Round The
States
New Delhi, 4 May 2019
LG-CM Power Struggle
PUDUCHERRY GIVES HOPE
By Insaf
Three cheers to the
Madras High Court. In the hustle-bustle of elections it offers a ray of hope to
people’s representatives. In an order on Tuesday last, it restored the dignity
of Chief Minister’s office and of his Council of Ministers in Puducherry. Ruling
the Lieutenant-Governor could not interfere with day-to-day administration of
the Union Territory or act independently when an elected government was in
place, it said incessant interference from the L-G would amount to running a
“parallel government.” Thus, Chief Minister Narayanasamy gets to have the last
laugh in the power-struggle with L-G Kiran Bedi since 2017. It is no secret the
two were at loggerheads, forcing Narayansamy to protest against Bedi’s ‘interference’
in policies and as many as 39 Government schemes languishing with her. Finally,
the Court came to the CM’s aid after a Congress MLA filed a writ petition
spelling out Bedi’s meddling. Importantly, the Court also set aside Centre’s
communications in 2017 elevating the power of the administrator, as was seen in
regular spats between Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and L-G Baijal. It made a
distinction between the two, saying restrictions imposed on NCR of Delhi were
not applicable in Puducherry. All eyes now rest on Bedi. Has she been tamed or
is Raj Bhavan preparing another move?
* * * * *
Maharashtra
Maoist Attack
Maoists strike again,
making a mockery of the intelligence apparatus, this time in Maharashtra. On
Wednesday last, 15 security personnel were killed in an IED explosion, hours
after Maoists had set ablaze 30-odd vehicles in Gadchiroli. While PM Modi and Chief
Minister Fadnavis have condemned the incident, Opposition NCP has demanded the
CM resign immediately. More so as this is the 4th Maoist attack in
Gadchiroli, which borders Chattisgarh, since 2019 General elections began in
April. Worse, it makes hollow the claim of the Home Ministry that Maoists
insurgency has been contained to a large extent. As against this, the South
Asia Terrorism Portal data says the latest attack takes the count of
Maoist-related incidents up to the 53 across the country this year alone, in
which at least 107 persons (26 civilians, 14 security personnel and 52
Naxalites) have died. Recall, just weeks ago, Maoists targeted a convoy of BJP
MLA in Bastar in Chhattisgarh, during his campaign, killing him and four
others. Undeniably, the intelligence apparatus has failed miserably, knowing
well that Maoists take advantage of the ongoing elections and use every
opportunity to strike. It would do well to adhere to the adage ‘a stitch in
time saves nine.’
* * * * *
J&K
Assembly Polls
In the midst of
ongoing General elections, Jammu & Kashmir is weighing on Election
Commission’s mind. While the Centre is keen Assembly elections are held in
October-November, i.e. extending President’s Rule beyond July 2, Nirvachan
Sadan is so far non-committal and has sought legal opinion. More so, as the Constitution
is silent on the hypothetical question what if the new government doesn’t wish
to extend President’s Rule and the EC wants to avoid being accused of not
conducting the polls! North Block argues on postponement on grounds that after
May 23, the time to hold elections will be very short, plus there is Ramzaan
and Amarnath yatra. However, all political parties in the State are upset as
they feel the Centre is deliberately stalling the democratic process. In fact,
they wanted Assembly polls be held along with these polls. But here the EC put
its foot down citing security concerns. How soon will the EC take a call now,
is the big question. It must keep in mind that re-imposition of Governor’s Rule
repeatedly doesn’t fair well for democracy and deprives the people to choose
their representatives.
* * * * *
Gujarat
& Modis
Gujarat, which gave
the country its Prime Minister, perhaps continues to be a nightmare for
Congress President Rahul Gandhi. On Thursday last, a local court issued summons
to him after a criminal defamation suit was filed by a BJP MLA over his
remarks: “why all thieves have Modi in their surname,” The Chief judicial
magistrate directed Rahul to be present before the court on June 7 as the
complainant said the Congress chief had defamed the entire Modi community. He
petitioned that there are a large number of people with Modi surname and does
that mean all members of the Modi community are thieves? Apparently, two more
similar cases were filed against Rahul in Bihar’s Purnea district. Bihar Deputy
CM Sushil Modi also filed a defamation case for the same statement, saying he ‘defames
and hurts the sentiments of everyone who has the Modi surname.’ Guess Rahul
cannot say what’s in a name. But he surely has more on his plate than he can
handle.
* * * * *
UP’s
Bull Fight
Uttar Pradesh brings
humour in poll campaigning, ridden with tu-tu-mein-mein
from the very start of general elections. Thanks to the stray bulls. These seem
to have caught the attention of the politicians. After BSP supremo Mayawati’s
helicopter had to hover above for a while in Kannuaj as a bull which had broken
the barricade had to be removed, tweeted SP Akhilesh Yadav: “Can’t you (Yogi
Adityanath) see how the rage of orphaned bulls is rising. A bull came to give a
memorandum against the BJP government...We told the bull that this was not a
rally of those responsible for leaving animals to fend for themselves, only
then did it calm down.” Obviously, a reference to Yogi’s ban on slaughter
houses. Mayawati too chipped in: “Such is BJP’s frustration they are sending
their stray animals to disrupt our rallies.” Promptly Yogi had his response: “I
learnt that the other day, ‘Nandi Baba’
(Hindu deity Shiva’s bull) breached the barricades and entered the gathbandhan’s rally venue. It was
looking for those who had opened illegal abattoirs in UP. Now, even cattle are
not ready to forgive them.” With the bull getting such attention, the voter has
reason to be jealous.
* * * * *
Burqa Vs Ghunghat
Is Burqa Vs Ghunghat going to be the country’s latest debate? Well so it seems,
with Shiv Sena, BJP’s ally, demanding that Prime Minister Modi follow in the
footsteps of Sri Lanka President Sirisena. While the latter has banned the niqab (face veil) after the Easter
Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, so that security agencies don’t face any
difficulty in identifying people, the Sena wants Modi to ban burqas in India.
Face masks or veils “could pose a danger to national and social security”, it
argues, in its editorial in its mouthpiece, Saamana.
“It has happened in Ravana’s Sri Lanka. When will it happen in Ram’s
Ayodhya...,” it asked. While no reaction from Modi, lyricist Javed Akhtar has a
strong view point: “If you want to bring a law banning burqa here (in India) and if it is someone’s view I have no
objection. But before the last phase of election in Rajasthan, this government
should announce a ban on the practice of ‘ghunghat’
(covering of face by Hindu women) in that State.” Well countered. —INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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