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Round The
States
New Delhi, 7 November
2020
Haryana Job Quota
OF POLL PROMISE & LEGALITY
By Insaf
Haryana has done it!
On Thursday last, the State government passed the Haryana State Employment of
Local Candidates Bill, 2020 providing 75% reservation for local candidates
applying for jobs in private sector which pay less than ₹50,000 per month. With
it, BJP’s coalition partner JJP and Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala has fulfilled a
poll promise, but a big question hangs: will Governor give assent? This,
because the Bill contravenes Article 14 and 19 of the Constitution (equality
before law and right to practice any profession anywhere in India) plus earlier
Governor Arya’s had refused assent to a similar ordinance. And what about the
private industry, societies, trusts among others which fall under its purview?
Perhaps, the government is optimistic this time. It has put an exemption clause
allowing firms to hire from outside if there are no ‘suitable local candidates’.
But first they must inform it and get the designated officer’s nod or his
advice that they be trained! Also companies may restrict jobs from any one
district to 10% and domicile certificates are mandatory to claim benefits.
Opinion is divided, but Chief Minister Khattar is firm the State and locals
shall benefit. Time will tell. How soon is anybody’s guess as a law and not
just a promise would suffice.
* * * *
Will
Bihar Say Goodbye?
Will it be goodbye to
the kursi for Bihar Chief Minister
and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar? On the last leg of campaigning for Assembly
polls, his saying this was his “last election and all’s well that ends well...”
has raised many an eyebrow. Is he, running for a 7th term, conceding
defeat already? While nothing is certain till the ballot boxes are opened on
November 10, the Opposition did have a field day. Mahagathbandhan’s CM candidate RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav was pleased
that his earlier comment that ‘Nitish ji has worn out and unable to manage
Bihar’ stands vindicated and has announced retirement having understood ground
realities! Bête noire, LJP’s Chirag Paswan punched harder: “If a leader runs
away from the battlefield what will his people do?” adding if Nitish thinks he
will be able to escape a corruption probe, then he won’t let that happen; “if found
guilty, he will have to go to jail.” Even though not in the running, Congress
asked Nitish to share experiences with mahagathbandhan’s
CM candidate...” But it may not be that easy or simple. On that day, PM Modi
sought to counter the tide. Listing NDA’s achievements in the State, he released
a letter to the people: make Nitish the winner because “I need Nitish Kumar’s
government so development doesn’t stall”. Will it do the trick and the ruling
establishment have the last laugh?
* * * *
Over
To West Bengal
Bihar polls over;
it’s time to train guns on West Bengal. Home Minister Amit Shah is back on the
trail, holding a meeting of 13 district leaders in Bankura on Thursday last.
His target is over 200 of the 294 Assembly seats in 2021 poll and exhorts BJP
cadres to tie up loose ends down to polling booth level. Expectedly it ruffled
feathers and kicked off the infamous pow-vows between Shah and Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee. With Shah declaring that the way the TMC government has
neglected farmers, the poor, tribals and oppressed people he clearly sees the
death knell has been sounded and in the coming days the BJP will come to power
with a 2/3rd majority, Didi in her typical style didn’t waste any
time to hit back, even if it was at an administrative meeting in Writers
building! She warned “We will not tolerate the politics of threat. People
should stay within their limits. People of Bengal will not accept outsiders.” Anyway,
the bugle has been sounded and the pitch is bound to grow shriller. The hustle
and bustle of Bihar elections will be passé.
* * * *
Jharkhand
No To CBI
Jharkhand is the
latest in the club of non-BJP-ruled States to let the Centre know it’s a no go
with CBI. On Thursday last, the Hemant Soren-led withdrew the general consent
given to the CBI to probe cases in the State and that investigations will be
handed over now only with special permission of the State. Interestingly, it
has become the 6th State to do so after Maharashtra, Kerala, West
Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh (which has restored it). So the going
is no longer smooth. The CBI, as is known, is governed by the Delhi Special
Police Establishment Act which makes consent of a State government mandatory
for conducting a probe. However, as it’s becoming amply clear, Opposition
States are getting wary of the misuse of the central investigating agency.
Maharashtra and Kerala have recently revoked the consent after the governments
feared that their probe into manipulation of TRPs and FCRA violations respectively
would be taken over by the agency. ‘A
caged parrot’ may well be set free in some States but more needs to be done.
Credibility must be restored.
* * * *
AIADMK-BJP
Tension?
All doesn’t seem well
between ruling AIADMK and ally BJP in Tamil Nadu. The saffron unit’s bid to
start ‘Vetrivel Yatra’ to celebrate Tamil deity Lord Murugan turns out to be no
go, as Palaniswami government has refused permission. Predictably a setback for
BJP as the yatra from November 6-December 6 (starting from Thirutani and
concluding in Thiruchendur) was designed to strengthen its the Hindu vote bank.
On Thursday last, the government informed the Madras High Court it had denied
permission in view of the pandemic and as per its order prohibiting political,
religious or social gatherings till November 15. The Opposition is elated as it
had demanded a ban on the yatra fearing it could lead to religious tension in
the State, more so as it was to end on December 6—the 28th
anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition. Interestingly, the AIADMK was peeved
with BJP using founder MG Ramachandran’s photograph in the yatra’s promotional
campaign. Guess, the BJP unit will need
to think of something else as a “turning point” to make inroads into the State.
* * * *
Diwali
Sans Fire Crackers
Diwali sans fire
crackers, it shall be. But the big question would be in how many States. As of
now, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to Delhi, Haryana,
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to ban their use as these States are hugely
affected by air pollution ahead of the winter season. On Thursday last, Delhi
Chief Minister has no difficulty in obliging and has already announced a ban on
fire crackers; Maharashtra too may follow suit; Calcutta High Court has banned both
use and sale of fireworks and crackers during Kali Puja, Diwali and Chhath,
after successful restrictions on Durga puja celebrations. Fingers need to be
crossed that better sense prevails as with COVID-19 lungs are already
compromised and further exposure to air pollutants could lead to severe
infections such as pneumonia and higher mortality rate. And more States would
join in to announce the much-needed ban.---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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