EX-JUDGE-SUPREME COURT OF INDIA-MARKANDEY KATJU
Ravi Speaks:
Around a couple of years back, I had written a brief article on the health of our political system-where the analysis on a controversial interview of our Ex Judge Supreme Court, Mr. Katju was done in which he had bluntly and critically described all the political leaders as the corrupt and selfish fellows. Today, on the occasion of our Republic Day -a thought comes across what extent he was right in his statement since our country, despite all such accusations, has really progressed. Please note that in the article the “that time prevailing situation” was written and as we review that situation with the present times after 2-3 years we realize that there has been definitely a drastic improvement on many fronts like the almost total eradication of COVID and small improvement on economic front which was pathetic. I am reproducing the same article for your fresh read and you would also feel a big change visible although much more is required still.
How much right was Katju?
When you look at the present condition of the country-it gives a feeling of unhappiness and discontent. With the pandemic spreading its tentacles around the country last year, there was a major dip of 24% in the GDP in the first quarter itself, as per the Statistical report of the authorities in the center. This is since 1996 that the country’s economy has contracted amid the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and ballooning structural problems. Therefore, in the subsequent first quarter period in 2021, the same GDP grew by a mere 1.6% only to its corresponding period last year.
Because of this scenario-the prominent Economic experts say the following language: -“The mess the Indian economy finds itself in is likely to have serious foreign-policy ramifications, compounding existing problems”.
Now, in a layperson’s language, look at the cost of almost all the things going sky high-whether it is petrol, Diesel, or even the finished products on both technical and domestic front. Between the economic catastrophe at hand and an extremely volatile situation of the above costs for the consumer products, it is emerging as one of the worst years for the country since its independence 75 years ago.
Here is an interview taken of the very critical and straightforward Ex Judge-Supreme Court-Mr.Markandey Katju. For voicing opinions, a former Supreme Court judge has a knack for controversial statements.No doubt he has the habit of stirring the Hornet’s nest and many of his statements may be even non-acceptable to me and you, the readers. His calling Mother Teresa a fanatic and fraud was a highly objectionable statement given by him no doubt but, some of his raised opinions about the present-day political scene has not been the small observations to be ignored.
I would suggest you, the readers, to listen to every word of his interview in the above “video talk” and then analyze what he said around a couple of years back to the local Interviewer-that matches with every present-day situation. Yes, he has been very blunt with the politicians and leaders of present-day India calling them for adverse punishments and all that. He has candidly spoken about the mess in which we are presently poised. Things are going to be even more complex with the time is his prediction as well.
When I recount back to the beginning of this year, the following were the bigger claims made by our worthy leaders: –
1. In January 2021, our PM-Mr. Modi declared at a global forum that India had “saved humanity by containing corona effectively.”
2. In March, his health minister proclaimed the pandemic was reaching an “endgame.” Covid-19 was gaining strength in India and worldwide—but the government made no preparations for contingencies, such as the emergence of a deadlier and more contagious Covid-19 variant.
3. Even as significant pockets of the country had not fully suppressed the virus, Mr.Modi and other members of his party held jampacked outdoor campaign rallies before the April elections. Few attendees wore masks.
4. Mr. Modi also allowed a religious festival that draws millions to proceed from January to March. Public health officials now believe the festival may have been a super spreader event and was “an enormous mistake.”
5. As Mr.Modi touted his successes last year, India—the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer—sent over 10 million vaccine doses to neighboring countries. Yet just 1.9% of India’s 1.3 billion people had been fully inoculated against COVID-19 by early May.
6. An extremely volatile situation along with India’s undefined border with China in eastern Ladakh was claimed to have been settled amicably at the beginning of this year. Just around 72 hours back, their back door meetings with China still for over ten hours going on-speak the true story.
7. The enormous increase in petroleum products’ prices and subsequent inflation rates going very high for almost all the domestic and other sectors, also gives the picture of no less than a mess already created.
There are many such endless lists of points coming to mind, but the fact is-When the country is going to be out of such a chaotic situation?
You take up any section whether it is agricultural-where the fate of Kisan Strike and the productivity growth is still not known. Take up the Education front-our PM says that we must think ahead of time and this changeover in the education system would keep us ahead. Our students still are not perfect with the modern-day amenities and online learning. Over fifty percent of students still don’t have the access to the internet. Look at the Banking segment-the FDs are being issued at the 4.4% per annum rate of interest. The people have doubted even the banks thinking about the health of the banking system.
Above all, these adverse situations still we have all the praises for our political leaders and those who are supposed to give direction to this great country. Mr.Katju is right in saying that the parliament has been reduced to an adjournment centers-where the Question-Answer-sessions are not being held for the betterment of the country anymore and such a situation according to him would be a permanent feature in the times to come as well. People like you and me would be just helplessly looking at these so-called prominent leaders and their gimmick series.
Yes, the total overhauling and total system changeover for the betterment comes to mind as the only alternative for our country which is sick because of the never-changing people at the helm of the affairs. Will that happen for the good of our so-called great Nation?
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