The Gauhati High Court ruling in Akhil Gogoi’s case that UAPA is applicable only for acts of terrorism highlights the criminal misuse of this law again. Even the Supreme Court condemned the practice last year. It’s time state governments and investigation agencies are called to account and punished by courts.
Delhi govt’s knee-jerk move of turning top hospitals into Covid-only facility can trigger a fresh disaster
Delhi government’s move to declare top super speciality hospitals as Covid-only facilities to augment bed capacity can trigger a parallel health disaster. Many patients with dire and urgent medical needs are now being turned away. This is a knee-jerk response of an ill-prepared government that boasts about its health policy.
BJP needs to step off NRC kerb, and not keep things ambiguous to create paranoia
Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance that Gorkhas won’t be impacted if NRC is implemented in West Bengal is another instance of the BJP’s cynical politics over this exercise. By keeping things ambiguous, BJP is deliberately creating confusion, fuelling paranoia, distrust and instability. Modi government should step off the NRC kerb.
Procedures need to be established that for tough laws like sedition, uapa etc action cannot be taken unless the CP or equivalent does not sign-off on it. There won’t be too many cases, so it should not add to their workload. Whenever, it is conclusively established that the laws were applied maliciously, there needs to be consequences for the sr officer
One of the costs – collateral damage – of the pandemic is that it has hurt other medical activities. Treatment of serious ailments. Even the immunisation programme for infants and children. The Delhi government should act with a sense of responsibility and discernment. Perhaps this is an issue on which the LG should overrule it.
An astute way should have been found by such a great nation to wriggle out of the Assam Accord. That was 1985, this is 2021. Two million – in my view – pucca citizens, pushed into a dark penumbra of non belonging. The mischievous lad in me is happy that more than half are Hindus. That will preclude drastic action. As will the solemn assurances, repeatedly tendered, to the Bangladesh government that there will be no deportations. As an Assamese, propriety demanded that CJI Ranjan Gogoi recuse himself from the hearings, instead of driving this process relentlessly forward. 2. CAA and a national NRC will harm India’s place in the neighbourhood. Fine column by Ambassador K C Singh in Asian Age on our growing isolation.
George Floyd’s family has received $ 17 million in compensation. Countless times we hear of Muslim men being acquitted of terror charges, sometimes after a few decades. NSA – the Allahabad High Court has chucked so many cases out of the window. PSA in Kashmir, it would be prudent not to even talk about. UAPA, designed your deny bail. 2. A government must be feared by people, true, mainly those who break the law. Much more, it should be respected. The organs of the state who wield so much power should be seen to be acting with a sense of duty, devotion to the national and public interest. Else we will come down to Sachin Waze & Co.