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Round The States
New Delhi, 19 December 2013
‘To Be Or Not To Be’
DELHI AWAITS AAP DECISION
By Insaf
The famous opening phrase “To be or not to be” in William
Shakespeare’s play Hamlet could well be Arvind Kejriwal’s line in Delhi. While in the play
Prince Hamlet contemplates death and suicide, Kejriwal and his party members
are in a dilemma whether to form a government or not. Would it amount to the
same? The referendum on Government formation has expectedly got a mixed
response from Delhiites (if that can be ascertained). Some are for it saying it
has the voters’ mandate while others against, warning he shouldn’t trust either
the BJP or the Congress. Adding to the confusion is the Centre’s magnanimity,
by giving ‘some more time” to AAP to take a decision, despite Lt Governor
Najeeb Jung recommending President’s rule. Many may smell a rat, as there have
been umpteen occasions when Rashtrapati Bhavan has promptly accepted the recommendation
even before the ink has dried. However, the drama has to end. As it is, of the
18 conditions by AAP to both Congress and BJP, the former has said 16 need only
administrative decisions and have nothing to do with either Parliament or
Assembly. With lakhs of responses pouring in and 25 lakh copies of Kejriwal’s
letter distributed, AAP’s 28-MLA team has to take a decision. The drama should
not turn into a comedy. Monday, it shall be, says Kerjriwal. Let’s watch
whether like Hamlet, he would have sufficient reason to say that the
alternative might be still worse.
Meanwhile, Najeeb Jung has got cracking in setting the
system right. That’s what his first steps reveal. On Wednesday last, he put in
place rigid rules for nursery admissions for 2014-15 to make life easier for
harassed parents. The 20% quota for the schools’ management has been done away
with and efforts on to ensure that schools would admit only those kids which
live within a radius of six km. Of the 100 points in the open category of
admissions, the neighbourhood kids would get 70 points, 20 points for those
having sibling in the same school, 5 points each for alumni parents and
inter-state transfers. This apart, the admissions have been divided into four
categories--65% as open seats, 25% quota for weaker sections, and 5% each for
staff and girls. The move should usher in transparency. This apart, the Delhi
Development Authority has started to roll back the promises former Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit made on regularising colonies. Clearly, Jung is wasting
no time and in fact may well make life easier for AAP, if it chooses to take
over the reigns of the national capital.
* * * *
Maharashtra Onion Woes
Onion prices are now causing a stench in Maharashtra.
While the States which recently went through the Assembly polls may have been
impacted by the skyrocketing prices of onions, north Maharashtra
is facing a major problem with the prices being slashed. Farmers are protesting
on the streets after the wholesale price of the vegetable dropped from Rs 4,800
a quintal to Rs 1,000 on Monday last. The ruling Congress-NCP government of
Prithviraj Chavan is clearly worried as the simmering districts, including
Nashik and Jalgaon, are its traditional strongholds. Farmers’ are reported to
be organising themselves into small political groups as an alternative to the
big parties, blocking roads and forcing traders to shut shops. The Government
does have a lot more on its plate than it can handle and is looking up at the
Commerce Ministry to bail it out. Bring down, if not abolish, the minimum
export price for onions, raised to increase local supply during the past few
months. Fingers are being crossed that the Centre will oblige given that 2014
general elections are not far.
* * * *
States’ “Utterly Callous”
State governments sadly couldn’t care less about the
wellbeing of children. Not just hearsay, but proven in court. None other than
the Supreme Court has issued an ultimatum to States and Union Territories
to implement three laws, or face the risk of contempt proceedings. Clearly, the
administrative machinery has been “utterly callous” in regard to Right of
Children to Free Education Act, 2009, Protection of Rights of Children from
Sexual Offences Act 2012 and Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act
2005, as the court’s directive to implement these, issued in beginning January,
appears to be just on paper. The court noted that in many States, had not
appointed the chairman of the Commission, whereas in others members had not
been selected. Worse, many had defaulted by not even putting rules and
regulations in place. The court has thus put a fresh deadline of eight weeks
for the States and UTs to get their act together. Will they? Or give more
reasons for the judiciary to take over the powers of the Executive?
* * * *
Centre To Yield To Bengal?
There may be good news for West Bengal.
The UPA-II is learnt to veering towards removing Justice (Retd.) A K Ganguly as
Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission. Among others, Chief Minister and
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has been vociferous that Ganguly be
shown the door, ever since sexual harassment allegations were made against him
by a law intern as well as the Supreme Court committee saying he had “indulged
in inappropriate behaviour of sexual nature.” The party ensured that its MPs
protested vociferously against Ganguly during the winter session of Parliament.
They did by demanding that “he resign or be arrested or that President should
sack him.” Accordingly, the Government is preparing its case for Rashtrapati
Bhavan. If it informs President Mukherjee that a formal inquiry can be
constituted against Ganguly and that he refers it to the Supreme Court, then as
per the Commission Act, he can be removed. On his part, Ganguly refuses to
budge and has gone back to work after going on leave. Will he resign or be
removed and how soon, is the big question.
* * * *
UP Govt Gets HC Rap
There seems to be no end to Uttar Pradesh Government’s
troubles. After being rapped by the Supreme Court over the death of 40 children
in Muzzaffarnagar relief camps, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has got a hard
knock from the Allahabad High Court. On Wednesday last, the court stayed a
Government order which apparently gave Cabinet, State or deputy ministers
status to political supporters and near and dear ones. Worse, it issued notices
to 61 persons, who though not being actual ‘constitutional’ functionaries were
enjoying ministerial status and asked for their response within six weeks.
Additionally, the court has directed the Government to ensure that red beacons
are not used by persons with status of ministers, as per the apex court
directive early this month, which held that post and status of constitutional
functionaries cannot be equated with others. The SP Government will now have to
think of new ways to keep its supporters happy. Many were accommodated in local
bodies as chairman or vice-chair or made advisors to the Government and
accorded constitutional functionary status. What next?---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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