Bull's Eye

Years ago, after one of the numerous political demonstrations I participated in, I spent four nights in Tihar jail, class C, with 18 workers as a common criminal falsely charged with criminal trespass. The authorities wanted to teach me a lesson. The experience differed from earlier arrests as a political detainee. For three years, each month, all the accused 19 appeared in Tis Hazari courts in that spurious case. With no evidence, the case dragged on. It was plain harassment. One day I complained to the late Jag Parvesh. I criticised his rotten government. He must have intervened. The case was promptly withdrawn. See? That’s how the system works!

Last week, there was a murder case in which, after 19 years, all the accused were acquitted. The same day in another case, judgement was reversed to imprison for life someone who had been acquitted 22 years ago. What is the truth? We don’t know. Where is justice? We don’t know.

Making a cash payment over Rs 10,000 can be illegal. Recently, Laloo Prasad Yadav settled an Ashoka Hotel bill by paying Rs 1 lakh in cash. A petitioner took the matter to the Supreme Court. The court admonished the petitioner for treating the court like a police station. The police, meanwhile, were issuing non-bailable warrants in another case against Laloo Yadav’s brother-in-law and MP, Sadhu Yadav. Weeks passed. Despite public appearances he is not arrested. Would the Supreme Court still recommend police stations?

From media accounts Bina Ramani is bearing up well. She appears to be a tough lady. If more socialites, celebrities and Page Three luminaries spend nights in Tihar jail, they will know better the real world and the real system under which they live. After they emerge from their ordeals they might take more interest in politics. India needs change desperately. The Naxalites are waiting, of course. But recourse to violence in a society where freedom of expression and association prevail is admission of defeat.

(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)