Democracy has been hijacked: Abdussalam Puthige
Lecture in memory of Gauri Lankesh
Bengaluru, Jan 29: Varthabharathi Editor-in-Chief Abdussalam Puthige said that “the democracy has been hijacked by rich in the country and it should be taken back. Our problems will be solved only through establishing the democratic system in the country”.
Speaking at the screening of documentary ‘Ammi’ and a special lecture in memory of Gauri Lankesh, organized by the Gauri Memorial Trust at the St. Joseph College here on Tuesday, he said that “most of the progressive thinkers and rationalists have been insisting that the government should be dethroned. We are disappointed due to communal government. But is there any alternative to this government? The leaders who identify themselves as the leaders of the secular political parties are not speaking about communalism and fundamentalism anywhere. They are not using the term ‘fascism’.
Those who worship Nathuram Godse are offering floral tributes to Gandhi and give lecture about the Father of the nation. Today we are observing Gauri Lankesh day who was killed by the same Pariwar. We have been celebrating the Republic Day on January 26. But unfortunately, the day remind us of the killing of the hope of an Independent India”, he said.
“The present system and the media have been representing the slavery as boss and covering up the reality. The people are kept under illusion with matters like Ram Mandir, mosque and talaq. We will not fight against the system till we assume ourselves as leaders. Without conflict we will not get freedom and justice very easily. Only conflict would ensure justice and it could be possible only through sacrifice. The justice we get at free of cost would not get implemented”, he said.
In India, just 1 per cent of people have control over 74 per cent of wealth. The number of people who die due to hunger in Somalia, Sudan and Uganda equals the number of deaths in one state in our country. Every day, 19 crore people sleep without food in the country. “Manu Smriti and casteism are the real problems in the country. Till day, untouchability is existing in the society as more than 60-70 per cent people are still practicing it. Around six months back, the first citizen of the country Ramnath Kovind and his wife have also experienced the wrath of casteism. Unfortunately, the government has initiated inquiry into it after three months, which shows the intensity of casteism” he said.
In India, media has not remained as an independent entity. Globally, India is in 138th position in terms of independent media sector. The media which was supposed to be the mirror to the society has been shattered. Those who have control over the Parliament, Constitutional system and political parties have been controlling the media sector too. They do not want to make money out of it. But they want to control the entire society, he said.
Rationalists Prof Babu Mathew and Nagaragere Ramesh, Trust member VS Sridhar, advocate Balan, JNU student Najeeb’s mother Fatima, Gauri Lankesh's sister Kavitha Lankesh and others were present.
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Nightclub fire: Goa court remands Luthra brothers in police custody for five days
Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in police custody for five days.
The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
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“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” said Joshi.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, arrived at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
The duo was initially taken to a Primary Health Centre at Siolim for medical examination. They were then taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
After their health assessment, the two were brought to the court.
The court directed that the accused be sent for fresh medical examination. Accordingly, the two were again taken to the District Hospital.
Later, they were produced before Judge Sardesai, who ordered the five-day police custody of the accused.
After the fire tragedy at Arpora village, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The brothers were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
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The duo had fled to Phuket in Thailand early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
