Monday, March 27, 2006

Uttar Pradesh - Anarchy galore

"The murder in broad daylight of a middle-aged Parsi woman in the capital of India's most populous state has sent one message loud and clear -- if you dare, be prepared to face the bullet in your face.

That was exactly what happened in the case of 52-year old Meher Bhargava, nee Shapurji, who was shot at a month back and died last Saturday. She was shot simply because she objected to eve-teasing that was rampant in a nearly lawless Lucknow." (... read the complete article here "Lucknow's shame: No law in Mulayam land").

I was born in Gonda, a place in Uttar Prades, barely known to many in India. I never actually repented being born in that place, or in UP for that matter. But my preparations to come to USA, minor things created some frustrations over the basic system prevalent there. I used to get irritated over the fact that how even very small things would take so much time to be done.. and you have to give some money to an inconsequential guy whom you would even detest to talk; just to get the work done. This interesting article shows how the progress of India is dragged down by the worse performance of Uttar Pradesh. To quote
"But the world’s second-most populous nation can’t make it because heavily across its heart sits the world’s sixth most populous “nation” — Uttar Pradesh. UP drags India down (of which some evidence later). The battle between the India-we-have and the India-we-want is being fought in UP. War dispatches so far suggest the India-we-want is losing."
Another interesting paragraph:
" Per capita income in UP has been growing at less than one per cent since the 1990s (national average is around 5.5 per cent). Its infant mortality rate is 87.6 per cent (national average is 67.6 per cent). Its child immunisation coverage is 21.2 per cent (national average is 42 per cent).
One-sixth of India’s population is in UP. Take UP out of the equation, India’s averages improve. But say this about the state, it entertains us even as it keeps us back — the state’s electoral populism is a hard-to-match spectacle."
Talking about the Meher murder case, she was shot allegedly by Sachin Pahari who is in the "safe custody" of a ruling party legislator, who was known for violating laws with utter impunity.

It is really sad that social activists and those who raise their voice against corruption and anarchy are silenced to death while the culprits and criminals escape the law due to the patronizing politicians.
The broad daylight shooting on February 28 outside a residential apartment -- barely 100 mt from the office of Lucknow district police chief -- and the failure of the administration to arrest the culprits speaks volumes of the state of law and order in Uttar Pradesh. She battled for a month for her life, but it did not arouse concern with the people in power.

Now only, with mounting public pressure, has Mulayam Singh ordered some action, though I hardly see them adequate.
Our political and police system needs a drastic revamp which should be nothing less than a revolution. Its high time the people in power realized their responsibilities to govern and not to perpetrate and aid crime by patronizing the criminals.
Is India shining? Atleast, I can't say so.

3 comments:

Animesh said...

A sad incident indeed. Up comes second only to Bihar in lawlessness - sadly I belong to both places :-|.

Makes me wonder, do you know of some NGOs in UP which fight for justice?

-A
P.S In terms of evidence, maybe things like this might help.

Animesh said...

The murderer has turned himself in, so lets home justice is served.
-A

VINOD SHUKLA said...

Thats a good news.. though a lot remains to be done