Arun Shouri’s Latest Tome is Worthless Through and Through

Arun Shourie’s latest book ‘The Commissioner for Lost Causes’ is absolutely boring and insipid, and it does not enlighten in any manner whatsoever. It is an account of the self-righteousness of Arun Shourie. Let it be said that it has unfortunately now become a new trend or fashion for most of the journalist-writers to tom-tom about themselves. In the book, Shourie has reproduced long reports from newspapers, official files or the letters that he had written earlier to buttress his own conclusions. In some places, he has praised Ram Nath Goenka, the owner of the Indian Express Group of newspapers but at many times he has traduced him in his book. Ram Nath Goenka was called RNG by his well-wishers and admirers, however, for workers he was always Lalaji. In the eyes of Shourie, he was intrepid, fearless and courageous till he subserved the interests of this self-styled thinker. But when RNG started reining him in, Shourie brought forth his all demerits of an actor, of being uncouth and ugly behaviour, of being abusive and vulgar. Needless to say, it was RNG and his newspaper Indian Express which made Arun Shourie a famous person by allowing him to shine and swell his image among the politicians and bureaucrats.  Lalaji was never a lily-white person, his activities like most of the other businessmen were shady, whose all works were aimed at making a profit of all types, yet he was many times very magnanimous towards those employees, editors included, who were ready to perform the duties of a personal factotum.   

This is a bulky book by Arun Shourie containing nearly six hundred solid pages and has as many as 29 chapters but the crux of almost the entire book is the self-glorification or self-eulogy of the writer. The credit must certainly be given to a person like Shourie, who despite no training or experience in journalism, managed to be foisted as a senior /executive editor on a dedicated team of journalists by virtue of being a member of the elite club of the Lutyens Delhi. He was brought to the Indian Express because of his proximity and high connections with powerful people. Lala ji gave him full freedom to publish lengthy reports taken directly from the official files. Some of them were passed on to him by Lallaji himself and some of them were obtained from his own sources. Those reports might not have been able to any interest to the common people, but they were enough to set the government(s) on fire.  Shourie has also had the knack of appropriating the stories of his own reporters, which got his ego massaged.

Arun Shourie has painted Lala ji with a black brush time and again in the book, but Lalaji was no less clever than him. He also used Arun Shourie as a hack, wherever it was needed. Lalaji used to shower choicest abuses on his adversaries and editors, as was his wont, and Shourie has reproduced them as they were hurled. Shourie’s selfishness to outshine other senior editors and journalists by becoming the eyes and ears of Lalaji is clearly visible in all the chapters.

Arun Shourie has always been anti-worker. He has discussed the two strikes of workers: one in Bombay (now Mumbai), which was organised under the leadership of the late Dr Datta Samant and the other in Delhi in the year 1987. He has not discussed at all the working conditions or the demands of the employees but has made all-out efforts to blame the strikers. During both the strikes, Shourie played the role of a shameless strike breaker. What could be more reprehensible for a so-called intellectual like Shourie to invest his time and energy in breaking the strikes than suggesting any respectable solution? He identified fifth columnists among journalists who were/are dime a dozen and black sheep among workers by luring them with various blandishments. He has taken umbrage that why the employees of other newspapers came forward to help the striking workers of Indian Workers in Delhi. This shows the colossal ignorance of the person about the Trade Unions, where the unity of other workers is not only fully justified but the real Mantra of the movement.

Lo and behold! Shourie after being kicked from the shop of the Lalaji developed his proximity with politicians but feigns ignorance about the shenanigans of politics. He tries to his readers to believe that the Membership of the Rajya Sabha was given to him on a platter, although he was reluctant to accept it. His description of the offer, election to the Rajya Sabha and later the ministership is economical with the truth.

 Shourie has praised the judiciary and the judges only when it suited him. So long judiciary and the judges helped him and Lalaji in achieving their goals, they were alright but when it did not suit, he did not hesitate in turning against them. Lalaji and Shourie virtually converted their newspaper into a journalistic harlotry and a tool of blackmailing. Anybody who went against them, be it a worker, a journalist, a politician or a trade unionist was tarred with a bad name so as to hang him/her with heaps of ignominy.

Just as Rajiv Gandhi was brought to heels on the issue of Bofors guns with the help of some politicians, Arun Shourie and his ilk tried to blackmail Narendra Modi by using the Rafael fighter planes to get the pounds of flesh. But Arun Shourie and his cohorts like Prashant Bhushan and Yashwant Sinha had to eat humble pie as they did not get support from anywhere. Arun Shourie and his company forgot that Narendra Modi was made of different mettle, who cannot be blackmailed because of his squeaky-clean politics. That is the reason Shourie, and others got rebuffed by the judiciary and the CAG. Now Arun Shourie’s words are taken with a pinch of salt because his true colours have been known to everybody.

 Coming again about the book, it will be a sheer waste of time in going through this worthless tome.  The book is an example of hollowness. It looks like the writer is unaware of the fact that self-praise is no recommendation.

 

 

 

Violence After Prayers Stinks of Obnoxious Conspiracy

 

Stone pelting after the Juma Namaz (Friday Prayers) at various places in the country amply demonstrates that some forces, which are inimical to India are actively engaged in hatching a conspiracy to shatter the peace and harmony. This is being done in the name of opposing Nupur Sharma. Demonstrations and gheraos are legitimate rights of the people in our country. Even for peaceful dharna and pradarshan permission from the police is necessary but in such types of orchestrated violence police and other citizens are attacked by Namazis. It is generally believed that after the Namaz, devotees would turn to peaceful self-introspection but here they become violent and target police and the public by pelting stones. This could not have been a spontaneous incident as it happened simultaneously at many places. This was a well-thought plan, which is clear from the fact that stones could not be collected on the spur of the moment. Therefore, to maintain law and order and to restore the confidence of the people, Imams and other members of the Intzamia(managing) committee should be immediately rounded up if the crowd turns violent. The lectures, which are delivered by Maulanas after the Namz should be fully monitored and if something provocative is found then apart from rioters these Maulvis should also be held responsible.

The irony is that such anti-social elements get open support from a lobby that claims to be liberal, and the champion of freedom of speech and expression. This lobby has unfortunately been helping anarchy. One is amazed at the mentality of some people who derive perverted pleasure and gleefully tell others that Muslim countries are very unhappy with the present Modi government. They allege that the present Indian government has not been able to keep in check those who speak against Islam. There cannot be any grudge against Islamic countries because they have no idea of democracy and debate but why do our own people, who swear by dissent and discussion feel happy to be associated with them? Is it not strange that these people prefer to go with medievalism? It is all the more, strange that those who consider religion as an opium of the masses do not have any compunction in siding with those, who vehemently refuse to listen to the truth even if it is written in their own scriptures. Here it is not the question of Muslims, who refuse to see any logic in the name of faith but about those perverts who revel in the expansion and encroachment of Indian territory by China. If the relationship of India nosedives with Arabian countries and the diesel and petrol prices get hiked, they feel happy because they get the opportunity to traduce the government, which is not of their liking. Anything that embarrasses the present government will be a good stick for these nincompoops. But they do not know that under the cover of Modi's opposition they are doing incalculable damage to the country.

India has always had a very healthy tradition of discussing and disagreeing with any proposition, even if a person is high and mighty. Kabir Das has been the biggest iconoclast that the country has seen in the last five hundred years. One shudders to think that what would have been the fate of Kabir Das if he had been alive today. After all, Nupur Sharma did not say anything which could be said to be a figment of her imagination. She simply quoted from the Hadis, which no cleric has been able to refute. So, why this intolerance? Are we returning to the age of darkness, where even facts can't be stated or told in the name of faith? Clearly, it is against the democratic, constitutional and even religious spirit of the country. The law-enforcing agencies will, therefore, have to take the help of technology to deal with such elements, who erupt into violent activities on the day of the religious congregations. But apart from the law enforcement agencies, the awaked section of the society will have to also come off their shells to create an atmosphere of discussion and debate free from rancour and animosity.

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Suspension of Nupur Sharma Shows the Sign of Imbecility

 

One wonders why some intellectuals in India and some governments of tiny Islamic countries are up in arms over what Nupur Sharma said in a TV debate. She might have naturally gotten infuriated over the extreme provocation by some panellists over Shivlingfound at Gyanvapi of Varanasi but what she had said about Prophet is fully countenanced by the Islamic scriptures. She even quoted the source of what she said. But what is strange is that instead of providing any logical reply to what she said, some people started blaming her for blasphemy. 

 Imam Mohammad Al- Bukhari is considered to be one of the most distinguished scholars of Hadith in Islamic history. His book Sahih al-Bukhari contains the words, actions, and habits of Prophet Mohammad. This book says that the ProphetMohammad married Aisha when she was six years old, and he consummated his marriage when she was nine-year-old.   Many people think that the Arab world got annoyed with India for what with she said in the TV debate. But why should they matter to India? They are not even worth two pennies. However, if BJP succumbed to the pressure of Arabian countries to take action against Nupur Sharma, then nothing can be more shameful. So, the earlier her suspension is revoked the better for the image of the government and also of the party that rules the country.

A large country like ours is not expected to bow down to the pressure of these insignificant Arabian countries. Who cares for these two-penny Arabian countries? The USA has been openly helping and supporting Israel in the teeth of opposition from these Arabian countries and they have not been able to shake even a hair of America. China has been bashing and pounding Uighur Muslims for the last many years, but these countries have not mustered the courage to even open their mouth against repressive China.  

  Even today in the twenty-first century the Arabian countries are characterised by scientific illiteracy, retrogressive mentality, and medieval backwardness. Their displeasure, therefore, should be dismissed with the contempt that they deserve. One is aghast to learn that even in this time when the invention and miracle of the internet have taken the world by storm, how can a section of society in the world subscribe, nay, boast of living in the age of caves?

Nobody can be kept shackled with outdated and primitive ideas in modern times. Thus, if the BJP wants itself to be saved from public ridicule, it must not only revoke the suspension of Nupur Sharma but also help promote the openness of ideas. It will be the moment of remorse and mea-culpa for theParty and the government.  Why and how law and order are thrown to the wind by a section of society at short intervals is another issue of deep concern and consideration for the government of the day.

What has happened at Kanpur a few days after the suspension of Nupur Sharma shows that it was a well thought out conspiracy and planning. The conspirators must be found out and a long-term policy is prepared so that the fangs of the anti-social elements are crushed before they could rise again.

Debate and Dissent cannot be throttled in the Name of Faith

     It is reported that communal violence broke out in Kanpur as some people after offering Namaz in a mosque started pelting stones at shops in the locality to protest against the assertions of BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma about Prophet Mohammad in a TV debate. They say it is blasphemy to speak against the Prophet Mohammad even if it is based on the proofs of their own scriptures, thus leaving no scope for any discourse or dialogue. Many FIRs have also been lodged against her under sections 295A, 153A and 505B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)at many places for what she has said.

  Ms Sharma alleges that she has been receiving death and rape threats on social media after a "so-called fact-checker" circulated a heavily edited video from one of her recent debates on a TV channel on the Gyanvapi case. Be that as it may, the most perplexing question is why should a healthy debate be not allowed even in the first quarter of the twenty-first century and why the Maulvis are not issuing their firmans against those, who have become so intolerant? After all, what she has spoken about Prophet Mohammad is also based on some books and those sources cannot be dismissed in the name of faith. It is all the more surprising that when it is ordained that what Prophet Mohammad had said or done should be followed by his true followers, then why his preaching and activities should not be seen with microscopic subtility?

  In the name of faith, the reasoning and logic cannot be given go by, that too, at a time when the revolutionary changes have taken place, thanks due mainly to science and technology. After knowing the full facts about any one or all religions, if anybody wants to renounce the same to become an atheist, why should there be any bar on him or her? If any Muslim or a Christian has to say logically and factually something about Ram, Krishna or Shiva or any Hindu deity, there cannot be any objection to it by any Hindu. After all, Shastras (arguments) based on correct information are the basic ingredients to convince anybody to follow any religion.

 Swami Dayanand Saraswati had always fought against superstitions in all religions. Sanatani Hindus were his worst critics. He did not spare Christianity, Islam or any other sects of Hindu religion. He was respected rather revered for his razor-sharp mind and deep erudition. He had thrown an open challenge to any preacher, priest or cleric to prove him but those who always thrived on superstitions did not come forward to face him. Why the clerics and Maulvis are not coming forward to openly denounce such persons, who are abusing, trolling or threatening Nupur Sharma for what she has said?  They should prove with all politeness that what she has said is not based on facts. She must also be prepared to rectify the mistakes if it is proven on scriptural evidence.

 But the way, Nupur Sharma is being intimidated has no place in any civilised society. The Courts and the Administration must deal with such persons with iron hands, who want to foreclose all debates and discussions in the name of religious beliefs. Such stupidities and puerilities by some people cannot be allowed to suppress and suffocate the voice of dissent and logic. If it were so, then the great thinkers like Charvak, Heraclitus, Nietzsche, Karl Marx and the whole hosts of atheists across the globe would have been exterminated after opening their mouths.

 

 

 

Yogi Deserves Praise for Restoring Rule of Law

 

One often wonders and marvels at the will and commitment of UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath to maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in the state. Some forces at the instance of their masters sitting inside and outside the country were hell-bent on creating disturbances and communal tensions in Uttar Pradesh at the time of Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti but thanks to the alacrity and firmness of the Yogi government not even one untoward incident was reported from any part of the state. These forces got frustrated and they gave vent to their designs in other states by staging communal riots.

When the Varanasi court this month itself directed for the preservation of Shivling in the Gyanvapi and for making alternative arrangements for the Waju (ablutions) of the permitted number of Namajis, it was feared that the state would be engulfed in extreme turbulence, but nothing happened in any part of the state despite extreme provocations by the likes of Owaisi and others. A few days earlier, the Advocate Commissioners were prevented from surveying the Gyanvapi premises by the troublemakers but when Yogi made it clear that no nuisance would be brooked and they would be dealt with an iron fist, nothing happened. The message reached in time to those who were planning to stoke communal tensions in different districts of the state.

Was it possible in any other dispensation? The obvious answer is an emphatic NO. During the regime of different governments, Uttar Pradesh had seen the worst communal riots. Mayawati was certainly a shade better than others, but the Yogi government is incomparable, and it is head and shoulder above any government of the state at any point in time. Although former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav wanted to deride the Yogi government by nicknaming as the government of the Bulldozer Baba, that name proved to be a blessing in disguise for the people of the state.

The state has suffered a lot, as it has been fed up with the goondaism and casteism of some political parties. Government contracts used to be awarded only to those who belonged to a particular party or persons. Officers used to bend backwards to please their political masters. The Police Sub-Inspectors had become more powerful than Superintendents of Police because they were in the good books of their political bosses. It is an open secret that corruption was at its peak during the time of Mulayam Singh Yadav (Akhilesh Yadav included) and Mayawati. Mulayam Singh and his son had patronised some journalists, who shamelessly sang their paeans. These journalists were openly indulging in brokering. It must be stated, in all fairness, that the Yogi government has restored the people’s faith in the rule of law.

Working Journalist Act must be Amended to Instil Trust in the Profession

 Some people, who have neither any understanding of media nor its constitutional position, have been making thoughtless and stupid demands for the Journalist Protection Act. Some bluff masters have even been circulating the rough draft of the Act, which they are proposing in their delusion to be introduced in Parliament. These self-styled leaders or champions of media freedom have never stood by journalists in their thick and thin, weal or woe. It must be reiterated here that there is no mention of freedom of the press or media in the constitution of India. It is the freedom of speech and expression that was hotly debated in the constituent assembly, and it finds a pride place in Article 19 (1) as a fundamental right. Part III and Part IV of the Indian Constitution deal with Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy., While Fundamental Rights are enforceable and justiciable, the Directive Principles of State Policy, are neither enforceable nor justiciable but the state will always strive to achieve them.
The freedom of media or the press is, therefore, derived from the Constitution that speaks of the protection of certain rights of all citizens like; freedom of speech and expression, to assemble peaceably and without arms, to form associations or unions, to move freely throughout the territory of India, to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade, or business. Hence, the freedom of a journalist is neither more nor less than the freedom of any citizen. However, the very next sub-clause 2 empowers the State from making any law for imposing reasonable restrictions in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency, or morality or about contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offence.
Thus, it needs no emphasis that the State is duty-bound to provide protection to every citizen of the country, not only journalists. There is no gainsaying that the work of a journalist is different from other professionals. S/he is more susceptible to attacks and allegations by works that s/he performs but the real guarantee can come to a journalist from society, not by law. The life of a journalist is as hazardous or safe as those of a lawyer or a doctor, social worker, writer or any professional but that does not mean that there should be a separate law for the protection of every profession.
What, in fact, is needed is that the law meant for all persons should be effectively and will provide safety and security to all professionals. There is no need for a separate law, which could create a false sense of security

among journalists. Objectivity and boldness will ensure the respect and safety of a journalist, which has been considerably eroded by indulging in false and fake news.
Who is a journalist? This question has been raging from the time the country achieved independence. Some twenty-five years ago, this question came up before the Press Council of India, which had no relevance either then, or now but it was important from the point of view that it was and is an Appellate Authority against the orders of the RNI in matters relating to the cancellation of the registration or denial of the titles of the newspapers/ periodicals. The late Phoolan Devi, who was then a Member of Parliament, had applied for the title of a newspaper, which was not allotted to her on the ground that she was illiterate, so how could she be a journalist? The then Chairman of the Press Council of India, Justice P B Sawant asked a question to the authorities where was it written that to be an owner of a newspaper or a journalist should be necessarily educated? When other newspapers have employed journalists to bring out their publications, similarly she can also do the same thing. Before 1955, when the Working Journalist Act was enacted, there was only print media. Akashwani (Radio) was the only electronic medium that was in government control and its employees were governed by government rules. There is no qualm or compunction in accepting the fact that despite the Working Journalist Act, the journalists belonging to the print medium have hardly got any protection about their wages and security of jobs. This is because of the shoddy implementation by the corrupt officials of the labour department and the tardy judiciary.
Now with the unprecedented expansion of electronic and web media, it is more important that the ken or the ambit of the Working Journalist Act is expanded, and its implementation is made more effective. Apart from it, the definition of a working journalist should be made clear, so that those who fall within the meaning of the journalist could claim some benefits to which the Act entitles them. Anyway, to save the prestige of the journalistic profession, some sort of registration rolls for the journalists must also be prepared a la Advocates, Doctors or the Chartered Accountants.
Parmanand Pandey
Secy. Gen.: IFWJ

Phoney Allegiance to the Constitution is like Devil Quoting Scripture

 I have heard ad nauseam that Asaduddin Owaisi is a Barrister by profession as he studied at the prestigious Lincoln’s Inn of London. However, I must confess that I have neither seen him arguing any case nor read any reported judgments argued by Shri Owaisi, yet he is praised for his very sharp forensic knowledge. I have sometimes heard his envenomed speeches in Parliament and other public meetings, but they have never been able to appeal to the reason or logic of any person of average prudence. Therefore, those who often eulogise him for his in-depth learning are not objective observers but the blind followers of his noxious politics.

  Although the number of lawyers in politics is certainly higher than other professionals yet most of them have neither shone in politics nor in the legal profession. Politics is an altogether different ballgame, and the brilliance of lawyering or advocacy does not play a very significant role. Many lawyers have certainly made a mark in the legal profession regardless of their political hues or colours, but one is not dependent on the other. Nobody expects consistency in politics but, at least, in the legal profession consistency cannot be shed or shunned for political expediency. A good politician is expected to be a beacon of light for those who follow their leader, but Owaisi shows more of his tantrums than exuding logic of light.

  His recent statements avowing loyalty to the constitution with regard to the Places of Worship Act, introduced by Parliament in 1991 depict his duplicity and insincerity. It is like the famous Shakespearian quote in Merchant of Venice that ‘the devil can cite Scriptures for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek’. Look at his specious loyalty. He had shown his contempt for the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A from the constitution or CAA or NRC but in the case of Gyanvapi, he has become an unflinching votary of the amendments to the constitution.

  Article 368 of the Indian constitution provides flexibility that allows for the required changes, which can be brought about as per the wishes and aspirations of the people. In fact, even the basic structure theory as enunciated in the Keshvanand Bharti also cannot remain as rigid as to be written in stone like the Ten Biblical Commandments.  The Constitution has to be an organic one, it can be changed/amended or altered as and when the need arises. Shri Owaisi is a lawmaker by virtue of being a Member of Parliament, but he should not try to browbeat the public by showing his phoney allegiance to the constitution of India and claiming to have a better understanding than others because he happened to be a Barrister, at least by holding the degree if not by practice. 

  The Government must, therefore, try to convince the Muslim leadership to transfer at least Kashi, Mathura and some other places of worship to Hindus which scream by their structure to be theirs.