Uttar Pradesh: Mockery of Ramarajya!
Today is Gandhi Jayanti. Mahatma Gandhi introduced the values of ‘Rama Rajya’ in administration and brought them to the fore. ‘If a woman is able to walk freely on the streets at midnight without any fear, it means that Rama Rajya has been established’, was Gandhi’s stand. In a mockery of the grand Ram Mandir being constructed in Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit woman has been brutally raped and murdered. Not just that, amidst opposition from the family, the police cremated her body in the middle of the night. The state that has been in the news for the ‘construction of the Ram Mandir’ is now in the news for brutal rapes of Dalit women. Ironically, the chief minister of the state, identified as one where the highest number of rapes is committed, is a self-proclaimed ‘Yogi.’ When the entire nation is up in arms against the rape that was committed in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, attempts are being made to repress the agitations using police force. The agitation under the leadership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been stopped by the police who also assaulted him.
Atrocities and rapes against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh are not new. But the government is not able to quietly bury such attacks as in the past as Dalits and people’s organizations all across the country are now alert and are awakened more than ever before. In the past, a woman was raped by a BJP leader, but attempts were made to silence the woman and her family for raising their voice against the accused. She got justice after a long-drawn battle. The rape against the woman in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh two weeks ago is worse than that incident. The woman was not only raped but was brutally tortured. Her bones were crushed to pieces and tongue cut off. Battling between life and death, she died on Tuesday. The government that had to provide justice to the victim’s family is trying to protect the accused as is the norm. If the police had arrested the accused immediately after the incident, the events would not have taken the present turn. The police did not respond when a complaint was filed. Only after public outrage, did the police reluctantly arrest the accused. Now, senior police officers are claiming that the woman was not raped and are justifying their stand citing the post-mortem report which, according to them, has said the same. Normally, the police will not allow a body to be burnt if a murder is being suspected as sometimes there can be a need to perform a post-mortem the second time. In such situations, the body is buried. But in the Hathras incident, the police burnt the body in the middle of the night without handing it over to the family. The family was in fact kept under house arrest. Now, when everything is complete, the police have issued a statement that the ‘post-mortem report does not establish rape.’ Even if loopholes in the post-mortem report are pointed out, the police have closed the possibility of examining the body the second time. In addition, a conspiracy is being hatched to make sure that protestors do not enter the village by declaring it as ‘Covid infected.’
The entire country is facing embarrassment due to the atrocities and rapes committed against women in Uttar Pradesh which occupies the top position for crimes against women. After Adityanath became the Chief Minister, the state has not only seen a severe setback in health and education sectors but has also taken on the label of ‘Jungle Raj’ due to its notoriety in crime. Two years ago, the state witnessed a spate of children’s death due to the paucity of oxygen cylinders. The government then made a futile attempt to frame the doctor who rushed to help the children an accused and to imprison him. Chief Minister Adityanath has also gained notoriety for repressing people’s agitations by using the police. It is also being alleged that Uttar Pradesh is being covertly ruled by the activists of Yogi Adityanath’s Yuva Vahini. If the background of these activists is studied, we can understand why Uttar Pradesh is filled with criminals. A cursory glance at Adityanath’s background would also provide reasons for the present blood-splattered atmosphere of Uttar Pradesh. Before being anointed as the Chief Minister, Adityanath was facing several criminal charges and the Yuva Vahini under his leadership was a den of criminals. He also has a background of having given a call for raping women of a particular community in a public meeting before becoming the chief minister. Adityanath became eligible to become a chief minister only for delivering ‘attack, hit, and kill’ speeches inciting violence wearing the Hindutva mask but with no knowledge of social movements. In such a context, how can an environment be created where women, Dalits, and weaker sections live in peace? Criminal activities and atrocities against women became normalized after Adityanath became the chief minister. Miscreants behaved as though they were given a license to perform criminal acts. In Uttar Pradesh, atrocities are being committed against ‘Sitas’ in the name of ‘Rama’. The followers of Adityanath are trying to deface Rama with their sins. It is a mockery of the idea of Mahatma Gandhi’s Ramarajya. If Adityanath who has completely failed as the chief minister does not demit office, it appears that women in Uttar Pradesh will have no choice but to mourn their lives.
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I'm 100 per cent ready to play T20I World Cup: Dinesh Karthik
Kolkata, Apr 20: Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who has been in phenomenal form in this IPL, has not given up on his dream to play for India again and would do "everything he can to be in that flight" to the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies next month.
Karthik, who will turn 39 by the time the World Cup kickstarts on June 1, was also part of the last edition of the T20I World Cup in Australia in 2022, which was also his last appearance for Team India.
Since then he has become an off-the-field cricket expert, involved in commentary stints.
Returning to IPL this season, he has taken his batting to a new level and displayed some astonishing power-hitting to strike at a rate of 205-plus.
He is also the third leading run-getter for RCB with 226 runs, behind Virat Kohli (361) and skipper Faf du Plessis (232).
"At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India. I'm very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T20 World Cup," the RCB wicketkeeper-batters said ahead of clash against KKR .
With Karthik's also emerging as a contender, the wicketkeeper slot will be a hotly-contested one for which the Team India think tank may pick two at the most.
Making a comeback from a near-fatal accident, Rishabh Pant has also showed positive intent while captaining Delhi Capitals, and Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians), KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants) are also in the fray.
Karthik said he would respect whatever the Big Three -- coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar -- decide.
"I also feel there are three very, very stable, honest people who are at the helm to decide what should be the best Indian team for the World Cup -- Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar.
"And I'm completely with them. I respect any decision that they take. But all I can say is I'm 100 per cent ready, and I'll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup."
'I'm no Russell or Pollard'
Karthik further emphasised the importance of understanding his strengths as a player, focusing on precision rather than power-hitting like an Andre Russell or Kieron Pollard.
He said he analyses bowlers' patterns to strategise his shots, visualising scenarios during practice to enhance his batting repertoire.
"These days as a player, you need to understand your strengths. I'm not a Russell or a Pollard who can just mishit a ball and get a six for it, rather," said Karthik.
The other day Karthik smashed seven sixes and five fours in his 35-ball 83 in pursuit of a record 288 but eventually RCB fell short by just 25 runs.
"So, I need to understand how I can beat gaps, what sort of balls I can hit for boundaries. And I realised there was a certain pattern in which bowlers were bowling to me, so I needed to try and work out a solution for that.
"Hence, when I practice, I try and understand, okay, if this is what they're going to bowl at me, how am I going to get a boundary, visualising a field that is going to be in place for me.
"So, I worked like that, and I worked backwards, and that helped me, you know, really learn a couple of shots more, at the back end. It's been great to go out there and express myself, and it's been thoroughly enjoyable to do what I'm doing for RCB as a finisher," he added.
