Opinion Gameplan 2014
This refers to Scripted by Kalaignar by Seema Chishti (IE,March 22). It is indeed difficult to hazard a guess on what role the DMK will play at the Centre in 2014
Gameplan 2014
* This refers to Scripted by Kalaignar by Seema Chishti (IE,March 22). It is indeed difficult to hazard a guess on what role the DMK will play at the Centre in 2014. The current scenario indicates that in 2014,regional parties will play a leading role. In Maharashtra,the Shiv Sena and the MNS are likely to turn in a much better performance than ever before. In Uttar Pradesh,the Samajwadi Party aspires to a large number of MPs at the Centre. From Bihar,Nitish Kumars JD(U) will probably make a good showing. Naveen Patnaiks BJD,Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress and the YSR Congress are also regional players to watch out for. In such a scenario,the DMK may not be the most favoured regional party any more. If so,then it might have acted hastily in shaking off the Congresss shadow.
P.G. Vijairaghavan
* WITH the DMK bowing out of the coalition at the Centre,the UPA government is now on thin ice,having just a few more Lok Sabha seats than the minimum requirement. This will expose the Congress to greater pressure from allies like the SP and BSP,which make up the numbers. The SPs demand that the Union steel minister,Beni Prasad Verma,be removed for his remarks about Mulayam Singh Yadav is the latest example. With every policy decision of the government being resisted by some ally or the other,it is unlikely that the UPA will take bold steps,such as reducing subsidies,before the general elections.
Y.G. Chouksey
Pune
Hard cases
* NOW that the much-awaited Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill,2013,has been finally passed by both Houses of Parliament,it is time for states to train police and judicial officers in the implementation of the new law. This applies especially to those who work in the field,that is,all those posted at police stations and cells to deal with crimes against women. It is rightly said that whenever a law is toughened,the chances of its misuse escalate. The need of the hour is to make sure police officials are well-versed in the provisions so that the legislation has its desired effect. Also,gender sensitisation must be made mandatory in every branch of the criminal justice system.
Hemant Kumar
Guilty party
* APROPOS the editorial Guilty as charged (IE,March 22),in spite of the UPAs protestations,the CBI raid on M.K. Stalins house,the day after the DMK walked out of the coalition,could not have been a coincidence. There have been several allegations that the government has used the CBI to manipulate allies and keep adversaries in check. The governments disavowals in this case are suspicious. This only reinforces the case for making the CBI independent of government control.
M.C. Joshi
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