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. 

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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.    

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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.

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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.  

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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

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