Round The
States
New Delhi, 12
September 2020
Maharashtra Drama
SALAAM BOMBAY, SAYS DELHI?
By Insaf
Mumbai today mirrors
everything that’s rotten with the system and the country. The unfolding high
drama between Kangana Ranaut, the Shiv Sena, flogged by an irresponsible media is
a readymade script for the next Bollywood film. A blockbuster for sure! What
started as a tragedy has turned into a game of power politics. The SSR-Rhea tragedy
script is being rewritten again and again-- from a ‘suicide’, to a ‘murder’, to
drugs, to a Maharashtra vs Bihar spat as the latter goes to polls, to a twist
from Kangana who decides to take on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv
Sena, New Delhi providing her with Y-plus security, BMC going on demolition
drive against Kangana’s office’ illegal encroachment, HC giving it a hard rap, SS
partner NCP stepping in saying stop, Kangana dragging in another SS partner,
Congress President, questioning her deafening silence etc is never ending. We
citizens have by now become attuned to such tamasha.
But this one is different. The BJP-SS rivalry is being played out by going piggyback
on film actors, though the director doesn’t seem to be sitting in Mumbai, with signals
suggesting Delhi. For the focus on the rising cases of COVID-19, border tension
with China, drowning economy, millions going jobless etc needs to be diverted
or else it will hurt the Centre’s image and that too hard. And what other way
to do it than a punchy nonsensical drama. Did we hear Salaam Bombay?
* * * *
Leh
Elections?
The Chinese may
impose another casualty – this time to the first election for Leh’s autonomous
Hill Council. Amidst the ongoing border tension in Ladakh region, all political
parties barring the ruling BJP are asking for poll postponement of the
electoral exercise till the situation eases. Given that the five-year term of
the Council of both districts Leh and Kargil, is ending next month, the Leh DC
recently held a meeting with representatives of political parties. The
Congress, Aam Admi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party opined the time ain’t right.
Reasons: people may have come to Leh from border villages and there might not
be enough people left to campaign in villages; holding virtual rallies was not
possible due to absence of telecommunications and mobile facilities in
villages; with border tension, campaigning in border villages may not be
possible, which will mean lower electoral participation etc. However, BJP which
is heading the Council, winning 18 of 26 seats in 2015 polls, insists polls be
held as per schedule by ‘restricting political gatherings to 20-25 persons, use
of EVMs and creation of sub-polling booths within polling booths to prevent
spread of Covid. To top it, the party seems to have already begun its campaign
with its General Secretary Ram madhav already having made two visits in past
few months. It doesn’t require a guess whose word will prevail, whether the situation
normalises or not.
* * * *
Netas Above Law
The VIP culture in
our country stinks. The Supreme Court has been submitted official data about
pending cases against current and former MPs and MLAs wherein in “large number
of cases even charges haven’t been framed including those punishable with
imprisonment for life.” There are 4,442 cases pending against current and
former “people’s representatives” across the country, of which 2,556 cases are against
sitting MPs and MLAs as furnished by different High Courts. Uttar Pradesh expectedly
tops the list with 1,217 pending cases (446 against sitting legislators); Bihar
follows with 531 cases, (256 against sitting legislators), and Kerala with 333
cases (310 against sitting legislators). Of all cases, 413 are in respect of
offences that are punishable with imprisonment for life, of which 174 involve
sitting MPs/ MLAs. Shockingly, a large number of cases are pending at
appearance stage and even non-bailable warrants issued by courts have not been
executed! Contrast this with the aam admi
where a complaint followed by an FIR lands him behind bars and worse under
draconian laws such as NSA and UAPA! The big question is will the apex court
fast track these cases now as pleaded in the PIL and do away with this mockery
of rule of law?
* * * *
Telangana
Task Force
Will other States
follow Telangana model or is the southern State late in cracking the whip
against private hospitals making a buck during the pandemic? On Wednesday last
Chief Minister K C Rao announced setting up a task force, headed by a senior
IAS officer, to monitor treatment of COVID-19 patients in these hospitals,
ensure affordable cost and release weekly reports. During the ongoing Assembly
session, Rao told members that from day one he wanted treatment be given only
in government hospitals but his hands were tied with high court allowing
private hospitals to do so. “Is this the time for corporate hospitals to fleece
patients for money, taking advantage of their misery?” he asked. There could be
a counter though—whether government hospitals are equipped and can take the
load? Anyhow, reports are now to be sent to leaders of all opposition parties
to create awareness about these hospitals “cruel” ways; government will consider
reimbursement of bills paid by white ration card holders at these hospitals and
will place demand on Centre to release more funds to fight the pandemic. Should
people see hope?
* * * *
UP’s
Cows & NSA
Holy cow, Uttar
Pradesh is trigger-happy with draconian National Security Act (NSA) as its
weapon. Over half of the cases relate to alleged cow slaughter! According to a
statement by the Home department, this year, till August 19, the Police had
invoked NSA against 139 people in the State, 76 of them for cow slaughter! And
till August 31, the Bareilly police zone alone had accounted for 44 of the
cases. In contrast, the NSA was invoked against 6 persons related to crimes
against women/children, 37 for heinous crimes, 20 for other offences and 13 arrests linked to anti-CAA protests. The
police justify their actions saying Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed
that NSA be slapped in cases of crime which “affect public order so that there
is a feeling of fear among criminals and a feeling of safety among the public.”
But can it b accepted? Remember, under the NSA, a person can be detained
without a charge for up to 12 months if the authorities feel he or she is a threat
to national security or law and order. There’s obviously more than meets the
eye-- a sinister effort to target a particular community. And Gau mata is but an excuse!
* * * *
Of
Cigarette/Bidi Butts
Watch where you are
going to through those cigarette and bidi
butts in future, for their disposal is now a concern of the National Green
Tribunal. On Thursday last, the NGT directed the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) to lay down guidelines within 3 months for disposal of these butts
in the interest of the environment. Though it’s a given that tobacco is harmful
for health, it’s yet to be ascertained whether the butts fall within toxic
waste category or not, as there are conflicting studies. One by Indian
Institute of Toxicology Research states butts will not be toxic to humans and
environment and another by Cellulose Acetate shows the degradation shall
persist and toxicity stays. With ‘Doctors For You’ seeking ban on consumption
of tobacco in all public places and proper disposal of related waste, the NGT had
issued notices to the Ministries of Environment and Forests, Health and Family
Welfare and CPBD. It is upset with the MoEF response terming cigarette butts as
“biodegradable” and has sought clarification. Signals are plenty that improper
disposal causes environmental problems and has health risks. Will guidelines be
in place or the issue will simply go up in smoke? ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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