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.
* * * *
‘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.
* * * *
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.
* * * *
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?
* * * *
‘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?
* * * *
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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