Insaf
Punjab has sent alarm bells ringing in New Delhi. The terrorist attack in Gurdaspur Monday, first in over two decades should send warning signals that militants based in Pakistan have set their eyes on border towns outside Jammu and Kashmir. What should be more worrisome is that the Home Ministry has reports that suggest Sikh extremists, who have remained dormant for years were finding support in Pakistan too, among other countries. There can be no room for complacency. At the same time, inspection of data from the GPS recovered from three slain terrorists reveals that they may have got support from the drug cartel operating the state which is playing havoc with young people’s lives. What is further shocking that the Dinanagar police station, which was targeted was not only under staffed with a few home guards but the weapons they had make a mockery of the Centre saying it is well-armed to fight the war against terrorism. The Centre has assured Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal all assistance and that both the BSF and the Army have been put on high alert along the border. On the diplomatic side, the Punjab attack is being seen as a major offensive by rogue elements in Pakistan to derail any breakthrough in getting talks back on track between the two nations. Indeed, the Punjab attack will provide an insight how New Delhi proposes to deal with Islamabad. Will there be an engagement?
Karnataka’s shame
The office of Karnataka’s Lokayukta could not have provided a more ironical illustration of its fight against corruption. The son of none other than the Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao himself is under arrest and remanded in 10 days’ custody under SIT for his involvement in an extortion scandal worth over `200 crore. As per the FIR, Ashwin Rao along with Lokayukta PRO, RTI activists and even some journalists demanded big money from corrupt government officials or else would face raids by the ombudsman’s office! What is worse and scandalous is that when an honest IPS officer drew Bhaskar Rao’s attention to the extortion racket after one of the targeted officers brought to his notice that `1crore was demanded from him, the Lokayukta not only chose to look the other way but tried to scuttle the probe. The office, which was once a role model for the country has now its own can of worms, being a den of corruption itself. The Opposition and civil society are rightly clamouring for Bhaskar Rao’s resignation. Will he or won’t he, needs be under watch.
Arunachal’s shame
Arunachal Pradesh too has its share of shame. Its first Chief Minister PK Thungon, who later became Union Minister, was Monday last sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail in a 17-year-old corruption case. Thungon has been convicted for his actions as minister of state in the Urban Development Ministry, along with three others. They conspired and misappropriated `2crore sanctioned by the Planning Commission for renovation and upgradation of minor irrigation projects for Nagaland in 1994. While in today’s age the amount is undoubtedly a pittance, the order of the Delhi court is worth quoting. It stated: “This case brings out in the limelight the known fact how the Central grants allocated to public welfare of the states are misappropriated by highest public functionaries, including ministers at the Centre, states and top bureaucrats – that too with full impunity – The saddest part is that its knowledge was apparent to both at the Centre and the state level, but no action was taken…” Was it because Thungon had helped in the state’s integration? Unlikely, as the system itself has turned rotten. It will be no wonder if such cases pursued thoroughly across states would open a Pandora’s box.
Bihar, Delhi advt scandal
Bihar and Delhi governments find themselves sailing in the same boat. Selling their ‘achievements’ through an advertising blitzkrieg may cost both dearly. Not only aren’t the two accused of squandering ‘public money’ but also violating the Supreme Court directive of May 13 which had restrained ruling parties from publishing photos of political leaders or prominent persons in Government-funded advertisements. While the Bihar High Court has stayed Nitish Kumar’s mega campaign drive ‘Badh Chala Bihar’ (Bihar progresses) including a much publicised report card on his governance, the Delhi High Court has asked Kejriwal Government to give details of the expenses on its advertisement campaign in print and electronic media. It must clarify whether the money spent was of the party or public exchequer. Both the cases hit the headlines following filing of PILs against them. Other than Opposition parties, tax payers would equally be eager to hear how the two governments wriggle out of this mess. Either ways, it isn’t going to be easy.
States err in caste census
The Centre has urged states to help it complete the Socio-Economic and Caste Census. The process which began in May 2011 has hit a stumbling block. It has emerged that 46,73,034 caste names have been returned in Census. These include caste/sub-caste names, synonyms, surnames, clan/gothra names, phonetic variations, sections and sub-groups, which need to be classified by experts having domain knowledge on these issues. Errors were found in 8,19,58,314 caste data and the same has been communicated to the states/UTs for rectification. While so far the states are said to have rectified 6,73,81,119 errors, 1,45,77,195 still remain. These include Maharashtra (69.1 lakh), Madhya Pradesh (13.9 lakh), West Bengal (11.6 lakh), Rajasthan (7.2 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (5.4 lakh), Karnataka (2.9 lakh), Bihar (1.7 lakh), Tamil Nadu (1.4 lakh) among others. The exercise, which has both financial and technical support from the Government of India is indeed colossal. How soon will the expert group under NITI Aayog be able to complete its tasks is anybody’s guess. The bigger worry however will be will it eventually get accurate answers?
Homage to Kalam
Ordinary folk across states were in mourning early this week. ‘Their’ former President Abdul Kalam and the country’s “missile man” had joined the stars. However, from the skies above the ever-smiling Kalam may have had a frown as the last thing he ever wanted was that a holiday be declared on his death. While the Central government honoured his wish, Parliament sought to pay ‘homage’ by adjourning for two days! The one-year-old state Telangana surprised many and forgot or chose to ignore what Kalam had once stated: “Don’t declare a holiday on my death. Instead work an extra day, if you love me.” It declared a government holiday. In contrast, Andhra Pradesh asked its departments to work an extra hour. One of Kerala’s ministers wanted Sunday be declared a working day, but the Government wouldn’t endorse the suggestion. In Delhi, the arrangements at his Rajaji Marg residence would not have found his approval. Ordinary people and schoolchildren had to wait for hours to pay homage, only after the VVIPs had paid theirs! However, the fact that over one lakh people from all walks of life went to Rameswaram for Kalam’s burial gives the confidence that the ‘People’s President’ at the end got an appropriate send off. – INFA
