Round The States

New Delhi, 10 April 2015

Andhra, Telangana Encounter

STATE POLICE TRIGGER HAPPY?

By Insaf

The two new States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have sent ominous signals to human rights’ activists across the country. The killing of 20 red sandalwood cutters and five alleged SIMI activists respectively by the police in two separate incidents has sent shock waves. The demand for a judicial inquiry is growing shriller, as the two States police version of the encounter has too many holes in it. While the Andhra police task force claims that the 20 woodcutters were confronted for smuggling wood in the Seshachalam forest and had attacked them, a witness has asserted that he was among eight people who were picked from a bus! While he managed to slip away, the seven met brutal death. Likewise, the Telangana police version that the five undertrials were killed while being taken to a Hyderabad court from Warangal jail after they tried to disarm the escorts and flee is not easy to digest. Remember, that only the other day, two SIMI activists had shot three policemen in Telangana. Was the killing of the five undertrials a revenge? The judiciary and agencies probing the cases, must note that the police force in the two States, (undivided Andhra Pradesh) holds the reputation of being brutal and notorious, in the backdrop of being involved in countering naxal insurgency. They enjoyed impunity to a large extent. But, it can no longer be the case. Accountability must be fixed and guilty punished. Rule of law must be enforced.        

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Kashmiri Pandits In Crossfire

Double speak. This is the best way to describe the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Government. The latest instance being of ‘efforts’ to relocate the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. On the one hand, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assures Prime Minister Modi of going ahead with the plan of setting up separate townships for the displaced Pandits in the Valley and on the other, states in the Assembly that there is no such proposal! He asserts the Pandits cannot live in satellite townships and will have to live ‘honourably’ together in society among Muslim neighbours. His reasoning: the Pandits are well settled across the country and only 10 to 15% may choose to return to the Valley on a ‘seasonal pattern.’ Not only is he playing to the gallery with National Conference, Congress MLAs and separatists protesting against the move, but is crossing swords yet again with alliance partner BJP, which is dead set on the separate townships. Sadly, the over 2.5 lakh Pandits who were forced to leave the Valley in the early 90s have got caught in the crossfire again. Will the Kashmir Government stop running with the hare and hunting with the hound.     

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BJD Sweeps Civic Polls

Odisha has again been swept by a cyclone. But this time it has brought cheers in the ruling BJD government. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s hectic campaigning in the civic polls has paid rich dividends. The party swept the elections in the eight civic bodies, mauling both BJP and Congress. Of the 129 wards, the BJD won 103 seats, as against Congress’ miserable 11 and BJP’s 12 seats. Apparently, the thumping majority in the municipalities is the third successive win in two years. In September and November 2013, the BJD had bagged 49 of the 66 and 15 of 20 seats respectively in urban local bodies. While the Congress is dejected and needs to introspect about its future, the BJP has sought to pass on the buck to use of “muscle and money power” by the BJD. However, that doesn’t diminish the fact that Patnaik’s popularity is intact despite the scams and scandals rocking his Government. More importantly, his State seems to send a clear message to New Delhi that the Modi magic simply doesn’t work here.

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Centre’s Focus On Arunachal 

Arunachal Pradesh may finally get the much-needed attention from the Centre. The north eastern State could perhaps start hoping for better infrastructure and additional security personnel particularly along the China border, if recent actions of the Government are any indication. With Prime Minister Modi scheduled to visit Beijing next month and the neighbour already setting the tone by asserting the boundary dispute over Arunachal is “huge” and “an undeniable fact,” New Delhi is getting its act together. As part of a review exercise, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju toured the inaccessible areas in Tawang, which have in the past seen maximum transgression by the Chinese Army. The Ministry has approved deploying 8,000 additional ITBP personnel along the border. Additionally, it has knocked at the door of the Finance Ministry to sanction big money for construction of 35 roads-- a proposal approved way back in 2008 but moving at snail’s pace. Guess, this time round things should get cracking for Modi to well-armed and confident to counter neighbour’s moves.   

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Delhi Wary Of AAP Govt?

Is Delhi getting wary of the Aam Aadmi Government? Is AAP no different from the other traditional political parties-- mired in individualism, greed for power, centralised authority et al? Such questions are doing the rounds in the nation’s capital since the expulsion of senior leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan. Worse, the tu-tu-mein-mein between Chief Minister Kejriwal and the dissidents is upsetting the voter who yearns for good governance as promised. However, energy appears to being spent in the wrong direction. Kejriwal is taking great pains to explain why the axe fell on his once trusted colleagues, to counter Yadav’s tour to garner support for “Swaraj Samvad” convention of rebel volunteers next week in Gurgaon. The latter claims it is to fulfil the goals of AAP set three years ago and that thousands of workers and volunteers have pledged support. Kejriwal has warned members from attending the Samvad. Murmurs of a split within the party are growing. Will there be an AAP-2?

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Marathi Films Row   

The BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra has had to change its script. It’s diktat of mandatory screening of Marathi films during prime time (6 and 9 p.m.) in multiplexes has been watered down to 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. This after a stink was raised over Culture Minister Vinod Tawde’s order of “one hall in every multiplex in the State would have to screen a Marathi language film in an evening show.” Multiplexes, he argued mete ‘step-motherly’ treatment to Marathi films by denying prime slots and claimed a go-ahead by the law department. While the Congress and owners have opposed conditions, columnist Shobha De’s criticism of the order and Chief Minister Fadnavis on Facebook has added masala to the controversy. She is now the villain of the piece, insofar as the Shiv Sena is concerned. It has protested outside her house and moved a privilege motion against her in the Assembly. However, partner BJP doesn’t want to go ‘saath saath’ and has disassociated itself. The direction has indeed changed. The big question is what will be the anti-climax?   ---INFA

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