NRC must strike balance

With the release of National Register of Citizens draft in Assam, a serious and massive political controversy has arisen. In the first place, NRC draft is apparently discriminatory between two communities. NRC campaign was started especially for Assam to single out all illegal immigrants living in the state for decades. It is a massive campaign involving govt., private personnel and a huge amount of state exchequer. It has been clearly discriminatory. 32.9 million had applied for entering their names in NRC. Out of 32.9 million people, 40 lakh could not make to it. They have been labelled as illegal immigrants and thereby they are on the verge of losing citizenship. It appears like a human tragedy. The opposition parties- Congress and Mamta Bannerjee TMC - charge that it is the machination of BJP state and Central government to exclude Muslims and non-Assamese living the state for decades. The discrepancy on the large scale in NRC has come to the fore. Even all members of a certain family were not included in NRC. For example; the name of a man, his wife and son has figured in NRC but his daughter has been excluded. What a mishandling committed by the state govt. employees at a local level while preparing the NRC. There must be an honest approach sans any political interest to prepare NRC. BJP and opposition parties blame each other for building their respective vote bank. Opposition parties allege that the NRC in Assam is the handiwork of BJP to polarize Hindu voters in its favour while it alleges them that they are shielding illegal immigrants from Bangladesh only for the sake of protecting their vote bank. NRC must be prepared with the view to entering all genuine and bonafide citizens in it irrespective of their caste, creed, belief and religion and community. At the same time it must be ensured that no illegal immigrants could make to it at any cost. It is correct to say that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have migrated to Assam,West Bengal and other north-eastern states of the country on a large scale. They have in the past posed a serious security problem for India. So it must be ensured that neither the genuine and Bonafide people could be excluded nor the illegal migrants from Bangladesh make them to NRC. The issue of illegal immigrants is not new in Assam. It has been there for decades. As is the habit of Congress government, this issue had been hanging in balance for decades. The illegal immigrants are those who have crossed over to India from across the border after March 25, 1971. No political party whether ruling or opposition should speak in favour of illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants on large scale have disturbed the demographic balance of the state of Assam. The foreign national issue has already rocked the state in the 1980s. So, the ruling and the opposition must work together without creating any panic among the people that those who have not made to NRC will lose citizenship thereby everything they have earned in the last forty years. They have ample time for recourse to making claim to the citizenship.

Shameful incident at shelter home in Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had been known for good governance. That is why he was also called 'Sushasn Babu. But now, the tag of sushasan appears to be slipping off him. He came out of Grand Alliance only due to deteriorating law and order situation and rising crime in the state and he considered his alliance partner RJD workers and leaders for it. So, to maintain his image of governing the state well, he came out of it and formed a government with BJP under NDA banner which he had left after more than 20 years of association in 2014 to fight assembly elections in 2015 with Congress and RJD. But since he formed govt. with BJP in Bihar last year again, the law and order situation continued to deteriorate. The incidents of rape, murder, kidnapping, extortion continued to appear in the newspapers at regular intervals. CM Nitish Kumar has so far done nothing in the last one year to tighten law and order in the state. The horrifying stories emerging from the shelter home in Muzaffarpur about the 29 girls, who were sexually assaulted. The girls were duped, drugged and raped. They were tortured beyond any imagination. The girls, who told the state women Commission Chairperson their misery, raise the hair on its end. The operators and the visitors to the shelter home allegedly raped and beat the girls mercilessly. They were treated worse than animals. They were so much fearful of the operators and visitors of the shelter home that they did not ever tell their misery to the visiting state women commission members that they were treated so badly. When any official visited the shelter home and asked the girls what problems were being faced by them, they did not tell anything as oppressors always sitting by their side. All these incidents of crime show that law and order in the state is deteriorating day and day and there is law fear of law in the state. Nitish Kumar in this stint of power does not deserve to be given any credit for governing the state well. RJD is undoubtedly the largest political party in the state. Its boss Lalu Prasad is facing corruption cases and going in and out of jails frequently. Despite the taint of corruption with RJD supremo, it has still its strong grip on its vote bank of Yadav and Muslim. RJD is attacking the Nitish Kumar govt. day and night. It is the responsibility of the Bihar govt. to order for a thorough probe of what happened in the shelter home in Muzaffarpur. This incident is a blot on the head of the state It is the shameful incident and the perpetrators of this crime must be awarded deterrent punishment. The reports of repeated sexual abuse of inmates at the short stay home in Muzaffarpur came to light after Mumbai’s Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) carried out a social audit of shelter homes across Bihar last year. The Institute submitted its report in April this year. The govt. lodged a first information report on May 31.

Heavy rains submerge Delhi in water

The chaotic condition prevailed at every important intersection. It appeared as if the national capital turned into a pound. Everywhere only water was seen. All the drains were choked and there was no way to drain out the water accumulated on the streets and in colonies due to heavy rains. It is the total failure of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Govt. in carrying out their duties properly. Traffic was severely affected due to heavy rains in the national capital with waterlogging contributing to chaos at various intersections. Vehicular movement was also severely affected at the underpasses and flyovers. The traffic police had to issue advisories with alternate routes on its Twitter handle for motorists. Heavy rains lashed the city overnight and continued till the morning. The weatherman has predicted more rainfall during the day. The national capital Delhi witnessed heavy rains in the morning. The civic bodies in the city are under the control of the BJP. They are governed by it for the two consecutive terms. Coincidently, the BJP is also in power at the Centre. Delhi being the national capital of the country, the police, land and general law and order are under the Central Govt. So, the responsibility also lies with them to take care of the city. The state govt. of Delhi cannot do anything with it. Delhi is yet to get full statehood. That is it is up to the Central government to look after the upkeep of the national capital. The period of the rainy season is fixed. So, the local bodies should have started preparation to deal with waterlogging in advance. Waterlogging in the national capital has become a perennial problem. No corner of Delhi whether it is VIP area or general one, waterlogs even after a light rain of short period. Waterlogging causes traffic jams for long hours and the resultant problems are faced by the common Delhiites. The officer goers cannot go office on time and the children don’t reach their schools due to sticking in long traffic jams. This is also not the first time that waterlogging has taken place all over the national capital after a heavy rain. It is a perennial disease which has become incurable. The successive governments at the Centre and in the state have failed to do away with the problems of water logging in the capital. Fundamentally, the municipal corporation is solely responsible for the worsening civic condition of the city. As corruption is rampant at every level there, no one carries out one’s responsibility. Municipal staff go on strike every now and then. There needs to be an honest and strict nodal officer in the four municipal bodies to ensure that all preventive measures have been taken before rainy season or not. As the major responsibility for the upkeep of the city lies with MCD and it is under the BJP, the state govt. has little to do with this affair.

Need for re-thinking on reservation policy

Witnessing the violence on large scale during every strike, bandh, dharna, protest and agitation for the demand of reservation in educational institutions and government job, it appears that the time has come for re-thinking and reviewing the reservation policy by the government of the day. The successive governments at the Centre have dared not give a re-look to reservation policy lest it loses the votes. Reservation should only be availed by the people, who are needy and the economically weak irrespective of their caste and region. Has any government ever made an appraisal of the reservation policy in the last 50 years? Whether this policy has been beneficial for the people for whom it has been formulated or not must be determined. At the time of introducing reservation for SC/ST, it was decided that its appraisal will be made every 10 years and after that it would be decided whether to continue it or not. But that did not happen only because of the politics of vote bank . Marathas in Maharashtra and Mumbai have been agitating for the demand of reservation in educational institutions and government jobs. They were considered to be the dominant section in society of Maharashtra. They had enough landed property and they were solvent. With the passing of time, they felt threatened by the people of backward community on the basis of their reservation in education and job. Backward people on the basis of education and job left Marathas behind in society. Feeling to be out of reckoning in Maharashtra, the Marathas resorted to agitation, which has also reportedly turned violent in different parts of the state, including Mumbai. On witnessing violence by the protesters, the agitation and bandh was reportedly called off. Every individual and group has fundamental right to stage dharna, protest and start agitation for their demand but at the same time no one has any right to take law into one’s hand or go on rampage. The agitation, protest, dharna and strike must be peaceful. Protesters cannot be allowed to create violence. Law must deal with law breakers stringently. As far as reservation is concerned, it must be given to only those who are economically weak. It must be given irrespective of caste, religion and creed. There must only be one criterion that is economic. Since the reservation in education and govt. job for OBC, SC/ST was introduced in the Constitution, it has never reached those who really need it in society. The benefits of reservation have only been availed by the rich people among the reservation categories. The poor among them s never availed the benefits of reservation. Mostly the poor among them could not receive education to get job in government. It has happened only because of poverty. So, the reservation should only have one criterion that is economic. Irrespective of caste, religion and creed, all those who are economically weak must be given reservation. It is no justification that the people belonging to upper caste cannot get reservation even if they are poor in society. Government of the day must call an all party meeting and work for developing consensus to give a re-look to the reservation policy. Otherwise, the violent agitation by the people of this and that community, caste will continue for reservation.

Stop mob lynching forthwith

It is no justification to use the previous incident of mob lynching even of greater magnitude as a cover for the present ones, which occur mostly in BJP ruled states, by the Union Ministers and BJP leaders. There can be no defence for mob lynching. It is the black spot on the face of the country. The killing of Rakbar Khan by a group of so-called Gaurakshaks in Alwar of Rajasthan is nothing but the increasing brutality. They commit a heinous crime knowing that no police will ever dare act against them. In the same district of Alwar in Rajasthan Pehlu Khan was lynched to death by a group of so-called Gaurakshak last year. It is the sing of total failure of law and order in the state. The callous and negligent approach of the police in Rajasthan shows that they took three and half hours in taking the injured Rakbar to hospital for treatment. The police inaction is surprising that the hospital is only 6 Kms away from there and they took three and half hours in reaching there. They attached more importance to their tea break on way to hospital than admitting injured Rakbar without any loss of time to save his life. He was declared brought dead by the doctor. The local MLA alleges that Police beat Rakbar to death. Whether police beat him or not is a matter of investigation but one thing clearly reflects that they considered it important to take the two cows recovered from Rakbar’s possession to the shelter first. They did not show any seriousness to save the life of Rakbar. Rakbar Khan was a cattle rearing farmer living in the district of Alwar in Rajasthan. He was reportedly transporting two cows and on suspicion of smuggling them, a group of Gaurakshak was lying in wait on the way for him to attack. They beat him so mercilessly that he lost his life. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhraraje Scindhia has said that strict action will be taken against the culprits but what about the police action? Had the police force been tightened in the state the two incidents of mob lynching in which two men of particular community within two years would not have died. The law and order is a state subject and the Rajasthan Govt. has completely failed to maintain it. A Union Minister and senior BJP leader from the state in his bizarre reaction to the killing of Rakbar Khan by the mob that it is occurring to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rising popularity. It is absurd and uncalled for. Another Union Minister equates present day incidents of mob lynching to the incident of Sikh riot which occurred 3 decades back. Yet another Union Minister garlands the people accused of lynching on their bail from the court. When this is the attitude of the ministers in the government, it is foolishness to expect any action from them against mob lynchers. If the opposition raises voice against the mob lynching, the ruling political party gives it political colour. The need of the hour is to stop lynching forthwith. Otherwise, the message went loud and clear that mobocracy reigns supreme in the land of Buddha, Jain and Mahatma.

Congress projects Rahul as its PM candidate

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has presided over the newly reconstituted Congress Working Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, for the first time. CWC has authorized Mr. Gandhi to take a final call on sewing up alliances with the like-minded political parties. Rahul Gandhi has asked party leaders to explore the possibilities of alliances in the coming Lok Sabha elections to throw the BJP-led NDA govt. out of power. He has also asked his party workers to fan out all over the country and raise the issue of corruption in Rafale purchase deal with France by the government. Some senior Congress leaders have targeted to win 150 Lok Sabha seat as they are of the view that there is one to one fight in about 15 states. Congress will have a straight contest with the BJP or any other party in 15 states which account for 169 Lok Sabha seats. In 264 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress will have to be dependent on its alliance partners. So, alliance and coalition with like-minded parties will be seriously undertaken. CWC has also projected Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial face of the party in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Though the Congress party is itself skeptical about Rahul's acceptance by its alliance partners as a leader, it is its own decision. But it is the choice of the political party which matters most in projecting its leader. What will be the final call of the alliance partners on leadership issue is yet to be seen? Though coalition politics has not been successful so far and its experience has also not been good, it is to be seen how Congress succeeds in sewing up an alliance with the like-minded political parties. As far as the position of Congress in the two most politically important states -Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is concerned, it even cannot stand up without the support of the alliance partners. Congress earnestly needs Samajwadi or BSP in Uttar Pradesh and RJD in Bihar. The position of the Congress party has reached to such a passé as moribund because of the sheer negligence of the state leaders to rejuvenate it. In both Bihar and UP, state leaders have been neglecting the organization since the Congress party was thrown out of power in 1990. It has been gasping for breath there since then. The organizational set-up of the party in both the states is in mess. It is the weakness of Congress organization that the SP and the BSP in UP and the RJD in Bihar respectively does not attach much importance to it. The road to power in Delhi passes through UP. So if the Congress party sees its stake at power, it has to cobble up alliance with SP and BSP in UP and RJD in Bihar. Congress party President Rahul Gandhi must pay attention to infuse confidence by overhauling the organizational set-up in UP and Bihar from village to state capital level on a priority basis. The Congress is on death bed in these two states. It requires proper medication in these two states to come back to life again and occupy its pre-imminent position. Time is running out fast. So, if Congress is to be in the reckoning for power, it must strengthen the organizational set-ups first in UP and Bihar.

SC’s message is to work in harmony

The sum and substance of the Supreme Court verdict on who is the boss of Delhi is to LG and CM to work in harmony. Both the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister have been asked to work together harmoniously. SC has said that neither absolutism nor anarchism has any room. As the duly elected govt. is directly accountable to the people of Delhi, SC has given it an upper hand in running the city administration. L-G is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. He can send any matter for President’s reference if he is not clear on it but at the same time, the apex court has said that he cannot send every matter. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Council of Ministers has to communicate the decision taken by them to L-G but concurrence is not required. In nutshell, it can be said that the apex court has asked LG and CM to work harmoniously and if there arises any difference, they can themselves sort it out. The Supreme Court has left the Constitution untouched in regard to Delhi. Constitutionally, land, public order and police will remain be under the control of Central Govt. Delhi Govt. has no control over land, public order and police. Delhi is not a full state. It is a Union Territory and will remain so. The city is not only the capital of Delhi but also of the entire nation. In the given situation, it is out of the question that Delhi will ever be conferred with full statehood in any way. No Central Govt. would ever like Delhi to become a full-fledged capital. Chief Minister Kejriwal has been shifting the blame of failure in working on the Central Govt. for the last three years. In reality, he has delivered no promise. With the Supreme Court decision favourably bent toward the Kejriwal govt., it has only two years to go. Before Kejriwal, former CM Sheila Dikshit ruled Delhi for 15 years in a row but never arose any difference with the LG in her tenure. So, Delhi Govt. should work harmoniously with LG for the development of Delhi. 3 years of the precious time of Kejriwal govt. was lost in bickering with Central Govt. and LG. Now the time has come to work for the development of Delhi in harmony with LG. Now, no excuse of the Kejriwal govt. would be acceptable that Centre or LG creates the problem and that is why they are helpless. Kejriwal must also stop demanding full statehood for Delhi as it would never fructify no matter which political party rules at the Centre. Most of the promises made by Kejri to Delhiites remain unfulfilled. Now, his first priority must be to deliver on the promises one by one in the remaining two years. Otherwise, coming back to power would be a hard nut to crack in 2020 assembly elections for AAP.