Round The States

New Delhi, 23 April 2016

Uttarakhand Fiasco

CENTRE’S EMBARASSING SETBACK

By Insaf

Prime Minister Modi and team BJP has had to eat crow with its adventurism in Uttarakhand.  By quashing the imposition of President’s rule in the State, the High Court must even make Rashtrapati Mukherjee squirm and go pink with embarrassment. For the two-member bench of Chief Justice was bitterly harsh in its indictment of the Centre. It accused the Modi government of “undermining the foundation of federalism”. And revived the elected government of Harish Rawat and asked him to take a floor test on April 29. The court made it know that “toppling of an elected government... breeds cynicism in the hearts of citizens who participate in a democratic system...” Indeed, a hard knock for the government, which has been talking of inclusive federalism. In fact, its punches were sharp on several counts throughout the hearing. One, it was clear that the President’s decision to suspend the Assembly was “open for judicial review” as even he can go “horribly wrong”. Two, it questioned the style of functioning of the Centre following the allegations it made against the Speaker. Three, it sent a terse message to the Governor saying the person should be “non-partisan”, not an “agent” of the Central government. Four, it questioned the Centre’s concern about disqualification of nine MLAs and fears of ‘horse trading’ by saying it was “totally extraneous” for the GOI to interfere in the affairs of the State and that the “root of the matter is you (Central government) are “cutting at root of democracy.” At the same time, it warned the nine MLAs that they would have to pay for their “sins”. A badgered Centre is now appealing before the Supreme Court. Wonder whether it would get a face saving?     

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Drought-Hit States

Loud warning bells are ringing across the country as over a quarter of the population, i.e. 33 crore people, are in the grip of drought, agricultural distress and face drinking water shortage. No hearsay, but figures reeled out by the Centre to the Supreme Court on the basis of statistics submitted by 10 States. Of 678 districts, 254 are reeling under drought, with number of villages being a whopping 2.55 lakh. States affected include: 50 districts of 70 in UP, 46 of 51 in Madhya Pradesh, 21 of 36 in Maharashtra, 27 of 30 in Karnataka and 22 of 24 in Jharkhand. Shockingly, the list omits the crisis in Bihar, Haryana and (which itself had admitted to 637 villages facing severe water shortage). The Centre has claimed it has released Rs 12,000 crore to affected States and passed on the buck to the latter to provide necessary relief at the ground level. While Maharashtra has got cracking and sent water trains to Marathwada region and decided not to issue new sugar mill licences, other States would need to spell out their action. Sooner the better!

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Pvt Medical Colleges Warned

Three cheers to students in Odisha’s private medical college. They have given a ray of hope to all those across the country facing harassment in their colleges because of mismanagement viz Medical Council of India. On Tuesday last, the Supreme Court ordered that medical college managements will have to cough up compensation to students if the MCI refuses to grant approval to the college over lack of adequate infrastructure and facilities. It was hearing a case, wherein the MCI had withdrawn approval to Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital set up by Tamil-Based Selvam Education and Chaitable Trust in Kalahandi and 124 students of the first batch of MBBS were left in the lurch. Directing that students must be compensated, it asked the Trust to deposit Rs 2 crore in the registry, irrespective of the legal college-MCI battle. It also directed three private medical colleges to accommodate these 124 students, and even warned its students from trying to prevent their admission. Warning bells for private medical colleges indeed.

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Karnataka’s Political Vendetta?

Political tit-for-tat never ends, at least in Karnataka. With the Opposition heat on Congress Chief Minister Siddaramiah over his ‘expensive watch’ and son’s alleged firm deals, the Congress has decided to hit back equally hard. The target is BJP former CM, B S Yeddyurappa, recently anointed State party chief. Though the Government dithered in the beginning, it has now decided to knock on the Supreme Court’s door and file a SLP against the dismissal of 15 corruption cases against BSY by the Karnataka High Court order. Recall that court had in January quashed proceedings in 15 FIRs registered by the Lokayukta police against Yeddyurappa for denotifying land in Bengaluru in favour of big private parties during his tenure from 2008 to 11. The BJP is screaming oft-heard ‘political vendetta’ and party in power is denying it. Haven’t we heard it all before? Be that as it may, how far both sides will go to score brownie points is worth a watch. Corruption in high places needs exposure.

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Andhra’s Population Boost

BJP’s partner, the TDP in Andhra Pradesh would make New Delhi see red. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has openly held a counter view to that of the Centre. He has reiterated that there is need to promote population growth in the country, and that focus should shift from population control to population promotion! The reason he gave was that even the trend has changed in counties like Japan and China, which are facing problems because of an aged (or ageing) population. They are now promoting population and “we should do the same.” However, the Centre is concerned about rise in population and has been keen on a two-child norm to contain the growth. Whose opinion will finally prevail is to be watched. However, Naidu can go ahead with his ideas. Will Andhra support a baby boom in the State?

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N-E In School Books

North-East may no longer feel alienated from the rest of the country. The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has decided to prepare textbooks on the eight States’ life and culture. This, to fulfil the Centre’s bid to woo the N-E and carry forward its concept of “social integration”. The HRD Ministry has spearheaded the idea that the books shall be prescribed as ‘supplementary reading’ for school students. New Delhi is hopeful that if young minds across the country read about life and culture of the North-East, the problem of social discrimination and alienation amongst its people and youth may be eventually be erased. However, the big question is how soon will these books be ready and which classes would these be tailored for. The scheme should not just remain on paper, as is the case of many others announced by the Centre. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)