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Journalism of Courage
Mayawati becomes the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for the third time, the only one to accomplish the feat since ND Tiwari. It’s an amazing her Bahujan Samaj Party been able to form a government on its own.
Mayawati has got unconditional support from the BJP this time — unlike the last time when she had the BJP’s backing for just six months) and if she maintains her sense of proportion, she could well complete her five-year term. The BSP-BJP alliance will face its acid test before the next Lok Sabha polls, but Mayawati will win the first round of challenge if she can continue till then and create good vibes through good governance.
If the alliance clicks, it could make a big difference even outside Uttar Pradesh, for instance, in Madhya Pradesh, where a BSP-BJP combination could prove deadly for other parties in the fray for the LS polls.
Mayawati’s primary challenge is to improve the law and order situation and bolster development work, which have been in shambles in the state. For this, she has to be an altogether different chief minister.
She must give up lavish schemes like the Ambedkar Park, where no Dalit will bother to visit for morning walks. Setting up parks or renaming universities after Dalit leaders are symbolic gestures that don’t make any difference to the lives of the downtrodden.
In fact, a BJP thinktank has advised Mayawati to earmark a sum in the budget outlay specifically for implementing power projects, providing drinking water and other public works. It’s a pity that Uttar Pradesh still doesn’t have good medical or engineering colleges. It’s a shame that whenever any VIP gets a heart problem in Lucknow, he is urgently shifted to Delhi for treatment.
Compared with other states, particularly the southern ones, Uttar Pradesh appear almost primitive in terms of infrastructure.
Mayawati should also remember that as CM, she is responsible for all people in the state. She should do well to avoid decisions like the Harijan Act which creates havoc in villages. During her Assembly campaign, Mayawati showed signs of welcome maturity by trying to make herself and her party acceptable to non-Dalits. The same maturity should prevail if Mayawati wants to be third time lucky.
Laloo, criticism-proof, jail-proof
Laloo Yadav’s debut added much spice to the Rajya Sabha debate on the Opposition’s censure motion. However, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief refused to divulge his source of information on the Sangh Parivar’s anti-Muslim campaign in Gujarat despite repeated demands from the Treasury benches.
The House was soon adjourned for 15 minutes and Laloo agreed to move to deputy chairman Najma Heptullah’s room from the well of the House where he was staging a protest.
When the BJP’s B.P. Singhal tried to question the information provided by Laloo, the former Bihar CM revealed that his dramatic speech was mostly based on a booklet circulated by the Jamait ul Ulema leader Asad Madni. When told that perhaps, he should have checked the booklet’s facts, ‘‘You can send me to jail if you want. By now, I have become jail-proof. But a nationalist like Madni cannot lie.’’ Brownie points having been bagged by championing the secular cause, Yadav is returning to Patna for his daughter’s wedding.
Gill’s choice, a good shot
Though K.P.S Gill. who has been appointed as security advisor to Narendra Modi government, was technically picked by the Gujarat Government, the top cop was handpicked by none other than Law Minister Arun Jaitley.
Few can question Gill’s track record and competence and the wisdom behind the choice. Now, one hopes Gujarat’s law and order machinery will finally gear up to meet the challenges of fanaticism.
