SATYAM BRUYAT - Justice Katju

News, Opinion 3 June 2023

Why are Pakistani friends of Justice Katju avoiding him now?

My contact with Pakistanis By Justice Markandey Katju Although I am an Indian. I have lots of Pakistani friends and acquaintances, with whom I used to regularly chat on skype and whatsapp. Of late, however, these contacts have dried up or snapped, and this seems to be due to recent developments in Pakistan where the military and police have unleashed a reign of terror after the events of 9th May. Thousands of people have been arrested, beaten, ‘disappeared’ or even killed, the media has been largely silenced, military tribunals set up which will dispense kangaroo justice, and fear haunts the land. In this situation, my Pakistani contacts, who told me that whatsapp and skype are being closely monitored by intelligence agencies, seem to be scared that if they talk with me or message me they may be arrested on the charge of communicating with an Indian RAW agent ( after all, every Indian is a RAW agent ! ). So now they don’t take my whatsapp calls or respond to my messages. One female Pakistani journalist, with whom I used to chat daily, has even removed her number and name from my whatsapp contact list. In my articles and tweets I have been harshly criticising Pakistan army chief Gen Munir and the Corps Commanders, who have imposed fascist rule and a kind of martial law In Pakistan. I have also strongly supported Imran Khan, who has now become persona non grata with the Pakistan Establishment I could do so sitting safely in India, but if I had done so in Pakistan I would have been ‘disappeared’ a long time back. Naturally Pakistanis who communicate with a person critical of that holy institution, the Pakistan army, are themselves suspect, and are in danger of being arrested or ‘disappeared’. I can understand all this. Maybe I would have done the same had I been in their place. I remember the lines in Hindi poet Shyam Narain Pandey’s famous poem ‘Haldighati’ : ”Tha shor maut se bacho bacho  Talwaar chali, talwaar chali”. But I have also advised all Pakistanis to silently knit the…

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businesses, Climate Environment and Science, Crime, India, international, News, Politics, Sports, Top headlines of the day 2 June 2023

#Breaking: Latest News |Today’s big news headlines | 2 June 2023 news.

The big news of 2 June 2023, Top 10 headlines 2 June 2023, Breaking news of 2 June 2023 PM congratulates Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team for their victory at Men’s Junior Asia Cup The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team for their victory at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said; “Heartiest congratulations to our Junior Men’s Hockey Team for their splendid victory at the Men’s Junior Asia Cup. Their triumph reflects the burgeoning talent and determination that our youth hold. They have made India very proud.” Heartiest congratulations to our Junior Men's Hockey Team for their splendid victory at the Men's Junior Asia Cup. Their triumph reflects the burgeoning talent and determination that our youth hold. They have made India very proud. pic.twitter.com/r5tdlfduH3 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 2, 2023 ED attaches assets worth Rs 58 lakh of Ludhiana travel agent According to media reports, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 58 lakh of a Ludhiana-based travel agent in a money laundering case. The attached properties are commercial properties in Ludhiana. 16 people of African origin were arrested without passport-visa In order to strengthen the security of the district, after the disclosure of the drug factory being run by citizens of African origin in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, police commissionerate Gautam Budh Nagar has started action against foreign nationals living illegally without visa and passport. Police has now arrested 16 foreigners of African origin living here illegally after verification of illegal foreign nationals living here. 1983 World Cup-winning team expresses solidarity with wrestlers Members of the 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning team have supported the ongoing protest by wrestlers who have accused and shunned Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. Lakshya Sen in semi-finals India’s Lakshya Sen continued his good form with a straight-game win over Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao to enter the semi-finals. The total number of teachers in China has crossed 18 million According to the data recently released by the Chinese Ministry of Education,…

Madame Defarge in Dickens

Opinion 2 June 2023

Pakistanis, it is time for silent knitting

By Justice Markandey Katju Pakistanis, while the storm outside rages, while thousands have been arrested, beaten, tortrured, ‘disappeared’ or even killed, while the media has been silenced, while military courts have been set up for dispensing kangaroo justice, while all kinds of fascist atrocities are being committed on the people, it is time to silently knit, like Madame Defarge in Dickens’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities‘. Just as Madame Defarge silently stitched the names of aristocratic tyrants who oppressed the people in her knitting, you too should stitch the names of Gen Munir, the Corps Commanders and other army officers, the police officers and policemen, and the PDM leaders and workers responsible for this reign of terror and outrage. Later, when the time comes and the storm has blown over, like Madame Defarge, you must open your knitting, and deal with these tyrants, the way the  French aristocrats were dealt with after 1789 Today these oppressors think they have silenced you permanently. But the British thought the same in their American colonies in the 18th century, the Americans thought the same in Vietnam in the 1960s, and the Russians in Afghanistan in 1979-89. But what ultimately happened ? Pakistanis, today you must only silently knit. But the day will surely come for you to open your knitting. Be patient and wait for that day, like Madame Defarge–but in the meantime continue with your knitting

Abdu Nasser Mahdany

Crime, India, News 31 May 2023

Justice Katju writes to Siddaramaiah to pardon Abdul Nasir Madani

New Delhi, 31st May 2023: Retired Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to pardon jailed Islamic cleric Abdul Nasir Madani on humanitarian grounds. According to information available on Wikipedia Abdul Nasar Madani, also known as Abdunnasir Madani or Mahdani (born 18 January 1966), is a controversial figure, Islamic cleric and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Kerala. Mahdani was accused of involvement in the 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts but was acquitted of all charges after spending nine and a half years in the Coimbatore Central Prison. He is currently in judicial custody in Karnataka in connection with the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts. Following is the full text of Justice Katju’s letter To The Honble Chief Minister of Karnataka Bangalaru Dear Chief Minister, I am writing to you in connection with Abdul Nassir Maadhany, a religious cleric of Kerala, who is facing trial in the Bangalore bomb blast case of 2010. He was falsely implicated in the Coimbatore bomb blast case for which he was imprisoned from 1998 to 2007, but was then found innocent by the Court and acquitted in 2007. Subsequently he was arrested in 2010 in connection with the Bangalore bomb blast case, and his trial in that case is still going on. He was in jail in Bangalore in connection with that case for many years, and presently he is under house arrest, and prohibited to go to his home state Kerala. Without going into the merits of the case, by this letter I am appealing to you on humanitarian grounds to recommend to H.E. the Governor of Karnataka to pardon him in excercise of his power under Article 161 of the Constitution, for the following reasons : 1. He has already undergone almost 22 years in jail ( of which the 9 years in connection with the Coimbatore bomb blast case was clearly illegal as the Court found him innocent in 2007 ). 2. He is physically handicapped as he lost one leg in 1992, and he can move about only on a wheel chair. 3. Both…

breaking news today Top Headlines

Crime, India, international, News, Politics, Sports, Top headlines of the day 30 May 2023

#Breaking: Latest News |Today’s big news headlines | 30 May 2023 news.

The big news of 30 May 2023, Top 10 headlines 30 May 2023, Breaking news of 30 May 2023 Now all women in Karnataka can travel in government buses for free Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has announced that all women in the state can travel free of cost in government buses. He made the announcement while speaking to reporters after a meeting with the managing directors of four divisions of the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The life-saving jacket is now mandatory for Shikara in Jammu and Kashmir The Jammu and Kashmir government has made ‘life-saving jackets’ mandatory for shikara boats in Dal and Nagin lakes, among other water bodies in the region. Greenland’s glaciers melting three times faster than in the 20th century A new study has revealed that the massive melting of glaciers and ice caps in Greenland has accelerated three times compared to the 20th century. Congress delegation led by Kharge demands President’s intervention in Manipur Congress delegation led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge met President Draupadi Murmu, seeking his intervention in Manipur. world no tobacco day tomorrow World No Tobacco Day will be celebrated tomorrow 31st May. ‘World No Tobacco Day‘ is observed every year on 31 May. Millions of people die every year due to the consumption of tobacco. About 35 million deaths occur every year in India only because of tobacco use. Two lahks each from the PM Relief Fund to the families of those killed in the Dhanbad accident, the Prime Minister expressed condolences Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences to the people who died in the accident while installing an electric pole in Dhanbad and has announced an additional Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to the families of the deceased. Special information for passengers coming to Haridwar from outside states, new traffic plan implemented till June 5 A traffic plan has been issued in view of the rush of passengers on the Ganga Dussehra Snan festival and weekends. The plan will be applicable in the city from 4 pm on May 30 to 10 pm…

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businesses, Climate Environment and Science, India, international, News, Politics, Top headlines of the day 30 May 2023

Today’s ten big news. 30 May 2023 Today’s other big news

Top 10 news of this morning | Today’s ten big news. Today’s other big news Congress showed unity between Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot. “Both the leaders (Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot) have unanimously decided to work together and leave the decision to the high command,” senior Congress leader KC Venugopal said after the four-hour meeting. अशोक गहलोत जी और सचिन पायलट जी मिलकर चुनाव लड़ेंगे। हम राजस्थान जीतने जा रहे हैं। : महासचिव (संगठन), श्री @kcvenugopalmp pic.twitter.com/idRDQPEYyZ — Congress (@INCIndia) May 29, 2023 The Congress has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call a special session of Parliament and allow debate on issues that anger the opposition if he (the Prime Minister) is truly committed to a flourishing democracy. At a press conference in Jaipur, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said, “Call a special session and allow debate on the issues raised by opposition parties.” LIVE: Press Conference by Shri @AnandSharmaINC in Jaipur, Rajasthan. https://t.co/XYD7WURAVF — Congress (@INCIndia) May 29, 2023 Amit Shah reached Manipur, series of meetings started. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a series of meetings after reaching Manipur late on Monday evening. He has already met the ministers and governor of the state which has been facing caste violence for almost a month. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space Dr Jitendra Singh said yesterday that in the last 9 years, India had become world’s frontline nation and all this was possible because of personal outreach and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had emerged as the world’s tallest leader and also raised India’s esteem in the international arena. Addressing a press conference in Chennai on the completion of 9 years of the government headed by PM Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the basic idea was to take the message of developing, path-breaking reforms and the phenomenal infrastructural development that has taken the country on par with developed nations. All the reforms and schemes were planned with extreme sensitivity with far-reaching impact in…

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businesses, India, international, News, Politics, Sports, Top headlines of the day 29 May 2023

Today’s ten big news. 29 May 2023 Today’s other big news

Top 10 news of this morning | Today’s ten big news. Today’s other big news Embarrassing. India’s top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, who tried to march to the new Parliament House on Sunday, were first detained and later lodged an FIR by the Delhi Police for violation of law and order. The wrestlers have been charged under sections 147, 149, 186, 188, 332, 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 3 of the PDPP Act, The Indian Express reported. The New Parliament building will become the basis for the creation of a new India: PM Modi. Suggesting that India is witnessing an awakening of national consciousness similar to what was seen during the decisive last 25-year phase of the freedom struggle, Modi projected the building as a symbol of a resurgent “new India” and linked it to his government’s welfare deliveries in the past nine years. Media reports quoted Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh as saying that Security forces have killed around 30 terrorists in Manipur following clashes between Kuki millitants and security forces after the military initiated disarmament measures in the state to ensure peace. Clashes reportedly broke out between armed groups and security forces at over half a dozen places across Manipur on Sunday. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Assam’s first Vande Bharat Express via video-conferencing at 12 noon today. To resolve the ongoing dispute in Rajasthan Congress, party president Mallikarjun Kharge will hold separate meetings with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his rival Sachin Pilot in Delhi today. According to international media reports, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged the Pakistan’s top judiciary to take Suo Motu notice of the alleged abuse, including “reports of rape”, of its female party workers and supporters who were arrested following the May 9 riots. The four-day 44th ISO COPOLCO Plenary hosted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) from 23-26 May 2023 concluded at New Delhi on 26.05.2023 with the keynote address from Ms Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary,…

On World No Tobacco Day (31 May),

businesses, Health, India, international, News 28 May 2023

World No Tobacco Day: WHO urges governments to stop subsidizing life-threatening tobacco crops

Geneva/ New Delhi, 28 May 2023 – On World No Tobacco Day (31 May), the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments to stop subsidizing tobacco farming and support more sustainable crops that could feed millions. “Tobacco is responsible for 8 million deaths a year, yet governments across the world spend millions supporting tobacco farms,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By choosing to grow food instead of tobacco, we prioritize health, preserve ecosystems, and strengthen food security for all.” More than 300 million people globally are faced with acute food insecurity. Meanwhile more than 3 million hectares of land across more than 120 countries are being used to grow deadly tobacco, even in countries where people are starving. A new WHO report, “Grow food, not tobacco”, highlights the ills of tobacco growing and the benefits of switching to more sustainable food crops for farmers, communities, economies, the environment, and the world at large. The report also exposes the tobacco industry for trapping farmers in a vicious cycle of debt, propagating tobacco growing by exaggerating its economic benefits and lobbying through farming front groups. Tobacco farming causes diseases to the farmers themselves and more than 1 million child laborers are estimated to be working on tobacco farms, missing their opportunity for an education. “Tobacco is not only a massive threat to food insecurity, but health overall, including the health of tobacco farmers. Farmers are exposed to chemical pesticides, tobacco smoke and as much nicotine as found in 50 cigarettes – leading to illnesses like chronic lung conditions and nicotine poisoning,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO. Tobacco growing is a global problem.  The focus has so far been in Asia and South America, but the latest data show tobacco companies are expanding to Africa. Since 2005, there has been a nearly 20% increase in tobacco farming land across Africa. WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme support the Tobacco Free Farms initiative that will provide help to more than 5 000 farmers in Kenya and Zambia to grow sustainable food crops…

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Crime, India, international, News, Politics, Sports, Top headlines of the day 28 May 2023

Today’s ten big news. 28 May 2023 Today’s other big news

Top 10 news of this morning | Today’s ten big news. Today’s other big news India’s new Parliament building is being inaugurated today in a ceremony that began with a morning havan and multi-faith prayer. After this PM Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate. Pro-BJP political parties and dignitaries, including chief ministers and ministers, are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony. While 21 major political parties of the country are boycotting this program. Adequate security arrangements have been made in and around the new Parliament House. Under this, thousands of policemen have been deployed in Lutyens’ Delhi and several layers of barricades have been installed. Former US diplomat Henry Kissinger celebrated his 100th birthday. Born in Germany on May 27, 1923, Kissinger is best known for his pivotal role in American foreign policy in the 1960s and 1970s. After his meeting with Delhi and Punjab Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann in Hyderabad yesterday, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said that the Government of India should come to its senses and withdraw the ordinance. The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala has said that the central government’s decision to halve Kerala’s borrowing limit was somehow an “attempt to suffocate the state”. Two engineering students drowned while bathing in the Kuakhai River on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Saturday. As per media reports, the two students, identified as Smruti Sourav Pradhan of Tamando and Satyajit Das of Rengali had gone to take a bath in the river at Balianta at around 7.30 pm. According to media reports Over 250 people stranded with their light vehicles and motorbikes at Baralacha La and Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh following a snowfall have been rescued after a multi-agency nightlong operation. A Delhi court on Saturday sent notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to four-day police custody in connection with the alleged supply of illegal arms and ammunition. Amid caste unrest in violence in Manipur, five hardline militants of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) surrendered to the security forces on Saturday and also handed over arms and ammunition, according to media reports. The Indian women’s…

breaking news

Opinion 27 May 2023

Communal polarization in Trimbak City over Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is harmful to the social fabric

By Irfan Engineer The city of Trimbak, which is also taluka or block headquarters, has recently courted media-manufactured and politically patronised controversy where there was none. Media is gaining TRPs, and a certain political party is gaining an advantage from political polarization at the cost of the Muslim community. The community is once again being demonized, and there is a threat of arrest of some Muslim youth for no plausible offence committed by them. They merely followed an age-old tradition on 13th May 2023 of fanning dhoop (fumes from incense in a container) in the direction of the Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple from its northern gate temple and carrying chadar cloth sheets (a cloth sheet that is normally offered at sufi dargahs to the pir buried) on their heads on the day of annual urs (death anniversary of a sufi saint). The Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples in the country. There is a notice on the gate that non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple. A section of the Media proclaimed that Muslim youth residents of the town tried to enter the temple. The youth are seen in the videos, repeatedly played by the electronic media, near the northern gate of the temple with the chadar on their heads and later returning. That act was declared by the media as an attempt to forcibly enter the temple and desecrate it. The hyperactive section of the media also extracted a statement from one of the priests of the temple demanding that the motives of the Muslim youth on “attempting to enter” (not forcibly enter) the temple should be investigated. Where is Trimbak? Trimbak, is about 28 km from Nashik. Nashik City is the district headquarters, and it is itself a temple town and one of the 4 cities which holds the Kumbha Mela once every 12 years. The origin of the sacred Godavari River is near Trimbak. Who built the Kusavarta Kunda? Shrimant Sardar Raosaheb Parnerkar, Fadnavis of Indore State, built the Kusavarta kunda (sacred pond) in the temple premises, which is the source of…

Opinion 27 May 2023

Kashmiris’ demand for azadi ( freedom ) was wrong, Justice Katju explains.

Kashmiris’ demand for azadi ( freedom ) By Justice Markandey Katju Last night I had a long talk on whatsapp with a group of Kashmiris. It was arranged by my journalist friend Wahid Kashir, who lives in London, and often holds video shows about Kashmir. I told the Kashmiris that I too am a Kashmiri, and sympathise with their sufferings. Nevertheless, I told them, their demand for azadi was wrong, and I explained why. I said that the test of every political activity and political system is one, and only one: does it raise the standard of living of the people? Does it give them better lives? Once we keep this thought firmly in mind, it becomes evident that Azadi cannot be an end in itself, it can only be a means to an end, and that end must be raising the standard of living of the people, and giving them better lives. If azadi for Kashmir results in raising the standard of living of Kashmiris I will support it, but not otherwise, and I gave two historical examples where people benefited by being deprived of azadi. The first example was of Kashmir itself. Kashmir was independent only till 1587 when the last independent Kashmiri king Yusuf Shah Chak was deposed by Mughal Emperor Akbar, who then incorporated Kashmir into the Mughal Empire. Now by being deprived of political freedom in 1587 Kashmiris greatly benefited, as their standard of living rose substantially. This was because (1) the Kashmiri handicraft industry, which gave ( and still gives ) employment to hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris, got access to the huge market of the Mughal Empire, where they could sell their products, and thereby it flourished. (2) Kashmiris got access to Mughal technology. For example, the Mughal gardens ( Shalimar, Nishat, and Chashme Shahi ) were built using Mughal technology. The second example I gave was of ancient Rome. The Romans conquered many European and Mediterranean tribal people, and deprived them of their freedom. But these people benefited thereby, since by being incorporated into the Roman Empire they got access to Roman…

Imran-Khan

Opinion 26 May 2023

Justice Katju explains why he supports Imran Khan

Why I Support Imran Khan By Justice Markandey Katju Today I had a long talk on WhatsApp with a Pakistani journalist friend, who asked me why I have been supporting former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan through my articles and tweets for quite some time. I told him that I do not know Imran Khan, I have never met him, am not related to him, am not of his caste/religion/nationality, and do not expect anything from him. Yet I support him for two reasons : (1) I regard him, and most Pakistanis regard him, to be basically an honest man, as contrasted to the leaders of the ruling PDM who are regarded as a gang of dacoits, who looted Pakistan and siphoned off huge amounts of money from the country to UK and elsewhere, where they acquired huge assets ( as the Panama Papers scandal and other credible material prove ). The toshakhana matter, of which Imran Khan is accused, is trivial compared to the gargantuan loot by PDM leaders. I will support every honest man, whether Indian, Pakistani, British, American or of any country or community, and that is why I support Imran Khan. (2) Imran Khan is presently bravely leading the democratic forces in Pakistan against the fascism which has been unleashed, and reign of terror which has been imposed, by the Pakistan army and police, abetted by the corrupt PDM leaders, who have arrested, tortured, ‘disappeared’ and even killed a large number of people, including PTI leaders, workers and supporters, mediapersons, and others, on the flimsy pretext that they were involved in the 9th May incident, or instigated/inspired it. I support democratic forces everywhere in the world which are fighting tyranny, despotism, and fascist oppression. My friend then started talking of the wrong things Imran Khan had done in the past e.g. giving PTI tickets to dubious ‘electables’ ( such as sugar barons ) in the 2018 parliamentary elections, removing the renowned Princeton economist Atif Mian from the Pakistan Economic Advisory Council just because he was an Ahmadi, etc. He also said that Imran Khan was brought…

Niharica Raizada

Entertainment, India, News 26 May 2023

‘We should bring the audience back to cinema halls with good films’, Niharica Raizada 

Interview of Ib71 fame Niharica Raizada Mumbai, 26 May 2023 (News helpline). Niharica Raizada whose recently released film ‘IB71’ is getting good reviews from all over feels that the audience should come to the theatres to enjoy the films that are being made. The actress who is the granddaughter of music composer O.P. Nayyar said, “I think cinema halls should never be closed. Today OTT has completely overpowered the joy of watching films in a  theatre. But we should bring the audience back to cinema halls with good films.” She added,” There was a time when people used to line up outside Gaiety, Galaxy cinema halls to watch their favourite stars on the silver screen. Today everyone is comfortable watching them just at the click of a button at their homes. We should bring back the fun of watching the films with the community in the theatres.” Niharica plays the role of the only female IB agent amongst the team of 30 in the recently released film ‘IB71’. Talking about the film and her role, she said, “The film is very realistic, gritty and full of suspense. It is a very well made film. I felt very loved and pampered on the sets of the film. As I was the only female IB agent, everyone showed me their best gentleman quality. I experienced proper male chivalry during the shoot of the film.” Talking about her future aspirations, the actress said, “I love multi starrer films and I want to do a film with me having a good powerful female role. I want to have 3-4 songs in a film which are picturised on me.” Interview of Ib71 fame Niharica Raizada

Imran-Khan

Opinion 26 May 2023

Wafaadaari mein sheikh-o-barhaman ki aazmaish hai

By Justice Markandey Katju The recent spate of resignations of prominent figures in Imran Khan’s PTI party in Pakistan reminded me of the above verse of the great Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib. Fawad Choudhry, Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar, Maleeka Bukhari and others enjoyed the loaves of office when the PTI was in power, but when adversity has struck, like rats jumping from what they perceived as a sinking ship, they fled, giving all kinds of excuses. While they have given all kinds of excuses for resigning, the real reason is fear of being arrested and their financial/business interests being adversely affected. I am reminded of the English poet Robert Browning’s famous poem ‘The Lost Leader‘. The test of a person’s character is whether one sticks to one’s principles and allegiances in all circumstances, even in adversity, and not just as a fair-weather friend. These persons resigning have proved that they are crass opportunists, and the PTI will be well rid of them. A mistake which Imran Khan made after starting the PTI in 1996 was to permit all and sundry to join his party, and giving PTI tickets to dubious ‘electables’ in the 2018 national elections. But now he has learnt from his mistakes, and will surely not repeat them. Imran Khan is now leading a fierce struggle of democratic forces against the fascism unleashed by the army, abetted by the corrupt PDM leaders. He is sure to ultimately triumph, but he must now take care to give leading positions in his party, and PTI tickets for elections, to those who are genuinely wafaadaars ( loyal ) to democratic principles and men/women of the highest integrity.