Bandhs and Fundamental Rights

The Bandh culture is back to haunt the city of Kolkata and the state of West Bengal. This time around almost all the Opposition Parties in the State Legislative Assembly have come together to bring West Bengal to a standstill. All of it in protest over the atrocities allegedly committed by the West Bengal government, their administrative wing and the State Government controlled police force, and most importantly the alleged waves of attack using human shields on the followers of BUPC(Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee).

Local newspapers have reported that CPM controlled cadres have used hostages – captured BUPC supporters, and left-supporting residents of Nandigram who were rendered homeless when BUPC started becoming a force to reckon with in the early part of 2007. Violence and lawlessness ruled and civilians were dropping like flies.

It needs a protest. The so-called intellectuals of Kolkata protested. Some of them were even detained at Lalbazar, the police Headquarters. More to reason, than to arrest, I am sure.

The Trinamul Congress Party which has openly been rallying for the BUPC and supporting the movement against CPM followers in Nandigram moved back. The charismatic leader of TMC, Mamata Banerjee even resigned as an MP in protest. But somehow, the parties could not stop calling a Bandh to paralyze the state.

All of it when the State was just recovering from the SUCI bandh on 30th October and the TMC bandh on the 31st in protest over the high handedness of the state administration in the Rizwanur Rehman case and Nandigram. This was followed by an extended weekend due to Diwali and Bhai Dwuj or Bhai Phonta celebrations from last Friday to Sunday.

Come Monday we find the Congress calling a 24 hour Bandh, the SUCI initially calling a 24 hour Bandh and then extending it to 48 hours, the BJP calling a 48 Bandh and the best one from TMC – INDEFINITE.

Of course, these days Bandhs are pretty successful. What with a government bus being set on fire at Moulali, Kolkata this morning and another one torched in Durgapur. Passengers are few, vehicular traffic is minimum, train services are hit and almost all major markets are closed. Is this shutdown on the part of the people in support of the protests at Nandigram?

Would you drive your car around the city when buses are being torched? Would you risk your child’s health and life by sending him/her to school today, when a stray fight or shrapnel could cause fatal harm? The people are staying in, neither in support of the Bandh nor in protest over Nandigram but because of fear of loss of life and property.

The politics of fear and the culture of Bandhs need to cease. A Supreme Court verdict has rendered all Bandh calls by political parties illegal and fines have already been imposed on some parties in other states. People have a right to carry on with their life normally. This is a fundamental right and depriving a citizen of this right is an outright violation of the Constitution of India and a major blow to human rights. The right agencies should take up the matter seriously, as also the political parties.

Whereas I totally agree that the culprits of Nandigram should be booked and brought to justice and my heart pains for the lives lost in the struggle there, whereas I want peace to dwell in Nandigram and all across the State, I don’t agree to the fact that Bandhs are the means to achieve such goals, and I protest this blatant violation of my right to get on with my work and daily life.

PEACE BE AT NANDIGRAM

It causes grave concern that the boiling issue of land acquisition took such a turn as to take the horrifying shape of war at Nandigram. Hundreds of people have died in this pseudo war raging in Midnapur, West Bengal. Clearly, two factions have emerged and both appear equipped with modern assault weapons, and since January 2007, the warring factions have further aggravated the situation.

The unfortunate situation has been marked by a conspicuous absence of police and other administration personnel. The matter and the burning issue should have been resolved and contained with an iron hand of the administration and the government. The government in West Bengal continues to remain accountable for the maladministration in Nandigram. The government is answerable. So where are the answers? I fully support our current Chief Minister. He appears to be an honest person driven by development prospects within the state. But Sir, where are you and where are your comments?

The media has been blaring on the issue and all political parties are putting forth their views and opinions. I, however, fail to understand why should there be a Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee. The government had announced way back in March that there would be no immediate land acquisitions in Nandigram. So why should the BUPC still exist? If there is no land acquisition, why should there be a committee to prevent it. More so, with weapons. Ultra modern and automatic weapons!

All the killings need to stop at the earliest. I am sure that the government of West Bengal is committed towards the Constitution of India and would safeguard the interests and fundamental rights of all its citizens in Nandigram and all over the state. The culprits would be brought to book and peace should dwell.

Read more on this issue at http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/11nandigram3.htm

For peace at Nandigram.

Not Again

Yes, it is official. President APJ Abdul Kalam will not seek a second term as the President of this wonderful country. He had been insisting on certainty of victory, and the equation didn't look favorable. Here's an analysis of the votes from http://www.ndtv.com/

If everyone votes along party lines, the votes are lined up as follows.The UNPA votes, which are already committed for Kalam, add up to 1,06,281 votes.

If the NDA throws its weight behind Kalam, and that doesn't seem likely at present, that's another 3,54,689 votes. This would mean a total of some 4,60,970 votes.

But the Congress-Left combine, which has proposed Pratibha Patil for President, already controls a majority - a total of around 5,70,000 votes.

So for Kalam to win, he will have to get about 55,000 votes from legislators that are part of the UPA-Left combine.

This was clearly not happening. And hence the decision not to contest.

Scan the internet and you will see countless messages, comments, appeals, etc, urging President Kalam to continue. Alas! As the sad tales of politics will have it. Mrs. Patil is on song and will grace the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the next five years. However, the opposing parties are already digging for information to malign her reputation and credibility. Here's a story from Rediff

The Race to The Rashtrapati Bhavan

The race to the Presidency is heating up. INC’s Pratibha Patil has announced that she will not be a rubber-stamp President, if elected. The NDA has come up with B. S. Shekhawat as their candidate, whereas the Third Front would only support the current incumbent.

President Kalam has already stated that he will not contest against Mrs. Patil. That, however, does not clarify whether he is willing to contest against someone else, say, Shekhawat. Shekhawat has announced that he is unwilling to contest the election if President Kalam wants to continue and there is consensus on his (President Kalam’s) candidature. Amidst all of these Mrs. Patil is embroiled in a minor controversy relating to her comments on purdah. Interestingly, BJP would support President Kalam if he agrees.

However, the President is elected by the Electoral College comprising members already elected by the people. Hence it just boils down to a show of strength of the different political parties. With the Indian National Congress in the losing side in the recent Uttar Pradesh State elections, it would have been easier to surmise that it would be difficult for Congress to have its way during the election of the President. However, as politics would have it, the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh has kept the race open.

Clearly, the strength of the Indian National Congress has been sliding since the last General Elections. They would do well to consolidate their position in some of the states. Also the Pay Commission’s recommendations are pending. The direction and quantum of change will become a key factor when the next General Elections become due.

Till then, it appears very difficult for Congress to get a consensus or easy election for their candidate. However, the antipathy that they have for the present incumbent will ensure that he doesn’t get a second term.

Yet I wish that President Kalam continues into his second term as the President of India.

Election to the Presidency

The President of India is about to be elected soon. The prime contenders who have emerged the last two weeks of political drama are the Congress candidate Mrs. Pratibha Patil who is currently the Governor of Rajasthan and the Third Front candidate President Kalam. BJP and its alliances are yet to come out with their candidate or support for any one of these two illustrious personalities.

Most political analysts had written off President Kalam’s second term. Well, he wasn’t very popular with the current leadership at the Centre. He doesn’t believe in being a rubber stamp President, he has his opinion and chooses to voice it. In the last four years he has been the people’s President, a man so humble, yet so great. I would personally love to see him in the Office of the President of India for another term.

No offence, however, is meant to Mrs. Patil, Governor of Rajasthan, nor her candidature. Maybe next time. And no offence to women either. The Congress party may think that having a woman President would solve its problems and would serve as a means to show respect to women. Undoubtedly! But passing the Women’s Reservation Bill would make a much bigger difference in the lives of thousands of women across the country. Why have they been stalling it?

Personally, I stand apolitical. But the love and respect that President Kalam commands, forces me to write this bit and stand by him.

You can find more information about the President here and here