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Round
The States
New Delhi, 27 May 2023
New Parliament Building
OPPOSITION PARTIES’ TO BOYCOTT
By Insaf
The BJP it appears is unwittingly giving the Opposition
opportunities to come together! So far 20 political parties are showing an
unusual sense of unity and have collectively decided to boycott the
inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. The justification as
said in a joint statement: “The inauguration of a new Parliament building is a
momentous occasion. Despite our belief that the government is threatening
democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament
was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion.
However, Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament
building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave
insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate
response.”
The parties include, Congress, CPI, AAP, TMC, BRS, DMK,
JD(U), CPM, Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray, NCP, RJD, JMM, RSP, NC, RLD. Recall,
many had earlier stayed away from the foundation-stone laying ceremony in
December 2020. But on Sunday, the number of MPs boycotting would cross the 250
mark, which to many in heartening as if need be, they can unite. Some have gone
further to justify their stand alleging: When a Parliament building already
exists in the country, whether there is any need for a new one is a matter of
debate; Prime Minister Modi has insulted Parliament by never answering a single
question; why no Deputy Speaker hasbeen elected till now, Opposition MPs have
been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the
people of India, the new building has been built at great expense during a
once-in-a-century pandemic with no consultation with the people of India or MPs,
among others. The BJP has appealed to the Opposition parties to reconsider and
reverse their decision to boycott and be part of the historic function.Well,
history will be rewritten, whichever way one looks at it.
* * * *
Wrong
Priorities?
Undo the BJP wrong, is the Congress government’s agenda
in Karnataka, amidst its struggle to get a full Cabinet in place. With Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah and his Deputy Shivakumar in Delhi meeting with party
high command to avoid feud, one of the eight inducted Cabinet ministers so far,
Priyank Kharge, has shifted focus on the past BJP regime. He affirmed that
orders and laws such as regarding textbooks, anti-cow slaughter,
anti-conversion bills (laws), ‘that hamper economic progress of Karnataka, its
prosperity, and affect Kannadigas, will be withdrawn or revised. Making
Karnataka once again number one is our intention, and we will take steps in
that direction.” However, rather than ‘re-looking at every policy matter of
Bommai government’, Congress would do better to focus on getting its maths
right: how it will raise Rs 50,000 crore a year for the five electoral
guarantees it promised. Agreeing ‘in principle’ is one thing and implementing
the schemes another. Siddaramaiah may have expressed confidence that promises
would be fulfilled ‘without entrapping the state in debts or pushing it into
financial bankruptcy’, it is easier said than done. Time will tell.
* * *
Decked
Up Kashmir
Kashmir was decked up for the outside world this week. With
G20 delegates arriving in J&K’s summer capital, Srinagar, for the third
tourism working group meeting,the Centre and UT administration put their best
foot forward. Freshly tarred roads led to the venue, Sher-e-Kashmir
International Convention Centre by the banks of Dal Lake and power poles were lit
in national flag colours. The foreign guests were given a tour in bulletproof
vehicles of Srinagar’s Polo View Market, visited Nishat,famed Mughal gardens, given
a taste of local cuisine, art, culture and the city’s commercial centre was
spruced upand markets kept open, unlike in the past. For them it may have been the
proverbial ‘paradise on earth’ as many termed the meet a ‘grand success.’
However, there was a blanket of security cordon around the venue, with security
checkpoints either removed or camouflaged with G20 signs and hundreds of
officers moving around as what is called ‘invisible policing.’Indeed, the first
major international event in Kashmir since August 2019’s abrogation of
Article 370, went smoothly, but a big question mark remains whether the picture
painted was just a façade. If the meet endorsed the official claim of ‘restoration
of stability and normalcy in the region’, then why the delay in holding
elections; why as the UN human rights rapporteur said: ‘massive human rights
violations, illegal and arbitrary arrests, political persecutions, restrictions
and even suppression of free media and human rights defenders continue to
escalate.’ Clearly, the Centre needs to do more to usher in genuine normalcy
and a sense of security to its people. As the saying goes “if there’s a will,
there’s a way”.
* * * *
‘Defeat Ordinance’
Regional parties are getting on board for the big fight
with the Centre. The TMC in West Bengal, the JD(U) in Bihar, the NCP and Sena-Uddhav
Balasaheb Thackeray in Maharashtra so far have committed their support to Delhi
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s pleato defeat the Ordinance setting up a
National Capital Civil Service Authority, which overturns a Supreme Court order
giving the elected government powers to have control of services, excluding
those related to police, public order and land. A committee under this
authority would effectively give the control to the Modi government. However, the
ordinance needs to get the nod in both Houses of Parliament. Given that BJP has
no majority in Rajya Sabha, Kejriwal is touring States to get support to stall
it when it comes up for debate. Those on board agree with him that the Ordinance
affects the nation’s federal structure and that elected governments would not
be allowed to work. “I have been a parliamentarian for 56 years. This is not a
matter of Delhi or AAP but of saving parliamentary democracy,” said NCP chief
Sharad Pawar. Likewise, Mamata Banerjee said “It’s a grand opportunity to
defeat BJP ahead of 2024 polls in Rajya Sabha.” Kejriwal has sought a meeting
with Congress high command, but West Bengal unit is for a big No response. Its
State President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says: “AAP and TMC follow the same
policy of trying to weaken Congress and increase their strength, thus helping
the BJP.” Will petty politics help BJP run rough shod?
* * * *
TN Vs AMUL
Tamil Nadu has taken a cue from Karnataka. Chief
Minister Stalin has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct
Gujarat-based dairy giant Amul to desist from milk procurement immediately.
This, as Amul is getting multi-state cooperative license to install chilling
centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri district, besides planning
procurement through FPOs and SHGs around districts. This said Stalin goes
against ‘Operation White Flood’ spirit and will exacerbate problems for
consumers given milk shortage in country. He reminded Shah that while ‘it has
been a norm to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each other’s
milk-shed area, this act of Amul infringes on Aavin’s (TN Co-op Milk Producers
Federation) area which has been nurtured over decades.” Plus, the move will
create ‘unhealthy competition between coops’ whereas regional coops have ‘been
bedrock of dairy development in States, and are better placed to engage and
nurture producers and to cushion consumers from arbitrary price hikes.” Recall,
pre-Karnataka polls, a big row erupted over Amul’s entry with Opposition saying
homegrown brand ‘Nandini’, under Karnataka Milk Federation, will be
destroyed. While fears were quelled
there, it remains to be seen whether Shah obliges. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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