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Round
The States
New Delhi, 11 March 2017
‘Congress Mukt Bharat’
WILL BJP
INCH CLOSER TO GOAL?
By Insaf
Will Modi’s yearning for “Congress Mukt Bharat’ turn into
reality? With the opening of the ballot boxes today, the much-awaited results
of the Assembly elections to the five States will offer a probable answer.
While almost all exit polls, give the BJP an edge in four States, Uttar
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, barring Punjab,
these could well go off the mark, as seen in previous polls. The big players,
Modi, Rahul, Mayawati and Akhilesh, of course will remain edgy till the final
count. While the stakes are high for all, these elections will be particularly
seen as a referendum on Modi’s ‘note
bandi’ and the future of the Congress young scion Rahul Gandhi. With the
latter’s leadership, the Congress has seen its worst rout in the Lok Sabha
elections of 2014, down to 44 seats, and undeniably the Grand Old Party can
ill-afford another jolt. It may lose Uttarkhand and Manipur, with the BJP doing
a repeat of Assam in the
north-east and so far Punjab appears a total
no-go with partner SAD. Wresting control from the BJP in Goa
too seems an uphill task. The big question if the BJP comes out as the clear
winner would be: is it because of the Modi charisma or the sheer nagging fact
that there is no alternate? Reports that efforts will be made in UP to keep the
BJP at bay, if it doesn’t get an absolute majority, do reflect the unease among
the Opposition. It particularly, should be worried like hell about not just
their future but of what lies ahead. With States getting the saffron shade,
there is a fear it could be detrimental to India’s vibrant democracy. Or
perhaps not? Too early to say.
* * * *
Arunachal,
Manipur ‘Worrisome’?
Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur may
add to the anxiety of RSS and perhaps even New Delhi. Official census data shows the
Christian population in the two N-Eastern States is steadily rising. While Arunachal’s
Christian population rose from less than 1% in 1971 to over 30% in 2011, in
Manipur the jump was from 19% in 1961 to 41% in 2011, denting the 62% Hindu
population in 1961. Besides, ‘Other Religions’ category in the State which comprised
of 2/3rd of Arunachalis in 1971, dropped to 26% in 2011 from 64% 40
years ago. The statistics would provide junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju to
justify his controversial remark that there was a ‘radical demographic change’
in his home State, Arunachal and was linked to conversions. However, while the
role of missioners may not be ruled out, there is counter view – Christians
migrating from other States. Before the RSS flogs the census data and play
mischief, the census should look at migration figures too. Sooner the better!
* * * *
Andhra
Dynastic Politics
Andhra Pradesh will soon have its
latest incumbent to dynastic politics. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is all
set to induct son and General Secretary of TDP, Nara Lokesh into his Cabinet.
However, to do this, Lokesh needs to first get become an MLC. But this is not a
problem as the TDP has the numbers to get all five, including him, get elected
to the State Legislative Council under the MLAs quota. While this is a
formality, being the CM’s son has helped him do better in life financially.
Lokesh’s assets rose from Rs 14.5 crore in a voluntary disclosure made in
October 2016 to Rs 330 crore in March 2017 as shown in his declaration he filed
with the Election Commission on Monday last. Some could ask, what’s unusual
about it, for after all he is a politician. Naidu and son are just following
the Indian political traditions like M
Karunanidhi, Parkash Singh Badal, K Chandrasekhara Rao to name only a few. Time
will tell how far this son goes.
* * * *
Delhi’s Populist Budget
Delhi too has been caught by the ‘no new taxes’ bug. In fact, it’s good time
for Chief Minister to appease the voters. With an eye on the forthcoming
municipal elections, the Aam Admi Party has sought to ensure that the common
man is not burdened with fresh taxes. Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the
Finance Minister, Sisodia is happy with his Budget of an outlay of Rs 48,000 cr
presented on Wednesday last. It aims to keep the government’s commitment to
make Delhi a
State with the lowest VAT regime in the country. While he spelt out his
proposals for further reducing VAT in various items, he chose also to give a
good report card of the government these past three years. Electricity at half
prices, 20,000 ltr free water and opening up 110 Mohalla clinics had made the
people “economically stronger”. And, education and health continued to remain
priority sectors. Will these efforts pay off, and keep the BJP at bay?
* * * *
Kerala
Gets Sena Taste
Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena cadres are
unabashedly crossing all boundaries, with Kerala getting a bad taste of their ‘moral
policing’. On Wednesday last, some of its members harassed and assaulted
couples on Kochi’s
Marine Drive
walkway, as the Sena wanted to follow their diktat i.e. no ‘romancing allowed here’.
With the police becoming mute spectators to their hooliganism, the people
decided to take on the Shiv Sena. And, it couldn’t have been a better way than
their ‘Kiss of Love’ protest re-enacted since 2014. Hundreds of activists under
its banner staged a protest at the Marine
Drive a day later, protesting against moral
policing and some even displaying affection. An embarrassed SS leadership later
suspended its party workers there. However, it must realise there has to be
limit to madness.
* * * *
Not
‘Cashless’ but ‘Waterless’
‘Waterless’ not ‘cashless’ is how a
village in Madhya Pradesh should be labelled. With the Shivraj Singh Chouhan
government declaring Badjhiri as the first ‘cashless’ village in the State, the
villagers are peeved. “We have to buy water, so how can we be cashless?’ They
counter Government propaganda. Living with acute water crisis has led them to
think of a novel way to source it. Pipes are seen hanging around roof tops and
tree tops to draw water from tube wells located in their agricultural fields!
But of the 300-400 household, many can’t afford the pipes and are forced to
purchase water. Anything between Rs 600 and 800 per month is shelled out to
meet this basic need. And, it’s cash only! The Government would do well to
water down its claims and instead plan a piped network, for starters. ---
INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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