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Round
The States
New Delhi, 26
December 2020
J&K Poll Verdict
TURNING POINT, FURTHER DIVIDE?
By Insaf
It’s a turning
point in Jammu and Kashmir politics. The two Union Territories went through a
democratic exercise after a tumultuous one-and-a-half year. An election which
was not boycotted but in which the people participated and chose to gave their
verdict. The fact it was to local bodies’ poll -- the District Development
Council -- doesn’t lessen the importance. Rather it gives a sense of what the
common man’s clear message is to both the Centre and the political parties
after August 5 last year. The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD),
which was described as the ‘Gupkar Gang’ by Amit Shah won handsomely in Kashmir
and sees the verdict as a referendum against the Centre’s decision to abrogate
Article 370. On the other hand, the BJP claims victory having emerged as the
single largest party, its number of votes more than those of NC, PDP and
Congress put together. So while the alliance won 110 of the 280 seats (84 of
these in Kashmir), the BJP bagged 75, faring far better in Jammu with 72 and
just 3 in the Valley. Confirming the sharp divide. However, with Congress
winning 26 seats the question is whether it will join the Alliance to allow
control of 10 districts in Kashmir and 3 in Jammu. Equally vital is the large
chunk of Independents, 50, who are going to be wooed by all. How successful are
the parties in weaning Independents, a large chunk of 50, to their side. An
exercise scoffed at, but accepted as a done thing! While the final outcome is
awaited, State administration, Centre, and even the Alliance must respect the
mandate. People’s aspirations must be met and Spring should usher hope of
better governance.
* * * * * * *
Farmers-Centre
Tussle
Who will blink
first, is the big question on the ongoing farmers’ agitation. Wanting not to be
seen as being obstinate, the farmers unions on Wednesday wrote to the Centre
saying they were open to talks, but there must be a concrete proposal first. A
day later, the Centre wrote back asking the unions to decide the date and time
for next round of talks but they must clearly add or subtract to its proposal
to reach a ‘logical solutions of the issues raised by you.” Where does this
lead after five rounds of talks? The agitation of farmers protesting at Delhi
borders is now close to a month and neither side is willing to relent. Thus,
the unions have decided to take the stir to 20 States by end-December and their
leaders shall travel to other parts to connect with their farmers. On another
front, Haryana’s Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala is facing heat from
his MLAs, Jannayak Janta Party. On Thursday last, he said the new farm laws
need many amendments and suggested these to the Centre, plus protesting farmers
must give ‘concrete suggestions’ too. Importantly, he reiterated he would resign
the day he feels he is unable to ensure MSP to farmers in Haryana. While it may
not cut much ice, his moves too are worth a watch. Predictably, the pressure is
building on all players on all sides and how far the momentum can be kept is
anybody’s guess.
* * * * * * *
No
Kerala Assembly
‘Undemocratic’
or ‘political gimmickry’ is a question raised in God’s own country. It comes up
in the aftermath of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan turning down on Tuesday
last the CPM-led LDF government’s request to convene a one-hour special session
of the Assembly to pass a resolution against the Centre’s new farm laws. The
session was planned for Wednesday but Khan sought clarifications. These were
said to have been addressed, but Khan felt there was no emergency in order to
convene the session in such a short time. A peeved Chief Minister Vijayan shot off
a letter to him saying when the Cabinet makes a recommendation to summon the Legislature’s
session, the Governor cannot exercise discretionary power and turn it down.
Khan, said the Congress ‘is acting like an agent of the BJP’. However, the BJP
hit back saying the popular government’s move was nothing more than a ‘political
gimmick’ and the attempt to pass a resolution against the laws passed by
Parliament and given assent by the President was “unconstitutional.” But the
Cabinet is insistent and on Thursday last decided to recommend the special
session again this time on December 31. Will the Governor yield?
* * * * * * *
Himachal
Gets Cracking
Himachal
Pradesh’s BJP government has now armed itself to get cracking on cases of ‘love
jihad’, catching up with Uttar Pradesh. On Friday last, its Home department
issued a notification saying the Governor has appointed December 18 as the date
on which HP Freedom of Religion Act, 2019 provisions come into force and rules are
set in place for implementing the law by police, district authorities and other
officials. However, the big question is whether the Government has even
considered the time its official machinery is going to spend to carry forward
the saffron agenda. Specifically the Act states ‘anyone who wishes to convert
to any other religion will give a declaration to district authorities at least
one month in advance, specifying one is doing so as per his/her “own volition
or free consent”. Plus, the religious priest who performs the conversion
ceremony too must inform authorities at least one month in advance. The District
Magistrate will then conduct an inquiry viz “intention, purpose and cause of proposed
conversion.” Should this be a priority for an administration, which should
other important matters of good governance on its plate?
* * * * * * *
Agonising
Babudom
Enough is
enough, is a message that officialdom must hear coming from the Supreme Court.
Government officers’ sitting on files with impunity was unacceptable. The
court’s agony was writ large when on Wednesday last it observed: “The irony is
that despite observations, no action was ever taken against officers who sit on
the file and do nothing,” It was referring to government
authorities’ practice of filing appeals before it belatedly to complete a “mere
formality and save the skin of officers who have been throughout negligent in
defending a litigation!” It made this known while dismissing the special leave
petition filed by Deputy Conservator of Forests against Bombay High Court’s
February last year order on grounds of delay and imposing a cost of Rs 15,000
on the petitioner for “wastage of judicial time” which should be recovered from
officers responsible. The petition had been filed with a delay of 462 days and
with the usual excuse of change of counsel. Importantly, the court noted that ‘it has dealt with
the issue of government authorities approaching courts belatedly as if the
statute of limitation “does not exist for them”! Need more be said!
* * * * * * *
TN
‘Corruption’
Battleground for
next year’s Assembly poll in Tamil Nadu is getting murky already. The Palaniswami
government is embedded in corruption, is what opposition DMK would want the
people to believe. It has submitted a 97-page document to Governor Purohit listing
corruption charges including abuse of public office, obstruction of justice and
other criminal offences, against Chief Minister, his deputy Paneerselvam and
six other ministers. Plus the DMK claims it has had to knock on Raj Bhavan’s
door because while it provided evidence to Directorate of Vigilance and
Anti-Corruption and filed several cases, no action has been taken! Would it
have been any different had it been in power? Obviously, the AIADMK hits back
by saying it’s DMK which is corrupt and has cases pending in court. Will the
people be able to separate the wheat from the chaff? Difficult and unlikely.
---INFA
(Copyright,
India News & Feature Alliance)
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