Campaigning in full swing for MCD elections

The campaigning, canvassing and door to door contact exercise by all the leaders of all political parties for the MCD elections in Delhi is in full swing. MCD elections are going to be held on April 23. The main contestants in the MCD elections are the three major parties - Aam Admi Party (AAP), Opposition BJP and Congress- besides all other small and regional parties. AAP is the ruling party and BJP is the opposition party in Delhi assembly. Congress has nil in Delhi assembly after ruling the city for 15 years in a row. BJP has been ruling MCD in Delhi for the last 10 years. So, it has to do a lot of explaining for deteriorating civic amenities and hygienic condition in the city. AAP is ruling in Delhi. Only two years back, it had got resounding victory in the assembly elections, winning 67 seats out of 70. It was an unprecedented victory. AAP had swayed the Delhiites by its leaders' high idealistic speeches. But in the last more than two years of its regime, the AAP govt. and the functioning style of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have dashed the hopes of Delhiites down to the ground. The way AAP has lost security deposit in the Rajouri Garden by-poll clearly reflects that Delhiites have become totally disillusioned with it. AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wasted the valuable time in indulging in the controversy of which the people of Delhi have nothing to do with it. Kejriwal govt. mostly kept involved itself in confrontation with the Lieutenant Governor and the Centre. Kejri always spoke on national issues and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has become his main occupation. These things also clearly reflect his vaulting national ambition. CM Kejriwal campaigned vigorously for his party in Punjab assembly elections and ignored his govt. functioning in Delhi. Delhi suffered most on one hand and AAP was decimated by the Congress party in Punjab on the other. He appeared to have learnt a lesson from Punjab experience that he restrained his political activities in Gujarat. He had also fixed his eyes to fight Gujarat elections. But the Punjab has given him the clear message. APP’s humiliating defeat in Rajouri Garden assembly by-poll will also have dampening effect on its hope of winning the MCD elections in Delhi. Being the ruling party of Delhi, AAP considers itself as the strongest claimant of power in MCD also. As far as BJP is concerned, its morale is very high with its resounding victory in Rajouri Garden assembly by-poll and elsewhere in the country. Its tallest leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charishma and his connection with the people are marvellous. The best thing that goes in the favour of the BJP is the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the people. He is the single leader of the party who can win any election for it single handedly. If the recently concluded UP assembly elections are anything to go by, PM Modi has out-weighed every leader in the country. Undoubtedly, BJP has the most popular leader in Prime Minister Modi. But as far as BJP's performance in keeping Delhi neat and clean as the ruling party in MCD is concerned, Delhiites may give a second thought on voting it back to power in MCD. As it is ruling MCD, it will be held responsible for all the malaises in it. Corruption appears to be rampant at all levels in MCD. Education, Health and cleanliness are in jeopardy in the city. So, despite getting victory elsewhere in the country, winning MCD elections this time will be very tough for BJP. After AAP and BJP, the third major contender in MCD elections is Congress party. The main weakness of the party is its lethargy and indecisiveness. Its leadership has so far failed to connect with the people. The morale of the party cadres and workers is at the lowest level due to one defeat after another in elections. The cadres and workers of the Congress party are required to be given pep talks by the top leader of the party. Undoubtedly, Congress is the oldest and the longest serving party of the country. But its leaders are required to work on the ground and be among the people to be aware of their difficulties. All three major contenders claim for their victory in MCD elections. There is no wave in favour of any party.

The sentence to death handed out to Kulbhushan Jadhav by Pak military court is a heinous act

The death sentence handed out to the alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jhadav by the military court of Pakistan is a heinous act. Kulbhushan is not a spy but a retired Indian navy officer, now engaged in business. He had gone to Iran in regard to his business where he was kidnapped and taken to Pakistan. Merely giving stern warning of consequences by India in its reaction to Kulbhushan’s sentencing to death is no longer making any impact on Pakistan. India requires teaching Pakistan a lesson, which it could never forget. In convention of all established international laws and even Vienna Convention, Pak military court unilaterally sentenced Kulbhushan Jhadav to death. It is shocking and outrageous. It is also no secret that Pakistan military is everything in the country and the democratically elected government of Nawaz Sharif is a toy in their hands. Though India has expressed strong reservation and called Jhadav’s sentencing to death a pre-meditated murder, it is not enough and it has to take stern action against Pakistan, which would assuage the hurt feeling of all Indians. Kulbhushan Jhadav was denied consular access. India had tried 13 times for providing consular access to Jhadav. It is time for India to wake up and act. Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a rubber stamp in the hands of military. Everything is decided by Pakistan military and its notorious ISI. The death sentence to Kulbhushan gives clear signal that Pak is no longer interested in improving relations with India. There is jungle raj in Pakistan. Nothing is governed by law. Whatever army wants is carried out without any murmur. When Pakistan military can send Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, one of the most popular leaders of the country, to gallows, what can be expected from them? Pakistan military sentenced Kulbhushan Jhadav to death on charge of spying to show the international community that how India's most prestigious intelligence agency RAW's agent is involved in inciting rebellion in Balochistan. Pakistan has mastery in creating false image of India. The death sentence to Jhadav is against all norms of law and justice. He was given no time to defend himself. It clearly appears that Pak military court was pre-determined to hand death sentence to Kubhushan. India must act and launch vigorous diplomatic offensive against Pakistan. There is no need to improve relation with the neighbour, which is rogue and has no human value. Amnesty International has also criticized the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jhadav. Pak military court is killing one who is defenceless. It should have given him opportunity to defend. Pak doesn't understand gentleman's language. It is a rogue country and it should be treated as such. Talking improvement of relations with it is nothing but foolishness. Our gesture of friendship with it is considered as our weakness. So, it is required on the part of India to take stern action against Pakistan. Whenever Pak commits heinous acts against the Indian, there is very strong reaction to them in India. The entire nation is shocked and outrageous at the heinous act of Pakistan. India is also required to give befitting reply to the military establishment of Pakistan as democratically elected govt. is spineless there. It is time for India to canvass among the world powers to put pressure on Pakistan to defer the execution of the death sentencing of Kulbhushan Jhadav. If India continued to pursue for talks with Pakistan, its image will be affected. India being the largest democracy and emerging economic power in the world, it must assert and teach a lesson to Pak military once and for all time to come. The people of India are agitated and shocked at the death sentence of Kulbhushan Jhadav by Pak military court.

Abolish the practice of Triple Talaq

The practice of Triple Talaq must be abolished. It is against the Muslim women in every respect. Muslim women are treated like dolls in the present day Muslim society in which it is practised in letter and spirit under the influence and pressure of the so-called Maulanas. Vice President's wife Salma Ansari has rightly raised the voice against Triple Talaq. She said that saying talaq thrice does not amount to anything, and called on Muslim women to read the Quran thoroughly instead of relying on clerics for their views on Islam. She says rightly that there can be no talaq just because someone utters 'talaq, 'talaq, 'talaq three times. A considerable number of educated and liberal-minded Muslim women have also come out against the practice of Triple Talaq in Muslim society. The largest Muslim populated country of the world is Indonesia, but there is no practice of Triple Talaq in that country. Triple Talaq is not practiced in most of the Islamic countries. Why we have to go far it is even not practiced in Pakistan, which is a front ranking Islamic country of the world. The practice of Triple of Talaq is sheer injustice to the women. It would be better of Muslim women to read the Quran themselves, and not rely on what the Maulanas in their society say about the Shariat. The issue in question is the violation of Muslim women' right. Men and women must be treated equally in society irrespective of religion. In the name of religion, the women cannot be exploited. It is the medieval mindset of Maulanas in Muslim society that tries to impose their medieval practices Muslim women. It has been wrongly established in Muslim society that women are meant only for breeding. It is not only the educated Muslim women but also the men should come out against the evil practices, which are being practiced in society for decades. We are living in 21st century in which there is no place for obscurantism, medieval mindset and outdated practices based on the notion that they satisfy religious aspirations. Triple Talaq is the glaring example of human rights' violation of Muslim women in the society. Though the issue of Triple Talaq is under the consideration of the apex court, the chorus against it among the Muslim women is commendable. It is the first and foremost responsibility of Muslim women to come out against Triple Talaq. It has not been sanctioned by the most sacred religious book the Quran. It is the so-called Maunas and Maulbis who want to impose their will on society. Can any religion sanction atrocity against the women? Triple Talaq is nothing but the sheer atrocity against the Muslim women by their men. The marriage is sacred. It must not be broken in a whim. Our Muslim sisters must come out in the support of abolishing Triple Talaq. The Allahabad High Court had in December 2016 held that the practice of triple talaq is 'cruel' and raised an issue that whether the Muslim Personal Law could be amended to provide relief to the Muslim women. The High Court also stated that the form of 'instant divorce' is 'most demeaning'. The Supreme Court is to hear multiple pleas challenging the validity of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy practices among Muslims community on May 11 by a Constitution bench during the summer vacation. Earlier on March 27, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) told the apex court that the pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of judiciary.

China must be rebuffed

The famous Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has been a thorn in the flesh of China since he fled to India and former Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru granted political asylum to him. Since then, Dalai Lama has been living in India and spreading the civilization, cultural and traditional values of India. He propagates India's message of non-violence, peace and amity. It is China's way of imposing its dominance on other countries in the neighbourhood that it has called India’s ambassador to China to lodge its protest against the visit of Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh. His visit is strictly religious and no political angle should be attached to it. Arunachal Pradesh is one among seven the north-eastern states of India. It shares no border with China. Arunachal Pradesh shares borders with Tibet. It means China is not India's next door neighbour. Tawang is the border district of Arunachal Pradesh and it has been a famous for the Buddhist centre. Dalai Lama intends to visit Tawang. Dalai Lama is a valued guest of India. That is why India has arranged his week-long visit to the north-eastern state. China is unnecessarily creating controversy over his visit by laying its claim on some portions of territory in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. China has described Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh as obstinately arranged by India. But the fact of the matter is that because of which China is upset is that it feels that the visit of Dalai Lama to the Buddhist majority district of Tawang is against its interest. Dalai Lama has openly said that India has never used against China. He has also not been demanding the secession of Tibet from China. He is demanding only autonomy of Tibet. It is the highhandedness of China that it wants to crush the Tibetan voice of dissent mercilessly. Why China is so much perturbed over the visit of Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh that it has launched diplomatic offensive against India and warned that the obstinately arranged visit of Dalai Lama will strain the relation between the two countries. As far as the relation between the two countries is concerned, India is not to budge from its stated stand on the issue of autonomy to Tibet and it must also provide all sorts of help to Dalai Lama. Has China ever thought the interest of India while opposing its proposal at UN to get Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Masood Azhar declared a terrorist? It also opposed India’s entry in NSG while most of the leading world powers supported. Then why India would take care of China’s sentiment or anything else. India must give clear message to China that it is not 1962. It is 2017. The time has changed and India is no longer in any way behind any of its neighbour, though it also supports the principle of co-operation and good neighbourly relation. It is well known that Pakistan has always been hostile to India. Despite that, China increased its activities in PoK and started building Economic Corridoor. What is this? This is nothing but the deliberate move to upset India. While Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh is not for hurting the interest of China, its knee-jerk reaction reflects its narrow mindedness. Though it was a foregone conclusion that Dalai Lama's visit to NE would upset China, its claim on some parts of territory in Arunachal Pradesh is completely unfounded. China being one of the two Asian giants must not go overboard. Otherwise the other giant will also react in the same coin.

Uncalled for suggestion

The statement issued by US ambassador to United Nation Nikki Haley that US President Donald Trump’s administration would try to find its place to be a part of efforts to de-escalate the tension between India and Pakistan is uncalled for, unnecessary, unwarranted and unsolicited. Though India's External Affairs Ministry has rejected US suggestion outright, the BJP-led NDA govt. must not budge from the stated position of bilateralism between India and Pakistan to resolve any issue whatsoever in accordance with Shimla agreement in letter and spirit. If something happens, India is ready to face. But the US' wait for intervention would remain be unending. Nikki's statement also reflects that the Trump administration has no knowledge about history. We follow Shimla agreement between the two countries in letter and spirit that all longstanding issues would be resolved bilaterally. It would be better for Trump administration to wipe out the root of terrorism, which is lying in Pakistan, from where it emanates and puts the peace of the entire region and beyond in jeopardy. Almost all the immediate predecessors of President Donald Trump whether it is Obama, Bush or Clinton has tried to find place in the efforts of de-escalating tension between India and Pakistan, but all went in vain. What they achieved is all before the world. The third party intervention to resolve any issue between India and Pakistan is out of question. India has made its position clear times without number. Pakistan has always been trying to rope in third party i.e. US in talks between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has established the prestige of the nation all over the world, and his personal rapport has been good with almost all top leaders of the world. So, as Donald Trump is a new entrant on international stage in the capacity of the President of world's most powerful country the US, he must be told very clearly that India would never agree to any third party intervention to resolve any issue with Pakistan. It appears that the love of US for Pakistan is still intact despite the fact that terrorism originates from its soil. It is also clear that the US keeps its interest above everything. Pakistan has been its blue-eyed boy for decades. It is with the fast change in world political and geo-strategic scenario that pushed the US to lean towards India. With coming closer to India, US has alienated Pakistan a little. And because of its shift, Pakistan went into the lap of China. Pak has facilitated China to build economic corridor. The economic corridor in Pakistan with the total help of China was built. China also set its feet in Pakistan. It is very big thing for China as it has also come to the backyard of India. It is correct that US and India are the natural allies as former is the first democracy and the later is the largest one. But US soft-corner for Pakistan sours the relation between the two time to time. US endeavour to have a place in the effort of de escalating tension between India and Pakistan clearly shows that it is still in delusion. It also reflects that the US would never act against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in India. It acted against Osama bin Laden only because he was its most wanted terrorist. Osama had directly attacked the US (9/11). It is US administration's attempt to keep Pakistan in good humour so it has spoken in Pak's language of third party intervention. India must send out a message in an unambiguous term that as and when any talk is held with Pakistan, it will be bilateral one, and nothing else.

Misuse of public money

Public money must not be spent by public figure to defend his or her personal case in the court of law. The eye brows have genuinely been raised over the bill for Rs. 3.42 Crore sent by the veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani to defend Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the case of personal suit filed against him by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his objectionable statement against him. Veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who is Kejriwal’s counsel in the defamation case filed against him by Jaitley, has reportedly sent bills for Rs. one crore in retainership and Rs. 22 lakh for each appearance in court to the Delhi Chief Minister. Jethmalani has made 11 appearances so far, leading to a total of Rs 3.42 crore. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has signed off on the bills and sent them for clearance to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who has sought the opinion of experts on how to proceed. Baijal’s move comes after the Delhi Government’s Law Department, responding to a note by Sisodia, said that Lieutenant Governor’s permission for clearing the bills was necessary. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has rightly sought legal advice from Law Department how to proceed on the matter. Kejriwal is the CM of Delhi. Delhi govt. has a team of lawyers. So when the Delhi govt. has a team of lawyers, why CM Kejriwal engaged one of the most imminent and costliest lawyers like Ram Jethmalani at the cost of public exchequer. It is a personal suit that Kejriwal is facing. There is no involvement of Delhi govt. It is the hard earned money of tax payers of Delhi. It is a simple matter that if you have issued objectionable statement against anyone, you should have to be prepared to face the consequences on personal level. Kejriwal has allegedly issued objectionable statement against Arun Jaitley in regard to the charge of corruption against him in DDCA. What is the interest of Delhi govt. in DDCA that Kejriwal has taken the issue so seriously and allegedly issued objectionable statement against Jaitley? It appears that the fact of the matter is that at that time CBI had raided Kejriwal's personal Secretary Rajendra Kumar's chamber in relation to the corruption cases against him. While searching Kumar's chamber, CBI took away some files from there. This incident made Kejriwal upset. He started issuing objectionable statements against Jaitley and the later filed a personal suit against him. Jaitley also filed defamation suit against four more AAP leaders with Kejriwal. Delhi govt. must not foot the bill of Ramjethmalani and Kejriwal must meet the legal expense incurred in his personal suit from his own pocket. Neither Kejriwal nor Arun Jaitley can meet his legal expenses from govt. coffers. This only shows the hollowness in the claim of high idealistic principle by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The public exchequer cannot be used by the public figures for meeting their personal ends. The matter must not be politicized in view the coming MCD elections in Delhi. If the public money is used to defend the public figure like Kejriwal to defend personal suit in the court, there will then be filed personal suit against political opponents on daily basis. As Kejriwal is habituated to describe all his rivals as corrupt and callous, a bunch of personal suit can be filed against him. And he will be defending himself at the Govt. expense. So, the bill of Ram Jethmalani must not be footed by the govt. of Delhi. Public money is only meant for public work. Defending Kejriwal as individual in the court of law by govt. money is not proper and valid. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bid to have his legal bills footed from the government’s exchequer must be foiled and he should pay his legal fees from his own pocket.

Message of peace, progress and development

While inaugurating the Chenani - Nashri tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly called up on the youth to shun terrorism and adopt tourism. This tunnel will bolster up tourism and increase employment in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly said that while some misguided youth are involved and engaged in stone pelting, 25,000 youth of Jammu and Kashmir have toiled hard to make this tunnel. This tunnel will pave the way for the development of the state. Prime Minister Modi again invoked the famous slogan of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee -Insaniat, Jhambhooriat and Kashmiriat - and said that it would only help solve the problem of the trouble-torn state. PM Modi has pledged to carry forward the famous slogan of Vajpayee in regard to Kashmir. The blood shedding of the innocent people in the state at the behest of our hostile neighbour cannot help prosper Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has been facing Pak-sponsored terrorism for the last 40 years and no solution has yet been found. It is primarily because of some misguided people in the state. The tunnel is a long jump towards development for Jammu and Kashmir and would act as an engine of growth and employment to the people. This tunnel not only connects Jammu to Kashmir but also showcases progress the state has achieved. The farmers of the region can transport their vegetables, flowers and products to Delhi on time. The tunnel will guarantee tourism for the land and this will bolster tourism in the state.The tunnel is expected to give sigh of relief to travellers on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, as it will reduce the travel time on National Highway 44 between Jammu and Srinagar by about 2 hours by shortening the distance between the cities by 31 km. If the issue of development and peace is dealt with seriously, terrorism from the state of Jammu and Kashmir will go away. Undoubtedly, the unemployed youth are lured to participate in stone pelting. They are paid for pelting stones on security forces to help terrorists flee. If the incident of Budgam is anything to go by, it is clear that stone pelters were paid to pelt stones on security forces when they were engaged in encounter with the terrorist. The separatist and secessionist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir are allegedly working as the paid agents of Pakistan in the Valley. They are allegedly paid to misguide the unemployed and uneducated youth in the state. One thing can also be experienced from the fact that no sons or daughters of any of the separatist leader are engaged in stone-pelting. They are either studying outside the state or in the govt. jobs. It is the misguided and unemployed youth who suffer most. This thing needs to be impressed on the people. An awareness campaign against terrorism should also be launched by the govt. to expose the duplicity of separatist leaders before the people. The parents and guardians should also not allow their wards and children go to the site of encounter between security forces and terrorists. So, people’s co-operation is of utmost necessity to make former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee’s slogan of Insaniat, Jambhooriat and Kashmiriat a success. Chennai-Nashri tunnel will certainly herald a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir.