Centre-States On Notice
By Insaf
The days of criminal politicos roaming free may well be numbered as the Supreme Court grapples with two key questions: Why offenders enjoy political patronage and two, how to stop these elements from dictating terms? Towards that end, it has sought replies from both the Central and State Governments. The matter came to a head with the Uttar Pradesh Government appealing against an Allahabad High Court order constituting a committee of eminent people to check criminalisation of politics and find answers why politics seems to have become a more attractive and lucrative proposition than crime. Secondly, the reason for the spate in criminal numbers, how to check the law breakers entry and measures to expedite investigation and trials of offenders enjoying political patronage and protection.
Recall, the Apex court has been seized of this burning issue for over 14 years. In a landmark judgment in 2002, it made it mandatory for candidates to declare their criminal antecedents. Last year too, the court underscored that the Constitution demanded the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers desist from selecting persons who had a history of crime in their Council of Ministers. Undoubtedly, it is an open secret that the bane of politics is the high expenditure incurred in fighting elections which forces leaders to take the help of muscle man and convicts to garner black money etc to ensure their victory. It remains to be seen if our leaders will bite the bullet!
Education, Criteria For Polls
Besides this vexatious issue, the court is also busy deciding the validity of the Haryana Government’s decision mandating minimum educational qualifications for fighting the Panchayat elections. Till it decides, the Apex court has postponed the poll. Under the new proviso males contesting needed to be tenth class and women class eight pass to qualify. The State has already refused to buckle under pressure, notwithstanding the contention of the petitioners that over 83 per cent rural women above 20 years and 67 per cent in urban areas would be disqualified from the polls if the Court upheld the State’s order. That the matter is sensitive is obvious, as it casts serious doubts over the Constitutional validity of such a provision. Will education become a poll leveler?
‘Murdering’ Women Power
What is with Maharashtra which tops the list of women held for murder? Apparently, Indrani Mukkherjee, the high profile ex-media tycoon recently accused for murdering her daughter Sheena in Mumabi is not an isolated case. But as statistics reveal over 579 women have been arrested for murder in the State last year alone. This is not all. More shocking, according to the National Crime Record Bureau, Maharashtra also tops all States and Union territories wherein the fairer sex has been embroiled for other types of offences. From murder, attempt to murder, culpable homicide, rape, kidnapping, rash driving or road rage et al you name it the female gender stands guilty. Ulta Pulta UP is next with 472 murders involving women followed by Karnataka 330, West Bengal 317 and Madhya Pradesh 316. From Femme fatale to killers, what next?
Car Free Day In Gurgaon
Call it a future trend but Gurgaon has shown the way of transportation tomorrow. In a path breaking out-of-the-box move, the NCR district has put the brakes on cars every Tuesday. The novelle experiment took off Tuesday which stood testimony to ten thousand fewer private vehicles on roads. Adding to city denizens joy, a happy fallout was the reduction in the air pollution levels by 21 per cent! An enthusiastic public either cycled, took public transport or walked to their places of work or for leisure. The city police alongside various multi-national companies, corporate houses, schools and RWAs ditched their personal vehicles to ensure the success of this programme. Seeing the fervor and success, Delhi too has announced a car free day from next month and earmarked Dushera for the flag-off. How well this will accelerate in the future only time will tell.
Family Rules Roost In Bihar
It is raining sons, daughters, bahus and damads in poll-bound Bihar. The first of the mark obviously is RJD’s Lalu, who has rewarded his twolaadlas (sons) with Assembly tickets. Ditto is the case with his senior colleagues Prabhunath Singh and Taslimuddin who too have ensured a berth for their progenies. The RJD Chief has also bestowed favours on other MLAs’ brothers, wives, sisters etc. Not to be left behind, the BJP has followed suit by distributing tickets to sons of senior leaders while the LJP’s Ramvilas Paswan has fielded his brother and nephew. But it is not a happy family scene all the way. Paswan’s and HAM’s Manjhi’s sons-in-law are upset for having been denied tickets and are threatening to join their Sasur ji’s rivals. Family reins supreme in the State.
No Ban On Right Wing Organisation
The Goa Chief Minister Parsekar has thrown a life line to the right wing Sanatan Sanstha by refusing to ban it in the State. Pertinently, the organisation is under the police scanner for the murder of CPI leader Pansare. The reason cited for letting the organisation off the hook is that it promotes dharma and culture. Additionally, the State has passed the buck to neighbour Maharashtra as the incident took place there and it was for its Administration to conduct an enquiry. Adding to controversy Parsekar’s colleague, PWD Minister asserted that not only did the BJP-MGP Government regularly advertise in the Sanstha’s magazine but also his wife has been associated with it to promote customs and religion. Clearly, the last word is still to be said.—INFA