Round The States

New Delhi, 12 December 2014

Agra’s “Ghar Wapsi”

ANTI-CONVERSION LAW CRITICAL

By Insaf

Agra, world famous for its Taj Mahal, has got into national limelight this time for the wrong reasons. The conversion of Muslim families to Hindusim or “ghar wapsi” (homecoming) ceremony as the RSS-affiliates call it has set the cat among the pigeons. The Opposition grabbed the opportunity to accuse the Modi Government of spreading communal tension in the country through forced conversion by offering bribes. But the Centre has hit back as hard and asserted that conversion is not a simple issue and needs wider debate. “Freedom of faith cannot be a license for sustained proselytisation with help of foreign funds, which specifically targets the tribals and poor” it shot back, a clear hint of the debate cannot be one-sided. What about the conversions of Hindus over the decades, was a counter posed indirectly. However, what emerges from the debate in Parliament is that BJP’s agenda of for anti-conversion laws in all States as well as the Centre may well now be a talking point. Some States like Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh already have strong laws to prevent easy conversions through some form of inducement or fraud. There is need to have such a law across the board. The Agra incident has set the ball rolling. Aligarh, where the RSS affiliates prepare for more conversions this Christmas is bound to ignite more fire. How the country’s political class will douse it, is definitely worth a close watch.    

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Decriminalising Suicide Bid

The archaic law which makes suicide attempt a criminal offence shall soon be done away with, thanks to majority of the States being in agreement with the Centre. The ball had been set rolling way back in 2008, when the Law Commission had recommended that section 309 of the IPC, which prescribes a jail term of one year for those convicted of attempting suicide, be repealed. Its reasoning being that the attempt to suicide should be seen more as a manifestation of a diseased mind, which requires care and treatment rather than punishment. The Government sought the views of the States as the law is a State subject. While 18 States and four Union Territories supported the move, five States—Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Punjab and Delhi opposed it on grounds such as doing away with the law ‘would encourage farmer suicides’, ‘benefit suicide bombers in case of botched attempt’, ‘encourage people to sit on fast unto death’ etc. While a thought may be given, the overwhelming support prompts Cabinet nod and the IPC (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. How soon, is the only question? 

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Andhra’s ‘World Class’ Capital

Andhra Pradesh is going all out to develop a “world class” Capital, near Vijayawada. However, to ensure its grand plans fructify it has the daunting task of convincing landowners to join hands. Having completed six months in office, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is in a hurry to realise his dream. He has announced ‘a never before’ package for land pooling, wherein he promises it would be a ‘win-win’ situation for both sides—landowners and the Government. For the land that the owners including farmers give up, the Government will provide 1,000 sq yard plots at another place plus they would get a compensation of Rs 30,000-Rs 50,000 per year per acre for 10 years with a 10% annual hike. This apart, the Government will offer a relief package to tenant farmers and labourers who will lose their livelihood. Naidu’s package is targeted to counter his political opponents, who he claims are instigating the landowners against land pooling. His convincing skills are indeed on test.

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Unsafe & Incompetent Delhi 

Delhi has once again brought into sharp focus the lack of safety for women on the roads and streets of the nation’s capital. Worse, the rape of a woman executive in a taxi booked through Uber, sadly reiterates that the Government goes into a damage control mode initially and then conveniently forgets to overhaul the system. In a knee-jerk reaction it has banned Uber from operating in the city and proposes to prohibit all other transport/taxi service providers through web-based technology, who are not recognised, from providing such services till they get licence/ permission from the transport department. The question that arises is how were these transport/taxi service providers allowed to operate in the first place? If like Uber, other companies were carrying out their business in contravention of the Mother vehicle (MV) Act 1988, then who should be held responsible?   Recall two years ago in December, the horrific rape of a medical student in a bus, had the Government saying it would crackdown on unlicensed public transport vehicles and those running without clearance. It has done precious little. Big bucks and not safety seems to be its concern. 

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3 States Put On Alert

Three States—Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan have been put on high alert against terror attacks. Intelligence agencies have information as per intercepted messages that a group of six SIMI cadres are in touch with Pakistan-based elements which have tasked them to undertake a ‘big project’ read terror attacks in the country. Of the six cadres, five were those who escaped from Khandwa jail in October last and are learnt to be moving from one State to another—UP, Telangana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu--to escape surveillance. The agencies have released their photographs and other details as the group is suspected to be behind the blast near Pune’s Dadguesth temple in July, the Chennai railway blast in May and another blast in Bijnore house in September. While the red alert is specifically to the three States, attacks in other cities are not being ruled out. Hope the alert doesn’t go unheeded as has happened in the past. 

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Uttarakhand ‘Sunshine Destination’

Uttarakhand has bounced back to “normalcy”, claims the State Government. And this winter season shall hopefully prove it. With Chief Minister Harish Rawat deciding to continue with the Char Dham yatra--Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and Badrinath-- in winters too, facilities are in place to receive not only pilgrims but tourists as well to partake the best of Himalayan scenic beauty. Connectivity has been restored, roads improved and helipads being readied, after the flash floods of June 2013 wreaked havoc at Kedarnath. Traditionally, the pilgrimage is from May to October/November because the shrines get inaccessible due to heavy snowfall. Idols and symbols are hence moved to nearby temples which remain open during winters. And, this is now being tapped to make the yatra season “a year-long affair.”  Rawat has set a target of receiving at least five lakh pilgrims and tourists. The tourism department has got into a proactive mode to showcase the hill State’s exceptional beauty and promote it as a ‘sunshine destination.’ Start packing for the all-in-one trip? --- INFA            

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)