This lawyer had lamented that he had been disappointed by several Supreme Court justices, including a prominent one from Maharashtra, usually a progressive state which always shook off the shackles of bondage. “But there were enough among the lower rungs of the judiciary who held the Constutution supreme and remained our hope throughout those months,” he said.
I have my own bone to pick with Bhushan – some years ago he teamed up with the fascist forces and for all his erudition and courage failed to see how they were leading India into the dark ages. It has taken years to recognise that these dark forces do not need an ‘official’ and ‘Constitutional’ Emergency to bend journalists or judges to their will but now, like the advocate from the Emergency days, I am beginning to think that lawyers like Bhushan – and there are many more of them battling the authorities – might become the bane of their existence and not allow all their evil designs to succed.
Bhushan's refusal to apologise and rethink his statement or move for a reconciliation or otherwise give in, quoting Mahatma Gandhi on taking his punishment cheerfully, I believe, could yet prove the first major strike towards the restoration of democratic processes and bringing its revered institutions back on an even keel.
Gandhiji's defiance of the British every step of the way confounded the authorities of that time. I am sure today's authorities have found Bhushan equally confounding. In fact, like Bhushan, we all need to return to the Mahatma Gandhi’s brand of defiance and passive resistance – and in view of this government's previous attempts to deny us basic rights, as in the Citizenship Laws, disobedience rather than contesting them in the courts.
For today that estate of democracy is as much on the side of the government as the institution was with the British during the freedom movement. We know how Gandhiji broke the salt law by cocking a snook at a British judge in Ahmedabad court, who famously forbade him from undertaking the salt march.
But we must also remember that the first strike for Independence began from Champaran in Bihar where Gandhi defied magisterial orders to visit the district and, when hauled up before the court, admitted he had broken the ban order and was admitting to it not to seek mercy or clemency but to accept whatever punishment the court deemed fit. It left the British grinding their teeth and I wonder how many people then realised that British rule in India had just been delivered a body blow and would soon come to an end.
Prashant Bhushan is no Mahatma Gandhi and only recently has collaborated with fascist forces as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru would never have done. But given the times he and others like him may well be given the benefit of the doubt for being taken in by certain elements and trusting them to give us a Ram Rajya.
Now faced with the asuras of democracy, people are slowly waking up to what they lost when they voted the UPA out of power in 2014. The Congress restored democracy after the Emergency that lasted 18 months and lost the election thereafter, allowed the judiciary its independence even when the judgments were unfair and not to their liking, did not threaten or murder independent judges, did not politicise the army, did not go against the Constitution as in the abrogation of Article 370 and did not treat any one as a second class citizen.
I do not believe anyone could have fathomed the extent of lies, crony capitalism, violence and mauling of democratic institutions this regime would go to retain power. Before and after the Emergency we may have faulted the government on various issues but never for turning India into a travesty of its full bodied and full-blooded republican ideals and moorings. The first bugle has been sounded for the restoration of democracy. We must all help fight the third war for Independence.
Delhi fraud case: Man held after scammin…
07-06-2025
Angad Pal Singh, accused of fraudulently claiming over Rs 30 crore in export benefits using fake documents, has been arrested in Delhi after being deported from the US. Singh and...
Read moreTop 5 news of the day: G6 nations pushed…
07-06-2025
India's G7 inclusion was propelled by strong support from G6 nations, with Canada as the outlier, as revealed by an expert. Meanwhile, the Election Commission refuted Rahul Gandhi's rigging claims...
Read moreMP shocker: Dog drags newborn from hospi…
07-06-2025
In Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, a stray dog was found carrying a newborn's body near a government hospital toilet. Hospital authorities and police are investigating after a security guard discovered the...
Read more'Your love and God's grace kept me safe…
07-06-2025
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav escaped unharmed after his convoy was hit by an uncontrolled truck and car in Vaishali district. Three security personnel were injured and hospitalized in Patna. Yadav...
Read moreOnce a rebel, always a rebel? Congress's…
07-06-2025
Shashi Tharoor, a prominent figure in the Congress party, has often challenged the party's high command, advocating for internal reforms and questioning his role within the organization. His actions, including...
Read moreSuspecting affair, Bengaluru man beheads…
07-06-2025
In a shocking incident near Bengaluru, Shankar allegedly beheaded his wife, Manasa, due to suspicions of infidelity. Following a heated argument at their home, Shankar used a sickle to commit...
Read more7 Maoists killed in ongoing Bijapur oper…
07-06-2025
Security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district have killed seven Maoists, including top leaders Narasimha Chalam alias Sudhakar and Bhaskar alias Mailarapu Adellu, in a series of encounters over three days...
Read more'Completely absurd': ECI debunks Rahul G…
07-06-2025
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly refuted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations of "match-fixing" in elections, deeming them "completely absurd." The ECI defended the integrity of the electoral...
Read moreG7 Summit: 'Strong push from G6 to have …
07-06-2025
Amidst strained relations, Canada invited India to the G7 summit, driven by pressure from other G6 nations seeking stronger strategic partnerships with India. Despite past tensions, India's economic significance and...
Read more'Electricity theft' case: Allahabad HC o…
07-06-2025
The Allahabad High Court has instructed UPPCL to restore power to SP MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq's house, deeming the Rs 1.91 crore fine for alleged electricity theft as arbitrary...
Read more'Deep-rooted terror conspiracy': NIA cha…
07-06-2025
The NIA has filed a chargesheet against five individuals, including designated terrorist Goldy Brar, concerning the Gurgaon club bombings in December 2024. These attacks, targeting Warehouse and Human Clubs, were...
Read more'Won't equate perpetrators of evil with …
07-06-2025
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reaffirmed India's firm stance against terrorism, expressing gratitude to the United Kingdom for their condemnation of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. He emphasized...
Read more'Straight out of Soros’ playbook': BJP h…
07-06-2025
Amit Malviya has strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi's allegations of election rigging in Maharashtra, dismissing them as a tactic inspired by George Soros to undermine public trust in institutions. Malviya highlighted...
Read moreUttarakhand CM Dhami directs officials t…
07-06-2025
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed development schemes and corruption control in Kumaon, emphasizing coordination between officials and public representatives. He directed officials to address public grievances promptly and ensure...
Read moreCCPA protection directs E-Commerce platf…
07-06-2025
The CCPA has advised e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits for deceptive 'dark patterns' within three months and provide self-declarations. Notices have been issued to platforms violating dark pattern guidelines. A...
Read moreWant to cut your electricity bill this s…
07-06-2025
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency suggests setting your AC to 24°C instead of lower temperatures like 20-21°C. This simple adjustment can cut power consumption by up to 24%, saving consumers...
Read more
As per plan, Shubhanshu Shukla to dock …
06-06-2025
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, part of India's Gaganyaan program, is set to launch on the Axiom-4 mission from Kennedy Space Center on June 10, docking with the ISS on June...
Read more'Chenab & Anji Bridge are transforma…
06-06-2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Jammu and Kashmir, inaugurating the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, and flagging off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train. The bridge, a...
Read more
