An orphan called Red Fort adopted by industrialists
Only orphans are given away for adoption. The main reason behind this rescuing of children discarded in garbage bins, drains and hospitals is to share the joy of having an offspring, and add value to the life of parents who want children but cannot have them for whatever reasons. No person has ever given away his or her child in adoption to anyone else. And even if they are reeling in poverty they would not like to be deprived of the joy of bringing up children. But only the poor give away their children for adoption out of helplessness and with the hope that at least their children’s future can be secure that way.
But then, the law never approves of this. If at all anyone gives their children away in adoption to the rich, legal action can be initiated against them. Unfortunately, today the authorities are giving away everything in adoption to the rich and famous, including the land, water, forest, natural resources everything. The tribals who lived in the forest since generations, were asked to leave forest so that they can be turned into national forests and eventually resorts can be constructed by the big names in hospitality.
Industrialists are gradually gaining control of everything that belonged to the poor. Whether it is the space or land or even the seas, they are the sole authorities of these aspects. They have taken away the rights of Mogaveera on the seas and sea produce. Mogaveeras would not only fish in the rough waters, but they also ensured the seas were not polluted by those who wanted to ride its waves. But according to industralists, sea is a goose that lays golden eggs. They are fishing in the deep water of the sea to empty out the smallest of small fishes too. Just the way as extensive drilling of borewell has led to collapse in the water table, seas are turning into graveyards of all varieties of fish owing to extensive fishing. Those who lived in the beach have been chased away to make way for mega resorts. Now, natural inhabitants of these spaces need to obtain permission from the industrialists if they have to even take a stroll around the sea. Public sector industries are being privatized gradually. Railway department has been privatized to some extent. Air India will soon fall into the hands of some rich investor. Private players are entering govt. companies as far as insurance is concerned. The banks which were released from the clutches of private players, are facing the danger of being privatized again.
One would have assumed the party BJP which often speaks about the glorious history and culture of the land would try to protect Indian heritage at the very least. But today Adani and Ambanis are ruling the country with BJP at the forefront. Their money is seen in memorials of this country. Now, in what looks like a result of their own interference in the government along with their advice, the nation seems to be listening to them beyond a certain permissible point. The government is giving away monuments in adoption to make good for the lacunae of money we are witnessing now. Now the red fort has been put on sale for Dalmia group to buy it for a mere Rs 25 crore. Dalmia Bharat Samooha is the first company to have adopted a heritage monument.
Red Fort and India share a very close relationship with each other. The very first bugle of freedom fight was sounded in 1857 from the very Fort. Independent India’s first Prime Minister addressed the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort. Every year, Prime Minister of India gives a speech from the very fort which has safeguarded the democracy of this country. Government declared that it would not be able to take care of this and gave away the responsibility to a company for a mere Rs 20 crore annually. Is this the sorry state of affairs?
Red fort gets more money from the visitors themselves, than the amount for which it has now been mentioned. The government could have improved its condition by using the income red fort generates. But this looks like a helpless situation where a poor mom gives away the child for adoption. The Red Fort could have been improved using its own revenue. A corporate would never understand the value of heritage. He may sell the resources available there like cut down the trees to sell wood etc. The difference between a commoner and industrialist is massive.
A rich man looks at Red Fort like an investment, but a commoner looks at it as identity. An industrialist may start a resort inside the fort and commercialise it. Every brick of this monument would be telling a story and hence should not be parted with. But the Modi government known for drastic economic decisions has made another one and given red fort away in agreement with Dalmia group. By now a lot of monuments have gone into the pockets of businessmen. Some day we may lose all historical spaces and become a country without references to the history. A policy made by the British that adopted children do not have any property rights led to independence struggle. Very soon this would be repeating. Our people will fight to save their rights over land, water and historical surroundings in the near future if governments continue to be this blind.
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Modi should leverage his ties with world leaders to de-escalate war in West Asia: Omar Abdullah
Jammu (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said India can play a meaningful role in de-escalation in West Asia, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong relations with the warring countries and their neighbours.
He said Pakistan was leveraging ties with Iran and the United States, and that any effort towards ending the war should be welcomed.
"As I said in the House (Assembly), we would like the war to end as soon as possible. The role that the prime minister can play may not be possible for anyone else because of his good relations with all these countries," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He, however, said any escalation would not be easy to manage.
"Any such move by US President Donald Trump, despite the long history of Iran resisting external domination, would not be easy," the chief minister said.
Asked about Pakistan mediating in the war, he said, "I will simply say that if any country can play a role in preventing this war, no one should have any objection to it."
He added, "I will repeat what I said … our prime minister has good and close relations with all countries — whether it is Israel, the United States, Iran, or the countries around Iran. If those relationships can be used to make some progress and help ease the situation, it would be a good thing."
Abdullah said attacks by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, as suggested by a report from the United States, are not unlikely.
Meanwhile, he asserted that any efforts to end the war, be it from Pakistan, must not be resisted.
"Pakistan is using its good relations with Iran and the United States to its advantage, and it has done so. How can we object to that? If that angle helps in stopping the war, would you want them not to act and let the war continue? We want the war to stop. If any country can play a role in that, it should. And if we can play an even better role, then we should do so," he said.
On unemployment in J-K, the chief minister said the issue cannot be resolved overnight, and government jobs alone are not the solution.
He stressed the need to explore alternative avenues, highlighting the importance of Mission Yuva in promoting entrepreneurship.
"Mission Yuva provides not just funding but also support in preparing DPRs and post-startup assistance, such as marketing. In just nine months, distributing Rs 1,000 crore and approving numerous schemes is a significant achievement," he said.
Abdullah credited the coordination between the government and Jammu and Kashmir Bank for the scheme's progress.
