Welcome modification by the SC of its own judgement

Supreme Court of India has saved the country from major constitutional crisis by modifying its own order of 15^th May 2015 by which it had directed that the photographs of Minister, Chief Minister or Governor of the states would not be published or shown in the government advertisements.

The bench consisting of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice P.C. Ghosh had ruled that it amounted to sheer misuse of public money for private publicity. This order had created a lot of problems for the Federal structure of the country, where the Governors and the Chief Ministers enjoy the equal constitutional rights.

Under Part VI of the Constitution of India, the rights of the Governors, Chief Ministers and the State Legislatures are clearly defined from Article 152 to Article 213 as it is provided for the Union Executive from Articles 52 to 122 in Part V. Similarly Articles 124 to 147 of Chapter IV deal with Union Judiciary, while Chapter V from 214 to 237 deal with the State Judiciary.

Thus duties, rights and responsibilities of the Union and the States are delineated in the Constitution. Needless to say, the High Courts do not function under the Supreme Court of India, as it has no supervisory powers over the High Courts. On the other hand, the High Courts have been vested with the supervisory powers over the subordinate courts of their respective jurisdictions under Article 227. The Supreme court enjoys supremacy because of certain reasons. Firstly; it is vested with powers under Article 141 whereby the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the country. It is based on the principle of ‘stare decis’. Secondly; Article 142 provides the power to the Supreme Court to exercise its jurisdiction to render complete justice regardless of non-existence of any statutory provision. Thirdly; it is the highest Appellate Court, where the decisions of High Courts can be appealed to be upheld, set aside or modified. Fourthly; the President of India may consult it, at any time, on any question of law or the fact. This power is called the Power of Reference.

Although, it is like a consultation by the President of India from the Supreme Court yet the opinion expressed by the Supreme Court is binding on the President of India which literally means the Government of India. What is, however, the most outstanding power that is given by the Constitution to the Supreme court is Article 136, which provides vast discretionary power to grant special leave to appeal to any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India. Article 144 reinforces the authority of the Supreme Court which says all authorities civil and judicial in the territory of India shall act in its aid. Article 145 vests Supreme Court to frame its own rules. The writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 32 is similar to that of High Courts in Article 226. In fact, the High Courts have got winder powers under Article 226 for entertaining the petitions or issuing writs. The Supreme Court while passing any order in respect of the High Courts does not give direction but makes request, although in the legal parlances any request coming from the Supreme Court has all the force of orders.

Now let us come to the background of the case. This judgment of the Supreme Court was delivered in the context of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a non-governmental organisation Common Cause for restricting the publication or broadcast of the photographs of the Ministers, Chief Ministers and the Governors at the cost of the public exchequer. The idea of Common Cause is certainly benign and laudable in the sense that public money should not be used for private publicity. Thus, the Supreme Court in its order of 15^th May 2015 said that except the photograph of President/Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India, no other photographs could be published or telecast in the audio visual media. This order of the Supreme Court was fraught with dangers. Although it was a welcome decision with good intentions yet it raised many issues concerning the Centre- State relationships. It was the reason that many review petitions were filed by various State Governments and others. Finally, on 18^th of march 2016, the Supreme Court modified its order to the extent that the photograph of Chief Ministers Governors and Ministers of the Government can be published or shown along with Prime Minister, President and Chief Justice of India. Since the Supreme Court is the Apex Court, therefore, its order/decisions/directions can be modified only by itself. Be that as it may, it has come as a huge relief because now the stands settled by the correct interpretation of the Constitution. Hence, this historic modification in the judgement will help balance and strengthen the federal structure of the Country.

MECHANICAL JUSTICE IS TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE

The dismissal of a petition by the Madras High Court with observation that nowhere in the Indian Penal Code it is stated that ‘eating non-vegetarian food is an offence and there is no law touching, eating habits of any religion is an offence’ is very prosaic interpretation of law but certainly not conducive to the evolution of just, fare and judicious law. The famous legal philosopher Roscoe Pound was of the view that ‘law should be stable but not stand still’. In his famous book ‘An Introduction to Philosophy and Social Control Through Law’, he had said that ‘thinking about law one has to think about the society’.  In a civilised society people must be able to assume that those with whom they deal in the general intercourse of society will act in good faith and hence; (a) will make reasonable expectation which their promises or other conduct reasonably create; (b) will carry out their undertakings according to the expectations which the moral sentiment of the community attaches’. Thus it is clear where the society fails to follow the reasonable moral expectations, ‘the law which is in the words of Austin is the command of the Sovereign’ must come into the play.

The observation of the High Court came in the disposal of the petition filed by an Advocate by profession in the High Court of Madras praying that the Writ of Mandamus be issued to the authorities to prohibit the selling and eating of the beef around the Palani temple and its stairs. This temple is perched on the hills in the Dindigul district of Tamilnadu.  He has said in his petition that the entire circle of the Holy Hills is used as Giriwal Pathai (Parikrama). Hindu devotees go around Giriwal Pathai and they feel uncomfortable to cross the shops which are housed in the temple property and occupied by people belonging to other religion. They indiscriminately use beef and other non-vegetarian food by sitting in the stairs of Palani Hills and thus insult the religious faith of Hindus.

As a matter of fact, it is the responsibility of authorities particularly the Commissioner of the Municipality of the Palani and the Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Indouments to ensure that the area surrounding temple and sacred hills are not defiled.

Justices Shri S. Manikumar and Shri C.T. Selvam are right when they say that meat eating or even the buffalo meat, which is also known as beef is eating not prohibited in the Hindu religion. But there is no gainsaying that in and around all temples, non-vegetarian food is not allowed except, of course, in the ‘Shakt Temples’, where animal sacrifices are permitted. Thus the people belonging to other religion must be conscious towards the religious sentiments. Legally also Section – 153A of the IPC says ‘Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony’ – is punishable, and when it is read with Section 295 which says that ‘Whoever destroys, damages or defiles any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both’.Similarly Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code says that ‘Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.’

Thus the ideal situation is that the provisions of Indian Penal Code are not required to be invoked but when in such situations demand, then there should not be any hesitation in invoking them. Here the High Court was certainly go beyond what are provided in the law and it should have done which could have helped in soothing the prayed tempers. The High Court has said that the petition is filed in the nature of a public interest litigation and which cannot be allowed to be misused by the meddlesome interloper or wayfarer or officious intervener without any interest or concern except for personal gain or private profit or other oblique consideration. But this case is certainly does not belong to the category of an interference by an interloper. This is a matter or an issue which has its bearing the sensitivities of millions of people who go to the temple round the year. Even those who do not go to temple they feel certainly hurt when they find that ‘people belong to other faith are eating and selling the meat in the vicinity of the temple, which is perched on the hills.

Even if, the petitioner not been able to provide any documentary evidence in support of his petition, at least considering the matter of great public importance the Hon’ble High Court must have asked for the factual report from the authorities concerned to pass the appropriate order in view of the reports received from them but by summarily rejecting the petition is absolutely no justice.

Should media persons play the role of judges?

'Justice delayed is justice denied' is a cliché. That is why, a wag has said in a seminar at Mumbai that 'why not appoint the media persons as the judges in all courts?'  In his view, trial by media is most inexpensive and expeditious way of delivery. There is a no need for the police to register the crime, investigate and frame the charges. There is no need for the Courts to afford any opportunity for 'admission and denial' or to allow examination and cross-examination of anybody. Collection of evidence will also not be required. Mere debates by some 'omniscient' people in the studio of the television channels will be enough to pronounce the judgment for or against the accused or victim.

It may be ludicrous to the most but it is, nonetheless, true that media persons level the charges (sometimes some body else level those charges) and then the debaters become the jury and the judge to pronounce the judgments. Take for example, the recent case of two girls from Rohtak, who were shown to be the victims of molestation by three young boys in a moving bus. It was reported in the media that two brave heart girls faced the molestation attempt by three young boys; incidentally, two of them were selected in the army. The allegation of these girls is that when three boys were trying to molest them in the running bus not even one of the passengers came to their rescue. Then one of these courageous and spunky girls started thrashing those boys, while the other got busy in making the video through her mobile phone. This video became viral and, within no time, it was the topic of hot TV debates. The warriors of studios made the post mortem of the criminal law and the safety of the women.

No body bothered to know the other side of the story. They chastised the fellow passengers and wanted them to be booked for complicit in the crime. All participants shamed the hapless bus conductor and the driver in the harshest possible language. But the anchors of the news channels reserved their ire against the political leaders, police administration and even the general public was not spared. Media pronounced the judgment in favour of the ‘victim’ girls and against the boys in less than an hour. Haryana Government lost no time in suspending the driver and conductor of the bus. The state government also announced the bravery awards to be given to both gutsy girls on 26 January, the Republic Day. 

However, the next day when the other version of the story came when many passengers including an old woman, tried to lodge a report against these two girls in a police station. Unnerved by the criticism of the media the police refused to lodge the report of the old woman against the girls. But such things do not remain hidden for very long time, that too, when the girls and other passengers belong to the neighboring village. Almost everybody blamed the girls who picked up the unnecessary quarrel for the sake of seats in the bus. 

An old woman also alleged that she was forcibly removed from her seat and was asked to sit on a wheel tyre kept in the bus. It is also said that the girls were traveling in the previous bus, which went out of order and then passengers were loaded in the next bus in which the boys were travelling. The girls insisted on sitting on the same seats, which were given to them in the previous bus. These boys refused to accede to their demand and the scuffle followed. Next day when the real facts came to the light, the government withdrew the bravery awards to be given to the girls. It has also come to the open that these 'courageous' girls have been in the habit of creating such drama for the sake for the publicity. This also proves the point that justice hurried is justice buried.

Media may gloat over its achievement (?) but this has done no good to its credibility. The media, particularly the electronic media, have been making such reports, which have not only been unpalatable and unauthentic but these reports have also been malicious, tendentious and defamatory. Not long ago, a news channel had converted an innocent school teacher of Delhi, Miss Uma Shama into a pimp and the peddler of the sex trade. It was alleged by the news channel that the said woman teacher used to rope in girls of tender age to get them thrown into flesh trade. However, after an inquiry it was found that the report was totally false and it was aimed at spoiling the image, character and career of the woman teacher. Based on the report the woman teacher was summarily dismissed from the job to be reinstated only after getting the clean chit from the police.

It raises an important point. When the media has become so powerful that it can make or destroy anybody’s image, should it behave so irresponsibly as not to verify the facts before passing any judgment? Should there not be any checks and balances for the media? Is there not an urgent need for strong regulatory measures where the general public or any aggrieved person can go for redeeming his or her prestige if the media has deliberately spoiled it for the sake of TRP or sensation?

It may not be out of place to mention here that aggrieved by a report that was broadcast on a T.V. channel, the eminent  lawyer Fali Nariman, who was arguing the case of Sahara India Ltd in the Supreme  Court had drwan the attention of the bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India Mr. S. H. Kapadia. Justice Kapadia suo-motto took up the matter and issued notices to the government and other agencies for replying so that the guidelines for the court reporting could be framed.

Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) also got impleaded in the case and I argued the case before the court on behalf of the IFWJ and vehemently opposed for framing of any guidelines because that would amount to curtailing the freedom of speech and expression and, therefore, would be unconstitutional. Ultimately, the court dropped the idea of framing any guidelines for the court reporting. Other eminent lawyers like Ram Jeth Malani, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan etc. supported the IFWJ’s stand. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court reminded the media about its important role and the responsibility in the society because an irresponsible media can always wreak havoc. The IFWJ welcomed that decision of the Supreme Court that reminded the media of its responsibility towards the society and the people, so necessary for its credibility.

I wrote a comment on the decision of the Supreme Court, which was carried in November 2012 issue of the ‘Shramjivi Kalamkar’ ,a office journal of the UPWJU.

Kiss of Love or Kiss of Shame

The supporters of ‘Kiss of Love’ are seen wearing a shirt these days, which is emblazoned with a slogan that in India ‘you can piss in public, but not kiss in public’. Obviously, these ardent supporters of the ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign that is raging across Kochchi to Culcutta and Delhi to Dibrugarh believe more in demonstration of love than in love.  You talk to them and they say that any moral policing on their public display of love is contrary to the Constitutional Provisions of freedom gurranteed to citizens of country. When you remind them about the provisions of section 292/293/294 of the Indian Penal Code, they will not only laugh at you but also frown upon you with most contorted face. By their facial expression, you can come to the conclusion that in their eyes, you are a backward person, not in sync with the winds of liberty or is it indecency that is blowing in their world.

Needless to say, that these practitioners of 'Kiss of Love' have hardly any concern for the poor, illiterate and deprived sections of the society, who are underfed and under clothed. They will mock at Indian culture and will immediately take back to the period of art and culture of Konark and Khajuraho. Ask them to serve the sick and malnourished women and they will disappear like the horns from the head of a donkey.

The virus of 'Love of Kiss' spread from Kochchi (Kerala), when on November 2, 2014 hundreds of young men and women assembled to the publicly kiss one another. Thousands got voyeuristic pleasure from the shameless behviour of these people. This movement began with a Facebook page and within a span of few hours it was ‘liked’ by  more than a lakh person. It has got the instant support from the authors like Anita Nair whose novel – 'The LadiesCoupe' is one of the best sellers. She (Anita) asks where has the moral police gone, when thousand of children are trafficked and children are abused? She has compared kissing as natural as breathing, drinking, talking and singing. She has gone to the extent of saying even fish kiss, so why can’t a man or woman? What kind of society we have that frowns upon love? May I ask her can the trafficking of women and abuse of children be stopped by the salacious display of kissing in public? No doubt, kissing and sex is natural but it it necessary to convert the public places into bedrooms? Can love be illustrated only through advertisements? Do men and women deserve to be compared with the school of fish? To my mind, it is unfair comparison.

What Anita Nair says or what so-called modern advocates of ‘Love of Kiss’ say is not only abominable and outrageous to the vast majority of people of the country but that depict their abysmal ignorance about the psyche of the Indian society. These kisser of love belong to the tiny minority, whose perversion can be witnessed from the fact that if that anybody opposes such mindless scenes, they pickup the cruel and go to the extent of rampaging.  

I have always believed that social websites have the enormous potential and they can be used for the betterment of the society but at the same time, they have extraordinary capacity to leave a deleterious effect on the society. In many cases, we find innumerable social sites which contain pornography and prurient material, which by no means can be said to be the part of freedom an individual. If they have the freedom to have sex, they cannot claim to have it by assailing the sensibilities of millions and millions people of the country.

If we allow kissing in public today can we stop smooching and love making in public tomorrow? These misguided young men and women perhaps do not know that freedom to kiss in public is offending the freedom of large number of people in the society. If such freedom is allowed then what are we going to tell our children? What lessons shall we given them and what standards shall we set-up for them? If 'Kiss of Love' is allowed to be promoted at public places, can we ensure the protection of children? It is an odious logic that even in the absence of 'Kiss of Love' we have the cases of rapes and crimes. But when you analyze this logic then its hollowness is exposed. In spite of rigorous laws, crimes are taking place; does it mean that there should be no deterrent laws? This is funny and most ludicrous logic. These are the people, who will strongly support for the love making in the public places and parks, but when it comes to campaigning for removing suffocating practice of Burka or Hizab, they will chicken out. The is most stifling thing for the women of  the Muslim community but so called forward looking young men and women will keep silent on. This also speaks of their intents and integrity. Hiding behind the freedom of expression for the lumpenization in the society deserves to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Needless to say, the Kiss of Love is nothing but classic demonstration of vulgarization and it needs to be opposed tooth and nail by every right meaning person.

Demonisation of Deepawali

Deepawali, which was celebrated yesterday with zeal and fervor, has but left a bad taste or (shall I say a trail?) of sickening noise and air pollution.  It has brought at naught the laudable 'Swachchha Bharat Campaign' of the Prime Minster Narendra Modi.  I do not know what happens to the sensitivity of the people, when they indulge into such unpardonable activities, in spite of knowing the fact that a large number of populace is undergoing through immense hardships caused by disastrous of flood and cyclones in Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Does their conscience not prick them when they mindlessly splurge huge amounts on firecrackers and costly gifts on the pious occasion of Deepawali?  I have been told that the neo-rich families became so crass that they spent many lakhs of Rupees on the firecrackers leaving the thick clouds of smokes hanging in the air. These smoke overcasts have aggravated the breathing problems among the patients of asthma and other lung diseases.

 The deafening noise caused by the bursting of huge chain of crackers disturbed the sleeps of infants and old alike for the whole night. Patients were the worst sufferers. This has left a big question mark on the purity and sanctity of religious festivals. Those, who celebrate the festivals of Deepawali and Holi in such obscene and vulgar manner are ,without a shred of doubt,the enemies of the religion. But the saddest part of it is that the religious leaders are promoting such stupidity with their stony silence. I do not have any compunction to say that most of the festivals of Hindus have been degenerated and they have lost all the serenity attached to them. It is oft -repeated by every religious and political leader that 'Deepawali is the festival of victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil' but when we see the suffocating atmosphere around, we find that in practice it is the other way round. The market forces have complete stranglehold over the solemnity of the occasion. The amount of wares and goods, which were sold during this Deepawali, and the mad rush of the buyers that was seen in the market showed that demonic forces of the bazaar were out in full force to defeat the purity of the festival by vainglory and humanity by barbarity.

 Those who are corrupt, regardless of their being politicians, bureaucrats and businesspersons, they are having the final say in giving direction to the festivals. They spent thousands and lakhs of Rupees in distributing and receiving the gifts with no sense or qualm of guilt about the teeming and toiling masses. Common person is left high and dry because he/she does not find any place on their radar. My conscience is numbed with shock when I see these insensitive and corrupt people are on spending spree without any remorse and use these festivals as a cloak or ploy.

I have been thinking since yesterday as to why the religious heads, political leaders , social activists, intellectuals and media persons remain silent spectators on the blatant violations of laws and the real spirits of religion? They appear to have succumbed to the onslaught of the corrupt and powerful persons and allow them to hold the silent and meek majority to ransom by turning the Nelson’s eyes on acts of gross injustices. 

It may also be noted here that many years ago the Supreme Court of India ruled that no fireworks or loudspeakers can be allowed to blare after 10.00 p.m. but anybody can see it himself or herself that the judgment of the Supreme Court is violated with the contempt and gay abandon on almost all festivals particularly during Deepawali. Deepawali is no longer a festival of lights, symbolizing the victory over ignorance and darkness. It has now become a festival of show-offs, when rich and neo-rich persons flaunt their wealth and prosperity. I certainly have  grudge with such persons who not only make mockery of religion and also cause inferiority complex among large section of the society, who earn their living by honest means or by the sweat their brows. The honest and humble hardly cause or contribute to the pollution in the atmosphere but they are never counted.

 It is indeed regrettable that the religious leaders of the Hindu society have never raised their voice against this uncivilized and ignoble exhibition of the rich people. This shows that how effete, weak and unconcerned they have become towards to the society. By their deeds, they have joined the company of thugs and cheats. Their religious practices are ‘phoney’ and therefore despicable

 The police, the administration, is often conspicuous by its absence on the occasions. This again shows their irresponsibility and dereliction to the duty. The politicians they abstain from doing any fruitful campaign to get rid of this evil. Media persons and intellectuals are equally,if not more, to be blamed for this growing and skunk like menace. That is why, I say that so long religious leaders, politicians of all hues and colours, police and administration and other right spirited people do not come forward to awaken the  conscience of the general public, clever and corrupt will continue to rule the roost. The 'Principle of Polluters Pay '(PPP) is a well accepted theory across the world and the same has been buttressed by the Indian Supreme Court in many of judgments but why is it not being strictly observed is beyond my comprehension.

 Anybody who is causing the noise and air pollution must be stringently punished and must be made to pay for the pollution they cause. This would, undoubtedly, go a long way to restore the piousness, the serenity and the sanctity of the festivals. The monsters ought to be killed without any misplaced mercy,please!

'half girlfriend', A Riveting Book

I am a slow reader and that is why, almost ten days back, my younger son Utkarsh gave me ‘half girlfriend’, the latest book of Chetan Bhagat and I took five days to finish it. In fact, I steal time for such readings and can afford the luxury of reading any book, magazine or even newspapers without break. Utkarsh is also now in the legal profession like me but he has more time for pastimes. He is a fan of Chetan Bhagat. He tells me that he has read all his books because they are very gripping and written in racy style.

There is no doubt that the style of Chetan Bhagat’s writing is very fast- paced and it keeps you busy till you have finished. Not only the style but the contents of the book is titillating and it arouses the curiosity page after to know what has happened next. To my mind his ‘3 mistakes of my life’ is one his best books. The literature, as I think, is not meant only for the entertainment it must also provide food for thought. A good literature needs to be remembered by the posterity but the king of paperbacks, which is what Chetan Bhagat is described, has not delivered anything, which can be remembered hence after ten years. Having said it all I cannot but appreciate and admire the fertility of his mind for weaving the events and incidents like warp and woof, which keeps one entangled till the last page.

‘half girlfriend’ is a story woven around a Bihari young boy, who does not know the English but has got admission in the super elitists St. Stephen's college of Delhi University, where most of the students still shamelessly take pride in being the linguistic progenies of Goras. Any way, the Bihari boy could get his admission from the sports quota, as he happened to be an excellent player of badminton. He got into touch, which later got converted into friendship, with English knowing, very rich Marwari girl. The girl was also admitted in the college from the sports quota because she also happened to be a good player of badminton.

 The similarity between the two ends there. She is extremely beautiful coming from stingingly rich family. They have got the liking each other but there are many hindrances in the blossoming of the love between the two. Her parents got her married to a billionaire who is living in London. The marriage proved to be a disaster. For the sake of the marriage, she was forced by her parents to drop her studies and settle down in London with her husband. The marriage ended into a divorce after a brief spell of one year.

Meanwhile, the Bihari boy graduated himself from the prestigious collage, got a good job with banking industry. However, he gave up his lucrative job and came back to his home town of Dumrao. It may be said here that many of the characters and places in this book are real but their characteristic is fictional. The boy, who is now a young man, is helping his mother in managing and teaching in the school in this small town. In the feudalistic setup in Bihar, his family enjoys good reputation from the poverty-stricken people of the neighbouring villages.

To provide the dramatic twist to the story Chetan Bhagat introduced Bill Gates, the richest man of the world, who is visiting Bihar giving aids and charities for his philanthropic works. The young Bihari man gets the opportunity to bring Bill Gates to his school and also gets a good amount of money for revamping his school. Fired with zeal as he has been, he converts his school into a model one. The fire of his love with the Marwari girl is still burning in his heart. The girl after her divorce with the London businessperson joins an NGO and comes to Patna, where this young man accidentally meets her in one of the most posh hotel, the Chanakya of Patna.

The ashes from the fire of the love are removed in the chance meeting and both of them come into close contact. Neither he has forgotten her nor she of the college days which was nipped before reaching the climax. Chetan Bhagat again provides a new turn to it and the girl suddenly leaves to New York without informing her college friend, to pursue the profession of her choice to become a singer in any hotel. Ultimately, the boy goes to New York to search of the girl and finds her. This is like a happy-ending in a film.

The book is riveting indeed. No doubt, sooner rather then later a film will be made on it, which will be as hitting and successful as the earlier film (Three Idiot) made on his books ‘Three Mistakes of Life’.

Chetan Bhagat is the rock star of Indian publishing industry. After renouncing the highly paid job of the banking sector, he has become a full time writer and now he is rolling in wealth. Mostly, the college students lap- up his books but he has good readership cutting across the age barriers. The young generation can draw lot inspiration from his and his life as well. One may agree or disagree with him but no one can ignore him this is the meeting ground between me and my son, Utakarsh, as far as Chetan Bhagat and his books are concerned.

Rajdeep , this is not done!

On Sunday evening, I was leisurely watching news on different news channels, when suddenly my cell phone rang. The lady speaking from the other side wanted to know of my reaction about the alleged attack on TV Today’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai outside the Madison Square in New York. I simply told her that our organization was against ‘any violence against anybody particularly against a journalist. However, I will not make any comment on the alleged incident till I know the full facts'. The caller banged the telephone in apparent anger at my reply. Thereafter I kept on changing the channels through remote. I tried to get some information on the 'Headlines Today' and ' Aaj Tak' but there was no news about the incident. Yesterday afternoon i.e. on 29.09.2014, when I reached my office, I opened my email and found a video clipping link, which gave the full picture of the incident. I was aghast and appalled to find that the story as was circulated by Rajdeep Sardesai contained embroidered truth.

Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai was seen in the video provoking the exuberant crowd, which had assembled to welcome and express its solidarity to the Indian Prime Minister. Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai even used unsavory language against the people who were shouting ‘Modi-Modi’. It is highly unbecoming of the journalist of the stature of Rajdeep Sardesai to have behaved like a street-smart ruffian, that too, on the foreign soil where nobody should speak against a leader who represents the country. Mr. Narendra Modi has not gone to America as the leader of the Bhartiya Janata Party but as the Prime Minister of India. To rake up  the issue of Gujarat Riots on this occasion showed the wickedness of Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai.

What is most distressing to learn is that when an NRI was trying to tell him that ‘how can you blame Mr. Narendra Modi when the Apex court of India has not found anything against him?’ But you cannot convince a person who is prejudiced one. Another shocking thing is that contemptuous tweet of Rajdeep Sardesai , where he has used the words like idiots for the cheering crowds. Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai is free to have his own opinion about anybody but he does not have any right to foist it on others.

The drama that was enacted on the foreign land to garner sympathy in India is condemnable. It is Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai, who is to be squarely to be blamed for it. There is no dearth of embedded journalists in India. Some of them are communist charlatans, some are blind supporters of the BJP, and many have been fed and flourished by the Congress Party. Other smaller parties have journalists on their rolls and they show their loyalty to their masters, when the occasion demands. Worrisome part, however, is that these journalists masquerade as independents and thus cause incalculable damage to the profession by their duplicity and hypocrisy. The journalists working for political parties are, therefore much better than these wolves who roam in sheep’s clothing, because others know their opinions. I personally feel that this dishonesty among the journalists has spread for many reasons like the insecurity of jobs and their desire to take advantage from the political parties.

Recently a classmate of mine has been elected to the Rajya Sabha. He happened to be the Editor of a major Hindi newspaper of Bihar and Jharkhand. He has been posing himself as the most objective,fearless, independent journalist. But the way he has traded his profession of journalism and for the Rajya Sabha seat betrays the abominable trait of bartering the profession for gains. There is nothing wrong to become a sympathizer, supporter or the worker of any political party but it is certainly wrong to exchange journalism for one's personal gains or to settle scores from those who are opposed to the philosophy of so-called independent journalists.

Now I feel happy that I did not fall into the trap of the lady journalist, who wanted me to condemn the enthusiastic NRI s for no fault of theirs.