Round The States
New Delhi, 8 August 2013
Lokayukta Refuses Post
MAJOR EMBARASSMENT TO
MODI?
By Insaf
Gujarat Government appears to have unwittingly had its way
over the contentious Lokayukta issue! But should it be happy? On the face of,
it would rather be smarting under the rebuff it has got. On Tuesday last, the
Gujarat Lokayukta Justice (Retd) R A Mehta shot off a letter to Governor Kamala
Beniwal declining to assume office, despite the Supreme Court rejecting thrice
Narendra Modi government’s petition challenging his appointment. Mehta’s basic
argument being that a Lokayukta who is unwanted by the powers-that-be will not
get necessary support and cooperation; that with his objectivity and
credibility under question by both the government and public functionaries how
could he carry out the responsibility and function in the crucial post; and
that his findings and recommendations would always be under a cloud.
Undoubtedly, he is upset over the Government’s adamant and unacceptable behaviour—challenging
his appointment not once but thrice and worse showing reluctance to notify the
selection in the State gazette. As of now, Mehta occupying the seat looks very distant,
as the office he says has “lost all grace and dignity”. The post has bene lying
vacant since 2003 as Modi and the Government have been embroiled in an unsavoury
controversy over who shall be the State Ombudsman. The Opposition Congress has
taken up cudgels with the Modi Government over Mehta’s stance. It has accused
Modi of “suffocating constitutional institution and murdering democratic
traditions”. It has demanded that the Chief Minister to apologize to the
Governor and urged Mehta to change his decision. Will Mehta oblige is worth a
watch. Modi, at least will be doing so.
* * * *
Monsoon Havoc In Kerala
Monsoon has played havoc with Kerala. Unprecedented rains this week took the people
and the State administration by surprise, especially in Idukki district and Kochi. While 17 persons
died in landslides, the Kochi International airport had to be shut down for
29-hours sending flights and passengers into a tizzy. Besides, for the first
time in recent history, the Athirappilly waterfalls, known as India’s Niagra falls were restricted to tourists
with the water level at the Chalakkudy
River rising menacingly.
An unprepared Oommen Chandy Government called an all-Party meeting on Tuesday
last, and shall petition the Centre for adequate financial assistance under its
natural calamity relief fund. Till then, it has doubled the compensation for
houses completely damaged from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh and for partially damaged
houses from Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000. However, Insaf in Kochi
shockingly learnt that though New
Delhi had sanctioned a National Disaster Response
Force battalion way back in 2009, the State is only now going to provide five
acres of land to station the unit! When will our leaders learn that knee-jerk
reactions are no solution to handling disasters?
* * * *
TN Going UP Way?
Is Tamil Nadu going the Uttar Pradesh way? Reports from the
capital, Chennai do give such an impression. The AIADMK government on Tuesday
last, transferred the Tuticorin District Collector Ashish Kumar as Deputy
Secretary, Dept of Social Welfare and Nutritious meal programme. While no
reason was attributed, the timing gives a menacing clue. Kumar was shunted out
“hours” after he ordered a raid on sand mines in the area. It does resemble
what happened in UP, where Sub-divisional magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal stands
suspended for cracking down on the sand mafia in Noida. While Nagpal’s has
become a national issue, Kumar has accepted his transfer. Obviously, much to
the delight of the mineral mining and export firm company learnt to be
‘influential’. The raids revealed that the firm had been indulging in
large-scale violations—while it had a lease to excavate sand on four hectares
near the beach it was active in over 20 hectares of government land! While the
Opposition is up in arms, there is little that it would be able to achieve, in
the backdrop that Kumar will take up his new assignment. What is worrisome is
how many more officers shall pay the price for honesty?
* * * *
Big Shock To Manipuris
Manipuris have been led down, and that too shockingly. Both
the Central and the Manipur Governments have asked the Supreme Court to scrap a
judicial panel report of former judge Santosh Hedge, which had indicted the
Armed Forces for fake encounters and AFSPA’s gross abuse. In their affidavits
they have argued that the panel had embarked on a faulty procedure i.e. the
security personnel were asked to prove their innocence whereas the law stated
that the complainant had to prove his case. Therefore, they claimed that the
panel’s six sample cases of “not genuine encounters” were incorrect and the
action of the forces “well justified”. Additionally, the panel’s observation
that maximum force was used was too trashed, by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Recall that the panel was formed early this January to examine six of 1,500
cases of fake encounters as claimed by the Extrajudicial Execution Victim
Families Association and the Human rights Alert which had moved the Supreme
Court. What will be the court’s verdict
will throw more light on the case. However, till then the Manipuri families
affected can only pray and keep their fingers crossed.
* * * *
Andhra Blessed Sans
Protests
The Lord has indeed showered its blessing on Andhra Pradesh.
Notwithstanding the pro and anti-Telangana protests recently and in the past,
the State has been billed as the top most tourist destination in the country.
And, it is all thanks to the Tirupati Balaji temple, in the hill town of Tirumala near Tirupati in
Chittoor district. It has recorded 206.8 million domestic tourists last year,
with Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh following suit with 184.1 million and 168.4
million domestic tourists respectively. The statistics as given by the Tourism
Ministry also show that the Lord Venkateswara temple, attracts more tourists
than those to Taj Mahal in UP and the Ajanta-Ellora caves in Maharashtra.
However, the latter turned out to be a great hit with foreign tourists with 5.1
million people recorded, with Delhi
(2.3 million) foreigners and UP with 2 million next in line. Guess, the State
Government should consider praying to the Lord Venkateswara. His blessings may
help it ensure a smooth transition to Telangana.
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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