Category: Uncategorized

HARYANA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION ADD RESERVED SYMBOLS IN LIST OF FREE SYMBOLS FOR UPCOMING MUNICIPAL POLLS; COMPLAINT LODGED BEFORE THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA FOR TAKING SUCH DECISION

In April 2022, the Haryana State Election Commission  (SEC) issued  two number of Notifications which, inter alia, contain different Lists of Free Symbols for allotment to candidates who would contest as Independents/Non-Political Party fielded Candidates for Election to Post of President, Municipal Committee/Council and Mayor, Municipal Corporation as well as  Member, Municipal Committee/Council/Corporation in upcoming General Elections to three-tier Municipal Bodies in the State of Haryana as scheduled in next few months/weeks.

However, when this advocate at Punjab and Haryana High Court, recently checked the aforementioned Lists of Free Symbols  in the  two Notifications as notified by SEC, Haryana, he found that such Free Symbols list also includes Reserved Symbols of certain Recognized (State) Parties in various States of India which have been  reserved and notified by Election Commission of India (ECI) in pursuance of Paragraph 17 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 vide Gazette Notification, the latest being issued dated 23 September 2021.

Amongst such  Reserved Symbols of Recognized State Parties which have been  included in List of Free Symbols by SEC Haryana,   Hemant  asserts that BROOM and SCALE(S) which are Reserved Symbols of AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP) and SHIROMANI AKALI DAL (SAD) in the States of NCT of Delhi,Punjab and Punjab respectively wherein both are Recognized State Parties since long, have also been included therein the List of Free Symbols by SEC, Haryana. 

The SEC, Haryana issued two Notifications mention BROOM at Serial No. 8 and SCALE(S) at Serial No. 40 in the List of Free Symbols for Election of Member of Municipal Committee/Council as well as Member, Municipal Corporation.

I also wrote that two months back in  Feb-March, 2022 General Elections to Goa Legislative Assembly, AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP)  won 2 seats as well as over 6 percent Votes, hence it would be soon be recognized as State Party in State of Goa too by ECI under Paragraph 6A (i) of Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 in forthcoming latest Notification by ECI under Paragraph 17 of ibid 1968 Order. 

Interestingly, both the above referred Reserved Symbols of AAP and SAD viz. BROOM AND SCALE(S) respectively have been added recently in the List of Free Symbols by SEC, Haryana  for  candidates  who would contest as Independents/Non-Political Party fielded Candidates that too only for  Member, Municipal Committee/Council/Corporation in General Elections to three-tier Municipal Bodies in the State of Haryana as scheduled in next few months.  

Be that as it may, I wonders  why the State Election Commission, Haryana has not made/revised its Lists of Free Symbols from corresponding TABLE IV, i.e. from 197 Free Symbols as contained in ECI Gazette Notification dated 23 September 2021. The Advocate is of the considered legal viewpoint that as Reserved Symbols of all 8 Recognized National Parties in India as well as 2 Recognized State Parties in State of Haryana viz. INLD (Indian National Lok Dal) and JJP (Jannayak Janta Party) are not included in the Lists of Free Symbols as made/revised and notified by SEC, Haryana on similar lines,the Reserved Symbols of all other Recognized State Parties in various States of India should also not be included in Lists of Free Symbols by  SEC, HARYANA. 

I requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) through Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the sole Election Commissioner (EC) to suitably communicate/correspond with State Election Commission (SEC), Haryana and impress upon the latter to  substitute all such Symbols as included in its recently notified revised List of Free Symbols (which are nevertheless declared and notified as Reserved Symbols of Recognized State Parties by ECI under Paragraph 17 of ibid 1968 Order) with suitable Free Symbols from the List of 197 Symbols contained  ECI Gazette Notification dated 23 September 2021.

OUR COUNTRY MARKS 75 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH FRANCE

The silent shores of the French Riviera are all set to host the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. As the focus country at the Opening Night of ‘Marche Du Films’ this year, India intends to give the global audience a flavour of the country’s cinematic excellence, technological prowess, rich culture and illustrious heritage of storytelling.

India and France are marking the 75th year of their diplomatic relations; Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris and bilateral with President Emmanuel Macron takes even more significance in this context. It is in this significant diplomatic backdrop that India has been chosen as the first ‘Country of Honour’ at Marche’ Du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

‘Festival de Cannes’ has played a significant role in strengthening Indo-French relations since its inception. The stepping stone was laid by bestowing the Palme d’Or to the prolific Indian filmmaker Chetan Anand’s film Neecha Nagar in 1946 and a decade later in 1956, Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali won the Palm d’Or. In the year 2013, Amitabh Bachchan was invited to open the festival and over the years numerous members of Indian cinema have served on the Cannes Jury.

India’s presence at Cannes this year holds significance in many ways. It will be for the first time that our red carpet line up captures the diversity of our cinematic excellence not only in terms of representation of actors and film makers from various languages and regions, but also OTT platforms, with a strong presence of music composers and a folk artist who have enthralled audiences both young and old. Indian music maestros will be performing at the India Pavilion to showcase the vibrance and variety of Indian cinema at the festival. Indian startups from the media and entertainment sector will also be present to showcase their technological prowess and pitch to the best from the world of AVGC along with a strong delegation of animation professionals from the sector. The world premier of Rocketry is anxiously awaited along with numerous other films in various regional languages which will be screened for the first time at Cannes. And in another first, the remastered classic of Satyajit Ray’s – Pratidwandi will be screened at the Cannes Classic section marking his centenary year.

The celebration of India at Cannes and the recognition of our cinematic excellence the world over is set to manifest the country into the ‘content hub of the world’. Today the flavour, choice and narrative has shifted from eden in the west and settled in the east. India’s journey has been beautifully captured and narrated through cinema and as we mark ‘Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ we must recall the crucial role it has played and portrayed in our fight for independence, be it through turbulent times and in our triumphs.

Today the media and entertainment sector is a significant contributor to the Indian ‘creative’ economy and also for projecting India’s soft power abroad. The Modi government has envisioned and spearheaded major initiatives over the last 8 years to boost co-productions, film shoots and film facilitations in India. States such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh amongst others have taken the lead through film facilitation policies and providing co-production opportunities. In 2018, we had officially designated audiovisual services as one of 12 ‘champion service sectors’ and recently set up an AVGC task force comprising of industry leaders to prepare a policy roadmap for India to take a quantum leap in this sector and position us as the preferred ‘post production hub of the world’. A few weeks ago, the world’s largest digitisation and restoration process of 5900 short films, documentaries, and features was initiated in line with our vision to preserve, protect and promote our cinematic heritage for future generations.

We are seeing that within India and across the world, the nature of the media business and content creation, consumption and distribution has changed. The advent of AI, virtual reality, immersive technology such as the metaverse, presents immense possibilities to India’s IT skilled workforce. According to reports, the OTT market in India is predicted to grow at 21% annually to nearly Rs 12,000 crores by 2023. Today, Indian platforms outnumber foreign ones and there is a gold rush amongst broadcasters as well as telcos to set up their own.

India is bustling and hustling in its towns and villages. Our tales and talent from the hinterland are capturing the imagination of film makers and movie lovers, both in mainstream cinema as well as OTT platforms – and winning awards on the way! With this in mind we are also focusing more on developing regional film festivals across the country, of which Ladakh, Kashi and J&K have been organised.

Looking ahead, one can boldly say, what India creates today is being consumed by the world tomorrow. We are perfectly poised to take another leap as nearly 300 million citizens are set to connect online as India marches ahead in cementing its space in the commerce of the M&E sector. Government policies are aimed at boosting India’s media and entertainment ecosystem, which is a sunrise sector expected to generate Rs 4 Trillion annually by 2025.

The opportunities India offers to the world to connect, communicate, create and in terms of choice as well as consumption are unlike anywhere in the world. And that is why the land of story tellers is on the spotlight of the cinematic world today

“MY CHILDHOOD IDOL VISWANATH’S IMAGE WAS BUILT BY RADIO”

Indian cricket legend, Kapil Dev said radio commentators of yore played a big role in making the image of star players larger than life for fans across the country before the advent of television.

“Gundappa Viswanth was my childhood cricket idol and his image was projected by the commentary I heard on the radio. It was several years before I saw him bat with my own eyes,” Kapil said while launching the autobiography of India’s most eminent Hindi sports commentator, late Jasdev Singh, titled “On The Wings of Radio Waves – A Broadcaster’s Journey”. The book is the English version of the autobiography in Hindi, “Main Jasdev Singh Bol Raha Hoon”, compiled, edited and transcribed by his son Er. Gurdev Singh.

JASDEV GAVE A LIVE COMMENTARY ON ALSAM SHER’S WEDDING

Olympian Aslam Sher Khan revealed that not only Jasdev Singh came to Bhopal for “my wedding but also gave a running commentary of the rituals”. Another Olympian Gurbux Singh recalled an episode when during an international India-Pakistan hockey match, the two teams had a scuffle. The Indian team had eight Punjabis and Pakistan had all-playing Eleven from West Punjab. “Their choicest invectives (galis) in chaste Punjabi were heard all over the hockey playing world. A very senior politician of Pakistan was present during the match”, he quipped. “Jasdev Sahib made me cry more than once while covering the funeral processions,” said former MP and IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla.    

————————————————-

“It was while listening to the running commentary on the radio that I built the image of wristy batsman Viswanath in my mind. Taking clues from the way the commentators used to describe his personality and his batting made him the biggest player in world cricket for me,” said Kapil. “Just like me, that was how lots of youngsters began idolising sportsmen even before television pictures brought sport directly to their home.”

Viswanath was a prominent member of the Indian team when Kapil proceeded to make his Test debut in 1978 and they played together for several years.

Kapil also got to know Jasdev Singh during some foreign cricket tours.

 “The image of sportspersons are often built on their description by the commentators. Sometimes, we players sit back and even think if we are as good as projected by them,” Kapil said, complimenting sports commentators.

Kapil said the Late Jasdev Singh possessed a God-gifted talent for commentary which made him a household name. “The was a legend and will always remain a legend. Jasdevji made us players big by the way he described us.”

India’s hockey Olympic gold medallist Gurbux Singh and World Cup winning team member Aslam Sher Khan also paid tributes to the memory of Jasdev Singh, whose brisk description of hockey matches used to keep pace with the speed of the game.

“We used to be amazed at the speed of his commentary that kept pace with speed of action in the middle, and hockey has always been played at a brisk pace,” said Gurbux Singh, who was a member of the Indian teams that won gold medal at the 1964 Olympics and the 1966 Asian Games. Gurbax was the joint captain of the team that won a bronze in the 1968 Olympics.

Recalling an episode Gurbux told the gathering that during an international India-Pakistan hockey match, the two teams had a scuffle. The Indian team had eight Punjabis and Pakistan had all-playing Eleven from West Punjab. “Their choicest invectives (galis) in chaste Punjabi were heard all over the hockey playing world. A very senior politician of Pakistan was present during the match”, he quipped  

Aslam Sher Khan, the substitute turned hero of the 1975 World Cup semi-final against Malaysia, said he was sidelined during many international outings, including World Cups, and Jasdev Singh in person would call me and give a pep talk saying “Your day would come. And it came to Kuala Lumpur”, he said while adding  Jasdev was a great master at broadcasting and still a great human being.

Not only did he come for my wedding to Bhopal, “Jasdevji gave a running commentary of the rituals at the marriage to the thrill of the capacity crowd there,” he added.

Dr Narrotam Puri and Ambassador G. Pathasarthy said he (Jasdev) was a true Indian whose commentary would be treated for the ear of any Hindi knowing person anywhere and his capsules depicted true India, an amalgamation of all cultures.

Sports Administrator and politician Rajiv Shukla said: “His commentaries took you to the venue of the events and made you part of the proceedings/action. Jasdev Singh made me cry on more than one occasion, while covering funeral processions of some of the leaders of the country.”  Journalist Vinod Sharma called him the Mohd Rafi of Indian commentary.

(Prof. Avinash Singh has contributed vital inputs in the article)

ADVOCATE WRITES TO SPEAKER & STATE GOVT URGING NOTIFICATION AS POST IS STATUTORY EQUIVALENT IN RANK & STATUS OF A CABINET MINISTER

It has been two and a half years since the current 14th Legislative Assembly of Haryana got constituted post completion of Assembly General Elections and with effect from Oct 25, 2019 pursuant to issuance of statutory notification by Election Commission of India (ECI) under Section 73 of Representation of the People Act, 1951. 

The first Session of the current Assembly was however summoned via a Gazette Notification dated October 31, 2019 issued under Article 174(1) of Constitution of India by Satyadeo Narain Arya, then Governor of Haryana on and from Nov 4, 2019. The same day after Acting/Pro-tem appointed Speaker, Dr. Raghuvir Singh Kadian administered the Oath to all newly elected MLAs, thereafter Gian Chand Gupta, second time elected BJP MLA from Panchkula Assembly Constituency was unanimously elected as Speaker of the Assembly. The same day, Gupta as Speaker made a Statement in the House recognizing Bhupendra Singh Hooda, leader of 31-member Congress Legislature Party (CLP) as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly. 

However even after completion of half tenure of current 14th Haryana Assembly till date, neither the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat nor the Parliamentary Affairs Department of State Government has publicly issued/ published any of Gazette Notification in this regard i.e. regarding duly notifying the name of BS Hooda as recognized LoP in Haryana Assembly by the Speaker. Now if this has been an inadvertent omission or else due to negligence of concerned officials of Vidhan Sabha Sectt and/or State Government is anybody’s guess?

I recently wrote to Assembly Speaker and State Government urging immediate issuance of requisite Notification in this regard. 

When last month on April 25, 2022 I checked a Notification published in Punjab Government Gazette by State’s Parliamentary Affairs Department pertaining to notifying the name of PS Bajwa as LoP in Punjab Vidhan Sabha under Section  9 of Salary and Allowances of Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Act, 1978, thereafter he tried to find the corresponding Notification with respect to Hooda as LoP in Haryana Vidhan Sabha however after  thoroughly searching all  Gazette Notifications issued by Haryana Legislative Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs Department coming directly under Chief Secretary, he was unable to find the same. Even such Notification has also not been uploaded on the official website of Haryana Vidhan Sabha and State Chief Secretary. 

Earlier too, Hooda has remained LoP in Haryana Assembly firstly during the tenure of OP Chautala Government during Aug, 2002 to May, 2004 when former CM Bhajan Lal was replaced by Hooda and secondly during fag end of Khattar-1 dispensation i.e. for a month in Sep-Oct, 2019 when then CLP leader Kiran Chowdhry was replaced by Hooda. 

Be that as it may, unlike neighbouring state of Punjab, the  Legislative Assembly of Haryana  has till date not enacted any sort of law regarding Salaries and Allowances of LoP but nevertheless Section 2(d) of Haryana Legislative Assembly (Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members ) Act, 1975  defines LoP as member of the Assembly who is for the time being recognized as such by the Speaker of the Assembly. Also Section 4 of ibid 1975 Act makes Special Provisions regarding LoP and his Salary, Allowances and other facilities/perquisites etc. are same as that of a Cabinet Minister means LoP’s rank and status is equivalent to it. Even the income tax on LoP’s Salary and Allowances is paid by the State Government from the public exchequer as in case of Chief Minister and Ministers. 

A year ago on March 24, 2021 Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Haryana Legislative Assembly were amended wherein for the first time Leader of the Opposition has been defined in Rule 2 therein meaning Leader of a Legislature Party in the House having the largest number of members other than the party/parties forming the Government and having the strength at least equal to the strength of the quorum of the House and recognized as such by the Speaker.

Even if the Haryana Assembly Speaker after making announcement in the House on Nov 4, 2019 pertaining to recognizing Hooda as LoP in the Assembly and any letter or other form of communication has been issued by Speaker’s Office to Hooda in this regard, still a Gazette Notification on the subject ought to be essentially issued since although LoP post is not Constitutional per se but nevertheless it is statutory in nature viz. under Section 2(d) of 1975 Act as mentioned hereinbefore. 

Even otherwise, whenever the Assembly Speaker makes any sort of Statement in the House be it in his administrative or legislative capacity regarding the constitution of any Select/Standing Committee comprising members of the House to examine any pending Bill/Legislation or takes any decision for some other purpose, then the same is also immediately and duly notified in the Official Gazette by Vidhan Sabha Secretariat. 

TAKEOVER OF OTHER SIKH INSTITUTIONS, GURDWARAS IN THE OFFING

In Aug. 2021 SAD (Badal) after an emphatic third victory on the trot at DSGMC elections party president Sukhbir Singh Badal had predicted a storm at Punjab Assembly polls. Not only his party suffered a near wipe out in the State, today his own once trusted lieutenant Manjinder Singh Sirsa has closed the Gurdwara Committee doors on him in Delhi handing over complete control of the body to BJP with close to 30 out of 46 members entrusting the job to his ‘buddy’ Harmit Singh Kalka!

Congress Party once managed the affairs of Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Management Committee (DSGMC) through Jathedar Santokh Singh and later in bits and parts through Sarna brothers – Paramjit Singh and Harvinder Singh; then came the three times on-the-trot regime of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). Now thanks to the manouvres of immediate past President Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the body has moved into the hands of BJP in a so far silent, but likely to attract action in coming days/weeks, a coup.

Incidentally, the first two victories of SAD (B) were made possible by Manjit Singh GK, son of Jathedar Santokh Singh only, before he was upstaged by Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a few months into SAD’s brace (second win) in 2017. Sirsa took over as President of DSGMC from ‘GK’ forcing his ouster from the party leveling serious charges of misappropriation.

Third straight win of SAD (B) in Aug 2021 was emphatic with the party winning 27 of the 46 seats at stake. Though Sirsa lost his Punjabi Bagh seat to Havinder Singh Sarna, he was reinstalled as president as nominee of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC). We are told the committee did it reluctantly.

Result was once closest ‘buddy’ of SAD) president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Sirsa deserted his party and chief in December last and joined BJP. Without wasting time he started working on wresting the control of DSGMC. And he and the BJP are almost there. Many contend his ‘defecting’ to BJP was to avoid pursuance of several cases against him pertaining to ED and other Central Agencies.

Within weeks of SAD-B’s near wipe out at Punjab Assembly polls, Manjinder Singh Sirsa in a typical Bhajan Lal style of politics has managed to put the entire DSGMC in the lap of BJP with his trustworthy understudy Harmeet Singh Kalka, as the President. The party under him (read BJP) has been re-named as Akali Dal (Delhi State) boasting about close to 30 members (as supporters claim) with additional floor crossings from Akali Dal (Delhi) of Sarnas besides SAD.

Handful of SAD (B) members, with SGPC backing, may have ‘regained’ control of party office at Gurdwara Rakabganj sahib temporarily, when Sirsa-Kalka team was busy hosting the Mega Lal Qila show, by ‘breaking open the locks and starting an Akhand Paath in the building, knowledgeable insist that police action is imminent DSGMC and party offices to hand over the reigns of what Kalka’s men term as ‘legitimate’ charge of the place. While all this is happening, Sarna brothers and Jago party chief Manjit Singh GK are lying low.

The move of ascendancy in DSGMC is part of a crucial plan, much larger in perspective and magnitude with far reaching consequences, aimed at creating hegemony of Sikh Wing of BJP in the panthic institutions and Gurdwara Pratinidhi Boards of other States too besides Delhi.

Three stages of the process are:

a) Having DMs and Police chiefs in more active in ex-officio roles – this is already in vogue in most States;

b) Presence among the elected members;

c) Eyeing a definite say by wrestling Delhi-type control.

The beginning was made long back. In the initial years of SAD-BJP tie-up in Punjab, there was ‘friendly infiltration’ in many bodies. It has been intensified in the last few years after Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, the Sikh of BJP came into existence. Since the parting of ways with Badals, BJP has jumped the no holds barred play. May Bathinda incident involving the PM, deliberately blown out of proportions and debacle in Punjab polls has something to do.

Commemoration of 4th Centenary celebrations of Prakash Purab of Guru Teg Bahadur sahib with all the pomp and show by Ministry of Culture, GOI, at the lawns of Red Fort (Lal Qila) on April 20 and 21 in league with DSGMC with Manjinder Sirsa at the helms of affairs was a definite pointer in this direction. In attendance at the venue of the two-day event were the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, a host of Central Ministers, head priests of various historic gurdwaras of Delhi and the Jathedar of Takht Patna sahib, Ranjit Singh ‘Gauhar-e-Maskeen’. Little wonder that Badals and other Akali leaders from Punjab were not part of the event. Lone AAP representative was Anandpur Sahib MLA Harjot Singh Bains.

Similar functions were organised in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh – Panipat and Lucknow – last week with respective CMs being present. Senior Government representatives/Ministers were present at Gurdwara Dhubri Sahib earlier in Assam where stakes are high due to a fairly good number of Sikh pockets. Assam too has a sizable number of cash-comfortable Sikh institutions. Historic places and Sikh social organisations in these States already have government representations on their boards.

For information sake, once cash-rich DSGMC apart from controlling historic gurdwaras of Delhi, takes care of many schools, colleges and institutions of professional learning, hospitals, old age homes and other charitable organisations. Their coming under the indirect thumb of BJP is part of much bigger design of the current dispensation to manage historic gurdwaras of the country and winning the hearts of the minority community – read Sikhs – as part of the Hindutva agenda. In their scheme of things Sikhs are part of the Hindu way of life. Uttrakhand is another focus State of the Centre as part of the ruling party’s three-point plan.

Not for nothing PM in recent months have taken keen interest in virtual opening of the refurbished wing of Guru Nanak darbar at Kot Lakhpat in Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and suo-moto announcement of ropeway at Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand.

There are no two ways about Delhi being the National capital, DSGMC always required Centre’s cooperation to run its affairs. Even when Manjit Singh GK was at the helm of affairs Congress Govt before 2014 had a soft corner for him for his being the son of Jathedar Santokh Singh. The Centre under Narendra Modi was a friendly Govt for SAD being part of NDA Government.

An old hat at Congress claims that annual Congress spent on Akali Dal (Delhi) for keeping the flock together under Jathedar Santokh Singh was to the tune of Rs 6 crore in pre-1981 period. “But we can give him the credit for establishing a chain of Guru Harkrishan Public Schools and other institutions which have a name in the society,” he adds. He always had the backing of powers that be.

Then came the tenures of Sarna brothers. The affairs of DSGMC were handled with aplomb, albeit some issues which kept cropping up. Major projects taken up by Manjit Singh GK like Medical College at Gurdwara Bala Sahib ran into rough weather but he had a good first four-year run. His men give him all the credit for the second consecutive victory of SAD. But for being stabbed in the back by Manjinder Singh Sirsa, he was an able administrator, they say. According to them the wily former Rajouri Garden MLA, Sirsa as President was busy getting publicity for he was a good orator and was Media savvy.

Common refrain is: He was busy making audio visual presentations and modernisation of some services like langar (community kitchen), but completely ignored the chain of schools under GHPS and many other important institutions.

So much so that salaries of some such outfits were delayed for months. They tag him as a selfish man who was responsible for deserting his two bosses – GK and Sukhbir. They believe he has now ‘sold’ DSGMC to BJP for his own good. Gur Maryada, they claim, hit an all time low in all Gurdwaras during his time. Sirsa lobby, however, termed him as a ‘leader with a vision.’

(To be concluded)

IN EK BHARAT SHRESHHTHA BHARAT PROGRAMME,  ALL 36 STATES & UTS ARE PARTNERED WITH OTHER STATES 

Maaye Ni Meriye…Shimle Di Raahe
Chamba Kitni Ku Door…

When 14 year old Devika S S, from Kerala sung this Himachali folk song and sent it to her school teacher in October 2020, she didn’t know that it would become viral on social media. It came to the notice of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the then Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur. Prime Minister Modi commented on Twitter “‘Proud of Devika. Her beautiful rendition strengthens the essence of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur wrote on Twitter “Kerala’s daughter, Devika, in her melodious voice, has enhanced the glory of Himachal by singing the famous Himachali song ‘Chamba kitni ki door”.

Devika sang the Himachali song as part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat activities in her school. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme was announced by the Prime Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It aims to promote mutual understanding and interaction through the concept of pairing of States/Union Territories.

In Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme,  all 36 States and Union Territories are partnered with another State/Union Territory. It is envisaged that the  mutual engagements with their paired states will invigorate the cultural, academic, and economic ties between the states. Through this exchange, the unity and integrity of the nation will be enhanced by the knowledge of the language, culture, cuisines, traditions, and best practices of the people of different states with diverse cultures. This will further create avenues for cooperation and new possibilities. 

For instance, under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Himachal Pradesh is paired with Kerala, so Himachali  cuisines, literature, music, art will be promoted in Kerala and vice versa. Similarly Punjab is paired with Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh is paired with Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Jammu and Kashmir is paired with Tamil Nadu. Each month is allotted to different paired states to conduct their programmes. This April is allotted to the paired states Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.

The folk song sung by Devika is just one example how Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat can create bonding between the people of different states that are separated by geography but united by India.

Folk songs have the unique ability of expressing the most basic human emotions of common people. Whether it is Himachal Pradesh or Kerala, folk songs sing about love, praise of God, the beauty of nature, praise of heroes and social recreation. A typical aspect of the folk song is that the lyrics are written by common people across many generations. It is akin to the past generations speaking to the present generations of how they lived their life, what they did and what their worldview was.

Folk music in Kerala is known as ‘nadanpattu’. It has a rich tradition in Kerala. For instance, ‘Vanchipattu’ or ‘ the boat song’ has a rhythm similar to the rowing of a boat. The increase in rhythm makes the oarsmen to row faster and vice versa. It is still popular in the snake boat races of Kerala

‘Mappilapattu’ are folksongs the depict the Muslim community in Northern Kerala. They are a blend of Kerala’s folk music tradition and Arabic music tradition.

‘Vadakkan Pattukal ‘(the songs of the north) are a collection of Malayalam ballads from the medieval period that sings about stories of heroes. These songs have also shown the impact of Kerala’s own martial arts called ‘Kalari Payattu’ on the lives of people.

‘Onapattukal’ refers to the folk songs related to the festival of Onam. It sings about the annual visit of Lord Mahabali, agriculture, prosperity and hope for better times.

Folk music across India teaches the universal values of love and brotherhood and documents the lives of our previous generations. Hence, it is all the more important to conserve the folk music and support for folk musicians. The Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) under the Union Ministry of Culture to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture . ZCCs are conducting programmes based on folk songs and folk dances at national level. They have headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.

In the February episode of Mann ki Baat, Prime Minister Shri Narendra modi asked the people of India to promote the different types of songs in India’ to create such an environment in which we will be able to experience ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’. He urged the youth to make videos of popular songs of Indian languages to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in a novel way. If the people of Himachal Pradesh promotes the folk songs of Kerala and vice versa in this Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat paired month, it will create more mutual understanding and cultural interaction between the two states in their folk music tradition.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat month is a great opportunity for the people of Kerala and Himachal Pradesh to know more about each other and promote each other’s culture, language, traditions.

HONEST CONSUMER SUFFERS; IN PUNJAB POWER PLAY CAN BE DEFINED AS BIJLI CHORI, SINAZORI AND MUFT KHORI

When Greek philosopher Socrates tried to define justice, he asked the question in a gathering of Sophists. Justice is the interest of the stronger, said Thrasymachus.

Yes, it is. If we look at the justification behind free power to farmers, Thrasymachus logic is perfect. Big farmers represent the interests of the stronger in the state. No party can form a government without their support. They are the brokers of power at the most grass root level.

Very large majority of sarpanches are either big farmers or their puppets. Rural folk vote according to their dictate. Punjab politics is basically a village politics accidently played at planned city Chandigarh. Agriculture acts as the mental horizon of policy makers in Punjab. It should be remembered that a big farmer in Punjab is not something like a Zamindar or feudal lord. He is defined by heavily mechanized capital intensive farming.    

Contradicting Thrasymacus, Glaucon says that justice is the interest of the weaker. Since weaker do not have enough strength, they have created the idea of something like justice.

In the case of small farmers, this argument is also true. All free farm power is sustained in the name of small farmers. Small farmers shall be driven into further indebtedness and poverty if free power is withdrawn. Justice is making a perfect balance in Punjab where the interests of both stronger and weaker (farmer) is served with free power. Now who is at loss? When a ship sinks, all poor and rich passengers sink together. Rich farmer’s children are leaving Punjab. Poor farmer’s children are also leaving Punjab.

Current number of Punjab households can fulfill their water needs for 27 years with the same amount of water which is used for producing paddy in one season. And nothing can stop paddy in Punjab if free farm power continues.

We have seen that free power, like justice, serves the interest of both stronger and weaker (farmers in this case). At the same time costly power purchasing agreements are bleeding the Punjab treasury. And Power theft is a big menace. According to The Tribune report by Aman Sood (April 7, 2021), in Tarn Taran, Bhikhiwind and Patti, PSPCL had faced losses (primarily due to power theft) of 79.14, 67.36 and 45.64 per cent respectively.

Honest consumer suffers; In Punjab, power play can be defined as bijli chori, sinazori and muft-khori. Power theft is rampant practice and PSPCL has adopted many childish practices to curb it, like putting meters in public places. Majority of Punjabi households seem to be living examples of inventor Tesla’s dream who did not want power supply to be metered.

Most dangerous thing about free power for farmers is that it is like an attempt to fill a bottomless pit. Three factors make it worrisome:

When free farm power was introduced, a very large majority of tubewells were powered by centrifugal motors, which consumed less power and pumped out less water. These were normal beasts. Then came, the big shift: Submersible motors, popularly known as Macchi replaced these. These motors consume double power and pump enormous volumes of water. Power was free when motors were downsized, power was free when motors were oversize. If Punjab govt cannot stop free power, it should at least put a cap on horsepower of the motor.

But how will it have any idea on horsepower of 1.4 million motors, when it has no updated KYC of such tubewell connections. It has a database about connections issued to original consumers. But are they dead or alive? Are they citizens of India or migrated to some other country? Land may have been sold or transferred or divided. PSPCL cannot produce the names of current consumers of free farm power who are farmers in the real sense. It is double whammy for Punjab tax payers. It is like robbing Pal to pay a fictitious Peter. In some cases, Punjab taxpayers are paying for power bills of those big farmers who are living abroad.

Since farm power is free and uninterrupted, farmers are not much interested in canal water.  Some water channels are found in land records, but now they are part of private lands. One may call it encroachment.

Due to free farm power, 97% of annual net extracted ground water in Punjab is used for irrigation. According to Anju Agnihotri Chaba’s report in Indian Express published on July 13, 2019, Mansa district uses 99.9% of ground water irrigation. Crops have it all. If a family has to survive on one hundred glasses of water per day, see how it is using this water? It uses 97 glasses for watering its plants, one glass of water for drinking purposes, one glass for cooking, washing, building, cleaning and the last one glass for running its machines. Please don’t laugh if you find this family’s water habits strange. You are part of this family, if you live in Punjab.

TRADE TIE-UP TO PROPEL BILATERAL TRADE FROM EXISTING $27.5 BILLION TO $45-50 BILLION IN FIVE YEARS

The India Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA) heralds another new chapter in India’s exciting rise in the global trading arena.

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the country is regularly scaling new heights in the fiercely competitive global market. Just last month, India achieved and exceeded the ambitious export target of $400 billion for 2021-22, as Indian exporters, including small enterprises, amplified their existing operations, penetrated new markets and shipped out new products, accelerating economic growth and creating jobs at a time the global economy was rattled by the pandemic. A month before that, India signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, creating new avenues for wealth and jobs for its people.

The IndAus ECTA, which symbolises ekta, or unity, between India and Australia, is a major milestone. It will propel bilateral trade from the existing $27.5 billion to $45-50 billion in five years, bringing huge benefits to both countries. This is the first trade agreement with a developed economy after more than a decade, and has been achieved after widespread consultations with exporters, traders, small enterprises and professionals.

The trade deals and the laudable performance of Indian exporters is a testimony to New India’s new energy, dedication, determination and the hunger to succeed as the country observes the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the inspiring 75-week countdown to the 75^th anniversary of Indian independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly said that the world is very rapidly moving towards a new world order after the Corona period. “This is such a turning point that we as India should not miss this opportunity. India’s voice should also remain vociferous on the main table. India should not underestimate itself for a leadership role,” he said.

It is in this context that the entire spectrum of India’s export machinery, from the humble weavers and workers, to world-beating entrepreneurs, engineers and software professionals are hoisting India to a prominent position in the global market, and the world is recognizing India as an emerging superpower.

India and Australia have a complementary economic relationship. India exports mainly finished products to Australia and imports primarily minerals, raw material and intermediate goods. India will have duty-free access in Australia for all its products, removing the disadvantage India faced against major rivals who already have trade deals with Australia. India will also enjoy greater market access for its products, while the easing of regulatory processes for pharmaceutical products will open up the attractive $12 billion Australian market in the sector.

Similarly, textiles exports are expected to triple $1.1 billion in three years, creating 40,000 new jobs every year with new units likely to come up in small towns and rural areas. Exports of engineering products are likely to jump from $1.2 billion in 2020-21 to $2.7 billion in five years.

Trade agreements with Australia and UAE are estimated to generate 1 million jobs each in the next five to seven years. They will also increase investor interest and boost India’s position in global supply chains, adding a strategic dimension to the pact. India has already entered into the trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) arrangement with Australia and Japan.

The agreement reduces the cost of raw material, minerals and intermediate goods for Indian companies, which will help consumers and increase exports. The government has taken care of its farmers and kept many sectors out of the agreement. These include dairy products, chickpeas, walnuts, pistachio nuts, wheat, rice, bajra, apples, sunflower seed oil, sugar, oil cake, gold, silver, platinum, jewellery, iron ore and most medical devices.

Students are major beneficiaries. They will be able to get a post-study visa for up to four years, which will give them vital international job exposure and give Australia the benefit of the talented, hardworking pool of young professionals who have made their mark globally and risen to the top of major Western companies.

Further, Indians will get a liberal visa regime, which will allow temporary stay up to four years for intra-corporate transferees, executives and contractual service providers. There are also commitments for entry, stay and work rights for family members.

Indian chefs and yoga teachers will also be able to make their mark in Australia with concessions in the visa regime that will allow them to stay for up to four years if they meet eligibility criteria. This will enhance India’s cultural influence and help Australians get the benefits of yoga.

The two countries are also united by their love for cricket, and Indians have admired Australian cricket legends like Don Bradman, Steve Waugh, Brett Lee, and Shane Warne. While each team strives hard to beat the other in intense cricket contests, in the trade arena there is no loser — it’s a win-win situation for both countries.

And there is more excitement on the horizon. India is negotiating trade deals with major Western trading partners such as the European Union, Canada and UK. The agreements with UAE and Australia have demonstrated India’s earnest desire, and industry’s confidence, to enter into trade deals where both countries gain, and given a solid basis for more trade pacts.

POLICE STATIONS ALSO BE SET UP TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENT LAWS

An announcement to have a Anti Gangster Task Force to control and eradicate the gangsters by AAP government is a welcome move to get rid of this scourge from the society suffering from kidnappings, murders and ransom. Now another task force which is required is ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION TASK FORCE to get rid of environment polluters which is required in order to ensure SUSTAINED DEVELOPMENT which should be the focus of the new government. It becomes   pertinent to have dedicated police units which take care of environment /pollution law violators. These will be very important for making   the already grown industrial cities like Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mandi Gobindgarh, Jalandar and upcoming industrial hubs free from all kinds of pollution.

WHY THEY TASK FORCE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE DEDICATED ENVIRONMENT POLICE STATIONS?

We need dedicated units under the task force to see quick results because otherwise violators do not get charged for their crimes at all or they wriggle out due to corrupt and callous pollution control system under friendly political mafia.

These are required to police the environment so as  to ensure that the air, land , water and sub soil  are not polluted further by unscrupulous elements. For eg. the police is very alert in nabbing a person who commits a murder but who will take arrest  a person who does slow murder of many  persons via cancer and deatha which are  outcome of  other diseases induced by consuming water and food pollutted by owners who have continuously been dumping dyeing industry residues, electroplating metals and chemicals in surface drains like Buddha Dariya and in sub soil water to pollute aquifers in whole of Punjab . Hence the requirement to act now is to stop polluters now .The  responsible municipal authorities need to be held accountable for leeching of chemicals from solid waste dumps into surface and subsurface water because of non segregation and dumping of all types of waste in garbage even including bio medical waste. Any common citizen also needs to be held responsible for violating pollution rules. A strict and focussed vigil is necessary to stop and tackle the rampant release of untreated cancer causing and other killer chemicals in the sewerage water/ storm water system which goes to pollute the rivers and downstream waters because these polluted waters are further causing genetically induced mutations in unborn children as they become part of drinking water and food chain. These can actually be termed as SLOW MURDERS/POLLUTION CRIMES because these cancer induced deaths or other fatalities take place years to happen after the commitment of crime of polluting the environment by a person or group of persons. So as to stop these slow crimes altogether time to act is now.

WHY SUCH A DRASTIC STEP IS REQUIRED?

We have seen nothing happening from decades while  all this has been happening  under the very nose of pollution control authorities from decades due to lack of people voices, very little government and bureaucratic focus, political support to violators and corrupted pollution control system.

Now why we need this ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION TASK FORCE? Because is to put the fear of God and fear of rule of law by designating these environment police stations  because some naysayers will say that another link to corruption chain of police will be added. But answer is if we do not act now with a focussed no nonsense approach and have faith in honest functioning of these stations because remember all these years we have had normal police stations controlling laws and order so let’s hope that  environment police too works honestly is accountable to government and civil society. Another reasons these require focus is that the laws are being violated with impunity by all violators but they do not get charged because we consider these as not very serious offences and thus no rigorous follow up of the cases takes place to nail the culprits and send them to jails because most are closed in initial stages or are not registered due to corruption and political interference.

WHY TIME TO REFOCUS ON POLLUTION FREE ENVIRONMENT?

The need is to refocus on environment issues and thus stopping and eradicating the soil, air and water pollutions now. Actually these should have been the focus of SWACH BHARAT MISSION campaign. Crimes ranging from littering to sub soil chemical dumping are all part of environmental violations because anything which is not disposed properly becomes an environment violation. The air violations which cause pollution for breathable air are given a goby despite they cause severe problems like allergies, respiratory diseases and even environment degradation of infrastructure. All dumping ground of garbage are pollution centres as the method of storing and managing the garbage including transportation is not environmentally safe and causes air , water and soil pollution. All this needs to change and needs government focus.

WHY TECHNICAL MANPOWER TO STUDY AND POLICE ENVIRONMENT VIOLATIONS?

Punjab will become the first state in the country to pay attention to sustainable development by establishing and giving focus on the main issue of environment protection.

These police stations under Anti Pollution Task Force will be manned by technical qualified work force recruited by police and not borrowing staff from pollution control board  because the staff of the pollution control board are corrupted and are the ones who have overlooked such violations and have been thoroughly callous in the implementation of environment protection laws, rules and regulations leading to this present environmental disaster we are all facing and the hope to have a pollution free Punjab in future looks very bleak unless we take the environment protection road map seriously.

IS IT A MOVE TO ATTRACT VOTE BANK

Some unqualified persons have recently been given command of plum managerial posts in schools run by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The handing over of responsibility of Chairmans and Managers in 12 main branches of Guru Harkrishan Public Schools as well as in their government-aided schools to such persons who have no experience in the educational field, whereas it is mandatory under the Delhi School Education Act & rules 1973 that a person appointed to the post of Manager in these schools must be atleast a graduate and have 10 years experience in teaching and educational administration.

There are apprehensions that the act of handing over command of these schools to unqualified members & non-members is nothing but only to increase vote-bank of these office-bearers. He said that due to sheer violation of rules, the standard of education in these schools will further go downward and these already financial crunch facing schools are likely to be closed very soon.

Whereas the need of the hour warrants to seek services of the educationalists to improve reputation and financial position of these institutions, till that time the Principals/Head of schools can be given the additional responsibility of Managers as prescribed in Delhi Schools Education Act. The DSGMC management are inclined to appoint unqualified Manager in these Schools when well qualified experienced Principals are available in all schools who are fully competent to handle the additional charge as Managers as per Delhi School Education Act.

In the matters of non-payment of salary and dues to the serving and retiree staff of these schools, the office-bearers are filing Affidavits in the Courts saying that the DSGMC has no concern with these schools, but on the other hand under what provision of law the same office-bearers are continuously appointing Chairmans and Managers in these schools?