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Round The
States
New Delhi,
5 December 2020
Farmers Stand Firm
UNFOLDING POLITICAL DRAMA
By Insaf
Kudos to the farmers
for standing up for their rights and belief. Their grit deserves support from
all quarters. Other than the people, the transporters are warning of a strike
to express solidarity, which shall impact Delhi’s supplies, as the border is under
siege. While the farmers-Centre talks continue today, politics around the issue
is sadly brewing elsewhere. BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh says it won’t allow
outsiders to sell their produce in their State! Announcing sops for his
farmers, Chief Minister Chouhan has accused the Congress of instigating the
farmers. So off the mark, as the farmers bodies are seen and rightly to be steering
clear from all political leaders. They can’t stop leaders to express solidarity
in their own style. Former Punjab CM and President of SAD, Parkash Singh Badal
has returned the Padma Vibhushan and SAD (Democratic) chief and MP Sukhdev Singh
Dhindsa has followed with his Padma Bhushan. Call it politics or late in the
day, but it has caught attention. Plus, eyes are on Haryana government. An independent
MLA has withdrawn support to the government, and his exit has forced JJP to put
pressure on partner BJP else ties will need a review. Will it put additional
pressure on the Centre or will the majoritarian government be as stubborn like
hell? Hope is that it should blink first.
* * * *
Free Speech Defence
Three
cheers to the Bombay High Court. It gave a lesson or two to the Maharashtra
government on valuing democracy and offered a ray of hope to besieged citizens’
right to free speech. On Tuesday last, hearing a petition filed by a resident
seeking protection and quashing of FIRs booked by Mumbai and Palghar police for
tweets against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and son Aaditya, the court
advised those in public offices must learn to take criticism. This after the
government counsel insisted the petitioner and the public ‘must show restraint
in their criticism of political parties and policies.’ While the court admitted
a person's fundamental right to free speech can’t breach another’s fundamental
rights, it reiterated the thumb rule: “A public office in a democracy has to hear
criticism day in and day out...and the younger generation will find something
to write on (social media). If we do not allow the younger generation to
express, how will they know that what they are expressing is right or wrong?”
And then came the pertinent question—will the government act against every
person who says something on Twitter and how many actions will it have to take?
The answer could be mindboggling not just for the State but if we look at
statistics of those booked for their tweets or FB posts across the nation. Not
just governments but even institutions are becoming increasingly intolerant.
Sedition and contempt of court are becoming near normal. Clamping down on free
speech is a threat to our democracy. Will sane voices, like this court prevail?
* * * *
Naga Fury
Nagaland Governor and
Centre’s interlocutor R N Ravi biting off more than he can chew or should more
be read into his recent utterances? More likely the latter, given that Delhi
has nothing to substantiate the so-called Naga accord Modi signed with NSCN
(Isak-Muivha) even after over four years, August 2015 and his tough posturing smacks
of mischief. Ravi’s statement on eve of the 58th Statehood Day, glorifying the
Naga Peoples’ Convention and creation of Nagaland State has further egged on main
stakeholder NSCN (IM), the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and Naga Hoho. On Wednesday
last, they accused him of creating divisions among the Nagas, more so after his
statement followed a closed-door meeting with the Working Committee of Naga
National Political Groups, a conglomeration of 7 Naga political organisations.
The WC said he assured them it was a moment to be ‘steadfast and patient’ and focus
on tying loose ends as a prelude to the ‘imminent solution’. But can there be a
common ground? No, as the NSCN (IM) sticks to its demand of a separate flag and
Constitution, no matter how Ravi argues against it. The ‘harbinger of peace’ may
have muddied the waters in tune with well-known policy of divide and rule. An honourable
and acceptable political solution seems distant.
* * * *
Human
Rights Watch
Human
rights abuse in the country mercifully comes under sharper focus. All central investigating
agencies and not just police stations now need to be under close watch. On
Wednesday last, the Supreme Court expanded its earlier order by including the
CBI, NIA, ED, NCB, Department of Revenue Intelligence, Serious Fraud
Investigation Office, and any other agency. It directed the Centre to install
CCTV cameras and recording equipment at these offices, which conduct
interrogations and have the power of arrest, like all States and UTs have been
asked to do at police stations. The cameras are critical at ‘all entry and exit
points, main gate, all lock-ups, all corridors, lobby, reception area, outside
the lock-up room, must be equipped with night vision and have audio as well as
video footage.’ To ensure compliance, the court made it “mandatory” for authorities
to ‘purchase such system which allows storage of data for maximum period
possible and in any case not below one year.’ Will the exercise curb the abuse,
even custodial deaths? For example, while 1,674 custodial deaths (1,530 in
judicial custody and 144 in police custody), were recorded between 1 April 17
and 28 February 2018, majority of these were attributed to illness, natural
causes or alleged suicide, as per NCB records! Clearly, a stark grey area,
which needs to be captured.
* * * *
TN Blockbuster?
The New
Year should ring in celebrations in Tamil Nadu. Superstar Rajnikanth has put an
end to nagging suspense about his entry into politics. On Thursday last, much
to the delight of his fans, he announced launching a political party in January
2021 and matters connected to it would be spelt out on December 31. “In the
coming Assembly elections, with people’s generous support and gratitude, I am
confident of creating an honest, corruption-free, transparent, secular, spiritual
politics with integrity in TN. Wonders, Miracles, Possible,” was his tweet.
Tall order alright and still taller the claim of coming out victorious in the
polls due April-May 2021! The big question is can he possibly fit into the
shoes of AIADMK’s Jayalalitha or DMK’s Karunanidhi? Or will he go piggy back on
the BJP, helping it to make inroads into the southern State? Though he claims
efforts have been on to ‘saffronise’ him since he first announced his political
plans in December 2017, he won’t yield. That may not be much of a consolation
for both ruling AIADMK and opposition DMK camp, as neither has a charismatic
leader to fill the void created since the passing of the their superstar
chiefs. Plus, actor Kamal Haasan would too be in the fray. What role each
manages to carve out at the hustings and till The End promises to be
dramatic.
* * * *
Clever UP
Is the
Uttar Pradesh government trying to be clever by half and get past judicial
scrutiny? Well, sticking to its true style the Adityanath government continues
to be thick-skinned and shall do as it pleases for justice and fairplay don’t
fit into its scheme of things. There’s no question of transferring the District
Magistrate of Hathras, which had hit the headlines after the alleged gang rape
of a 19-year-old girl. In a way, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court
was plainly told that it didn’t agree with its question whether it was fair and
reasonable to allow the DM to continue during the pendency of the investigation.
The reasons: the DM’s transfer had become politicised with the motive to exert
pressure; he won’t tamper with the evidence relevant to the probe; the family’s
security has been handed over to the CRPF and lastly as the investigation has
been given to the CBI, the State government has no role to play! Many would
churn at the justification offered but the court needs to be convinced Yogi’s
system would allow a fair investigation. Worth a watch or waste of time as a conclusion
can already be drawn?----INFA
(Copyright,
India News & Feature Alliance)
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