By B M Lanong
In quick successions, a number of controversial issues are popping up one after another, all of which shake the country and public morale.
While the vexed cow slaughter issue is still hanging on, the BJP government did not hesitate to jump over the Fourth Estate, when for no cogent reason, come to think of it, the CBI raided the residence of the articulate gentleman and senior media chief of the NDTV, Prannoy Roy, for the alleged bank fraud, which is actually the NDTV shareholders’ loan availed from the bank, pending repayment of course, for which Roy and his family members had to bear the brunt.
The media fraternity in its reaction termed the raid as a mischievous attempt to gag press freedom, for refusing to kow-tow to the government, while the NDTV in its news slot, repeated that “no matter how much politicians attack us, we will not give up the fight for freedom and the independence of media in India.”No doubt, it is a sad moment and bad omen for the free press in India.
Then the ripple effect of the nightmare of a melodrama of the last November midnight demonetisation is still being felt by the people and which has seriously plunged the normal life of citizens into a chaotic mess and hit the rural sector in particular, very hard.
The loss and sufferings of those who could not meet their urgent health care, cancellations of fixed marriages, educational, travelling programmes, appointments and the likes were a few of those that can be mentioned of. Many in Meghalaya feel this as a ‘demonisation effect’ instead. But the moot question which still baffles the people in general is, why they have to suffer for the fault of the high and mighty and the black money launderers, none of whom was ever heard being caught and punished, nor any black money recovered.
On the contrary however, for all the economic measures planned and applied, now the central statistics authority came up with the provisional estimates, that the GDP growth had shrunk from 8 percent in 2015-16 to 7.1 percent in 2016-17.
What a damp squib indeed! Public are eagerly looking forward to for the final report.
Myopic Leadership
Myopia is definitely an unpalatable language, especially when it is attached to leaders of any public concern or profession. But in this case, no less a leader than the BJP President, Amit Shah himself, who while raking up the last century’s event, relegated the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi to a ‘bahut chatur banya’ (a very shrewd person from the business class), the characterisation of the globally-adored freedom fighter, was deplored by many.
The slur attached to the reputation of a non-violent freedom fighter of the nation, by a person who was not part of the freedom movement, is mischievous intrinsically, especially when the remark seeks to obliterate the selfless sacrifice and credibility of the distinguished leader.
Amit Shah, if only in deference to Gandhi’s age, does owe an apology to him as widely expressed.
Prime Cow Issue
Whether the BJP government and its leadership like or lump it, it is their agenda to forcibly ban cow slaughter in the country and their agenda has been well carried out in several states, which had evoked widespread reaction prompting even their own leaders in Garo Hills and elsewhere to quit the party in opposition.
The Union Minister of State, Kiren Rijuju, in league with his party’s stand, abused his opponents, citing political reasons, for according to him, cow slaughter is a non-issue in north east, in contrast with what is widely believed, that north-east, including Arunachal is the graveyard for Indian cows.
The misconception about cow slaughter should be properly understood from cruelty to animals, which the latter is more prominent in the economic sectors, like industries and agriculture, using the bulls to the maximum all throughout their life and on ageing and finding no longer useful discarding them. But for those who eat beef, even after their retirement from the field, bulls are well-cared for either for slaughter or for sale.
One should realize that every part of the cattle is useful, from its skin and hide, meat and milk, its nutrition value, down to the excreta turned-cowdung, which is acknowledged as the best manure for organic farming. Even its urine is used by many for medicinal and religious purposes. The cow is therefore not only loved and cared, but venerated too.
The Khasis during slaughter of domesticated animals or birds follow their professional ethics and offer prayers, ‘ hei ho, leit suk sha la ka jaka, mab ia ngi u bynriew na ka bynta ka jingdonkam jong u.’ (behold, go in peace where you belong, forgive man for his needs.)
The position of the cow can also be gauged from its subject being discussed time and again in the country’s Legislatures and Judiciaries.
The Supreme Court in its order from Madhya Pradesh Civil Appeal No. 8250 SC AIR 1996-2076, noted that “a total ban is not permissible, if under economic conditions keeping useless bull or bullock will be a burden on the society and therefore, not in public interest…..It also imposes unreasonable restriction on fundamental rights of butchers.”
People are still pinning their hopes and looking forward to BJP government to come to terms with the country’s tradition, oneness, shade and strength by addressing the sensitive issues of the people with utmost sense of fairness and maturity and with all due respect to the Constitution., not by unnecessarily reopening up settled cases and thereby flaring up law and order, till the cows come home.