‘Anti-Muslim’ Rhetoric
By Insaf
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s anti-Muslim rhetoric is jarring. In the ongoing Assembly session, he claimed crime rate hasn’t increased if population growth is considered and “Why will people from Lower Assam go to Upper Assam? So that Miya Muslims can take over Assam? We won’t let it happen.” This during adjournment motions by Opposition regarding law and order situation following rape of a 14-year-old girl in Nagoan. The Assembly passed Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, abolishing The Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, and Assam Repealing Ordinance 2024. His explanation: ‘Our aim is not only to abolish child marriages…also to get away with the Kazi system’, whereby clerics register Muslim marriages and bring registration under government system. ‘Discriminatory against Muslims and brought to polarise voters in election year,’ says the Opposition. And United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) has submitted a memorandum to President Murmu demanding Sarma’s dismissal, as he has failed to maintain law and order and of inciting division among communities. He must be reined in as the office he holds can’t be biased. He must uphold his constitutional duty. Will Rashtrapati Bhavan step in? Or is it asking for the moon?
J&K Assembly Polls
Come September and Jammu and Kashmir shall get reignited with political flurry with Assembly elections in the Union Territory after a decade. Importantly, Congress and National Conference have managed to finalise a seat-sharing deal for the 90 seats, with the latter contesting 51 seats and Congress 32 after hectic parleys and back-to-back meetings. Another two seats have been left to accommodate allies, CPM and Panthers Party. The alliance partners will have a common minimum programme with broad message being: ‘People of Kashmir have been cheated by BJP. Here, the state became UT and it was done by BJP. While we believe in progress of people, unity and employment, BJP agenda is to divide the people.’ Uncanny as it may sound, but the BJP has had to go into damage control following its supporters and workers divided over distribution of tickets. There are protests outside its office and some supporters are creating ruckus at BJP rallies. The top brass is trying to quell the simmering anger saying the party is ‘set to create history’ in these polls and there must be a show of strength and commitment for this ‘ensuing victory.’ While the results would be most anxiously awaited the BJP would do well to remember the saying: If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride!
Maha Statue Collapse Politics
The collapse of 37-foot Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Malvan in coastal Konkan and its timing couldn’t be more unfortunate for Ekant Shinde’s Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. The Opposition has got more ammunition, months before the State goes to Assembly polls. Not only has the government set up two committees, one technical committee to probe reasons behind the collapse and another to look into the reconstruction aspect and build a “grand statute befitting the stature” of the warrior king. The statue collapsed just 8 months after it was unveiled by Prime Minister Modi on December 4 and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi says it was constructed in a tearing hurry to garner votes before Lok Sabha polls. It has demanded Shinde’s resignation, while the latter urges ‘opposition has other issues to do politics on but Shivaji Maharaj, a revered figure in Maharashtra, should be kept out of it’. However, the Opposition chooses to use the opportunity to the hilt and announced it shall take out a protest march in Mumbai on Sunday. A first test-run for the bigger battle ahead?
UP Social Media Policy
Uttar Pradesh government’s new digital media policy has raised many an eyebrow. For it gives a distinct impression that chief Minister Yogi Adityanath now requires good publicity/promotion but shall yield the stick if publicity goes against him. The policy says the government will pay up to Rs 8 lakh per month to influencers and holders of these accounts after empanelling them on different social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube depending on followers and subscribers. This claims the department shall also help create jobs. On the other, the policy warns government will take legal action against social media operators, influencers, firm or agency concerned in case “objectionable content” is uploaded. And ‘under no circumstances should it be indecent, obscene and anti-national.’ Predictably, the Opposition has hit out: SP says on X: ‘BJP is serving lies on a platter of corruption. Self-promotion using public tax money is a new type of corruption,’ ‘it’s a new type of corruption’; Congress calls it ‘undemocratic, anti-Constitution, aimed at stifling freedom of expression. This government, which has taken control of the electronic and print media with the power of money and authority, is conspiring to silence the digital media as well through this rule.’ The rebuttal by BJP is: It’s an ‘innovative move’ of Adityanath government by creating jobs and checking rumour-spreading on social media. Indeed, killing two birds with one stone!
Mamata On Back Foot?
Will agitating junior doctors be able to tame the Bengal tigress? Doubtful, but their ‘cease work’ protest since past 21 days against the rape and murder of a young medic may have West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee being put on the backfoot. This, as Thursday saw her post on X: ‘Let me most emphatically clarify I haven’t uttered a single word against the (medical etc.) students or their movements. I totally support their movement. Their movement is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false.’ She also wrote: ‘I have spoken against BJP because, with support of GoI, they are threatening democracy in our state and trying to create anarchy…’ Opposition BJP reacted with: ‘Don’t mince your words. There’s no malicious disinformation campaign against you. You have threatened the agitating medical students & junior doctors…’ Amid all this, Didi has called for a two-day special session of the Assembly on Monday to table and pass a Bill which would provide for ‘capital punishment to convicted rapists.’ Will it help overcome the ongoing social and political turmoil in the state, is a million-dollar question. —— INFA