[Reader-list] Iran-discussions on the readerlist

[Rakesh Iyer]

Dear Junaid jee

Howsoever much one may say, the reason because of which all this situation
has come in, is the credibility of the polls recently conducted in Iran for
the post of the President. The authorities have themselves accepted that
there are many areas where more than 100% voting has taken place. I
personally believe this is ridiculous because this way people can vote in
more than one polling booth as well, and there can be no checks on the same.


Also, there are question-marks being raised regarding the time duration
within which the election verdict was announced, as to how could so many
votes be counted so soon. And from the news that seems to come, all those
who have protested against the verdict are being punished or being killed.
They are being tortured as well. And now journalists are being sent to jail,
for relaying the information which is against the view of the Iranian state.
Are journalists supposed to be stooges for the state?

Just because Indian state tortures citizens in Kashmir, Chhatisgarh (if you
have heard of Salwa Judum) or anywhere else in India, does not mean that:

 1) Indian citizens accept that the Indian state is doing the right thing by
doing so.

2) Just because the Indian state takes such actions and gets away with it,
it is right. Such actions, whether be it in Iran or in India or anywhere
else, are wrong and must be condemned. Nobody, be it Ahmadinejad or Manmohan
Singh or Bush has the right to indulge in actions which are against
fundamental human rights and democratic spirit.

Therefore, please don't justify the actions in Iran by stating that India
also does such actions. Two wrongs don't make a right. India is wrong in
killing people who are fighting for their cause but in a non-violent way,
and equally Iran is also wrong in killing people who have a particular
perception which is against that of the Iranian state, and are fighting for
it in a non-violent way too.

The simple solution could have been to declare presidential polls again and
vote again, with proper rules being enforced, so that it could be decided
who actually has the support of the people. If Mousavi has dubious
credentials, it doesn't mean that the people there are fighting for the
wrong cause.

Regards

Rakesh