Round The States
New Delhi, 21 November 2020
Kashmir Local Polls
BARAAT WITHOUT BRIDEGROOM?
By Insaf
Kashmir has a different narrative, no matter
what Raj Bhavan in Srinagar or North Block in Delhi says. Imagine campaigning
for an election sans the candidate! Absurd outright, but it’s an accusation
made by non-BJP political parties in the Valley against the administration. In
fact, they fear that the entire process is to help the BJP candidates, as they
haven’t been taken away in call it shelter homes. Therefore, with the first
phase of polling for District Development Council (DDC) due on Saturday next,
the parties are up in arms as not only has the Centre ordered to move an
additional 25,000 security personnel, but the J&K Police is taking contestants
to ‘cluster accommodations’ as soon as they file their nomination papers due to
‘perceived threat to their lives.’ While administration claims it’s only for
those who sought security, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD)
rubbishes it. Tweeted NC’s Omar Abdullah: “What sort of elections are being
held in J&K where candidates are being stopped from campaigning? Is this
the safe, terror free J&K, the Home Minister was tweeting about yesterday?”
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “Non-BJP candidates for DDC polls aren’t
allowed to campaign freely & are being locked up on the pretence of
security. But BJP & its proxies are given full bandobast (arrangements) to move around. Is this the democracy that
GoI claimed its promoting in yesterday’s phone convo with US Pres elect?”
The big question being
rightly asked is if the environment is not safe then why are polls being held?
Where is the fire? BJP candidates say they too are being put in secure accommodation,
but rivals refute saying they aren’t being bogged down and are being given
extra facilities. Be that as it may, the voter too should be peeved and
concerned. Shouldn’t he know to whom ballot is going to? Predictably, as per
reports, it’s the usual hurried plan made by armchair bureaucrats to be
executed, arrangements are shoddy and safety appears to be just a pretext to keep
the opponent away etc. Will anyone heed to the complaints of candidates as
reported: shifted to a hotel and not
allowed to campaign in his constituency 55 km away; one vehicle for 4
candidates to campaign for four hours and reach out to 400 villages; candidates
can’t campaign in their own vehicles; not afraid to campaign amongst the people
but confined et al.. It is going to be a murky election for sure, but one
should look out for issues. For Home Minister Amit Shah has termed the PAGD as
“Gupkar gang” that wants to “take J&K back to the era of terror and
turmoil”. All eyes need to be on the polls and results to see where these take
the Union territory to! Acche din?
* * * *
Punjab
Deadlock
Punjab is in stuck in a major deadlock. A
tenable solution to the farmers’ protest against the new farm laws remains
elusive. Neither State-Centre nor State-farmer unions’ have been able to break
the ice after number of meetings. Expectedly, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is
showing signs of exasperation as for the State it’s a double whammy, hit by the
pandemic like the rest. He and his team of ministers are unable to convince the
unions to get off the rail tracks to stop passenger trains from running. But the
farmers’ leaders are not yielding as they insist the Centre start running the
goods’ trains and then they will allow passenger trains. The pehle aap (first you) syndrome! Singh’s
appeal to them that since over month-and-a-half the State is being brought to a
virtual standstill, causing massive hardship and losses is going unheard. The
question is not whether industry has lost Rs 30,000 crore so far or that paddy
crop from grain markets will take a big hit if 60,000 gunny bags stuck in
Delhi/Rajpura are not lifted etc but that protesting farmers see reason. How,
when they ask: “Centre didn’t stop trains to Rajasthan during the Gujjar’s ‘rail roko’. Why they want Punjab
farmers to relent? Why are there different rules?” Guess, same old story of the
ordinary getting caught in the politics of double standards.
* * * *
Cow
Cabinet!
Holy Cow! The country can boast of a ‘Gau
Cabinet’ (Cow Cabinet) of course with ministers, The BJP government in Madhya
Pradesh on Wednesday announced its constitution, with ministers of six
departments whose task is to protect cows and promotion of cow produce in the
state. Its first meeting will be held on Sunday, on eve of Gopastami, a
festival to celebrate Lord Krishna and cows. Accordingly, 4000 gaushalas will
be constructed with Forest and Revenue Department to make land available and
Home Dept. to protect the animals. Another BJP State, Haryana, has decided to
set up a set up an 11-member ‘Special Cow Task Force’ in each district to check
cattle smuggling and their slaughter. Members shall be from police, urban local
bodies and Haryana Gau Seva Ayog, gaurakshak
committees and gau sevaks. This will
help check cattle smuggling and slaughtering through ground-level informers and
their intelligence network working across the state! Both States are going to
ensure enough funds for the ‘noble’ cause. Shouldn’t a thought be spared for
the destitute people in their State too? How about providing them food and
shelter?
* * * *
Delhi On Edge
Delhi is on the edge. With Covid-19 cases
surging and lack of health infrastructure, AAP government is caught between
health of people and that of the economy. While it has ruled out another
lockdown to ‘save the economy’, it is seeking permission from the Centre to temporarily
shut down markets, which are assessed as potential Covid-19 hot spots from time
to time due to rampant violation of social distancing norms and other Covid-19
regulations. On Wednesday, both Chief Minister Arvind kejriwal and his Deputy
Manish Sisodia allayed fears that the government may enforce another lockdown
as the cases rise, saying saving the economy is equally important. But it is
waiting for the Home Ministry to give its nod to shutdown markets if need be
and also provide those extra beds and facilities promised. How soon is
anybody’s guess as it’s no secret that there’s one upmanship between the AAP
and BJP. People’s welfare is secondary.
* * * *
Monkey
Tragedy
It’s certainly no monkey business in
Telangana. A man hunt is on following a bizarre and tragic incident. On
Wednesday, 40-odd monkeys, including few baby simians, were found killed in Mahabubabad
district. The police suspect poisoning following highly decomposed carcasses being
found stuffed in gunny bags on a hillock close to a village. Noticing the
strong foul smell, villagers informed both police and forest authorities.
Apparently, the massacre took place 5-6 days ago by ‘some locals who couldn’t
bear the monkey menace’ and locals in surrounding villages are being
questioned. However, there’s another take. Some animal catchers from
Rajahmundry, in Andhra’’s East Godavari district may be involved as they use
tranquilisers to sedate wild animals and leave them in the forest. While the
authorities cremated the monkeys and have filed a case under Section 429
(killing and poisoning of animals) of IPC, apart from Section 11 (l) of
Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals Act, 1960, will they be able to unfold
the mystery-- whether it was an overdose of sedation or an act of cruelty?---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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