Round-the-States Insaf
As Rahul Gandhi seeks to pick a fight with the Modi government on behalf of farmers on land bill, BJP’s Haryana government loses its cool and tightens its screws on Robert Vadra
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A high court judge to look into the controversial land deals of Robert Vadra in Gurgaon; Supreme Court responds to PILs and rules that government ads can have pictures of only PM, President and Chief Justice of India; in Tamil Nadu, Amma is smiling broadly after the Karnataka high court order that gave her a clean chit; and in Jharkhand, MLAs have been given a big treat to themselves!
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Notwithstanding the land acquisition bill being referred to a parliamentary standing committee, the acrimony between the Congress and the BJP is far from over. In fact, the battle is getting worse and terribly murky. On the one hand, other than its campaign of reaching out to the farmers, Rahul Gandhi and team launched an attack on the BJP in Parliament saying that it was indulging in vindictive politics and had scrapped the mega Food Park project in his constituency, Amethi in UP. The BJP denied it saying that it was cancelled during the UPA-II rule and if he can arrange 50 acres, the NDA government would revive it! However, the BJP has stepped up the pressure on the Congress to ease its campaign by having its government in Haryana set up a commission of inquiry to probe alleged land deals by Rahul’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra. The retired high court judge is now to look into land deals in Sector 83 of Gurgaon where Vadra’s firm, Skylight Hospitality, has had dealings in real estate. With report to be handed over to the Khattar government not later than ‘six months’, all eyes would now be on whether the anti-farmer campaign of the Congress eases on Modi government or picks up further steam.
Ads, pictures
The Supreme Court has sought to put an end to “misuse” of tax-payers’ money across states, at least on one front. Government advertisements from now on can no longer have photographs of Chief Ministers, ministers, political leaders of ruling parties, as per the orders. It stated: “Publishing photographs of politicians, associating them with government policy and its achievement, could develop a personality cult in the country which is a direct antithesis of democratic functioning and should not be allowed…” Only photographs of the President, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India can be an exception, it ruled, accepting in part recommendations made by a committee it set up to study the nature of government advertisements. The panel was set up after some PILs came up before the court in this regard. Importantly, while the court admitted there is nothing wrong in government advertising its policies and achievements, it must be done without naming the party in power and without containing pictures of its leaders. Will this order now see government spending less on advertisements as these will not carry their leaders’ photographs, be it on hoardings or in newspapers or other media? Undoubtedly, Chief Ministers would be peeved and the big question is, whether any government or a political party would seek a review. As of now, while many are said to be ‘studying the order’, the AAP’s Delhi government has welcomed it and assured prompt compliance by removing hoardings of Chief Minister Kejriwal. On the other hand, in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna has criticised the order questioning whether it “amounted to insulting the democratically elected state governments, the Parliament and the legislatures?” Will there be more such responses? For one, the Centre will have no complaints. Prime Minister Modi has got a carte blanche to figure in the advertisements! But a nagging uncertainty persists, what will happen if the state governments don’t comply? Will the apex court be flooded with contempt of court petitions by the tax-payers?
Amma eyeing polls
Will Tamil Nadu advance its assembly elections? This is the big question during the rounds in political circles, following the acquittal of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalilthaa from all corruption and conspiracy charges in the Rs 66.6crore disproportionate assets case. With the state, specially its capital Chennai erupting into celebrations after the Karnataka high court order, the Opposition DMK has reason to be worried. Not only shall Jayalalithaa be back in the Chief Minister’s chair, but the policy paralysis of the past eight months would be over. The development agenda and welfare schemes for the people are bound to be taken up with more fervour. This would have more to do with an eye on the elections next year. However, with the court verdict removing the taint of corruption, she may opt for getting a fresh term soon, instead. All eyes would be on the AIADMK legislature party meet next week, which shall elect her as its leader, paving the way for her to take over the Chief Minister chair for the fifth time. While more celebrations are planned, will Karnataka government play spoilsport by filing an appeal in Supreme Court?
Exit Governors
The transfer of Governors appointed by the UPA government doesn’t seem to ebb. In the latest reshuffle and appointments of new governors, the Modi government has shifted Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma to Mizoram. Shockingly, in the past one year, he is now the eighth Governor the north-eastern state will have, but only till 2018, after which another incumbent shall be appointed. The five-year tenure seems to have been given a royal go-by. Likewise, Syed Ahmed, Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, has been shifted to Manipur till his term ends – ie, September next year. The big question doing the rounds is why were these Governors shifted when new appointments were made? The Modi government has chosen to appoint its senior BJP leaders to four states: V Shanmuganathan to Meghalaya, Draupadi Murmu to Jharkhand, Tatagata Roy to Tripura and JP Rakkhowa to Arunachal Pradesh. The ‘musical chairs’ doesn’t seem to be over yet as the Centre has to fill vacancies in Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and Telangana—all non-BJP ruled states.
More for MLAs
Jharkhand’s MLAs have given themselves a big treat. Tuesday last, the cabinet of Raghubar Das’ BJP government gave the nod for an 80.06 per raise in their salaries. The justification being the last revision was done five years ago. Now each legislator will get a hefty pay packet of nearly Rs 2.10lakh per month as against Rs 1.15lakh. This is on the lines of recommendations made by a committee formed by the Speaker. While the cabinet was OK with most suggestions, it didn’t approve of the extra Rs 5lakh travel allowance that was sought, but offered Rs 3lakh instead. However, this would not be a dampener for the MLAs as while their basic salary has been hiked from Rs 20,000 per month to Rs 30,000, the allowances have been raised from Rs 11.62lakh to Rs 21.64lakh annually. In addition, the Chief Minister, the Leader of Opposition and ministers get higher emoluments. In comparison to other states, the Naxal-hit state MLAs are not faring too bad with their salaries more than Punjab counterpart, but less than Karnataka. Will higher salaries improve performance too? — INFA
