Boycotting Bihar polls : Lalu will never allow this extreme step
For the first time, the Election Commission replied to allegations being made about the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “Should bogus votes be allowed in violation of the Constitution?..Should the Commission be swayed by attacks (by the opposition), and allow bogus votes to be cast in the name of electors who are deceased, permanently shifted, enrolled at two or more places…Some beginning had to be made from somewhere and this special intensive revision will be carried in all states in a phased manner.”
In Bihar, nearly 99 per cent of the total electors have been covered by this special intensive revision exercise, and over 91.3 per cent forms have been received and digitised.
On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that there was “vote theft” in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the Election Commission described it as “baseless and an afterthought”.
The EC said: “It is highly unfortunate that rather than filing an election petition as per law, or if filed, awaiting verdict of high court, he has not only made baseless allegations but also chosen to threaten EC, which is a constitutional body”.
The EC pointed out that defeated Congress candidates did not file a single election petition to challenge the result, despite the law allowing them to do so within 45 days of declaration of result. Other, however did file 10 election petitions in the High Court”.
On Thursday, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav threatened to boycott Bihar assembly polls if the opposition’s voice on special intensive revision is not heard. He alleged that names of several lakh voters will be removed in Bihar, and if such a move takes place, there was no reason in contesting elections. Tejashwi Yadav said he would speak on this with like-minded opposition party leaders.
Till Thursday, Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi’s complaint was that the Election Commission was not replying to their allegations.
When the Election Commission clarified that only names of those who are dead, or have shifted residence from Bihar, or who are illegal infiltrators, or who are fake voters or who have registered their names twice in the electoral list, will be removed, the picture is now clear. There should be no opposition to such a legally valid move.
It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to remove such names from the voters’ list. If any elector’s name is removed though he or she is alive, or has not shifted, or is not an infiltration, he or she will get 30 days’ time to file objections.
What more can the Election Commission do beyond this? As far as boycotting election is concerned, I don’t think Tejashwi Yadav will go to this extreme step.
Boycotting elections under present circumstances in Bihar will give a clean field to Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraaj Party. PK will get the chance to occupy RJD’s base in Bihar and Lalu Yadav will never allow this to happen.
RSS chief’s meet with Muslim leaders : A positive step
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Islamic scholars, maulanas and imams in Delhi’s Haryana Bhavan on Thursday. More than 60 Islamic scholars took part. Apart from Mohan Bhagwat, other RSS leaders Dattatreya Hosbale, Krishna Gopal, Ram Lal and Indresh Kumar also participated in the three-hour-long meeting. The maulanas aired their grievances before RSS leaders.
Bhagwat told the maulanas what Hindus expect from Muslim brethren and how the chasm could be narrowed between both communities. All India Imam Organisation chief Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi said, both the communities want to leave in peace and brotherhood and want India to become a world power.
The maulanas spoke openly in the presence of RSS leaders, like bulldozer action, mob lynching in the name of cow protection, boycott of Muslim traders, forcing minorities to prove their identities or the amended Waqf law. Bhagwat listened to their viewpoints and assured that the RSS would raise the voice of Muslims at all levels. He said, it would be better if religious leaders live in harmony and avoid giving hate speeches.
The RSS chief and its top leadership speaking to Muslim leaders is a positive sign. There should be more such meetings so that suspicious and grievances could be removed. This dialogue should continue with those Muslim leaders also, who have more recognition in their own community and who have a wider base. There must be efforts from both side to curb fringe elements that indulge in spreading hate.
Mohan Bhagwat’s policy is on the right path, his intentions are clear and such a move must be appreciated.
Opposition should wait for Bihar draft electoral list
There was uproar by the opposition in both Patna and Delhi over Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. In the state assembly, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed, not a single Bangladeshi or Rohingya has been found as a voter in the electoral list. He asked why Election Commission is silent on this issue. Tejashwi Yadav questioned why names of 51 lakh voters are being removed. He described withdrawal of voting rights as “murder of democracy”.
In Parliament, most of the opposition parties created uproar and stalled proceedings in both Houses over the SIR issue. They carried placards opposing the EC’s move, but Speaker Om Birla did not allow a discussion on this issue. There are clear indications that the government is unwilling to allow a debate on this matter, because EC is a constitutional body which has the right to revise electoral lists.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed, he had concrete evidence of large-scale changes made in the voters’ lists in Karnataka and Maharashtra. He promised to make this public soon. Supreme Court is going to hear the SIR issue on July 28.
While the opposition is levelling charges against the EC on SIR issue, the Commission is carrying on with its work. Data released by Election Commission shows that the special intensive revision is almost complete. More than 98 per cent voters have submitted their enumeration forms. Nearly 20 lakh voters have died since the last revision took place. Nearly 28 lakh voters are not reachable at their known addresses. They might have shifted their residence elsewhere. Nearly seven lakh voters were found to have vote in more than one places. Nearly one lakh voters are untraceable.
Election Commission says, the draft electoral list will be ready by August 1, and one month’s time will be given to voters and political parties to file objections till September 1. Their objections will be taken up by the EC. Political parties can cross check the electoral lists by going to the ground level. After disposing all objections within a month, the final electoral list will be issued.
I think the opposition should wait for the EC’s draft electoral list and Supreme Court’s judgement instead of levelling baseless charges against the Election Commission.
Why Justice Yashwant Varma’s case will drag on
Supreme Court has decided to set up a bench to hear Justice Yashwant Varma’s petition challenging the report of the inquiry committee of judges set up by the apex court in the cash recovery case.
In the petition, the judge has sought to cancel the recommendation of the then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna calling for his impeachment. Justice Yashwant Varma has fielded top lawyers like Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, Siddharth Luthra and Siddharth Agrawal in his defence.
In the Supreme Court, Kapil Sibal mentioned the judge’s petition and said some constitutional issues have been raised and there should be an urgent hearing. Chief Justice B R Gavai agreed to set up a special bench, but recused himself from the bench since he was part of the inquiry process as a member of the SC Collegium.
The three-judge inquiry committee, headed by Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court Sheel Nagu, had recorded the statements of 55 witnesses and had visited the judge’s bungalow where the cash was recovered in stacks.
On the basis of the inquiry committee report, the then CJI Sanjiv Khanna had written letters to President and Prime Minister on May 8 recommending impeachment of the judge. In his petition, Justice Varma has said that he was not given full opportunity to express his viewpoint.
Justice Varma’s case is not only being delayed but it becoming curiouser. It is a fact that currency notes were found from his official residence, there is a video of the notes, police had seen the bundles of cash, but neither police can question the change, nor can it file an FIR. Police cannot prepare a panchnama (statement of five persons).
The law forbids the police in doing so. The powers of Chief Justice of India are also limited. The CJI can transfer the judge, which he did. He can order an inquiry, which he did by setting up a committee of three senior judges who found Justice Varma guilty. The CJI can ask Justice Varma to resign, but the latter declined to do so.
The only option left for the CJI was to recommend to the government to initiate impeachment proceedings, which is long and time consuming. Before impeachment process could begin in Parliament, Justice Varma challenged the CJI’s decision in the Supreme Court. Top lawyers will appear for him. The matter can drag on.
The impeachment may take time. Unless the final decision comes, Justice Yashwant Varma will continue to be the judge of the High Court.
Bihar’s helpless police and hopeless Chief Minister
Bihar witnessed another round of terror by hardcore criminals. Five gunmen, carrying pistols, entered Paras Hospital in Patna, and pumped bullets into a life term convict undergoing treatment and fled.
The convict, Chandan Mishra, a criminal from Buxar, was facing 24 cases of murders, robberies and kidnappings. He was convicted in one case for life term imprisonment, and had come out of Beur jail on parole for treatment.
The cctv footage of the killers leaving hospital after committing murder looks like a film scene, but sadly, this is a real-life incident, not a reel-life one.
The killers had made a reel outside the hospital a month ago threatening to kill Mishra. They posted it on social media, but Patna police was caught napping.
The worrying part of this sordid episode is the remark of Bihar police chief Vinay Kumar, who said, Chandan Mishra should have taken care about his security and police had advised him to be careful. The DGP did not say what the police was doing.
Police have identified the shooters. One of them is Tauseef Badshah ‘Sheru’, of Phulwari Sharif, who has more than a dozen cases of murder, etc. against him. Police went to his home and, as expected, he was not there. Police went to the school where his mother is a teacher and enquired about his whereabouts. The police chief described this murder as an outcome of a gang war.
In Danapur near Patna, a 20-year-old youth Shivam’s throat was slashed by killers. His body was found in his grandfather’s village. In Rohtas, a JD(U) leader’s father Paras Nath Singh’s blood-stained body was found in the ‘gaushala’ where he used to sleep. Police attributed the motive to a land dispute.
The most surprising remark came from Additional DGP (STF) Kundan Krishnan, who blamed parents for not paying attention to the youths, who take to crime to earn quick money through ‘supari killing’. He also said, April to June is the lean farming season, when the number of supari killings spirals.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav lambasted the police official for saying that this was the crime season. JD(U) leader Lallan Singh reminded reporters about the terror of criminals during Lalu Yadav’s ‘jungle raj’. He said, most of the murders that have taken place were due to personal quarrels or land disputes, and police must not be blamed.
The main question is not that there used to be more killings during Lalu Yadav’s rule compared to Nitish Kumar’s reign. Theis not a T20 match for crimes.
The questions that people are asking: What order has Nitish Kumar given to the police to curb crimes? Has Bihar Police conceded defeat as far as criminals are concerned? Why have the criminals become fearless? Why is the police finding itself helpless in the face of spiralling crimes?
The compulsion of police can be gauged from the remarks of its Additional DGP, when he says that since it is a lean farming season, crimes are on the rise, and the spiral will stop with the advent of monsoon. Is it not a reflection of mental bankruptcy?
One official says, farmers who have no work to do are responsible for crimes, another official says, society and family elders are not doing their job. Do they want to say that society or farmers are responsible for the recent spurt in crimes?
Criminals calmly leave a hospital after pumping bullets into a man lying on a bed and the police official says, we will create a data bank of all such shooters.
For the last 20 years, the chief minister Nitish Kumar has been holding the Home portfolio. He is ultimately responsible for ensuring law and order, and he is absent from the scene.
Nitish Kumar will have to bear the consequences for such irresponsible remarks of his police officials. If Tejashwi Yadav goes to town and makes it an issue, there is nothing wrong in it.
Nitish Kumar’s role reversal : pre-poll freebie
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced a freebie ahead of assembly elections. He announced free electricity up to 125 units a month for all consumers, and this will be reflected in the July bill from August 1 onwards. Consumers who use more units, will have their bill reduced for the first 125 units.
State minister Ashok Chaudhary said, the government was already footing 80 per cent subsidy on power, and after the caste census was carried out, it was found that there are 94 lakh families which are extremely poor and they need relief.
RJD leader Manoj Jha said, Tejashwi Yadav had promised 200 units free electricity, and Nitish Kumar has copied the idea by announcing free power up to 125 units. Similarly, Nitish Kumar had copied Tejashwi ‘s idea of giving old age pension.
One should remember it was Nitish Kumar who had been opposing election freebies in the past. He had then opposed free electricity. The same leader has now announced 125 units free electricity.
Heavens will not fall if leaders of Nitish’s party JD(U) admit that this freebie has been announced in view of forthcoming elections.
All leaders of political parties announce freebies before elections. This has been the practice in the last two decades. Tejashwi Yadav had promised free electricity, pension for old people and widows, and allowances for unemployed youths. That was also part of election strategy.
The people know this. Instead of trying obfuscate the issue, leaders should clearly admit that this is a freebie announced ahead of elections. Period.
Curb crimes in Bihar with a strong hand
Nine murders took place within a span of 24 hours in Bihar and nearly a dozen incidents of robberies and murder took place. A bank manager’s body was found inside a well in Beur locality of Patna after he was reported missing since Sunday night. The murders took place in Begusarai, Samstipur and Madhubani. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha has said, criminals will not be spared and if required, encounters and bulldozers will be resorted to send a tough message.
Law and order is emerging as a big issue ahead of the Bihar assembly elections. Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishore questioned why criminals were not encountered during the last twenty years. Arresting one or two big fish among the criminals won’t do, he said. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the government is only making loud noises and criminals are moving around fearlessly.
In Patna, there were firings in three areas during the last 24 hours in which a lawyer was killed barely 300 metres away from Sultanganj police station. In Fulwari Sharif, a student was shot and the killers vanished. In Gaurichak, a bike mechanic was shot by criminals in the foot. The attackers had come in a car brandishing a pistol.
In Begusarai, three persons were shot in broad daylight and one youth died while two others are seriously wounded. Six ,masked gunmen came on two bikes and fired at the three victims. In Chhapra, a businessman Raju Rai was shot in his abdomen and foot, 100 metres away from the police station. In Madhubani, a youth Salman was shot dead inside his home and the assassin was caught by neighbours. In Samastipur, murderers slashed the neck of a 14-year-old boy killing him on the spot.
In Arrah, villagers attacked an excise squad which had gone to catch bootleggers. One bootlegger was killed on the spot, while villagers took a jawan of Special Auxilliary Police as hostage and stopped traffic.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha blamed RJD for the crime situation saying criminals have gained courage because of RJD. Congress MP Pappu Yadav alleged that officials were busy in extortion giving a go-by to maintaining law and order.
In all, there have been 50 murders in Bihar during the last 13 days. This is a serious situation. The state government does not have more time nor options in hand, except to carry out a statewide crackdown on criminals.
Merely comparing today’s situation with ‘jungle raj’ during Lalu Yadav’s regime will not do. Criminals must be crushed with a strong hand. Police must instil fear in the minds of criminals and if required, it can take resort to encounters or bulldozers.
All-out efforts must be made to curb crimes, but in order to do that, it needs backing from the political masters. The government must show a strong determination to root out crimes. It is Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s responsibility to ensure that the rule of law is ensured. If he misses, the people of Bihar will not forgive him.
Ahmedabad Air Crash : Release Final Report Soon
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has directed all airline operators using 209 Boeing aircraft, to check fuel control switch locking mechanism by July 21. This directive comes two days after the release of the preliminary report of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash.
AAIB had issued the preliminary report on Saturday midnight in which it was mentioned that the furel control switch of Air India Dreamliner was put off, cutting off fuel supply to the engine.
In the audio, one pilot was heard asking his colleague, whether he had switched off the fuel, and the second pilot replied that he did not. On the basis of this cockpit voice recording, it is being speculated that the air crash took place because of pilot error.
Strangely, the AAIB preliminary report was published by Wall Street Journal two days before it was officially released. Western media like SkyNews, BBC, CNN and Reuters prominently published portions of this report and squarely put the blame on the ill-fated plane’s pilots.
The Pilots’ Association questioned this speculation saying that the report has been prepared with the objective of putting the pilots in the dock without carrying out a full-fledged probe. Some experts said, those probing this crash do not even know the basic functions of this aircraft and are now pointing fingers at the pilots.
Actually, the AAIB report was released at midnight without any signature or attribution. Experts say that Boeing company had issued advisory in 2019 to all operators to change the Throttle Control Module in all Boeing 787-8 aircraft, after which Air India changed TCM in 2019 and 2023. Fuel control switch falls within this module.
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu has said, this is a preliminary report and the probe is ongoing. Hence, no final conclusion should be drawn on its basis. He also said, it will be incorrect to point fingers at pilots’ error and all should wait for the final report.
People in India and the rest of the world want to know, in a nutshell, why Air India Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad? Where was the main error? How both engines failed soon after take-off? Why the aircraft crashed within 30 seconds?
The preliminary report does not reply to any of these questions. Instead, it has raised new questions. Was the report released to shield Boeing? Was the report released to squarely put the blame on the ill-fated plane’s pilots? Why was this report released around midnight? Why did the international media made a one-sided interpretation of this report?
All these questions require answers. The probe into the Air India crash should not be made to pinpoint blame on anybody or to shield anybody. The main purpose of this probe is to find out why the unfortunate tragedy took place? So that in future, we can save people from danger.
The question is not about the fate of a single flight. It relates to all Boeing aircraft that are flying daily across the world. The detailed report must come out soonest. There should be little scope for waiting.
Omar Abdullah : Give Him Dignity & Respect
There was drama in the Valley, when Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, sneaked out of his official residence, without telling place, walked through the markets of Srinagar on Monday with his followers, scaled the wall of Mazaar-e-Shuhda to pay respects to the martyrs of 1931 who died during Dogra regime.
Martyrs Day fell on Sunday, but local administration did not permit anybody, including Omar, his father Dr Farooq Abdullah and former CM Mehbooba Mufti, Altaf Bukhari, and Sajjad Lone, to go the graves of martyrs, citing law and order issues. Most of these leaders were confined to their homes by the local administration.
On Monday, Omar Abdullah try to go the Mazaar again, he was stopped by police, there was a scuffle, and he had to return, only to sneak out of his home to reach the martyrs’ graves. His father Dr Farooq Abdullah also managed to reach the Mazaar and offered fateha prayers.
Omar Abdullah alleged that the “unelected administration of Jammu and Kashmir” at the instance of Centre, was trying to stop “elected people’s representatives” to offer prayers to martyrs. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, wrote on X: “What is wrong in visiting the graveyard of martyrs? This is not only unfortunate, it also snatches the democratic right of a citizen. What happened this morning to an elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is unacceptable. Shocking. Shameful.”
The manner in which police behaved with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cannot be justified by any means. He is an elected chief minister. The manner in which the CM scaled the wall of the graveyard, leaving his security staff behind, is also risky.
There is no doubt that it was political compulsion on part of Omar Abdullah to visit Mazaar-e-Shuhda. He knows that Kashmiri Pandits also celebrate July 13 as Black Day. He knows that this could hurt the feelings of Kashmiri Pandits, but to keep him confined to his home, and prevent him from visiting the Mazaar is not a right step.
Omar Abdullah’s behaviour after becoming Chief Minister has been quite dignified. He should be dealt with dignity and respect.
Bihar electoral revision : Fears are unfounded
Congress, RJD and other opposition parties were expecting the Supreme Court to put a brake on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise on electoral rolls going on in Bihar, but their expectations were belied.
The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Election Commission to continue with the exercise, but at the same time, it asked the EC to consider Aadhar, Voter ID card and ration card as valid documents for this exercise.
The bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, it was prima facie of the view that EC should consider Aadhar, voter I-card and ration card as valid documents for this exercise.
The apex court held that it was the responsibility of EC to update and revise voters lists, remove incorrect entries and add new voters. On behalf of the EC, the apex court was told that the revision work would end on July 25, as more than 60 per cent forms of voters have been submitted.
The EC counsel told the court that the main purpose of SIR was to remove incorrect names from the list and the name of not a single legal voter shall be removed, nor would the right to cast vote be withheld. The apex court has sought a detailed reply from the EC on its queries within a week, after which further hearing shall take place on July 28.
Both the ruling and opposition camps described the SC order as their victory. Actually, the voter list revision process has been fully politicalized and the Supreme Court has realized this.
Question was raised as to why the necessity to check voter lists in Bihar? The answer given was, it is the responsibility of EC.
Question was raised, why is this exercise being carried out now? The answer given was, whenever elections are scheduled, voters lists need to be checked, so that no fake voter can cast a vote.
Question was asked, why 31 days were earmarked for this huge exercise? The reply was, the last intensive revision took place in Bihar in 2003, and at that time too, the time given was for 31 days. This time, voters whose names appeared in the list after 2003, will be checked and not all voters will be checked, hence 31 days are sufficient.
Question was asked, why names of voters are being verified on the basis of 11 documents and Aadhar, ration card and MNREGA card not included in the list of documents? The reply given was, these are three cards on the basis of which names of fake voters can be included. In Bihar, saturation of Aadhar card holders is more than 100 per cent. Hence, the possibility of fake Aadhar cards being misused for inclusion in voter list was more.
The Election Commission has promised that names of genuine voters will not be removed from the list, but the real problem is not related to questions and answers.
The basic problem relates to trust deficit about the Election Commission. A narrative is sought to be created to project that this intensive revision by EC is being carried out at the behest of the central government. And if the government has prodded the EC to carry out this exercise, it means, it could be a conspiracy to give advantage to the BJP.
What can anybody do in such a situation? When the number of voters increased before the Maharashtra elections, it became a problem, and when number of voters will decrease in Bihar, it will again become a problem.
There is a saying in Urdu, “Shaq Ka Ilaaj Hakeem Lukman Ke Paas Bhi Nahin Hai” (There is no treatment to cure somebody’s suspicions).
Firing at Kapil’s cafe : Canada has a lot to answer
Shots rang out outside a cafe in Canada owned by celebrity comedian Kapil Sharma. Babbar Khalsa International claimed responsibility. Harjit Singh Laddi, a Germany based Babbar Khalsa activist, claimed responsibility for firing shots at Kap’s Cafe, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada on Wednesday night. No one was hurt.
A video clip surfaced showing an unknown man emptying bullets from a semi-automatic pistol. Laddi said, some objectionable remarks were made about Nihang Sikhs in Kapil Sharma’s TV comedy show in the past.
Such a brazen attack on Kapil Sharma’s cafe is a cowardly act. Where are those leaders in Canada who were seeking protection for Khalistani supporters in the name of freedom of expression? Where are those who had been saying that everybody has a right to express views? Has Kapil Sharma the right to express his views or not?
Can any attempt to intimidate people by citing a comedian’s remark be justified? As far as I know, Kapil Sharma never makes any remark which hurts the sensibilities of any individual or community. His only job is to make his audience laugh. Action must be taken against those who carried out this firing.
Bihar electoral revision : Rahul, Tejashwi on a weak ground
The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar gave call for Bihar Bandh on July 9 to protest the special intensive revision of electoral rolls ordered by Election Commission of India.
There was practically no effect on day-to-day life in other cities of India except Patna, where RJD, Congress and Left leaders led a protest march. Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the march and gave speeches.
Rahul Gandhi alleged there was massive rigging in Maharashtra assembly elections held last year and plans are afoot to do the same in the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls. He said, while the number of voters in Maharashtra was inflated, in Bihar, names of many voters will be deleted through this revision exercise.
Tejashwi Yadav alleged, the “EC is working at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and efforts are being made to delete names of voters belonging to poorer sections, backward and extremely backward classes, Dalits and Muslim communities”.
Two significant points came up at the Mahagathbandhan rally.
Firstly, Pappu Yadav and Rahul’s close aide Kanhaiya Kumar were barred from standing on the ‘rath’ (vehicle) in which Rahul and Tejashwi were travelling. It is being alleged that Tejashwi Yadav does not like these two leaders, and it was at his instance that both the leaders were prevented to travel in that vehicle. This has created anger among Congress supporters.
Secondly, Mahagathbandhan leaders criticized the Election Commission, but none of the leaders explained how verification of Bihar’s 7.9 crore voters can be carried out in 25 days.
Till yesterday, most of the leaders were claiming that the Election Commission would wave a magic wand, and run special trains for Bihar voters spread out throughout the country to come and join the revision exercise, but on Wednesday, most of these leaders were silent.
The reason being, Election Commission published data saying that 58 per cent voters have submitted their forms within last 15 days, and there are still 16 days left. By Wednesday evening, the Election Commission had received more than 53.89 lakh out of a total of 7.9 lakh voters in the state and the special intensive revision process will continue till July 25.
All voters’ lists will be prepared on the basis of this exercise. Election Commission has speeded up its exercise and all eyes are set on the verdict of Supreme Court on this issue.
Take action against MLA for beating canteen staff
Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) MLA Sanjay Gaekwad slapped and kicked an employee working at the MLA hostel canteen for serving stale food. Gaekwad had ordered food from the canteen at night, and dal, sabzi was served in his room.
The MLA alleged, he found a foul smell from the dal, and he went straight to the canteen carrying dal. In the canteen, the MLA rained blows and kicks on the hapless employee.
The next day, the matter was raised in the assembly and action was demanded by some members against Gaekwad, who had come to the House carrying dal and sabzi in a polythene bag. He demanded a probe into the affairs of the canteen.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, this matter should not be politicized and the question relates to behaviour of a politician with commoners. He described Gaekwad’s behaviour as questionable and said the MLA could have complained to the authorities about the stale food that was served.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said, stale food was served to the MLA and he fell ill, but it was not justified to beat an employee over this issue. Outside the House, Sanjay Gaekwad said, “I am the disciple of Balasaheb Thackeray who taught us to beat someone if he does mischief.”
What the MLA did was shameful. Drunk with the elixir of power, he slapped and kicked a canteen employee. This must be condemned by all. It is easy to raise hand on a weak person, but, as Devendra Fadnavis said, the MLA could have complained about the stale food. There was no need to beat an employee.
Unfortunately, the MLA has not realized his mistake and he is saying that he would again beat any person who served him stale food. This is indicative of a sick mindset.
In Hindi, there is a saying, ‘Pahle Chori, Phir Seenazori’ (first you commit mistake, then you justify). A case should be filed against the legislator and he should be handed over to police.
All parties inside the Assembly must demand action against the unruly MLA. If a legislator commits such an act, the honour of the entire Assembly is sullied.
Unfortunately, leaders like Uddhav Thackeray are trying to score political brownie points from this. He described the MLA’s act as “a conspiracy by Eknath Shinde against Fadnavis”.
Giving a political colour to a legislator’s crime and providing the guilty person an escape route, does not lower the gravity of his crime.
Bihar Police : Learn from Yogi’s style
It seems that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s police in Bihar has taken a leaf out of Yogi Adityanath’s book in the murder case of businessman Gopal Khemka. One of the accused, Vikas alias Raja was killed in an encounter near a brick kiln, the main shooter Umesh Yadav and the rival businessman Ashok Sao, who had given Rs 4 lakh as ‘supari’ to the killers, have been arrested.
Bihar deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary said criminals in the state will now be liquidated (‘thoka jayega’), while another deputy CM Vijay Sinha has said bulldozers and bullets will be used to punish criminals.
Bihar police claimed the main shooter Umesh Yadav was nabbed first, when police got cctv footage of his motorbike. Yadav spilled out the beans. He had earlier worked with businessman Ashok Sao, who offered him Rs 4 lakh ‘supari’ for killing his business rival Khemka over a land deal. It was Ashok Sao who gave him advance money and weapon.
Question arises about the encounter of the third accused and police has no concrete reply.
Police said, Vikas alias Raja was a professional criminal and he used to supply weapons. According to police, Umesh Yadav asked Vikas to provide weapon, but the latter was demanding more money. While police was taking him to a brick kiln in search of hidden weapons, Vikas alias Raja fired on police and in retaliatory firing, he was killed.
Khemka murder case clearly shows how human life is cheap in Bihar. It was a land dispute and Rs 4 lakh‘supari’ money was given to kill a rival. The shooter coolly murdered the businessman and went away to do his daily chores. He was caught by police when he was going to leave his daughter in school. He did not try to hide anything and it became an open-and-shut case for police.
It is good that Bihar Police has now swung into action because of political and media pressures.
Police officials themselves claim that they can pick up criminals swiftly and bump them off in encounter. This is not the matter of a single murder and police action must not stop here.
Murders and robberies have become a regular feature in Bihar and the state police must show to the criminals who calls the shots. Elections may come and go, but the majesty of the state and its police must remain.
Fight for what: Marathi pride or Marathi votes?
Maharashtra is witnessing a drama of a different sort. Both the Thackeray cousins are fanning Marathi pride and BJP and its allies are on the defensive. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has taken a middle path.
In Mira-Bhayandar of Thane district, supporters of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sinha, under the banner of Marathi Swabhimaan Morcha, carried out a protest march. It was a counter against a traders’ protest against the beating of a non-Marathi food stall owner by MNS supporters.
A state minister Pratap Sarnaik, belonging to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena tried to join the protest, but was asked by protesters to leave.
NCP(Sharad Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar questioned why the state police allowed non-Marathi traders to protest, but did not allow MNS supporters to take out a march.
The controversy began two weeks ago, when the Maharashtra government issued an order asking all primary schools to teach Hindi as a third language. After a hue and cry by Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray and other opposition parties, the state government withdrew its order.
The Thackeray cousins addressed a victory rally in Mumbai on Sunday. What was the need to create a fresh controversy in Thane? Actually, the cousins want to flex their political muscle to the shopkeepers. They wanted to tell the North Indian shopkeepers how they dared to stage a protest against Marathi?
The main aim of Thackeray cousins is to project themselves as the protector of Marathas, and to rejuvenate their parties. But the public knows the truth.
In Maharashtra, both Marathas and north Indians live in peace together, there is no problem over Hindi language, nor has anyone any objection to speaking Marathi. The problem arises when elections are held. Had there been no BMC municipal elections due, so much hullabaloo would not have happened.
Is it Nitish Raj or Jungle Raj In Bihar?
Law and order situation in Bihar appears to be serious with ten murders committed within last 24 hours. In Purnea, five members of a family were burnt to death, two were shot dead in Nalanda, a government employee was stabbed to death in Muzaffarpur in front of his wife and son, the owner of a private school in Patna was shot, while a Hindu youth was killed with swords during a Moharram procession in Motihari. The state police appears to clueless.
Two days ago, a reputed businessman Gopal Khemka was murdered in Patna. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is silent over this spate of murders. Even NDA ally Chirag Paswan has raised questions on law and order. RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav has alleged that the Chief Minister “has joined hands with criminals in order to retain power.”
In Motihari, groups from two communities clashed during a Moharram procession. A 22-year-old youth Ajay Yadav was attacked with lathis and swords and he died on the spot. Two persons have been arrested. There were reports of clashes in Katihar, Bhagalpur, Araria, Darbhanga and Samastipur also during Moharram processions.
The spike in the number of crimes in Bihar clearly points to the fact that the mafia has stopped fearing the police. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is yet to comment on this situation. He does not appear to be pro-active. How can people expect police to take action? For every crime, the police has a standard reply, “investigation is continuing”.
People in Bihar have started saying that had Yogi Adityanath been the CM of Bihar, murderers would have been either killed or critically injured by now. The people of Bihar want fast and strong action from the government.
If Nitish Kumar is unable to take action, he can hand over the Home portfolio to an active minister. For JD(U) leaders to say, “those who were responsible for Jungle Raaj during the Nineties have no right to raise questions about law and order now” does not hold water. People of Bihar have the right to live fearlessly. They must be allowed to live.
Are Uddhav & Raj stoking Marathi issue for BMC elections?
More than 100 supporters of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena under the banner of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, were detained by police in Mira-Bhayandar of Thane district on Tuesday, when they took out a procession without prior permission. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, permission was given for a rally, but MNS workers insisted on going in a procession on a particular route, which could have caused tension.
Fadnavis said, “Marathis have a large heart. The Marathi people always cared for the nation and are never selfish…But when it came to the rally, they were pushing for a particular route. If permission had been given, there could have been a law and order situation.”
The MNS was trying to stage a counter-protest after traders protested over MNS workers assaulting a food stall owner for not speaking Marathi.
On Monday, BJP MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey alleged that both MNS and Uddhav Shiv Sena members were beating up Hindi-speaking people in Mumbai and are forcing them to speak in Marathi. He challenged them to try beating people who speak Hindu and Urdu outside Mahim Dargah. Dubey went to the extent of saying that “Ghar Mein Toh Kutta Bhi Sher Hota Hai”.
Countering this, NCP(Sharad Pawar) MLA Jitendra Ahwad said, BJP is trying to polarize voters ahead of BMC municipal elections and this conspiracy would not be allowed to succeed.
Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar compared those beating up non-Marathi speaking people with the terrorists of Pahalgam.
Uddhav Thackeray described Nishikant Dubey as a hyena who is forcibly trying to create controversy. He said, comparing Marathis with Pahalgam terrorists amounts to insulting “Marathi Manoos”. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said, he himself speaks Hindi and has no problem with the language, but his party is opposing imposition of Hindi on primary school children in Maharashtra.
This is not the first time non-Marathi speaking people have been targeted in Mumbai and suburbs. It is also not a secret that both the Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, are trying to stoke Hindi-Marathi controversy for cornering votes.
For the first time, after several decades, the two estranged cousins came together on a single platform on Sunday in Mumbai to save the Maratha base of their parties. Those beating and abusing people for votes in Maharashtra have no right to say that Nishikant Dubey is making such remarks to garner votes for his party in Bihar elections.
Why law and order in Bihar has deteriorated ?
The nephew of Union minister of state for Home Nityanand Rai was killed in a firing and two others were seriously injured on Thursday in Naugachia near Bhagalpur. An intra-family dispute over drawing tap water resulted in firing from both sides. The minister’s nephew Vishwajit Anand died on spot, while his brother Jaijeet and mother were critically injured. Both nephews fired from their pistols at each other and the mother, who was trying to pacify them, was caught in the crossfire. Police said, the weapons used in firing were unlicensed. Since it was a high-profile case, RJD, Congress and other opposition parties blamed Nitish Kumar government for deterioration in law and order. In the Vidhan Parishad, when RJD leader Rabri Devi raised the issue, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made personal attacks on her. Nitish reminded Rabri Devi of the ‘jungle raj’ during her husband Lalu Prasad’s rule in Bihar. Political wranglings aside, the fact is: the state government is trying to downplay this firing incident as intra-family rivalry. The question is: From where did the two brothers get illegal weapons? One of them is dead, and the other is fighting for his life in hospital. How did those pistols vanish? Police has been unable to seize the weapons. Are pistols easily available in Bihar? Is it not failure on part of police that weapons used in murder vanished soon after the incident? The harsh reality must be faced. There has been deterioration in law and order, and criminals are openly flouting the law. As a result, opposition parties get the chance to target the state government. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cannot absolve himself of the blame that he has been making personal attacks on Rabri Devi. The manner in which he suddenly gets irritated inside the House and makes disparaging remarks, is not a good sign.
Why did Punjab government evict farmers ?
Highway traffic resumed after a gap of 13 months on Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu, after famers were forcibly evicted by Punjab Police. This action should have been taken long back. The blockade at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana had seriously affected inter-state goods movement. The only question that arises in the minds of all is why Aam Aadmi Party government took so much time in taking action? The reason is: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was under tremendous pressure from traders and industrialists in Punjab to reopen the border because industries in Punjab were facing losses to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore every month. When Bhagwant Mann tried to persuade farmers, their leaders refused to bend. They said, the sit-in would continue and they would not leave the border. Mann has been angry since then. Later, Punjab industrialists also complained to AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal. It was only after this that both Kejriwal and Mann decided that since the main dispute was between the Centre and farmers, it has caused unwanted problems for Punjab government. Now that the border points have reopened, traders and industrialists in Punjab are happy, but Aam Aadmi Party’s double standards have been exposed. There was a time when AAP leaders used to provide food, water and electricity to farmers squatting at Shambhu border, but to evict them, bulldozers were used to raze tents and other structures. This decision can prove costly for AAP in Punjab.
No one should glorify invaders
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has clearly said that the New India will no more tolerate glorification of bigoted rulers like Aurangzeb and murderous invaders like Salar Masood Ghazi. Already UP administration has refused to allow the annual Neja Mela in Sambhal and Bahraich held in memory of Salar Masood Ghazi. Yogi said, it would be considered sedition, if anybody tries to glorify invaders who sought to crush Sanatan faith several centuries ago. On the contrary, Yogi said, “Maharaja Suheldev, who led the army that killed Salar Masood Ghazi in Bahraich, is our hero…Suheldev defeated the foreign invader in a manner that no other invader dared to attack for the next 150 years.” Vishwa Hindu Parishad has already given a memorandum to the administration demanding that the annual Mela at Salar Masood Ghazi’s grave in Bahraich must not be allowed this time. VHP leaders allege that the dargah of Ghazi in Bahraich was built on a site where a Sun temple existed. Yogi Adityanath is right. Foreign invaders who carried out massacres, sacked towns and cities and destroyed thousands of temples, must not be glorified. India’s legacy belongs to all. How can anybody glorify those who tried to erase our legacy and culture?
Why is Lalu eager to open doors for Nitish again?
Rashtriya Janata Dal patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav spoke in public on Thursday after a long time, but his comments were loaded with political meanings, confusing all in Bihar.
Lalu Yadav said, “our doors are open for Nitish Kumar…I have forgiven all his past sins and have left old issues behind. If Nitish comes forward, we have no problem in working with him”.
Lalu’s offer was carefully planned. He said this in an interview and spoke inside a car with ease. His words were clear. The confusion was created because his son Tejashwi Yadav had been consistently saying there was no chance of any alliance with Nitish anymore.
Three days ago, Tejashwi Yadav had said in Sitamarhi that running a government with Nitish Kumar would be like striking one’s own foot with an axe. Tejashwi said, “the doors of RJD are closed for Nitish, and there is no question of his party’s entry” into RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. On Wednesday, Tejashwi said, “Nitish’s exit from power is final…He has ruled Bihar for 20 years and Bihar requires new seeds..If you sow the same old seeds continuously, the soil will get ruined.”
But Lalu Yadav spoke differently and his remarks created ripples in Bihar politics. Nitish’s Janata Dal(U) leaders described Lalu’s remarks as useless and speculative, while Nitish Kumar laughed off Lalu’s suggestions.
At Patna Raj Bhavan, after the new Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s swearing-in ceremony, Nitish put his hand on Tejashwi’s shoulder, patted his back and spoke to him for a minute. When reporters asked Nitish about Lalu’s remarks, the Chief Minister laughed and walked away with a quip, “What are you saying?”.
Bihar JD(U) minister Vijay Chaudhary said, “there is no confusion in our party over this, and the confusion is in RJD. This is why Lalu and his son are speaking in two different tones. It is clear Lalu Yadav is going to lose again in Bihar and he is worried. That’s why he is inviting Nitish Kumar, but his remark means nothing.” BJP leader and Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary said, “Lalu Yadav seems to be worried because his Mahagathbandhan got a severe beating in Lok Sabha polls…Nitish Kumar knows Lalu well and he is not going to react to his offer.”
Congress leaders appeared to be enthusiastic. Congress legislative party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan praised Nitish Kumar as a “Gandhian who is working with Godse supporters… If Lalu has offered something to Nitish Kumar then there must be some meaning behind it.” In the evening, Tejashwi Yadav again appeared before reporters to say that “no inference should be drawn from Lalu Ji’s remarks.”
The fact is, whatever Lalu Yadav said was perfectly planned. It was a trial balloon sent to test the direction of the wind. Lalu’s dream is to see his son Tejashwi as CM during his lifetime. But a master strategist like Lalu knows, caste votes are now fully divided in Bihar. Lalu knows Tejashwi cannot get a majority in this year’s assembly elections by relying on Congress and other smaller parties.
On the other hand, Nitish Kumar is leading a big alliance with BJP and he can win the assembly elections hands down to become the CM again. But Tejashwi feels, Nitish Kumar, because of old age, is now tired and this is a golden opportunity for him to come to power. Tejashwi is quite clear in his mind that he would not be joining hands with “Nitish Chacha”.
On his part, Nitish Kumar has also said that he had committed mistakes twice in the past (in joining hands with RJD), and he would not do so for the third time. BJP has already announced that it has no problem with accepting Nitish as chief minister again.
Then why this politically mischievous statement from Lalu? The old warhorse is a clever player in politics. He is a master in creating confusions. Nitish’s record of crossing over to the other camp is already bad. That’s why Lalu made this remark with a view to get some political gain. But the fallout took place in his own party, RJD, this time. For the first time, both father and son appeared to be towing two different lines. Both appear to disagree on the issue of joining hands with Nitish. The confusion is clearly in the RJD.