“Senseless” - The Hindu Editorial 21/11/2019

Today's editorial in The Hindu;

Senseless

Nationwide extension of NRC is bizarre,

and a repeat of it in Assam illogical

Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement of a proposal for a nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) is worrisome on several counts, not the least of which is the apparent inability to learn from the experience of carrying out the humongous ex­ ercise in Assam. The government, he said, would also re­introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Parliament that envisages the grant of Indian citizen­ ship to all refugees from minority communities in Ban­ gladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In all three nations Muslims are in a majority, and therefore, the Bill eff�ec­ tively denies benefi�t to Muslim minorities from other neighbouring countries, including Myanmar where Rohingya Muslims face persecution. Along with the promised combination of the NRC and CAB, the Home Minister announced that the NRC process would "natu­ rally" be conducted in Assam again with the rest of the country. Interestingly, this comes just days after Ranjan Gogoi, who supervised the NRC process, demitted of­ fi�ce as Chief Justice of India. Clearly, the Assam propo­ sal will be in defi�ance of the Supreme Court, which di­ rected the entire NRC registration specifi�c to Assam through all its tortuous details. There is still no clarity on what the end results mean for the 19 lakh plus peo­ ple who fi�nd themselves outside the NRC, potentially stateless and at risk of "deportation" to Bangladesh, which refuses to acknowledge, let alone accept, them. Given that the NRC process in Assam was rooted in the specifi�cities of the 1985 Assam Accord, and as the go­ vernment never tires of saying, a court­mandated pro­ cess, extending it to the entire country is both illogical and bizarre. Flawed it might have been, but the NRC ex­ ercise, overseen by the Supreme Court, involved the ac­ tive participation of the Central and State governments. For the government to repeat the exercise merely be­ cause the numbers thrown up are politically inconve­ nient for the ruling BJP, makes no sense at all. If there is a lesson from Assam, it is that there is no right way of going through a process such as the NRC.

Like the CAB, which pointedly discriminates against Muslims, and is loaded against the right to equality and equal protection before the law as enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution, there are genuine fears that a na­ tionwide NRC will target Muslims. Details of how such an exercise will be carried out are, of course, not yet known. In the case of Assam, there was a cut­off� date — March 25, 1971 — after which all foreigners as per the As­ sam Accord were to be "detected, deleted and expelled in accordance with law". Presumably, the Centre will come out with a cut­off� for the nationwide NRC, but it will be an arbitrary one. Given the dangers that lurk within such exercises, the government would do well to abandon the nationwide NRC­CAB combination. In­ dians can certainly be spared this pain.

An opening

Ayodhya: SC review advisable

Ayodhya ruling: Many questions unanswered

The Supreme Court prioritised communal harmony

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/peace-and-justice/article29938535.ece 

Peace and justice: On Ayodhya verdict 

In paving the way for a Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court prioritised communal harmony over all else 

There comes a time when the need for peace and closure is greater than the need for undoing an injustice. In allowing a temple to come up through a government-appointed trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court has apparently chosen a path most conducive to social harmony. To compensate the Muslim litigants, who were deprived of the centuries-old Babri Masjid through an illegal act of demolition, the court has asked for the allotment of a five-acre plot of land elsewhere in Ayodhya that may be used for building a new mosque. That this is more of moral consolation by way of a political compromise and less of adjudication in recognition of their religious rights is obvious. The final award will always be a source of discomfiture for those to whom closure goes beyond ensuring peace in a communally polarised environment. But what is most welcome about the 1,045-page verdict of a Bench of five judges is its unanimity. For, it sends out a message that the judiciary has, with a single mind, ventured to give legal burial to a prolonged dispute that began as a minor litigation, expanded into a divisive political cause, and became a festering wound on the body-politic for years. The fact that the case is over at last must come as great relief to all peace-loving people.This sense of relief masks the bitter truth that the fear of a Hindu backlash if there was an adverse verdict was genuine. After nearly three decades of unrelenting pursuit of communal polarisation, the majoritarian, revanchist forces in the country have fatigued their secular adversaries into passive acquiescence. The Bench indeed has done well to record its revulsion at two incidentsthat represented an onslaught on the psyche of secular India: the desecration of the masjid in 1949 when Hindu idols were planted surreptitiously under its central dome, and the planned destruction of the whole structure by the foot soldiers of Hindutva on December 6, 1992. But what is most disappointing about it is that the relief spelt out by the Bench may amount to legitimising the very demolition it unequivocally condemns. Having declared that the suits are representative of the two communities, organised violence by one party ought not to have been ignored. It is common knowledge that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which spearheaded the temple movement with the active backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party and organised the demolition of the mosque, got a foothold in the litigation through an individual who represented the deity, Ram Lalla, as "a next friend" in a fresh suit filed in 1989.

A reading of the judgment reveals that the outcome is not wholly in line with the evidentiary conclusions the court itself reaches. It notes that archaeological evidence — procured only because excavation was made possible by the demolition and as such not available to the parties at the time of institution of the suits — only shows the existence of a 12th century Hindu religious structure underneath, but does not prove any demolition or explain what happened in the intervening centuries. It acknowledges that namaz was offered at the mosque between 1857 and 1949, and declares that Muslims did not abandon it, but offers no relief even though their religious rights stand proved. The entire disputed area covering both the inner and outer courtyards are awarded to one side contrary to its own conclusion that Muslims had a right, albeit a contested one, in the inner courtyard. While it holds that Hindus had possessory right over the entire outer courtyard to the exclusion of Muslims, it does not decide whether they had exclusive title; on the other hand, it rejects the Muslim claim solely on the ground that they failed to prove "exclusive title". Also, the court says evidence of Hindu worship was available for a period prior to 1857, while there was proof of namaz only after 1857, without accounting for the fact that it was in that year that a massive riot took place that led to the British administration putting up a railing to divide the mosque from the Hindu shrines in the outer courtyard. The case has been decided on the balance of probabilities that Hindus have proved a better title than Muslims. While it is true that "preponderance of probablities" is the standard of proof in civil law, it is doubtful whether this can be invoked to the exclusion of an acknowledged right belonging to the other side.

Courtesy : The Hindu editorial dated 11th November 2019 

Hats off to the Supreme Court

Historic Appreciable Judgment 

V. M. Khaleelur Rahman

The honourable Supreme Court's landmark judgment pronounced today unanimously by a five judge bench in the Babri Masjid dispute case is welcomed wholeheartedly by all Indians whatever may be their faith.

People like me believe that it is the best possible historic judgment. No doubt the honourable judges and the lawyers who argued the case should have taken much pain and struggled to place their points before the Court. Their attempts have been fruitful. They deserve praise and appreciation.

It is hoped the Muslim personal law board which always said that it would accept the s/c verdict will accept the judgment now and make India happy forgetting legal omissions and commissions if any according to them.

We should not forget the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah entered into by Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) despite the fact that it was one sided.

The fact remains that the long pending issue has been resolved in a peaceful manner and we are enjoying it. People's belief in judiciary has increased. The verdict is the best possible one. Let us safeguard our unity and integrity which are the strength of our country.
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Chennai Leather Market - November 2019

CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET
V M Khaleelur Rahman

In the absence of purchases by leading shoe manufacturers, Chennai leather market is dull and drab. Only limited volume of business is taking place putting tanners with huge stocks in a dilemma. The demand which exists at present for tanned goat skins 5/8 sq. ft. Run is at around Rs.95 and 4/6 sq. ft. R/V/IF combined is at around Rs. 50 per sq. ft.

As regards once well sought after tanned goat Suede, 3/4 and 4/6 sq. ft. are fetching at around only Rs.23 and 31 per sq. ft. respectively.

Local items goat Rejection and Langda are sold at around Rs.12 and 8 per sq. ft. Some tanners have sold better Rejection 4/6 sq. ft. at Rs.13 and 5/7 sq. ft. at Rs.14 per sq. ft. But quantities sold are small. Some business are also reported in Langda at around Rs.120 per kg.

Quotations of Tanners

E. I. Tanned Goat Skins
Grain Selection:
4/6 sq. ft. R/V/IF combined Rs.55
5/7 sq. ft. Run Rs.95, Fifths Rs.70, Inf. Fifths Rs.60 and LIF Rs.50
Suede Selection:
All Suede 4/6 sq. ft. Rs.33
Heel Grip:
4/7 sq. ft. Rs.16
Rejection Rs.13 and Langda Rs.9
Prices are per sq. ft.

In many raw skin centres in the country, business is possible only in higher selections at different prices depending on quality and grade. In Andhra Pradesh raw goat skins are sold at prices ranging from Rs.30 to 40 and raw sheep skins Potla from Rs.100 to 110 and Mendi from Rs.40 to 50 per piece.

Export Contracts

As far as export business is concerned, leather exporters are desperately trying their best to get orders. Even big exporters do not have enough contracts. However some contracts concluded in goat upper and lining leathers in small quantities are at around US$2.15 and 1.75 per sq. ft. for account of European and other customers. Japanese are almost keeping quiet. There is no report of any business with them.

In Places like Ambur big shoe factories continue to function well with their best efforts, many a time even reducing their reasonable asking prices for the sake of continuity of business. Overseas customers also cooperate in placing regular orders with them, impressed by their high standard quality of shoes. It is also a fact that many small units are suffering without orders.

Quotations of Exporters

F/C sheep leather
4/6 sq. ft. All Suede JY 175, LIF Suede JY 145 and Rejection Suede JY 95

5/7 sq. ft. All Suede JY 185, LIF Suede JY 155, and Rejection Suede JY 100

S/C or F/C Goat Leather
Goat upper leather 4/6 sq. ft. ABC US$2.30
Goat lining leather 4/6 sq. ft. TR-1/2/3
Combined price US$1.70 and 5/8 sq. ft. TR-1/2/3 US$1.80

F/C Sheep Leather
Sheep Cabrera leather
4/6 sq. ft. 0.6/0.8 mm, ABC US$2.15
6/9 sq. ft. 0.8/1.0 mm, ABC US$2.30

Sheep lining leather
4/6 sq. ft. 0.5/0.7 mm, TR-1 US$1.80
5/8 sq. ft. 0.6/0.8 mm, TR-1 US$1.90

Financial squeeze is very much felt in the market and payments are delayed to suppliers of raw hides and skins, chemicals, shoe materials, packing materials etc.

Leather Fair

Many from Chennai attended the Lineapelle leather fair held at Bologna, Italy from 15 to 17 October 2019. According to available reports, although the fair was well organised as usual, absence of some potential customers upset a section of visitors. But it is said big exporters were benefited from the fair meeting their regular customers, knowing future trends and also concluding some contracts particularly in footwear.

(Writer's e-mail id: vmk1234@yahoo.com)