Incidents happening in Lakshadweep resemble the atrocities of Emergency

 Written by P.S. Sahni & Shobha Aggarwal

Incidents happening in Lakshadweep under the ruthless Administrator Praful Patel are very disturbing even during these unusual times. Memory goes back to June 1975 when under cover of Internal Emergency a similar exercise was carried out in Muslim dominated area of in and around Jama Masjid, old Delhi. It so happened that Sanjay Gandhi and the then DDA Vice Chairman Mr. Jagmohan (who was to become Governor of J & K later) lamented that they were unable to see Jama Masjid in view of tenements around Jama Masjid housing the Muslims. So the following plan of action was undertaken:

1. Bulldozing the tenements housing 70,000 Muslims (equivalent to the present population of Lakshadweep).

2. Change the pattern of land use.

3. Attempt was to beautify the area and make it a tourist spot. The truth is that it was a tourist spot already.

4. During this period preventive detention laws were strengthened.

5. Sanjay’s five point program included family planning which transformed into forcible vasectomy.

6. Muslims, poor and subordinate caste people were targeted.

Maneka Gandhi was instrumental in getting the Idgah abattoir out of old Delhi through judicial means.

A cursory look at the last few days media clippings show:

That Lakshadweep Administrator has the same proclivities e.g. converting Lakshadweep into a grand tourist spot akin to Maldives; preventing people with two plus kids from becoming Panchayat members; strengthening preventive detention laws; and change of land use pattern.

Our friend Inder Mohan of PUCL opposed the demolition; BBC covered his arrest under MISA. Inder Mohan was innocent enough to meet Sanjay Gandhi during the day and get arrested in late evening. Next day Muslims in old Delhi lined up along the lanes and by-lanes even as Inder Mohan was being escorted from Darya Ganj Police Station to Tis Hazari District Court, Delhi.

Is Lakshadweep the next target even without a formal emergency?

First Published: https://countercurrents.org/2021/06/incidents-happening-in-lakshadweep-resemble-the-atrocities-of-emergency/

Owners Outrightly Reject Model Tenancy Act approved by Union Cabinet on 02.06.2021 – its rightful place is WPB!

 

To

The Chief Reporter/News Editor,

New Delhi

 

The National Campaign Committee for Rental Law Reform (NCCRLR) outrightly rejects Model Tenancy Act approved by Union Cabinet – its rightful place is WPB. This Act deliberately and for political reasons ensures that owners of properties – which have been let out under the rent control laws in many states especially in cities like Mumbai, Delhi etc. – get no relief whatsoever and will continue to be paid between Rs. 10 to 100 a month! The market rent for such properties would be running into lakhs.

 

The incumbent at the PMO right in 2014 had assured that all old and obsolete laws would be rooted out of the statues book. So is the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs openly defying the road map for deletion of old laws? An act of rebellion?

 

Future course of Action

 

The NCCRLR appeals to all its constituent members to ensure that their respective state assemblies do not pass such a regressive law using all democratic, legal peaceful methods including popular protests. This has become necessary because successive governments since last thirty years have been parroting the issue of Model Tenancy Act; but without initiating legislative action. The Union Government should lead by action and repeal the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 in toto which it – and not the Delhi Government – has the power to do.

 

P. S. Sahni

Convener, National Campaign Committee for Rental Law Reform