Today I was able to add, albeit unwillingly, another new political experience of the first-of-my-lifetime kind: being one of the hundreds of victims of a completely unjustified and wanton attack by Kerala Police using the highest-grade tear-gas and water cannons against a peaceful protest rally.
The rally, for which all permissions had been duly obtained, was listening to a speech by the leader of the Opposition when a tear-gas shell, fired without provocation or warning, landed just behind the stage. This was followed by a fusillade of more tear-gas shells and water cannon bursts.
With skin, eyes and lungs still smarting, I have spoken in the strongest possible terms to the DGP, protesting this behaviour by his subordinates. He has promised a full enquiry. But the firing of tear-gas shells against the stage, which was being occupied by number of senior peoples representatives, MPs and MLAs, will also attract a severe case of violation of Parliamentary privileges and immunities.
Kerala has descended into the rule of the lawless, who have been given full freedom to assault the law-abiding. @CMOKerala has to be accountable for this brazen assault.
Just as the Christmas Day celebrations are coming to an end, we hear the news that the President has given her assent to the three criminal law Bills
The new Indian Penal Code has become more draconian. If you realize that the Code is more often than not used against the poor, working class and the weaker sections of the people, the law will become an instrument of oppression against these sections of the people
Be it noted that the vast majority of prisoners (including under-trials) are poor and belong to the working class and the oppressed sections
The new Criminal Procedure Code contains many provisions that are unconstitutional and violate Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
It is the poor and oppressed sections of the people who will bear the brunt of the new Penal Code and the new Criminal Procedure Code
Instead of strengthening 'due process of law', the new Criminal Procedure Code contains many provisions that severely restrict 'freedom' and 'personal liberty'
The new provisions for arrest and police custody (that can extend custody upto 60 days or 90 days) will only lead to police excesses and custodial
persecution
One of the first tasks of the successor government in 2024 must be to review these laws and remove the draconian provisions
The Modi ec(h)o system is completely silent on:
1. Manipur.
2. Over 700 deaths during farmers' agitation.
3. Violence on women wrestlers by Delhi police and sexual harassment of wrestlers by a BJP MP.
4. Role of BJP MP who facilitated entry of the intruders into Lok Sabha on December 13th.
5. Demand for the conduct of a Caste Census to ensure social justice and adequate share in the social, economic and political structures of the country.
But suddenly Modi ec(h)o system gets hyper-vocal talking about farmers and caste. This is nothing but the famed Modi 3D vision at work: Distortion, Diversion and Distraction.
Isn't this rule effectively admitting that VVPAT slip is the truer representation/recording of the voting preference?
If CU count can be wrong and VVPAT slip is the true recording of vote as per ECI's own rules, isn't it natural that it is these slips that should be counted?
One of the superstar campaigners of the BJP has stumbled yet again, this time in Tamil Nadu. Weeks after an ED official was caught with a ₹15 lakhs bribe in Rajasthan, another official of the ED was caught red-handed with ₹20 lakhs for extortion and bribery.
The Modi government has completely damaged the reputation of ED/CBI/IT by turning them into political tools to harass and intimidate the Opposition and anyone who questions the government. Now its officers are running their own mini extortion rackets.
I thank the people of Telangana for the mandate we have received from them.
I also thank all those who voted for us in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Our performance in these three states have no doubt been disappointing, but with determination, we reaffirm our strong resolve to rebuild and revive ourselves in these three states.
The Congress party fought a spirited campaign in all these four states.
I acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of lakhs of our workers.
We will overcome temporary setbacks and prepare ourselves fully for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections along with the INDIA parties.
Exactly 20 years ago, the Indian National Congress had lost the state elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while winning only Delhi. But within a few months, the party bounced back and went on to emerge as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha polls and formed the government at the Centre.
It is with hope, confidence and a firm sense of resolve and resilience that the Indian National Congress prepares for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Judega Bharat,
Jeetega INDIA!
• No free vaccines for 18-45 yr olds.
• Middlemen brought in without price controls.
• No vaccine guarantee for weaker sections.
GOI’s Vaccine Discrimination- Not Distribution- Strategy!
People are first waiting in a cue to admit the patient in the hospital & then some are waiting in the cue to cremate the patient. Our PM meanwhile is waiting for his beard to grow further...
A large section of Hindu society now derives its pride & pleasure not from own well-being, own religion, or own country.
But from the pain they can inflict on Muslims.
Being a Hindu is getting reduced & redefined as one who hates or can hate Muslims.
Othering is near-complete.
Maharashtra farmers marching from Nasik to Mumbai against the farm laws & in support of the protesting farmers around Delhi. Yet Govt says that all farmers outside Punjab are supporting govt
The job of a journalist is not to count the likes on Prime Minister’s picture but the number of questions he has not answered.
In the last 6 years, the number of questions answered by Narendra Modi is ZERO.