My Opinion

It is worth taking note of what Actor Anil Kapoor has said regarding ‘Award Wapsi’ or the returning of awards. He finds it strange why people are suddenly returning their awards now when intolerance in the country has existed since his childhood. I personally feel everybody is entitled to one’s own opinion, artists have the right to express themselves, they have the right to support or criticise the government in whichever way they want to as long as they don’t become pawns in the hands of political parties.

Exit Poll projections are based on speculation. The final tally of the Bihar Assembly Polls would be out on the 8th of November. Which party manages to get the mandate will be clear in just two days. Till then one will have to wait and watch for the outcome of one of the most keenly fought elections in the country.

Whether it is Lalu’s comments or BJP’s ad on beef or JDU leaders comparing Amit Shah to Hafiz Saeed – these are but means to polarise the voters. And it does not need any further elaboration with tomorrow being the last phase of the Bihar Assembly Polls and majority of the voters being Muslims. One can only hope that with the end of polling, such controversial statements would finally come to an end.

Anupam Kher has made some valuable observations and I personally feel that Shahrukh has not said anything that makes him anti national. To compare him to Hafiz Sayeed or to tell him to go to Pakistan only corroborates Shahrukh’s views on intolerance. He is a superstar with a huge fan following. He has every right to his opinion. We may not agree with what he says, we may choose to contradict what he says but to compare him to Hafiz Sayeed, or to tell him to go to Pakistan and question his nationality, is simply without any basis. I feel it is best for Shahrukh to ignore such comments and not allow them to affect him.

It is interesting to note while at home Narendra Modi is at the receiving end of his opponents and more of his own party people who with their contentious statements are bringing down the country’s image, abroad he is being recognised for his work. India’s Prime Minister finds his place in this year’s Forbes list of the World’s Most Powerful People. The list also includes Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, David Cameron and Chinese President Xi Jinping. However with the debates on growing intolerance in the country and repeated questions being raised, the Prime Minister once and for all should come out strongly and outline his government’s views on this issue.

I feel Kailash Vijayvargiya has done injustice to Shah Rukh Khan by giving such statements. Shah Rukh has the right to express himself and saying that his soul is in Pakistan is completely wrong. Vijayvargiya is a very senior BJP leader, he should think twice before giving statements because his statements will have an impact among the masses. People like Hafiz Saeed will take this to their advantage.

Gangster Chhota Rajan is trying to assert his patriotism by repeatedly saying that he will continue to fight against Dawood whom he considers an enemy of the State. But like Dawood, Chhota Rajan too is a mafia don and he along with Dawood have together committed several crimes. There are 72 cases against him which include 17 cases of murder, extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, 12 cases registered under MCOCA and 4 under TADA. There is probably no crime that Chhota Rajan hasn’t committed. Instead of glorifying him and giving him any preferential treatment, he should be dealt with in the most stringent manner. He should be punished like other criminals who have waged wars against our country.

The Madheshi agitation has impacted Indo-Nepal relations too. China is taking advantage of this situation. Till date, Nepal imported petrol and diesel only from India. But for the first time in the history of Nepal, China has sent 73.5 metric tonnes of petrol and diesel to the Himalayan nation via road.

Politicians must understand the fact that during elections nothing will work except for the people’s mandate. Jantar Mantar, Astrologers or Tantriks. None of these will work.

Banning media coverage of dreaded terrorist Hafiz Saeed is just another move by the Pakistani government. Just 10 days back, Nawaz Sharif met Obama in Washington and promised to take action against Lashker-e-Taiba. Hence, his govt has taken this move. Not showing Saeed on TV will have negative impact. Nobody will come to know on how he recruits young boys, gives training and spreading terrorism. Neither Saeed’s public meetings nor the terrorist camps will close due to this move. If Pakistan really needs to prove the world that it is against terrorism, then it should send Saeed behind the bars.

India will get crucial details of Dawood Ibrahim once Chhota Rajan is deported to India. Rajan used to work with Dawood until 1993 and was his closes aide. Rajan is aware of Dawood’s network in Mumbai and his businesses across the globe. This will help security agencies in nabbing Dawood. Even Dawood has this fear, that is why he wants to kill Chhota Rajan and has been trying for many years now.

The first four phases of Bihar Assembly polls has been completed. 184 seats out of 243 have gone to poll. Now, only the last leg is left. Both BJP and Lalu-Nitish are on with full force. The results of these polls will be out on November 8. Whatever may be the result, it will have a big impact on national politics. These polls will also enlighten us with mood of the country till 2019.