Editor,
It is quite apparent now that the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre is hell bent on passing the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, in the Rajya Sabha, despite enormous protests and agitations across all the States in North Eastern parts of the Country. Even NDA partners like JD(U), Shiv Sena, and Akali Dal are opposed this Bill, besides BJP regional partners in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Nagaland. This implies the ruthlessness of the BJP to fulfill its political agenda of winning the next general elections, by any means. The aim is to consolidate the Hindu votes, and hence, the BJP has also initiated steps to hand over a large part of land in Ayodhya to the Ramjanabhoomi Nyas for construction of the so-called Ram Mandir. These moves would have serious adverse consequences in future.
Narendra Modi, in one of election speeches, in earlier times, had ridiculed Ram Vilas Paswan (incidentally, now his partner at the Centre) for proposing similar moves of allowing minorities in Bangladesh to get Indian citizenship. He had stated then that if this is allowed, these foreigners (??) one day in future would become the MLAs, MPs, Chief Ministers, and even Prime Minister of the country. The sad tragedy is that in order to retain power, the BJP is hell bent on taking opposing, but drastic steps that would be harmful for India.
Yours etc.,
A Bhuyan
Nagaon
Shaheed Diwas: Time to reflect
Editor,
India celebrates Martyrs Day (Shaheed Divas) every year on January 30 and March 23 to pay homage to those who fought for the country’s freedom, welfare and progress. On January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by a rabid fanatic. And on March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death by the British. Interestingly, January 30, 1948 was indeed a Friday. It was, as it were, another Good Friday. Jesus had suffered on the cross on Good Friday. It was not for his own personal interests. Nor was it for the interest of his relatives. It was a sacrifice for the interest of our evolution so that we could become more conscious. The execution of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a church leader, who had to give his life for opposing Hitler, was another such crucifixion for the same cause.
On January 28, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi had said, “If I am to die by the bullet of a mad man, I must do so smiling. God must be in my heart and on my lips. And if anything happens, you are not to shed a single tear.” On the day of Mahatma’s crucifixion, he walked up to a prayer mandap. At that time, a man came before Gandhiji. The man offered pranam by bending his body at a distance of less than two yards. Gandhiji returned the salute. The man remarked, “You are late today for the prayer.” Gandhiji smiled and replied, “Yes, I am.”
But at that moment the man pulled out a revolver and fired three shots from point-blank range. The bullets pierced the frail body of the great leader just below the heart and stomach. Gandhiji collapsed. The assassin was seized by the people who had come to attend the prayer. Thus, another crucifixion was staged on another Friday. This Good Friday of January 30, 1948 was necessary to halt the juggernaut of religious fanaticism as it made people realize the inherent danger of it. As a matter of fact, we had many Good Fridays that made our ongoing evolution from brutality to humanity possible.
Past progress from primitive society to feudalism to police state capitalism to modern welfare states confirms that ours is an ascending evolution. But there is no question of resting on our laurels. Even this year on the Mahatma’s death anniversary, some rabid fanatics observed it in Aligarh by shooting at the effigy of the Father of the Nation with a toy pistol and by garlanding the picture of his assassin and then circulating the video clip. Hey, Ram! We still have miles to go…..
Yours etc.,
Sujit de,
Kolkata
Check your facts
Editor
Apropos the news item “Ex- Cong leader against ticket to ‘outsider’ (ST January 30, 2019), I, the undersigned wishes to clarify that I am the candidate of Indian National Congress candidate from 28 Rambrai-Jyrngam to the KHADC Election 2019 and I am not an outsider to the Constituency. My wife is from Rambrai and on attaining my voting age I first cast my vote in “31-Rambrai Polling Station” in the election to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly 2013 and subsequently voted in the election to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council 2014, election to the 1-Shillong (ST) Parliamentary Constituency 2014, Bye Election to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council 2016 and the Election to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly 2018. I am a candidate of the INC and will be contesting and casting my vote in the election to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council 2019 at the Rambrai Polling Station. My EPIC Number issued by the Election Commission of India dated May 2, 2012 is SIF0046540.
This is to request your newspaper to kindly cross check and confirm the actual status of a person – and whether he is from the constituency or not, before printing erroneous information.
Yours etc.,
Bajop Pyngrope
Rambrai West Khasi Hills
Editor replies: The allegations of your being an outsider were leveled by the former President of the District Congress Committee, West Khasi Hills, JTS Thongni, who has since left thje Party and joined the NPP along with his supporters. We report what was being alleged)