Round
The States
New Delhi, 26 May
2018
Karnataka Fanfare
MAHAGATHBANDHAN IN MAKING?
By Insaf
Karnataka may well be
the stepping stone to blur the sharp saffron colouring of India. The
inauguration of the JD(S)-Congress government in the southern State on
Wednesday last, has indeed given the hopefuls in the Opposition that ‘Modi Vs
Rest’ is doable in 2019. In fact, the oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy
and his Deputy, Congress’ G Parmeshwara was not really the mega event. Instead,
it was the coming together of satraps of almost all non-BJP parties -- Congress,
TMC, SP, CPM, BSP, RJD, TDP, RLD, NCP etc, literally under one platform to not
anoint the king but rather rejoice the defeat of the BJP. The absence of BJD
and TRS has raised some eyebrows, but this as pictures showed got overlooked
with the fact that Mamata Banerjee shared the dias with Sitaram Yechury and
Pinarayi Vijayan or that Sonia Gandhi was seen warmly engaging with Mayawati
and Tejashwi Yadav. However, the bonhomie was perhaps blemished by noticeable
coolness between Mamata and the Gandhi’s, as let’s not forget that Didi has
been trying to keep them out (Congress) of a proposed ‘federal front.’ But
given the desire that most satraps have i.e. to stop the BJP bandwagon rolling
across further, the Mahagathbandhan (grand
alliance) may just kick off. There is time and all eyes would be on how the
anti-BJP forces make the best of it. As is said half begun is well done.
* * * *
TN
Fatal Protest
People’s anger against
crass government apathy can be lethal, as Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu has sadly
reaffirmed. On Tuesday last, 10 persons were killed and 65-odd injured, in police
firing at a massive crowd of protestors in front of the collectorate, demanding
closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite copper plant. Not just the trigger-happy cops,
but the AIADMK government too must share the shame. This, as the agitation against
the plant, which is ‘polluting environment and causing ailments in
neighbourhood’, ran into its 100th day (since February 12), with the
administration simply sitting pretty, despite the TN Pollution Control Board not
renewing its licence. Obviously, patience ran out. Despite prohibitory orders,
the crowd gathered, police got outnumbered, fled, the mob went on a rampage setting
ablaze vehicles and attacking the few policemen, who then retaliated by opening
fire. As usual the Government has offered compensation to kin of those killed,
and the injured and ordered an inquiry. Human lives would have been saved if
only it acted as the adage ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’
* * * *
UP
Big Test
It is time for
another major test for BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. On Monday Kairana Lok Sabha
constituency shall go to the polls. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with Deputy
Keshav Prasad Maurya, recovering from Gorakhpur and Phulpur shocking defeat,
can ill afford another beating. But the going may be tough. Having tasted
victory through a pre-poll alliance, the Opposition is doing a repeat. The
Samajwadi Party has this time lent support to the RLD candidate and it chief,
Akhilesh Yadav is going to campaign for her. This has the BJP obviously
worried. For why else would Yogi include a minimum of five State ministers in
his campaign team for a single bye-election? The Congress too like the SP and RLD
see this as signs of “nervousness”. Presumably so, as the BJP’s recent
shenanigans in Karnataka and its chief minister having to bow out would
certainly be part of the Opposition’s canvassing. Not only is a victory here
critical for Yogi, but for the BJP too. All eyes would be on the people’s verdict,
not just in Lucknow but New Delhi as well.
* * * *
Kerala
Afflicted
All is not ‘well’ in God’s
Own Country. The deadly Nipah virus has so far taken 12 lives, even as the
Union Health Ministry says it has been able to contain the “highly localised
infection”. The virus is spread by fruit bats and leads to high fever, headache
and coma in extreme cases. Unfortunately there is no vaccine against Nipah,
which is transmitted between humans through body fluids. Worse, it has a
mortality rate of 70 per cent. The latest case of Moosa, in Kozhikode district,
revealed that the bats living in his well were the source of the outbreak.
While the well has been sealed among others, two of his sons, succumbed to the
virus after they had cleaned the well. Other members of the family are in
hospital. Chief Minister Vijayan has tried to instil confidence among the
people saying they are monitoring the outbreak and taking steps to prevent its
further spread. Action and not mere words should speak.
* * * *
Telangana
Quota Row
It’s reservation
versus reservation in Telangana. The Adivasi (Girijana) Employees Welfare and
Cultural Association moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday last, urging that Banjaras
(nomadic tribe) be removed from the State’s Scheduled Tribes list. Their
argument: the Banjaras were not originally STs, but migrated from States to
Telangana and their ‘mass influx’ is short changing other tribes of benefits.
However, the SC and ST Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 recognises Banjaras (Lambadas
and Sugalis) after a chequered history. Only nine tribes were treated as ST in erstwhile
Andhra Pradesh under the Constitution (ST) Order, 1950 and not Lambadas or
Sugalis. They made a demand in 1956, which Centre didn’t accept then, but did
so in 1976. This Act is ‘unconstitutional’ insist Adivasis, and fear that with
the KCR government regularising land records in villages and filling up government
jobs now, the Lambadas would benefit the most. The Lambadas counter-argue they have
legitimate rights as they constitute over 70% of STs in the State. The big
question is how soon can the issue be resolved? Sooner the better, as northern
part of the State witnessed violent protests by both groups December last.
* * * *
NE
Not One Entity
One-size fits all
approach, is not for the North East. That is a clear message BJP Chief
Ministers in six States of the region want New Delhi to comprehend. At a
two-day conclave on planning policies for farm resurgence in the N-E in Itanagar,
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu set the ball rolling by taking umbrage to the
fact that mainland was viewing all the NE States as a single entity. “We are quite
distinct and different from each other. Each State has its own potential and
challenges. Even within a State like ours, each region, district, and community
has its own potential and challenges,” he insisted. Plus, this realisation was
critical, as investments and policy support would need to be different in each
State and must be understood. Implement these on need-based and in real terms.
In simple words, the message to the Centre is stop painting the North East with
one brush stroke! ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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