Home arrow Archives arrow Round the States arrow Round The States 2013 arrow Meet On Public Order: CMs SKIP, SNUB CENTRE, By Insaf, 18 April, 2013
 
Home
News and Features
INFA Digest
Parliament Spotlight
Dossiers
Publications
Journalism Awards
Archives
RSS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meet On Public Order: CMs SKIP, SNUB CENTRE, By Insaf, 18 April, 2013 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 18 April 2013  

Meet On Public Order

CMs SKIP, SNUB CENTRE

By Insaf

 

States are getting wary of the Centre overstepping its jurisdiction. This was a message loud and clear sent out on by many governments at the Conference of CMs on the 5th Report on ‘Public Order’ of the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), held in Delhi on Tuesday last. The meeting which discussed various recommendations of the Commission on issues such as police reforms, management of public order, reforms in criminal justice system, federal crimes and special laws, etc sadly had a very poor attendance—only seven Chief Ministers, less than the number of Union Ministers present! Construed as a snub, most CMs gave it a miss, perhaps saying a big No to the Centre’s interference in State matters.  While many, through their representatives expressed their commitment to strive for better policing, they were firm that the States could not go along with number of suggestions, including the one wherein the Centre could intervene during a law and order situation without requisition from the concerned government.

This, according to the CMs “seriously infringes” upon the States' powers or to say the least commits “excessive interference” in States’ affairs. Some others voiced concern over recommendations being “outdated and impractical.” However, Bihar seemed to have hit the nail on the head. CM Nitish Kumar’s speech read out is worth a quote: “….if some people or institutions thought that powers of an elected government needed to be curtailed vis-a-vis police reforms, they should rather press for a constitutional amendment to remove police and public order from the administrative control and legislative purview of States and give powers and responsibilities to the Union government…” While it’s certain the Centre would have made a note, the big question is will it tread carefully or continue to run amuck of the federal structure?

 *                                                          *                                               *                                   *

Terror Strikes Bangalore

Fierce campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka may take a hit, despite the Centre’s confidence that there would be no delay in the May 5 election. On Wednesday last, powerful IEDs strapped to two-wheelers exploded near the BJP’s office for ticket distribution in the capital city, Bangalore, injuring 17 people. The Union Home Ministry is certain the terror attack was a handiwork of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), given that it targets crowded areas. The BJP office had been drawing crowds this past week but fortunately it started thinning as the ticket distribution ended in the morning. However, the blast comes close on the heels of the one in Hyderabad, in February in which 18 people had died, putting a big question mark on the country’s intelligence apparatus. While no specific alert was handed out, the Centre claims that it had warned governments that there could be attacks in metropolitan cities! Surely, it is time there is better coordination than just giving out alerts. This apart, the political leadership at the Centre would do well if it refrained from politicising the issue. A senior Congress leader’s tweet that the blast “will certainly help” the BJP’s prospects in the election is in bad taste. With elections less than a month away, both the State and the Centre should work together to ensure the confidence of the candidates and voter is not shaken.    

*                                                           *                                               *                                   *

SAD ‘Doublespeak’ On Bhullar

The Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab finds itself on a sticky wicket over seeking clemency for Delhi blast case convict Devinder Singh Bhullar, on the death row. While Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and son, Deputy CM, Sukhbir have been trying to push New Delhi to heed to their request in the “national interest and in the interest of peace and communal harmony in Punjab in particular’, the past record puts a question mark on the intent. It comes to light that in 2009, it was the same Government which filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, seeking quashing of the Punjab & Haryana High Court order of instituting a CBI inquiry on Bhullar’s petition that the present Punjab DGP had “eliminated” his father and maternal uncle in 1991. In its affidavit, the Government had described Bhullar as “terrorist” and a “hardcore and experienced criminal…having well-organised international support base”, who would misuse the order to victimise dedicated police officers… The apex court had then put aside the HC order, much to the SAD government’s relief. However, with the same Supreme Court rejecting Bhullar’s petition for the commutation of death sentence, the duo should think twice before filing a review petition. Instead, focus should clearly now be on how to “control emotional damage” as feared and ensure law and order in the State. 

*                                                           *                                               *                                   *

Haryana Dalits’ Tragedy

Haryana may very well boast of being one of the most developed States, but when it comes to safeguarding its Dalit community it score card could well be a miserable zero. On Tuesday last, the State administration got a hard knock from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for recurring attacks on Dalits. The latest being on Saturday last, when some 100-odd Dalit families had to flee their Village Pabnawa in Kaithal district following a brutal attack by a mob of 400 people belonging to the upper caste community, Rod, after a Dalit boy “dared” to marry one of their girl’s. Some 80 houses were ransacked, women humiliated and many injured in the horrific attack, which ironically took place on the eve of the 122nd birth anniversary of Dalits’ messiah Babasaheb Ambedkar. While 13 persons have been arrested, the injured given compensation and heavy security deployed, the Dalit families refuse to go back to the village. The big question being is this reassuring enough? Clearly not, till the State government gets its act together. For starters, it must adhere to the Commission’s guidelines, which asks all States “to convene vigilance and monitoring meeting to stop atrocities against lower castes every three months and access the prevailing situation.” If not, then it would end up hanging its head in shame for many more Pabnawa’s!

*                                                           *                                               *                                   *

Of Girls & Trees in Rajasthan

A tiny village in Rajasthan deserves a salute. If its model of saving the girl is adopted by all States, a dreadful practice in the Indian society may soon ebb. The panchayat in Piplantri village in Rajsamand district, believe it or not, plants 111 trees every time a girl is born! The evidence is in the “quarter million trees” planted in the last six years, as per a report. In the village every year around 60 girls are born on an average. However, according to the sarpanch half the number of parents is reluctant to accept the baby girl. These parents are identified by a village committee, who then collects Rs 21,000 from the village community and another Rs 10,000 from the girl’s father. The princely amount of Rs 31,000 is then put into a Fixed Deposit for a period of 20 years in the name of the girl. However, there is a rider: parents have to sign an affidavit that they would get her married as per legal age, send her to school and take care of the plants. Thus, not only is the girl child assured her rightful place but the green cover around the village has increased, as well as villagers earn money from the products made and marketed from the Aloevera plants. Indeed, every reason to emulate.  ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

< Previous   Next >
 
   
     
 
 
  Mambo powered by Best-IT