[Assam] Ripun Bora

[Ram Sarangapani]

Hi KC,

Let me try to answer as best as I can. First things first, though. I should
outright say that I have known Ripun since our Cotton College days. We are
good friends. I have always enquired about him, and he has of me thru other
friends.

Of course, I have not seen him for well over 25 years. As colleagues, we
knew him to be one of the best to have around - sensitive, caring, and
honest. So, this thing does come as a jolt to us. But I have been trying to
be fair, and at the same time trying to give him the benefit of doubt.

I know that many here (on this net) and the media have already condemned and
possibily convicted him - just wondering if Assam netters (some of the most
intelligent people are here) could also afford him that benefit of doubt -
but maybe I am wrong and asking for too much:)

Yes, you are correct that arrests are made on the assumption of guilt - but
that is for the authorities, that is how it works. There is a process, and
let Bora go thru that.

But as statement like "he was arrested because he did something wrong" tells
me that

(a) innocent people are never arrested and (b) what the CBI tells us is the
Gospel, and it is somehow the last bastion of truth.

>1) Why did he ask a CBI officer from Kolkata to meet him in Delhi ? 2)  Why
was a
>journalist from Assam accompanying him to Delhi?  Was it an official
assignment of the journo ?

Yeah, I read these too.  But who is saying this? The CBI (which you also say
is considered corrupt)?

There have been a number of times even over this very net, in situations
like this, people on this net have asked the system play out (even though
there may be a corrupt system), but with Bora's case, some seem to be more
than willing to get a rope.

>Think about the recent case of NY Governor who had to
>resign because of a sex scandal.  Did the media wait
>for due process etc before turning the attention to
>him ...

I hope there is a big difference between how the media thinks and how common
folks like us think.

Maybe its hope against hope, but I do hope he gets a fair trial, and a fair
pre-trial sensationalism, if thats not asking too much.

--Ram da


On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 12:42 PM, Krishnendu Chakraborty <krish_gau at yahoo.com>
wrote:

> Ram-da
>
> I do not think that an average Assamese (or Indian)
> think that Bora is the *ONLY* corrupt politician.
> However,  since he was caught the attention turned to
> him.   All your arguments that he might have been
> trapped or CBI is also corrupt etc are valid  but the
> questions remain .... 1) Why did he ask a CBI officer
> from Kolkata to meet him in Delhi ? 2)  Why was a
> journalist from Assam accompanying him to Delhi?  Was
> it an official assignment of the journo ?
>
> Think about the recent case of NY Governor who had to
> resign because of a sex scandal.  Did the media wait
> for due process etc before turning the attention to
> him ...
>
> Public figures enjoy a lot of privileges but one
> missed step and they end up being the most despicable
> person.
>
>
> >>You assumed he did Wrong and that is why he was
> arrested.
>
> Arrests all over the world are largely based on some
> degree of ASSUMPTION  that someone committed a crime.
>  The court decides if the assumption is correct.
>
>
>
>
> >>You are taking shelter under the fallacy that two
> wrongs  make a right.The
> >>fact that most politicians are corrupt does not mean
> that Bora has one
> right
> >>to fill his pocket with ill-gotten money
>
> >Am I? You are trying to put words in my mouth. When
> >did I ever claim the
> >above or argue that Bora or anyone for that matter
> has that right and I
> hope, I don't look stupid as I look!
>
> Let us look at this exchange between you and me below:
>
> *You:        >The bottom line is---  Bora was
> apprehended because of the
> fact
>               >that he did something wrong.
> *
> *Me:*         >Really, the others don't do anything
> wrong? Or is it they
> simply did not get caught, and  >Bora did? IMHO Bora's
> crime was being
> stupid to get caught or getting placed in a situation
> where >he >could be ID
> ed.
>
> You assumed he did Wrong and that is why he was
> arrested. IF that is the
> standard in India, the jails would be full. My
> question is this, why aren't
> others who do wrong also arrested?.
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 6:05 PM, kamal deka <kjit.deka
> at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > You are taking shelter under the fallacy that two
> wrongs  make a right.The
> > fact that most politicians are corrupt does not mean
> that Bora has one
> > right
> > to fill his pocket with ill-gotten money.The issue
> of corruption,a vital
> > one,is a different kettle of fish .After scanning
> media reports,I don't
> > find
> > an iota of indication that the sting operation was
> carried out on account
> > of
> > personal vendetta.What I do best is collate
> information and draw my own
> > inference.
> >  KJD
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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