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 | Black out: UP enforces dress code for ODI spectators Our Correspondent That our administrators have little regard for the civil liberties and democratic rights of citizens is a truism. During the one-day international between India and Pakistan in Kanpur on Sunday, the truism appeared in an ugly form: the local administration, in collusion with the police, announced and enforced an arbitrary dress code. According to a news report, "Fans coming to watch the third ODI between India and Pakistan at Green Park Stadium were in for a shock as those wearing black clothes were denied entry by the district administration in the wake of state Chief Minister Mayawati`s visit to the city." The local administration feared that black garment could be used to protest against the Chief Minister. The ban was absolutely unwarranted and unjustified. We believe that all bans are militate against the spirit of democracy and modernity; but since individual liberty our country is quite limited and there are many social demands for proscribing certain things, one can grudgingly tolerate restrictions on the freedoms of expression, attire, etc. However, all bans should have solid grounds. Therefore, a ban on democratic, peaceful protest—assuming that the local administration expected it—is the most loathsome diktat that can be conceived in the world's largest democracy. But this is what Uttar Pradesh's bureaucrats did. "The local administration in a press conference a few days back had placed a ban on entry in the stadium for fans wearing black clothes or carrying black handkerchief," says the news report. Typically, "the administration did not give any reason for the move and only said it was being done as Mayawati is supposed to come for the presentation ceremony." Whimsicalness was coupled with mendacity. For, later, when Chief Secretary PK Mishra was asked about the dictatorial move, he denied of any sartorial restrictions. But when the fans wearing black shirts came to watch the ODI happening in the city after a gap of more than two years, they were denied entry. Feeling cheated and humiliated—many of the cricket lovers stood in the queue for entry into the stadium from 6 a.m.—some angry cricket fans staged protests, leading to skirmishes with policemen deployed outside the stadium. The result was obvious: lathi-charge. A man wearing a black T-shirt was given a tricolour to drape himself; this is how he entered the stadium. The sight, as shown by a news channel, was emblematic of the Independent India: technically independent, but inhabited by a people who have few liberties and rights; politicians have made laws, statutes, rules and regulations empowering themselves and disempowering citizens. Yet, we call ourselves a free country! Posted on : 11/16/2007 Mail this article to your friend |