Stop Politics Of Vendetta

The unleashing of "political vendetta"by Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government against Kangana Renaut is not surprising.When 'goons", "sirfire (Bewitched)" and "anti-social elements" run the government and lord over the law and order enforcing agencies, only "goondagardi" (hooliganism)" is bound to occur. Good goverance is never expected from those who care too hoots for rule and regulations, law and order. If we go through the history of "Shiv Sainiks", its replete with the numerous instances of "goondagardi". The Shiv Sena is not only fascist party but Shiv Sainiks are xenophobic.   

I was myself a witness to the "goondagardi" of Shiv Sainiks in the very presence of Bal Thackeray in early nineties in Auranabad, Maharashtra. While working for Lokmat group, i happened to attend a press conference addressed by the Shiv Sena pramukh (chief), Bal Thackery in a five-star hotel just next to the Lokmat building in Aurangabad. It was my curiousity to have an encounter with Bal Thackeray  that drove me to the press conference. While PC was on, hell broke out after a  reporter (from minority Muslim)  asked an unplesant question from Bal Thackeray. Instead of answering the question,  Thackeray objected to his very presence and retorted "who invited u to this PC). He was dragged by Shiv Sainiks out of the PC and when other journalists objected to this, they were  severly thrashed, beaten so much that many were profusely bleeding. The press conference ended in a melee. There are many  such instances. Shiv Sainiks are ruffians and intolerant  by nature. They refuse to accept anytning except adulation of Shiv Sena pramukh (chief), whether Bal Thackeray or Uddhav  Thackeray.

But as is a popular adage," never lock horns with a bull".  Kangana Renaut knew it very well the serious repurcussions of locking horms with the ruling mafia in Mumbai. Why did see do it? Is she pursuing some political agenda or she is just taking on Bollywood mafia pampered by Shiv Sena? Whatever is her agenda but this Pahari girl from a non-descript village with full script Himalayan spirit has won the first bout. Maharashtra govt has been badly exposed and even "Marathi Manush (Marathi people), by and large,have condemned the vendetaa driven action. The demolotion proceedings have been stayed by the Bombay High court.

Another distressing part of the Kangana Renaut fight is the exposure pf hypocracy. Hitting out at the 'hypocrites' supporting Rhea Chakraborty in Sushant Singh Rajput’s case,  lawyer Ishkaran Bhandari has slammed celebrities and liberals  voicing support or ‘smashing patriarchy’ for Kangana Ranaut who is being threatened and attacked by the ruling mafia. 

Given the  vendetta driven politics of Shiv Sena, Kangana should get ready to face more attacks inclding panel actions against her. An FIR has already been registered against her on Thursady for her remarks against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray in her social media post. Kangana wrote, “Today, the Maharashtra Govt illegally broke down KanganaRanaut’s house while she was on a flight to Mumbai, with only 24 hour notice. Completely illegal considering the Govt has banned demolitions due to Covid till September 30. This is what Fascism looks like.”

The Shiv Sena IT Cell had filed a complaint at the Shrinagar police station in Thane against against her under 'charges of sedition for her Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) analogy for Mumbai'. Sharing the video, Kangana wrote, “Today, the Maharashtra Govt illegally broke down #KanganaRanaut’s house while she was on a flight to Mumbai, with only 24 hour notice. Completely illegal considering the Govt has banned demolitions due to Covid till September 30. This is what Fascism looks like.”

All rightous people in the country  will condemn the Maharashtra vendentta action and support "Manikarnika".And Kangana is right in saying " "Uddhav Thackeray, tujhe kya lagta hai? (what do you think?) That you colluded along with the film mafia, demolished my home and took revenge on me?  

However, I won't approve her "tu, tadak" rough language. Its not Devbhoomi culture.

(Chander Sharma) 

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Prashant Bhushan Emerges As A Hero

The spirited fight by Indian Against Corruption activist and prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan in Supreme Court has earned him a national hero status. His face-off with world most powerful body-supreme court- is now being compared what Mahatma Gandhi did in South Africa. Mahatma Gandhi refused to leave the province or pay a bond for getting bail. flustered the judge asked Gandhi, "Do you want to go to jail?". Mahatma replied "As you wish".

And in the same spirit, on Supreme Court threat of prison, Bhushan quoted Mahatma Gandhi: "I do not ask for mercy. I do not appeal for magnanimity. I will cheerfully submit to any punishment that court may impose."

Supreme court convicted Mr Bhushan of contempt of court On 14 August, On Monday he was ordered to pay a symbolic fine of one rupee for two tweets criticizing judges. If he didn't pay the fine by 15 September, he would have to spend three months in jail and barred from law practice for three years.

Mr Bhushan has agreed to pay the fine but retained his right to challenge the order and seek a review.

Prashant Bhushan's face-off with judiciary began in June, after he posted two tweets to his 1.6 million followers.

In one, he commented on a viral photograph of Chief Justice Sharad Bobde sitting on an expensive Harley Davidson motorbike. In the second, he criticized the conduct of the four former chief justices.

His conviction led to a storm of protest .More than 3,000 retired judges, lawyers and eminent citizens signed a statement saying holding Mr Bhushan guilty of contempt would have a "chilling effect on people expressing critical views on functioning of the top court".Thousands took to social media to express their support for the lawyer-activist, and hundreds came out on the streets in solidarity.

Bhushan has, often, been involved in politics of problematic. He stood for plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. To call for a plebiscite (or referendum), is seen in India as play in Pakistan’s hands.

Until 2017, Prashant Bhushan was with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He was associated with the anti-corruption movement, India Against Corruption. Bhushan was one of the founding members of the Aam Aadmi Party, but only to part ways with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.

However, as a lawyer, Bhushan has to his credit a long list of public interest cases. So, when his tweets raised the hackles of the Supreme Court, it was disapproved by the media. A few national dailies even wrote editorials questioning the Supreme Court move to issue the notice over contempt proceedings to Bhushan, Outlook ran an op-ed. A group of public figures later came out with an appeal requesting the top court to take back the notice. Supreme Court, has itself said that “voice of dissent in a democracy cannot be shut down”. Then why to stifle Bhushan's voice of dissent.

The right to dissent is the cornerstone of a democracy. It’s for this reason that we should defend Bhushan’s right to criticize even judiciary, Why should judges be sacrosanct?

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