puneet.jaiswal1
Puneet Jaiswal
On what Basic ? Develop vs developing, or USA economy vs India economy ?
Prahladrai
Prahlad Rai
What is the difference between India and the United States?
A friend – a police officer working in one of the most lawless states of India– returned from a visit to the US recently and summed it up rather eloquently. “In the US they slow down when the traffic light turns yellow. In India, we accelerate.”
As we all chatter endlessly about how the US did not let any terrorist attack happen in their country after September 11, 2001, we need to also look inwards. And ask the most fundamental of all questions – are we willing to obey the law? Or, have we made an art of – and perhaps proud of – our collective ability to make mincemeat of the laws of the land?
On 21 January, at ND TV’s Indian of the Year award function, an agitated young man from the PLU class asked P Chidamabaram, home minister of India. “Why do we capture terrorists alive? Why can’t we just shoot them right then and there? And be done with it?”
The home minister’s answer: “There were ten terrorists in Mumbai, of which nine were killed by our security men. The tenth, Ajmal Amir Kasab was caught alive and Mumbai police ASI Tukaram Omble lost his life in the process. He will stand a trial, as per the law, and I am confident that justice will be done. That’s how civilized societies function.”
Later in the same evening, Chidambaram said. “Rule of law must be supreme. There may be defects in the law, and we can change them. But the law must be obeyed as it stands.”
At another function in the capital, former Attorney-General Ashok Desai explained why Indians look for ways to bypass the law. “We often face a conflict between our values and the laws of the land. For instance, going against the law, you may help someone belonging to you caste or clan.”
But there’s a good case for reducing the divergence between our values and the laws. Obey traffic rules, subject yourself pleasantly to frisking at the airport, and never jump a queue – all this will help the fight against terror in more ways you can think.
And we will be more like US, if that is the point.
A friend – a police officer working in one of the most lawless states of India– returned from a visit to the US recently and summed it up rather eloquently. “In the US they slow down when the traffic light turns yellow. In India, we accelerate.”
As we all chatter endlessly about how the US did not let any terrorist attack happen in their country after September 11, 2001, we need to also look inwards. And ask the most fundamental of all questions – are we willing to obey the law? Or, have we made an art of – and perhaps proud of – our collective ability to make mincemeat of the laws of the land?
On 21 January, at ND TV’s Indian of the Year award function, an agitated young man from the PLU class asked P Chidamabaram, home minister of India. “Why do we capture terrorists alive? Why can’t we just shoot them right then and there? And be done with it?”
The home minister’s answer: “There were ten terrorists in Mumbai, of which nine were killed by our security men. The tenth, Ajmal Amir Kasab was caught alive and Mumbai police ASI Tukaram Omble lost his life in the process. He will stand a trial, as per the law, and I am confident that justice will be done. That’s how civilized societies function.”
Later in the same evening, Chidambaram said. “Rule of law must be supreme. There may be defects in the law, and we can change them. But the law must be obeyed as it stands.”
At another function in the capital, former Attorney-General Ashok Desai explained why Indians look for ways to bypass the law. “We often face a conflict between our values and the laws of the land. For instance, going against the law, you may help someone belonging to you caste or clan.”
But there’s a good case for reducing the divergence between our values and the laws. Obey traffic rules, subject yourself pleasantly to frisking at the airport, and never jump a queue – all this will help the fight against terror in more ways you can think.
And we will be more like US, if that is the point.
puneet.jaiswal1
Puneet Jaiswal
India Rocks 
In India Traditions, love, culture, affection & food. No one stand any chance against it.
In India Traditions, love, culture, affection & food. No one stand any chance against it.