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Punjab In Limelight: BLURRED BY DOUBLE SPEAK?, By Insaf, 30 November 2018 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 30 November 2018

Punjab In Limelight

BLURRED BY DOUBLE SPEAK?

By Insaf

 

The spotlight is on Punjab, though a little blurred. The Congress-rule State hits headlines this week with both India and Pakistan laying the foundation for the Kartarpur Corridor. In the midst of fanfare, some element of double standards unfortunately have creeped in. Both the State and Central governments have inevitably showcased some element of double speak, casting shadow whether the move will eventually usher in aman (peace), spoken of across either side of the border. It did seem odd to hear on the one hand Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hitting out at Pakistan for its terrorist activities in the State and on the other his Minister Navjot Sidhu praised Prime Minister Imran Khan for the corridor initiative and said when history of Kartarpur is written Khan’s name will be written on the front page. Likewise, New Delhi too acted in a peculiar fashion. Vice President praised the move, but External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj did not go to Kartarpur. But the Centre instead deputed two ministers—Hardeep Singh Puri and Harsimrat Kaur, guess not to have Punjab take the credit. On the same day, Sushma made it amply clear that India boycott the SAARC summit in Pakistan and there will be ‘no dialogue until and unless Pakistan stops sponsoring terror.’ The contradictory statements and actions seem to suggest that governments strongly believe in the idiom “run with the hare and hunt with the hounds! The question whether it is wise and will pay off is for another time. Till the dust settles in.

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‘Dharmadesh’ For Temple

Varanasi issues a ‘dharmadesh’ (commandment) to Parliament! On Wednesday, the last of the three-day Param Dharma Sansad (religious conclave), the over 1,000-sants’ gathering decided to take the Ram temple row to the doorstep of MPs and Lok Sabha Speaker. The ‘dharmadesh’ asks of Parliament to bring in a constitutional amendment and declare the Ayodhya title dispute as an issue of “national importance.” By this, the Supreme Court will be tied down and shall have to give a verdict within four weeks. If it fails to do so, then the apex Court’s interim stay order will automatically be ineffective,” is what the sants’ feel is their next best step to clear the way for construction of the temple. This way “public money will not be spent on building an “effigy of Ram.” The three-page document also reminded the government of its duty to fulfil pubic demands as it was the people’s representative in a democracy. With winter session of Parliament beginning 11 December, other than it’s functioning, all eyes will be whether it is brought forth, as desired. 

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High Voter Turnout

Nirvachan Sadan has reason to be pleased. Polling in the two States of Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram on Wednesday last recorded a high turnout—near-75% and 80% respectively. At the same time, demand for re-polling was insignificant, suggesting that the political parties had little to complain about the arrangements, as in the recent past. In MP, the Congress was upbeat with the people’s participation as it was a sign of the voter having got disenchanted with the BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan 15-year rule. On the other hand, the BJP said because it was an ‘organisation-centric party’, it had, right from the start, mobilised the voter at the booth level and this has paid off. While either side is viewing the turnout to its advantage, they will have to wait till December 11 to see who is proved right. Mizoram, on the other hand, has a different reason to be buoyant. Over 56% voters among the displaced people of the Bru community, who are living in relief camps in Tripura, were able to cast their votes in special booths set up in Mamit district of Mizoram, perhaps for the first time. Obviously, the Bru community yearns for ‘ghar wapsi’, (home coming) as many governments came and went and they weren’t taken back. Hope the new incumbent doesn’t let these voters’ efforts go waste.    

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Valley of Suspicion

New Delhi’s trust deficit in Kashmir appears to be widening. Norwegian former Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik’s recent talks with the Hurriyat leaders in the Valley and Governor Satya Pal Malik disclosure had he ‘looked to Delhi’ he would ‘have had to install a government led by Sajad Lone’, have put the Centre is a spot. Rightly asked by Opposition, Bondevik’s visit wouldn’t have been without New Delhi’s knowledge; what was the agenda, as he held talks with the Hurriyat on the one hand and on the other with people in Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir? Oslo is known to play a role in conflict resolution and the separatists’ claim he has assured of ‘a sustained, result-oriented dialogue between India-Pak for an amicable solution on Kashmir.’ Both North and South Block must come clean. Also, Malik’s reasoning for sudden dissolution of Assembly last week and on Wednesday last saying threat of his transfer remains has heightened the suspicion about Modi government’s intent. Does it want to restore normalcy or muddy the waters further?

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‘Inhuman’ Bihar

Bihar government must hang its head in shame. More shelter homes have come under the scanner, with Supreme Court directing the CBI to probe 16 additional homes on Wednesday last, following the Muzaffarpur scandal. Admonishing the Nitish Kumar administration on being ‘soft’ on FIRs, an angry three-member bench said: “What are you doing? It’s very shameful. If a child is being sodomised and you say it’s nothing. How can you do this? It’s inhuman”. The court rejected the government’s request for more time and directed the Bihar police to add charges under Section 377 (sodomy) of the IPC and POCSO Act in the FIRs. It further warned the CBI officers probing these cases cannot be changed without its prior permission and that the State government must extend all logistical support to the Central agency. Recall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, had blown the lid on Bihar shelter homes, including in Muzaffarpur, where young boys and girls were regularly raped, beaten and terrorised. Will cussed Bihar oblige and ensure the children get justice? 

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Himachal Indiscretion

Don’t try to be clever by half, could well be a stern message to Himachal Pradesh and the NGT. Regularisation of unauthorised construction by paying a fine is a no-go with the Supreme Court, as on Wednesday last, it stayed a direction of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which sought to do precisely this in Kasauli. On October 5, the Tribunal had in respect to unauthorised construction said if the ‘authorities consider it appropriate to regularise such structures beyond the sanctioned plan...The same shall not be compounded or regularized without payment of environmental compensation at the rate of ₹5,000 per sq. ft. for exclusive self-occupied residential buildings and ₹10,000 per sq. ft. for commercial or residential-cum-commercial buildings.” But this nullifies the apex court’s directions, even though the NGT advised ‘compensation collected be utilised for development of environment of the area.’ Would these small niceties help change mind?---INFA

 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

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