Order

Order

Re: Committee to probe threats to media in Telengana

It has been brought to my notice that the Chief Minister of Telengana, Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao, reportedly said while addressing a public meeting at Warangal City that he would break the neck of those in the media that insult the pride of Telengana and its culture and self respect. He also reportedly said that the media should salute the people of Telengana if they want to live in the state, otherwise they would be buried 10 KMs deep.

He reportedly made these remarks after some journalists protested against the blocking of transmission of two Telugu news channels, TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi by the Multiple System Operators (MSOs) since June 16, 2014, believed to be at the behest of the Telengana Government after the TV9 Channel broadcast a program allegedly derogatory to the newly elected MLAs of Telengana state. The heads and editors of the channel repeatedly apologized for the program unconditionally in letters to the Speaker of the Telengana Legislative Assembly and the Telengana MLAs.

Several persons including the representatives of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and its affiliated Telengana Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ) complained to the Chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI) that the remarks of the Chief Minister are directed against the media personnel to intimidate them and threaten them of dire consequences if they criticize the omissions and commissions of his government. 

After careful consideration of the matter on the basis of material available in the public domain, I as the Chairman of the Press Council of India, prima facie believe that the remarks made by the Chief Minister of Telengana Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao amount to intimidation of the media personnel under threat of dire consequences,  and violate the fundamental right of  freedom  of Speech and  expression of the media guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution, and also the rights guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (e) and (g).   

Accordingly, I hereby appoint a three member committee of senior journalists consisting of Shri Rajeev Ranjan Nag, (Convener), Shri K Amarnath (Member) and Shri Krishna Prasad of Outlook Magazine (Member) to inquire into the matter and report to me at an early date.     

The Committee may set its own procedure and make its recommendations for protection of the media in Telengana from threats and intimidation.

The Committee is requested in particular to enquire into the following and suggest remedial measures:-

(i)                Whether the CM Telengana made the statements attributed to him that he would break the necks and bury underground media persons and that they should salute the Telengana people if they wish to live in Telengana, and whether this violates Article 19 (1) (a), (e)  and (g) of the Constitution?

(ii)              Whether there is any threat perception to the media in Telengana and its free functioning?

(iii)            What steps are necessary for the protection of the media in Telengana in discharging its duties to the public?

In this connection the Committee should meet and talk to the local media, including journalists, organizations, managements, editors, and other journalists of newspapers and journals in Telengana, as well as to the authorities and with other concerned.

The authorities shall extend all cooperation and support to the committee, and ensure that no one interferes with the functioning of the committee in any way.

                                                                                                     (Markandey Katju)

                                                                                       Chairman

                                                                                       Press Council of India 

Is the Army only rescuing VIPs in J&K ?
Some people are criticizing the army for allegedly rescuing only V.I.Ps in J&K
 In this connection I had a detailed discussion with my friend Iftekhar Gilani, of DNA newspaper, who is himself a Kashmiri.
 He told me that what is being said is partially true, but that is for two reasons
1. The State Government officials have to be rescued first, because the State Government Administration cannot function without its officials.
 The Finance Minister of the State Government, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather, and the D.I.G. Police, Srinagar,were rescued only yesterday. The State Revenue Minister, Mr. Ali Mohd. Sagar, the State Tourism Minister, Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Mir, and several other officials are yet to be rescued.
  I asked Iftekhar about the role oIs the Army only rescuing VIPs in J&K ?
Some people are criticizing the army for allegedly rescuing only V.I.Ps in J&K
 In this connection I had a detailed discussion with my friend Iftekhar Gilani, of DNA newspaper, who is himself a Kashmiri.
 He told me that what is being said is partially true, but that is for two reasons
1. The State Government officials have to be rescued first, because the State Government Administration cannot function without its officials.
 The Finance Secretary of the State Government, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather, and the D.I.G. Police, Srinagar,were rescued only yesterday. The State Revenue Secretary, Mr. Ali Mohd. Sagar, the State Tourism Secretary, Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Mir, and several other officials are yet to be rescued.
  I asked Iftekhar about the role of the army in the rescue and relief effort. He was all praise for the army, but said that the army, while doing a great job, is handicapped because many of its personnel are unfamiliar with the localities affected. For example, Khanpura is one of the badly affected localities in Srinagar, but most army people would not have even heard its name. The NDRF has gone for the first time to Kashmir So without the support of local state officials the army is facing great problems.
2. Outsiders have to be rescued first and sent out of Kashmir.This is as per the internationally acclaimed norms. For example, there are many Bihari and Bengali construction workers in Kashmir, and they have to be rescued first. There are also many tourists and visitors who came from other states of India or from foreign countries. These have all to be rescued first and sent out of Kashmir, before rescuing local peoplef the army in the rescue and relief effort. He was all praise for the army, but said that the army, while doing a great job, is handicapped because many of its personnel are unfamiliar with the localities affected. For example, Khanpura is one of the badly affected localities in Srinagar, but most army people would not have even heard its name. The NDRF has gone for the first time to Kashmir So without the support of local state officials the army is facing great problems.
2. Outsiders have to be rescued first and sent out of Kashmir.This is as per the internationally acclaimed norms. For example, there are many Bihari and Bengali construction workers in Kashmir, and they have to be rescued first. There are also many tourists and visitors who came from other states of India or from foreign countries. These have all to be rescued first and sent out of Kashmir, before rescuing local people

Threat to Media Freedom

Press Note

               It is reported that the Chief Minister of Telengana, Shri K.C.Rao, recently (on 9.9.2014) made a statement from a public platform saying that he would break the necks and bury the media 10 kilometers underground, in response to some alleged derogatory remark made against some MLAs by a certain regional Telugu TV channel (TV 9). 

               If indeed such derogatory remarks were made by the TV channel, they were improper, and the media should desist from using such derogatory remarks. However,  I am informed that the TV channel (TV 9) which allegedly made the derogatory remarks has repeatedly apologized for doing so, both on their T.V. channel through DTH service as well as in letters to the Speaker of the Telengana Assembly as well as all Telengana M.L.A.s.

               However, as a reaction to these remarks of the TV channel, it is reported that the Chief Minister of Telengana has, from a public platform, stated that he will break the necks and bury the media 10 kilometers underground, if anybody tries to denigrate or hurt the self respect of Telengana, its Legislative Assembly, or its culture.  What kind of language is this?

               This statement of a Chief Minister is, in my opinion, highly improper, highly objectionable and totally unacceptable in a democracy, particularly since it is coming from a person holding a high constitutional office.  The kind of language used by the Chief Minister for the media is highly offensive, totally unwarranted and most inappropriate.  The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and its affiliated Telengana Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ) have already sent me a statement issued by them criticizing the threats issued by the C.M. of Telengana.

               I am informed that under the pressure of the Telengana Government, the Cable Operators’Associations (M.S.O.) have suspended the telecast through the cable operators of two TV channels, TV 9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi (although ABN Andhra Jyothi had not even telecast such derogatory remarks, or any other derogatory remarks against Telengana M.L.A.s).

  I call upon the Chief Minister, Telengana as well as the Cable Operators’Associations to withdraw the suspension orders immediately, so that the said two TV channels may start operating again.  Freedom of the media is guaranteed by our Constitution, and cannot be validly suppressed in this manner.

(Markandey Katju)

Reason for J&K floods

Here is an article on the reason for the floods:

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/encroachment-blamed-srinagar-flood#.VBB3mHm9LCR

Kashmir Floods: Google finder

Google is offering a special google finder tool for locating people trapped in the flood area. I hear they are pulling their information from some national database of people that have been located. Here is the link:


http://www.google.org/personfinder/2014-jammu-kashmir-floods/

Conditions in Kashmir

10.9.2014

 I had a detailed telephonic discussion with Iftekhar Gilani of the DNA newspaper about the conditions in Kashmir at about 1 p.m. today. Iftekhar is a Kashmiri journalist based in Delhi.

He told me that the state government of J&K has become totally dysfunctional, and even the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah can do nothing. The Director General of Police and other police officers have become helpless as their telephone links have been cut off.

The situation is very bad in Kashmir.. Many people are stranded amidst water  and have not yet been traced. Iftekhar suggested that the following urgent measure are required to deal withe situation :

(1) A Central Command Centre, manned by the army or some other agency, for rescue and relief work, should be immediately set up at Srinagar airport, which is not underwater, and is the safest place in Kashmir. This Centre should direct and monitor all rescue operations, and all agencies, Central and State should be subordinated to it and work under its direction.

 (2) Information bulletins should be issued from this Centre every hour stating about the general situation, as well as the special situation in various localities, what are the water levels in various localities, what rescue operations are going on, where are people stranded, what effort is being made to rescue them, what is done to the people rescued, how is water and food being supplied etc

(3) There is acute shortage of drinking water and food. Water bottles in large quantities can be sent from Delhi and elsewhere, as well as chlorine tablets to put in the drinking water, which may be contaminated. The food required should be non perishable items like biscuits, etc Later blankets would also be required as soon it will start getting cold.

(4) Post rescue relief and rehabilitation planning should begin immediately, because more problems will arise after the water recedes, e.g. of sanitation and diseases, and rehabilitation of people affected by the floods.

After speaking to Iftekhar I tried to contact the Union Home Minister, Mr. Rajnath Sngh, but was informed that he had gone to Gujrat. I then spoke on telephone with the Union Home Secretary, Mr. Anil Goswamy, and asked him for an immediate appointment which he was kind enough to give me.

I reached his office at North Block at about 1.30 p.m. and was with him for about 45 minutes. I related to him the suggestions of Iftekhar Gilani. I said that as a Kashmiri I was deeply concerned about the plight of people in Kashmir. I also informed him that a lady Assistant Secretary of the Press Council, of which I am the Chairman,  informed me in my office today that both her daughter and daughter-in-law had gone to Srinagar to attend a wedding, but were untraceable thereafter.

 After listening to me in detail, Mr Goswami then briefed me about the work the Central Government had been doing to relieve the Kashmir flood situation.

 Among the things he told me were :

1. Due to the heavy rains, the Jhelum river overflowed its banks, and the water entered the low lying areas in Srinagar. A barrage was also possibly breached. Many houses were wholly submerged , while others were partially submerged. People in houses which were totally submerged shifted to houses of neighbours, while those in houses which were partially submerged went to higher floors or attics.

 The house of the Chief Justice of the High Court was totally submerged, and he had to be shifted to another house.

2. Due to the cutting off of electricity supply in Srinagar, the mobile phones stopped working as their batteries could not get charged. This created a panic situation because people were cut off from their near and dear ones.

3. There was disruption of water supply too. This has created a water shortage.

4. The Central Government agencies, including the Army, Air force, NDFR, CRPF, BSF, etc have been working round the clock to restore the situation

5. Food is coming from Gujrat, Karnatak, Bihar, and other states

6. Water bottles and chlorine tablets are being sent on a large scale.

7. Mobile phones and chargers are being supplied to people

8.. The J&K House in Delhi is presently acting as the nodal agency where relief material can be supplied.

9. Some boats have already been sent, and more are being sent to rescue stranded people.

10. Several other urgent measures are being taken by the Central Government.

The Home Secretary said that rescue boats are often being pelted with stones by people, not because they regard rescue workers as enemies, but out of frustration, and to sometimes seize these boats.

At the end of his briefing I suggested to the Home Secretary that the Central Government should publicize in the all India English and Hindi newspapers all the steps taken by the Central Government to provide relief to the people of Kashmir, as most people do not know about it. These publications should also mention the telephone numbers  where people who are unable to get information about their relatives and friends can get information, so that the authorities can quickly locate and rescue such persons.

The Home Secretary said that he would speak to the Cabinet Secretary and Home Minister about my suggestions immediately. I am grateful to the Union Home Secretary for giving me an appointment at such short notice, and then giving me so much time.

Nietzsche's Philosophy

The German philosopher,Friedrich Nietzsche ( 1844-1890), has been one of the most misunderstood philosophers in the world, though, in my opinion, one of the greatest. His reputation particularly suffered as he was hijacked by Hitler and the Nazis for their own propaganda, using his concept of ' ubermensch ' ( overman or superman), though Nietzsche's meaning of this concept was totally different from what the Nazis attributed to it.

Nietzsche wrote several books to explain his philosophy, e.g. Thus Spake Zarathustra, The Birth of Tragedy, Beyond Good and Evil, Human all too Human, On the Genealogy of Morals, etc The best book, in my opinion is 'Thus Spake Zarathustra ', and I have read it several times, the first time half a century ago in Allahabad, and the last tiime very recently. Every time I read it I marvel at Nietzsche's ideas.

 Nietzsche stands for very great values, which I may mention :

1. He stands for life affirmation, in contrast to the pessimistic philosopher Schopenhauer, who represents the 'will to nothingness '. Nietzsche's philosophy accepts the reality of the world we live in, over the idea of a world beyond.

2. Nietzsche emphasizes the value of strength, and criticizes the Christian philosophy of 'turning the other cheek ', submission, pity, ascetism, and other worldliness, calling all these 'slave morality ' or the 'morality of the herd '. People should be strong if they wish to live a full life, and not submit before others.

3. He gives great importance to individual creativity, and is against conformity and mass culture ( see 'the Way of the Creator' in his book 'Thus Spake Zarathustra' ). The Creator's life is lonely, and he often has to face great hostility by common people who are conservative by nature,yet he does not flinch or surrender, but carries on a lonely struggle.

4. Nietzsche conceives of the Ubermesch ( Overman or Superman), who is a creator of new values. The Overman does not follow the morality of the common people, since it favours mediocrity, and is the morality of the herd. The Overman rises above the herd, he overcomes great obstacles, engages in epic struggles ( not always successfully), pursues new goals unfamiliar to the common man, and transcends and transforms existing structures and contexts.

 As mentioned earlier, Nietzsche's philosophy was later hijacked by the Nazis for their own fascist propaganda.In this hijacking his sister, Elizabeth Forster played an important role. Elizabeth was married to a rabid anti-semite Bernard Forster, and she supported Hitler after he came to power in 1933.

 In fact Nietzsche abhorred anti-semitism, and his concept of 'Overman ' was totally different from that of the Nazis. The first President of Israel, Chaim Weizman, was a great admirer of Nietzsche.

5. Nietzsche had made a deep study of Greek drama and Greek philosophy. In the ' Birth of Tragedy ' he deals with the Apollo-Dionysius dichotomy. Apollo is the Greek god representing reason, clarity, harmony and progress. In contrast, Dionysus represents disorder, passion, intoxication, emotion and ecstasy. Nietzsche believed that both these forces are necessary, and it is by the interplay of these two contrasting forces that human progress takes place in history.

Ek hi Naari Sada Brahmachari

When I was a Judge I often had cases before me of men who had been charged with bigamy.

I would tell these men " You should have remembered the Hindi maxim, Ek hi naari, sada brahmachari ( i.e. A man who has only one woman is a Brahmachari). If you had followed it, you would have been leading a peaceful life, but instead you are going around for years attending courts on criminal charges."

In other words, one should marry one lady, look after her, and keep one's eyes focused on her. If one's eyes wanders around it is inviting trouble. This womanizing is a very dangerous sport, however exciting it may seem in imagination. Helen of Troy was the cause of Troy's destruction, Mark Antony lost the Roman Empire because of Cleopatra, and, nearer our times, Bill Clinton almost lost the U.S. Presidency because of Monica Lewinsky.

 So always remember the rule ' Ek hi naari, sada brahmachari '

  Of course, men should also keep in mind the Sanskrit lines ( and this is said as a joke, so the ladies should not mind ) :

 " Kshaden rushta, Kshaden tushta

   Rushta, tushta, kshaden kshaden"

 i.e.

  " A woman's nature is that she is at one moment happy, next moment angry, the moment thereafter again happy, and then again angry. "

 All married men would have experienced this !

 And to conclude, let me tell you of one interesting incident. I was in a party, and there was this young nice looking lady sitting next to me. As is common with ladies, she kept complaining that she was putting on too much weight. After hearing her for some time I got fed up with this ( to me) totally uninteresting talk, and suddenly said " Are you married ?"

" Yes", she replied.

 I then said " Then do not worry. We Indians are good husbands, and do not divorce our wives. This is not America where wives are divorced if they get fat. So eat as much as you want to, and put on as much weight as you can. You have nothing to worry about."

Many people have asked me do I believe in God ? I have always said that it is too personal a question. But let me now answer.
 I believe that the poor people are God, and the real puja or namaz is service to the poor people. There is no other puja or namaz.
 Of course others are entitled to their own opinion, and I respect people of all religions, provided they are not oppressing the poor people or  doing wrongs things.

Urgent needs in Kashmir

I have just spoken again to Nayeema ( mobile 09419021682) and Salman Soz ( mobile 09419072000) who are presently in J&K house in New Delhi at Chanakyapuri. Anybody needing help may contact them, giving my reference. They have been deputed by the state government of J&K to help in the rescue and relief work in Kashmir.

 Nayeema told me that there is urgent need of high protein biscuits and chocolate to give nutrition to people without food. Purifying ( chlorine) tablets are also required because the water for drinking may be contaminated. Blankets are also required.

 She told me that many people are still stranded in the midst of water in various parts of Kashmir. Some boats have been sent for the rescue work.

 Very soon a nodal agency for accepting donations will be set up in Delhi, whose details will come in the media.