Controversies and politics go hand in hand in a country like India, let's have a look at 16 controversies that rocked India in 2015...
Controversies and politics are more or less synonymous in a country like India. While there is a new issue that the media raises every morning, these issues form a part and parcel of the daily struggle that the citizens face in the country. Be it religious issues, social issues or political issues, the pot never stops stirring.
Let's have a look at 16 controversies that rocked India in 2015:
All India Bakchod (AIB) Roast Ban and other implications
Humor? Or obscenity? All India Bakchods (AIB) were in for a major trouble just as the year began, facing flak from political parties, social activist, organisations, leaders, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and divided opinion on social media. While AIB was asked to pull the video down from Youtube, a complaint was filed against 14 people, including those from film fraternity like Karan Johar, Ranvir Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, stand up comedians Rohan Joshi, Tanmay Bhatt, Gursimran Khamba, Ashish Shakya, Aditi Mittal, president of the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) Jayantilal Shah, secretary general of NSCI Ravinder Aggarwal and film critic Rajeev Masand. The charges levelled against them were as vague and vast as criminal conspiracy, Bombay Police Act 1951, the Environment Protect Act, 1986, and Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, among others. AIB finally pulled down the video and apologised to archdiocese of Bombay and the Christian community
Beef Ban issue followed by Dadri Lynching
President's assent to Shiv Sena-BJP's Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, in March led to the ban of beef in Maharashtra. However, there was strong uproar over the ban, with several sections of the society, such as butchers claiming that their interests weren't looked into.
The whole controversy escalated further when a Muslim family in Dadri's Bisara village was attacked late in the night by a mob and Mohamamad Akhlaq was killed because they were accused of consuming beef. Though the name of BJP leader Sanjay Rana's son, Vishal Rana's name figured in the chargesheet, the Uttar Pradesh police ruled out the angle of conspiracy.
Is Salman Khan innocent?
Convicted by the sessions court on the grounds of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years in prison in 2002 hit-and-run case on May 6, 'Bhai' never had to go to jail as he was given a bail by Mumbai High Court instantly. That's not the climax though, in December, the High Court acquitted him of all the charges. (Perfect storyline for Salman's next movie)
Related Reads: 5 haunting questions we have about Salman Khan's hit-and-run verdict
How tolerant are we to discuss Intolerance?
While the intellectuals were returning their awards over intolerance, Bollywood too was screaming intolerance and was divided into two camps.
Initially Shah Rukh Khan claimed that there is extreme intolerance in the country, later Aamir Khan was pulled up and called names for mentioning about a conversation he had with his wife, Kiran Rao. However, the whole issue had far reaching effects as names affiliated to them also had to face the brunt.
While in India, Anupam Kher was marching against intolerance, Obama too expressed his opinion on intolerance after his visit to India.
It wouldn’t be incorrect to state that everyone was talking about intolerance.
Related Read: Intolerance Debate 2015: Who is under the radar?
The curious case of comeback of Maggi
‘Meri Maggi’ was banned in June because of excessive lead and MSG content. The Swiss major faced losses worth Rs 450 crores as they had to destroy over 30,000 tonnes of Maggi.
While social media went overboard with the relaunch of Maggi in November in compliance with Bombay High Court order, the company is now eyeing double digit growth. In the wake of comeback, Supreme Court too had to come to the rescue of Nestle, against the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's (NCDRC) order and FSSAI’S appeal against Bombay High Court’s order.
Stressful Yoga
The claims that the government at centre is trying to Hindu-ize practices in the nation were covered even by the international media.
However, the controversy over the grand affair costing Rs 300 million intensified further when a parliamentarian from Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) said, “those opposing yoga should either leave the country or drown themselves in the ocean.”
The future of FTII
Even after 139 days of strike by the students, the question still lingers – Why is Gajendra Chauhan the Chairman of FTII?
This saffronisation debate was taken to a different level all together as this student strike was taken to the length and breadth of the country and several eminent personalities such as Rahul Gandhi and P. Sainath among others expressed their opinion, while social media reacted to atrocities on the protesting students.
Who killed Sheena Bora?
The biggest question of this year was, 'Who killed Sheena Bora? And why?'
After various rounds of investigation, politics over transfer of Commissioner of Mumbai Police Rakesh Maria, conspiracy theories over the involvement of media tycoon, the case is far from being solved. Prime accused Indrani Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea and Sanjay Khanna, have been in judicial custody since October.
Pahlaj Nihalani's encounter with controversies
Controversy's child of 2015, Central board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani's name seems to have become synonymous with controversies and his professional life seems to question 'to be or not to be'. Right from the time he took over as the chief of the censor board amidst controversies over Leela Samson's resignation and Nihalani's association to the ruling party, to the 'current Catch 22 situation' over the release of trailers of Mastizaade and Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3, he has always been in news for the wrong reason, so much so that there were rumours that he would be sacked for his Modi Kaka video, even before he could complete a year in office.
Related Read: Sanskari Censor Board Chief: 9 times Pahlaj Nihalani saved 'Indian culture'
Everyone involved in Vyapam?
With close to 48 deaths and around 2,000 arrests, which affected more than 1,087 people, Vyapam scam, which was unearthed in 2013, snowballed into the biggest scam of the year by 2015. Fingers were pointed at several biggies including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Governor Ram Naresh Yadav. No stone was left unturned to ensure that those guilty would be brought under the law, right from Special Task Force (STF) to CBI and High Court to Supreme Court, all were involved in the investigation.
Kejriwal's mastermind chalks out odd-even scheme
With a trial being conducted on December 31, come 2016, Delhi will have to follow the scheme initiated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, wherein residents would be able to ply their cars only on alternate days. This plan has been initiated to encourage people to use public transport in the capital and reduce the pollution level there.
India's 'Daughter' - pride or shame?
Adding to the list of bans in the country, India's daughter, directed by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, caused huge outrage in Parliament because the prime accused Mukesh in December 16 gang rape was interviewed by Udwin.
Related Read: India's Daughter: Prepare to be disappointed
Which Memon paid the price?
Yakub Memon's hanging can be rather termed as the 'most controversial' death of the year, from constant appeals to the Supreme Court and the President, to his appeal being turned down and Supreme Court opening it's door late in the night for the first time and a dramatic end to his life. However, controversies didn't end there, the divided opinion (read Salman Khan) created enough controversies as well.
Related Reads: 5 things you need to know about Yakub Memon and his connection to 1993 Mumbai blasts case
Lalit Gate at the doorsteps of Parliament
The alleged links between Sushma Swaraj and Lalit Modi over IPL scam, was one of the primary reason for the washout of Monsoon session of parliament.
Reservation creates noise, again
Whether the whole issue was created to stop reservation or intensify the demand for reservation is an answer that nobody knows, however Gujarat was up in arms demanding OBC status for Patels, wherein Hardik Patel had become their hero.
DDCA: Arvind Kejriwal vs Arun Jaitley
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal levelled allegations of corruption against union minister Arun Jaitley, after his office was raided. He claimed that when Jaitley was the president of DDCA in 2011, he "misused" his position. What followed was blame game over various aspects of the investigations, demand for resignation and filing of defamation case against Kejriwal.
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