Sidhu came, spoke but did he conquer?

#navjot sidhu #punjab politics #AAP #Akalis #fourth front #bains

Jupinderjit Singh

After a long wait Cricketer, commentator, TV personality and ex-MP of the BJP, Navjot Singh Sidhu came before media , spoke but did he conquer? This is the question he left gapping after about 45 minutes of speech peppered liberally with his oft-heard Sidhuisms based on couplets and idioms.

For a man who chose to speak through his wife and MLA and namesake Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu for last over two years, the four time BJP MP revealed , to quote his own words, just  a trailer about the political happenings involving him for quite some time. 

He had remained mum like his well-guarded silence over several chapters of his life sports as well as political life. For instance, he is yet to reveal why he left India’s cricket tour of England mid-way over some tiff with the captian, Mohd. Azharudin. 

No kind of questioning and cajoling of all these years by media or others have cracked him up to reveal the secret.

Of the scores of issue he raised with thumping of chest and animated hand gestures at the press meet on Thursday, Sidhu’s speech can be summarised in three main parts.

One, that he was tired of being used as a decorative piece by his parent party-the BJP, the alliance partner-the Akalis and the prospective partner –the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).  Second , on his political plans, he left the media and the state residents with another 15 days of wait to reveal the future plans-whether he will float a party or not.

And the third and the seemingly most important and most stressed by him was that he has been sacrificing and will sacrifice anything for the preservation of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat. Sidhu gave examples of how he spurned offers of money, position and other attractions to continue his principled life where he puts the state above his  party and his own self. The third point is where the people of the state would like to know more from him.

Sidhu asserted to make any sacrifice for Punjab but in the same breath he answered a query on continuing with the Kapil comedy show. Pat came the reply, “I have been doing shows and politics earlier also.” It clearly means that he will continue to do so. Sidhu sand his wife, who is a BJP MLA from Amritsar –east continue to be members of the party. 

Sidhu has not resigned from the BJP. For him, all doors are open. His wife has been most vocal critic of the Badal led SAD-BJP government. She has been demanded breaking up of alliance. Sidhu too dwelt long on how Badals were a block in his dreams of making Amritsar city, a modern city. He used less harsh words for the BJP and by not resigning he continues to cling on to the party.  

Has he given enough indications about his intent to  Punjab voters. They are already caught in a three way poll fight. Will they want a fourth one in him?  Will he deliver in 15 days or like the Sidhu of past few years he will play the victim, the one who is persecuted by all and yet keep his options open. 

Sidhu has reversed his fortunes and what people said about him in his past. He was called a stroke less wonder by cricket critics. he went on to become sixer sidhu. he was called shy and introvert. he left it all behind by becoming a no holds barred commentator and speaker. Perhaps, he willtake cue from that. The wait for 15 days has begun.

(the writer is a special correspondent with The Tribune. This is his personal blog)

EOM

The making of Nishan Singh and victory of people over a criminal

Nishan Singh, sentenced to double life imprisonment in a rape and kidnap case, is the story of a young boy losing his way and seeking glory in crime. Belonging to a well-connected family, he lost his father and only sibling early. No fear of law and the desire to be a ‘bhai’ drove him to the extreme.
By Jupinderjit Singh & Balwant Garg

THE past has a way of catching up. When Nishan Singh, barely 19, abducted a minor girl from a downtown area of Faridkot on September 24 last year, beat up her parents, and opened fire at area residents, he thought he would have his way through his rich status, influence of a politician-uncle and “helpful” policemen. After all, he had a long list of criminal cases against him, including attempt to murder, and had already abducted the same girl, not yet 17, earlier as well and stayed with her for over a month. And there was no police action in any of the cases.
The victim and her parents thank the people of Faridkot for their support after her recovery on November 27, 2012. Tribune file photos
The victim and her parents thank the people of Faridkot for their support after her recovery on November 27, 2012. Tribune file photos

He was becoming some sort of a “folklore” in the city with his devil-may-care attitude towards law and society. He could have had his way, but for one thing — the people. Nishan forgot that a society may tolerate an individual like him only up to a certain point. Once the line is crossed, no matter how powerful the individual, society gets him.

The might of the people coming together to fight for the hapless parents of the girl, despite her contradictory statements, is what makes this case different from the hundreds of rape and kidnapping incidents. Those who knew the aggrieved family, those who were at the receiving end of the wayward Nishan and his friends, and people with a sense of justice dared to stand against the culprits and ensure that they are brought to book for their crimes.

No wonder, the landmark double life imprisonment awarded to Nishan Singh by District and Sessions Judge Archana Puri specially mentions the role of society. Perusal of the 119-page judgment in the September 24 case and the 58-page judgment in the June 25 incident makes it clear that it was a judgment for the people, of the people and by the people.
Nishan Singh being presented in court.
Nishan Singh being presented in court.

“The court must hear the loud cry for justice by society in cases of heinous crime of rape and respond by imposition of proper sentence. Public abhorrence of the crime needs reflection through imposition of appropriate sentence by the court,” the judge said.

She further ruled that in this case, family affluence and youthful excitement were the factors that led to the crime which traumatised the young girl, who shall be haunted by the memory. Coming down heavily on the increasing cases of rape and crime in the country, the judge noted: “Of late, crime against women in general and rape in particular is on the increase. A rapist not only violates the victim’s privacy and personal integrity, but also inevitably causes serious traumatising nailing of the victim for no fault of her. Rape is not merely a physical assault, but it is often destructive of the whole personality of the victim. A murder destroys the body, but a rapist degrades the very soul of the helpless female.”

The victim

The victim turned 16 this May, and at this young age she has already been in the centre of one of the most talked about rape cases of the state in recent times. She was held in captivity for two months at different times by a gang of criminals, and also conceived. From a small town, she has seen life in places like Goa and Chandigarh and has lived in the best of hotels (in captivity). She has also been to police stations and Nari Niketan, Jalandhar.

As per initial reports, she was close to Nishan Singh. The fact that she frequently changed her statements caused much confusion. But as stated in the judgment, she was under 16 and hence her consent or lack of it did not matter. She was at an impressionable age and physically incapable of defending herself. The judgment clarifies that the criminals forced her to toe their line, threatening to eliminate her family. It also states this was the reason why she did not raise the alarm even while roaming in public.

A big question mark stares the girl. Will she be able to live free of the incident? Will she finish her education? Will she get married? She has shut herself to the world. Will the society that stood by her, be there for her?

The criminal

In his statement before the court, Nishan Singh describes himself as an affluent and handsome boy with plenty of urban and rural property. He belongs to a respectable family that lives in a double-storeyed house in the posh Harindera Nagar, about 100 metres away from the Faridkot SSP’s residence. Known as a brat, he was on a crime spree for the last five years, but due to his wealth and political connections, no strict action was taken against him. He became a full-fledged criminal and his fearlessness made him brazen enough to drag a girl from her house in front of hundreds of people and inflict serious injuries on her family.

His father was a Captain in the Army and served with the prestigious “The Guards” regiment. He met with an accident early and was paralysed waist down. His friend and politician, Dimpy Samra, now a co-convict in the case, was associated with the family for long. The raw energy of Nishan, known for daring assaults on rival gangsters, may have been channelised into becoming a fine officer if his father was alive, believes a neighbour. But that was not to be. He was in class V when Nishan dropped out of Sanawar School, and later from a convent school in Faridkot, where the girl was his classmate.

Nishan suffered another blow when his only sibling, an elder sister, allegedly committed suicide at her in-laws house in Kotkapura. The unbridled love of his mother Navjot Kaur (also convicted) and Dimpy Samra, and plenty of cash saw him changing cars frequently, wearing the best of clothes and carrying expensive phones.

“He wanted to be a don,” says one of his close friends. “He would insist we call him Nishan ‘bhai’. He loved weapons and high-speed cars. He met with several accidents while performing stunts. He loved shooting and played violent video games,” he says.

Nishan gave freebies to his friends and stood by them, but never trusted anyone. “He had this particular trait. He never trusted anyone. If he was called for a movie or at some place by a friend or a girl, he would reach there before time and show himself only when he thought it was safe. He had stopped taking food from others. At ‘dhabas’, he would ensure the food was cooked in front of him,” his friend says, agreeing Nishan could have been stopped had the law been strict with him.

“He enjoyed the clout of his uncle. He learnt early that he could get away with crime as long as he was a juvenile. He got the patronage of senior police officers, due to which he got away even after urinating outside an SHO’s house and throwing bottles at a police station,” he says.

No wonder, the police initially defended him and said it was a case of elopement. It even released the picture of the girl with Nishan during their “wedding”. The police had to eat a humble pie as it had violated law by revealing the identity of the rape victim.

Was it elopement?

The defence argued that Nishan and the girl were in love and exchanged gifts and letters. She went with him willingly and no force was used. The judgment, however, said under Section 375, IPC, intercourse with a woman under the age of 16 fell within the purview of rape even if it was with consent.

The cases

Before kidnapping the girl on September 24, Nishan had committed 21 crimes. He had kidnapped the same girl in June 2012. The police had booked him for rape and kidnapping but neither did the society nor media take note of it. But the September 24 incident drew everyone’s attention due to the sheer brazenness of the crime.

People got together and launched a sustained protest against the accused. “It was because of this unique initiative that we succeeded in getting justice for our daughter,” says the victim’s mother, an LIC employee.

“I want her to overcome the trauma she underwent in the last 11 months. I want her to resume her studies,” says her father, a dealer of old vehicles. “I’m proud of my daughter. She is brave. Despite her tender age and legal grilling by advocates defending Nishan and others, she was unwavering,” he says. “I believe time is the best healer. She intended to appear for her matriculation examination this March, but the Punjab School Education Board did not allow her due to her long absence from school.”

The September 24 incident was the end of people’s tolerance and Nishan Singh met his nemesis,” says NK Jeet, an advocate and adviser of Lok Morcha Punjab, a voluntary organisation. Jeet fought the girl’s case and played a pivotal role in leading the protracted public agitation.

“Many victims of Nishan’s wrath joined hands, but several voluntary, social and religious wings also came together to root out such depravity from society,” says Buta Singh, a retired teacher and a member of the action committee formed to fight the gang.

“We salute the courage of the victim’s family that it did not relent despite many pressures,” says Bhupinder Singh Sangatpura, another action committee member.

Ravi Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner of Faridkot, says it’s important to show concern and sensitivity while dealing with public anxiety, but a better law and order situation is required to ensure women’s security.

Most of the culprits are in their early 20s. As adolescents are among the most vulnerable in the demographic group, the Punjab Legal Service Authority (PLSA) is educating school students about gender sensitivity, and imparting them moral and legal education to make them responsible, law-abiding citizens.

After establishing Students Legal Literacy Clubs in all government high and senior secondary schools and selecting 25 students in every school as its members, the PLSA is organising seminars and meetings in schools; educating students to desist from attitude or behaviour that brings them in confrontation with law; and take the help of law in day-to-day life while dealing with a crisis.

The PLSA is not relying on an official format. It holds question-answer sessions in which students raise all kinds of questions relating to routine problems they face in their social and family life, says Rakesh Mittal, secretary of the District Legal Service Authority. With the dictum “Ignorance of law is no excuse”, the young students are taught law in a simple language so that do not involve in any act which may jeopardise their future. “The aim of the legal literacy clubs is to spread legal awareness among youngsters and bring about a change in society. In our day-to-day lives, we encounter legal situations, therefore it is a must for us to know how to take the help of the law,” says Mittal.

HE CALLED IT LOVE
A picture taken from Nishan’s
A picture taken from Nishan’s
Facebook account.

June 25, 2012: Minor kidnapped by Nishan Singh.

July 27: Girl escapes; case of kidnap-rape registered against Nishan.

Sept 23: Nishan is seen sitting in VVIP gallery during Punjab Deputy CM's visit on the final day of Baba Farid Mela.

Sept 24: Nishan and his accomplices barge into girl's house, drag her by hair and bundle her into a car; shots fired into the air; multiple injuries inflicted on girl's family.

Sept 25: Public protests police inaction.

Sept 27: Nishan takes girl to Gurgaon; prepares fake documents.

Sept 28: Nishan leaves for Goa; DIG claims girl went with him willingly.

Oct 6: DIG releases wedding photos and letters “written” by the girl.

Oct 9: Massive response to district bandh call.

Oct 11: SSP, DIG transferred.

Oct 17: Police team dispatched to Goa.

Oct 21: Nishan arrested.

Dec 26: Police files charge sheet.

Jan 16, 2013: Charges framed against Nishan, 19 others

Feb 5: Hearing starts on day-to-day basis.

May 27: Court convicts 10 of the 20 accused.

The 10 convicted

Barring Akali politician Dimpy Samra, Nishan’s mother Navjot Kaur, and Pankaj Gautam, all the other accused in the case are in their late teens or 20s.

Nishan Singh (19): double life imprisonment for rape, kidnapping, causing grievous hurt, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

Navot Kaur (Nishan’s mother, 60): criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, armed with deadly weapon; sentenced to seven years.

Maninderjit Singh, alias Dimpy Samra (52), family friend: Conspiracy, kidnapping, armed with deadly weapon; sentenced to seven years.

Rajwinder Singh, alias Ghali (22), friend: kidnapping, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, grievous injury, rioting, armed with deadly weapon; sentenced to seven years.

Toofan Singh, alias Toofani (23), friend: kidnapping, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, grievous injury, rioting, armed with deadly weapon; sentenced to seven years.

Varinder Kumar, alias Dhalla (21), friend: kidnapping, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, grievous injury, rioting, armed with deadly weapon; sentenced to seven years.

Pardeep Singh, alias Poppy (20), friend: kidnapping, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, grievous injury, rioting, armed with deadly weapon; sentenced to seven years.

Bikramjit Singh, alias Bikram (27), friend: criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, member of unlawful assembly; sentenced to seven years.

Harsimran Singh Brar (25), friend: criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, member of unlawful assembly; sentenced to seven years.

Pankaj Gautam, alias Rinku (35), friend: criminal conspiracy and harbouring criminals; sentenced to seven years.

Bound by law, not emotions

The conviction of Nishan Singh and others is a big police success. We always try to perform our duty in accordance with the law. We try to reform first-time offenders, but to prevent the growth of such criminals, the role of parents and society is bigger than ours. The police is bound by law, not emotions. — NS Dhillon, ig, bathinda

JK Police and RTI MATTER OF CONCERN--Op-Ed published in The Greater Kahmir

JK Police and RTI
MATTER OF CONCERN
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN BETWEEN, COMMENT DR. MUZAFFAR BHAT, DR. SHEIKH GHULAM RASOOL, PAUL LA PORTE
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In a 12 December interview, Director-General of the J&K Police (JKP) Kuldeep Khoda was questioned by Tribune journalist Jupinderjit Singh about complaints that the JKP was ignoring RTI applications. At one point, Mr. Khoda stated that the Police “will not entertain [RTI applications] on investigations of any case,” explaining this information “could help the accused due to which the department generally discouraged such applications.”
The DGP’s stance is problematic. On one hand, it is correct that information shouldn’t be released if it will impede law enforcement. The J&K RTI Act of 2009 includes two such exemptions: Section 8.1.f, which exempts “ information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes “ and Section 8.1.g, which exempts “information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders.” On the other hand, the DGP’s sweeping ban on information on investigations is contrary to the RTI Act and a landmark High Court ruling for three different reasons.

The first reason is that exemptions are narrow and not universal. The first exemption only protects the identity of informants and those reporting crimes. The second exemption only protects information that might interrupt an ongoing investigation, ongoing pursuit of a subject, or an ongoing prosecution in court. All other information must be provided, especially if any of these activities has been completed or stalled. For example, a police report on an unsolved 10-year-old burglary is not exempt even if the file remains open, since there is no material investigation in progress. The Police must also record their justification for invoking exemptions in a case-by-case manner. In this regard, the Delhi High Court ruled in the case of Bharat Singh vs. CIC and Ors. In WP(C) No. 3114/2007 (note that CRTI 2005 §8.1.h corresponds to JKRTI 2009 §8.1.g):
“the mere existence of an investigation process cannot be a ground for refusal of the information; the authority withholding information must show satisfactory reasons as to why the release of such information would hamper the investigation process. Such reasons should be germane, and the opinion of the process being hampered should be reasonable and based on some material. Sans this consideration, Section 8(1)(h) and other such provisions would become the haven for dodging demands for information.”

The second reason the DGP is wrong is that there are “override provisions” that must be observed. First, Section 10 (the “Severability Clause”) requires the separation of “exempt” from “non-exempt” information. For example, the JKP may object to the release of a report containing an informant’s name under Section 8.1.f, but the Severability Clause requires the release of the rest of the report! In declassification, this is accomplished through “redacting,” where a black marker and a Photostat copy are used to generate final document missing only the “redacted” information (such as the informant’s name). Second, Section 8.3 (the “Sunset Clause”), requires the release of “information relating to any occurrence, event or matter which has taken place, occurred or happened twenty years before the date on which any request is made.” Thus, JKP records concerning incidents that transpired before December 1990 must be disclosed, even if they were generated afterwards. Finally, Section 8(2) (the “Public Interest” clause) permits the release information regardless of any exemption “if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.” The Severance, Sunset, and Public Interest Clauses override the aforementioned exemptions, and must be observed by the JKP.

The third reason is that good law enforcement requires transparency to shed light on stalled investigations. Ideally, criminals are always caught and punished, but this is hardly the norm in J&K. The JKP often conducts investigations and submits completed reports to the relevant authorities, but progress thereafter is often compromised by bureaucratic or courtroom backlogs, and sometimes political or bureaucratic meddling. When cases are stalled, the matters can stretch on for years and justice is ultimately denied.

In fact, we’ve all experienced stalled JKP investigations. In May 2004, Paul La Porte was briefly strangled by a drunken paramedic who had been caught stealing donated medicines from a charitable medical camp in Thial (Udhampur). The villagers intervened and the local police inquired, but did nothing more than warn the offender, who later threatened them. In September 2007, after conducting a tape-recorded sting showing corruption at the local State Financial Corporation branch, Muzaffar Bhat was clubbed in the face and limbs by policemen operating under the local Chadoora SHO. The Home Department inquired, the SHO was transferred a month later, but the matter was “swept under the carpet.” Later, in February of this year, Muzaffar Bhat and Shaikh Ghulam Rasool conducted a training programme in Branwar (Budgam). The local organizer (Nazir A. Ganai) had shown that the village ration shop was illegally overcharging. The shop’s patron organized a mob who slashed our car’s tyres, chased us into the forest with iron bars and an axe, and later lodged false FIRs alleging we had molested women and stolen gold ornaments. The CID completed its report a few weeks later, but the concerned are protected by a political patron representing the area, and the case has been stalled before the DM for the past 10 months! The JKP denied our request for a copy of this report, even after a First Appeal copied to the DGP himself.
Doubtlessly, there are thousands of other similar cases where investigations have been stalled for political purposes or laziness, leaving police reports to gather dust in cupboards, hidden from the scrutiny of victims and the public at large. This is a gross injustice to the victims, a major failure by the JKP to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, and a key contributor to the lawlessness, corruption and official impunity found in our state, especially in the rural areas. The DGP must recognize that that it is in the victim’s and in public’s interest to release information on stalled investigations and prosecutions.

If the DGP has any doubts, he can consult with RTI experts such as the recently retired Chief Information Commissioner of India (who was a J&K-cadre IAS officer) or those with NGOs such as Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. The DGP’s office could also examine the excellent RTI practices of the State Vigilance Organisation, which has maintained a webpage listing RTI applications received & their disposal. Most of 65 applications they’ve received concern specific investigations, and information was usually provided. (see: http://jkvigilance.nic.in/Information%20RTI.htm). If the SVO can implement RTI correctly, then surely the J&K Police can do the same!

Finally, we call upon the DGP to address the epidemic of attacks on RTI users and activists. We have documented seven such incidents, and there are likely others hidden from view. In every case, information on RTI applications (ex. applicants’ names, addresses, mobile numbers) was passed on to criminal elements who used threats and physical attacks to try to silence RTI users and activists. Sometimes, the local police have also been implicated. In an incident last month in Khag (Budgam), an RTI user was attacked after showing corruption at the ration shop. The concerned SHO flatly refused to register an FIR for 24 hours until senior police officials intervened. A delegation of our Jammu colleagues met with the Governor N. N. Vohra on 8 December, and it was agreed that steps must be taken so that RTI users and activists can feel safe filing exercising their rights. We specifically recommend the appointment of a senior, nodal police official with a dedicated hotline who is responsible for pursuing incidents stemming from RTI applications; this person should be interested in RTI and free from the local influences that have allowed previous attacks to go unpunished.

Despite our criticism of the DGP’s statements, we’d like to highlight that the JKP is one of the few government bodies to release its information booklet under Section 4.1.b. (See: www.jandkpolice.org). We also applaud the DGP’s statement that RTI applicants are “welcome on seeking information regarding the crime data and figures,” since it reveals an attitude of transparency. Nonetheless, the JKP’s stance on information of investigations is bad in law and contrary to court rulings, and must be revised. We also call upon the DGP to develop a plan to address and prevent attacks on RTI users and activists so that people can exercise their democratic rights without fear.

(The authors are RTI activists with the J&K RTI Movement. Website: www.jkrtimovement.org E-mail: muzaffar@jkrtimovement.org)
source :http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2010/Dec/21/jk-police-and-rti-24.asp

we, the public made IPL above India

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100528/edit.htm#7


IPL gain is World Cup loss
by Jupinderjit Singh

We all cheered the sixes and fours in the IPL. We sat up late in the night to watch Hayden, Dhoni and above all Tendulkar and turned up late and dizzy in offices to do work that mattered. None of us complained about the IPL and none of us bothered to ask would the players be fit for the T-20 World Cup and would we also be fit to see so many cricket matches?

I had to visit an ophthalmologist to get a lubricant for my dry and tired eyes strained by the IPL. I am sure many others must have complained of the same and I know some in my immediate circle. I also gained weight sitting like a couch potato, munching food and watching non-stop cricket.

I and millions of viewers can get tired but how can players complain of that? When watching cricket can tire just one sensory organ of the body, we should have spared a thought for the players whose whole body and mind is taxed 24x7.

No, we did not think of that and we don’t want to think of that. Players for us are robots, life-like animated heroes, who will keep on performing day in and out, like the ones in video games. How can they be tired? We question once they start losing.

And then our favourite time-pass is to ask for blood. Let the heads roll, we demand. And the heads sought are of those who are the actors on the stage of cricket, not those who direct the shows, organise the matches and fix the itinerary that leaves no breathing space for the actors. They seem to be put in a mill, supposed to churn out one brilliant performance after another. Those, who don’t, need to be hacked.

We make the IPL a success by paying for tickets and cable TV. We give them time and energy and pack the stadiums. We raise the TRPs and hence more advertisements and more money for the game. We, the people, don’t realise we need not fill the stadiums as that should be reserved for Indian cricket team matches.

We looked and marvelled at the cricketers hitting one sixer after another without realising the boundary in IPL matches is less than the boundary earmarked for World Cup matches. That was not true cricket but we, the experts, don’t realise that.

The five wise men at the helm of selection affairs will not realise in T-20, a bowler who goes for 10 runs an over and doesn’t score, would also be inferior to an all-rounder like Irfan Pathan, who may go in for 12 runs an over but would score quick 30 or 40 and take bouncers chin up.

The five wise men will not realise that a so-called great bowler would continue receiving the ball in front of wickets for donkey years instead of behind the wickets to affect a runout. They will also not enforce the cardinal rule for the players that one has to dash straight to the other end for a run and not go diagonally increasing the distance and losing the wicket.

Such things would not be told and talked. Instead, we make the gladiators bleed and turn our back to them when they need nursing and care. We don’t talk about re-formatting the IPL matches in such a way that players get time to recover.

Let this be the opportune time to decide the issue once and all. Let us, the public, vow, not to make IPL matches a huge success that it overshadows competitions like the World Cup.

Let us tell the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) that IPl matches need to be reduced by half or fix no player would play more than eight matches in the entire tournament. Let us boycott those matches and schedules which can have a direct conflict with the international prestige of Indian cricket. It starts with the public and it ends with the public only.