My Opinion

In our country people have the right to freedom of speech but freedom does not encompass the liberty to raise anti India slogans or for that matter support terrorists and declare them as martyrs. Anybody disrespecting the nation belonging to any political party or any ideology, must be dealt with in the strictest manner. On grounds of patriotism, the question of indulging in petty politics can never arise.

The entire nation is concerned about Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. Prayers are being offered for him at Ujjain, at the Siddhivinayak Temple, at Nasik, at Allahabad, at Haridwar, at Varanasi –- almost everyone is praying hard for his recovery. We are all hopeful that our prayers will be heard and Hanumanthappa will be fine and once again be fit to join the battle front.

Ujjwal Nikam claims that he has documentary proof of the 26/11 attack. He is certain that Headley will reveal lot more when he is able to question Headley on the attacks during his deposition. Perhaps Ujjwal Nikam would be able to convince the court that Headley is an important link and can be relied upon as a source of crucial information. However the question is not about evidence or about the veracity of it, rather the question here is about intent. It is about Pakistan’s commitment. It finally boils down to whether or not Pakistan’s is willing to accept such critical information!

It is more or less clear that this is not a racist attack but such a gruesome incident is a matter of serious concern. Such incidents tarnish our country’s image. Those involved in the crime need to be given the harshest punishment to set an example for others. Although Sushma Swaraj has immediately reacted to this incident and expressed her anguish. She has directed a team from the Ministry of External Affairs to visit Bengaluru. Under no circumstances the culprits should be allowed to scot free.

There are certain dos and don’ts that need to be followed inside an aircraft especially where security issues are concerned however certain rules can be a little less rigid for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Surely the cabin crew could have been let off with a warning since their act of allowing Sonu Nigam to an impromptu performance mid air does not warrant a suspension. Sometimes a certain leeway should be granted and besides it was only a chartered flight. But both the DGCA and Jet Airways have blown the issue out of proportion!

The Congress has put forward three suggestions regarding GST. Two have been accepted by the Government, on the third, discussions are on. However even if that is accepted, there is no guarantee that the GST bill will be passed or whether Parliament will be allowed to function. Rahul Gandhi has already suggested that he would show the Government what a 40 member party can do. The Congress is decided upon not allowing the Parliament to function even in this session

There have been four such strikes ever since Arvind Kejriwal formed the government in Delhi. And every time the MCD workers have brought their protests to the streets. Garbage is dumped all over the city causing not just inconvenience to the people inhabiting the city but also becoming a source of infectious diseases . The government and the BJP get busy in their own blame game and then salaries are released for three months to end the stalemate. The situation is no different this time. Kejriwal and the BJP should once and for all rise above petty politics and think about the welfare of the people who seem to have got caught in this political slugfest.

There is no doubt that Anupam Kher is a brilliant actor and is quite popular in Pakistan. Had he succeeded in visiting the country, the people of Pakistan, would have been overjoyed to see him. His absence will certainly be missed. However whether to grant a visa or not, is the sole discretion of Pakistan. No one should have any objections to this.

Mehbooba Mufti is aware that odds are against her if she were to take BJP’s support in forming the government. She is well aware that her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was able to handle such an unpopular alliance with a lot of elan. However Mehbooba is worried that she might stand to lose support base if she were to renew the alliance. She therefore wants certain commitments from the Modi government so that she is able to convince the people of the Valley that the alliance will ultimately benefit them all.

Swami Ramdev has rightfully pointed out that the momentum with which Patanjali products are being valued by consumers, his company would soon be considered amongst the top companies in the world. There is no doubt that Patanjali products are pure and there are no side effects and besides they are less expensive. Naturally they are becoming increasingly popular. Swami Ramdev’s primary focus is not profit making and this is becoming a handicap for other multinational organisations who are in the business of selling similar products in the market.

The crackdown upon the students by the Delhi police today is deplorable though one also has to take into consideration what the police have to say. They have claimed that the woman is question was actually a male student with long hair but this does not absolve the police of having roughed up the students. The manner in which the protesting students were assaulted by the police can never be justified. We live in a democracy and people in a democracy are entitled not only to free speech, they are also entitled the freedom to protest.

Tragedies like this happen because there is a lack of information. Most people are careless about vital details like the depth of water, tidal warnings, what precautions to take and rescue measures when one is stuck…these are information that most people tend to neglect. It is indeed unfortunate that the excitement of these students proved fatal when they plunged into the water during a picnic at the Murud beach.