Round
The States
New Delhi, 24
September 2016
Water Waters
SEVEN STATES DEADLOCKED
By Insaf
Rivers across India are on
fire. Karnataka is just one State which is on the boil albeit with self
immolations, strikes and violence following the Supreme Court’s order to
release 15000 cusecs of Cauvery waters to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Pertinently,
seven others States too are in the throes of fighting over H2O. Odisha is protesting against Chhattisgarh’s
project on the Mahanadi forcing Union Water Minister Uma Bharti to intervene and
broker peace, Punjab has refused to provide Sutlej
waters to Haryana, Supreme Court order notwithstanding. This has resulted in a tu-tu-mein-mein between Chief Minister
Badal and his counterpart Khattar. Telangana wants the Central Water Tribunal
to revise the Krishna waters allocation to Karnataka, Maharashtra
and Andhra Pradesh. Even as Jayalalithaa’s Tamil Nadu demands more water from
Karnataka it is resisting Kerala’s move to build a dam across the Siruvani River
to quench Coimbatore’s
drinking water problem. Both Odisha and Chhattisgarh are in a deadlock with
Andhra Pradesh over the construction of a dam on the Godavari River.
They claim that over 10,000 villages in both States would be submerged due to
the project. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah has refused
release of further water to Tamil Nadu by stating the State is heading for
drought and has called an Assembly session to decide on the matter. The outcome
is a no-brainer: The MLAs’ will resolve not to release further water to its neighbour.
All eyes are affixed on how the Supreme Court handles this vexatious issue.
* * * *
Silent Marathas Rattle Government
From caste quotas to cries for
reverse discrimination is the new battle ground in the reservation war. On the
heels of the upwardly mobile Patel’s demanding reservation in Gujarat it is now
the turn of the Maratha’s wanting a share of the quota pie in Maharashtra. Over
the last 40 days the community has been taking out Muk Morchas or silent rallies to get themselves heard by the ruling
BJP-Shiv Sena Government. The Marathas anger stems from two reasons. One,
thanks to the Scheduled Castes/Schedules Tribes Atrocities Prevention Act,
these communities are not only eroding their political clout but also hurting
their job prospects. With both the Congress and NCP goading the Marathas, a
rattled Chief Minister Fadnavis has committed to providing reservation to the community
in education and Government jobs. Further, to prove his bonafidies and appease
the Marathas, the Chief Minister has appointed a Shivaji descendant and Rajya
Sabha MP as the State’s tourism ambassador. However, things have come to such a
pass that the political Establishments is clueless about which way the Marathas
anger will blow. Either which way the community’s silent rallies has sent a
loud message to our politicians.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring
Karnataka the appointment of a Chief Secretary has become a bone of contention
between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress’ First Family Gandhis’. All
over whether a Backward or a Dalit should be the top bureaucrat of the State.
While Party Vice President Rahul hoots for a Dalit, the Chief Minister bats for
an ‘upright’ OBC to head the bureaucracy as this would send out the “right”
signals. Moreover, Siddaramaiah has made plain that as both the Bengaluru
Police Commissioner and the State’s Police head are Dalits, a third appointee from the same community
would sent a wrong indication and set an
erroneous precedent. Besides the Dalit nominee who is backed by seasoned Congress
leaders at the Centre and State, is reportedly involved in various land scams
and is close to senior BJP leaders. Happily, both sides have settled for a
truce with the Chief Minister’s OBC candidate being anointed Chief Secretary
followed by the Gandhi favourite subsequently. Killing two birds with one stone!
* * * *
Six States = 21 Lakh Cases
India’s
abysmal track record on judicial backlogs of 23 lakh cases is no secret.
Shockingly, of these 90 per cent are pending for over 10 years in six States
with Ulta-Pulta Pradesh topping the
charts with 30 per cent. It is followed by Modi’s Gujarat with 22 per cent, amchi Maharashtra 11 per cent, Bihar 10
per cent and both Odisha and West Bengal tied
at 8 per cent. More scandalous 40 lakh cases are pending for the last five to
ten years. Add to this many cases are unresolved for decades in subordinate
courts underscoring the slow moving justice delivery system. To make amends, Gujarat picked up the judicial gauntlet and disposed 9000
cases last month while UP settled 6500. Appallingly, out of a sanctioned 20,502
judges for subordinate courts, 4,432 judicial posts remain vacant as of
December last. Undeniably, our learned Your Lordships fail to realize that
justice delayed is justice denied. .
* * * *
Delhi Now A Stalkers Paradise
Union Capital New Delhi has again
suffered a severe loss of face. This follows the horrific stabbing of a young
21-year old girl to death in a crowded market in broad day light. More distressing
is that onlookers refused to heed her feeble cries of help, choosing to watch
the macabre killing instead of nabbing the assailant and handing him over to
the police. Till yesterday, Delhi was
justifiably called India’s
Rape Capital, however, today it has appended another grisly identify: A
heartless and soulless city. Clearly it has learnt no lesson after the infamous
Nirbhaya case of 2012.
* * * *
Jharkhand Spells Booze
Dry Bihar
is Jharkhand’s gain with tipplers making a bee line for the State after its
neighbour imposed prohibition. Interestingly, this had an intoxicating affect
on Jharkhand’s hospitality industry which has grown over 20 per cent since
liquor was banned in Bihar. The State has
become an exhilarating favourite for marriage functions and private parties to
the tinkling of glasses filled with booze. With drinks being known as a
stimulating stress buster even Bihar’s ‘infamous’ dons are making a beeline to
Jharkhand to indulge in their favorite som
ras. This has resulted in cash tillers ringing high with the Government
laughing all the way to the bank. Not
only Jharkhand but Odisha and West Bengal too
are welcoming the over flow with the choicest of liquor mingled with a dash of
tourism. Hic! ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News and Feature Alliance)
|