Round The States

New Delhi, 16 April 2016 

Honour Killings

MAHARASHTRA, TN TALK TOUGH

By Insaf

Maharashtra has changed the rules of the game for honour killings and khap panchayats. In one fell stroke, its Assembly has ended the menace of extra-judicial institutions such as caste and community panchayats, read khap, by unanimously passing the Prohibition of Social Boycott Bill. Undeniably, the credit for this goes to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis even as his BJP counterpart in Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar sees red. According to the legislation, any individual or group citing jaati panchayats would be dealt with an iron hand, including imprisonment of seven years and penalty of Rs 5 lakhs, or both who call for a boycott of a certain community or caste. The provocation could well be Raighad, wherein 42 cases of social boycott vis-a-vis inter caste marriage, worship rituals, lifestyles, dress and vocation are pending in this district alone. Is this the death knell of age old traditions in the name of caste and religion? Only time will tell.

Close on the heels of Maharashtra, the Madras High Court has put the Tamil Nadu Government on notice in regard to harassment to couples of inter-caste marriages. It has ordered that protection be provided to them. This follows public furore over the killing of a dalit boy in full public view in Thirupur last month for daring to marry a girl of the Thevar community. The court has directed the Jayalalitha administration to set up special cells providing a 24/7 helpline to register complaints, give assistance as well as protection by ensuing temporary shelters to couples and facilitate their rehabilitation. Further, funds should be kept aside to educate people about the scourge of honour killings and eradicating this evil. Moreover, as all police stations come under the umbrella of the electronically crime and criminal tracking network and systems, the government should examine the feasibility of auto-generated FIRs as soon as it receives complaints. Will the AIADMK supremo oblige in election year? 

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Bengal Under EC Watch

West Bengal is scrupulously under the Election Commission’s scanner. Not only did the poll watchdog remove the Kolkata police commissioner but undertook an unscheduled visit to the State on Thursday last, ahead of the second phase of voting, following several complaints about intimidation and violence of voters by the ruling Trinamool Congress in the first phase. The axe fell on the police commissioner on Tuesday last after the Opposition perused its complaints with the EC of his alleged closeness to Mamata Banerjee and “snooping” on its leaders, bureaucrats and journalists! While it is hoped the action will be a warning signal to other ‘compliant’ police officers, history shows that Bengal is famous for widespread intimidation of voters and violence. This time around, the Left parties are on the other side of the fence! The bigger question is whether the EC full team will restore confidence in free and fair poll? Given the State’s track record of violence in elections, it’s a tough call for Nirvachan Sadan.  

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Kerala’s ‘Sinister’ Tragedy?

Is there more than meets the eye in Kerala’s Kollam fire tragedy, which claimed 116 lives? Questions such as whether it’s a plain simple case of fireworks display going terribly wrong or was there a sinister design behind it are doing the rounds. While the probe so far clearly reveals political pressure being put on the administration to remove the ban on fireworks at the Puttingal Devi Temple with an eye on the May elections, there are reports that three cars laden with explosives – cylindrical sticks/pipes meant for high intensity blasts, were found near the temple! Were these meant to target those fleeing the temple area after the mega fire and impact adjoining buildings? The doubt has arisen as the administration rushed a bomb squad to the site to tackle the car explosives. While the Oommen Chandy Government has announced a judicial probe and ordered a Crime Branch investigation, the High Court has, other than banning the use of high-decibel crackers at places of worship between sunset and sunrise, suggested a CBI inquiry. But with elections round the corner, fear is that the tragedy as a prelude to it would get buried and a thorough inquiry lost. 

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More Trouble In J&K

It’s been a rough start for the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir. The Valley continues to be on the boil. First it was the NIT campus fracas and now tension prevails over the killing of four youth in Army firing in Handwara. Strict restrictions have been imposed in Kupwara town, where the protests continue. The firing followed protests, by now well-known method of stone-pelting, at an Army picket, after a video of a college girl on social media showed that she had been molested by the security forces and some local boys snatched her bag. The Army has done well to at least regret the incident and has ordered an inquiry. Recall, it has done so on earlier occasions too. But is that enough? A dissatisfied Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti flew down to New Delhi to complain to the BJP top trio-- Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Rajnath and Defence Minister Parrikar and sought an assurance of a speedy time-bound probe and exemplary punishment to the culprits. At the crux of the issue are two videos: one purportedly alleging molestation and the other of the girl denying it later. The Army will need to tread carefully. The confidence of the people in the new dispensation needs to be restored by both the Centre and State government. Sooner the better.

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Andhra’s Bollywood Connect

Andhra Pradesh is following Gujarat’s footsteps. If it was Amitabh Bachchan as the western State’s brand ambassador, the southern too is not behind. It has scripted for its tourism sector Bollywood faces of couple Ajay Devgan and Kajol. With Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu according top priority to this sector, he wants the celebrity couple to be part of his mega dream plans. Help woo global investors and have a world-class new capital of Amaravati, is the direction. Luckily, his venture may not be a flop. Apparently, Devgan is reported to have gone to Hyderabad “along with half a dozen investors,” already. This apart, he has evinced interest in projects such as a theme park and mini-digital theatres with small retail outlets attached in small cities and villages. Clearly, a boost not just for the State but for the film industry too! When the production will roll out is going to be keenly watched. Of course, both Devgan and Andhra Tourism should be given time to ensure they have a blockbuster.---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)