The Pretense of Generosity

Government is getting too comfortable at pulling the strings of the citizens at its own whims. The relaxation of orders to curb protests at Jantar Mantar and the India Gate highlights this fact. The withdrawal coming within 24 hours of banning protests at prominent public spots in the capital proves that it is just a power gimmick making people realizing their ‘place’.

The imposition of Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code was never justified in the first place. Certainly not for the peaceful protests and strikes that were expected after the sham that was made of the Lokpal Bill. The lifting of the sanctioned curb before the parliament session starts on August 1 is just a democratic mockery we are being fed.

It is in our hands to make the most of such relaxations. A little conviction of the reform should all one should need to bring down the government to justice. The window to the path of the revolution has just opened up.

One less Uttar Pradesh

Misery and plight of seven females and their families has turned into an orgy of vile political drama. The accused are absconding from the law and the victimized girls are committing suicides. While this happens political battleground is turning into a powerhouse of allegations and constitutional mockery. Assurances are pouring in, amendments are being proposed, number are being justified by statistics and strict actions are being promised but the most objective step towards imparting justice is still not being taken…

Welcome to Uttar Pradesh, the rape capital of the country.

[This article has been published in The Viewspaper. Read the rest here]

Scarred v/s Inspired

Osama Bin Laden, the poster boy of al-Qaeda, was the deemed face of terrorism for a major part of the world. His death came in just in time to restore Obama Administration’s popularity index but too late for being a significant turning point in the history of the world.

I believe while Laden’s death stirs things up a bit, it achieves nothing definitive. It is certainly not the end of the social ideology sparking terrorism, neither is it revolutionary enough to restore what was lost in all these pressing years.

The intrusive, precautionary measures of security are already set in stone at this point. The presumably disconnected terror efforts of al-Qaeda can be thwarted given how the world has geared up since 9/11. Al-Qaeda might be spurred up after Osama’s martyrdom but there is little it can do with the zero margin of error rest of the world has learned to live with.