Monday, March 2, 2009

Defending the offenders

My husband is a musician, a percussionist to be precise. He has played at several shows, big and small. There are several forums in the city that provide a free platform to budding musicians to perform and several times Sudhakar has gone there to perform with his band. As with all public functions, the organisers of such shows, always obtain necessary legal and police clearance. But you know, without fail almost everytime, the cops have shown up at these shows and tried to close it down.
1) A 4 pm in the evening on Sunday afternoon, a show was held at the Indira Gandhi park. Permissions in place the show began. But the cops came demanding that the show be shut down - Why??? because the sound was reaching right up to the Court House!!! Get real you defenders of the law. In our country, have you ever heard of the courts functioning on a Sunday??
2) A day before Rajyotsava last year. Garuda Mall had organised for three bands to play on their premises. No sooner had the first Gospel band finished their part, the Ashoknagar cops came and confiscated the speakers. Why? - Because a day before Rajyotsava you should play Kannada songs!!!

Other lame excuses have been that the decibel levels of the shows are too high. Hmmm then here are few questions I would like to ask
- Every year during Ganesh Chaturthi, we have so called "Friends Groups" organising festivities. All these are smack in the middle of residential areas. The megaphones are fitted to the residential buildings themselves and the racket goes on till 12.30 - 1.00 am. First of all its illegal to have these functions in residential areas. Secondly the decibal levels are enough to rouse the dead. Where are you defenders of the law force then?

- Fireworks of a certain decibal are banned. Yet during festivities, the only sound you will hear are of such fireworks that could have the life force of tree trunk stop. What are you people then? when my daughter jumps in fright in her sleep thanks to all the racket at night, where are you oh! defenders of the lost cause.

The legal system has clearly defined your duties for you, yet you go about searching for something new to add to your portfolio. Why don't you men in uniform first do what you are supposed to and then go hunting for new crimes to solve?

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