Libertarian Extremism; Collective Paranoia; Killing Messengers

Opinion Watch

Libertarian Extremism

To hold liberal belief in absolute term is a pursuit of a few, for the realm of realities imposes conditions, and The Indian Express remains unfazed as it questions the Supreme Court, alleging that it even lowered the bar, by forcing a loyalty test on Mohammed Akbar Lone, the chief petitioner against the abrogation of the Article 370. The Noida-based daily, while recalling the episode of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir Assembly where Lone had allegedly spoken in favour of Pakistan, argued that the Supreme Court should have resisted the demands for an affidavit from Lone, affirming faith in the Constitution, and said that the apex court erred in not according respect to the politician.

The daily admits that Lone’s party had disassociated with his pro-Pakistan remarks, which were struck off the record of the Assembly. Yet, it makes a tall issue of an affidavit, which the people in the country are asked to submit for everything – even to claim gratuity after serving for years. Extreme liberalism sometimes seeks abodes in air.  

Collective Paranoia

The whole discourse over Bharat versus India has undeniably been a case of a headless chicken in the street, and The Asian Age affirms to such a view saying that the episode betrays an “anxiety-riddled collective state of mind”. The New Delhi-based daily underlined that the reference to India, through Latin Indos, dates back to 3000 years, while citing cases of nations known by two names such as Japan/ Nippon, Germany/Deutschland, Ireland/ Eire, Norway/Norge, etc. It counselled both the ruling and Opposition parties to desist raking an unnecessary issue.

Entertainment is the refuse of lazy minds, and the people are being addicted with dopes of trivia to keep the political actors sparring along with their followers. The issue is just another dose of dope.

Killing Messengers

The States are filing FIRs against media persons at a speed that may question the democratic credentials of the ruling political leaders, and Deccan Herald in its Editorial has likened the slapping of criminal cases against editors who undertook a fact-finding mission in ethnic strife-torn Manipur to shooting messengers. The Bengaluru-based daily also stressed that the “action of Manipur Police confirms the truth of the Editors’ Guild”.  “Rejection of all criticism and vilification and intimidation of critics has become the norms,” added the daily.

FIRs have invoked a section of the Information and technology Act, which remains frozen on the direction of the Supreme Court. But intimidating media persons is a trend that ingrains the fear that the press should not speak or write anything that may displease the states in any parts of the country.

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