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This is an archive article published on November 29, 2015

Onus of administration of dissent on govt: former RS member

The government must in fact be responsive to dissent to allay the raging debate on ‘intolerance.’

Veteran journalist, diplomat and former member of the Rajya Sabha, H K Dua whose term ended on November 17, has laid the onus of “administration of dissent” on the present government. Speaking on the sidelines of the national seminar on “Religious Demography of India: Myths and Realities,” organized by the Centre for Culture and Development in Vadodara, Dua said the government was “touchy about dissent” instead of being responsive and acknowledging. “We have come to a point where the government is suppressing dissent and being touchy about it, instead of acknowledging critics as it helps you improve.

The government must in fact be responsive to dissent to allay the raging debate on ‘intolerance.’ When we are in a family, there are bound to be different opinions and it is the duty of the head of the family to ensure the family is together,” Dua said, emphasizing that collective working of the Parliament was the responsibility of political parties. “The difference of political opinion has led to so much loss of work time for the Parliament. On my last day as a member of the Rajya Sabha, I said that the parties must allow the house to function,” he added.

Indian Christian political activist John Dayal, who also presenting a paper said that the influential affluent NRIs — comprising mostly of Gujarat origin — are instrumental in “keeping the BJP and RSS out of close scrutiny in the West”.

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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