I am scared.
No, really.
I am scared for the first time in my life because of my belief in honesty and dignity and truth. I am scared that there is no place for these values in the country I live in.
I will talk about three laws / bills proposed by the Indian government. Three laws which may not be democratic after all.
1. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
As I explained in one of my previous posts, India is in the midst of the ‘biggest social engineering’ that the world has ever seen. Here's Arundhati Roy's Essay which will make it clear just what is happening in India.
The news is that the government has threatened that all those who speak, protest or utter a word like this will be branded as "maoist sympathisers" and then jailed. Have a read of this story.
Here is what the government has threatened to do.
And here is one of India's most famous activists and winner of Magsaysay Award, defying the government:
2. Civil liability for Nuclear Damage
It's as corrupt as the name says. People are not responsible for nuclear damage. The company who caused it, is. But this bill, dictated by god knows who undermines common sense. "The bill lets U.S. corporations off the hook for any nuclear accidents caused on the Indian soil. They have to pay a meager amount of compensation to the victims in case of such accidents, whereas Indian taxpayers may have to cough off crores of rupees for the nuclear clean up and to compensate its people."
3. The Biotech Regulatory Bill
The bill is a gag order on ANYBODY who criticizes GMOs. Critics will be put up in jail so the companies can have a free hand.
Well-known environmentalist and opponent of GM foods Vandana Shiva said the potential conflict of interest would be a disaster. “The aim of this draft Bill is to deregulate, hijack regulation from the Environment Ministry, which is independent of biotech industry interests, and give it to the DBT, which is completely driven by biotech industry interests,” she said.
So, what's next?
Even as we speak, the crackdown has begun. Journalists and intellectuals are being threatened not to speak about these issues. In a country where whistleblowers are often murdered, one can expect a far more severe clampdown. They are using the law of the land against its citizens.
What will happen next is anyone's guess. Just don't look up the definition of democracy. It won't help.
Hemant, I was waiting for your posts!
I have two questions for you after reading this one:
1. These bills, are they proposed or passed already? Is India in the process of discussing them or is it already too late?
2. Why did you change the headline?
First of all I want to tell you that..I love Arundhati Roy! She is my favourite writer! Talking about fiction and her essays on India!
Now…after expressing my admiration for this amazing writer… Freedom of Expression! I know this becomes hard sometimes but with the use of new technologies, as well as international support, posts like yours should be distributed all over the globe! And you are making your own contribution with this post
@ Giedre
India is still in the process of discussing the Nuclear Bill and the Biotech Bill.
Here is the latest on the Nuclear Bill: http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/08/stories/2010050863201100.htm
The third one is in place. They are trying to shut up all voices of dissent on the issue of tribals. And it seems they may be labelling people as Maosits according to their convenience.
The title. I thought this was a more definitive one. Kind of goes with what I was feeling yesterday.
@Andrea, yes Arundhati is brilliant isn’t she?
You will be shocked to read this: “Writer Arundhati Roy penned a long reportage/essay after travelling with Maoist guerrillas in which she said they nurtured a dream of a better country. A petitition was moved in Raipur asking for Roy’s arrest under Chhattisgarh’s public safety act, the law under which doctor Binayak Sen was incarcerated for about two years.”
Here’s the full report: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100507/jsp/nation/story_12422183.jsp
I agree, Arundhati is one of my favourtite writers, ever. Especially on social issues.
These new laws sound really scary, Hemant :( I think that wars always destroy tyhe countries who fight them, and maybe the war against the naxalites is destroying INdia, that used to be known as the world’s biggest democracy. I hope it is not so.
People don’t mind… this?
Only time will tell Ivaylo.
I hope you read the 84 year old Mahashweta Devi’s challenge to the govt.
Here is another article. Just in: http://moonchasing.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/yes-minister-my-sympathies/