Round
The States
New Delhi, 31 March
2018
BJP Vs Rest
STATE SATRAPS SEEK TO LEAD
By Insaf
State satraps are
vying with each other to lead battle 2019. Most of them are Delhi-bound, to ensure
they are the first to kick off the formation of a united front against the
formidable BJP and its Modi-Amit Shah team. The first to come was West Bengal
Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee with an agenda not just to tap
leaders of all parties but also BJP dissidents such as Arun Shourie, Yashwant
Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha. On Wednesday last, she did succeed and held
meetings with NCP, SP, RJD, TDP, TRS, DMK and Shiv Sena. Her timing was
perfect—during the Parliament session and in its premises. What came across as
a surprise that Congress President Rahul Gandhi was not on the list, instead it
was Sonia Gandhi. Could one read a message that she was aiming for the regional
parties to in the frontline? Be that as it may, the idea seems to have given a
similar one to the others. Both Andhra Chief Minister and TDP Chief Chandrababu
Naidu and Telangana CM and TRS Chief have decided to land in Delhi too next
week. While the two would have their agenda of getting support from all others
for their cause, it is not being ruled out that they too would get involved in
the federal front. In the maddening rush they must keep in mind that too many
cooks may spoil the broth.
* * * *
UP’s
Name Game
Will Shakespeare’s
“What’s in a name” be understood in Yogi’s Uttar Pradesh? No, rather it will
trigger another unnecessary controversy in the Hindi heartland. On Wednesday
last, the BJP government issued an order directing all departments and HC benches
in Allahabad, Lucknow to add ‘Ramji’ to Dr Ambekar’s name in all documents and
records. So instead of ‘Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’ it will now be ‘Dr Bhimrao Ramji
Aambedkar’. The justification being it is as “signed by him on the pages of the
Constitution (8th Schedule),” and further ‘Ramji’ was his father’s
name, which is normally used as a middle name for sons in Maharashtra. Besides,
while the English spelling of Ambedkar shall remain, in Hindi it will be ‘Aambedkar’
as pronounced. The move is bound to raise a stink. It goes without saying that BSP
and SP will see through the game. Playing politics with the Dalit icon and
trying to woo the Dalit vote bank, will not be easy for the hindutva party.
Rather, it may have just spelt out another reason for the opponents to join
hands!
* * * *
Karnataka
Poll Storm
The election bugle has been
sounded for Karnataka. The one-day poll is to take place on May 12 and the
results will pour in on May 15. Understandably, the two big contenders to the
throne, the Congress and the BJP have upped the ante. However, at the very beginning
the process has got off on a wrong note. None other than the Nirvachan Sadan
has got embroiled in a controversy, wherein its impartiality is under question.
On Tuesday last, it wasn’t the first to announce the poll schedule. A BJP IT
member tweeted the dates before! And so did a local Congress leader. Though
they were right on the polling date they went wrong on the counting, and said
they got information from a TV news channel. However, it doesn’t end the
matter. In fact, it has rightly given the Opposition the right to ask whether
the Election Commission had ‘consulted’ the BJP before making the announcement.
Caught on the wrong foot, the EC has started an investigation. Will it be fair
and without fear?
* * * *
Communal
Fire In Bihar, WB
Communal fire continues
to rage in two States-- Bihar and West Bengal. The Ram Navami festival has kept
the police on their toes this past week. Seven districts, including Munger, Bhagalpur,
Siwan in Nitish Kumar’s Bihar were hit by communal tension as clashes broke out
between two groups either over unauthorised religious processions or idol
immersion procession or controversial song being played out along with
inflammatory slogans etc. Over 100 people, including cops were injured, several
shops, vehicles set on fire. Paramilitary forces, RAF were deployed and prohibitory
orders imposed. Likewise, in Mamata’s Bengal, Raniganj continues to simmer
after three persons were killed and several injured in clashes following a
BJP-organised procession trying to enter a Muslim-dominated locality. While the
BJP has been cautioned by ally JD(U) in Bihar, it has had the Centre seek a
report from Bengal government. Predictably, this double standard should stoke another
fire.
* * * *
States
& Honour Killings
Three cheers to the
Supreme Court. The apex court has issued guidelines which if followed by States
should give hope of protection to couples from ‘honour killings’. On Tuesday
last, a three-member bench was firm the “right of a person to get married with
one’s choice cannot be smothered by family or community members on basis of
extra-constitutional perception of class honour”. Clearly, the infamous Khap panchayats
should come under the scanner. For the court
noted that consent of family or community was not necessary for an adult to get
married with a person of his choice and ‘this right of enjoyment of liberty
deserved to be continually and zealously guarded’. It has thus asked local
governments and police authorities to: identify districts and villages that
witnessed honour killings; khap panchayats must not convene meetings on the
issue; in case of threat to life to a couple invoke Sec 144 and arrest
participants, file FIR against them. Importantly, the court has asked State
authorities to give logistic support to couples to get their marriage
solemnised and even put them in safe houses and provide security. While the
order should bring a smile among many young couples, the big question is will
State authorities and police gain their confidence?
* * * *
Kerala’s
‘Casteless Path’
Politicians and
political parties could learn a lesson or two from Kerala’s children. Young
students in God’s own country have shunned the caste and religion card, which
our polity shamelessly plays around with. Yes, over 1.23 lakh students from
Class I to X chose not to disclose their caste or religion by leaving the
column blank during admission to some 9000-odd government and aided schools
across the State. 2017-18 has turned out to be a record year as these students
constitute two per cent of all school kids in the State. While many would be
upbeat by this “casteless path” undertaken, some wonder whether it actually
reflects a progressive mindset. This, because schools can no longer compel
students to mention their caste or religion as the court has ordered it is no
longer mandatory. Be as it may, it is important that basic grounding in
education must be secured through skill and not through any form of reservation. Well
begun is half done!---INFA
(Copyright, India News &
Feature Alliance)
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