Round The States

New Delhi, 2 February 2019

Citizenship Bill

PLAYING WITH FIRE IN N-E

By Insaf

A stitch in time saves nine is an adage the Centre mustn’t forget. The protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill are engulfing the North East. While in Assam 20-odd families of people killed in the Assam agitation of the 1980s on the foreigners issue returned their awards to the State government in Guwahati, thousands gathered in Meghalaya at a protest rally. Further, 10 regional political parties, allies of the BJP, participated in a convention convened by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and hosted by AGP to unanimously announce their opposition to the Bill. Importantly, these include the National People’s Party, which leads the coalition in Meghalaya, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), a BJP ally in Tripura; the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, which leads the coalition in Nagaland and the ruling Mizo National front in Mizoram. They decided to petition their sentiments to both the Prime Minister and President as well as chalk out a course of action. Whether it would include pulling out of the NDA or the BJP-led regional North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), is a question left unanswered so far. But BJP must realize sooner than later it cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. Its allies see a sinister game plan and view the Bill as a threat to indigenous people of the region. New Delhi must douse the fire before it is too late. 

*                                               *                                               *                                                   *      

Bengal Violence

Violent action and words mar West Bengal. Post BJP President Amit Shah’s rally in East Midnapore district on Tuesday last, all hell broke loose between his party cadres and the TMC. Massive vandalism was unleashed with 50-odd buses, police vehicles, government cars, motorbikes, two TMC offices stoned or set on fire. And of course the two sides charging each other for the mayhem were vociferously traded, with even Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee getting embroiled in the blame game. While the former asked TMC chief to ensure her cadres are booked for indulging in violence, the latter shot back saying first rein in your cadres and leaders, who ‘created the provocation and started the vandalism.’ And, while the State administration prepares itself to prepare a report, predictably on party lines, 11 persons have been arrested and raids conducted in neighbouring areas. It is no secret that West Bengal is high on Amit Shah’s radar and he is sure the party will uproot the TMC this election season. No way, says a seasoned TMC MP to Insaf ‘we will all 42 seats, even BJP’s Darjeeling.’ One of the two will have to eat his words, but by then the State would have witnessed more mayhem!    

*                                   *                                               *                                                   *

Chhattisgarh Pension

Politics over the dark days of Emergency gets hotter. While the BJP puts sharp focus on it on every opportunity it gets, the Congress seeks to wipe out the memories. In the process it is the pensioner who gets caught in this drama. After Madhya Pradesh, it is now the turn of the Congress government in Chhattisgarh to question pension of those who were jailed during Emergency. In a recent order, all commissioners and collectors have been told that the process of doling out pension needs to be “more clear and transparent” and thus from February “physical verification of beneficiaries of MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) pensions needs to be carried out.” Till then it is simple wait. Recall MISA was used by Indira Gandhi government to arrest political prisoners for raising voice against the emergency. But when BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh and MP, it started the pension scheme (in 2008). And into his third term, Raman Singh raised the pension in 2017—Rs 25000 from Rs 15,000 for those who spent over five months in jail, Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 10,000 (one to five months) and Rs 8,000 instead of (less than one month). What his successor Bhagel proposes is anybody’s guess. 

*                                   *                                               *                                                   *

BJP Upsets Punjab Ally?

An opportune time to demand their pound of flesh? So it seems for BJP allies. The latest partner is the Shiromani Akali Dal. It chose to stay away from the customary meeting of NDA allies on Thursday last, raising many an eyebrow. Apparently, one of the oldest allies of the BJP, the SAD, is peeved over the NDA’s interference in religious affairs of Sikhs and trying to take over Gurudwara Boards. It sees the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, a Sikh organisation affiliated to RSS, as the villain of the piece. First it tried to interfere in Patna Sahib Gurudwara, which was stopped and now it’s eyeing the Hazoor Sahib Gurudwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. It is feared that the Devendra Fadnavis government is pushing for amending Section 11 of Takht Shri Hazoor Sahib Board Nanded Act, 1956, which if accomplished, would give the State government the right to appoint the Board’s chairman-- a no-no with SAD. In addition, there are demands for a liberal package for farmers and to refrain from creating fear in the minds of minority. 

*                                   *                                               *                                                   *

Centre Aid To States

The Centre offers an “I owe you” to States struggling with payments under MGNREGA. Though it has provided additional funds to some to meet their pending liabilities, it realises these will not take them through the rest of the financial year. So, States must pay the wages of the labourers  under the scheme for the next two months, which will be reimbursed later. Apparently, the financial statement of the scheme reveals there is a negative net balance of Rs 4,101 crore and that 19 States and Union Territories are unable to meet their liabilities such as Andhra Pradesh (Rs 1,605 crore) and WB (Rs 1,342 crore). Put your own money and we will pay you back in first week of April, assures the Centre. With polls round the corner, both sides are aware the labourer must get paid on time, for it wouldn’t be wise to upset this vote bank. Trusting each other is the need of the hour if they want dividends.    

*                                   *                                               *                                                   *

Goa’s Beach Code

No booze, cooking food and littering warning signs would soon greet tourists on Goa beaches. And these had better be taken seriously or else be prepared to pay a fine and if you refuse spend three months behind bars! On Thursday last, the Goa Assembly amended the Goa Tourist Place (Protection and Maintenance) Act, 2001, prohibiting people from drinking alcohol, cooking in public, including beaches and littering glass/beer bottles. While individual offenders will have to pay a fine of Rs 2,000, a group could be asked to pay a penalty of Rs 10,000. Plus as per the amended Bill no person engaged in the business of sale of liquor “will allow its customer to carry bottles/cans containing liquor in tourist places”. Will it deter the tourists and usher in some discipline or will the graph of the tourist traffic trickling down become worse? Worth a close watch but at least the State can say it is trying to achieve a Swachch Goa. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)