With Folded Hands


While our Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi has been requesting the nation with folded hands to ensure social distancing, former Prime Minister Mr Deve Gowda has thrown all caution to the wind by celebrating his grandson’s marriage in a farmhouse near Begaluru in Karnataka. Even if requisite permission are taken, one wonders what message is being sent to the nation. Incidentally, images of the marriage ceremony available in newspapers show that social distancing was hardly followed.

The bride Revathi is grand niece of former Minister Mr M Krishnappa of Congress Party.

We frequently see on the T.V that people on the streets are being caned and made to do sit-ups for flouting lockdown rules! Our rich and powerful do not seem to have learnt lesson. They need to be reminded that several powerful people have battled for life as a result of Corona virus.

It is time we do away with double standards. Our administrative machinery is being tested.


Shaming A Chowkidar

Mr Narendra Modi managed to put some pride into Chowkidars (recall –Main Bhi Chowkidar). Unfortunately, Mr Ganesh Lal Tatma, a chowkidar in Araria, Bihar has faced the brunt for being one. In show of arrogancy, one Mr Manoj Kumar, District Agriculture Officer of Araria, Bihar “punished” Mr Tatma for demanding to be shown a pass for moving around during Lockdown. He was made to do 50 sit-ups while holding his ears. Ironically, police officer Mr Govind Singh was helping in the punishment. Shameful!

One hopes this gentleman Mr Manoj Kumar gets exemplary punishment and the chowkidar Mr Ganesh Lal Tamta gets publicly awarded for doing his duty. Monetary compensation should also be provided.

As per latest reports, Bihar’s Agriculture Minister Mr Prem Kumar declared that a show cause notice has been served and some enquiry has been initiated. One hopes the enquiry is not cold shouldered- for the rich and powerful do derail such enquiries. The judiciary has been compromised in this case as one gentleman has pronounced the poor chowkidar guilty and meted out (in)justice. Worse than a Kangaroo Court.

Bihar’s DGP Mr Gupteshwar Pande, appreciably, has suspended the ASI Mr Govind Singh for his role in this incident and apologised to the chowkidar.

One is reminded of Tulsidas’s doha (couplet)- which translated means:

The fault of rich and powerful is not even questioned by God! Do we really believe in this and encourage it?

The nation would like to be free of this VIP culture –a remnant of colonialism.