Need to break the India- Canada impasse
Editor
This whole India-Canada impasse has been truly tragic. India is far more reactive to Canada (a western nation) than it could afford to be to the Gulf nations after the Nupur Sharma fiasco, which led to the extrajudicial murder (via beheading) of an Indian citizen (Kanhaiya Lal), on Indian soil. Both Canada and the Gulf nations have large Indian diasporas, which send remittances. But India’s response to the two has been stark in its contrast. The BJP not only did not defend Nupur Sharma but suspended her from her position as party spokesperson. In the case of Canada, however, India has been outraged and reactive — instead of being truthful and reflective. Mr. Modi’s government (GOI) had to keep its mouth shut before the Gulf nations, for fear of jeopardizing the Indian diaspora’s remittances, thus proving India’s vulnerability before these nations. But it has been able to scream back at Canada, because this nation is far more democratic (almost too much), just, ethical, and tolerant. Despite terrible travesties, justice remains a hallmark and visible virtue of western civilization. Moreover, if Justin Trudeau is telling the truth, then the provocation in Canada is far worse morally than Nupur Sharma’s comments. The murder of Nijjar in Canada has not yet led to violence. But Nupur Sharma’s comments led to a gruesome beheading, which India was unable to protest effectively.
Every nation has the right to protect itself from secessionists. But not through extra-judicial killings. If there is the slightest truth to Mr. Trudeau’s findings, Indians should hold their government fully accountable, as is. expected of a mature democracy. Even if Nijjar was a terrorist (as GOI claims), he deserved the rule of law and proper justice in a court of law. As to why Canada tolerates and harbours terrorists and secessionists of Indian origin — this is a different question altogether. Chances are, it does so because of its ultra-liberal interpretation of “free speech.”
One must protest extra-judicial killings by any government — all the more when this happens on foreign soil. This includes ex-President Obama’s cowboy style killing of Osama bin Laden — a man who should have been arrested and brought before the ICC. So, for the US to be preaching at India right now is truly hypocritical. And yet, the role of a superpower is to act as half tyrant and half leader in the world, as it pulls the Locomotive of History. So the American reaction, even if hypocritical, is in keeping with its role as superpower.
If India is to shine on the global stage, it should do so through strength of character, ethics, ecumenism, and a stellar human rights record — not through symbols of power, like a growing economy, space odysseys, and playing host to the G-20 meeting. That western nations are wooing India now for strategic and economic reasons, should not cause arrogance in Indians, but caution and humility. Overcoming the “slave” mentality calls for overcoming the colonial hangover. A nation matures when it throws off the yoke of not only foreign dominion, but also of its own internal demons, which includes smouldering and unreasonable resentment. A narcissistic and emotional patriotism cannot possibly benefit the nation, unless it roots itself in solid moral grounds.
Yours, etc.,
Deepa Majumdar,
Via email
Imbroglio over the skies
Editor,
I am writing because of the bizarre Indigo Flight 6E 7304 heading from Kolkata NTSB International Airport to Shillong (Umroi) Airport on September 22. I was not a passenger on this particular flight but I was at the airport (Shillong Airport) when this incident happened. One of my colleagues was arriving from Kolkata that particular day, September 22) which was a Friday. Everything was moving as per schedule and the flight took off uneventfully.
I was travelling to New Delhi on SpiceJet on that day and for me everything was all right. We took off earlier than the departure time. I was happy and had a comfortable flight to New Delhi.
Now, let’s talk back about this particular flight Indigo 6E 7304 of which my friend had to bear the brunt of!
The aircraft was supposed to touchdown at Shillong Airport around 11:55 As per scheduled ETA.But to everyone’s surprise, the aircraft and its passengers didn’t reach the scheduled destination, even when the aircraft had already entered the Shillong Air Space. To my distress, they diverted the flight back to Kolkata (CCU) and their reasons was that due to bad weather or poor visibility they were unable to land. Visibility that day was clear enough for touchdown. With Instruments Landing Facility (ILS) in place in our airport how could this have happened. One can understand if it was a Visual Approach. Then poor visibility would have been a problem and they would have had to divert the flight. However, I didn’t believe this story from Indigo because Alliance Air took off and landed at around the same time in Shillong that day and I was also flying to New Delhi with SpiceJet and my flight was not affected, nor cancelled, delayed or anything. It was a smooth touchdown for incoming passengers from Delhi and also the take off was good. No turbulence, nothing like that, it was a smooth and uneventful flight.
I am writing this because I am saddened as my friend had to come home due to urgent family emergency. I therefore demand answers from Indigo. My questions are (1) Why didn’t Indigo reroute the flight to LGBI Borjhar (Guwahati) International Airport which is more convenient and nearer to Shillong or any airport in the North Eastern States. (2) I also want to know why Indigo’s fares are skyrocketing? Indigo CCU-SHG-CCU being an UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Hence the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Airports Authority of India should resolve all these problems with the Airline and answer our questions.
I hope to see a change in the Aviation operations especially from our lone, beautiful Airport and that these grievances are addressed. Looking forward to a better flying experience.
Yours etc.,
Chanmiki Laloo
Via Email
Descent to indecency
Editor,
Jagdish Rattanani in his article, “A race to the bottom” (ST, September 26, 2023) rightly says, “The abusive and communal epithets hurled by the BJP MP from South Delhi, Ramesh Bidhuri against the BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali represents a race to the bottom, a steep if inevitable fall as language that should be banned on the streets is spoken in Parliament from the treasury benches.”Vishwa Bakhate” in Bengali means a scoundrel. According to the Cambridge dictionary a scoundrel is a person, especially a man, who treats other people very badly and has no moral principles. Those who have been giving toxic hate speeches are actually showcasing this very Viswa Bakhate image.
The hate speech which was delivered in the parliament should be treated as the icing on the cake of toxic hate speeches. However, this is a small icing on a very big rotten cake. As per the half-yearly report of Hindutva Watch, a US-based research project, 255 documented incidents of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims took place in the first half of 2023. Eighty percent (205) of these hate speech events occurred in BJP-ruled states and Union territories. One third of these gatherings explicitly called for violence against Muslims.
The result is alarming to say the least. August 2023 witnessed two different incidents one at a school and the other at a running train. A school teacher allegedly asked students to hit their seven-year-old Muslim classmate at Khubbapur village in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. In another incident, a Railway Protection Force constable killed his supervising officer and three Muslim passengers on a train running from Jaipur to Mumbai. A few days ago, a soldier had been arrested in Kerala for allegedly faking an assault by a banned Islamist outfit for publicity and to get a transfer. These are the danger signs. A teacher is supposed to be a role model for her students. An RPF constable is supposed to protect rail passengers. And a Jawan is supposed to protect our secular country.
Hate speeches make the mob bay for blood and look out for easy prey. As a result the victims of lynching are the most vulnerable like daily wage earners and specially- abled people. On Tuesday a fruit vendor’s specially-abled son, Mohammad Isaar, was tied to an electric pole with saffron cloth and beaten to death in the national capital on suspicion of stealing prasad from a stall near a temple. The victim was mentally ill and could not provide satisfactory answers when confronted by the attackers. In February this year, Mohammad Faiyaz, another person with mental health issues, was lynched by a mob in Bihar’s Samastipur.
We know what the situation is in Manipur. We cannot let Manipur happen to the whole India. Immediate action needs to be taken against those who have been delivering hate speeches.
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
Disruptions in power supply in Meghalaya
Editor,
As a citizen of Meghalaya, I cannot understand the lack of facilities in the state, especially the frequent power outages in Shillong due to the shortage of water. Meghalaya primarily relies on hydroelectric power, but recent news reports have revealed that the government is spending Rs 3 crores each month to purchase electricity. This is disheartening, considering Meghalaya receives the heaviest rainfall in the world. However, the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) produces only 356 MW, far below the expected consumption of 1800 MU. This raises concerns about the government’s actions in this matter. If the Government doesn’t address this issue, it will persist. It’s time for the Government to explore alternative energy sources beyond water-based generation.
Notably, Haryana can generate up to 4200 MW of electricity annually from solar energy, whereas Meghalaya’s annual electricity requirement is only 610 MW. It’s puzzling why our Government doesn’t adopt similar methods. Instead, it heavily relies on water for electricity production. The Government should learn from Haryana’s success and diversify its energy sources. Meghalaya has substantial unused land, approximately 6861 crores of plots under MeECL, which could be utilized for solar energy generation. This move could put an end to the ongoing issue of load shedding in Meghalaya. We are fortunate to have both abundant rainfall and sunlight, making it possible to generate electricity from both water and the sun. If the Government prioritizes this, MeECL can also work towards repaying its loans, which were taken for electricity production.
These observations are based on the daily conditions in Shillong, and it’s time for the Government to take action.
Yours etc.,
Nangbuhphang Kharjana,
Via email