Round
The States
New Delhi, 23 September 2023
India-Canada Row
SPARKS PANIC AMONG SIKHS, PUNJABIS
By Insaf
The India-Canada row has triggered a nagging fear among
Sikhs and people of Punjab. It’s critical that both governments resolve the
issue at the earliest, is a serious refrain. The Shiromani Akali Dal President
and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal met Union Home Minister Amit Shahon Thursday last and
told him that he was receiving distress calls from Punjabis in Canada worried
about safe and smooth travel facilities to their homeland. Similarly, students
were concerned about their future. Likewise, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak
Committee on Tuesday last said though the Centre has trashed the Canadian
government’s accusations in the murder case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and
expelled a Canadian diplomat, the matter is “very serious” and will affect
Sikhs at the global level. It’s having ‘a huge effect, Sikhs are being
associated with terrorism, a wrong impression is being created, and it needs to
stop. People of the nation shouldn’t suffer because of this”. The point that Punjabis
in general and Sikhs in particular, have made unparalleled sacrifices for the
independence, security and integrity of the nation was driven home and ‘there
can never be a compromise on that.’ Given that lives and livelihood of Sikhs
is at stake, there’s need for sincere approach. Dialogue rather than knee jerk
reactions is the need of the hour. The ‘sense of panic’ needs urgent
attention.
*
*
*
*
Women Reservation
The passing of the 128th
Constitution amendment bill, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is indeed a
defining moment in the nation’s democratic journey. It has taken decades for it
to see the light of day. Prime Minister Modi rightly said its “A tribute to the
countless women who have made our nation.” But the wait is going to be long,
perhaps in 2029. But a question mark hangs as the government will first have to
undertakea delimitation exercise to redraw parliamentary and Assembly
constituencies based on the census, when it happens. Besides, it will now
require the approval of a majority of State Assemblies.While it has been passed
in both Houses with all political parties on board, the Opposition leaders did
call it a jumla, rather the greatest as if it had the will, it could have
been implemented immediately.Just give tickets to 33% women, include the OBC…was
a common refrain. Of course, the opportunity was also used by MPs to give
credit to their leaders for not just voicing the demand but acting on the home
front. Such as TMC’s MP Mahua Moitra who hailed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
saying she’s ‘the mother of this bill and had given birth to the original idea
as 37% of TMC MPs are women’. Incidentally, the ruling BJD is Odisha shall have
its first woman Speaker. The Revenue and Disaster Management Minister name was announced as the
party’s candidate on Wednesday last and she gets elected uncontested. The Bill is
an election strategy, but how many walk the talk will need to be watched.
*
*
*
*
Cauvery Water Row
The release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu by
Karnataka has literally run into troubled waters again. Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah, his deputy Shivakumar with all State MPs and Congress ministers
called on Union Jal Shakti Minister Shekhawat on Thursday last expressing
State’s inability to comply with Cauvery Water Management Authority’s order of
releasing 5,000 cusecs of water per day for a fortnight (till September 280) to
its neighbour. Reason: drought-like
situation as there’s rainfall shortage for 1st time in 123 years,
scarcity of drinking water, protests by farmers and in distress there’s no
formula to decide how much water is to be released. Luckily, the Supreme Court
refused to interfere with the Authority’s orders saying all key aspects must be
considered--such as drought and deficit rainfall. Predictably, TN’s ruling DMK
is peeved as it claims Karnataka never agrees to any proposals made by it in
the dispute and whatever rights it’s gained is because it has approached the
top court. Karnataka has sought PM Modi’s intervention to find a resolution by
convening a meeting of four States – the two plus Kerala and Puducherry. The
big question is can he pull it off?
*
*
*
*
UP’s ‘Political Vendetta’
‘Political vendetta’ in Yogi’s Uttar Pradesh apparently
has no boundaries. The Sanjay Gandhi Memorial hospital in Amethi, run by a Trust
since 1989,with Sonia Gandhi as chairperson, was shut down after a female patient’s
death due to alleged medical negligence. Amethi’s CMO said the hospital ‘was
sealed on the day the patient died and hospital’s registration suspended until
further orders. No patients will be treated there, and its administration won’t
function.’Besides, a team shall probe cause of death and alleged laxity. The
100-bedded hospital’s CEOhas in turn accused the CMO of not giving ‘a fair
hearing’ and its revocation decision taken ‘in undue haste’ (patient admitted
on September 14 with complain of stomachache; condition worsened before
undergoing gall bladder surgery; was referred to a private hospital in Lucknow
where she died on September 16; on September 18 licence revoked). All services
provided, including emergency and OPD are closed and 400 staff members’ future
uncertain. The hospital will move court as ‘it’s an act of political vengeance’.
Congress echoes the same and threatens to protest. Recall, in September 2018, at
least 71 children died in a government-run district hospital in Bahraichand a
year earlier 60 infants had died in Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das Medical College.
In contrast these were not shut down. Why this?
*
*
*
*
Maha Intrigues
Maharashtra political splits continue to be absorbing,
be it NCP or Shiv Sena’s. On Tuesday last, Jayant Patil, State unit chief of
Sharad Pawar-led NCP told reporters the Election Commission was being ‘unfair’
treating its case as ‘a dispute within a political party, when we have
consistently maintained there’s no split!’ NCP supremo had written to ECI
claiming he “never faced any opposition within the party or to his policies on
any public platform…bu2t without giving him time, EC concluded there’s a
dispute!” Interestingly, Ajit Pawar group’s leader and Cabinet Minister Chhagan
Bhujbal too says there’s no dispute, “Some changes have taken place, such as of
national president...Ajit Pawar is now party president and we have already
communicated it to EC.” How EC deals with it all will be known on October 6,
when both sides appear for a personal hearing. On Shiv Sena split, Speaker
Rahul Narwekar is vague on when he shall decide the disqualification pleas filed
against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his set of MLAs. ‘I’m not interested
in delaying the decision nor in a hurry which could result in miscarriage of
justice,’ he says, notwithstanding Supreme Court on Monday last observing ‘This
can’t go on indefinitely. Tell us about the time schedule.’ In its May 11
verdict, Speaker was directed to decide on the petitions within ‘a reasonable
time.’ It’s never ending.
*
*
*
*
Kerala Tourism Jittery
Nipah virus is playing spoilsport in God’s own country.
The tourism industry is looking at major losses ahead of its peak season. According
to Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, a ‘30% jump in booking
cancellations’ has been reported in hotels in Kozhikode, where 7 districts are
declared containment zones. A nagging fear lingers it ‘may deal a bigger blow’ if
the situation worsens, countries impose travel restrictions and tighter visa
regulations. So far, 130-odd people have been tested for the virus, while over 200,
who came in contact with suspected patients, are under observation. The virus is
a Bangladesh variant that spreads from human to human and while it has a high mortality
rate, it isn’t highly infectious.This may help to gain confidence of the
tourists. The silver lining is that tourism sector has shown resilience this
year after a decline in the pandemic years. The first 6 months of 2023 saw a
rise of 20% among domestic tourists--10.68 million against 8.89 million last
year—and 172% surge in foreign tourists--287,730.Fingers are crossed that this
challenging period passes. God willing. ----INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
|