Round The States

New Delhi, 27 August 2016

Ruckus In Assemblies

STATES DESTROYING INSTITUTION

By Insaf

MLAs of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh need to hang their head in shame.  Proceedings in all three Legislative Assemblies witnessed bedlam and unruly scenes with members of the Opposition choosing to bulldoze their opinion rather that debate critical issues. On Tuesday last, dissatisfied with ruling BJP response to Una incident of Dalit bashing, Congress MLAs created a ruckus shouting slogans, threw bangles at the treasury benches and eventually 50 of them had to be evicted and suspended for the day. The same day, in UP Assembly the Speaker ordered the marshals to throw out the BSP, RLD, BJP and Apna Dal members who full-throated shouted slogans, rushed into the well of the House with placards and banners even before the proceedings began. This was their way of focusing on atrocities on dalits, safety of women etc!

In Himachal, BJP members unable to digest CM Virbhadra Singh’s counter charge that the CBI chargesheet against him was a ‘political witch hunt’ created a pandemonium. An angry member broke two microphones, strode towards the Speaker’s podium along with others and banged a file on the Secretary’s table! Recall, that last week DMK members were suspended for a week after they created commotion in the House. Making a mockery of what is described as ‘temples of democracy’ is sadly becoming the rule. Why can’t our politicians debate and stop yelling? In fact, the recent growing cases of hooliganism in the Assemblies are a dangerous trend. Take to the streets rather than destroy the institution, should be a message that needs to be sent to our political parties and its leaders.   

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Tribal Unrest In Tripura

Tribal and non-tribal rivalry raised its ugly head again in Tripura. Over 30 persons were injured in the clashes between activists and supporters Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) and local residents in different parts of the Capital, Agartala on Tuesday last. According to the police, during a rally taken out by the IPFT, a group of people ransacked some shops and set fire to some vehicles, “apparently without provocation”. The paramilitary forces had to be rushed in and section 144 imposed. While normalcy is said to be returning, the Manik Sarkar government needs to find a resolution: the IPFT, a tribal-based party, has been demanding a separate State ‘Twipra land’ by curbing out Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) from the State. While all parties are against any division of the State, Sarkar would do well to ensure development takes place in the right earnest and tribals don’t feel dejected. After all they are one-third of the State’s population!   

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Flood Fury

Flood fury continues to ravage north, central and eastern regions of the country. With over 80 people dead and lakhs displaced, the authorities are struggling with rescue efforts and evacuating people. Bihar is now the worst hit among other States Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. With 20 districts affected and several parts of capital city Patna flooded, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar rushed to New Delhi on Tuesday last seeking Prime Minister Modi’s help. He insisted that desilting the river Ganga was the only solution and that the ambitious Namami Gange project must pay special attention to his State. At the same time, he urged that the Farakka barrage in West Bengal be dismantled. While the situation, he claimed like others ‘was unprecedented’, the fact is it’s the same story year after year. The big question is why don’t Governments take appropriate action before the next monsoon season? Or for that matter ensure better synchronisation with the National Disaster Management Authority. When will we learn? 

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States Fudge Figures

Is Swachch Bharat mission a mere rhetoric for some States? Apparently so, if one goes by the latest report of National Level Monitors (NLMs), a group of retired civil and defence service officers and reputed NGOs. A field survey of 24.22 lakh households in districts in each State has revealed that figures in the Ministry of Sanitation’s website don’t tally with the numbers of toilets constructed in many States! The survey notes that the gap is as wide as 41% in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, 28% in Rajasthan, 27% in Karnataka, 23% in Gujarat and 19% in Jharkhand. The only silver lining is that States like Andhra Pradesh, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram, have a higher number of toilets. But then there is another statistic saying 48% of households which have latrines aren’t using these. The Ministry has written to the States along with copies of the NLM report and sought corrective action. Will they revamp their programme design and follow up action as desired or continue to indulge in fudging figures?

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TN’s Defamation Record

Tamil Nadu has earned the notorious distinction of having filed maximum number of criminal defamation cases in the country! Worse, by using the State machinery and the public prosecutor’s office. This shocking state of affairs has made the Supreme Court give a hard rap to AIADMK government on Wednesday last. “Chin up and face criticism” was its advice to Chief Minister J Jayalalitha. Hearing a case filed by the DMK, it had asked for a list of defamation cases filed by the State through the State prosecutor in the past five years. A broad count shows that 213 criminal defamation cases have been filed, of which 85 were registered against the DMK, 48 against DMDK, 55 against media persons, seven against the Congress and five against Dr. Swamy. “This is not the way… this is not the sign of a healthy democracy. This shows State’s control over the sanctioning authority and prosecutor’s office in filing defamation cases against opponents, media and political rivals,” observed the Court.

“If somebody criticises the policy of the government, if the person criticised is a public figure, he has to face it instead of using the state machinery to choke criticism,” the Bench warned. Whether Amma will heed the advice is debatable, but other Chief Ministers will do well to take a cue. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)