Right to peaceful protests or activism is fundamental to our constitutional freedoms. If there is no call to violence, these aren’t crimes. Modi government’s heavy-handed counter to these is wrong. The terrorist-like arrest of Disha Ravi looks frantic, unjust and unwise. Now the magistracy’s response should raise tough questions too.
Vaccination progress looks unimpressive, govt must involve private sector
India’s Covid vaccination process is looking unimpressive. The pace for our large population is slow and now bulk of vaccine recipients haven’t turned up for second dose. Government needs to give up control like with testing, involve private sector and open it to more categories to build herd immunity faster.
It started with a shock that ultra left wing radicals and jihadist and their handlers in china and pakistan woke up to that the myth INDIA would never retaliate inside pakistan was broken.
Later with anti CAA PROTESTS followed by rioting was also handled.
Then chinese incursions occured which were to be supported by inducing large scale violence after 26th Jan also failed.
THE Chinese withdrew.
Now the government has to dismantle organisations involved. Not a easy task considering how 60 years of CONGRASS rule has helped entrench them.
Of course it’s unwise, but as long as they sell a PSU or two it’s all fine with the fine folks at The Print amirite?
Ultimately it is upto the honourable constitutional courts to undo these excesses. Not least because Sedition is being invoked in open defiance / contempt of guidelines laid down by the SC. Before this reaches the judiciary, perhaps a higher standard should be expected from the enforcement arm as well. Not many people would have been surprised by the Washington Post expose on malware being used to plant false evidence in Rona Wilson’s computer. Does the saintly Sudha Bhardwaj look like Mata Hari or a character out of Day of the Jackal. 2. All these things are dimming India’s global aura and moral stature. It is no help at all that we are now the 163rd fastest growing economy, out of 194. Hard and soft power racing each other to the bottom.
There is no overall shortage of vaccines. In fact, India is exporting millions of doses, as part of a praiseworthy diplomatic initiative. The Russian Sputnik V has been globally acclaimed. We should not allow the serological data lull us into complacency. Hundreds of millions of Indians need to be vaccinated. This would be a good time to both allow the private sector to be part of the government’s free programme and for private citizens to get vaccinated at their own cost.