By L S Herdenia
BHOPAL: Covid-19 has caused strange, sometime contradictory developments. One of the major development is the total erosion of democratic practices and near collapse of institutions. It is for the first time that nearly half of cabinet consists of such persons who are not members of legislature. It is for the first time that Madhya Pradesh is being ruled by non-people’s representatives. Two of them will have to quit the ministry if they are not elected by October 22 because six month period will expire on that date.
Because of Corona the state Vidhan Sabha session could not be held in proper way. On September 21 the Vidhan Sabha met only for one and half hour. During this short period it enacted several bills and approved budget. The most strange thing is that Vidhan Sabha is without the speaker. The proceedings were conducted by a pro-tem speaker. This is totally in violation of the Constitution. The pro-tem speaker’s task is limited to administer oath to newly elected members and to facilitate election of new speaker. According to the Constitution, legislature can’t be without speaker even for a minute.
On one hand the Vidhan Sabha could not hold regular sittings because of Corona pandemic but at the same time the BJP government bowing to the pressure mounted by people has given consent to celebrate Durga mahatosav publicly. People have been allowed to install Durga idols for nine days. Durga idols will be installed at hundreds of places not only in Bhopal but also in various other towns of the state. This is being done despite repeated appeals by the Government of India to strictly observe protocol of wearing masks, maintain distances etc. Who will ensure that these norms will be observed by the crowd which will visit the Durga puja pandals. While Vidhan Sabha could not meet but government has decided to open Schools. These all decisions may boost the spread of Corona pandemic. Already hospitals are working to their full capacity. If Corona spreads at a greater rate it may be very difficult to take care of fast increasing number of patients.
On the top of it will be the activities connected with the by-election which will also pose serious threat of further spread of Covid-19. Meetings are being held, road shows are being organised both by the BJP and the Congress. The other day former Congress Chief Minister and PCC chief Kamal Nath visited Gwalior which is Scindia’s bastion. Kamal Nath got massive response. He took about three hours to cover 11 Kms because of the huge crowd which lined up the road.
Prior to Kamal Nath’s visit, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia jointly toured the Gwalior region.
These by-elections are a matter of prestige for Scindia. Most of the by-elections have been caused because of mass resignation of Scindia followers. Therefore he must ensure their victory as all of them are contesting on BJP symbol.
During their hectic tours both Kamal Nath and Chouhan-Scindia duo are launching fierce attacks on each other. Sometime they use language which by no means is parliamentary. The war of words ensued after Nath allegedly called Chouhan ‘nalayak’ (unworthy) at a press conference in Gwalior. The senior Congress leader was speaking on the farm loan waiver scheme of the erstwhile Congress government.
At the press conference, Nath was explaining the eligibility of those farmers whose loans were waived. He then said, “Shivraj ji said the loans were not waived in ten days. Shivraj ji are you so unworthy that you do not know how loans are waived’.
By evening, chief minister Chouhan replied to Nath’s ‘unworthy’ remark. He said “Yadi Kamal nath ko aarpon ka kichad bee acchha lag raha hai, to mujhe koi apatti nahi. Kaun layak hai aur kaun nalayak hai, yeh to janta tai karti hai (if Kamal Nath likes the dirt of accusations, then I have no objections. People decide who is worthy and who unworthy).” He said.
“Nath should consider who is worthy and who is unworthy,” Chouhan said. “A person who sees everyone equally, respects the poor, makes policies for the welfare of farmers whether he is worth or unworthy will be decided by the people”. He added.
On Sunday Nath retorted by saying, “Shivraj ji you have rightly said that people will decide who is worthy and who is unworthy. This is of course, the right of the people. Today, you are speaking up but why do you remain silent when persons from your party make humiliating comments against me? You have called me a person with a black heart, sometimes called me “Yeh Kamal Nath’. Your respected ministers also continuously make insulting comments against me and other Congress leaders. Where do you go then? At those times, you like the dirt of accusations.”
Nath said that people have seen Chouhan’s 15 years of government and are also watching his present tenure.
Some newspapers reported that RSS has carried out internal survey. The findings of the survey are not very happy. On receiving such reports RSS chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat rushed to Bhopal. During his stay he evaluated BJP’s position in every constituency and gave detailed instructions to the state leaders both of the RSS and BJP and formulated strategy to ensure victory. (IPA Service)