Round The States
New Delhi, 25
December 2021
J&K
Delimitation Exercise
BJP’S
“POLITICAL AGENDA”
By Insaf
Political parties in
Kashmir valley are peeved with the Delimitation Commission, accusing it of
pushing the BJP ‘political agenda’. The NC and PDP along with People’s
Conference and Kashmir Apni Party have trashed the Commission’s draft
recommendations--seven additional Assembly seats for Jammu and Kashmir — six in
Jammu division and only one in Kashmir valley. These, say the parties are
“unacceptable”, “reek of bias” and have “bypassed” their demands of people’s
representation. Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have argued that creation of the new
constituencies ‘isn’t justified by 2011 Census data, rather the Commission has
allowed BJP’s political agenda to dictate its recommendations; Contrary to
promised scientific approach, it’s political; apprehensions about the
Commission weren’t misplaced as it seeks to pitch people against each other by
ignoring population census and created to serve BJP’s political interests by
dividing people along religious and regional lines; real game plan is to
install a government in J&K which will legitimise the unconstitutional
decisions of August 2019.’ On its part, the Commission says the proposals are
to ‘balance representation for geographical areas with inadequate communication
and lack of public conveniences given their excessive remoteness or
inhospitable conditions on the international border.’ It has asked for views by
December 31. It’s no guess what these would be, but what follows is worth a
watch.
* * * * * * *
UP Land Deal Scandal
Uttar Pradesh again
hits the headlines for the wrong reasons. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has
been forced to order an inquiry into land parcels’ transactions in Ayodhya
since Supreme Court’s clearance of construction of a Ram temple there in
November 2019. An investigation of land records by a leading English daily
found that ‘at least 15 buyers of land parcels, included local MLAs, close
relatives of bureaucrats who have or are serving in Ayodhya, and local revenue
officials whose job was to authenticate land transactions.’ Worse, one set of
these raises more questions of propriety and conflict of interest given that
the seller in three cases, Maharshi Ramayan Vidyapeeth Trust, is under scrutiny
-- for alleged irregularities in purchase of land from Dalit villagers -- by
the very same officials (Divisional Commissioner, Chief Revenue Officer &
DIG) whose relatives bought the land! The Trust acquired 52,000 sq m from a dozen Dalit families using
a Dalit person Ronghai employed by it as a conduit for just Rs 6.38 lakh,
whereas its value at current circle rate varies between Rs 4.25 crore and Rs
9.58 crore. Predictably, the go ahead given by the apex court for the Ram
temple led to a scramble for land near its location as it would yield huge
dividends. In all the total land bought by the 5 individuals, is 70,826 sq m,
about 17 acres and imagine the big bucks they would rake in. Will Yogi’s
inquiry be fair is the big question, as the scandal is a hot potato for the
Opposition this ensuing Assembly polls? It seeks the Supreme Court step in.
Will it?
* * * * * * *
Friday Controversy
Lakshadweep’s Education
department has stirred a hornets nest. It has issued an order to mark Sundays
instead of Fridays as weekly holidays for school students beginning the new
academic year 2021-22. This despite protests. Muslims form 96% of the
population in these tiny islands and have been observing Friday as a weekly
holiday in schools on religious grounds. The order is a complete departure from
the past system, but the administration insists it’s doing so to ‘ensure
optimum utilisation of resources’ and ‘proper engagement of learners and
necessary planning of teaching learning process.’ There are no takers and in
fact a resistance. Local panchayats and school PTAs weren’t consulted and NCP
MP says it’s ‘unilateral’ and ‘unpopular.’ He said: “Since the inception of the
education system in Lakshadweep, this (Friday being a weekly holiday) has been
going on. Suddenly, the current administrator, the 36th on the Island, decided
that Friday will be a working day. There was no demand from the people (to
change existing system). The new decision is totally needless.” How the
protests will pan out is anybody’s guess as the fear is that the administration
would resort to disciplinary action which will end up affecting the students’
academics. A bigger fear is will it make any difference to a cussed
administration with an agenda?
* * * * * * *Haryana Lowers Drinking Age
Haryana does not want
to lag behind other States when it comes to its excise policy. On Wednesday
last, it amended its Excise Act to reduce the legal age to consume, purchase or
sell liquor and other intoxicant drugs from existing 25 to 21 years and the Amendment
Bill was passed in the Assembly. Its reasoning being: At the time of framing
the Excise Policy for 2021-22, the reduction in age limit was discussed ‘as
many of other States have done’, including NCT of Delhi. Moreover,
‘socio-economic conditions have changed drastically’ from the time when
provisions were incorporated in the Excise Act. ‘People now are more educated
and participating in new endeavours and also can take rational decisions when
it comes to responsible drinking.’ Perhaps, but the government did not have a
convincing argument viz controversial Friday prayers in open spaces in
Gurugram, objected to by Hindu groups. Chief Minister Khattar asserted no
member of any community should hold religious prayers in public places--“People
of all faiths hold prayers at designated religious places like temples,
mosques, gurdwaras and churches, and permissions are given for all big
festivals in open, but by displaying a show of strength which provokes
sentiments of another community isn’t appropriate.” This after a Congress MLA
raised the issue saying ‘Idgahs and mosques should be freed from illegal
encroachments in Gurugram so that our community members are not forced to offer
prayers in the open….protecting minorities’ rights was the CM’s responsibility”.
Will Khattar
oblige?
* * * * * * *
Wedding Scandal
Marriages are made in
heaven it is said, but in Madhya Pradesh weddings are planned in ‘scheming’
ways. It so happens that one panchayat block in Vidisha district funded 6000
weddings in two years, April 2019 to May 2021, under the Mukhyamantri
Kanyadan Yojna! In all Rs 30 crore was
paid to 5,976 beneficiaries under this scheme plus the Sironj municipal area
spent Rs 40.8 lakh on eight weddings, while Lateri municipality spent Rs 76.5
lakh on 15 weddings. The information came in the form of reply to a question in
Assembly, leading to even the Speaker raising an eyebrow. He asked the minister
“How is it possible that around 6,000 weddings were held and Rs 30 crore was
spent in a single block considering the Covid period?” and sought the matter be
inquired. And rightly so, as a party MLA had alleged “the figure was too high”
and that “fake beneficiaries” had been propped up to “usurp the benefits by
corrupt employees”, following a complaint by two beneficiaries that they hadn’t
received the full payment. Under the scheme Rs 51,000 is provided as financial aid
to newly married couples to help economically weaker families marry off their
daughters and that most of the beneficiaries are labourers, registered with the
State’s Building and Other Construction Workers Board.The government has ordered
a probe and the ‘wedding planner’ must be nailed and made accountable. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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