This refers to the article titled Collapse of Law & Order by R Guruprasad in Organiser dated September 17. There is no doubt that the cold-blooded killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh is a blot on our collective consciousness beyond the ideology she professed or nurtured, the rivalry she may have had or people she had ruffled feathers of. But what the cacophony of political blame-game hides is the need for a swift and through investigation and speedy disposal of justice. This murder is not about political dispensation or gender justice for Gauri Lankesh but about the right of a free-thinking individual to exist in a democratic society and feel free and safe in doing so. Justifiably , civil society needs to be angry. It is not about a journalist’s death becoming another statistic but about bringing the killers to book in current memory rather than with retrospective or diluted effect , many years down the line. The Congress Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka hasn’t been able to override even usual systemic delays , leave aside making major breakthrough . This despite the fact that the Chief Minister expressed his intent of taking on “ organised crime”, which , he believes , led to Lankesh’s killing. We are nowhere near to zeroing in on the culprits , except grainy CCTV footage showing the silhouette of a medium-built , helmet-clad assailant pumping bullets and speeding away .
MC SHARMA, Panki,Kanpur
——–
Wise Decision
It has been rightly said by Abhishek Pratap Singh the writer of the article titled ‘A New Road To Relations’ in Organiser issue dated September 10, that “Bharat has turned a new leaf in diplomacy by diffusing the standoff with China.” China claims Indian territories in the name of
historical wrongs and its invasion of India in 1962, which was plain bullying to begin with. However it misjudged New Delhi in case of India-Bhutan-China trijunction at Doklam, where it started constructing a road which would have posed a security threat for India which started the friction. However in the end, Bejing showed maturity by giving up its pre-condition of Indian troop’s withdrawal at Doklam before there could be any talks. Both the countries agreed to withdraw their troops, with China abandoning its controversial road construction at Doklam, though it refuses to directly accept it. It is a remarkable success of New Delhi’s
diplomatic capability, patience and restrained response to the provocation, even threats of invasion, by the
state–controlled Chinese media in holding its ground.
MC JOSHI, Lucknow
——–
No-fly List
It is heartening that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued India’s first No-fly List which provides deterrent punishment for misbehaviour on a flight, regardless of the status of the person. Still, many of us wish that this happens in the railways as well. Union Minister for Civil Aviation AshoK Gajapathi Raju,should be applauded for coming off good on a promise made. Even when a Shiv Sena Member of the Parliament misbehaved, the airline received much support from Raju. However, it must be recorded that general
passengers misbehave as well. The new rule should sober up all passengers.
KS PADMANABHA,
Chennai
——–
Take a wise call on GM mustard
Apropos cover story of Organiser titled ‘Taming the Trojan Horse’ by Manoranjana Gupta , issue dated September 10. As if the destruction wrought on our agriculture by the Green Revolution and Bt cotton was not enough, now the Government is eager to introduce Genetically Modified (GM ) food crops in the name of increasing productivity and reducing imports. Instead of promoting technologies that are sustainable both ecologically and economically (like the organic-cum-nursery technique of System of Root Intensification ( SRI), which is being practised in Odisha, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Bihar, where it is giving an average yield of 31 quintals and a maximum of 57 quintals per hectare, all of which can substitute the current Rs.70,000 crore rapeseed-mustard imports per year), why is GM mustard (which is monocultural, based on a “terminator” technology and herbicide-tolerant) sought to be pushed without adequate safety trials done for a moratorium period of minimum 10 years, as recommended by the apex court itself? Honey production, 60 per cent of which is of mustard-flower origin, would also get affected, as feared by bee-keeper associations across India. Bees are already getting destroyed by the neonicotinoid pesticides used to treat GM seeds before they are planted. Let not governments and agri-cum-biotech research institutes not play with the lives of people.
CV KRISHNA MANOJ, Hyderabad
——–
Supreme Court’s Positive Move
This is with reference to the interview of Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla titled ‘The decision will restore a sense of security among Muslim Women’ taken by Special Representative of Organiser, Manoranjana Gupta in issue dated September 3. The Supreme Court has taken a positive step by banning the triple talaq. The Hindu society had banned unethical practices like sati, dowry and child marriage etc long time back. Social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy initiated the change during the early 19th century and the process is still continuing as education is spreading. The Muslim society must catch hold of the educated class to
inculcate modern reforms instead of depending on conservative clergies who want to keep their hold on the poor and the uneducated.
PN SAXENA,
Via email
Tougher Law Required
This refers to the cover story of Organiser titled ‘Mend the Vision for Secured Society’ by Acharya Vijay Ratnasunder Surishwar dated September 24.It appears that child abuse cases are either not reported, or even if reported are hushed up. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has guidelines to deal with each case. But a lot of these cases are settled quietly and this is extremely dangerous. The Police should not be the only resort that deals with the cases of child abuse. There should be a team of specialised child psychiatrists and other childcare professionals who can ensure continued support to these children. When a case of child abuse is reported, hardly any support is offered to the child and his/her family to get their lives back on track. When children take the extremely difficult step of reporting abuse, we need to ensure that they get the support and help they need when they are brave enough to give evidence in the court. The urgent need is the enactment of a law that can provide for a stringent punishment to the perpetrators of crime against children. Proper implementation of the law at all level is also important. Should’nt we break our silence to save the innocence of children of our country?
VINOD C DIXIT, Ahmedabad
