By Insaf
J&K Separatists’snub; Centre eats humble pie
Centre seems to be at a dead end in Kashmir. It has had to lump the rebuff its all-party delegation got from the separatists in the Valley. Both Geelani and Omar Farooq slammed the door on enthusiastic senior leaders of the Left, JD(U) and others who had gone to open dialogue with them in Srinagar. This, after the BJP had to change stance of no talks with the Hurriyat, which it insists had lost hold on the people. Notwithstanding the propaganda that it unleashed against the Hurriyat leaders, the Centre has had to go along with the view of the delegation, which passed a resolution that both State and Central government must take steps for a dialogue with “all stake holders.” In effect, the dialogue with civil society, government officials and political parties doesn’t suggest any step forward and the PDP-BJP government is back to square one appealing to the people to shun violence and resolve issues through discussion. Interestingly, New Delhi has had to deny reports that it was contemplating a crackdown on the separatist leaders, as it’s a no-go with national leaders. The team has suggested that confidence-building measures be undertaken such as removing AFSPA from civilian areas, ensure safety of citizens etc and that Prime Minister Modi should engage with Pakistan if he goes there for SAARC Summit in November. Clearly, the baton is out of the Centre’s hand and passed on to the all-party MPs. It’s anybody’s guess what’s next?.
Bihar Education Mess
Bihar is trying to clean up its education system mess. Of the 150 higher secondary schools and intermediate colleges inspected till now, affiliation of 88 has been suspended by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) for failing to meet required norms. The action was triggered after reports revealed a sorry state of affairs, wherein schools had fudged facilities such as classrooms and laboratories they had. Shockingly, few schools were found to be only on paper with no teachers and students! In the past two years, 212 institutions were granted affiliation in a rush because of increase in school enrolment. The plus point has turned negative. Inspection of remaining institutions may spell more scams. The State education department must be overhauled and action taken against erring officials. Sooner the better, for the State’s kids.
Transparency In FIRs
States and their police departments can no longer play truant with FIRs (First Information Reports). On Wednesday last, the Supreme Court ordered that all police stations across the country must upload FIRs on their websites within 24 hours of their registration. If the police stations didn’t have websites, the State and UT governments should upload on their websites. The only exception being offences sensitive in nature, such as those pertaining to insurgency, sexual cases and terrorism. The order is to help the accused or any person connected to file appropriate application before Courts for redressal of grievances. Police stations which were in difficult terrain, having poor connectivity could take up to 72 hours for uploading the FIRs.
Time will tell whether the aim to have transparency will be achieved.
Andhra’s ‘Special’ Aid
The ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh should be in a conundrum. The Centre on Wednesday night finally announced to give “special assistance package” and not “Special Category Status” to the State as demanded. Should Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu be relieved or feel let down by partner BJP, is the moot question. Finance Minister Jaitley’s package includes funding of Pollavaram irrigation project, tax concessions and special assistance. And has assured that “an amount equivalent to what the State might have got as a special category State will be compensated through externally aided projects for five years.” Can Naidu believe partner BJP? He has little choice and can best see the glass half full rather than half empty. However, the deal struck has both Congress and YSR Congress screaming it’s a “betrayal of the people.” Importantly, the package is subject to approval by Union Cabinet. Will there be a slip between the cup and the lip?
Karnataka Plays Safe
Better sense has prevailed over the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka for the time being. It has chosen to play safe and not ruffle feathers of the Supreme Court. On Wednesday last it started complying with the apex court’s order to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 10 days. However, it did so only after getting the nod from an-all party meeting convened. But with farmers’ protests erupting in the State, the government is contemplating asking the court for modification of its order. On the other side, while there was a sigh of relief in Tamil Nadu, the amount of water to be released is ‘not adequate’. Here too protests have begun, leading to inter-States bus service being affected from either side. The ball is now in the Cauvery Supervisory Committee’s court, which will visit the States to assess “ground realities” and hopefully find a formula to adjust current release against future release of water. Of course, both sides need to agree eventually. Will there be a miracle?
Haryana “Biryani Chase”
Haryana is now on a “biryani chase.” Its police is on a mission of collecting samples of biryani from stereet vendors in Mewat district to test the preparation for the meat used—i.e. whether it is beef or not. The action has been decided after the Gau Sewa Aayog (Cow service commission) has complaints coming to his doorstep about the vendors serving beef. Apparently, Haryana stands second to Uttar Pradesh when it comes to the number of complaints filed against people for smuggling and slaughter of cow for its meat. The mandate of the police is to check only biryani and not mutton curry, or kebabs as the vendors may be camouflaging the beef in the rice. The Muslim community is gravely upset as the action will not be restrained to Mewat only but other districts. It is an attempt to humiliate us, says a resident. The action is also very badly timed. Just before Eid. It is bound to cause harassment and give the police a handle to nit-pick. Surely, someone must see the absurdity and ensure the government lays its hands off the festivity.—INFA