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Round The States
New Delhi, 30 January 2016
President’s Rule In
J&K & Arunachal
CENTRE CAUGHT IN A MAELSTROM
By Insaf
The BJP-led NDA Central Government is caught in a maelstrom after
it invoked the controversial President’s rule in two crucial strategic border States, Jammu
& Kashmir in the north and Arunachal Pradesh in the North-East. While the
first was a result of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s demise leading to the
State Administration being in a limbo as his daughter and PDP President Mehbooba
Mufti was in mourning. Now, Mehooba is holding her cards close to the chest and
has yet to disclose whether she will take her father’s place and continue to
ally with the BJP in running the State, call for fresh elections or form an
alliance with the Opposition Congress given her closeness to Sonia. The stumbling
block between the allies seems to be Mehbooba wanting strict adherence to the Common
Minimum Programme. Also the PDP has sought assurances from the BJP vis-à-vis withdrawal of the Armed Forces
Special Powers Act from two districts and troops removal from non-Government
buildings. Leaving the Saffron Sangh no option but to wait it out.
On the obverse, the BJP finds itself in hot waters with the
Supreme Court asking the Centre to clarify the urgency in imposing President’s
rule in Arunachal Pradesh following the Congress and its dethroned Chief
Minister Nabam Tuki crying foul. In an unprecedented move, a five-judge Constitutional
bench asked the NDA Government to place before it Governor Jyoti Prasad
Rajkhova’s report citing the collapse of law and order in the State. In his
defence, the Governor has enclosed photographs of cow slaughter outside the Raj
Bhawan, open threats to him and his family by the Chief Minister and Congress
MLAs, refusal of bureaucrats to submit any report to his Office without
clearance from the Chief Minister etc. Importantly, Rajkhova has accused the
Congress Government of calling him anti-development and anti-tribal. On his
part, the Chief Minister and the Congress blame the Governor of trying to split
the Party and install a BJP-led Government with 21 Congress rebels and
Independents. Notwithstanding, the BJP accuses the Congress of the pot calling
the kettle black, it finds itself on the back foot as it has to satisfy the Court
the urgency of imposing Central rule, given the Court was already seized of the
matter. All eyes are on the Bench as it pronounces its judgment.
* * * *
Who Sacks A Governor?
Meanwhile, the Apex
Court has sought the Central Government’s
clarification on who can demand a Governor’s resignation as it hears two
petitions filed by former Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi and his counterpart
in Puducherry Virender Kataria. Pointing out that there was no written
communication to the Governor, the Court wondered under what circumstances the Union
Home Secretary had called the States’ Constitutional head. Refusing the Central
explanation that the senior bureaucrat had merely sought the Governor’s opinion
in a “friendly” manner, the Bench questioned how any body could pick up the
phone and asked a Constitutional functionary to quit. Terming it a “very
serious matter”, the Court has threatened to lay down a format for
communication with high Constitutional dignitaries. Predictably, the Centre finds
itself caught between a rock and hard place.
* * * *
Chandy Singed By
Solar Scam
From sex to solar scam, Kerala seems to be fast earning the
ignominy of a State riven by scandals. This time round, the Chief Minister Oommen
Chandy is in the eye of the storm, accused by a solar firm Team Solar Renewable
Energy Solution’s of accepting a bribe of Rs.1.90 crore to facilitate the
setting up of a mega power project in the State. Recall, the firm set up in
2011, got mired in controversy when its owners were arrested for duping
investors of crores for the project in 2013. Following this one of the owner’s
squealed that she had met Chandy three times and had paid the first installment
of Rs. 1.10 crore in December 2012 and the second in May 2013. In his defence,
Chandy denies the allegations by asserting that there was no need for the
company to pay a bribe as it was not getting any financial benefit from his
State Government. However, the judicial commission probing this scandal has
refused to accept the Chief Minister’s testimony and has ordered the filing of
an FIR against him. Predictably, adding to his woes the Opposition parties are
demanding Chandy’s resignation. All eyes are now on the Congress’ next move.
* * * *
Brewery Fumes Hit Goa
From God’s own country to salubrious Goa
wherein the BJP Government finds itself in a whirlpool of corruption, all over
the felling of coconut trees. The scam has its genesis in the amendment to the Goa, Daman & Diu Preservation of Trees Act 1984 which
was amended in 2008 to include among other, non-felling of coconut trees. For
reasons best known to the State Government, the Act was amended post haste
which allowed chopping of coconut trees without permission. Giving rise to questions
over the amendment’s timing as it comes barely three weeks prior to the State administration
notifying a 12-hectare 500 trees coconut orchard for industrial use to set up a
distillery and brewery, resulting in denuding the grove. It remains to be seen
if this scandal will be drowned in the liquor fumes!
* * * *
Nitish Withdraws
Cases Against Lalu
The bonhomie between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and
RJD Chief Lalu Yadav seems to be cementing. In the last 15 days, the State
Government has suddenly withdrawn two cases against the maverick Lalu. One, for
preventing a Government-appointed photographer from shooting a RJD road show
during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Two, the Patna High Court has reversed a
case against 265 RJD workers including Lalu and his Ministers sons Tej Pratap
and Tejaswi relating to a bandh call
last year. Making the Opposition BJP to cry foul: Will the fodder scam be
withdrawn next?---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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