Round The States
New
Delhi, 2 April 2016
Uttarakhand
Hot Potato
CONG-BJP
IN BATTLE OF
WITS
By Insaf
Uttarakhand is turning out to be hot
potato for both the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP.This sordid saga has its genesis
with nine Congress MLAs rebelling against Chief Minister Harish Rawat. With the
Congress perceivably coming into a minority in the 70 member Assembly, Governor
K K Paul called for a floor test on Monday the 28, forcing Rawat to get the
Speaker to disqualify the rebels. However, on Sunday evening the Union Cabinet
met and recommended imposition of President Rule. Pranab Mukherjee obliged. The
Congress moved the Uttarakhand High Court against imposition of Central rule as
the floor test was due within 24 hours.
Thus, the single bench called for another floor test on Wednesday and
allowed the rebels voting rights. Unhappy, with the verdict the two warring
parties moved the division bench this time. While Congress argued that once
disqualified the MLAs had no rights, the BJP on the other hand asserted that
once the State was under President’s rule and the Assembly suspended animation
no floor test could be held?
The entire drama, which has also
been laced with accusations of horse trading, underscores key constitutional
questions: First, can the Centre impose President’s rule prior to a floor test
in the Assembly? Two, whether the High Court can allow disqualified MLAs voting
rights? Three, can the court ask for another floor test even when the State is
under President’s rule and the Assembly is in animated suspension? Regarding
the first, the Supreme Court in the famous Bommai case had decreed that the
test of majority in an Assembly was the final word viz any elected government
and President’s rule cannot be imposed on the whims and fancies of the Centre.
Two, according to rules of business, the Speaker’s order is supreme in the Assembly
and disqualified MLAs, who become non-members cannot enter the House. The third
is an unprecedented tricky question as it’s for the first time that a floor
test has been ordered in a State where the Assembly is under suspension and
President’s rule is in force. The battle of wits between the Congress and BJP
continues. Who will come out trumps depends on which way the scales of justice
tilt on Wednesday next.
* * * *
Breather
In Manipur
The Congress seems to have wisened
up after burning its fingers by losing its governments in Arunachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand thanks to growing dissidence. In an adroit move the High Command
has replaced its PCC chief as 25-odd MLAs had raised the banner of revolt,
pushing the Okram Ibobi Singh government into a crisis. Recall, the Deputy
Chief Minister was wearing two hats as State Party president along with his
governmental duties. The rebels also demanded a cabinet reshuffle and sacking
of a few ministers. Moreover, they accused Singh of reneging on his promise of
shuffling his pack midway into his term. To douse the fire, some of the rebels
have been offered ministerial lolipops. It seems that this time around, the
Congress has adhered to the adage a stitch in time saves nine.
* * * *
Haryana
Jats Get Quota
Haryana succumbs to hooliganism and
mayhem. Its Assembly unanimously passed on Tuesday last the Haryana Backward
Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions)
Bill, 2016, which will provide reservation for Jats and five other communities
in government jobs and education. While the BJP government claims credit for
fulfilling a long-pending demand of the Jats and keeping its promise, Chief
Minister Khattar really didn’t have a choice or rather mettle to take on the
politically-dominant community. The Jats one could say had a gun to his head
and threatened to revive their violent agitation, which recall had paralysed
the State for 10 days in February and saw 30 persons killed, 320 *injured and
property worth hundreds of crores destroyed. The Bill, which includes five
other castes -- Jat Sikhs, Rors, Bishnois, Tyagis and Mulla Jat/Muslim Jat now
awaits Governor’s assent. However, the Bill has been challenged in court and
the fate of quota hangs in balance. But luckily for the Government the problem
if any, would not be its creation.
* * * *
Chhattisgarh
Attack
Is Chhattisgarh getting complacent?
Both administration and paramilitary officials fear so. This, after the latest
naxal attack in Dantewada district on Wednesday last, wherein a powerful
landmine blast blew to pieces a truck filled with para-military soldiers,
unarmed and not in uniform, and killed seven. The explosion left a massive
4-feet crater in the road, suggesting use of 50-60 kgs of explosive and worse
the attack was an “inside job.” Information of
troop movement was “leaked” as the CRPF men were travelling in normal,
non-force vehicle; not going for any operation but to nearby camp; there has
been no attack on that road and no advance road opening party used to be
deployed there. A court of inquiry has been instituted to trace the ‘mole’
either inside or outside and also question why the troops were careless. But
the Government must realise that Dantewada is no child’s play. Recall that in
2010, 76 CRPF personnel had been killed in an ambush. It must do more than
looking for faults elsewhere and put into action its slogan of inclusive
development.
* * * *
Delhi Sweet Budget
Arvind Kejriwal continues to be busy
doling out freebies. Following free electricity and water to the aam admi, Kejriwal in his Budget 2016-17
highlights that he has not forgotten the middle class. He has announced a roll
back of five per cent as VAT on all textiles and footwear including those under
Rs 500. This followed an agitation by the traders who were against this
additional levy. Trust Kejriwal to use this opportunity to take a jibe at the
Centre for failing to acknowledge its mistake viz-a- vis the imposition of one
per cent excise duty on gold. Asserted he: “When we do something wrong we take
it back.” This apart, Kejriwal and team have sweetened the deal for sweet and namkeen lovers, marble items, schoolbags
watches above Rs 5000 and Budget hotels, by reducing taxes. Pertinently, the
Chief Minister’s emphasis continues to be on upgradation of public transport,
health, social welfare and slum development. It seems his goodwill for
Delhiites will travel to neighbouring Punjab
where elections are due next year. ----INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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