Round
The States
New Delhi, 9
September 2017
Gau
Rakshaks, Netas
SC CRACKS THE WHIP
By Insaf
Stop pussyfooting
around. A terse message from the Supreme Court to State governments on doing
precious little against cow vigilantes. On Wednesday last, it directed all
States to appoint a senior police officer in every district to check violence
in the name of cow protection, following a petition by Tushar Gandhi, great
grandson of Mahatma Gandhi seeking curbing of cow vigilantism. Undeniably, the
incidents of violence and mob lynching continue and have grown on this front
since the BJP-led government came to power three years ago. With several of its
States having made laws to punish cow slaughter, gau rakshaks have been targeting cattle and meat traders,
transporters etc. Worse, they have been using cows as a pretext to target
Muslims and Dalits. A clear no-go with the Court and ‘it must stop’. Vigilantes
cannot become a law unto themselves and the cops must prosecute such people
with promptitude, it directed. The States have a week to comply with order.
* * * * *
Likewise, in another
matter raised by an NGO regarding the whopping increase in legislators’ assets
during their tenure, and they be asked to disclose their source of income in
their nomination papers, the Supreme Court was peeved with the Centre simply sitting
pretty. It demanded that it spell out the action initiated against 289 MLAs and
MPs, some of whose assets are said to have jumped by over ‘500 per cent’ between
elections. The big question being what steps the Government had taken so far
and whether property amassed by these legislators was through legal means. The
two-member bench trashed the Central Board of Direct Taxes affidavit filed in
the case as it was incomplete and asked: “Is this the attitude of the
Government of India? What have you done till now?” For, the affidavit filed “is
nothing but typed papers.” It cautioned the Centre against making ‘vague
statements’ and directed that a fresh detailed affidavit be filed by September
12. Hard enough rap to shake up the Centre from its chalta hai attitude.
* * * * *
Karnataka’s
Horrific Murder
Karnataka and
political parties are sadly missing the woods for the tress. The brutal murder
of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru, which has generated a
nationwide outrage, has unfortunately got embroiled in a tu-tu-mein-mein between the so-called ‘secular’ and ‘communal’. We
have the Congress leaders hitting out at its foe saying “anybody who speaks
against the RSS/BJP is attacked and even killed...they want to impose only one
ideology...” The BJP hits back questioning ‘poor law and order’ in the
Congress-ruled State, alleging 18-19 political killings in the past
two-and-a-half years with no logical conclusion to the investigations. The Left
chips in with ‘the killing fitted into familiar pattern of eliminating voices (Kalburgi,
Dabholkar, Pansare) that dare to speak against climate of intolerance...’
Worse, even the media is clearly divided with pro or anti-establishment slant
in its coverage. In the midst of headlines and attempts to score brownie points
the critical issue has got lost. The stark fact is another member of the fourth
pillar has done to death and freedom of expression, vital to a democratic
society, has been dealt another deadly blow. Remember, journalists are crucial
to the very functioning of our societies and their safety must be top priority
of all governments. Time the Centre and States’ leadership shift focus. India
ranks 137 in world press freedom index!
* * * * *
No
Space For BJP In Bengal
TMC-BJP face-off gets
petty. Trust the West Bengal government to ensure that the RSS or BJP have no
auditoriums in Kolkata to hold their seminars. Not only did Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee’s administration deny permission to the State BJP leadership to
organise a seminar at the Netaji Indoor Stadium where party President Shah was
to speak, but also had another auditorium, Mahajati Sadan cancel permission to
a Trust’s seminar where RSS chief Bhagwat was to deliver the keynote address!
This, after the organisers had given requisite formal letters for bookings and
even got confirmation. Excuses such as maintenance work, annual renovation
before Durga puja, police clearance denied etc were cited. Clearly, there is
more than meets the eye. The BJP is not going to let go either. It has decided
to move court against the government’s refusal to party events. Let’s see who
has the last laugh.
* * * * *
BJP Eyes All N-E
Five to all eight is
the BJP’s goal in the North East. At the second conclave of the North-East
Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a coalition of BJP and five regional parties, on
Monday last, party President Shah made his intentions clear of expanding base.
While it rules in three States—Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and its
allies in another two, Sikkim and Nagaland, all-out efforts are underway to get
the remaining three--Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura into the NEDA fold. It
would tom-tom its claim that development in the ‘alienated region’ in the last
three years under Modi is ‘several times more than Congress-led governments in past
65 years.’ No harm in wishful thinking, as there is no denying that from zero,
the BJP has notched up three States in past one year. With the three States
going to polls later this year and early 2018, all ministers have been on call,
to visit the north-east regularly, one State every 15 days! Will voters oblige?
A Congress-mukt North East?
* * * * *
MP
Taps GenNext
BJP-ruled Madhya
Pradesh looks ahead to next generation. It has embarked on an ambitious scheme
to help farmer’s children. With only a handful of takers for its mega food park
projects to minimise post-harvest losses of horticulture and non-horticulture
produce, it now eyes custom processing and servicing centres for agriculture
commodities and promote entrepreneurship amongst kids above 18 years who have
cleared 10th exams. Beneficiaries could get bank loans up to Rs 25
lakhs for setting up these plants to make puree, paste and tofu from garlic, onions,
tomato and soyabean, besides setting up vegetable and fruit dehydration plants
and modern jaggery plants in villages. It will give SC & ST additional 10%
subsidy than the general category’s 40%. The big question is whether the
government will meet its target of 1,000 centres in three years or be dumped as
pulp? ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News & Feature Alliance)
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