K.V. Seetharamaiah
“Democracy has been murdered. Unfortunate that justice has not been provided”, thundered the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar asserted that the entire country and the opposition parties are behind Rahul Gandhi. If it is said the entire opposition parties are behind Rahul Gandhi against centre, it can be accepted. Because of their disagreement with the centre, they are in opposition. But to say that the entire country is behind him is ridiculous. If the entire country had been with Rahul, why would he lose the election in Amethi? Shivakumar’s claim holds water if no voter had cast his/her vote against Rahul Gandhi in any of the elections he previously contested. “Since India’s independence in 1947, no one has been convicted of criminal defamation with a two-year sentence, which also carries the risk of disqualification from Parliament. I am truly disappointed by this verdict”, laments, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Tharoor must also know that no one since India’s independence in 1947 was guilty of issuing statements of the kind issued by him. If no one had been convicted in the past for a particular offence, it must start with someone only when such offence is committed. “The journey of a Thousand Miles begins With a Single Step”, said Lao Tzu, semi-legendary ancient Chinese Taoist Philosopher. The fury by the two Congress leaders is against the Gujarat High Court for not staying conviction in the defamation case. State-wide protest by Congress in front of the Gandhi statue has been planned on July 12. Congress has stooped to such a low level that it has been dragging judiciary into its dirty politics. The sanctity of judiciary has been shoved under carpet. It has been made the target of attack for political reasons. Justice is always the property of victims, not the perpetrators of crime who promote enmity and ill-will among people. Freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India does not guarantee the right for creation of disharmony among people. It is boon if it is used for throwing light on the government going on wrong path and making the government wean away from it. What is wrong path to a political party may be right path to other party. What is sauce for goose is not sauce for gander. It will be so when politically motivated views are held and aired. Freedom of expression does not permit anybody to cross the line of decency. Rahul Gandhi put all eggs in one basket by calling all the people with Modi as surname as criminals. The planned protest against Gujarat court verdict is the confrontational approach adopted by the Congress even though legal remedy is available in top court. The final call is taken by the Supreme Court when it is approached. Outrageous statements and protest strategy by Congress are an attempt to browbeat the top court to get a judgment to its liking. It is highly reprehensible. Judiciary is sacrosanct. The sanctity of judiciary must be protected at all costs. If all other political parties do not break the rank to condemn the Congress for condemning judiciary, justice will be the casualty. Shivakumar and Tharoor are desperate to woo Rahul Gandhi even though Shivakumar was not considered by him for the post of CM in Karnataka and Tharoor did not have the backing of Rahul Gandhi for presidency of AICC.
