Category: National

Another farce by Justice Dramabaz

A meeting was held between the Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa in response to the letter of 6 Judges of the Islamabad High Court to the CJP and other senior Judges complaining of interference by the ISI and other intelligence agencies of Pakistan with fthe functioning of the judiciary. Thereafter the Pakistan Law Minister announced setting up of a commission to probe into the matter, headed by a retired Judge, Justice Tassaduq Jillani.

https://t.co/CtFk6rE3pY

https://www.dawn.com/news/1824028

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/27/judges-vs-spies-pakistans-jurists-accuse-intel-agency-isi-of-intimidation

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40295615

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/6-pak-hc-judges-in-letter-to-top-court-council-accuse-isi-of-intimidation/articleshow/108829702.cms

However, Justice Jillani has said he is not willing to head such a probe.

Now Qazi Faez Isa ( whom I call Justice Dramabaz ) has issued a suo motu notice and set up a bench of 7 Judges of the Supreme Court to deal with the matter.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461259/sc-takes-suo-motu-notice-on-judges-letter-

forms-larger-bench

In my opinion this is just another farce by Justice Dramabaz. Let me explain.

1. There is no reason to disbelieve what the 6 Judges of IHC said in their letter.

A fascist reign of terror was unleashed in Pakistan by the Pakistan army after the events of 9th May, 2023 ( which many say were stage managed ). About 14,000 people were arrested by the security forces on trumped up charges, their houses broken into, and they were beaten/tortured, and then incarcerated in jail in inhuman conditions, where they are still rotting. The people of Pakistan are living in terror, and the Pakistan media is largely muzzled.

It is in the nature of fascism, whether of the Hitler type in Nazi Germany, the Mussolini type in Italy, or the Pinochet type in Chile ( where tens of thousands of people simply ‘disappeared’ ) that the judiciary is silenced. The judiciary stands as a bulwark against state oppression, and is a protector of the rights of the people, and hence it cannot be left independent under fascist rule. So it has to be silenced, as has lagely been done in Pakistan, and some of the ways that was done were mentioned in para 6 of the letter of the 6 IHC judges.

2. So what can the bench of 7 Judges of the Pakistan Supreme Court constituted by the CJP possibly achieve ? If they find the allegations of the 6 IHC Judges to be correct, which they undoubtedly are, will they send the Director General and other senior officers of the ISI, on whose instructions this outrage was obviously committed, as well as those who carried out the order, to jail for contempt of court ? It is laughable even to think of the idea. It requires people with guts and a spine to do that, and these people do not have that

3. What, then, will this 7 member bench do ?

It will hold that the allegations of these 6 IHC Judges cannot be substantiated

And to ensure that, Justice Dramabaz has deliberately selected 7 Supreme Court judges who are his sidekicks and do his bidding, and are known to be pro-Pakistan establishment, to be on the bench, instead of constituting a Full Bench of all Judges of the Supreme Court, including upright and independent Judges like Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Shahid Waheed.

Justice Dramabaz will himself preside over this bench, and his actions have proved that he has become a servile toady of the Pakistan Establishment e.g. his flawed and dishonest judgmernt depriving Imran Khan’s PTI of its party symbol, and his other acts detailed below

Justice Katju to Justice Isa

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-four-glaring-flaws-in-pakistan-supreme-court-judgment/

So this bench of 7 Supreme Court judges constituted by Justice Dramabaz will only be a farce, and its proceedings a melodrama, a burlesque, and an excercise in futility.

4. What then should be done ? I have mentioned the only correct course of action in 2 video interviews ( one very recent ) which I gave to a young Pakistani journalist, Sohrab Barkat, of siasat.pk

That course of action is for the Chief Justice of Pakistan to announce that he will close all courts in Pakistan unless and until the Pakistan Establishment ( meaning the army ) gives an assurance that there will be no interference with the independence of the judiciary, no threats or snooping on the judges, and judicial orders will be obeyed. There is no other way out.

But that is too much to expect from Justice Dramabaz

April 2, 2024
Kejriwal’s plight

Poor, poor, Arvind Kejriwal.

Ever since he was arrested on 21st March in connection with the massive liquor scam he was expecting millions of people to turn out in protest by holding massive demonstrations in the streets of India, particularly in Delhi. But no one seemed to be interested. No one is happy at the prospect of becoming a shaheed ( martyr ) for this modern ‘Stalin’ ( I call him that as he has said in his message delivered through his wife Sunita ” Aapka bhai lohe ka bana hai ” ), who has since long departed from all his professed principles of integrity, etc

In the above message of 23rd March Kejriwal appealed to people to go to temples to pray for him. None did. They preferred celebrating Holi with gusto ( despite appeals by AAP leaders not to celebrate it ).

In his message Kejriwal also said ” ” Whether inside or outside, every moment of my life is dedicated to serving the country. Every drop of my blood is dedicated to the country,”

This was laughable. The public has understood by now, after bitter experience, that every moment of Kejriwal’s life is dedicated not to serving the people, but to his idea how he can remain in power by hook or crook, and even become Prime Minister one day, for which he regards himself fully deserving. He has mastered the art of Machiavellian ‘realpolitik’.

Even Anna Hazare, on whose ‘imaandaari’ movement Kejriwal rode piggy back, now condemns him.

Kejriwal added in his message that no bar could keep him inside, and he would soon return. He probably imagines he is a Lord Krishna, who after his birth was miraculously taken out of the jail of his mama Kansa. Or perhaps he believes that the jail walls will be stormed and he will be rescued by a huge crowd, like the revolutionaries who stormed the Bastille in Paris on 14th July 1789.

None of that will happen. Kejriwal seems to be in for the long haul

But here is a suggestion for AAP leaders and members who want Kejriwal to be released soon :

When I was a lawyer in Allahabad High Court, and there was a threat that a Meerut Bench of the High Court may be created ( thus drastically reducing our incomes, since Western UP districts were relatively affluent compared to eastern UP districts, and its people good paymasters ), we lawyers of the High Court went on a long strike.

Among the things we lawyers did was to dig a huge ‘agnikund’ ( pit of fire ) inside the High Court premises, into which we threw a lot of wood, set it on fire, and when the flames were leaping high, threatened to collectively jump into it, like a ‘jauhar’ committed by the women of Chittorgarh.

This did the trick, and the government, frightened out of its wits, announced that it had withdrawn the proposal to create a Bench.

I am sure Kejriwal will be released soon after AAP folk do the same ( but I advise them not to actully jump into the bonfire, only keep giving threats ).

March 27, 2024
Allahabad High Court Declares UP Madrasa Education Act Unconstitutional

The Allahabad High Court, by a verdict given on 22.3.2024 has declared the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 to be unconstitutional, being against the principle of secularism.

https://www.firstpost.com/india/studying-in-madrasa-violates-secularism-allahabad-hc-declares-madarsa-education-unconstitutional-13752135.html

https://www.newsclick.in/explained-why-has-allahabad-hc-struck-down-madarsa-act

The full judgment is given below :

https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/anshuman-singh-rathore-vs-union-of-india-thru-secy-ministry-of-edu-new-delhi-and-3-others-2024-livelaw-ab-189-allahabad-high-court-529904.pdf

I agree with the verdict that madarsa education violates the constitutional principle of secularism. It also violates Article 21A of the Indian Constitution which declares the right to get education upto the age of 14 a fundamental right of every child.

Education, to my mind, means modern, secular education, not the largely theological education imparted in madarsas or saraswati shishu mandirs, which inculcate bigotry, and brainwash the tender and susceptible minds of children with religious extremism.

No doubt in para 100 of the judgment the Court observed :

”Since there are a large number of madarsas and madarsa students in the State of U.P., the State Government is directed to take steps forthwith for accommodating these madarsa students in regular schools recognized under the Primary Education Board and schools recognized under the High School and Intermediate Education Board of State of U.P. The State Government for the said purpose shall ensure that as per requirement sufficient number of additional seats are created and further if required, sufficient number of new schools are established. The State Government shall also ensure that children between the ages of 6 to 14 years are not left without admission in duly recognized institutions ”

However this is easier said than done. Already the existing government secular schools are overcrowded ( some have 200 students in one section of a class, as I have myself seen ), and private schools are extremely expensive.

It is estimated that there are 25,000 madarsas in UP, of which 18,500 are recognised by the UP Madarsa Education Board. There are about 25 lac ( 2.5 million ) students in these madarsas,and thousands of teachers.

So before closing down the existing madarsas, thousands of modern secular schools will have to be built, with proper classrooms, laboratories, libraries, etc and competent teachers and other staff appointed. This will require a huge outlay of funds, and careful planning, and cannot be done overnight..

I would also like to suggest a way to accomodate the thousands of teachers who will be rendered unemployed by the closure of madarsas.

I have delivered a judgment in 1993 in the Allahabad High Court, Ramesh Upadhya vs State of UP, in which I have recommended that Sanskrit and Urdu, our two great cultural language, should be made compulsory in every school in UP for 5 years upto class 8.

https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/56e14632607dba3896627186

If this judgment is implemented a large number of posts of Urdu teachers will be created, and the teachers presently teaching in madarsas ( who would all be knowing Urdu ) can be appointed on those posts.

Also, on the same logic, saraswati shishu mandirs run by the RSS should also be closed down, and the students transferred to modern secular schools

March 26, 2024
JNUSU elections 2024

The Leftists have swept the polls in the recent elections for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union elections ( JNUSU Election )

JNUSU ELECTIONS

https://www.news18.com/india/saffron-wave-in-left-bastion-jnu-as-abvp-leads-in-all-4-posts-of-students-union-election-counting-underway-8827172.html

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/in-first-jnu-student-polls-in-4-years-left-sweeps-40-101711306391166.html

This is being hailed as a great victory for the poor people of India.

But going by past experience one can safely predict that after leaving the JNU these ‘revolutionaries’ who have won the elections will in later life forget all about revolution and the poor people of India, and start thinking of building a career for themselves. Some ‘revolutionaries’ may end up in Congress, like Kanhaiya Kumar, former President of JNUSU, or like Shehla Rashid, former Vice President, who may join the BJP.

There is a long list of such turncoats who at one time were hero worshipped in JNU when they were students there, and reckoned as rising stars in the red firmament, and therefore the hopes of the poor people, but are today occupying cushy jobs/posts in the civil services, in the corporate world, in academia, in politics, and elsewhere, with fat salaries and perks, in India, or even abroad.

One is reminded of English poet Robert Browning’s poem ‘The Lost Leader‘

I have always had a poor opinion of Indian Universities, and I particularly regard JNU as a highly overrated one

https://www.facebook.com/justicekatju/posts/818456554861559/

https://www.facebook.com/justicekatju/posts/nowadays-jnu-is-being-praised-all-over-india-and-even-abroad-as-a-great-centre-o/1145953232111888/

I was once invited to speak in JNU

But I dont think the newly elected office bearers of JNUSU will invite me. They may fear I will speak about how history shows that most ‘leftists’ ended up as rightists, in India, and all over the world

March 26, 2024
One cannot murder a ghost

The Aam Aadmi Party has called the arrest of its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, as the murder of democracy in India

Delhi Chief Minister: Arvind Kejariwal

AAP leaders have called for a nationwide protest against it, and some protests have taken place

Opposition leaders, such as Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerji, Akhilesh Yadav, Shashi Tharoor, etc, and a section of the media too are shouting themselves hoarse that arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal amounts to murder of democracy in India

I am not going into the merits of the charges against Kejriwal, which principally relate to a massive liquor scam

However, in my opinion the question whether democracy has been murdered in India or not by this arrest arises only if we presuppose that there was democracy in India in the first place at all, or just a charade or a sham pretending to be democracy.

As defined by US President Lincoln, democracy means government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Modern democracies cannot be government of the people. That was only possible in ancient times e.g. in Greek city states like Athens, where there was direct democracy. With the growth in population people cannot gather together in one forum and rule themselves. So it has to be a representative democracy.

As for government by the people, this implies that even if there is indirect or representative democracy, the leaders really represent the people, and hence can be equated or identified with the people, not just in the sense of being elected by them, but by working for their welfare, and securing them better lives.

Does this happen in India ? Not at all. Our political leaders only seek power and pelf, and do not have any genuine love for the people, nor really care for their welfare. To achieve power they polarise society on caste and religious lines, seeking vote banks, for which they incite and spread hatred, an activity in which they are experts.

Is our ‘democracy’ for the people ? Again, the answer has to be in the negative. As stated above, our politicians work for themselves, or their kith and kin, not for the welfare of the people. This is evident from the fact that even 77 years after Independence, there is massive poverty, record and rising unemployment, appalling level of child malnourishment ( every second child in India is malnourished, according to Global Hunger Index ), skyrocketing prices of essential commodities like food, fuel and medicines, almost total lack of proper healthcare and good education for the masses, atrocities on minorities, etc.

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-lies-damned-lies-and-statistics-in-india/

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-why-i-dont-celebrate-on-republic-day/

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-there-are-two-indias-in-india/

https://indicanews.com/justice-markandey-katju-the-truth-behind-indias-explosive-gdp-growth/

So where is democracy in India, which is said to have been murdered ? One cannot murder a ghost, or something which does not exist

March 24, 2024
Those who have not seen Holi of Braj have not seen India

Holi, the festival of colours, is played in most of India for one day ( this year it will be on 25th March ).

Holi

But in Braj Mandal ( the area around Mathura city ( comprising of Mathura, Gokul, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Barsana, Nandgaon, etc ) ) it is played for one full week, commencing from Holi Day.

I believe that one who has not seen Braj ki Holi has not seen India

Braj ki Holi: Those who have not seen it, have not seen India

https://indicanews.com/justice-katju-those-who-have-not-seen-brij-ki-holi-have-not-seen-india/

Throughout the week, commencing from Holi day, Braj Mandal is full of colours everywhere. Skits are performed in several places showing Lord Krishna’s life and ‘raas leela’ i.e. dalliance with the gopis ( girls ) of Vrindavan, and especially with his beloved Radha.

On the first day of the week, i.e. Holi day ( which will be this year tomorrow, 25th March ) there will be ‘lathmaar Holi’ at Barsaana, a place about 40 kms from Mathura city. There is a famous Radha temple in Barsaana on a small hill, which I have visited. There women of 80, girls of 5, and females of all ages in between, can be seen dancing all the time.

In Barsaana people do not say ‘Jai Shri Krishna’ as is said elsewhere, but ‘Radhe Radhe’. That is because they believe that Krishna deserted them when he was attacked by Jarasandh and fled to Dwarka in Gujarat, but Radha remained with them.

On this day boys of Nandgaon, which is about 7-8 kms from Barsaana ( and where it is believed Krishna had spent part of his childhood ) march all the way to Barsaana, where the womenfolk beat the former on their heads ( probably symbolising their anger at Krishna who had deserted their Radha ). The boys have to wear protective headgear, else they may be seriously injured, so fierce is the beating.

The last day of the Holi week in Braj is ‘Dauji ka Huranga’. Dauji is Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, and there is his temple situated about 30 kms from Mathura where this event takes place. There is a square courtyard there surrounded by buildings, filled with 1 or 2 feet coloured water. On this occasion the womenfolk tear off the upper garments of the menfolk there, dip them in the coloured water, and then beat the menfolk with those torn clothes ( probably symbolising getting back at the ill treatment they got from their menfolk for 364 days in the year ). In the meantime colour is flying around everywhere in the air.

I have appealed to Pakistanis and Bangladeshis to also play Holi

Justice Katju Urges Joint Holi Celebrations in Pakistan and Bangladesh

For seeing more videos of Brij ki Holi, Lathmaar Holi, Dauji ka Huranga, etc see on youtube

March 24, 2024
Death anniversary of Bhagat Singh

Today, 23rd March, is the death anniversary of one of my heroes, Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh

I have expressed my views about him in several articles, facebook posts, blogs, and youtube videos, given below, so I am not repeating them.

Many people say that India got Independence because of Gandhi. I totally disagree.

A real freedom struggle is always a violent struggle. This is because no imperialist power gives up its conquered country without an armed struggle. Did George Washington fight against the British rulers of America from 1775-1781 with an army ( the Continental army ) or by presenting the British flowers and bouquets ? Did Bolivar fight the Spanish rulers of Latin America with his batallions, or with lollipops ? Did Ho Chi Minh fight the French with guns or by satyagraha and fasting ? Did the Chinese fight the Japanese with salt marches ?

The British left India not because of Gandhi, but because in the Second World War Germany attacked and weakened England, and may have possibly conquered it, but for American help. And the Americans gave that help by putting pressure on the British to give Independence to India so that the Indian market and raw materials may not remain monopolised by the British, but be opened up for American investment too.

Our real freedom fighters were Bhagat Singh, Surya Sen ( Masterda ), Chandrashekhar Azad, Ashfaqulla, Rajguru, Khudiram Bose, Ram Prasad Bismil, etc. They were taking our freedom struggle against the British in the correct revolutionary direction, and had they succeeded we would have had a prosperous India today.

But instead our forefathers stupidly deserted them and followed Gandhi who diverted the freedom struggle towards a nonsensical channel called satyagrah which was harmless and posed no danger to British economic interests.

In our history books the real patriots like Bhagat Singh, Surya Sen, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ashfaqulla etc are barely mentioned. They are generally relegated to a footnote, and treated as mavericks, deviants or outsiders, not freedom fighters. Instead, Gandhi and his coterie, are depicted as the real freedom fighters.

Gandhi described the militant Indian youth fighting against British Imperialism as ‘misguided souls’. He often said that militant nationalism was injurious to India’s struggle for freedom. In reality he knew that if those methods became widespread among the Indian masses his own popularity would decline, and his ‘ Mahatmahood ‘ would disappear.

When the British sentenced Bhagat Singh to death, Gandhi made no effort to save his life. He never wrote any letter to the British Viceroy to commute his sentence , nor did he issue any public appeal for this purpose, and he never went to meet Bhagat Singh in jail when the latter was on hunger strike.Because of our forefathers’ stupidity we are still suffering today with massive poverty, massive unemployment, massive child malnutrition, almost total lack of healthcare and good education for the masses, skyrocketing prices, atrocities on minorities, etc.

Is this real freedom ? If we had instead followed the revolutionary path of Bhagat Singh and other real freedom fighters we would have today had a prosperous India, with our people enjoying a high standard of living, and leading decent lives.

March 23, 2024
Warning Issued Against Artificially Ripened Watermelons: Health Risks Highlighted
In preparation for Ramadan, Dr. Wajahat MD, a Clinical Oncologist and Regional Head of Pal Care Foundation, has issued a crucial warning regarding the consumption of artificially ripened watermelons.

Through a comprehensive social media post, Dr. Wajahat sheds light on the dangers associated with chemically-treated watermelons and emphasizes the importance of consumer awareness.

This is no watermelon season, Say NO to artificially ripened watermelon this Ramadan. Save yourself from chemicals and later on chemotherapy.
— Dr Wajahat. MD (@oncologycorner) March 8, 2024

Here are the key points highlighted in his message:
- Adulterants Used in Watermelon:
1. Forchlorofenuron: A growth accelerator that promotes rapid cell division and delays cell death, enhancing the fruit’s size artificially.
2. Erythrosine-B (Red-B): Injected to give the watermelon a bright red color, making it visually appealing but potentially harmful.
- Chemicals Used in Artificial Ripening:
1. Oxytocin: Frequently used for quick ripening but unsafe for human consumption, leading to stomach aches and potential nervous breakdowns if overdosed.
2. Calcium Carbide: Releases Ethylene upon contact with moisture, hastening the ripening process. However, it can cause adverse effects ranging from mild headaches to deadly cancer.
- Identification of Adulteration:
1. Lack of Taste: Growth enhancers promote cell division at speeds higher than natural, resulting in a bland taste.
2. Water Test: Cutting a small slice and placing it in water can reveal the presence of red color agents if the water changes color quickly.
3. Time Delay Test: A method for further verification.
- Best Practices While Shopping for Watermelon:
1. Look for a pale yellow patch, indicating natural ripening.
2. Check for web-like spots, suggesting pollination by bees.
3. Pay attention to the tail color, which should be dry and dark black or brown for naturally ripened watermelons. Adulterated ones may have a green stalk.
- Importance of Industry Responsibility:
- Dr. Wajahat emphasizes that sellers have a responsibility to ensure the quality and safety of the produce they offer. This includes rigorous checks to prevent the sale of adulterated watermelons.
- Educational Purpose:
- The tweet serves as an educational tool to raise awareness among consumers about the risks associated with consuming chemically-treated watermelons.
- Call for Action:
- As Ramadan approaches, consumers are urged to make informed choices and prioritize their health by avoiding artificially ripened watermelons.
Dr. Wajahat’s advocacy highlights the need for industry-wide accountability and regulation to ensure the availability of safe and unadulterated produce. As consumers, it is essential to remain vigilant and prioritize health over convenience, especially during festive seasons when demand for certain fruits is high.

Stay informed and ahead with The News Caravan—your destination for the most authentic and insightful news coverage.
March 12, 2024
Justice Katju Claims China Behind Farmers’ Agitation To Stop BJP’s Victory In 2024 Elections
Who is behind the ongoing Indian farmers agitation ?

Indian farmers’ agitation.

There was a Farmers’ Agitation in India in 2020-2021, which died down when the farmers’ demand of repeal of 3 agricultural laws was accepted by the Government of India

Now, shortly before the forthcoming parliamentary elections, another farmers agitation, mainly led by farmers of Punjab demanding MSP ( Minimum Support Price ) for their agricultural products, has suddenly commenced.

The news about this agitation has gone viral, and is all over the Indian media. Many people have commented on it, including this humble self :

An interesting and important question is who is really behind this agitation ? There are of course the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and some other groups which are heading the agitation,

https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/farmers-protest-how-delhi-chalo-2-0-is-different-which-organizations-are-leading-the-movement-this-time/articleshow/107646536.cms

But who is really behind these groups ? This is the question which will sought to be answered here. Since my answer may sound a bit bizarre, it needs to be explained in some detail.

Today the main conflict in the world is between USA and China ( which has replaced USSR as the main rival of USA, after disintegration of the former ). China with its massive industrial base, has emerged as a super power, and is aggressively expanding everywhere in the world, hungrily in search of markets, raw materials, and avenues for investment for its huge 3.4 trillion dollar foreign exchange reserve.

Prime Minister Modi has taken India wholeheartedly into the US camp, and the Americans have welcomed this, as they need a strong counterpoise to China in Asia. This would naturally have been strongly resented by the Chinese.

Parliamentary elections will shortly be held in India, and Modi’s BJP seems sure to win a third 5 year term, particularly after the hype around the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and, to a lesser extent, the agitations regarding the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, and the Shahi Masjid in Mathura.

Obviously this prospect would be unpalatable to the Chinese, who perceive the BJP as strongly pro-American. Hence I have a strong hunch that it is the Chinese who are really behind the present farmers’ agitation and the groups leading it.

Now it may be immediately asked : what evidence do I have for such an outlandish assertion ?

My answer is that true there is no direct evidence, but there is also a thing called circumstantial evidence, which is reliance on rational inferences.

Would not the Chinese oppose the pro-American BJP coming to power again by winning the forthcoming elections ? Yes, they will do so tooth and nail. And what better way to do that than by arousing the Indian farmers, who comprise of 60% of India’s population ? And the best way to do that is to start an agitation for MSP.

MSP is a popular demand of Indian farmers, who do not get adequate remuneration for their produce ( over 400,000 of them have committed suicide ), and they want a law guaranteeing MSP.

The Swaminathan Commission set up by the Indian Government recommended a statutory MSP at cost price+50%. In other words, if it cost a farmer Rs 100 to produce an agricultural product, by law the government must buy it at Rs 150. Private traders can also buy it, but they too must pay Rs 150, otherwise they will be penalised. This was the law proposed by the Swaminathan Commission, and being demanded by the agitating farmers, who want to enter Delhi, but are being prevented by the police.

MSP sounds a very rosy idea, and people opposing it risk being branded as anti farmer, and as hostile to our ‘annadatas’ ( bread providers )

However, I submit that MSP is not feasible in a free enterprise economy.

Presently, though MSP is declared for 23 crops in India, it is implemented mainly for wheat and paddy, and that too for only a small percentage of Indian farmers.

70% Punjabi farmers get the benefit of MSP, while less than 10% Bihari farmers get it.

If a law for MSP is made, all farmers in India will demand that the government must buy all their produce at the MSP. This would well nigh be impossible for the government to comply with. The only option for farmers then would be to sell the produce to private traders, but these may be unwilling to buy at the high MSP. They will then covertly buy at lower prices, thus subverting the entire MSP scheme. Moreover this is bound to result in largescale police corruption, as the police will sooner or later grow wise to the underhand dealings, and then start extortion from both the seller and buyer.

Furthermore, the meaning of ‘cost of production’ is unclear

https://indianexpress.com/article/business/budget/agriculture-budget-promises-msp-50-above-cost-doesnt-define-which-cost-5049635/

Other problems in implementing MSP are given in the articles below

https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/economics-of-an-msp-guarantee-experts-say-may-be-difficult-given-financial-implications-417484-2024-02-14

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Indian_farmers%27_protest

https://theprint.in/report/will-linking-msp-with-cost-really-have-any-benefits-no-say-farmers-experts/33068/

It is estimated that MSP would cost Rs 17 lakh crores, which is half the Union budget.

The Union Govt has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that it would not be possible to determine MSP according to its promise, as such increase would distort the market

https://thewire.in/agriculture/doubling-farmers-income-a-tale-of-empty-promises-deceit-and-propaganda

I submit that the present farmers agitation is only with an eye on the forthcoming parliamentary elections in India, and the Chinese are behind it.

What is the farmers’ demand?

The farmers’ demand is to get a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) of their crops. MSP is the lowest rate at which the government buys crops from farmers to protect them from market fluctuations and ensure income security. The farmers want MSP to be fixed at 50% above the cost of production, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission¹². They also want MSP to cover all 23 crops under the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)³. Currently, the government only procures wheat and rice at MSP, leaving other crops vulnerable to market forces⁴. The farmers fear that without a legal guarantee for MSP, they will lose their bargaining power and livelihoods. 🌾

What are the three agricultural laws that farmers want to repeal?

The three agricultural laws that farmers want to repeal are:
- The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020: This law allows farmers to sell their produce outside the regulated markets (mandis) and across states, without paying any fees or taxes. It also permits online trading and contract farming. ¹²
- The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020: This law enables farmers to enter into agreements with private buyers, such as companies, processors, exporters, or retailers, for the sale of future produce at a pre-agreed price. It also provides for dispute resolution mechanisms and quality standards. ¹²
- The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020: This law removes commodities such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onions, and potatoes from the list of essential commodities, and deregulates their production, storage, movement, and distribution. It also removes the imposition of stock limits, except in cases of war, famine, natural calamity, or extraordinary price rise. ¹²
The government claims that these laws are aimed at increasing farmers’ income, enhancing competition, reducing intermediaries, and creating a unified national market for agricultural produce. ¹²

However, the farmers fear that these laws will expose them to the vagaries of market forces, undermine the minimum support price (MSP) system, weaken the state-regulated mandis, and favour the corporate sector.
February 17, 2024
Attempt to Silence the Media in Pakistan
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Unprecedented media suppression in Pakistan as journalist's critical interview is silenced amid a government crackdown. Concerns rise over threats to free speech and expression.
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A disquieting thing happened yesterday.

Three days back a Pakistani journalist Ali Hasnain Shah, who works as researcher/producer with Khabarhar Team of Aftab Iqbal, called me on whatsapp and said he wants to take my interview about the recent judgment of the Pakistan Supreme Court depriving Imran Khan’s PTI party of its symbol.

I immediately agreed, and shortly thereafter my interview of about 10-12 minutes wes recorded in which I criticised the judgment. I had written an article about it earlier too.

After the interview was recorded I asked Ali Hasnain Shah when will he send me a link so that I can post it on my fb page and twitter. He said it will be sent the next day, after it was edited.

I waited the next day, and messaged him a few times. He replied it was still being edited.

Yesterday morning ( i.e. 2 days after the recording ) I received his message that the editing was complete, and the video link will be sent to me between 9 and 10 a.m.

I waited till 10.30 a.m. and when the link did not come I messaged Ali Hasnain asking as to when was he sending it ? He gave no reply. I messaged again several times, but there was no response. I tried to call him on his whatsapp number, but he would not take my call.

In the evening I received a text message on whatsapp from him that in view of a government notification forming a JIT ( Joint Investigation Team ) to investigate ‘malicious criticism’ of Pakistan Supreme Judges and launch criminal prosecutions against the ‘offenders’, it had been decided not to air my interview, and the link would not be sent to me.

This government notification was evidently issued because there had been tremendous criticism of the Supreme Court judgment in the media and elsewhere. The notification is contained in the article below

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40284030

This notification, which threatened criminal prosecution of those who criticised Supreme Court Judges, evidently so scared and petrified the team to which Ali Hasnain belonged, that they decided to suppress my interview ( which I had given at their request ).

I responded to the text message of Ali Hasnain by saying that another Pakistani journalist had taken 2 interviews in which I criticised the 3 judges who had given the bat symbol judgment, so what was there to be frightened and terrified about ? I whatsapped these 2 interviews to him.

However, despite several more messages by me, and attempts to call him on whatsapp, there was no response from him and stony silence. I got only one message of only one word from Ali Hasnain ‘busy’.

So evidently at the behest of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and some of his colleagues, the Pakistan Government has decided to silence people who ‘maliciously’ criticise them.

There is already power in the Court to punish for contempt and send to jail those who maliciously criticise judges. So where was the need of this notification ?

Moreover, what is ‘malicious’ ? The word is vague, and susceptible to any number of meanings.

In a democracy the people are supreme, and have a right to criticise judges, who are only their servants (,like all state authorities ).

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/satyam-bruyat/contempt-law-threatens-freedom/

https://www.facebook.com/justicekatju/posts/the-case-against-arundhati-royi-have-carefully-perused-the-article-of-arundhati-/1100626633311215/

Evidently the media and people are being silenced in Pakistan
January 18, 2024