My Opinion

Perhaps there is no other crime as horrific as rape. Even though sentencing in the Nirbhaya case was announced within three years and in the software engineer rape case in Mumbai within two years, incidents of rape continue unabated. It is necessary to have the strictest law for rape in place – a law that will create fear amongst criminals and act as a deterrent to such a heinous crime.

It is perhaps for the first time that a financial assistance would be announced for those who moved to India from POK after Independence. The government will also outline a rehabilitation package for the Kashmiri Pandits who were displaced 25 years ago. During his visit to Jammu & Kashmir, the Prime Minister is likely to declare several such packages for the State. However the separatists have vowed to oppose the PM’s visit. It seems strange that separatists are bent upon opposing the Centre’s financial package which is ultimately for the benefit of the Kashmiris in the State.

There is no denying that almost every Indian family invests in gold but that gold is of hardly any value to the economy. As part of the new gold monetisation scheme, the government wants to encourage households to bring out their gold lying idle in lockers and safes and convert them into a government deposit scheme. This will not only make the gold secure, it would also help in utilising it more productively which in turn would help in the development of the country.

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.