When four topics which were doing rounds in every liberal Indians mind one way or the other were suddenly put down in an open letter by none other than the esteemed senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai , an outrage broke across all Indians. What he did was something that couldn’t be done by one of us as in today’s time, as Indians are scared to express their thoughts as freely as they would before.
Four topics – Meat/beef ban, Rakesh Maria’s sudden transfer, Sedition issue and the increasing number of farmers committing suicide in Marathwada was raised by the senior journalist. He questioned because an Indian has the right to question as we are living in a so called democratic country and so he took the plight. Although it wasn’t him that shocked us, as he questioned CMs and other politicians. It was Devendra Fadnavis who gave a reply that made the conversation reach another level. A letter written by a senior journalist wasn’t something everyone paid heed to but when the Maharashtra state CM replied to his letter everyone started getting interested.
Neither the first letter nor the CM’s reply seem as intriguing to me as Sardesai’s latest reply. The question was simple, a two day ban was something that had been taking place since 1994 and it was fine, but why was it extended to a period of eight days? It isn’t about religious sentiments only when you live in a nation where people survive on daily wages. A ban of 8 days could have resulted in a huge amount of loss for those who survive on their meat industry. Why is one supposed to support a movement held in favor of another’s religion when there is no such movement meant for their festivals.
The second issue was Rakesh Maria’s transfer, he is not the Mumbai police commissioner and yet he is allowed to keep a tab on the Sheena Bora case. Transferring him before the festivities begin is fine, but then why still let him keep a watch on this particular case, isn’t it like not having faith in Ahmad Javed’s capabilities even after handing over the post to him? That’s not all, transferring the case to the CBI when it was nearly solved by the Mumbai police.
“Brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India” is what sedition exactly means according to Sec.124 A of the IPC. Aseem Trivedi, a renowned cartoonist of the nation had been charged with sedition but in today’s time it is his appeal that has led to the court putting a hold on the circular passed by the government until the 20th of October. A matter that has the court taking careful steps should indeed be focused on a little more by the Government itself.
Last but not the least, farmers – the heart of India. The letter went from locals to the police officials and from law to our farmers, everything that can somehow affect an individual of our nation. Undoubtedly the CM has worked for the farmers on a large scale but the large isn’t large enough as still farmers are committing suicides. There are promises made and then there are promises fulfilled too, but are it sufficient enough to encourage a farmer to keep up with his profession or further encourage his child to be a farmer?
A senior journalist raised questions and the CM took out time from his hectic schedule to answer them. Although isn’t that what we have been learning ever since we started going to school, that if you don’t understand something or find something wrong going on, talk to an elder about it or the person in charge, and thus I feel nothing wrong has been done if someone turned out to be courageous enough to question the government who happen to be the person in charge for us.
