Changing dates for convenience
Despite the fact that Uttarakhand keeps on flaunting its legacy of begetting members for the Army- a large number of the State’s population is supposed to be connected to the Army - reasons were invented to have the Army Flag Day changed from December 7 to December 5, the original day being a Sunday. The Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi and the Chief Minister Harish Rawat readily acquiesced, giving official seal on behalf of the State Government to the ‘audacious’ change. They graced the occasion with their presence without the thought seemingly crossing through their minds as to whether the dates of such occasions should be tinkered with that casually. Now, the question is — would they follow this lead if either the Republic Day or the Independence Day falls on SundayIJ We must ponder over whether we are genuinely committed to maintaining the sanctity of such occasions or whether we should reduce them to ceremonial stereotypes, shorn of the significance such days invoke.
Changing colour like a chameleon
With the trajectory of Uttarakhand’s politics moving inexorably on, the two principal ‘custodians’ of the people’s interests-Congress and BJP- have become adept in changing colours like chameleons in tune with the calls of the changing expediency. Congress is all set to stage Mahapanchayat in Delhi on December 14 to pressure the BJP- led NDA Government to revive the 10-year industrial package its previous avatar led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had bestowed on Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh way back in 2003.
Things later changed as UPA came to power and diluted the package. BJP which was in power in Uttarakhand then raised hammer and tongs, protesting against the much-vaunted package being kept in a limbo. However, the UPA Government remained unfazed by the saffron histrionics on the matter. Meanwhile, Congress was saddled in power in 2012. The Government in the State chose to maintain a stony silence on the matter from March 2012 to May 2014-the period the UPA was saddled in the Centre. But they changed tacks immediately after NDA returned to power. Now, Congress and its Government in Uttarakhand are vociferous, demanding the the package. They must prove whether they are still committed to the Vajpayee regime’s package, the Congress satraps said. The question is-has politics been reduced to a lever of cheap maneuverabilityIJ