Litigation and APSC
We are all aware about the legal situation of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) CCE 2022. It is under the judiciary now and we have immense faith in the judiciary. However, the problem is the continuous litigation against the APSC, as if some people are always ready to fight. The recent matter of language is very important and we all understand the importance of language in the cultural aspects of community. We hope an amicable solution evolves as soon as possible because the honourable court has permitted conducting of CCE mains 2020 and interview. But some serious questions arise in our mind, such as why only APSC CCE 2020? Why no voice was ever raised regarding language paper in previous CCEs? Why the issue is only important in CCE and why not important in other exams conducted by various departments? Some people doubt that these moves are politically motivated to destabilize the functioning of the government. Some people even want to know the education background of the litigants' families. Are they really concerned about the language or they are just utilizing the opportunity to maximize their interest (political as well as bargaining power against the APSC).Some organizations were completely silent on the language issue and now they are taking up the issue. Common people wonder whether they are genuinely concerned with the language issue or they just want to solidify their bargaining power. Not only the APSC but activities of these so-called activists should be also brought under scrutiny. We need a free, independent and transparent APSC, not just some politically-motivated so-called activists.
A few candidates,
Lakhimpur
Freedom of speech
It's an unpalatable fact that freedom of speech and expression in India is under a silent threat. Undeniably, this universal and inalienable human right is being eroded and mauled day by day. It is seen that governments and individuals in positions of power often threaten this constitutional right. There are numerous instances of journalists having to face intimidation, harassment, and long investigations from time to time for questioning Draconian policies. Besides, in 2020, India topped the list of 29 countries that disrupted Internet access for people. Even the UN condemned it, calling it a violation of human rights. Few will disagree that freedom of expression is not absolute and may be subject to certain restrictions provided by law. Yet, there are instances that make us feel that politicians are greater in the eyes of the law than ordinary citizens. Many citizens and netizens, mostly young, have been incarcerated so far for their comments against politicians on social media. Quite shockingly, an innocent tailor had been hacked to death lately for simply sharing remarks made by Nupur Sharma on the Prophet Muhammed.
Dipen Gogoi,
Teok, Jorhat.
Farce in Youth Olympics
The ongoing Assam Youth Olympics 2022 is no doubt a good concept on the lines of 'Khelo India Khelo', but there are many flaws in the way the first edition has been organized. To start with, there was a lot of mismanagement in the opening ceremony which was held at the Sarusajai Stadium. The participants were asked to stand on the stadium with food and water. There was lack of communications from the organizers about the starting of the ceremony and the players were made to stand in queues in extreme heat and humidity. All this is was due to lack of understanding and communications among the officials. It is to be mentioned that the majority of the office-bearers of the respective games/sports does not have a sports background. Even the officials of Assam Olympics Association are full of people with no sports background. When the sports associations are filled with people of vested interest, that too without any sports culture, such problems are bound to happen. The same type of mismanagement was observed during 2010 New Delhi CWG. It is time that the Assam Olympic Association is revamped and people of sports culture and sound organizing skills are inducted into it. The political appointees should be removed. The million-dollar question is: Who will bell the cat?
Pratuljyoti Buragohain,
Guwahati.
Special Day
21stJuly, 2022 is, and should be, a special day for Indian women as a whole as one of their sisters from Adivasi community got elected as the nation's 15th President. She also happens to be the youngest President of the nation. The event also coincides with the country's 75th year of independence.
At the same time, Sonia Gandhi, president of AICC, who was an aspirant for the post of Prime Minister once, was also in the news due to wrong reasons. After a lot relentless legal efforts from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Sonia Gandhi was at last was grilled by ED for her family's huge financial scam just like an average Indian citizen. For the Congress, their party president is no average citizen to be grilled by ED. Hence, they started a nationwide 'satyagraha' movement in their own style by committing vandalism and hooliganism on the streets by resorting to burning and damaging private and public properties. By doing so, they have showed the countrymen how modern-day Congress workers resort to movements like 'satyagraha'. They are in fact digging their own graves in full view of the public. The 21stday of the month of July in the year 2022 is a special day for the Congress people and for the rest of the nation.
Dr Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.