This March has given the Indian people great events, some incredibly stunning. The AIADMK lost its trademark after being split into two insignificant outfits with such symbols as people will take years to fall in love with. Uttar Pradesh became lotus-blessed literally eliminating Congress, SP and BSP.
The most stunning act was performed by Justice Karnanan of Calcutta High Court who trashed a bailable warrant served on him by the Supreme Court for his errant conduct. He went a step ahead and slapped a ‘hundred and fifty million rupees’ fine on apex court judges for deciding to fix him. The whole world is laughing stomachs out as Justice Karnanan is busy taking bizarre steps with multiple accusations of ‘Dalit exploitation’. The Karnanan acts are like in a movie thriller. The judiciary is struggling to lay hand on an innovative method of dismissing the errant judge as the cumbersome impeachment process would take a long, long time.
In Delhi, the top-level lawmakers have expressed disgust and drudgery about living in ancient bungalows without modern facilities. They are now toying with the idea of putting up plush apartments at a cost of six billion rupees from the poor taxpayers’ coffers.
In India, the lawmaking communities keep fighting each other on every issue, no matter how relevant, except when it comes to their own salary/perk hike. For fatter financial benefits, they gang up shamelessly and cry for more and more without worrying once about the grave depletion they would cause to the perpetually near-empty public exchequer. Some political outfits have come to power by promising the voters superb austerity measures, but they will eventually end up carrying home fatter salaries and perks. Unfortunately, the ignorant masses do not have much weapon in hand to stall such moves except taking to streets in protest or boycotting their representatives in their constituencies. It hurts to know that Odisha legislators have come together to steal a fatter salary despite acute poverty in the State. Not a single soul put his foot down. Solidarity of the best kind is displayed only when it comes availing personal benefits. Over all other issues, they keep fighting like mad or sleep off.
Two BJD MPs began tweeting against each other, kicking up a row. When the media interpreted their communication as a rebellion within the party, both took what’s called ‘self pictures together’ only to show the world that there is no turmoil in the BJD home. After the media swooped in on them, Kendrapada MP, industrialist Baijayant Panda, a suave, articulate and wealthy founder of the party, wrote an article in a leading daily saying it’s time the BJD did some self-reflection exercise to figure where most senior members get hurt and why. As per his views, the ones that nurtured the BJD from birth are being ignored. BJD spokespersons, having been jolted, came up with reactions saying Panda was not right in washing linen publicly. He could have consulted others within the party and placed his grouse before the high command for resolving all crises, if there were really any. Some super sniffers smelt a ‘quits act’ by Panda to espouse the BJP which is believably gaining ground all over the country. He kept admiring young BJP leaders for their focussed dedication to making the party popular and credible, as indicated by the panchayat poll results. It is unlikely that Panda will quit because he is historically linked to the Biju family. legendary Biju Patnaik had virtually lost most of his riches including the Kalinga Tubes and prime property across India to keep politics going. Panda’s father who founded the IMFA empire was greatly helped by Biju. Bijubabu’s tube factory was acquired by the IMFA Group for a very small price to put up a charge chrome plant at Choudwar. Odisha people are rather confused as to what is going on within the BJD. Panda harps on one fundamental issue: the bureaucrats’ dominance even over party seniors. Young small fledglings are being promoted without having adequate experience or wisdom. The bureaucracy calls the shots and the political leaders are forced to take its orders. There is some relevance in the matter as most legislators are pinheads. As the Congress has nothing more to lose, the tiny community is only talking about how the BJD’s steam diminishing or the BJP making inroads unethically.
The brand new UP Chief Minister is a yogi. Adityanath, a five-time Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur, became the 21st CM of UP. Yogi Adityanath has attracted attention of the international media. His controversial statements, particularly his speeches against the Muslim community, praise for US President Donald Trump’s travel ban and vision of a ‘Hindu Rashtra, have gained enormous media coverage.
The foreign Press has raised eyebrows over the elevation of the controversial hardliner. The home media too is questioning PM Modi’s pro-development agenda without going deep into the yogi’s game plan. He is busy somewhat like the fictional movie character in Nayak who within a 24-hour tenure achieves impossible feats by sheer political will and courage. The best thing he has done is banning Paan and Gutkha in public offices. He has also warned the bureaucracy to wake up to realities by putting in full 24 hours into giving public relief and joy by slugging and remaining alert even during sleep hours. In the West, he has been grossly misunderstood. The New York Times wrote, “The choice of Yogi Adityanath, who has been repeatedly accused of stirring anti-Muslim sentiments, to lead Uttar Pradesh came as a shock to many political observers here, who have become accustomed to the carefully moderated public positions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in line with his projected image as a pro-development leader and global statesman.” The Guardian wrote, “The argument that once in power the BJP would become more reasonable does not wash. There’s little sign India’s Constitutional protections would enable the BJP to continue in power while the dynamics of its wider movement are kept in check. Mr Adityanath, now a powerful figure, is signalling that in India minorities exist merely on the goodwill of the majority.” The Economist quipped, “The unusual choice has raised alarms, not least among Uttar Pradesh’s 40m-strong Muslim minority; the BJP won 312 of 403 seats in the state legislature without fielding a single Muslim candidate. Mr Adityanath, who has a long record of bigoted and inflammatory rhetoric, has named just one Muslim to his 43-person cabinet. Some analysts say Mr Modi chose a controversial sectarian as reward for his most ideological follower adored in the crucial grassroots vote base. Others say that with his prospects for re-election in 2019 strengthened by winning a state with 220m people, Mr Modi simply has less fear of revealing a darker Hindu nationalist tint.”
Channel News Asia wrote: “A saffron-robed Hindu holy man was sworn in on Sunday to lead India’s most populous state, sealing what appears to be a shift in course by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that could redefine the world’s largest democracy as a Hindu nation.”
Dawn in Pakistan: “In a state with nearly four crore Muslims, where the BJP decided to field not even a single candidate from the minority community in the election, the chief minister-designate could be seen as adding insult to injury because, more than anything else, he is known for his strident anti-Muslim rhetoric. Over the years, Adityanath has established himself as the foremost firebrand Hindutva leader.”
Adityanath may be looked down upon as a fundamentalist, but it’s for sure he knows the law of the secular land. He will have to find ways of rehabilitating thousands of families who made a living in the unorganised meat industry. These helpless Muslims have not sinned. They have a right live with dignity. Downstream business has literally come to a zero level. Each has a right to cling to his or her faith. If Gandhi had lived, Muslims would not have worried so much. Even Jinnah pined for his India while taking oath as the head of Pakistan he created. He could never forget his Bombay bungalow in Malavar Hills which some pathetically insane business people want to pull down to make room for a set of skyscrapers.
On this day in 1919, Gandhi had declared resistance to the Rowlett Act, a legislation passed by the Imperial legislative Council. The Act allowed certain political cases to be tried without juries and permitted internment of suspects without trial.
(The writer is a core member of Transparency International, Odisha)