21st January 2019
Musings.......
Famous English writer and philosopher Aldoux Huxley once said and I quote " Facts do not seize to exist because they are ignored. ".
In the times of fake news and alternative news jargon that we all seem to be bombarded with through whatsapp forwards and other social medium, Huxley would have considered rephrasing his quote. For all I know I may have believed many of the news that I have read through whatsapp forwards, and I consider myself the educated lot. I dread not think about the uneducated.
Alternative news, or fake news as they are popularly known has the potential to make or break Governments as it has shown multiple times, create communal riots and even turn neighbours who till then were living harmoniously, into foes.
The only way to fight fake news is with facts and I hope the civil society, us netizens and social media enthusiasts take it upon themselves to create a reform. Taking the pledge to stop sharing fake news, taken individually will itself go a long way in curbing this menace.
Talking of facts, let us see genuinely what's happening around us since my last Musings.
Under the present Central Government we are seeing the phenomena of usurpation of all constitutional institutions of our democracy.
The CBI as we all know is the premier investigating agency in India operating under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The manner in which the CBI Director was removed after internal office politics came to the public domain was a stain on the esteemed institutions autonomy and independence.
That proper rules were not followed in removal of the CBI director was reiterated by the SC when it reinstated the ousted Director, hours within which he was again removed. This time according to the Government, the stakeholders were consulted, even though the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha gave a dissenting note. The other members being the PM and the CJI formed the majority.
Such drama coming out of the CBI is unbecoming of that institution and this Modi government has to take flak for destroying its autonomy.
The collegium system in appointment of Judges to Supreme and High courts has always been a point of contention. It has courted controversy once too many. The latest issue is the elevation of two judges to the Supreme Court. The credentials of the above mentioned judges are not the point of contention, however the way they were elevated is.
The collegium which met in January, changed the recommendation of the previous collegium which had recommended two names to the SC sighting incomplete discussion, and also because one of the judges retired in the timeframe.
Such plain reasons are to create hogwash and the common man cannot be blamed if he smells something fishy. That the SC judges appointment process is under scrutiny is not a healthy sign in any democracy. We have seen conservative judges being elevated to the Supreme Court in USA by the Trump Administration, where the appointment is for life. Such appointments undermines democracy and I sincerely hope our country under this Right leaning government is not doing the same.
Furthermore, many judgements coming from our SC is debatable and when such judges retire and are seen to take over plump posts in Government and otherwise in their retirement, we cannot be blamed to believe that another of our pillar of democracy is under threat.
The Hindu newspaper reported comprehensively on the Rafael deal recently. One of the most premier newspapers of our country, the Hindu is known for its unbiased reporting. For the first time, the Congress Presidents allegation directly linking our PM to the deal where our own PSU, HAL was overlooked for a private entity Reliance, thereby bringing enormous profit to them, has taken wind to its sails and seems all the more credible.
Corruption was one plank on which the people of this country voted this Government to power. It will be difficult to convince the common man to vote for them again when its own PM is under scrutiny. It seems the ghost of corruption and nepotism is here to haunt back a presiding government once again.
Nepotism I say among facts of enormous growth of the business of the kith and kin of BJP Party President comes to the fore. To add to it recently corrupting by the kith and kin of our National Security Advisor also comes to the fore. I am not taking names as this is not personal, just a lament on the present condition of our democracy.
Report card of this government when the Country is going to face another General Election soon is dismal.
Unfulfilled promises and foolish decisions were the hallmark of the past four and a half years. This country has been taken years back in terms of development. The apt phrase which comes to my mind here is - you can fool me once, but not always.
The downfall of Modi Government started with the Demonatisation fiasco which crushed our economy. World countries laughed at India when under the Manmohan Singh Government India was sailing high.
The haste and unthoughtful implementation of GST cost us dear. The common man had to bear the brunt and suffer. The Government collected unprecedented amount of taxes, however the effect is yet to be seen and may not be seen unless a forward looking government comes at the centre.
It is with anger and frustration, that we see this Modi Government waste its mandate. When more time is spent on building Gaushalas and Gomata apps, when fake sadhus get cabinet rank in ministries and when Hindutva - term coined by RSS takes prominence over governance and development.
The recent electoral loses in Assembly elections to the Hindi Heartland was supposed to be a wake up call to this Government. Instead Modi has put the alarm in snooze mode. Instead of changing its stance, they have increased the rhetoric.
Every known town in UP is being named either Deen Dayal Upadhayaya or some RSS pracharaks name. Our history and cultural traditions are being deliberately rewritten.
Let this Parliament election be our signature of protest. Come May, let's hope we have a forward looking, development oriented government devoid of nepotism and corruption at the Centre which talks less and works more.
I intended to write on International affairs in this edition of my Musings. The reality is I started writing on fake news keeping Donald Trump in mind, who loses no time in calling every media available as fake news. My topic got shifted as I had so much of material on fake news and propaganda back at home. Why go far away and search when you got ample material just near you !!! LOL
Food for Thought.......
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
rohitchennithala.home.blog
Famous English writer and philosopher Aldoux Huxley once said and I quote " Facts do not seize to exist because they are ignored. ".
In the times of fake news and alternative news jargon that we all seem to be bombarded with through whatsapp forwards and other social medium, Huxley would have considered rephrasing his quote. For all I know I may have believed many of the news that I have read through whatsapp forwards, and I consider myself the educated lot. I dread not think about the uneducated.
Alternative news, or fake news as they are popularly known has the potential to make or break Governments as it has shown multiple times, create communal riots and even turn neighbours who till then were living harmoniously, into foes.
The only way to fight fake news is with facts and I hope the civil society, us netizens and social media enthusiasts take it upon themselves to create a reform. Taking the pledge to stop sharing fake news, taken individually will itself go a long way in curbing this menace.
Talking of facts, let us see genuinely what's happening around us since my last Musings.
Under the present Central Government we are seeing the phenomena of usurpation of all constitutional institutions of our democracy.
The CBI as we all know is the premier investigating agency in India operating under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The manner in which the CBI Director was removed after internal office politics came to the public domain was a stain on the esteemed institutions autonomy and independence.
That proper rules were not followed in removal of the CBI director was reiterated by the SC when it reinstated the ousted Director, hours within which he was again removed. This time according to the Government, the stakeholders were consulted, even though the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha gave a dissenting note. The other members being the PM and the CJI formed the majority.
Such drama coming out of the CBI is unbecoming of that institution and this Modi government has to take flak for destroying its autonomy.
The collegium system in appointment of Judges to Supreme and High courts has always been a point of contention. It has courted controversy once too many. The latest issue is the elevation of two judges to the Supreme Court. The credentials of the above mentioned judges are not the point of contention, however the way they were elevated is.
The collegium which met in January, changed the recommendation of the previous collegium which had recommended two names to the SC sighting incomplete discussion, and also because one of the judges retired in the timeframe.
Such plain reasons are to create hogwash and the common man cannot be blamed if he smells something fishy. That the SC judges appointment process is under scrutiny is not a healthy sign in any democracy. We have seen conservative judges being elevated to the Supreme Court in USA by the Trump Administration, where the appointment is for life. Such appointments undermines democracy and I sincerely hope our country under this Right leaning government is not doing the same.
Furthermore, many judgements coming from our SC is debatable and when such judges retire and are seen to take over plump posts in Government and otherwise in their retirement, we cannot be blamed to believe that another of our pillar of democracy is under threat.
The Hindu newspaper reported comprehensively on the Rafael deal recently. One of the most premier newspapers of our country, the Hindu is known for its unbiased reporting. For the first time, the Congress Presidents allegation directly linking our PM to the deal where our own PSU, HAL was overlooked for a private entity Reliance, thereby bringing enormous profit to them, has taken wind to its sails and seems all the more credible.
Corruption was one plank on which the people of this country voted this Government to power. It will be difficult to convince the common man to vote for them again when its own PM is under scrutiny. It seems the ghost of corruption and nepotism is here to haunt back a presiding government once again.
Nepotism I say among facts of enormous growth of the business of the kith and kin of BJP Party President comes to the fore. To add to it recently corrupting by the kith and kin of our National Security Advisor also comes to the fore. I am not taking names as this is not personal, just a lament on the present condition of our democracy.
Report card of this government when the Country is going to face another General Election soon is dismal.
Unfulfilled promises and foolish decisions were the hallmark of the past four and a half years. This country has been taken years back in terms of development. The apt phrase which comes to my mind here is - you can fool me once, but not always.
The downfall of Modi Government started with the Demonatisation fiasco which crushed our economy. World countries laughed at India when under the Manmohan Singh Government India was sailing high.
The haste and unthoughtful implementation of GST cost us dear. The common man had to bear the brunt and suffer. The Government collected unprecedented amount of taxes, however the effect is yet to be seen and may not be seen unless a forward looking government comes at the centre.
It is with anger and frustration, that we see this Modi Government waste its mandate. When more time is spent on building Gaushalas and Gomata apps, when fake sadhus get cabinet rank in ministries and when Hindutva - term coined by RSS takes prominence over governance and development.
The recent electoral loses in Assembly elections to the Hindi Heartland was supposed to be a wake up call to this Government. Instead Modi has put the alarm in snooze mode. Instead of changing its stance, they have increased the rhetoric.
Every known town in UP is being named either Deen Dayal Upadhayaya or some RSS pracharaks name. Our history and cultural traditions are being deliberately rewritten.
Let this Parliament election be our signature of protest. Come May, let's hope we have a forward looking, development oriented government devoid of nepotism and corruption at the Centre which talks less and works more.
I intended to write on International affairs in this edition of my Musings. The reality is I started writing on fake news keeping Donald Trump in mind, who loses no time in calling every media available as fake news. My topic got shifted as I had so much of material on fake news and propaganda back at home. Why go far away and search when you got ample material just near you !!! LOL
Food for Thought.......
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
rohitchennithala.home.blog
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