The government outmanoeuvred a disintegrated opposition to steamroll a potentially dangerous UAPA bill in parliament empowering the state to designate an individual as terrorist. Strong laws to fight terror already exist. PM Modi is sidestepping legislative scrutiny to make tough laws look tougher — but increasing scope for political misuse.
After whipping up paranoia, a cynical BJP is questioning the whole NRC exercise
By pointing errors in the district-wise inclusion figures in NRC, Assam’s BJP government has vitiated what has already been a socially wrenching process. After whipping up paranoia, BJP’s cynical, majoritarian politics is now on full display with the centre and state putting a big question mark on the whole exercise.
Sometimes feel a few things are becoming an obsession. Black money took us to Demonetisation and an economy as brimful of animal spirits as a stuffed duck. 2. The whole world faces a threat from terrorism. If we were to plot lives lost in India due to terrorist acts, over the last five or ten years, one subset in Kashmir, another for the rest of the country, the figures – although even one life lost is one too many – would not be alarming. This is becoming a one point agenda for our foreign policy. 3. On the new law, it does seem too drastic. As Cut the Clutter explained, the Indian state has an old romance with using a sledgehammer where a scalpel would suffice.
My first exposure to this great human tragedy came from some columns written by Ms Ruhi Tewari. A complete travesty of human rights, even of the law and constitutionality. Sad that the apex court seems to be driving the process along. The two governments are on the same page : no deportations will take place. That reduces the entire exercise to a cruel farce. 2. What possible gain there could be by taking the NRC process national is beyond comprehension. The social fabric is already fraught and fraying. Any further adventurism will create forces we may be unable to handle and contain. India needs calm, harmony to grow and prosper. 3. As for Assam, find a way to put this satan bug back in the test tube. Find enduring solutions to the floods that drown the state each year.