VHP Yatra vs SP Sops
By Insaf
All eyes are on Uttar Pradesh. To what length the ruling Samajwadi Party will go to appease its minorities’ vote bank, is under close watch. One, it has banned the VHP’s proposed Chaurasi Kosi parikrama yatra of saints in Ayodhya from August 25 on ground of law and order and two, the State Government has reserved 20 per cent allocations of its numerous schemes (85 under 30 departments) for the welfare of minorities. In a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday last, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav justified the decision on grounds that it was part of their election manifesto and would help remove “social, economic and educational backwardness” of the minorities! The 20 per cent quota would be applied in areas where the minorities are at least 25 per cent of the population and schemes such as social pension, rural and urban housing for the poor, free boring hand pump sets, girls’ education etc would take special care. Importantly, the decision has been taken around the same time of imposing the ban on the VHP yatra in Ayodhya, lest the situation goes awry. There is tension simmering as the VHP has threatened to carry out the pilgrimage, around four adjoining districts of Ayodhya, including Barabanki and Faizabad, which have a sizeable Muslim population, despite the ban. While heavy deployment of forces has been ordered to contain the VHP, it is a test, Akhilesh must pass. Handing out goodies all the time, can be an expensive venture for his Government.
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Maharashtra Stunned
Maharashtra is stunned. The killing of social reformist and anti-superstition crusader Dr Narendra Dabholkar in broad daylight on Tuesday last in Pune has sent shock waves through the State, which boasts of tradition of progressive thought. Born in Dabholi, Sindhudurg district, Dabholkar fought relentlessly against evil of superstition and many customs rooted in it. Because of his persistent efforts, the State Government had introduced a Bill to eradicate superstition and magical practices nearly 18 years ago. But the Bill was in cold storage as it was opposed vehemently by astrologers, religious groups, ‘godmen’ and many “believers”. Ironically, within 24 hours after his death, the Prithiviraj Chavan Cabinet decided to issue an Ordinance on lines of the pending Bill, which chose to make it an offence to exploit people by offering rituals and charms and to practice black magic. However, with the BJP and Shiv Sena opposed to the Bill, there hangs a big question mark whether it will become a reality. However, those who believe in democracy and progressive thinking are keeping their fingers crossed. It would be the best tribute the State could pay to the departed soul, rather than just condemning the killing.
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Bihar’s VC Scandal
Curtains have finally come down on Bihar’s VCs scandal. Appointments of 11 VCs and Pro-VCs of a number of Universities, way back in August 2011, stand nullified by the Supreme Court on grounds of being “vitiated”, “illegal” and “contemptuous.” The culprit this time around, much to the chagrin of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was the former Chancellor and Governor Devanand Konwar and presently Governor of Tripura, who filled up the posts without “proper consultation” with the State government. Upholding the Patna High Court’s order of December last, the two-member bench of the SC directed the Government to fill the posts within three-months. But it has to do so only after getting recommendations from a search committee, to be constituted per the UGC’s guidelines. This is because the PIL had also alleged that those appointed to the Patna and Darbhanga Universities, among others, were ineligible viz the academic qualifications prescribed for the top posts. Infact, the court noted that two VCs and one pro-VC were facing prosecutions under the IPC, SC/ST Act and prevention of Corruption Act! Hopefully, warning bells should ring in other States, particularly in Raj Bhavans, to caution Governors from playing havoc with appointments in higher education and spare themselves embarrassment.
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4 States Upbeat
Four Congress States can blow their trumpet. Their claim to fame would be that they—Delhi, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Haryana– took the first steps to make India “Hunger-free”, when and if it becomes a reality. On Tuesday last, Chief Ministers Sheila Dikshit, Tarun Gogo, Nabam Tuki and Bhupinder Singh Hooda respectively rolled out the UPA-II government’s “game changing” food security programme by handing out foodgrain packets and national food security cards to a handful of people at mega functions. The programme, termed as “unparalleled’ in the world, would entail the Government spending Rs 125000 crore per year to feed 67 per cent of the population throughout the country. While these States are confident of making the programme a success, others are being realistic and trying to work out the logistics. Questions such as how and who would fit this bill, or where will the foodgrains come from, or be stored are well-known. But the biggest worry for the Centre is whether the Food Security Bill gets passed this monsoon session of Parliament. The treasury benches will do well to keep their fingers crossed.
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Himachal Gets Cautious
At least Himachal Pradesh seems to be well-versed with the idiom: a stitch in time saves nine. It certainly doesn’t want to go the Uttarakhand way, recovering from the recent devastation. The State has decided to usher in a new power policy to harness solar energy, announced Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday last. The aim is to preserve the depleting conventional resources (read hydro power) in the backdrop of growing demand for power. Importantly, the government proposes to tap the Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy to create awareness about the use of eco-friendly renewal energy. This, it feels could lead to sustainable and environment-friendly energy security in the State, as 95 per cent of the 23000 MW exploitable hydro power capacity has already been allocated. Will it set the ball rolling soon, and give the Ministry good enough reason to cite it as an example worth emulating? —INFA
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