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Hansa officers being summoned by Mumbai police and being forced to give false statements against Republic TV: Hansa Research tells Bombay HC

OpIndia Staff
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Hansa officers being summoned by Mumbai police and being forced to give false statements against Republic TV: Hansa Research tells Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court, while hearing a habeas corpus petition moved by Republic TV Editor in chief Arnab Goswami seeking revocation of the 2018 abetment of suicide case in which he has been arrested, briefly heard Hansa Research Group Private Ltd, the original complainant in the TRP manipulation case, which has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against Senior officer Sachin Vaze, Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and the state of Maharashtra. 

When the hearing commenced in the HC today, one lawyer requested the bench that the case filed by Hansa Research against TRP scam FIR may be taken up first. As the bench gave permission, Senior Advocate C S Vaidyanathan appearing in the Hansa petition apprised the court that Hansa employees are being summoned by the Mumbai police and being coerced to give false statements against Republic TV.

The lawyer representing Hansa furthered that the company’s aim behind filing a complaint was to simply unearth the TRP scam and it was not against any particular channel, insinuating that the Mumbai police has given it a completely different direction to the case in order to settle its scores with the Republic TV.

However, they are now being forced to appear and give statements against Republic TV, alleged Vaidyanathan.

Furthering that his client (Hansa Research Group Private Ltd) cannot be compelled to implicate anyone, Advocate C S Vaidyanathan said that they were ready to share any proof of evidence with the Mumbai police. “If they want any documents let them issue summons under Sec 91 CrPC”, said Vaidyanathan.

Placing these arguments before the two-judge bench Senior Advocate C S Vaidyanathan appearing in the Hansa petition sought an independent investigation by CBI or any other agency into the TRP manipulation case.

Asking the State to take instructions on Hansa petitions, the bench after this went back to hearing the habeas petition of Arnab Goswami, which too has now been adjourned until tomorrow.

The company which operates the Bar-O-Meters of BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council), has moved the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of the probe into the case from Mumbai Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The company has said that Mumbai police is putting pressure on them to declare that the document displayed by Republic TV claiming to be Hansa Research report on the TRP scam is fake. They have said that their officials are being threatened with detention if they don’t give this false statement alleging Republic TV is showing a fake document.

The petition has been moved by Hansa group Director Narasimhan K Swamy, CEO Praveen Omprakash and Nitin Kashinath Deokar. It says that it has already explained to the Mumbai police that it is in position to adjudge whether the document shown by Republic is genuine or not. They have said that Republic never applied to them for a copy of the report, and the channel has shown only extracts of the document. The petition filed by Hansa also says that their officials are being questioned without written notice, and they are given no time to produce documents.

The company has informed that since October 12 onwards, Hansa Research employees have been repeatedly called to the Crime Branch office and made to wait for hours, and they have been questioned for over 200 hours, only to make them issue a false statement.

The company says that its employees have been harassed by Mumbai Police because they declined to give a false statement against Republic TV by saying that the channel had displayed a fake document.

Mumbai police Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh, Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze and ACP Shashank Sanbhlor have been named as respondents in the petition. 

Unhappy with Thackeray govt over political posting and transfer of police officers, Maharashtra DGP Subodh Jaiswal takes up central deputation

OpIndia Staff
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Unhappy with Thackeray govt over political posting and transfer of police officers, Maharashtra DGP Subodh Jaiswal takes up central deputation

The Director-General of Police (DGP) in Maharashtra, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal is reportedly unsatisfied with the Thackeray government regarding the recent reshuffle of some IPS officers. According to reports, around 50 senior police officers were transferred in the month of September followed by transfers of lower-level officers. DGP Jaiswal’s opinion was reportedly neglected by the Maharashtra government while reshuffling the officers which strained the relations with the DGP and the state government. Following this, the IPS officer has decided to leave the state police and take up a central deputation.

“He was not comfortable with Uddhav and Deshmukh over postings and transfers of IPS officers. The DGP felt there should be fixed policy on postings and transfers, while the political leadership took a different view. The political leadership contended that the DGP should not interfere with police transfers”, a senior police officer told Times of India.

Unwilling to continue to work with the state govt, DGP Jaiswal had sought NOC from the state government for a central deputation, which was immediately granted by CM Thackeray and state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. According to reports, DGP Jaiswal is likely to join the National Security Guards (NSG) as the Director General (DG) in the following weeks. DGP Jaiswal, who is a 1985 batch IPS officer, is set to retire on September 30, 2022.

Jaiswal had joined as Mumbai police Chief on July 1, 2018 after working with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for a long time. He was promoted as the DGP on March 1, 2019 after he predecessor Datta Padsalgikar retired on superannuation.

DGP Jaiswal had reportedly had written to the state home department suggesting that in place of revamping the police force, the officers having completed two years should only be shunted out. Pointing out that there were 22 IPS officers who never worked in a naxal-affected area, Jaiswal had suggested that naxal-affected area should be made mandatory.

Cops facing murder charges reinstated in Mumbai Police

Last month, the Commissioner of Mumbai Police Param Bir Singh had reinstated former encounter specialist API Sachin Vaze who was suspended 16 years ago for custodial death. Vaze’s suspension was revoked by a review committee headed by Param Bir Singh. Vaze had resigned in 2007 after being suspended in 2004. He joined Shiv Sena after resigning. Param Bir Singh re-inducted Vaze in Mumbai police in June this year, 4 months after taking up the post of Commissioner of Police in the month of February. Vaze has been entrusted with the investigation against media channel Republic TV.

Uttar Pradesh: Posters shaming anti-CAA rioters back in Lucknow, reward announced for information against culprits

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Posters shaming anti-CAA rioters back in Lucknow, reward announced for information against culprits

The Uttar Pradesh Police under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has re-enforced a crackdown on rioters who indulged in rampant violence in the state under the garb of protests under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and have again put up posters with names and photographs and details of the rioters.

The recent posters have the pictures and addresses of eight rioters who were booked under the UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 and have been declared absconders. One of the ‘accused’ is Shia cleric Maulana Saif Abbas. The eight are Mohammad Alam, Mohammad Tahir, Rizwan, Rafat Ali, Ahsan, Irshad, Hasan and Irshad. All the accused are from the Thakurganj area of old Lucknow. Mobile numbers of senior police officials of the Thakurganj police station have also been provided in the posters so that information could be forwarded to them.

The other poster has pictures of those who are absconding, but action against them under the act has not been initiated. A police spokesperson said the posters with photographs had been put up at public places in the Uttar Pradesh capital. 

Yogi Adityanath Govt announces cash reward for informant, put poster outside the houses of the absconders

The Uttar Pradesh government has also announced a cash reward of Rs 5000 for anyone who provides information about the absconding rioters. An announcement regarding them was also made on a loudspeaker in the old city areas. The posters have also been pasted on the walls outside the houses of the accused, said the police.

According to police, all these people had participated in a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Lucknow on 19 December and instigated violence. They had indulged in damage to public and private properties and are liable to compensate for the same.

Uttar Pradesh govt adopts tough measures against rioters

Earlier, in a similar move, the Yogi Aditynath government had put up hoardings of the anti-CAA rioters in prominent intersections in state capital Lucknow, including their names, addresses and photos. This move had irked the so-called ‘secular’ gang which has termed it as ‘unethical’ and ‘misuse of law’ saying it would encourage lynch mobs. However, the state government had persisted.

The Uttar Pradesh government has also promulgated the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020 to recover damages from rioters. The Ordinance states that the state will set up claims tribunals to investigate the damages caused during protests and to award compensation, and also to cover the cost of action taken by police and administration for prevention of damage to public properties.

Following the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act, violent mobs had descended on to streets to protest against the law. The Islamist mobs had resorted to vandalism and had gone on a rampage on streets, vandalising properties and attacking police officials. However, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced tough measures to combat violent riots and arson. He had promised to seize the property of every rioter and use the funds to repair the damaged public property. The Uttar Pradesh government had also identified at least 498 properties to seize them, which belonged to rioters who vandalized public properties in the state during the anti-CAA protest.

Bhopal: Mysterious death of girl gives rise to allegations of Love Jihad, accused Tahir had allegedly kidnapped her when she was minor

OpIndia Staff
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Bhopal: Mysterious death of girl gives rise to allegations of Love Jihad, accused Tahir had allegedly kidnapped her when she was minor

The mysterious death of a girl in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh has led to allegations of Love Jihad by the family of the deceased. The girl is apparently from Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh but was living with the family of a man in Bhopal. As per reports, she had run away sometime around one and a half years ago and was converted to Islam.

The Police has reportedly arrested two accused and has initiated an investigation into the matter. There are cases related to kidnapping and other matters registered against the accused, Tahir, in Jhansi, as per reports. The Police had visited Bhopal as well in search of the accused but had not been able to locate him.

A couple of days earlier, the girl, Bharti, was admitted to a hospital in Chunabhatti, Bhopal under the name Tarannum. However, following treatment for liver and low hemoglobin issues, she passed away. The Police has ordered a post-mortem into the matter and UP Police has also been informed regarding the incident.

The Police have said that the name of the girl is Meena Bharti, however, she was registered at the hospital under the name Tarannum. In addition, her age was reported to be 19, which means that at the time of her alleged abduction, she was a minor. Hindu organisations have gotten involved into the matter and demanded that charges of murder be slapped against Tahir and his family. The deceased’s family has alleged that Bharti was being held by the accused against her wishes.

Bihar: RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui calls PM Modi ‘Dangewala CM’ during election campaign

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui calls PM Modi ‘Dangewala CM’ during election campaign

Amidst the ongoing Bihar elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui has stirred a new controversy. While addressing an election rally ahead of the third phase of the polls, he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a ‘Dangewala CM (riot accused CM).’

While drawing analogies with late BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said, “We have seen stalwarts like Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Even though we differed in terms of ideological inclination, he would understand the people, country and its culture. This is why minorities, whom the BJP is targeting today, had respect for him. However, Modiji does not realise that he is the Prime Minister of India. He still thinks that he is the riot-accused CM of Gujarat.”

The RJD leader, who is the Vice-President of the Badminton Association of India and the Chairman of Public Accounts Committee of the Government of Bihar had stirred the hornet’s nest amidst the ongoing polls. On Saturday, polls will be conducted across 78 constituencies in Bihar. A total of 2.35 crores are eligible to cast their votes. The third and final phase of polls will determine the fate of 1200 candidates, contesting the elections.

PM Modi got a clean chit from Supreme Court

On 27 February 2002, a compartment in Sabarmati Express train returning from Ayodhya was set on fire by a Muslim mob in Godhra. 59 people, including several women and children, returning from Ayodhya were burnt alive. Following the carnage, communal riots broke out in Gujarat.  It is pertinent to remember that PM Modi was given by a clean chit by the Supreme Court in the Gujarat riots of 2002, which took place in the aftermath of the burning of Sabarmati Express in Godhra.

Arnab Goswami to spend another night in custody as the hearing gets postponed to Saturday: Here is what Harish Salve said in court

OpIndia Staff
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Arnab Goswami to spend another night in custody as the hearing gets postponed to Saturday: Here is what Harish Salve said in court

After hearing Arnab Goswami’s counsel, the division bench of Bombay High Court, comprising Justices S S Shinde and M S Karnik, has yet again adjourned the plea of Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, seeking revocation of the 2018 abetment of suicide case in which he has been arrested, saying that the court needs to hear the other side before coming to a conclusion. Arnab Goswami also sought interim release from jail. Now the court would continue hearing the plea on November 7 (Saturday) at 12 noon. This would mean that the Republic TV chief would have to spend another night in judicial custody.

Today’s hearing in the habeas petition filed by Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami, commenced with senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing on the behalf of Arnab Goswami, telling the bench that the remand order by Alibaug court makes important points about the illegality of arrest and the lack of merits in the allegations against Arnab Goswami.

Salve apprised the Court of the breach of privilege proceedings which led to the re-opening of the case of abetment of suicide. He adds that the Supreme Court has granted protection to Arnab Goswami today and also issued a contempt notice to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker.

Salve said that he has filed an application under Section 438 with the Petition. “My petition has allegations that a case which was closed has been re-opened with malicious intentions”.

While Advocate Ponda, appearing for Goswami, read portions from the court order where the CJM had noted that no permission has been taken for reopening the case.

Throwing light on the Maharashtra Govt’s ploy to implicate Republic TV editor-in-chief in a case which was closed in 2019 as there was no evidence found, Salve told the court that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had alleged in Assembly that Arnab Goswami was responsible for the suicide of the interior designer Anvay Naik who had allegedly committed suicide in 2018. He said that Mumbai police was also trying to secure a police remand which was refused by the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Highlighting Maharashtra Govt’s personal vendetta against Republic TV editor-in-chief, Salve told the court that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had alleged in Assembly that Arnab Goswami was responsible for the suicide of the interior designer Anvay Naik who had allegedly committed suicide in 2018.

Salve said that Mumbai police has also been trying to put its best foot forward to secure a police remand of the senior journalist, which was refused by the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Salve here reiterates that the CJM has stated in the order that it seems that the arrest of the accused (Arnab Goswami) is illegal.

Salve placed on record the discussion which took place in the assembly where first Arnab’s journalistic works were discussed, for example, the use of harsh words by the journalist etc, then the Minister of Home Affairs Anil Deshmukh started discussing the suicide case of Anvay Naik. Salve asked the bench to pay attention to how the entire discussion in the Assembly was interweaved to hatch a ploy against Arnab Goswami.

Salve drew the bench’s attention to how in the Assembly the Home Minister said that necessary “orders will be issued to the Police”, and claimed that there is no doubt that this State is acting out of malice against the Republic TV chief.

Hansa Research Group being harassed by the Mumbai Police to make false statements against Republic and Arnab Goswami

Referring to the earlier FIRs registered against Arnab Goswami, Salve said that there has been a specific pattern adopted by the Maharashtra govt to harass his client. Salve also made references to Hansa Research Group which made submissions in court that it is being harassed by the Mumbai Police forcing them to make false statements against Republic Media Network. 

No person even superficially familiar with the law would hold the accused prima facie liable for abetment to suicide: Salve takes a dig at Raut

Taking a dig at Shiv Sena’s motormouth leader Sanjay Raut, Salve told the court that no person even superficially familiar with the law would hold these accused (referring to Arnab Goswami and the other two accused in the 2108 abetment to suicide case) prima facie liable for abetment to suicide.

Referring to the Supreme Court judgment in ‘M Arjunan v State’, Salve said: “You have commercial disputes with different people for over two years. You don’t file a suit. You have creditors beating at your door. You kill yourself. There cannot be FIR for abetment to suicide for this.”

“Without a positive act on the part of the accused to instigate or aid in committing suicide, conviction cannot be sustained”- Salve quoted from the above SC judgment.

“Merely on the allegation of harassment without there being any positive action proximate to the time of occurrence on the part of the accused which led or compelled the person to commit suicide, conviction in terms of Section 306 IPC is not sustainable”, Salve quoted, reiterating the Magistrates stand that even if Anvay Naik committed suicide due to financial losses, why did his mother end her life? We do not know the curious circumstances of the suicide. Nobody has established that there is illegal Commission, argued Salve furthering that under these circumstances, there is no need to keep Arnab in custody.

Salve told the bench that there is a prima facie finding of the Magistrate before it that the arrest is illegal and the whole act is mala fide. If the root is tainted by illegality then it is important to note that the result will be too, said Salve.

Arnab’s counsel also cited various past cases to indicate that SC has held that the High Court can grant bail even under Article 226 in exceptional circumstances.

Goswami was arrested by Raigad police from his Mumbai residence on November 4 morning following which the CJM of Alibaug remanded him to 14-day judicial custody till November 18. The prime argument raised in the HC petition is that the police has no power to suo moto re-open the case without getting a judicial order after the Magistrate passed a closure order in the case in 2019 based on the report submitted by police then.

Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami files habeas corpus petition after his arrest

After being manhandled at his residence by Raigad police cops who came to arrest him at his house yesterday in relation to a two-year-old closed case, Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has filed a plea before the Bombay High Court challenging his arrest by the police. 

The plea in the Bombay High Court came after Mumbai Police had arbitrarily started re-investigation in the 2018 closed case of interior designer Anvay Naik’s suicide on the direction of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami arrested

Continuing their witch-hunt against Republic TV chief, the Mumbai Police on Wednesday arrested Arnab Goswami. The Mumbai Police reached Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami’s residence on Wednesday and physically manhandled him as they tried to detain him in a 2018 abetment to suicide case that was already closed.

A team of Mumbai Police arrested Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami after they physically assaulted and dragged him by grabbing his hair. In a shocking act, a large contingent of Mumbai Police was seen present at Goswami’s residence on Wednesday morning. In the below video, it can be seen how officials of the Mumbai Police were manhandling the Republic TV chief.

In May 2018, an FIR was filed against Arnab Goswami after an interior designer had committed suicide in Mumbai. In a suicide note, Anvay Naik claimed Goswami owed him a total of Rs 5.4 crore. However, Goswami was investigated and case was closed by court after a closure report was filed by the Police.

Assam: This Diwali, Reliance Industries Limited is covering the Shikhara of Kamakhya Temple with gold

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: This Diwali, Reliance Industries Limited is covering the Shikhara of Kamakhya Temple with gold

This Diwali, Guwahati’s Kamakhya Temple, one if the most prominent Shakti Peethas of the the country, will be covered with gold. As per reports, the Reliance Industries Limited has taken up a project to decorate the shikhar as of the temple with gold leafing work.

As per reports, the RIL will be undertaking the project to cover the temple Shikhara with approximately 20 kgs of gold. The project is being called as the company’s ‘Diwali gift’ to the temple. RIL’s Mukesh Ambani had reportedly promised the temple authorities that he will donate 20 kgs of gold for the beautification of the temple.

The temple authorities have reportedly confirmed that the RIL has already sent the gold, which had arrived some days back and leafing work is already being carried out by Reliance Industries’ jewellery division. The company reportedly sent its own workers and also provided adequate security for the project. Currently, Reliance’s engineers, jewellers and workers are engaged at the temple to complete the project.

The work is expected to be completed before Deepavali. A TOI report has stated that workers sent by RIL from Mumbai are working relentlessly to complete the project. For the Shikhara, a copper frame has been prepared to support the gold leafing.

The Kalash was already of gold, now the entire dome to be covered with gold

Mohit Sharma, the Doloi of the temple, has stated to Guwahati Plus that the Kalash or the peak of the main dome was already made of gold. But now, with RIL’s donation, the entire dome will be covered with gold leafing work. RIL is bearing the entire cost of the project. Reportedly, Mukesh Ambani is an ardent devotee of Maa Kamakhya and he is expected to visit the temple after the project is complete. However, the RIL his yet to confirm anything.

Himanta Biswa Sarma had played a key role

The TOI report stated that minister Himanta Biswa Sarma jad played a key role to get RIL’s Mukesh Ambani on board for the project. RIL had submitted the proposal in September. The temple authorities believe that as the shrine had been closed for devotees for many months due to the COVID pandemic, the new beautification project, along with its gold top, will draw more devotees to the temple and will be one of the main attractions of the Diwali celebrations.

The gold leafing is estimated to cost about 10 crores to the Reliance Industries Limited.

‘Vulgar acting’ has always been the secret to Ramlila’s popularity, claims Newslaundry, goes on to whitewash the religious angle of Nikita Tomar’s murder

OpIndia Staff
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‘Vulgar acting’ has always been the secret to Ramlila’s popularity, claims Newslaundry, goes on to whitewash the religious angle of Nikita Tomar’s murder

Newslaundry, the far-left propaganda outlet, was up to its usual tricks recently. This time, while having a go at BJP leader Manoj Tiwari for a comment he made during the run up to the Bihar elections, Newslaundry could not stop itself from denigrating a Hindu tradition in the process. Atul Chaurasia of Newslaundry claimed during a recent video for the media outlet’s YouTube channel that ‘vulgar acting’ has always been a part of Ramlila.

He said, “Manoj Tiwari has always been a great example of eccentricity. Some days back, he was performing the role of Angad at the Ramlila in Ayodhya. Vulgar acting has always been the secret to Ramlila’s lasting popularity for hundreds of years.” He continued, “It is a source of immense laughter. Otherwise Ramlilas would have gone extinct. On the metric of vile acting, Manoj Tiwari passed with flying colours. But the manner in which he mixed vile politics with his words, if Ramlilas can save themselves from it, then their influence in public life will get even stronger.”

Needless to say, criticising politicians is completely fine in any Democracy. However, far-left propagandists have made it a habit of targeting Hindu traditions while giving every other religion a free pass. As the current incident demonstrates, they go out of their way to denigrate Hindu traditions even when there is no obvious reason to do so. No one has a problem if Manoj Tiwari is criticised and as a politician, he ought to be. However, in the process, Newslaundry makes sure that even Hindu traditions are dragged through the mud.

The Newslaundry anchor also did not appear to be aware that Ramlila occurred in Treta Yuga as he proclaimed that the great war occurred during the Dwapara Yuga. In fact, it was the Mahabharata that occurred in the Dwapara Yuga, not the Ramayana. However, Chaurasia appears to be clueless about that fact. Worse, no one in the media outlet appears to have realised the massive error either. It isn’t clear why denigrating Ramlila was necessary since the matter at hand hardly had anything to do with the dramatic enactment of the Ramayana but the narrator appears to have gone ahead with it anyway.

It only goes on to show how clueless they are about Hindu culture and tradition. That, however, does not stop them from pontificating on every matter under the Sun. In the same episode, Chaurasia also attempted to whitewash the Nikita Tomar murder case. He claimed that there was no religious motivation for the crime and it was strictly a law and order issue.

The family of Nikita Tomar have clearly said that the murderer, Tauseef, wanted her to convert to Islam and marry him which she refused. Not merely that, Tauseef’s mother told Nikita Tomar to convert to Islam as well. Nikita was not willing to go do any of it following which Tauseef murdered her in broad daylight. Newslaundry wants us to believe that there was no religious motivation behind the incident at all.

It is not the first time that Newslaundry has gone out of its way to spread canards about the Hindu faith or whitewash the crimes of Islamists. In the aftermath of the Delhi riots, it claimed that there was no attack on any Temple and OpIndia was spreading fake news over the matter after they had visited a Temple themselves and their own reporting showed that there had been, in fact, an attack on a Temple.

In the past, one of the columnists for the website, Sharjeel Usmani, glorified Islamist Shahrukh, accused of opening fire at Delhi Police during the anti-Hindu riots at the national capital. Previously, he had openly subscribed to the secessionist ideology of Sharjeel Imam,  who had urged Muslims to cut off North-East India from the rest of the country by blocking the Chicken’s Neck. Sharjeel Usmani was arrested but was released on bail due to his ‘good academic record’.

Another Newslaundry columnist, Jas Oberoi, had decided to exploit the death of the father of a social media user in order to peddle his propaganda against the construction of a Bhavya Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.

Union home ministry gives green signal to probe Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid under UAPA

OpIndia Staff
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Union home ministry gives green signal to probe Delhi riots accused Umar Khalid under UAPA

In a big development, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed investigation of Delhi riot conspirator Umar Khalid under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, reported India Today. As per the law, the permission of the Home Ministry must be sought before prosecuting an individual under the stringent provisions of the UAPA.

Umar Khalid remanded in judicial custody

Last month, Delhi’s Karkardooma court extended the judicial custody of Umar Khalid by 30 days. He will remain in judicial custody till 20 November. He is booked by the Special Cell of Delhi police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in relation to the North-east Delhi riots case and is currently lodged in the Tihar jail.

Delhi police arrested Umar Khalid on September 14 for his alleged involvement in the horrific Northeast Delhi riots. Khalid is one among 15 people who have been arrested for their role in instigating and carrying out riots in the Chand Bagh area of Delhi on February 24. The police had asked for a 30-day extension to the judicial custody, arguing that his continued remand was necessary to ensure the investigation could continue without interruption.

Umar Khalid’s alleged role in Delhi riots

In a charge sheet filed by the Delhi police and admitted by the court, it is alleged that Khalid had hatched the conspiracy of the anti-Hindu Delhi riots along with his friends during the visit of the US President Trump to India. Khalid had allegedly met the former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and another accused Khalid Saifi to assure logistical support during the riots through his contacts in the PFI.

The firecracker ban captures perfectly everything that is wrong with governance in India and no, it is not only one political party that should be blamed

K Bhattacharjee
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The firecracker ban captures perfectly everything that is wrong with governance in India and no, it is not only one political party that should be blamed

And then they banned firecrackers during Diwali. This is the major headline that every newspaper in the country should ideally carry but in probability, they will not. The organised campaign against firecrackers during Diwali is finally coming to fruition and we are slowly but surely progressing towards a nationwide firecracker ban.

Rajasthan, Odisha, West Bengal, Goa, Delhi and now Karnataka has banned firecrackers during Diwali. The NGT wants Diwali firecrackers banned in 122 cities. The reason given for it is either the Coronavirus crisis or pollution, however, that is flexible and varies region to region depending on circumstances at hand. When the primary objective is banning firecrackers, any reason can be invented to suit the objective.

It is pertinent to note that the air quality has been bad for days now due to stubble-burning in Punjab and other states. No government has done absolutely anything to solve that problem. Political parties are hesitant to act because it might dampen their prospects in the next elections. Under such circumstances, firecrackers are very easy scapegoat.

It has to be understood here that the reasons have not been invented in order to convince us, the masses, of the necessity of a firecracker ban. The elites do not expect us to be convinced at all and neither are they serious about convincing us. If they were, they would have at least bothered to come up with half plausible reasons.

The Coronavirus is not a plausible reason to ban firecrackers and neither is pollution. There is no solid evidence to suggest that firecrackers are the driving force behind pollution and it is laughable to assert that the coronavirus surge is linked to bursting crackers during Diwali. Anyone who saw the crowds at rallies during the Bihar elections could not seriously believe that crackers are the greater health hazard during a pandemic.

Furthermore, it should also be clear that this is not a Congress issue or a BJP issue. Every political party basically agrees on banning crackers during Diwali. There is no point pretending that Rajasthan would not have banned firecrackers if the BJP was still in power. Karnataka and Goa do have a BJP government and yet, they banned it anyway. Therefore, it has to be very clear in the minds of Indians that the problems with Indian governance are far too serious to be cured merely by voting alone.

The other point to be noted is that firecrackers are bad only during Diwali. When crackers are burst during New Year celebrations or on Christmas, they do not cause any pollution at all. Similarly, no pollution is caused when firecrackers are burst while celebrating victories in elections; by the same parties that have banned crackers during Diwali. Pollution causing firecrackers are only to be found during Diwali.

The firecracker ban highlights the extent of rot that persists in the governance system of our country. Every action of the government is geared towards a demonstration of authority, not efficiency. The governments do not even bother to pretend that there are valid grounds for their action. They just pass the order and people are expected to follow it because the alternative is state-sanctioned persecution.

The inadvertent consequence of such an approach is that citizens do not feel invested in the governance of their country. When the state does not show the faintest bit of concern for the culture and traditions of its citizenry, then why should the ordinary citizen feel anything but a ‘Chalta Hai’ attitude? Why should an ordinary citizen be bothered if the state does not give a damn about what is important to him?

For a country to be great, it is of paramount importance that its citizens feel invested in its future. Governance in India gives every decent individual a million reasons to not give a damn. If an Indian citizen today does not give two hoots about the direction in which the country is headed and only cares about securing the lives of his family, then the lion’s share of the blame must go to the manner in which the country is governed.

The firecracker ban has absolutely nothing to do with public health. If public health was the primary concern, then alcohol and tobacco would have been banned a long time ago. A disproportionate amount of violent crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol and yet, how many states have bothered to ban it?

In fact, during the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic, the governments rushed to open up liquor shops which undoubtedly exacerbated the spread of the virus. Public health was not a concern then because taxes were more important. But now, the lives of hundreds and thousands of those employed in the firecracker industry will be destroyed but the state just could not be bothered to give a damn.

It is a remarkable joke that has been played on those who have invested in the firecracker industry. The distress can be gauged from the comment made by one shop owner in Delhi selling firecrackers. “Due to the sudden ban, we have to face losses of approx Rs 15-20 lakhs. Earlier the government said green cracker can be sold and gave us licence. We had already purchased the stock,” the vendor said.

And it can be safely said that he is not the only one. Businessmen across the country are facing the prospect of similar losses due to the ban. Imagine the extent of the depravity for a moment. Throughout the year, vendors were assured that they could sell green crackers and they made investment based on that assurance. They were even provided a licence. Now suddenly, they have banned it and the vendors do not have a ground underneath their feet.

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, has requested Rajasthan and Odisha to lift the firecracker ban as it would adversely impact the lives of a great many in his own state. Without any conclusive evidence on potential harm, the Indian State has left million of people in the lurch. It is the brainchild of policymakers who wish to come across as virtuous individuals without actually performing any actions that merit praise.

When demonetization was implemented, millions suffered but they endured the hardship because they were told that it was for the noble cause of fighting corruption. When the GST was implemented, small businesses did suffer in the short term but they endured it because they were told it would be good for the country in the long run. Likewise, on numerous other issues, citizens endured hardships because they were told that it would benefit the country. They suffered in silence for the greater good.

But it cannot be a one-sided relationship. As of this moment, Indians are in an abusive relationship with the Indian state. The citizens endure hardships when they are told they would help the country through their actions but as it is with all things, there are certain limits that must not be crossed and people should not be taken for granted. If the state decides to go down that path, there lies nothing but chaos and anarchy.

The firecracker ban also demonstrates that whether be it democracy or autocracy, the masses do not really have a say in matters of governance. Democracy only gives us the illusion of choice. For instance, the masses are overwhelmingly in favour of celebrating Diwali with firecrackers but governments decided to ban it anyway. Conversely, the masses were overwhelmingly against allowing the entrance of women at Sabarimala but the state decided to help faithless atheists desecrate it anyway.

The truth of the matter is, the ban on firecrackers perfectly illustrates the pathetic governance that has come to symbolize our country. And it it safe to say that if current trends hold without any radical transformation, there will never come a time when Indians could really hope to aspire to greatness.

Deluded quick-fixes to long term problems are the hallmarks of mediocrity and until Indian governance wakes up from its Kumbhakarna slumber and shrugs off the cobwebs of mediocrity it has drowned itself in, India will never ever be a great country. The only reason India has not devolved into a cesspit of chaos and anarchy is because there are good men and women in governance whose integrity keeps the system from collapsing into itself. But only the Gods know how long this orgy of mediocrity could carry on.

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