The Great Indian Political Drama - 1 (Oct 2017 - Mar 2018)

[jamwal]

AAP government missed 14 out of 15 Delhi metro board meetings: Yogendra Yadav

For a party that has been vehemently protesting the hike in Delhi metro fares, representatives of the Aam Aadmi Party attended just one out of 15 meetings held by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Board. Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav alleged that Arvind Kejriwal's party missed 14 of the 15 meetings in the last two years.

Delhi government which has a 50 per cent stake in Delhi Metro, didn't attend meetings of committees related to DMRC's functioning in the last two years. Now they are misleading the people of Delhi," Yogendra Yadav said. He quoted the DMRC's annual financial report for the year 2015-16 and 2016-17. Swaraj India said that Delhi government officials, who are members of various committees, were absent in the meetings- a place where their presence could have made differences if the government intended for them. Delhi government officials are members of committees on audit, operations and maintenance, and property development. AAP has been protesting against the hike in metro fares since Monday. The party had even demanded that the metro functioning be handed over to them so they can run it without a price hike. "What stopped the government from opposing the fare hike when the chief secretary is a member of the fare fixation committee? The annual report shows whether their concerns are genuine or not," said Anupam, Swaraj India's spokesperson, and Delhi unit chief.


Read more at: https://www.oneindia.com/india/aap-gove ... 60775.html

[abhijit]

May be one question which every BJP voter should ask is; Did they vote for Modi to act as a Hired/Paid Goonda who is there to protect only Hindu rights, and using brute force if required. If yes, then they may also have to realise that hired goon business does not ensure victory always. I don't think any country has won wars using mercenary soldiers only.

If ensuring equal treatment to all citizens is definition of goondagiri then yes that is exactly why people elect the government.

So what do you want the government to do? Specifically?

Ask SC to review, bring ordinance, anything else they can do within constitution. Time is running out.

[abhijit]

I am in better mood now. Happy to see something is happening. It is good that BJP as an organization take one stand, otherwise there are many within BJP itself are supporting the ban and given the current political circumstances they will not hesitate to actively work towards it.

Delhi BJP attacks NGT, demands 7 days' permission for sale of firecrackers

Delhi BJP has hit out at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for recommending ban on sale of firecrackers and alleged that the environmental body works with a negative mindset.
Expressing concern over the ban on sale of firecrackers, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor pointed out that often the courts and government are forced to take "non-implementable decisions" due to the impractical recommendations of the NGT.
Kapoor has written to Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan requesting him to work out a solution and help get permission for sale of firecrackers for at least seven days sale and burning for two days before Diwali.
He alleged that the NGT works with a negative mindset and like in several other matters in past the attitude adopted by it to get a ban imposed on crackers was shocking.
"World over in hundreds of countries people burn crackers on Christmas and the new year but the way NGT has got Diwali fire crackers banned in the name of pollution is disgusting. More so as it ignores the pollution caused due to animal sacrifice by followers of a particular religion," he said in a statement.
He said NGT with its decision has pushed lakhs of cracker-making labourers, traders and manufacturers in an economic mess.
Meanwhile, a delegation of traders of wholesale market of fireworks at Jama Masjid met Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari yesterday and told him about their problems. Tiwari assured them that he will make all the possible efforts to solve their problems.

[geeth]

The 4 Important News that media should have been specially covered this week, but were not mentioned by Press, as they are busy in with news of Sasikala and other utterly useless issues such silly childish gimmicks of Politicians.

The FOUR IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS ARE:

1. World Bank has appreciated our Prime Minister Narendra Modi's favourite Project 'CLEAN INDIA' and announced support of 1.5 Billion Dollars for the project.

2. The 'Nuclear Energy Agreement' between India & Japan has been applauded by 'IEA- Inventions for Energy Alternatives' supporting Solar Energy Exploration and announced that with this collaboration India will achieve a GREAT MILESTONE in the use of solar energy that will be exemplary to the whole world.

3. Within the next one year GOOGLE is going to provide Free Wifi Service in 100 Railway Stations and are going to train 20 Lakh Android Developers which means that 20 Lakh Youth will get the JOB OPPORTUNITY.

4. Henceforth CBSC Books will be available online for FREE. Central Minister had planned this special project.

When media and News Papers have lost their CONSCIENCE FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, We have to take this responsibility to reach this message to maximum VOTERS REGARDING THE PROSPECTS GOVERNMENT IS BRINGING FOR THEM.

[kvjayan]

I am in better mood now. Happy to see something is happening. It is good that BJP as an organization take one stand, otherwise there are many within BJP itself are supporting the ban and given the current political circumstances they will not hesitate to actively work towards it.

Delhi BJP attacks NGT, demands 7 days' permission for sale of firecrackers

Delhi BJP has hit out at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for recommending ban on sale of firecrackers and alleged that the environmental body works with a negative mindset.
Expressing concern over the ban on sale of firecrackers, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor pointed out that often the courts and government are forced to take "non-implementable decisions" due to the impractical recommendations of the NGT.
Kapoor has written to Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan requesting him to work out a solution and help get permission for sale of firecrackers for at least seven days sale and burning for two days before Diwali.
He alleged that the NGT works with a negative mindset and like in several other matters in past the attitude adopted by it to get a ban imposed on crackers was shocking.
"World over in hundreds of countries people burn crackers on Christmas and the new year but the way NGT has got Diwali fire crackers banned in the name of pollution is disgusting. More so as it ignores the pollution caused due to animal sacrifice by followers of a particular religion," he said in a statement.
He said NGT with its decision has pushed lakhs of cracker-making labourers, traders and manufacturers in an economic mess.
Meanwhile, a delegation of traders of wholesale market of fireworks at Jama Masjid met Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari yesterday and told him about their problems. Tiwari assured them that he will make all the possible efforts to solve their problems.

Even Chindu is sceptical about the ban imposed by the big court:

Foggy thinking — on SC restoring ban on cracker sales in Delhi

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editori ... vuukle_div

[abhijit]

Even Chindu is sceptical about the ban imposed by the big court:

Foggy thinking — on SC restoring ban on cracker sales in Delhi

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editori ... vuukle_div

Surprisingly so called nationalist media like times now, zee, republic world in full support of ban, bashing chetan bhagat and what not and missing the point where as so called liberal left media like firstpost, indian express has provided more balanced views, arguments-counter arguments.

[sanjayC]

May be one question which every BJP voter should ask is; Did they vote for Modi to act as a Hired/Paid Goonda who is there to protect only Hindu rights, and using brute force if required. If yes, then they may also have to realise that hired goon business does not ensure victory always. I don't think any country has won wars using mercenary soldiers only.

If ensuring equal treatment to all citizens is definition of goondagiri then yes that is exactly why people elect the government.

So what do you want the government to do? Specifically?

What did Rajiv Gandhi do to protect his Muslim vote bank after Shah Bano verdict?

[Indrad]

in the other news Anupam Kher is gloating cos he has become FTII chairperson.

And

As per new SC law: a person having sex with a girl less than 18 years old will be charged for rape. Caveat is muslims marry according to Muslim personal law so they can marry and have sex with a girl less than 18 apparently.

[Narasimha]

^ no they cannot. The law issued and rectified this dichotomy. For e.g. sex with a minor below 16 years was statutory rape unless married when it was 15. Now the age has been increased uniformly to 18. Criminal law supersedes personal law so whoever said that has no knowledge of law or is musinforming. The law of the land now is sex with a minor below18 years is statutory rape. In fact this was the crux of the case.

[Yagnasri]

But it poses a serious issue. If there is a rape then parents of the girl are abating the rape by marrying her off. Should they not be arrested and punished in every such case? Further consent age for various things is different for some reason or another. Why there is a need for uniformity. Are you going to get some divya gyan at 18 years and not before it?

[Atish]

Marriage is not a legal license to have sex without consent. Consent not possible before age 18.

[sanjayC]

After Firecracker Ban This Diwali, Why Not Have Eco-friendly Eid With A Ban On Slaughter Of Animals In Delhi-NCR?

Supreme Court’s ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi NCR till November 1st has triggered an emotional debate across the country. Days before the festival of lights – Diwali in India on October 19, the ban in the national capital has angered sections of the Hindu community who call it as a staunch attack on the Hindu festivals and traditions. Some even went to the extent of asking people on social media to burst firecrackers outside the Supreme Court of India in blatant defiance.

Republic TV investigation down on the ground in New Delhi found firecrackers being sold against the ban imposed by the Supreme Court. This perhaps only indicates the black-marketing of the fire-crackers in abundance instead of a blanket ban being imposed. Isn’t the ban right ahead of Diwali too little too late to control air pollution in the national capital?

Air pollution hasn’t been an overnight cause of concern for people in Delhi NCR but a problem for decades together. Not very long ago the Delhi Government initiated a policy of odd and even for cars plying in the capital which led to an absolute disaster and chaos across the capital and didn’t result in the decrease of pollution. How logical then is this ban on the sale of firecrackers which will only impact the traders and sections of the society who wanted to celebrate the festival without worrying about the ban?

Interestingly a report commissioned by the Delhi Government in 2016 after an in-depth research in 2016 did not blame fire-crackers as the primary cause of air pollution in the national capital
"Air pollution in Delhi is caused mainly by industry and vehicular traffic present both inside and outside the Delhi. Delhi’s annual average concentration of PM10 is highest among major Asian cities’, says a study of IIT Kanpur commissioned by the Delhi Government.

Why then hasn’t the Supreme Court and the Government been able to come down to control vehicular pollution and Biomass burning which are the primary causes of pollution as per the study? Why has the system failed to implement a time-bound action plan to control air pollution?

One of the key petitioners who sought a ban on the sale of fire-crackers was Supreme Court Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan who is associated with a self-funded Advocacy group "Care For Air”. The founding team of the ‘independent organisation’ among others includes Beth Silverman Kotis, wife of American diplomat Samuel Kotis who at present is the US envoy to International Civil Aviation Organisation and till a few months ago was Deputy Minister Counselor for Economic and Environmental, Science and Technology Affairs at the US Mission in India. One wonders why the wife of an American diplomat based in Montreal, Canada is concerned about air pollution in Delhi instead of Donald Trump opting to part ways with Paris Climate agreement. Wouldn’t it have been prudent for her to question the Trump administration against this historical blunder?

On the other hand, those questioning the Hindu victimhood narrative have not once sought a ban on the mass slaughter of animals every Eid-al-Adha as a mark of personal sacrifice. Nobody is turning India intolerant or a vegan state by putting across such a demand. If Diwali can we celebrate by a beautiful display of lamps, why can’t Eid be celebrated with a symbolic sacrifice of a fast or a good deed for the society at large? Is killing an animal and relishing its meat the biggest sacrifice of all?

Over years there has been a larger debate within the Muslim world about the misconceptions related to the animal sacrifice for achieving ‘Sunnah’. Some experts on Quran argue that the animal sacrifice need not be a yearly ritual; and sacrifice is mandatory for cattle owners and those engaged to do business with it, not all Muslims. Affluent and rich Muslims have made it a ritual to sacrifice goats, buffaloes and even camel to display wealth and a sense of sacrifice. Isn’t charity and distribution of agricultural or natural products a better way for celebration?

The ban on the sale of fire-crackers isn’t the first time a move has been made against a Hindu festival. The emotionally polarised debates on Jallikattu – the bull-taming event could perhaps be a lesson for one and all across the nation. While the Supreme Court banned the festival due to animal cruelty, after wide-spread protests the Government had to intervene to reluctantly let people continue with the ritual. The legal debate over the decades-long ritual, however, remains as of now even as the might of the people prevailed in the case. There has been a debate in the state of Maharashtra over the participation of young boys in the festival of Dahi Handi in which again the courts and the government had to intervene.
Even as the blanket ban on the sale of fire-crackers is not going to reduce air pollution within a month, for the Supreme Court it is was a logical step forward as a small beginning. That is why there hasn’t been a ban imposed on the use of firecrackers by common public. Yet the overall sense one gathers from reactions is: Are Hindus being selectively targeted?

Will the Supreme Court as a next step ban culling of thousands and lakhs of animals on Bakar-Eid and perhaps even impose a restriction on the use of loudspeakers across places of worship and religious functions?

http://www.republicworld.com/s/9080/aft ... ustargeted

[Indrad]

Dhara144 imposed in HR on eve of Diwali https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cit ... 036646.cms

[Indrad]

if true, proposed IPC amendments will criminalize much of social media discourse https://internetfreedom.in/files/docume ... mittee.pdf

what was said by us on BRF is being discussed across

Namrata‏ @_Namrataa 2h2 hours ago
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Replying to @_Namrataa
BJP largely has ppl of low self esteem who crave acceptance of liberals. We need more Yogis than Khattars and Fadnavis.

[Narasimha]

But it poses a serious issue. If there is a rape then parents of the girl are abating the rape by marrying her off. Should they not be arrested and punished in every such case? Further consent age for various things is different for some reason or another. Why there is a need for uniformity. Are you going to get some divya gyan at 18 years and not before it?

Child marriage is a punishable offencd

[Hari Seldon]

BJP will sweep Gujarat.

Doubtful. They may scrape through with a bare simple majority however, and at this point, that's not a bad deal at all.

The weight of 20+ yrs of anti-incumbency, the lack of a long-term visionary like Modi or Shah in GJ actively guiding the party's state unit, a no-name somebody in the CM kursi, widespread (engineered) disaffection among formerly loyal BJP voter classes like the Patidar Patels (due to caste based issues) etc will take a toll.

Would love to be wrong on this one, however. Would be good for India overall if Shah's 150/182 target comes to pass and all, but really, what're the odds of that, hain ji?

[Hari Seldon]

Namrata‏ @_Namrataa 2h2 hours ago
More
Replying to @_Namrataa
BJP largely has ppl of low self esteem who crave acceptance of liberals. We need more Yogis than Khattars and Fadnavis.

[/quote]

+1. Couldn't put it better.

IMHO, Amitbhai Shah too is more in the Yogi mold than the Fadnavis one.

IMO, Modi turns out to be more latter than former in his first term (and maybe a high profile position like the PM kursi doesn't realistically afford any more manouvre-ability as of now, who knows).

[abhijit]

^^ Yogi is sachin tendulkar. Eventually it will encourage future generation of fearless unapologetic leaders.

[Hari Seldon]

Facebook blocks user for sharing donation appeal to Civil Liberties group (Op India)

Shefali Vaidya is a noted blogger, author and a television panellist who regularly posts on her Facebook page which has over 87,000 followers.

Yesterday she posted an appeal to support a civil liberties organisation named “Indic Collective”. This organisation is a novel initiative taken by a Chennai-based registered trust of activists, intellectuals and civil liberty advocates. Their main aim is to usher in an Indian renaissance with the help of legal actions and initiatives.

But but BIF forces indulge in some more daylight thuggery ...

Shefali Vaidya‏Verified account
@ShefVaidya
Following Following @ShefVaidya
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My FB account is under a block 4 a week coz I shared the appeal of support for @indiccollective. Wonder how it affects FB 'community stds'?

Its clear that the hyperscale platforms we've relied on for so long to spread the good word and undercut MSM influence have also been co-opted by the western left (the Amriki right also complains of discrimination) and their local BIF chapter here in India. Or so it seems.

BTW, that said, this @indiccollective initiative is indeed very interesting and exactly what many of us pro-Indics have been clamouring for, for a while now. Sample this from the article:

Few of their main objectives which they are trying to fulfil are:

Freeing Hindu religious institutions from unconstitutional state control

Deportation of illegal immigrants who pose a threat to the demographic balance and as a result, to national security

Repelling blasphemy laws, fighting against illegal and fraudulent religious conversions

Unconstitutional treatment of Indic educational institutions and recovery of stolen Indic artefacts.

They had recently moved to the Supreme Court with a petition that illegal Rohingyas be deported from India and have also announced that they are creating a review petition over the Supreme Court’s cracker ban...

They have also tweeted out their Bank Account details, if anyone wished to help them in their activism

Time to put money where mouth is and support them financially, virally (by spreading their message), legally perhaps (am sure yagnasri garu and other legal eagles here can chip in) and so on. I intend to donate, for sure. Other PIFs here, folks, kindly spread the good word and chip in as you can, plz!

Only.

[abhijit]

Does anyone remember animal sacrifice in hindu religion was common just a few decades ago? There was systematic campaign against it when in 70s edu syllabus became leftist. I have books from those era and change was visible. From earlier syllabus containing mythological stories it became secular. We had this lesson on how Gandhi influenced a village who was going to sacrifice a goat and how villagers later became ashamed. Eventually this continuous shaming and education brainwashing kill the ritual. In 2017 sacrificing goat or chicken by hindus is non heard of. However no one tried to add a chapter in school book about how goat sacrifice is wrong during id. or go and campaign in madrassas.

Now, replace sacrifice with diwali and other festivals. Exact same brainwashing has been started from last decade. It is abated equally by congress and bjp.

Fadnavis who is traveling schools these days and making kids swear not to use crackers is not heard going to madrassas and making swear muslim kids say no to sacrifice or collect shia children and make them swear no to self beating.

This is systematic killing of traditions. If system decides then it takes 2 3 decades and 2 generation of kids to completely stop a tradition. Most imp part is school education.

[Mahakala]

Its still prevalent in the south. JJ sought to ban it under peta type influence but backlash was enormous and she rolled it back.

[abhijit]

I think there is systematic effort to first prevent outdoor community celebration of hindu festivals/traditions. I dont know what comes next when all festivals become inhouse celebration. Brace yourself for another creative campaign against something else.

[James]

Next attempt could be for banning of kite flying, especially during Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan, due to alleged harm caused to birds which get hurt / killed due to the kite manjha (thread). For added measure they will also point to accidents caused by people falling off roofs of buildings as well as road accidents due to people chasing cut kites running and road and being hit by vehicles.

[Yagnasri]

Animal Sacrifice is done even in my hometown to Grama Devatha on festival days.

[Karthik]

Fadnavis who is traveling schools these days and making kids swear not to use crackers is not heard going to madrassas and making swear muslim kids say no to sacrifice or collect shia children and make them swear no to self beating.

Where did you see this info?