Indian Opinion

Mukesh Devrari Dehradun is a nice place. It’s the capital of Uttarakhand. People living here are known for their honesty and valour and patriotism and their looks (mostly girls) and what not. Anyone who never lived in the city really takes it seriously. Sometimes people who visit Dehradun for short trips also creates this confusion. Although locals don’t find this description mesmerizing, as it just doesn’t match with their lived experience. Maybe a few decades ago the city was about amazing weather, greenery, honesty, but nowadays it is more like any other place in the country full of drugs, petty crimes and unruly behaviour of all kinds. Still, it is much better than most of the other places because of its people, but in all other parameters, it is a horrible place. Dirty, overcrowded, polluted, unruly traffic, over-politicized and struggling in many other ways.   Our city does not have adequate infrastructure. It has become a city of narrow lanes. The whole c...

Mukesh Devrari Consumers cannot buy liquor at MRP (Maximum Retail Price) mentioned on the liquor bottle anywhere in Uttarakhand. If any consumer argues with retail liquor stores, they simply taunt the buyers and chase them away. They challenge buyers to purchase liquor on MRP wherever they can find it.  Interestingly during the tenure of Congress government in Uttarakhand, a similar situation existed, but there were voices of protest all around. Mainstream media also raised the issue time and again. All liquor buyers abused Congress government for overpricing.   Congress lost power in state elections. Among many other reasons, corruption in the liquor market also contributed to the defeat. BJP came to power, but nothing changed on the ground. Almost all liquor stores are still charging over prices. And if any consumer dares to oppose liquor stores or argues with them or requests them not to overcharge, he or she immediately puts his life in danger. Buyers are ...

Mukesh Devrari If you love this state, this controversy can frustrate you. Uttarakhand government has decided to appoint dentists in place of doctors, as MBBS doctors are not ready to join in the remote areas. BJP government in Uttarakhand has decided to make appointments after a written test and interview. Government has decided not to take any doctor from Uttarakhand in the interview board for selecting candidates. BJP MLA from Haridwar & Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik said, “Outside experts will bring transparency and honesty to the process. He did not make it clear how it reached on a conclusion that local doctors are dishonest and doctors from other states are honest and impartial. Doctors from other states may also prefer candidates from their own states or castes or of any other affiliation. If BJP government is bothered about honesty and transparency, then it can do away with interview and make appointments entirely based on score in written test. By t...

Mukesh Devrari Courts must not cross constitutional boundaries? Courts and legislature, let me put it properly, judiciary and legislature have two different roles to play. Making policies for the nation and citizens is the task of the legislature. It is the job of our higher judiciary to check whether the laws, rules and executive orders are compatible with the provisions of the constitution. Policy formation is not the job of the judiciary. Two decisions recently highlighted this problematic trend. Supreme Court ordered that national anthem will be mandatory in Cinema Halls. If citizens do not stand up as a mark of respect, then they can be punished. They may face a jail term up to three years.  In a mature liberal democracy like India, this decision marks a low point in judicial history. In a film festival, participants watch many movies. They will have to stand every time the new movie starts. That’s the first thing. Second, these films what Sunny Leone and her films...

Mukesh Devrari It is not a mystery. It is clear. All journalists and intellectuals, mostly upper caste, feel that BJP is destined to win. Congress is not even in a position to pose meaningful challenge to BJP in upcoming elections. Why self-declared experts believe that the election result is a foregone conclusion? Ten members of congress who rebelled against Harish Rawat and joined BJP are very powerful. In any case five or six of them will definitely win the elections. The popularity of Harak Singh Rawat, Vijay Bahuguna, Umesh Sharma, Kunwar Champion must not be underestimated. If BJP succeeded in disciplining internal unrest then these rebels will have easy road ahead. Apart from them BJP has five members of Lok Sabha from Uttarakhand. There are many other leaders who have considerable hold over the voters.  Tenure of Harish Rawat is marked by the internal unrest. He could not do much for the betterment of state, but mostly channelized his energies to sideline ...