Round
The States
New Delhi, 28 October 2023
EC Directive To Centre
BAN YATRA IN POLL STATES
By Insaf
Three cheers to the Election Commission. It has acted
promptly and decisively on the complaint about “gross misuse of government
machinery”, at the Centre. On Thursday last, it wrote to Cabinet Secretary
Rajiv Gauba not to hold its proposed nation-wide ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp
Yatra’ from November 20 to highlight Modi-led government’s “achievements”
in the five poll-bound states and in a bypoll constituency in Nagaland.
Congress President Kharge and a retired IAS officer had written to the EC about
a letter circulated on October 18 to all Ministries about the yatra and asking
them to appoint senior officials as “district rath prabharis.” The fact that
‘only achievements of last 9 years are being considered, gives away the fact
this is a transparently political order in the run-up to the 5-state elections
and 2024 general elections,’ wrote Kharge, adding “It’s a clear violation of
Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, which directs that no government
servant shall take part in any political activity.” Nirvachan Sadan responded
saying on October 9 Assembly polls in the 5 States were announced and the Model
Code of Conduct had come into force and under no circumstances the aforesaid
activities be undertaken till December 5, day of counting. The government has
clarified that the yatra will not make a stop in any poll-bound States.
However, a vigil is critical.
* * * *
ED Raids In Rajasthan
The ED has got into top gear in poll-bound Rajasthan,
threatening to severely hit ruling Congress’ campaigning. On Thursday last, it raided
premises of state party president Govind Singh Dotasra and former education
minister in Jaipur and Sikar as part of a money laundering probe into alleged
exam paper leak case and summoned Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s Vaibhav son in
a FEMA case in Delhi. Investigating agencies, said party President Kharge have
become the real 'panna pramukh (party workers)’ of BJP. After
Chhattisgarh, ED has also entered the poll campaign in Rajasthan.’ Aptly put,
with Gehlot chipping in urging voters to give a befitting reply as the raids come
days after he announced guarantees for women. Besides Dotasra, whois contesting
from Lacchmangarh seat of Sikar, independent MLA Om Prakash Hudla is under the
scanner. Should raids be put on hold once the polls are announced, needs to be
considered. Importantly, should Election Commission intervene, as Gehlot
demands, for on the face of it summoning, arresting or raiding leaders of
Opposition parties muddies the level-playing field.
* * * *
WB
‘Witch Hunt’
ED action against ministers in West Bengal has Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee frowning. “If they conduct raids at the residences of
all the leaders, then what is left of the government?” she said, perhaps in
jest, but reason to worry. On Thursday last, the ED arrested forest minister
Jyoti Priya Mallick in connection with an alleged case of corruption in
rationing distribution, when he was minister of food and supply. The arrest
followed searches at his home in Salt Lake, Kolkata and he declared himself to
be a “victim of a grave conspiracy”. His leader said the raids went ahead even
though ‘there was no proof of wrongdoing’. Recall last year minister of
education Partha Chatterjee and his assistant were arrested in a teacher
recruitment scandal; Anubrata Mondal, Mamata’s close aide and Birbhum leader
was detained viz livestock smuggling case; and TMC general secretary and
Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee has been frequently questioned over
corruption charges. At a press conference didi said TMC leaders and
ministers were being harassed just after Durga Puja, and “Is this the way the
country will be run? How many more will you send to jail? Send everyone to
jail, even then, you will not get votes.” While she may be right, she needs to
set her house in order, sooner than later.
* * * *
Mizoram Rebuff
BJP should have little hope in Mizoram. Chief Minister
Zoramthanga has made it amply clear that he shall not share the stage with
Prime Minister Modi when he comes to campaign in the State, around month-end. “The
people of Mizoram are all Christians. When the people of Manipur (Meities)
burned hundreds of churches in Manipur, they were (Mizos) totally against that
kind of idea. To have sympathy with the BJP at this time will be a big minus
point for my party,” Zoramthanga told BBC News in an interview on Monday last.
His advice: it will be better if the PM comes alone and he shares the platform
by himself, and I take the stage separately by myself.” Interestingly, while
his MNF is a part of BJP-led NE Democratic Alliance and an ally of NDA at the
Centre, the party doesn’t work with the BJP. He explains this is because MNF is
totally against the Congress and doesn’t want to be part of any alliance led by
it. Indeed, BJP has totally failed in Manipur and with thousands of refugees
coming to Mizoram, the MNF has to look after its vote bank. Zoramthanga insists
that it is the responsibility of the Centre to restore peace in Manipur so that
people can go back to their native state. Till then, his government is taking
care of the relief camps with no aid from New Delhi. Perhaps, the BJP and Modi
may do well if there is a change in strategy. For if it makes no inroads into
Mizoram, it could have an impact on other States. Better to be safe than
sorry!
* * * *
TN Face-off Gets Worse
The DMK government-Governor face-off gets nastier. With
a Molotov cocktail, (petrol bomb) lobbed by a man, out on bail, in front of Raj
Bhavan’s main gate in Chennai on Wednesday last has the Governor’s office
seeing red. It alleged there have been incidents of public threats to Governor
Ravi’s life but a “studied indifference” by state police to the matter has
vitiated his security.” In a complaint to Chennai Police Commissioner, it also
alleged verbal attacks and threats were “mostly by leaders and workers of DMK and
its allies in their public meetings and through their social media.” And these,
are “intended to overawe the Governor and restrain him in discharging his
Constitutional duties. However, complaints lodged with the police have been
inconsequential due to police inaction.” No FIR has been lodged with the police
“instead trivialised serious incidents into minor offences with no worthwhile
follow-up.” The Opposition parties too condemned the ‘attack’ and criticised Stalin
government over ‘deterioration’ of law and order. Guess, there’s more than
meets the eye. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)
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