However, the arrests of students in Kerala for criticizing Modi in their college magazine, the government’s silence on the subject, the PM keeping restively silent on the brutal murder of a Pune techie by the extremist Hindu Rashtra Sena organization and not much reaction from the Home Minister on the Badaun rape hangings in UP are sending out mixed signals.
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti holds a meeting in Goa and their leader Charudatta Pingle openly exhorts Hindus to wage war of second independence for a Hindu Rashtra and Pramod Muthalik wants to distribute the Gita and swords to every Hindu family in Goa whilst there is no action taken against such fascist pronouncements by the government that promotes arrest of people for their comments on Facebook! Will the values of freedom of speech and rights of free Indian citizens be vigorously upheld? Union Minister for Health Harsh Vardhan says sex education in schools must be banned and HR Minister Smithi Irani thinks of introducing Vedic teachings in the school curriculum!
Pitting Indian culture as flowing from Hindu culture to the exclusion of elements of the Western, Islamic, Christian, Zoroastrian and other cultures is a throw back to the old days of comparative innocence when things were simpler and knowledge explosion absent! Marriage was sacred and pre-marital sex a grievous sin. There were no AIDS, rape drugs, internet and prevention with condoms availability is public policy. It is obvious that in a progressive democracy, there must be open discussion on sex coupled with responsibility and consequences thereof so children getting correct information do not indulge in wild experimentation.
As regards culture we must heed Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of keeping all our windows open to let the various cultures breeze in and assimilate all that is good. Culture can never remain static and is a continuous churning, assimilation and accommodation especially in today’s globalize world!
Another mixed signal is the government rejection of selection by the Collegiums, of senior advocate Gopal Subramanium for the Supreme Court! According to Justice P.N.Baghwati a judge should be “stern stuff and tough fire, unbending before power economic or political, upholding the core principal of the rule of law which says: Be you ever so high, the law is above you”. This eminent, experienced and extremely competent lawyer, well known for his uprightness, honesty and integrity was reportedly given a clean chit by the IB on 15 May; a day before the results of the LS election was declared. There were leaks from the new government about his unsuitability. The CBI dutifully cast a shadow on his suitability and on 22 May the IB endorsed this CBI report!
This smear campaign drove him to withdraw his consent to be judge and forcefully deny all the allegations publicly on Television. Many eminent judges and lawyers interviewed agree that the Apex Court losing him as an asset is unfortunate and not a reflection on his dark side for he has none! Does the BJP want committed judges to toe the line considered by government as right if it is legally or morally wrong? All Congress appointed governors are sought to be replaced with BJP stalwarts who have to be accommodated. Where does that leave the professed merit, and unbiased criteria? Will Raj Bhavans continue to be retirement homes?
Goa’s Chief/ Home Minister is taking people for granted. Gone are the days when as Opposition leader he was with the people. With Mathany Saldana, his arrogant streak in his previous rule we thought had mellowed. He makes flippant comments and at a Press conference he propagated that the water in the Mandovi river is fit for drinking. Herald 5 July has headlined the treatment of 5 star rape (Tejpal) versus village rape (Camurlim). The CM reportedly wants to create an overriding committee by the Ordinance route to quickly deal with all the environment laws! The RP 2021 that he promised us does not fit into the scheme of things planned for us. He knows best and with the mandate we have given him, our approval it appears, by and large, has no meaning. Christ has cautioned “He who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The British manipulated the police to keep citizens subservient. It appears Goa and Maharashtra politicians do not want police reforms. Speaking on the subject, Mrs. Maja Daruwala, Director of CHRI (Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative) says, “The Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Bill 2014 is totally unacceptable. We urge the Governor of Maharashtra to send the Bill back to the state Legislature for reconsideration. Policing is a serious business that affects the safety and security of all citizens. This Bill requires fundamental changes if it is to be in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives and have the possibility of reforming the police in the public interest”.
A delegation led by Julio Rebeiro, former Mumbai Police Commissioner also called on their governor. Goa urgently needs its own police manual and Act! The public is unaware of what is the status of the much criticized Goa Police Bill 2008, which I understand with amendments may be passed in the coming Goa Assembly session. Perhaps a month in office is too early to see where the nation is heading and we will have to rely on the fallout of the Union Budget and on the Modi management to look forward to “aache din” in due course.
(John Eric Gomes is a retired naval officer).
