. The Congress indicated that it had not decided on supporting the Shiv Sena after many meetings and a phone conversation between Uddhav Thackeray and Sonia Gandhi. Uddhav Thackeray made “numerous calls” as the two ideologically mismatched parties tried to get past their differences to collaborate. Sharad Pawar tried to be the bridge between Uddhav Thackeray and a reluctant Congress as alliances shape-shifted in one of India’s biggest states.

The political turmoil continues, Shiv Sena went pin to polls but could not get numbers and support and finally they are on hold, everyone thought that the state seemed to incline towards a Sena-led government with NCP and Congress leaders discussing their options. Uddhav Thackeray pushed back his meeting with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari as the NCP left it to the Congress to take a call on whether to support a Sena-led government in Maharashtra. Sonia Gandhi met top party leaders and then called former chief ministers and others from Maharashtra to sound them out. Congress ministers has differences while accepting to align with Shiv Sena, the party which was very vocal and nasty attacking NCP-Congress in state. On the other hand BJP now remained silent and watching the drama.

Uddhav Thackeray knocked all the possible doors as the ideologically mismatched parties tried to get past their differences to collaborate in a government in Maharashtra. In the recent past many Congress and NCP leaders were taken into Shiv Sena denting these old national parties. So having Congress-NCP in the corridors was not new to Sena, but allegiance with extreme right-wingers could be suicidal for NCP and Congress, because people of Maharashtra never voted them to power. But at the same time, Congress-Sena and NCP always remained as friends and where ever they had to stretch their muscles, they exchanged good gestures. If we go to flashback, its in Congress era Shiv Sena was given birth, Congress that always supported Balasaheb. He was the strongman of Maharashtra who openly supported the proclamation of Emergency by the Indira Gandhi government. Shiv Sena has never been apologetic about Bal Thackeray’s support to Indira Gandhi‘s Emergency. Writing in Saamana last year, party spokesman Sanjay Raut said, “If the day when the Emergency was proclaimed by Indira Gandhi is to be called ‘Black Day‘, then there were many such ‘black days’ under the [current] central government. The day demonetisation was announced should also be called ‘Black Day’, as it created the economic anarchy.” However, support for the Emergency led to a serious drubbing of the Shiv Sena in the 1978 Maharashtra Assembly and local body elections. It hurt the party to such an extent that founder-chief Bal Thackeray offered to resign at a rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. He withdrew his resignation following uproar against it in the party. But gradually and timely, he held hands of similar ideological party and that was BJP. Since then Shiv Sena always acted as big brother, but in the recent past Uddhav had to take lot of humiliation from new Modi’s BJP.

Sena and BJP were never in good terms, they were with each other for the sake of power and there were no ideological differences. BJP of this era gone not only arrogant but also unreasonable, the party also wanted to get rid of Devendra because of his greed and loud mouth speeches. He created rift within the Maharashtra BJP. He also failed to take people in to confidence. Meanwhile, in spite in alliance Shiv Sena and Uddhav tried their level best to safeguard the democracy by opposing and attacking BJP and Modi’s high-handed moves. Political Pundits always predicted about the rift between Sena-BJP sooner and the later. At the end, Uddhav Thackeray failed to show the numbers and now ball is in NCP’s court. Top Congress leaders, former Maharashtra CMs Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde as well as state unit chief Balasaheb Thorat met party president Sonia Gandhi but could not draw any conclusion. If these three parties come together, it would be difficult for BJP to retain power in state in coming future, because their seat share will never go beyond these three. The Sena is the second largest party in the 288-member House with 56 MLAs after the BJP (105). Given the stalemate between the two alliance partners, the role of the Congress with its 44 legislators and the Nationalist Congress Party with 54 MLAs is crucial. With this episode, the BJP and the Sena, long-term allies for around 30 years comes to an end. Well voters are actually confused because Sena has given them a faith that they can control BJP’s arrogance and still remain in coalition and all of sudden they took U turn and nothing is yet clear to people.

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

Ram gets justice in his land

R K Sinha

November 11, 2019

Finally Ram Temple will be built in the land where Lord Ram was born. Supreme Court of India has on the basis of evidence has said that Babri Masjid was built at the place which was birth place of Lord Ram. This judgement of the Supreme Court is significant since it was delivered unanimously by the 5 –Judge Constitution Bench which also included Justice S Abdul Nazeer who belongs to Muslim community. All judges admitted that it was the place of birth of Ram which was based on research oriented excavation of the site by the Archeological Survey of India. The ASI had discovered that there was a Ram Temple at the site where Mir Baqi, a Minister of Mughal Emperor Babar built Babri Masjid in 1528. This helped the Supreme Court in deciding the case.

The Supreme Court Bench admitted that Babri Masjid was built at the same place where Ram Temple was constructed in 12th Century. However, the Constitution Bench also noted the fact that there is no evidence to show that the Ram Temple was destroyed before building the Babri Masjid. Obviously it is not easy to find evidence of an act committed in 1528 in the year 2019. But the Supreme Court outright rejected the contention of the Sunni Waqf Board that Babri Masjid was built on open or virgin land.

With the verdict of the Supreme Court on November 9 five hundred year old dispute is also over now. Grand Temple will be built at the birth place of Lord Ram. Many lives were lost by forces who tried to disturb communal harmony on this issue in the past. In His own land of Bharat Ram was subjected to disrespect. Can anyone imagine Bharat without Ram? Ram is present everywhere in every soul of Indians. For thousands of years Ram has been worshipped and is revered by all. Act of encroachment on birth place of Ram is not less than an act of sin. The Supreme Court has ended that piece of injustice by its November 9 judgement.

The judgement of the Supreme Court should also be seen as a big step in building social and communal harmony. Though the Supreme Court has rejected the claim of Sunni Waqf Board on 2.77 acre of land at the site, it has at the same time directed the Central Government and the State Government of Uttar Pradesh to allot 5 acre of land to Muslim community for building a new mosque in Ayodhya. This directive assumes significance since it is also a step in building communal harmony in the country.

It is unfortunate that Zafaryab Jilani, a senior member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and advocate who pleaded the case of Sunni Waqf Board is making negative statement on the verdict. Jilani is saying that the Supreme Court has not done justice to the Muslims although he has been maintaining throughout the hearing of the petition that the judgement of the Supreme Court will be acceptable to all and no question should be raised once the judgement is delivered.

Like Jilani, Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owasi is also making noise by criticising the judgement when he says that the Supreme Court had given its verdict on faith and not on facts. Owaisi has also rejected the offer of 5 acre land to be given to build a new mosque in Ayodhya by saying that “We don’t need land in charity to build mosque”.

It will be in the fitness of things that contempt of court should be filed against Jilani and Owasi who are trying to destablise the social and communal harmony of the country by making irresponsible statement. Jilani and Owasi forget that by making irresponsible statement they are giving ammunition to anti-social elements in the society to flare communal disharmony and may be even communal violence.

The Supreme Court in its judgement has also rejected the claim of Nirmohi Akhara who was a party in the title suite petition. The verdict is not in favour or against any party in the dispute and it is based on justice and on evidence. There is peace and harmony in the country after the judgement. People are doing their job and leading normal life all over the country. How a small section of society can be given license to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of the society post the Ayodhya verdict.

There is remarkable change in the Indian society which is not the same as it was in 1992. We are living in 2019. India has become a matured nation. It has the resilience to take any judgement on any dispute.

(The writer is a Rajya Sabha Member)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within 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.

Lord Ram gets his land-Part I

Vinod Dixit

November 11, 2019

Kudos to the Supreme Court’s verdict on the decades-long Ayodhya–Babri Masjid dispute for reaffirming the independence, transparency, and farsightedness of our judiciary” and for increasing the citizens’ faith in the system. The Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi-led Bench of Justices Sharad Arvind Bobde, Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S. Abdul Nazeer and archaeologist K K Mohamed, a member of the first team who carried out excavation at the Babri site deserves big kudos for taking all necessary safety measures before articulating much awaited and sensitive verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi. The Supreme Court has rightly held the rights of Ram Lalla Virajman, the presiding deity of the disputed site. Ram Janmabhoomi has been the site of religious dissent and much bitterness all through history. In 1992, however, clashes between Hindus and Muslims escalated to unprecedented levels causing disturbances all over the country and affecting the lives of many hundreds. This Ayodhya land dispute had started in the way back 1853-1860.

The controversy began in the year 1853 after the construction of the mosque and the Hindus alleged that the place where the mosque was built was earlier the temple of Lord Rama, which was demolished, and the mosque was constructed. Ayodhya dispute had affected almost all the sections of Indian society. It is very sad that so many lives have been lost for this and now the Indian people would finally realise that all religions should try to unite people and not divide. Hindus consider Ayodhya as the birthplace of Lord Ram. They have religious sentiments. Hindus have faith and belief that Lord Ram was born under the dome. The verdict has brought joy and relief to the people of both the communities. The way all have treated this judgement with balanced opinion keeping in view of national interests is highly appreciable.

Ram Janmabhoomi is one of the major pilgrimage centers for the Hindus of India. In Ramayana the mythical granth of Hindus, it is said that Ram’s birthplace is on the banks of the Sarayu River in Ayodhya town. Ayodhya has been in the midst of a dispute and controversy, since last many decades, which has only increased since late 1980s. The controversial issue of Ram Janambhoomi and Babri Masjid has always been a big influence on Indian politics for several decades. We all are aware of the fact that the disputed land at Ayodhya in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh has always played major role in disturbing the communal harmony of India. In a unanimous judgement, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict in the decades-old Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, directing that Hindus will get the disputed land for the construction of a Ram temple while a suitable plot of land, measuring five acres, will be given to Sunni Waqf Board. In 1992, the demolition of Babri Masjid by Hindu nationalists gave birth to widespread Hindu-Muslim violence. Archaeological excavation has indicated the presence of a temple under the mosque’s debris. According to the reports from 2003, the Archeological Survey of India has found proof of the Ram temple’s existence predating the mosque at this site.

(This is the first part of the article and the remaining portion will continue tomorrow)

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

Letters to the Editor: 11 November, 2019

Web Team

November 11, 2019

SC sews an eternal stitch

Not far away is a day when we shall see a magnificent temple and a grand mosque come up in Ayodhya and we shall also see thousands of devotees of all faiths thronging to these places which shall turn into a land of worship spreading peace, harmony, goodwill and shall be a Haven for humanity. Ayodhya should turn into the world’s capital of harmony and goodwill. This is not just a dream or an imagination but something that is going to be a reality. From now on we can proudly walk hand in hand embracing one another irrespective of religion to greater heights. And as our honourable Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said- let’s leave the past behind and move towards building an India of peace and harmony.
The great verdict is not a loss or a win for any religion or party but a great victory to us Indians to show the world the greatness of our Indianness which in fact is synonymous to oneness. Jai Hind.

M Pradyu

Rishabh Pant’s wicket keeping skills is a matter of concern

Rishabh Pant’s wicket keeping has been shabby and he deserves to be replaced as a keeper. Wicket Keeping is an specialised job and even a small error of judgement can cost India an important game. Shikhar Dhawan too looks shaky and we may also need to replace him if his poor form continues for a few more game though he should be given chances for a few more matches to prove his credentials.

S.N. Kabra

Good judgement against rapist

A farmer from Thane has been sentenced to life by a court for raping and killing a 17 year old girl in 2014. District Judge H.M. Patwardhan pronounced Shankar Bhogade guilty under Sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Panel Code and provision of the protection of children from sexual offences act. Of course this is a commendable decision which will play an important role in curbing rape.

H. Magdi.

Proceedings of Constitution Bench of Supreme Court should be live-telecast

The entire nation curiously depended on TV news-channels on November 9, for getting live updates of historic judgment on Ram-Janmbhoomi case by a five-member Special Bench of Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India, for which there was an unprecedented 40-day long continuous hearing resulting in a long 1045-page verdict.

System should be formulated whereby proceedings of any such Special Bench and Constitution Benches of Supreme Court may be telecast live for benefit of public especially law-students and researchers. If complete proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can be telecast live, there must not be any problem in starting a new era of telecasting live proceedings of Special and Constitutional benches of Supreme Court. Even a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India on July, 9 2018 expressed willingness for live streaming of its proceedings.

Also it should be compulsory to audio-record of all court-proceedings. Recordings may be replayed in case of need. With court-rooms equipped with necessary wiring-slots for the purpose, Supreme Court should take immediate steps for compulsory audio-recording of proceedings in all court-rooms right from Supreme Court to trial-courts including High Courts. Such audio-recordings may be available soon after court-proceedings are over for the day on payment-basis. System will induce much-needed transparency, accountability and responsibility for all present in court-rooms also effectively checking corruption at different levels in judiciary. It is also observed that at times judges forget their verbal directions on next date of hearing.

Madhu Agrawal

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

Over 5 lakh devotees to take holy dip in Saryu on Kartik Poornima today

Web Team

November 11, 2019

Lakhs of devotees are thronging the town for taking a dip in the River Saryu on Kartik Poornima on Tuesday, the first major congregation of devotees here after the historic judgement in the Ayodhya case.

The Supreme Court on Saturday paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, while directing the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.

Devotees will take the dip in Saryu in Ram ki Paidi and Naya Ghat and adjoining areas, officials said.

“Over five lakh devotees are likely to take a dip on the occasion of Kartik Poornima in Ayodhya. On normal days, around 8,000 visitors visit Ramjanmabhoomi for darshan. On festive occasion, the number crosses 50,000.Now, since the judgement has come on Ramjanmabhoomi, the number of visitors may increase as well,” Ayodhya District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha told agencies. He said the situation is absolutely normal around the Ramjanmabhoomi area.

“We have taken all precautionary steps to ensure security, and also to make sure that devotees do not face problem, and have a safe and hassle-free darshan.Posting of police officials and magistrates have been done keeping this in mind,” he said

For the convenience of visitors coming to Ayodhya, various health, sanitation and drinking water facilities among other have been put in place.

Water tankers have been installed at around 18 places, 20 medical camps with ambulance are ready besides 30 mobile toilets.

Deputy Director, Information, Ayodhya division, Murlidhar Singh said, “The bathing in Saryu river will commence at 4.00 pm on Monday, and will continue till Tuesday evening, since as per the Hindu calendar Poornima will begin on Monday evening.”

Elaborating on the significance of Kartik Poornima, Prayagraj-based convenor of organisations Ram Naam Bank and Ram Sewa Trust Ashutosh Varshney, told PTI, “The full moon day during the month of Kartik is known as Kartik Poornima. It is also known as Dev Deepawali — the Deepawali celebrated by Gods. This Dev Deepawali comes 15 days after Deepawali celebrated by us on Amavasya day.

“Earthen lamps are lit at all temples as well as at the bank of River Ganga on the day of Kartik Purnima,” he said. “This Kartik Poornima holds special significance as it comes days after the Supreme Court gave its verdict in the Ayodhya dispute case,” he said.

Sushil Kashyap, a resident of Gonda, who arrived here on Monday morning along with his family, said, “This dip is special for me as it comes days after the Supreme Court gave its verdict in the Ayodhya case.

“Every year, at least one member of our family comes to participate in Kartik Poornima festivities in Ayodhya, and take dip in the holy Saryu,” he added.

Mitthulal, a resident of neighbouring Barabanki district, who arrived here along with his grandsons, said, “We will try to finish our bathing at the earliest, and then offer prayers and pay obeisance to Ram Lalla, and subsequently visit other temples including Hanumangarhi.”

According to Sandeep Singh, a manager at a hotel here, the Kartik Poornima Snaan in River Saryu is quite popular among people from neighbouring districts, who flock the temple town on this occasion.

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