Tehelka for Modi

Full marks to the Tehelka journo for the expose in Ahmedabad. Having spent a couple of hours with Praveen Kumar Togadia inside VHP’s office in Mumbai, I can tell you the atmosphere can get very charged and pregnant with hazardous possibilities. And this chap spent all of six months with a spy cam living, eating, breathing with people who can get lethal, and that’s a highly creditable act. A brave journo, indeed.

However, what leaves me baffled is this: will anything come out of the ratification of truths we already knew about five years back? Modi and his men have made no bones about being communal, that is their ideology, the plank on which they amass their vote bank. So there’s nothing new we are learning now. Since the matter is in courts, and if the judges admit the tapes as evidence, then that’s great, but that’s as far as this sting will travel. And sadly, no more.

In fact, what worries me is that the story will backfire on the journalists, and it will make Modi’s brand even stronger than it already is in Gujarat. The Gujarati Hindus had more or less forgotten all about the so-called revenge attacks five years ago, and the focus, even for Modi’s election campaign, has been on growth and prosperity. At the recent Hindustan Times Summit, a beaming Modi spoke for the first time of inclusiveness. Whether he meant it or not, it was clear communal politics in Gujarat had lost its steam.

However, the wounds have come alive again, and will create serious religious tensions in the State. And this means another thumping victory awaits Modi. Again, it will be all about ‘let’s get our lion back into the hot seat’ war cry.

So does this mean sting operations is a bad idea on perpetrators of crimes in Gujarat? No. But five years later is just too late to make any real difference. Other than to provide steroids to Modi’s on-going election campaign.

An imploding nation

It occurs to me, Misbah of the Pak cricket team might just have saved his and his team members’ lives. By holing out to Sreesanth in the last over of the T20 Cup final. Because had Pakistan won the cup, and drove out on a victory motorcade on the streets of Karachi, they could all so easily have been blown away from the face of the Earth.

Pakistan is a totally failed State, a liability on the whole world, the ground zero of global terror, and with respect to our country, an incurable cancer sitting like a monkey on our right shoulder. All the terror activities on our soil can be sourced back to Pakistan; they won’t live in peace, and neither will they let us.

The sort of reception Benazir Bhutto received on her return home, was another proof that this nation has violence seeped into its DNA, that no one is safe out there anymore. And no, I didn’t suddenly decide today is Pak bashing day, it’s just that last night’s incidents shattered the last minor hopes one had for that country.

Clearly, neither is the military dictatorship able to deal with the terror elements (either intentionally or otherwise), nor are they willing to let go of control. And it’s really scary that these self-destructive people have a nuclear bomb lying around somewhere.

So what’s to be done? I see no other option but for the G8 leaders (and Pak’s buddy, the US, in particular), taking an active role in taming this rogue State. They need to forget about Iraq and Iran and find ways to monitor the destiny of this failed and messed-up place. Because left to themselves, not only will these guys destroy their own selves, but will make the whole world a dangerous place to live in.

As they say in medical science, if a tumour doesn’t self-heal, there’s no option but surgery.

Troubled gods

The terrorists have permanently changed the way we live (and die), and there’s ratshit we can do about it, except to grin and bear. What’s most depressing however is that they have not left our gods and festivals alone, and instead of joy and celebrations, our festivals and places of worship arouse immense fear in our minds and hearts.

There is not a single important place of worship in Bombay that hasn’t turned into an army fortress, forever gone are days when one could simply slip in, pray and leave. The recent Ganpati fest had me thinking of the worst-case scenario, what with the millions collecting at the beaches, and it’s no different right now with the Navratri and Durga Puja festivals, the Eid and the oncoming Diwali. Singed with gaiety is fear and horror. And it has become so bad for me, I no longer look forward to these otherwise joyful occasions, as they raise the level of terror warnings.

And the thought that’s even worse is that we have learnt to live with this destiny… not only do we not demand resolutions from our leaders, we have stopped expecting it as well. So there’s the office, the beer meets, the romantic dates, the mall ratting, the reality television shows, the cricket matches, the matinees, and the bomb blasts. It’s gotten programmed into our lifestyle. Kids who are growing up right now will refuse to believe there was a time when RDX did not feature on the menu.

Well, keep safe. And hope it’s not you in the next round of attack. And even God can’t help you, He/She is under attack as well.

War of the roses

It was good to learn the Supreme Court has decided to go easy on the Mid Day journos who were facing a prison sentence under the contempt act. An enquiry has been ordered, and let’s hope justice prevails. If their explosive story about the retired judge’s alleged misdemeanours is found to be accurate, then the law should take care of the accused and follow its natural course of justice. And if the story turns out to be yellow and malicious, then the journalists must be ready to face the music, as simple as that.

Two others points. I entirely agree with Outlook’s ed Vinod Mehta when he says that in this war between the press and the judiciary (the two pillars on which this country still manages to stay afloat), it’s the politicians who will have the last laugh. If there’s anyone the netas want immediately fixed, it’s the honest journalists and the high-integrity judges. Which is why this spat must be resolved quickly and fairly.

The other thing is, yes, we do need to revisit the Victorian contempt law, which debars the media from running investigative stories on judges. Because although a vast majority of the judges in our nation are men and women of great honesty and integrity, there are still a few bad apples left, and this comes from the mouth of a retired Chief Justice, no less. And these few taint the image of the rest, and it’s best if they are made to stand for scrutiny. If the judiciary allows itself to be open to examination, it will do its own self a huge favour.

And if some creepy journos are found to take advantage of this situation, and use unfair means, then the punishment for them should also be very heavy. So that the reporters do their homework well, and think many times before meddling with the judiciary.

This case has gone beyond Mid Day, it has opened up a very important discussion as far as justice and democracy go. And I sincerely hope the big result is a suitable amendment in the contempt law. That will be the best possible justice.