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Round The States
New Delhi, 31 January 2013
Political Intolerance
THREE STATES EARN
IGNOMINY
By Insaf
Barely, has the last
bugle been sounded on India’s
64th Republic Day celebrations that another fundamental issue was
trumpeted by three States which trashed the Centre’s much-touted democratic
credentials. Bringing into sharp focus Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution
which grants a citizen the right to freedom of expression. On two scores: one,
the Tamil Nadu Government’s ban on famed actor-director Kamal Hasan’s 100 crore
magna opus Viswaroopam which deals
with the terrorism on the fallacious that it would hurt the sentiments of
‘unknown’ Muslim groups and create a law and order problem. Surprisingly, the
Chennai High Court’s division bench upheld the State Government’s petition.
Notwithstanding, the film has been cleared by the Censor Board and has been
released in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. A shocked Hasan has threatened to do
another MF Hussain and go into ‘self exile’.
This is not the end of
political intolerance. The Rajasthan Government has registered an FIR under the
SC/ST Atrocities Act on famous sociologist Ashish Nandy for his controversial
remarks on SC/ST corruption at the just-concluded Jaipur Literature Festival. Said he, “It is a fact that most of
the corrupt come from OBCs and SCs and now increasingly the STs”. Predictably,
intolerant Dalit icons Mayawati and Ram Vilas Paswan want Nandy jailed. To
ensure his safety, the sociologist is all set to move the Supreme Court. Add to
this, stormy maverick West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has banned
celebrated novelist Salman Rushdie from going to Kolkata to promote a film
based on his book 'Midnight's Children', ostensibly, for security reasons. Raising a moot point: Is India heading
towards an era of intolerance and cultural terrorism?
* * * *
Rajasthan Quota Saga
On the flip side, Rajasthan has failed to make peace with
the Gujjar community. On Tuesday last, Ashok Gehlot Government’s order of
giving five per cent reservation in government jobs and educational
institutions for the Special Backward Classes (SBC), to appease the agitating
Gujjars, was stayed by the High Court. Recall, the court had done the same in
October 2009. In fact, the Congress government’s order issued last November was
a no-go even for the Gujjars other than many within the administration as it
was unlikely to pass legal scrutiny. This is so, as the quota pushed the
overall reservation in Government jobs and educational institutions beyond the
50 per cent limit set up by the Supreme Court, thus making it
“unconstitutional”. Though the HC has barred the Government from implementing
its order till February 19, Gujjar leader Kirorilal Bainsla sees no hope. The
community is gearing up to re-launch its agitation and also contest the next
Assembly elections. Clearly, Gehlot has more on his plate than he can chew!
* * * *
Chhattisgarh Elated
Chhattisgarh is all smiles and given the Centre reason for
the same. The BJP-ruled
State has bagged the
national award for successful implementation of the UPA’s ambitious flagship
programme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MNREGA). Its naxal-hit district Kanker and “Gatapara” gram panchayat of
Rajnandgaon district have been selected for the award for 2011-12 among seven
districts and 11 gram panchayats across the country. In all, 351 families in
Kanker district were given 100-day guaranteed employment under the scheme through
101 employment generating works of Rs 101 crore. Chief Minister is pleased his State has been
consistent in its performance as the award comes its way for the second
consecutive year. More importantly, other naxal-hit States would do well to
take a cue from this tiny State.
* * * *
Bengal’s Gorkha Worries
The Salman’s Rushdie storm apart, West Bengal’s endeavour to
warrant peace in picturesque Darjeeling
hills may sadly be short lived. Uneasy tension is brewing between Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung, at least
on two counts. One, GJM is livid over Mamata’s remarks that “Darjeeling
is a part of Bengal. The two are inseparable,”
at a public meeting there on Tuesday last. Two, GJM has accused Mamata of
“dividing the Hill People” by meeting some Lepcha representatives at Algora a
day later and assuring setting up an autonomous council for their development.
The Morcha has promptly threatened to revive its militant movement and demand a
separate State. On her part, Didi is
furious over Gurung’s utterances and made known her displeasure by skipping the
inauguration of a bridge at Bijanbari. Far from being cowed down, she has asked
the administration to tackle law and order with a firm hand. Looks like the
TMC-GJM honeymoon is over!
* * * *
Shiv Sena’s Googly To
Modi
Gujarat BJP is suspiciously watching alliance partner Shiv
Sena’s moves in neighbouring Maharashtra. And,
not without reason. The latter has added a jarring note to the clamour for
Chief Minister Narendra Modi being declared the BJP’s prime ministerial
candidate. Other than doing a U-turn, it has now declared support for Leader of
Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj as NDA’s candidate for the nations’ top
job. This, a day after senior BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha and CP Thakur openly
voiced support for Modi. Though the reason given by SS is that Late Bal
Thackeray had backed Sushma as the only “deserving and brilliant” candidate,
there is more than meets the eye. Apparently, Sena chief Uddhav is peeved over
Modi’s closeness to estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. However, all
may not be lost for Modi, if he can get Raj to accept Uddhav’s olive branch of
getting back together. After politics is all about quid-pro-quo.
* * * *
Delhi Makes SAD Upbeat
The SAD-BJP Government in Punjab is in an upbeat mood,
thanks to Delhi.
On Wednesday last, the BJP-supported Badal group swept the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara
Management Committee polls by winning 37 of the 46 and routing Congress-backed
Akali Dal (Delhi)
after 11 years. By this victory, SAD
claims to have given ruling Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit a taste of
anti-incumbency which shall follow in next Assembly elections! However, the
three-time CM, has rubbished the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal’s
claim, asserting that it was an election to a religious body and that her
Government had nothing to do with it, barring conducting the polls and that
through the Directorate of Gurdwara. Which of the two will be proved right,
only time will tell. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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