Violence in pretext of cattle protection; SC sheds crocodile tears
Having taken serious objection to the extra legal powers the ‘Gau Rakshaks’ seem to be exerting, Supreme Court has said this is unacceptable. The court has also said it is the responsibility of the state governments to ensure such incidents do not occur. Even the central government has issued such diktats often and said it is the state that needs to control such incidents. All law and implementing agencies know cattle protection gangs have gained a notorious reputation. But when it comes to controlling, they all fall silent. Which simply means neither of them wants to take charge of the situation and control the damage.
It’s not like people are unaware of crimes in the name of cattle safety cannot be defended. This is a common fact known to even those who perpetuate violence under this pretext. Today, the society expects governments to put stringent measures in place to protect the interest of farmers and traders from Gau Raksha gangs. The states are yet to take cognizance of these matters in a serious way. Despite a big spurt in such incidents, Supreme Court has not pulled up states for failure of law system. Which basically would mean the SC isn’t interested in putting a stop to these incidents.
Despite stating the violence in the name of Gau Raksha cannot be tolerated, the court hasn’t given any ruling to ensure the Gau Raksha groups are banned or stopped from growing further. Why is the legal system not addressing the problem of some goondas coming together in the name of cattle and running a quasi-police department? All those brandishing powers are not innocent citizens. It is well known that they associate themselves with a particular political ideology and a party that is currently in power at the centre. Is the Supreme Court that innocent so as to not understand all this propaganda behind the act of Gau Raksha?
The party that gives them impetus is running the government. And it is no secret that the benefit of creating this scare in the name of Gau Raksha is going to the party. This is a government sponsored violence and SC should have issued a warning to the police and the centre. The police are unable to act owing to the backing the Gau Rakshaks enjoy by their political godfathers. SC needs to vest the police department with the power to register suo motu complaints in those states where such incidences are high. Unless this happens, nothing can stop this violence from spreading.
Supreme Court says the victims of this crime should not be categorized under the name of a religion. But the whole assault is happening on the community that is involved in the transfer and trading of cattle. Sangh Parivar has always been looking for pretexts to launch attack on a particular religion since long. Hence it floated theories such as ‘Love Jihad’ and created volatile atmosphere in the region. They want the society to be on tenterhooks with the other religion all the time. This polarization would finally benefit them politically and socially too. How does one not associate the target of crime with one religion when the religion itself has been made the target precisely? The Supreme Court is refusing to view this as an organized crime in that sense. As long as the law making agencies refuse to see that point, there would be no respite from this crime.
The legal system is vested with responsibility of checking this crime as much as the state and the centre are. Farmers are not free to sell their cattle and traders are never free from anxiety to buy them. Dairy farming is now seeming like a burden on the poor farmer, who are now hesitating to have any more cows for the fear of being assaulted.
The prospects of dairy farming are in serious danger in rural areas owing to this rise in crime against people who rear cattle and traders who buy them. If this continues, farmers may even stop dairy farming altogether for the fear of being attacked. Hence, the Supreme Court needs to act now to put a full stop to this organized crime from spreading further.
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RSS man's defamation case against Rahul: Key witness unavailable, hearing adjourned to Dec 20
Thane (PTI): A court in Bhiwandi in Thane district on Saturday adjourned the hearing in the criminal defamation case filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker to December 20 due to non-availability of a crucial prosecution witness.
Advocate Narayan Iyer, counsel for Rahul Gandhi, confirmed the adjournment, stating that the witness, Ashok Saykar, currently Deputy Superintendent of Police in Barshi in Solapur, could not remain present due to personal reasons.
Saykar's evidence is now likely to be recorded on December 29.
His testimony is considered key because he, as police sub inspector in 2014, conducted the preliminary inquiry into the private defamation matter under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
It was on the basis of Saykar's submitted report that the court subsequently issued process (summons) against Rahul Gandhi under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The criminal defamation case was filed by local RSS worker Rajesh Kunte following a speech given by Rahul Gandhi at an election rally near Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014.
The case stems from the Congress leader's alleged statement that "the RSS people killed (Mahatma) Gandhi."
The matter is being heard by Bhiwandi Joint Civil Judge, Junior Division, P M Kolse.
The hearing had previously been adjourned on November 15 after the complainant's counsel, Advocate Prabodh Jaywant, moved an application seeking permission to examine Saykar, who had submitted the probe report to the court.
The matter was originally scheduled for November 29 but was deferred to December 6 after Rahul Gandhi's legal team sought an adjournment citing their non-availability. The proceedings will now resume on December 20.
