Outlook – July 28, 2019

foreigners in detention camps is aptly

captured in The Assam Question: Who

Am I (July 15). People of Assam

sincerely want a 100 per cent correct

National Register of Citizens (NRC),

which is being drafted lately. But

vested interests would like to keep

away the names of Bengali Muslims,

Bengali Hindus, Biharis, Nepalis.

Scores of people are shoved into deten-

tion camps as foreigners—many

because of mistaken identities. We

want the NRC updated. But we don’t

want harassment of the commoners.

In today’s Assam, in the name of the

NRC, thousands of Bengali people are

being harassed. The BJP government,

like the Congress, is playing with the

lives of a section of the population.

People can see through the BJP’s

double standards—NRC to harass cer-

tain people and the citizenship amend-

ment bill (CAB) to appease Bengali

Hindus. Such divisive politics will ruin

the lives of Bengalis as a whole.

To No Avail

MUMBAI Anish Esteves: This

refers to your story The Latest

Heir-Bender (July 15). Mayawati’s

move to snap ties with the Samajwadi

Party shows that she expects the BSP

to capture a large chunk of the non-

BJP votes in Uttar Pradesh, which

would enable her to become a domi-

nant force once again in the state. She

will be left disappointed when this

opportunistic behaviour fails to bring

the positive outcome she hopes for.

Twilight Babu

SECUNDERABAD Ashok Raipet:

This refers to Vendetta Visions in Ghost

Town (July 15). Former Andhra

Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu’s

grandiose plans for new state capital

Amaravati hang in a balance just like

his own political career. Now a poor

caricature precariously poised

politically, arrogance, overconfidence,

defying Modi in the company of

opposition Lilliputians and taking the

people of his state for granted were

some of the flaws responsible for his

rapid downfall. His own trusted party

mates are leaving him like rats

deserting a sinking ship. CM

Jaganmohan Reddy is leaving no stone

unturned, smelling a rat in every deal

made by Naidu. Prior to May 23, Naidu

hobnobbed with politicians all over the

country, acting as a kingmaker nursing

a secret desire to be the king himself

should a situation arose similar to

when H.D. Deva Gowda had become

PM. Being hounded by the Centre and

the Andhra Pradesh government now,

Naidu and family have no choice but to

lie low in extended hibernation for five

years. However mighty one may be,

when nemesis catches up, there is a

huge price to pay.

Mind It

HYDERABAD J.N. Bhartiya: This

refers to your story Modi’s Mandarins

(July 1). The taste of the pudding is in the

eating, and the test of the bureau cracy’s

worth is in the government’s function-

ing. If the hoi polloi are not ensured

freedom from want, it is an unw orthy

bureaucracy. It is also unworthy if free-

dom of expression is absent, for that

leads to tyranny as power inevitably

intoxicates and corrupts. The intelli-

gentsia, barring those in authority, are

the watchdogs of democracy, and a

government that is vindictive not against

those who harm the people, but against

those undermining its power, reveals the

substandard quality of its bureaucracy.

Governments come and they go for their

faults. Marie Antoinette of France, the

Czar of Russia and James I of England

will testify to this.

Price of Truth

BANGALORE J. Akshay: This refers

to Good Cop Bad Cop (July 8). Former

Gujarat IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt’s trials

and tribulations raise soul-searching

questions. Under the present regime,

there is no telling when fair turns foul

and foul fair. It can happen in the twin-

kling of an eye. Bhatt has been facing the

music because of his determination to

take the road most people avoid—the

road of truth shown by Mahatma

Gandhi, the father of the nation. He is

being subjected to a severe ordeal beca-

use of his courage in exposing the evils

and hypocrisies of authoritarian rule.

SWEPT OUT BSP supremo Mayawati

Falling Behind?

PALAKKAD M. Sankunny Menon: I sat

bem used, with a newish Outlook (dated May

27) in my hand. It was May 26. On May 23, the

poll results were announced and BJP had swept

to power in one of the most decisive mandates

of recent decades. Yet, Outlook had Rahul

Gandhi on the cover, with a gallery of leaders

from “strong independent parties” on the side!

Was the magazine oblivious to the whole thing?

How could this happen? This disaster would

not have happened if Vinod Mehta—who once

pulled out nude photos of Protima Bedi out of

an issue of Debonair ready for printing at the

insistence of Kabir Bedi—had been at the helm.

A Note: The confusion, dear reader, about the date printed on the masthead isn’t

new. Like many newsmagazines around the world, it’s the date on which the issue

expires; that is, the date till which, at the very latest, it has currency. The May 27

issue actually went on the newsstands on Friday-Monday, May 17-20 (depending

on the location), when the chances of the Congress and the Opposition had rele-

vance! The next issue (June 3, Narendra Modi, Conqueror-in-Chief ) went on sale

at the earliest on May 24 evening, and would have been delivered everywhere in

the next two days. The issue in your hand, Mr Menon, had just run the course of its

seven to ten-day life. Do get your copies of Outlook on time, sir!

letters INBOXED

6 OUTLOOK 29 July 2019