Language War Escalates
By Insaf
The Tamil Nadu-Centre war over three-language policy escalates. Not just a war of words, but action, which could go to any length. A day before tabling the Budget on Friday, ruling DMK has replaced the Devanagari rupee symbol with the Tamil rupees letter in its logo, which reads ‘Ellorkkum Ellaam’ (Everything for Everyone). It was released by Chief Minister M K Stalin’s office, inviting wrath of Finance Minister Sitharaman who described it as ‘promotes secessionist sentiment’. The state government is firm: When its language and civilisation is being ridiculed even in Parliament (reference to Education Minister Pradhan’s derogatory remarks against TN MPs in Lok Sabha), should it not try to preserve it?” In fact, it’s more and shall follow with Tamil being given importance over Devanagari script (rupee logo was in it last year). The southern state will not allow any imposition of Hindi whatsoever, even if it means Centre withholding funds as alleged by its member in Lok Sabha Kanimozhi. She claimed Centre had withheld over ¹ 2,000 crore in school education funds, if NEP is not agreed to! It’s the election year and a lot more of actions will keep the voter enthused!
Haryana Cong Fiasco
Haryana offers a classic example of Congress refusing to learn from its mistakes. The divided grand old party suffered yet another beating, when it failed to win a single seat in the civic elections held. The BJP swept nine of 10 mayor posts, with an Independent taking one on Wednesday. A clean wipe out, after its third consecutive Assembly polls loss to the BJP, though recall the state leadership was over-confident of winning. The infighting in the party and absence of organising is seen to be the cause of the Congress failing to make even slight amend. Worse, it went against tradition and put up candidates on its symbol, in the hope it could consolidate its supporters. But it couldn’t even consolidate its list of candidates and number of wards had no official candidate! Embarrassing, to say the least. But Congress fails to admit its folly. As usual it prefers to find lame excuses such as these were too close after BJP’s sweep in the Assembly polls and that state EC didn’t pay heed to its demand to hold civic polls with ballot papers instead of EVMs, etc. Congress needs to put its house in order, but it can do so only if it’s honest with itself and accepts its grave shortcomings.
No Hope For ASHA?
God’s own country, Kerala, is being most unfair to its frontline health workers. Thousands of them, known as ASHA workers (Accredited Social Health Activists) have been on a strike for over a month in front of the secretariat in capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. MPs from the state got an opportunity to raise their voice finally in the Lok Sabha on Monday last during zero hour, sharing their plight and demanding better pay/salaries and recognition of the tremendous work these volunteers have been doing. The volunteers get a measly honorarium of 7,000 rupees per month, whereas they should be given Rs 21000 instead, get regularised, get retirement pension among other benefits. Close to 30,000 in the state, these workers provide crucial medical support in the country’s rural areas, where doctors and nurses refuse to do service. Said the people’s representatives: they are “unsung heroes” of India’s healthcare system and their “protests highlight the systemic undervaluation of community health workers in India and in particular in Kerala”. In fact, they have been caught in a blame game between the Centre and State government, wherein one says funds are being disbursed and the other challenging the claim. Union Health Minister JP Nadda, present in the House assured the members he would look into the issue and raise incentives for them. Will he keep its word? planned?
Temple Politics in Bihar
Bihar is gearing up for ensuing Assembly polls and what better way than campaigning around a temple. Precisely, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah has done so and upped the ante for the BJP saying that the Sita temple in Sitamarhi shall be revamped. Said he: “We have already built Ram temple at Ayodhya, now it’s time to construct a grand Sita temple in Bihar (in Sitamarhi). This grand temple would give a message of the ideals Goddess Sita practised through her life. We would surely construct Maa Janki temple in Bihar. I invite people of Mithila to join me in Bihar where we would be camping ahead of the Assembly polls.” The principal Opposition RJD hits out saying the BJP should not walk away with the credit as it was this party along with the JD(U) then in 2023 which had first announced the renovation project. However, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chooses to remain silent on it but demands more central funds for the project. However, the big question is whether this temple will yield electoral mileage for the BJP? Bihar per se is not communal like UP, says an observer and that playing up Sita symbolism may not work. More so, as in Ayodhya itself the Ram temple didn’t get BJP that seat. Will there be a genuine link other than the one —Ayodhya with Sitamarhi planned?
Karnataka Authority Scam
Public money is being misused in Karnataka? Well, that’s the big fight going on in the southern State affecting a logjam in the Assembly. The opposition BJP has accused the Siddaramaiah government of using taxpayers money to ‘renumerate its own workers!’ The ‘Guarantee Scheme Implementation Authorities (GSIA) is being contested Congress leaders have been appointed to oversee implementation of the Congress pre-poll “guarantees.” On Wednesday last, the Chief Minister assured the House that he would look into the issues raised by the Opposition at a meeting to be held after the Budget Session ending on March 21. There can’t be dilly dallying on it as one of the BJP functionaries had moved the Karnataka High Court against the appointments and the benefits being given to the Chairman and other functionaries; also the BJP has submitted a memorandum to the Governor claiming that the total monthly remuneration of GSIA office-bearers would amount to Rs 2.47 crore, “roughly translating to an annual financial commitment nearing Rs 30 crore”. They demand a dissolution of the GSIA bodies and “proper utilisation” of public resources. The big question is, will the Congress government oblige? Doubtful. — INFA