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Round The States
New Delhi, 26 June 2021
Kashmir
Meeting
OVERCOMING
TRUST DEFICIT?
By Insaf
Removing ‘Dilli ki
duri’ and ‘Dil ki duri’ with Kashmir is a challenging goal indeed
that Prime Minister Modi has set for himself. His invitation to People’s
Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, derided by him and his Home Minister Shah as
‘Gupkar Gang’, for a meeting on Thursday last suggests there’s more than meets
the eye. Remember, in the past two years they have termed the alliance as ‘irrelevant’
and determined to ‘banish them from public life’.So, was the meeting called
just to prepare a future course of action or holding elections eventually? Not
really. It’s sheer realisation by the Centre that it does need to get
mainstream regional parties on board if it wants to get the delimitation
exercise underway, the first step towards Assembly elections. Perhaps, pressure
from the new dispensation in Washington DC? Or rather it’s time BJP redrew
electoral boundaries in J&K to its advantage. But for that it needs a
measure of legitimacy like did the DDC elections. However, it’s not easy. ‘New
Kashmir’ remains a slogan as 14 leaders first demanded restoration of Statehood
at the meeting. They were ‘unwilling’ to accept revocation of J&K’s special
status and bifurcation into two UTs. It was made amply clear they would
continue to protest, but peacefully. Be that as it may, there is already the
first deadlock: delimitation first, says Modi, Statehood demands the alliance.
Can it be overcome and how soon? When the curtains will fall down on Central
rule, imposed in June 2018? The answer perhaps lies in whether New Delhi can
build trust, unquestionably lost since the aftermath of 5 August 2019.
* * * *
Meghalaya Vaccine Poser
The vaccination drive
gets an interesting twist in Meghalaya. On the one hand, its High Court held
that vaccination was ‘need of the hour, an absolute necessity’ and on the other
was against mandatory or forced vaccination, saying it impinges on Constitution’s
Article 19(1). This it said, while dealing with the court filing a suo moto PIL
after State authorities had asked shopkeepers, vendors, taxi drivers and others
in many areas to get themselves vaccinated before resuming business.On Thursday
last, the CJI’s bench opined putting a pre-condition on taxi drivers,
shopkeepers etc “vitiates the very fundamental purpose of the welfare attached
to it… and impinges on fundamental right(s) under as such, especially when it
affects the right to means of livelihood…” It also observed it was the State’s responsibility
to disseminate information and sensitise citizens of the entire exercise of
vaccination and to stop misinformation on it. Interestingly, a day earlier, the
court asked all business houses, shopsand commercial vehicles to put on display
the ‘vaccinated’ status of employees at a “conspicuous” place to allow people
make a conscious decision before using their services.Similarly, owners of local
taxis, auto-rickshaws, taxis, and buses, must too put up a sign with the
vaccination status of drivers, conductors or helpers.Guess the message to many
would read as: ‘You can’t have the cake and eat it too!
* * * *
WB Speaker Joins In
The bitter feud
between West Bengal-Centre reaches the doorstep of House of the people, the Lok
Sabha. On Tuesday last, State Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee took the
opportunity provided by the virtual All India Speakers’ Conference on Tuesday
last, and complained to his Lok Sabha counterpart Om Birla about “excessive
interference” of Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in matters related to parliamentary
democracy and the House’ functioning. Not a political turn, but more to do with
business of the House? Apparently, despite the Assembly passing bills, Banerjee
said, several of these were lying at Dhankar’s desk waiting for his signature.
This, he added, ‘is unprecedented in history of West Bengal’s parliamentary
democracy.”It’s no secret, that the Governor, who assumed office in July 2019, has
repeatedly been accused by TMC leadership of acting as BJP’s mouthpiece, not
just interfering in functioning of the Mamata Banerjee government but maligning
it too. Expectedly, State BJP unit rubbishes the allegations saying Dhankar was
only exposing reality—of lawlessness in the State. And though there have been complaints
against him earlier, it adds, all turned out to be baseless. Be that as it may,
the big question is what will the Lok Sabha Speaker do? Remember, the CBI’s repeated requests to chargesheet
MPs, including turncoat Suvendu Adhikari, who is now BJP’s Leader of
Opposition, continue to gather dust on his desk. Adding fuel to fire?
* * * *
Bihar’s Churnings
Will political Gen
Next hold hands, is a question doing the rounds in Bihar. The turmoil in the
LJP and its beleaguered leader Chirag Paswan has made RJD’s firebrand leader
Tejashwi Yadav, leader of Opposition, reach out to him. The enemy i.e. BJP
seems common, though somewhat blurred in LJP’s case. The revolt in the party by
his uncle, has disenchanted Chirag with his alliance partner’s silence and
feels JD(U) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may be playing mischief. Chirag is set
to embark on ‘Aashirwad Yatra’ from July 5, his father Ram Vilas Paswan’s birth
anniversary to test waters. There’s a ripple already. Reminding him of how his
father Lalu Prasad had helped Ram Vilas to get a Rajya Sabha seat in 2010 when
LJP had no MP or MLAs, Tejashwi said “It’s Chirag to decide if he would
continue to live with followers of Guru Golwalkar’s ‘Bunch of Thoughts’ or with
BR Ambedkar, maker of Constitution.” Though Chirag has yet to respond, there
appears political logic for the two to come together. While Chirag failed
miserably in Assembly poll, the two have their respective vote banks, Paswans
and Yadavs are political castes and not antithetical and can work for next poll
cycle. Importantly, the two are not really averse to each other. Recall it was
Chirag keen to partner with BJP, though his father had in past left Vajpayee Cabinet
due to differences with Modi after 2002. Time will prove the ancient proverb: “The
enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
* * * *
Kerala Steps In
Glimmer of hope
appears in Lakshadweep for its protestors. On Tuesday last, the Kerala High
Court stayed two provocative orders of the
UT administration headed by Praful Patel, following a petition
by a lawyer and native of Kavaratti. These relate to closing down dairy farms
on the islands and changing midday meal diet of school children by excluding
chicken, beef, and other meat from the menu. Patel through a new set of
proposals these past months had stirred up a hornet’s nest. The petitioner
termed the decisions as being ‘violative of human rights’ as these were ‘aimed
at destroying culture and eating habits of islanders.’ Besides, like other
proposals, the decision to shut down dairy farms and auction off the animals
was taken without any consultations with elected local bodies. The islands have
been witnessing unprecedented protests under ‘Save Lakshadweep Forum’ (SLF),a
group of six political parties with the population observing ‘black day’ and
day-long fast demanding ‘justice’.All eyes are now on the UT’s response to the
Kerala court. Will Patel be convincing and continue to ride rough shod with his
right-wing leanings or will his clips be eventually clipped? New Delhi must
step in too.
* * * *
‘Third Front’ In
Offing?
An evening in Delhi
has created a flutter in political circles. Is a ‘third front’,against the
formidable BJP, in the offing as leaders of 8 political parties along with some
intellectuals got together on an invitation of Rashtra Manch, at NCP
Chief Sharad Pawar’s home on Tuesday last? The organisers deny any such move
and explain individuals and not parties were invitedto discuss ‘current political
and economic situation in the country.’ Not convincing enough as other than NCP,
leaders of TMC, SP, AAP, Rashtra Manch (founded by former Yashwant Sinha), SP, Left
parties, RLD and NC were present. The absence of Congress raised some eyebrows,
though it was said its members were invited. Among the non-politicos were
former Delhi HC Chief Justice A P Shah, writer and former MP Javed Akhtar, Sudheendra
Kulkarni, economist Arun Kumar and former diplomat K.C. Singh. The timing of
the meeting is interesting too—followed after Pawar having a 2nd
sitting with poll strategist Prashant Kishor within 10 days. More so as though
leaders say a common strategy must emerge to deal with issues such as
joblessness, farmers’ protests, freedom of press, inflation etc, it is
important to make a note of Kishore’s reaction. He said “I don’t believe a
Third or Fourth Front could emerge as a successful challenge to the current
dispensation…The ‘tried and tested’ 3rd Front model is archaic and
does not suit the current political dynamic..’ Should one read into the group
strategizing at the State level with eye on winnability? It’s a long way off to
2024, but an early start may give a lead.---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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