Round
The States
New Delhi, 10 June 2023
Balasore Train Tragedy
POLITICS GOES OFF TRACK
By Insaf
Politics over human tragedy is sadly a given. The
devastating train accident in Balasore, Odisha turns out to be yet another unfortunate
example confirming it. The CBI investigation into the crash, which led to over
288 deaths and over a 1000 injured is furiously being questioned by the
Opposition. Demanding accountability, transparency and of course Rail Minister
Vaishnaw’s scalp, rivals Congress and TMC are among others terming the probe as
an attempt to supress the truth. Three times Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee
said: “I also gave Gyaneshwari Express case (148 lives were lost) to CBI but no
result came. 12 years over but we see no result. CBI handles criminal and
accident cases. The Railway Safety Commission is there.” Interestingly,
Congress was on the same page. Party President Kharge has in a letter to Prime
Minister Modi said the CBI is ‘meant to investigate crimes, not railway
accidents. It, or any other law enforcement agency, cannot fix accountability
for technical, institutional and political failures. They lack technical
expertise in railway safety, signalling, and maintenance practices…the people
in charge don’t want to admit there are problems”.
The train tragedy indeed is an eye-opener for all. The
Opposition charge that all the empty safety claims of Railway Minister ‘stand
exposed’ may not be off the mark. There is and should be serious concern among
common passengers and safe travel. And while the mystery surrounding the
devastating crash will take time to be solved, the Ministry must ‘prioritise
installation of mandatory safety standards and equipment across railway routes
to ensure safety of passengers.’ How will the CBI probe bring any clarity?
Undeniably there’s need for serious introspection and there can be no two
questions that there is need for a massive infrastructure upgrade of the
Railways, encompassing trains, tracks and stations. Modernisation and bullet
trains is all very well, but safety of lives must be top priority. Governments
sadly have shown little intent to address the systemic safety malaise. A
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture had
criticised the ‘complete apathy and negligence’ of the Railway Board towards
recommendations of the Commission of Railway Safety and pulled up the latter. Does
the ruling dispensation ever learn from mistakes, is a question which begs an
honest response. Making comparison with other major accidents and counting the
dead must end! Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.
* * * *
Sinister Posters
Posters in some towns in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi
district are far from being mischievous, rather smack of sinister intent. Early
this week security had to be beefed up with communal tension refusing to ebb in
Purola, Barkot and Chinyalisaur after posters came up in Hindi: “Love-jihadis
are informed they should vacate their shops before the mahapanchayat to
be held on June 15. If you don’t do it, then anjaam (the consequences)
will depend on time.” Plus, some houses belonging to Muslims are reported to
have been marked with a black cross. This after VHP and Hindu Jagriti Manch
members held protests in Barkot, urging people to unite against ‘love jihad’
and ‘outsiders’. Some shops and houses belonging to minority community were
also attacked following arrest of two persons, one Muslim, under POCSO for
trying to abduct a minor girl from majority community end-May. Over 40 shops
have since remained shut. The Uttarkashi SP told media the posters have been
removed; they are trying to identify the anti-social elements and he’s not
aware of any mahapanchayat proposed in Purola. Not enough. Confidence building
measures is the need of the hour.
* * * *
Kolhapur Protests
‘Acts of glorifying Mughal emperor Aurangzeb will not
be tolerated in Maharashtra”. This message by Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis
after violent protests and stone pelting broke out in Kolhapur city on
Wednesday last smacks of straight talk and no mincing of words, as the
Shinde government completes once year. The protests erupted after a bandh call
by pro-Hindutva outfits seeking action against objectionable social media posts
by a few locals reportedly glorifying Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and 18th-century
Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan, a day before. The police had to use teargas after
stones were hurled at houses and vehicles damaged. So far 36 people have been
arrested, and multiple cases registered. While the police claim the situation
is gradually returning to normal, internet services had to be suspended and
prohibitory orders issued till June 19 banning assembly of five or more
persons. Politics as usual was played out, with Fadnavis wondering a link
between a statement of an Opposition leader about likely riots and subsequent
‘glorification’ of Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan. The Shinde government is
conducting a probe into the incident and the administration has decided to set
up separate peace committees comprising members of all communities to ensure
peaceful celebration of all festivals in Kolhapur. However, NCP chief Sharad
Pawar claimed “religious colour” was being given to some small issues and “the
ruling parties are encouraging such things.” What’s new?
* * * *
‘Bonhomie’ Over
It’s back to square one in West Bengal! The Writers
Building and Raj Bhavan are at loggerheads again. “Unilateral, illegal… we
won’t recognise them” is Mamata Banerjee government’s reaction to Governor
Ananda Bose appointing interim V-Cs to 11 state-aided universities after the
occupants completed their extended tenures. Bose, as Chancellor of all
universities, is appointing them ‘without any consultation with the
department’, said Education Minister, prompting the former to remind,
“consultation doesn’t mean concurrence.” The bonhomie between the two sides is
short lived, as was the case with Bose predecessor, Jagdeep Dhankar. Till March
all was well so long as Bose agreed to extend the V-Cs term by 3 months, but
after he put his foot down in May for another 6-month extension, knives were
out. Bose is also being accused of delaying appointing the new State Election
Commissioner. Mamata had to propose another name after the first was rejected.
She awaits patiently, for how long is the big question.
* * * *
Pro-Khalistan Momentum
Denial may not be a good remedy for both the Centre and
Punjab government. Pro-Khalistan slogans being raised on the Golden Temple
premises on Tuesday last should not be taken lightly. Many could pass it off as
supporters and radical sikh outfit Dal Khalsa’s activists observing the 39th
anniversary of Operation Bluestar, but there must be caution.Placards bearing portraits
of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhidnrawale were seen and so also
Khalistani flags, slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ were also raised by activists
of SAD (Amritsar) led by MP Simranjit Singh Mann and a former associate at the Akal
Takht. It was reported that “the entire marbled periphery of Golden Temple near
Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, echoed with pro-Khalistan
slogans.’ And while the event passed off peacefully, it is no secret that Sikh
radicals are trying to rake up the movement.Recall
then manhunt for Sikh separatist leader Amritpal Singh and the incident
at Indian High Commission in London. What’s brewing? The Akal Takht Jathedar
has alleged conspiracies were being hatched to weaken the Sikh community
socially, economically and politically and the community didn’t have any
positive hope from successive governments. This thinking needs to be over
turned. Sooner the better. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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