Babus must stop pleasing political bosses

Of all the 'secular'/'non-secular' arguments in the country, this one should take the cake. The Bombay High Court has permitted a member of the Uddhav Thackeray group of Shiv Sena to organise a bodybuilding competition stating that such an activity does not breach the model code of conduct (MCC) imposed by the Election Commission. The bench was hearing a plea filed by one Vijay Salvi, a member of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena party, challenging the order of the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) officers, who revoked a permission granted earlier to organise a bodybuilding competition. The officers cited the prevalence of the model code of conduct in the KDMC area.

"A body building event is about positivity; about health, about strength, energy and vigour; about spirit of competition. It is something in which any one can participate, irrespective of his caste, creed, religion or political affiliation. In a way, it is a secular and neutral activity and also an activity which promotes the overall welfare of the society. Therefore, such an activity cannot be considered to be an activity which aggravates the existing differences between two political parties," the bench observed.

This is nothing but politics. Uddhav Thackeray group could have planned it to tap into the youth potential. The ruling faction of the Shiv Sena in alliance with the BJP goaded its officials to withdraw the permission. For a moment, let us presume that the governing leadership had not interfered, still the authorities felt it was necessary to please their bosses. Somewhere the word, secular, got into and the body building competition is now a 'secular competition.'

When politics is in a flux there is always a chance of things getting mixed up. But so-called concepts and ideologies too are exploring a new ground in our country to derail everything including governance. What did the authorities have in mind when they objected to the competition if not the mind of the ruling sections? To prevent journalists from coverage, the UAPA is invoked in UP. Elsewhere sedition charges. Because the authorities plan to put someone behind the bars for a considerable time to 'teach a lesson,' most sections and multiple sections are invoked. No one is above such lunacy. Left, Right and Centre (politically speaking too) is immaterial to the authorities. The interest shown by the authorities including the law and order ones in 'fixing' someone disagreeing with the politics of the ruling parties, does not get reflected in ensuring justice to the victims. All kinds of rules and laws are cited when it comes to crimes committed by politicians and all the loopholes in the law and the systems are exploited. Even in heinous crimes like rape and murders, we tend to see laxity in bringing the culprits to justice. This is not a collapse of the system but manipulation of the system. If only the judiciary could tell the government that force without freedom and law amounts to barbarism and law and force without freedom equals despotism. Both of these are in great practice here.