Round The
States
New Delhi, 4 July 2020
TN Custodial Deaths
MAKING A MOCKERY OF LAW
By Insaf
Reprehensible! The alleged
custodial death of father and son in a police station in Tamil Nadu has sent
shock waves across the country. The brutality in Sathankulam and worse the cops
thumbing their nose at Madras High Court-appointed magistrate makes a mockery
of the rule of law in any civilised society. They had destroyed evidence,
didn’t cooperate in the probe, and even tried to intimidate the judicial team,
the court was informed. Earlier, witnesses had testified that “both father, P
Jeyaraj and son J Bennix were beaten by lathis throughout the night, till early
hours…” and initial findings showed the two were ‘stripped, tortured all of
June 19-20 night and a baton inserted into their rectums’. Their crime: they
had kept their mobile shop open during a curfew imposed in the lockdown! The
State Crime Branch-CID on Wednesday arresting a sub-inspector after booking 6 policemen
on murder charges, a CBI inquiry instituted, NHRC issuing notices to State DGP
and SP to submit a report within 6 weeks and government paying compensation to
the families is simply not enough. What begs urgent attention is the encompassing
culture of immunity and those responsible for maintaining law and order literally
getting away with murder. The probe wouldn’t have taken place but for public
outcry. Justice must be done. Enough is enough.
* * * * * * *
Centre
Provides, States Decline
Scandalous! A mere 13%
of 8 lakh metric tonnes of free food grains allocated for returning migrant
workers reached the beneficiaries in May and June; Worse 11 States and one UT
didn’t distribute even 1% of quantity they lifted during June. This appalling
data is of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, after
it released food grains in May under Atmanirbhar
Bharat for those who don’t have ration cards, following criticism over woes
of migrants leaving cities. While all 36 States/UTs lifted 6.38 lakh metric
tonnes, or 80% of the food grains for 2 months for 8 crore people, they distributed
only 1.07 lakh metric tonnes until June 30, i.e. only 2.13 beneficiaries. UP
was allocated 1,42,033 metric tonnes, it lifted 1,40,637 metric tonnes but distributed
just 3,324 metric tonnes; Bihar lifted all of 86,450 metric tonnes but
distributed 1.842 metric tonnes; Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Ladakh, Jharkhand,
Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Tripura and Telangana
didn’t distribute even 1% of quantity lifted; MP, Chhattisgarh couldn’t lift
their full share whereas some others wrote to Centre citing inability as
workers have moved out of their States. This time round it’s Too much, too late
to handle.
* * * * * * *
Bihar’s
Digital Campaign
Virtual election
rallies are a No-go with the Opposition in Bihar. It simply can’t match the
BJP’s might At an all-party meeting of State Chief Electoral Officer, the RJD,
CPI, CPM, BSP, NCP and RSLP voiced their concern arguing it would violate ‘level-playing
field’ as ‘rich parties’ would have an edge. They aren’t wrong as the BJP is
learnt to be preparing for the battle with l9,500 IT cell heads and 72,000
WhatsApp groups! A glimpse was available last month. The EC is keen to stick to
schedule of October–November despite the pandemic. Already it’s convinced Law
Ministry to allow Covid-affected patients and 65 years above to vote through
postal ballots. Though it has decided to limit number of voters at each polling
booth to 1,000, instead of 1,600, the Opposition demands only 500-700 and that
campaigning allowed for small meetings/gatherings. Interestingly, BJP’s partners
JD(U) and LJP are non-committal. Guess, they may end up being at the mercy of ‘resourceful’
big brother.
* * * * * * *
MP
Guesswork Over
The guessing game is
over in Madhya Pradesh. On Thursday last, after 100 days of forming the
Government, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan finally expanded his Cabinet—of
28 new ministers, 20 are of Cabinet rank and 8 Ministers of state. But not
before spending two days in Delhi trying to tie up loose ends with lots of contenders.
It’s crystal clear that Jyotiraditya Scindia has extracted his pound of flesh
after bringing down the Congress government of Kamal Nath on March 20. The new
Cabinet has 12 of 22 former lawmakers, considered his loyalists, who joined his
rebellion. Chouhan has also accommodated his senior leaders who were ministers
in the past. There is one more hurdle that he needs to cross i.e. 12 ministers need
to be elected to the Assembly in next 6 months to retain their posts. Over
confidence would be a wrong strategy. A smarting Kamal Nath would try to pay
back Scindia in his own coin. Whether he succeeds is another story.
* * * * * * *
Hurriyat’s
Future?
An vital chapter in Kashmir’s
separatist movement ends. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, heading All Parties Hurriyat
Conference for 17 years and one of the most well-know hawks in the Valley has
called it a day. This after an ‘intense power struggle’ within the Islamabad-backed
group including its chapter in PoK. Geelani’s exit though shall not make a difference
to an already beleaguered Hurriyat, as the umbrella organisation of separatist
groups, set up in 90s, has over the years lost both credibility and steam,
given its various factions. Typical of his style, he didn’t stop keeping the
pressure, but was peeved with his grip weakening over the PoK faction-- of
younger lesser known leaders promoted by ISI “trying to be part of government
and ministries” and the chapter embroiled in “internal bickering, fear of
losing posts, financial irregularities”, etc. The ISI has its own take—of being
let down by the Kashmiri separatist leaders for their inability to provoke
people to hit the streets after J&K’s special status was scrapped last
August. It now looks for fresh and young blood. Geelani can’t argue as his
colleagues chose not to play a lead role. The leadership is now for grabs. But
the big question is will it revive the Hurriyat or crumble before State power?
* * * * * * *
Fruit
Power Vs COVID-19
Fruit power to fight
the corona virus! Tripura is all set to launch a Rs 100-crore scheme wherein it
shall distribute free pineapple and lemon to its citizens in urban to build
their immune system. The two fruits, abundant in the State, are known to be
rich in Vitamin C and act as anti-oxidants to prevent the virus, says Chief
Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. The month-long scheme ‘Mukhya Mantri Corona Pratirodhak Abhiyan (CM Public Immunity
Campaign against Corona)’ will begin today and the fruits’ juice is to be
distributed every Saturday from 12-4 pm at 25 local urban bodies and
sub-divisional offices. It turns out to be a two-in-one scheme, as other than
the urban beneficiaries, local farmers will earn revenue. However, Deb will do
well if he also gives a thought to intern doctors at Agartala Govt medical
College, where on World Doctors’ Day, Wednesday last, they had to protest again
non-payment of stipends for past two months, even after “working for 16 hours
or beyond.” The government has assured it would be credited to bank accounts
within a week. Hope it keeps its word, for the fruits to build immunity and
lessen number of patients is a long way off. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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