This post was written by me on Monday morning when I was reading the daily news, but with things the way they were, somehow it didn't get uploaded. So here goes...
A new day, a new week. I know that I have been very lax at posting, so here is a big SORRY from me!
I am just catching up on the news - I usually read Mumbai Mid-Day and Samachar. There is this piece of news on Midday, which I found very strange. You can read this article here.
Basically it says in the event of a plane being highjacked on Indian soil, a new Home Ministry rule says only Indian passengers will be evacuated; govt won't negotiate for release of foreigners.
I find that I don't really like this ruling as it assumes that an Indian life is more valuable than a foreign one; and when we Indians go and live and work abroad and face such laws, rules in our adopted country we cry foul and raise anti-discriminatory laws! Also shouldn't the government know that in today's world, with more and more families being mobile, there are many cases where the parent/s and children may have different nationalities and passports and in such a situation, would a parent (who will most probably be an Indian national) allow himself/herself to be evacuated and let their child/ren (who would more likely be a foreigner) stay in the plane?
And in such a situation what would the government do? Would they force the Indian parent to forcibly leave the plane and in the process break up a family? To all those in power, who shout from rooftops about the 'Bharatiya Sanskriti'(Indian Culture), is this what is all about!
