Open Forum

New Delhi, 2 April 2025

Delimitation Row

SOUTHERN STATESFIRM!

By Dhurjati Mukherjee 

Delimitation of parliamentary seats due in 2026 has evoked controversy with Opposition leaders, particularly the southern states, expressing serious concern and warning it will be a ‘test for democracy’. If the delimitation is solely based on population, it is expected to violate federal fairness. This has forced the southern states to challenge the proposed delimitation with the formation of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for ‘Fair Delimitation’, comprising chief ministers and heads of political parties from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Punjab. It has passed a resolution calling for a 25-year extension of the freeze on Lok Sabha constituencies based on the 1971 population census. 

The JAC initiated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin presented a joint representation to Prime Minister Modi by a core committee of MPs. The CMs and party chiefs are determined to challenge the Centre’s delimitation plan, expressing concerns about transparency and states being penalised for successfully implementing population control measures. The JAC wants the Centre to enact Constitutional amendments to stop penalising states that implemented population control programmes. 

Stalin has rightly raised this question and wondered whether good governance in population control would backfire on the state by reducing its number of seats. There is need to maintain federal fairness by evolving some formula that is acceptable to all the states. Another point that needs to be addressed isthat while a Member of Parliament can effectively represent around 3 million people in India, in the United Kingdom it is 0.1 million and closer home in Bangladesh it’s 0.56 million. This is not to say that richer states should be rewarded with more seats. Nor is it necessary to tie representation to achievement of key development indicators, incentivising governments to improve their performance. 

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in UP and JMM in Jharkhand have lent support to Tamil Naduon the issue. However, the RJD, the main opposition party in Bihar has backed the proposed delimitation exercise. 

It is well known that the southern states stand to lose the most if the delimitation exercise is carried out on the basis of population alone. According to one estimate, Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan would have 367 seats, constituting 47 percent of parliamentary representation while the five southern states would have a mere 164 seats. Reduced representation could erode their say on national policy and government formation. Thus, the southern states have joined together and are speaking in one voice about their concern at the erosion of federalism. 

ThoughUnion Home Minister Amit Shah has stated recently that no state will face reduction in Lok Sabha seats, it doesn’t appear to be a fact. If seats are to be allocated in proportion to the present population, UP, which now has 80 seats may send more than 130 members to a 790-strong House while Tamil Nadu will get only 43, an increase of just four seats. Indeed, states like UP, Bihar and Maharashtra would benefit, while the southern ones would see a drastic decline in their number of seats, obviously a punishment for successfully implementing family planning. 

Thus, Congress Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Telangana has asked Centre to increase South India’s representation to 33% in the Lok Sabha (up from the current 24%). This as ‘states contributing more to GDP should have a stronger voice in Parliament’. The Congress in Karnataka has likewise warned that delimitation was ‘not a technical adjustment, but a political assault’ on southern states and that the strength of Rajya Sabha should be increased as a counterbalance to North’s numerical dominance in the Lok Sabha.AAP Chief Minister Mann in Punjab has accused BJP of ‘manipulating’ seat allocation to benefit Hindi-speaking states where it performs well, and that his state’s representation would be cut primarily because BJP is weak there. 

It is understood that the proposed Delimitation Commission will be the final authority to decide the basis of the exercise and not population alone. The Commission will be formed only after the population census is over and that members would go around the country to elicit states’ views. 

Delving into the past, the government thought it necessary not to disincentive the small family norm and delimitation of Parliament seats on basis of population was frozen for 25 years in 1976 and again for another 25 years by the Vajpayee government. The big question now is whether the BJP government wants to force delimitation in order to expand and consolidate the party’s advantage in the North? Pushing southern states into reversing population control, as Stalin warned, will obviously be ill-advised. The reality is that at the national level the nation has a population problem, and the growth needs to be checked. 

Sadly, the ruling dispensation has found a way of suppressing the southern states which are far ahead than their northern counterparts in all spheres. Whether it is education, economy or political governance, the South is more efficient in all possible ways. Even when you look at scientists, technocrats and bureaucrats, those who lead incidentally belongto the South. Thus,northern states fall behind them when it comes to competition in industrial and service sectors and an overall governance chart. 

At 1.45 billion, the country’s population continues to be above the carrying capacity of our ecosystem. Obviously, strict measures need to be taken to control the uptrend of the population rise and strict measuresmust be taken by the northern states. In fact, the Centre has an important role to play in helping the northern states, and even eastern states, in this regard. And those states that have shown success in controlling population cannot, in any way, be penalised by reducing their number of seats and thereby curtailing their powers in the national decision-making and governance process.  

Obviously, an amicable solution needs to be formulated. One such solution to the controversial issue would be to set the 2011 population as the new norm for both central resource transfers and for delimitation and freeze it at that level for the next 25 years. The delimitation could be gradual with 20 or 25 percent adjustment every five years starting 2031. 

Finally, it needs to be reiterated that in a pluralist democracy not just population, but other considerations need to be kept in mind in evolving delimitation and the Delimitation Commission, once established, can take the views of experts in this regard. It is worth remembering the American political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville who argued that the equalising spirit of democracy exerted a prodigious influence over the whole course of society and the country, including public opinion, laws and the habits of the governed and this should not be curbed, in any way.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Open Forum 

New Delhi, 26 March 2025 

Imposition of Hindi

DMK EYES POLITICAL GAINS?

By Dhurjati Mukherjee 

The imposition of Hindi through the three-language formula in the southern states has sparked off a debate with Tamil Nadu leading the protest due to withholding of central funds. The protest is quite justified as these States are quite different from what we understand as Hindi culture. India is a diverse country and to protect the federal structure, different languages and cultures have to be given their due importance and place. 

Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi is also consistent with the spirit of the Constitution. One may mention here that till 1976 education was a state subject and only after the Emergency it was shifted to the Concurrent List. Experts have called this an arbitrary act which is now being invoked by the Union government, threatening to withdraw funds to the state unless it followed the diktats of the Centre of teaching Hindi as a third subject. 

But the language row must also be looked at in the backdrop of the State Assembly due next year. The ruling DMK has the anti-incumbency factor against it and perhaps whipping  up emotions against Hindi may help woo the electorate. The BJP at the centre and staate is at the same time going all out to explain that it’s not imposing any language and does want to make a dent and an credible entry. The row is going to hot up this season undeniably.    

For about half a century from 1965 till 2014, the Union government did not promote Hindi in the non-Hindi speaking states and this was, no doubt, a judicious decision. It now looks strange that the RSS chief, Mohan Bhagat, has been asking Hindus to shun English, which is an established link language in the country. This can only be said to be narrow-minded and parochial at a time when India is advancing in the global arena. One cannot deny the fact that English is recognised as the language of professional advancement and a window to the developed Western world. 

Not just Tamil Nadu but southern states like Karnataka, Kerala and even others take pride in their local languages and are receptive to suggestions that the North is imposing itself further. Tamil Nadu has been following a two-language policy – Tamil and English – rooted in the state’s Dravidian ethos and its historical resistance to Hindi dates back to the anti-Hindi agitation of the 1960s. While BJP is enthusiastic about Hindi, it very well realises it cannot endear itself to the local population in the south by reinforcing its image as the party of North India. It is a key player in politics in Karnataka, increasingly strong in Telangana and is pushing hard to make its presence felt in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. 

Detailing the impact of National Education Policy, TN Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated that the policy weakened social justice policies. “It denies scholarships that are currently being provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs. It introduces public exams in Classes 3, 5 and 8 to filter out students. It proposes semester exams from Classes 9 to 12, making it similar to the national level entrance exam. Students will not be able to join the college of their choice after Class 12”, he pointed out. According to Stalin, the policy allows students who do not want to continue their studies after Class 10 to drop out. Isn’t this the same as forcing them out of education?” he asked. 

It may be recalled that when the three-language formula was introduced in 1968, Tamil Nadu rejected it, viewing it as an imposition of Hindi. Under Chief Minister, C.N. Annadurai, the state adopted a two-language formula which has been continuing. The state’s refusal to implement the three-language formula, as mandated in the NEP, resulted in the Centre withholding the release of Rs 573 crore central assistance for education under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. 

It has to be admitted that the southern states are way ahead of their northern counterparts in matters of social and cultural matters as also economic development. Whether the literacy rate or educational levels, cultural development or even industrial progress, the southern states are way ahead. Most scientists and technologists and even doctors are found in the South. The northern states cannot compete with them in any way. 

Though the BJP has been trying to impose Hindi in the country, obviously because it feels that by promoting the language it would further the cause of Hinduism, a few days back, the RSS joint general secretary, C.R. Mukunda backed the three-language formula without Hindi. According to his formula, it would include learning of the mother tongue, regional language and English without any reference to Hindi. It was a timely observation, obviously aimed to counter the DMK’s Hindi imposition allegation at the saffron brigade.  There are reports that the ruling dispensation, specially the RSS has been trying to shed its image as a band of Hindi zealots and talking of geographical mobility and needs of modern-day life.  

This indeed may be the correct approach as it is necessary to honour the progress and development of the southern states.  They have shown the way in not just promoting education for girls but spreading higher education in the rural areas of the country. Comparable data paints a poor picture even of school education between the southern states far ahead than their northern counterparts, specially the drop-out rates being far less in the former states. 

One cannot deny the fact that English is recognised as the language of professional advancement and a window to the developed Western world. As India moves ahead, there will be a need to give more emphasis on English which is the dominant language in the world. Thus, keeping in view this fact, it would be advisable if the Centre takes a judicious decision in the matter and resolves the current stand-off with the Tamil Nadu government and the other southern states amicably so as not disturb the culture and traditional values of the South. This would politically be of help to the ruling party and keep the federal spirit intact. 

Finally, it would be better if the Centre gives proper emphasis to developing school education in the states with plans to have at least one Kendriya Vidyalaya or such type of schools in each district to spread quality education among the masses. This will go a long way in upgrading educational standards, which is the need of the day.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Political Diary

New Delhi, 1 April 2025

Bulldozer Justiice

WHOSE AFRAID OF IT?

By Poonam I Kaushish 

As temperatures rise, heat is searing through political India over it unprecedented Bulldozer Politics. Whereby this gigantic machine has assumed pride of place as bulldozer power after BJP began projecting it not just as an inanimate object but as an ‘idea’ meant to cement its nationalistic politics, couched in the innocuous framework of strong, decisive, good and effective governance.  Thereby, turning rule of law into rule by law! 

The credit for bringing a heavy-duty bulldozer into political limelight goes to UP’s Chief Minister Yogi aka Bulldozer Baba where bulldozers were entrusted with the onerous task of conveying political messages to show a strong stance against ‘communal’ rioters and criminals since 2017. “Bulldozer Baba chap rahe hai, mafia bhag rahe hai.” Due to its ‘success’ in demolishing homes of minority community it naturally found takers in other BJP-ruled states, MP’s and Haryana’s erstwhile Chief Ministers Shivraj and Khattar were hailed as Bulldozer Mama and Tau. 

Followed by Delhi, Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand with Maharashtra and Punjab now adopting the ‘bulldozer’ model dubbed as State-led retribution. Reason? For shouting anti-India slogans during India-Pakistan cricket match, disturbing communal harmony by demanding removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb and a sacred “chadar” with holy inscriptions being burnt, Muslim-owned properties demolished after communal clashes in Mumbai-Nagpur. Drug peddlers and smugglers constructing homes with money earned through drugs in Patiala-Ludhiana-Mohali. 

More. Polarisation has now seeped to Opposition-ruled States. In Congress-ruled Himachal Shimla’s Sanjauli mosque was demolished ditto in Karnataka’s Hubballi were rioters homes were razed.  A total, 153,820 houses were demolished in 2022-23, 7,407 in 2024 across 16 States. UP accounted for the highest number followed by Delhi, Assam, and Gujarat. Over 37% of houses demolished targeted Muslim homes and localities. 

Predictably, this bulldozer politics has sparked off a major controversy with Opposition yelling “mockery of Constitution” by using it as an extra-judicial tool of ‘hate’ politics to target Muslims since it came to power 2014. Of systematic oppression under increasingly authoritarian laws where democratic freedoms are not only being crushed but also conducted in an atmosphere of revelry. Typified by drummers and chants of “Desh ki suraksha mein jo banega rora, bulldozer banega hathod. 

Raising a moot point: Is this display of political muscle power and dadagiri at its crassiest best? Or is it legal and a deterrent against rioting? 

Alas, our democratic awareness has become so weak that more and more metaphorical instances of steam-rolling norms and principles emerge everywhere and everyday. Whereby settled legal principles continue to be flouted with the monster machine becoming a political tool to both construct the perception of a tough leader and deepen social divide. 

Certainly, Supreme Court tried to cry a halt in a landmark judgment affirming demolishing a person’s property solely based on their alleged criminal activity without due process is unconstitutional violating principle of natural justice and Fundamental Right to shelter even as held the right to 15-day notice and an opportunity to be heard, November 2024. 

However, Government’s continued disregard for Court’s ruling raises serious concerns about the state of judicial justice. Despite legal protections, violations persist suggesting a troubling pattern of defiance. More alarmingly, the Executive’s failure to enforce a court’s ruling not only weakens the rule of law but also sets a dangerous precedent for contempt of court. 

Scholars attribute this to an “Executive Courts,” phenomenon which are aligned to Executive’s  objectives rather than protection and upholding Fundamental Rights. A symptom of deeper structural issues within our legal and political framework.  Whereby, the State uses this toolkit for targeted demolitions to consolidate political influence and shape electoral outcomes and embed a persistent hatred in public psyche normalizing the idea that demolishing Muslim homes is an acceptable form of collective punishment. Crafting a collective Hindutva imagination where Muslims are systematically erased. 

Not a few argue this template of justice has neither respect nor time for due process. This institutional thuggery can only threaten rule of law as employing strong-arm tactics goes against the imperatives of democratic ethics and civil liberty. 

State Governments in their defence assert “illegal structures” encroaching on public land belonging to citizens who commit public nuisance were razed as “punishment”. They set ablaze houses of poor and Scheduled Castes why shouldn’t we take action against these people? Shouldn't bulldozers be used against those who trouble them? 

Raising a critical question: If the State continues to bulldoze justice how much respite will Supreme Court’s ruling offer those whose property is demolished as it has become a tool for collective punishment, reinforcing communal fault lines rather than addressing legal or administrative concerns? 

They signal a deeper crisis in judicial justice, where institutional weaknesses, political interests, and ideological shifts collectively erode rule of law. If left unchecked, this pattern threatens to weaken the judiciary’s role as a check on Executive power, putting the Constitutional order itself at risk. 

Fundamentally, acceptance of executive high-handedness allows perpetrators to claim democratic sanction behind bulldozer governance speaks volumes about the growing societal acceptability of the idea of instant justice. In the long run, when the State takes away all protections and when no law or institution limits this authoritarianism, the rights of citizens can only be precarious. 

One could argue this happens because of our failed criminal justice system and police high-handedness whereby methods being used to terrorise people have been perfected of demolishing homes without due process on the facetious pleas of unauthorised constructions, flouting zoning regulations or destruction necessary for the lofty cause of national development making it impossible to challenge it in court. Sic. 

Perhaps, one of the main reasons for Governments and people taking law into their own hands with courts only acting as meek protesters at best and mute spectators at worst. Resulting in lawlessness being exacerbated manifold wherein legal falsehoods and subversion of due procedure are considered par on course. 

Either which way bulldozer politics heralds a paradigm shift in political thinking. Whereby, the Government has intertwined a citizen’s responsibilities with his fundamental duties to the State, adhering to spirit of common brotherhood, preserving composite culture and safeguarding public property to ensure he does not take refuge under his rights to commit various acts of misdemeanor in the public domain.  

Consequently, in a milieu where good governance and accountability is the hallmark of Government, it stands to reason when the State highlights that citizenry too has responsibilities, duties and obligations towards the nation. It is a vital component of strengthening roots of society at the grass root level. 

Bluntly, rioters should not be allowed to go unpunished. The time for citizens to change their mindset and realize alongside Fundamental Rights we also have our duties to the State.  We need to cry a halt to increasing degradation by conducting our own due diligence, else we lay the foundation for a weak and pliable nation. Time to hold rioters and criminals accountable for their violence. 

Clearly, the country needs to find a fine balance between street power and duties and responsibility. A first towards a peaceful free India where it’s democracy comes first. Can anyone argue with this? ----- INFA. 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Political Diary

New Delhi, 25 March 2025

Karnataka’s Honey Trap Factory

DID I ASK TO TAKE OFF PANTS?

By Poonam I Kaushish 

In this breezy spring season political Delhi continues to generate heat among our jan sevaks over cash found in a senior Delhi High Court’s residence, delimitation, Maharashtra’s bulldozer politics and buried under their tu-tu-mein-mein debris is Karnataka’s honey trap controversy Wednesday with Cooperation Minister Rajanna dropping a bombshell, “I and 47 others across Party lines including judges had been targeted in a honey trap scheme and obscene videos have been made.” Seizing this, shot off BJP Congress running a “honey trap factory.” Big deal if it exposed their chaal, charitra and chehra! 

Predictably, this set the cat among the pigeons with the Minister demanding an investigation to uncover those behind the honey trap attempts. Alleging, it was orchestrated by politicians with hidden agendas to discredit individuals and manipulate political contests for personal gain. He was backed by several Ministers resulting in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah calling for an investigation and anyone found guilty would be punished Sic. 

However, as one delves deeper there is more than meets the eye. It is a ‘wild card’ of underlying tensions arising from a power struggle within Congress between Chief Minister and his Dy Shivakumar with the former’s associate Rajanna along-with a Ministers group challenging the latter’s hold on the Party and efforts of BJP to drive a wedge through these fissures. 

Bengaluru political circles are agog that the ‘honey trap’ allegation is an indirect attempt to preempt any effort by Shivakumar’s inner circle to politically straitjacket Rajanna and others through coercive methods. While there is no evidence to back the Minister’s allegations his associates have linked the trap to a top leader’s associates. 

Privately, many say Shivakumar is the indirect target as he was linked to a honey-trapping incident 2021 when a then BJP Minister was forced to quit after a woman accused him of rape. But in a counter-complaint of blackmail and extortion a defiant Shivakumar responded by asserting, “Did I ask him to take off his pants?” 

Either way, Rajanna’s allegations have had a gridlock effect in the factional dispute in the State Congress with a gleeful BJP which lacks major issues to take on the Government striving hard to corner Congress by querying “Who owns the mangalsutra, ” read, “Who runs Government?” 

Arguably, what’s the big deal? Indian politicians romp in the hay is a story as old as birds and bees. Given our liberal temperament, when it comes to paarde-ke-piche-choli-ke-neeche antics of our polity, most claim sex is a part of our heritage and needs to be guarded with all vigour at their command.  How can you talk morals in land of Khajurao? 

Yawn! Forget Vatsayan’s Kamasutra. Welcome to a spanking new edition of our own Adams and Eves in the Governmental Garden of Eden. An ongoing saga of our rulers caught with their pyjamas, dhotis and lungis down. Literally. Of sleazy stories dripping sex to the panting-all, asking for more! That promises to take one to even greater heights of ecstasy and glory. 

Remember Kashmir’s “choli ke peeche” guftagus of our netagan  2006 when a 15-year-old-lass filed a complaint in Srinagar’s police station of one ‘madam Sabena’ forcing 43 girls into prostitution --- a la Vladimir’s Lolita. Her complaint was brushed under the carpet until a tell-all MMS started doing the rounds and the matter reached J&K High Court. 

Anguished by the “horror of it all,” the Court wanted all guilty, be they mighty and powerful, brought to book. In stepped CBI and unearthed a major sex racket involving over 56 people, including  two former Ministers, BSF DIG, ex-Additional Advocate General of the State, DSP alongwith 13 others, several babus, judicial officers etc. 

Not to forget the delicious indiscretions of a honey gone sour in Ahmedabad when two Punjab Ministers and a Delhi MLA sought to brew a heady cocktail of business and pleasure. They settled for three utterly butterly melt-in-the mouth cheeses. All enjoyed merrily. Or the poetic justice meted out by a UP Minister to his Madhumita. A former CM and four MPs enjoying their ‘pegs and legs’ and three ex- Union Ministers relishing their latest “hot night” dish. 

What to say of Union Ministers who are chronic womanizers, ex-Dy CM bigamous marriage and another’s involvement in an ice-cream parlour sex scandal in Kerala. Who doesn’t remember the “hot tandoori night,” which spotlighted for the first time antics of our lower polity via Naina Sahni and Sushil Sharma? 

Women are now crucial comrades-in-arms for scaling the heights of various political Everests'. We too can boast of our Christine Keelers and our desi Marilyn Monroes. Besides aren’t the netas today pastmasters in top-pling. Nor are we squeamish when it comes to a romp in the haystack. We are secular socialists – willing to share and vow with one and all. 

Our rulers take it as their birthright to free-load and indulge. Their birthright to grab. They are today’s Carpetbaggers. The ‘have-nots’ who bend laws to quench their thirst with liquid green. Satiate their appetite with freshly plucked flowers sans thorns. And wash it down with intoxicating power to the sound of music. Once a delicious rendezvous is over, they will ply whatever you want. Lay down any law, bend any rule, change any order, transfer any person and fudge figures all for a song and a little more. 

Today, entertainment and all goodies (!) are viewed as perks of their job: finest Scotch and sexiest two-legged sizzlers. “Why the hullabaloo?” angrily asked an active player. “After all, we serve the larger interest of society and country. We are entitled to enjoy our commonwealth.” 

What amazes one is how many of our immoral netas are still viewed as the epitome of piety, donning a mask of moral outrage and dignity. Aren’t we familiar with our politicians’ utterly butterly indiscretions?  Who can deny that the political casting couch is worse or better (depending on how one looks at it) than Bollywood’s casting couch. 

Every Party believes in share and share alike. All enjoy their commonwealth, individually or collectively. Such is the state of affairs that political residences are the subject of juicy, salacious gossip! Haven’t we all enjoyed the defence‘less’ Tehelka, judicial Vrindavan, political Jalgaon and Alwar video-tapes, deliciously educating about affairs of the heart? 

Sadly, it has not made any iota of difference or guilt among our Teflon-coated politicians who continue to brazen it out It is time our netas understand that there are moments when cynical calculations of political expediency become repugnant. Constant scrutiny is the price of fame. If our leaders want to enjoy the privileges of power and all the status that goes with it then they should willingly pay the price of absolute integrity and honesty. 

A long and hard battle lies ahead for bringing a change in our political system and political ethos. Political morality and accountability are paramount for good governance and stability. There is no place for damn lies and deceit in democracy. Truth is not determined by majority vote. 

India today is at the moral crossroads. We are in an era where our polity is pulverizing society. Time we cry halt to increasing degradation by conducing our own due diligence, else we lay the foundation for a weak and pliable polity. Pegs and legs be damned! -----INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)