A Tale of Two Tyrants

where_is_my_vote_21.jpgThe events following the June elections in Iran continue to reverberate.  The allegations of widespread election fraud led to hundreds of thousands of Iranian youth to take to the streets and asking “Where’s My Vote?”

A regime unable to answer its citizenry and an escalating use of repressive tactics has led many to begin questioning the legitimacy of the government.  Born out of a revolution in 1979, a generation has grown up on legitimizing the current regime through understanding of the tyranny of the Shah’s.  However, the tactics unleashed in the wake of the elections has shifted the public from asking about votes to calling for the ouster of the Supreme Leader.  Khamenei has none other to blame than himself through his partisanship in siding with Ahmadinejad, rather than standing above the fray.

The recent protests spate of protests saw many killed by Government forces.  New slogans calling Supreme Leader Khamenei the “new Yazid” are stirring in Iran:

The story of Ashura revolves around the succession to the Prophet Muhammad. According to Shia belief the succession should have devolved to the Prophet’s son-in-law and cousin, Ali, the first of the Shia Imams. Ali finally assumed the leadership and became the fourth Caliph but after his death the succession should have followed through his family. Unfortunately for them, the leadership was seized by a rival family, the Umayyads. In 680AD one of Ali’s sons, Hussein, with a small band of followers, challenged the Umayyads, who were led by the Caliph Yazid. Hussein was defeated and killed. Ever since Hussein has been hailed as the Lord of Martyrs, the champion of the oppressed. His sacrifice is lamented every year on Ashura.[link]

In Punjab, groups are calling for Badal’s ouster.  Hoping to capitalize on the community anger over the deaths in Ludhiana, groups are forming a third front. The news is hardly surprising, but it seems to this writer that it is far premature.  The cries of Badal as the “new Massa Ranghar” are still far from the political scene.  So long as the Panthic groups are still on the defensive in the propaganda war, Badal and his patronage circles will continue to reign supreme.


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12 Responses to “A Tale of Two Tyrants”

  1. Harinder says:

    Badal has a constitutional obligation to protect freedom of speech of residents of Punjab.
    Sikhs are not the only inhabitants of Punjab .
    Just as SIKHS in different part of world are entiled to take out their parades .
    ASHUTOSH is entilted to call out parades of his followers.
    SIKHS must have self confidence in them selves .

  2. Harinder says:

    Badal has a constitutional obligation to protect freedom of speech of residents of Punjab.
    Sikhs are not the only inhabitants of Punjab .
    Just as SIKHS in different part of world are entiled to take out their parades .
    ASHUTOSH is entilted to call out parades of his followers.
    SIKHS must have self confidence in them selves .

  3. Jodha says:

    Harinder,

    While I hardly like to address you, because of the irrelevancy of most of what you write, I did have to reply today because you make a point that needs to be addressed.

    You are right. Others may have a right to their parades. And still others have a right to protest them. The great 'protector of freedom of speech', as you claim, that is Parkash Badal has very different reactions for groups.

    Today I wrote on "A Tale of Two Tyrants". That day in Ludhiana was also "A Tale of Two Protests." Immigrant labor from UP and Bihar were also protesting in Ludhiana today and we also witnessed destruction of property and high tensions. Still the police did not get orders to open fire on the protesters.

    Meanwhile when Sikhs were protesting Ashutosh and his clan, police were orders to open fire.

    If this was an isolated incident than there would be little to say. However, Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's words do ring true – Sikhs are treated much differently by the Indian State.

    http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newsid=158823&amp

  4. Jodha says:

    Harinder,

    While I hardly like to address you, because of the irrelevancy of most of what you write, I did have to reply today because you make a point that needs to be addressed.

    You are right. Others may have a right to their parades. And still others have a right to protest them. The great 'protector of freedom of speech', as you claim, that is Parkash Badal has very different reactions for groups.

    Today I wrote on "A Tale of Two Tyrants". That day in Ludhiana was also "A Tale of Two Protests." Immigrant labor from UP and Bihar were also protesting in Ludhiana today and we also witnessed destruction of property and high tensions. Still the police did not get orders to open fire on the protesters.

    Meanwhile when Sikhs were protesting Ashutosh and his clan, police were orders to open fire.

    If this was an isolated incident than there would be little to say. However, Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's words do ring true – Sikhs are treated much differently by the Indian State.

    http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newsid=158823&amp

  5. Harinder says:

    You must rememeber 1947 and 1984 why we get kicked out of our own home land twice in 60 years .
    Land belongs to those who do KIRATS and not to those live on those who live off drugs/alcohol and act like divine Land lords.
    If our Sons are going to only do singing , drug consumption,zamindari then the land of PUNJAB belongs to the tiller who so ever it be muslims in 1947 and , maybe Biharis now .
    Some will politely tell us to get lost and some one else will slaughter and throw out a lazy race who live of its past laurels.
    Punjab is not a monopoly of Sikhs .
    SIKHS can move on to new land as their ancestors have done and work as taxi drivers ,mercenaries. as they did in Mumbai in 1947 and UK ,Canada after 1984 .
    With SIKHS as a PM twice you cannot say that SIKHS are treated differently now.
    As for Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's he squandered away lot of SIKHS good will in INDIA to fight of a petty Nirankaris sect with lot of collateral damages.

  6. Harinder says:

    You must rememeber 1947 and 1984 why we get kicked out of our own home land twice in 60 years .
    Land belongs to those who do KIRATS and not to those live on those who live off drugs/alcohol and act like divine Land lords.
    If our Sons are going to only do singing , drug consumption,zamindari then the land of PUNJAB belongs to the tiller who so ever it be muslims in 1947 and , maybe Biharis now .
    Some will politely tell us to get lost and some one else will slaughter and throw out a lazy race who live of its past laurels.
    Punjab is not a monopoly of Sikhs .
    SIKHS can move on to new land as their ancestors have done and work as taxi drivers ,mercenaries. as they did in Mumbai in 1947 and UK ,Canada after 1984 .
    With SIKHS as a PM twice you cannot say that SIKHS are treated differently now.
    As for Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's he squandered away lot of SIKHS good will in INDIA to fight of a petty Nirankaris sect with lot of collateral damages.

  7. Harinder says:

    As for Biharis prtesting I believe they were not given a fair hearing by the police.
    SIkhs cry hoarse over injustice in west when Kirpans and are banned and turbans are patted;
    but will themselves not give justice to a BIHARI labourer who has toiled hard to build most of todays Punjabs roads , houses , dams , farms etc etc.
    Double standard dont stand for long in life.
    People see thru it. and sooner or later rebel .
    Why are Biharis , Sant Rama Nand follower protesting in Punjab today ?.
    Do you have a answer for it ?

  8. Harinder says:

    As for Biharis prtesting I believe they were not given a fair hearing by the police.
    SIkhs cry hoarse over injustice in west when Kirpans and are banned and turbans are patted;
    but will themselves not give justice to a BIHARI labourer who has toiled hard to build most of todays Punjabs roads , houses , dams , farms etc etc.
    Double standard dont stand for long in life.
    People see thru it. and sooner or later rebel .
    Why are Biharis , Sant Rama Nand follower protesting in Punjab today ?.
    Do you have a answer for it ?

  9. Harinder says:

    Your comparison of currant Punjabs rulers "THE BADALS" woes to Shias succesion war of dynasty is a bit strange .
    Shia believe that Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad. Imams are human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its esoteric meaning.
    Sikhs in contrast have no such ruling class where every one is considered equally competent to link with GOD.

  10. Harinder says:

    Your comparison of currant Punjabs rulers "THE BADALS" woes to Shias succesion war of dynasty is a bit strange .
    Shia believe that Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad. Imams are human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its esoteric meaning.
    Sikhs in contrast have no such ruling class where every one is considered equally competent to link with GOD.

  11. H M says:

    No election fraud happened, and this is the proof:
    http://tinyurl.com/y93g5cs

  12. H M says:

    No election fraud happened, and this is the proof:
    http://tinyurl.com/y93g5cs