Hysteria and Indian Television - inseparable

Dear Friends
For those still in doubt over the sanity of many people in the television media in India, the 'massive outrage' over Vishwanathan Anand's 'citizenship' query from the Government of India will most likely dissolve all such 'doubt'.

It is an established procedure in most countries of the world to reserve all or most categories of 'titles' to individuals who show or prove 'citizenship' to the satisfaction of their federal Government.

Vishwanathan Anand is undoubtedly, the most gifted and honoured of all Indian sportspersons. But, when the Government of India seeks to confer or endorse the conferment of any 'title' upon any person, it is not unreasonable or improper for it to ask the 'potential recipient' to prove his 'citizenship' of India. 'Citizenship' is always the 'legal status' of an individual and a number of intervening circumstances could deprive a person of his 'citizenship'.

Without seeking to defend the action of the Government of India in asking Vishwanathan Anand to prove his 'citizenship' of India, I would like to state that Vishwanathan Anand should simply ask his lawyer to guide him on whether the 'procedure' adopted by the Government of India was authorised for it. Most likely, his lawyer will, if queried, say 'yes'. That is all there is to this issue. What happened is not 'national outrage' but mere 'pursuit of procedure'. And, for quirky ministers already declaring their 'readiness' to apologise for the full viewing pleasure of the prime time audience, I have a suggestion - please visit your nearest therapist; you could be in need of help.

Regards

K.V.Dhananjay
Advocate
Supreme Court of India
+91 9902909390