NK's Post

Bail for Union Carbide chief challenged

-
Image
NK SINGH Bhopal: A local lawyer has moved the court seeking cancellation of the absolute bail granted to Mr. Warren Ander son, chairman of the Union Carbide Corporation, whose Bhopal pesticide plant killed over 2,000 persons last December. Mr. Anderson, who was arrested here in a dramatic manner on December 7 on several charges including the non-bailable Section 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), was released in an even more dramatic manner and later secretly whisked away to Delhi in a state aircraft. The local lawyer, Mr. Quamerud-din Quamer, has contended in his petition to the district and sessions judge of Bhopal, Mr. V. S. Yadav, that the police had neither authority nor jurisdiction to release an accused involved in a heinous crime of mass slaughter. If Mr. Quamer's petition succeeds, it may lead to several complications, including diplomatic problems. The United States Government had not taken kindly to the arrest of the head of one of its most powerful mul...
Post a Comment

MP'S FEVICOL MINISTER

-
DB Post 14 May 2016


 NK SINGH

Politics is full of paradoxes. BJP can boast of someone like Anil Dave, epitome of integrity and probity in public life. The same party harbours and nurtures someone like Gyan Singh, honourable MP from Shahdol, now known as the Fevicol Minister of Shivraj cabinet.

The curious case of Gyan Singh has no parallel in India’s parliamentary history. He brazenly continues as a minister in Madhya Pradesh Government despite resigning his seat in the State assembly almost six months ago. It is a classic case study of politicians’ unbridled lust for power. It also symbolises BJP’s metamorphosis from a party with a difference to a party that is hardly different.

The bare facts first, for the uninitiated. Gyan Singh, who is Tribal Welfare Minister in Shivraj cabinet, contested and won Lok Sabha by-election from Shahdol last November. The election was necessitated due to death of the then BJP MP Dalpat Singh Paraste. Consequently, Gyan Singh resigned his seat in MP State assembly. Rules prohibit dual membership of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha.

As Gyan Singh ceased to be an MLA, he was expected to quit the State Cabinet too. That is what normally happens in such cases. But the Tribal Welfare Minister is apparently too fond of his own welfare. He refused to resign his office. Six months down the line he continues to enjoy the spoils of office. Never mind that he is just a spare wheel minister, who cannot even enter the state assembly because there is no seat for him there as of now!

A provision to attract outside talent 

The honourable MP from Shahdol is hiding behind a provision under which anyone can be appointed a minister without being a legislator. Such non-members can continue in office up to six months, by which time they must get elected to the House. The Constitution has this provision to attract outside talent. 

 When Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was shifted to New Delhi as Defence Minister in 2014, he was not an MP. He was not an MLA when he was shifted back to Goa earlier this year. Similarly, Adityanath Yogi was not an MLA at the time of his appointment as UP Chief Minister.

The provision of six month grace period is, obviously, not for someone like Gyan Singh, who has quit the assembly, with no prospect of entering its portals too soon. The Government cannot give him a second term of six months, even if it wants to. The Supreme Court has found such practice ultra vires. 

 His clinging to the minister’s post is a case of naked hunger for power. It is pathetic, to say the least, as the 64-year-old veteran politician has been a minister since 1977. He has seen it all, enjoyed it all. He has been a member of the Lok Sabha as well as Vidhan Sabha several times over.

 Gyan Singh was reluctant to contest Lok Sabha by-election last November as it would have translated to giving up his post in the ministry. He knew pretty well that no ministerial berth awaited him in Delhi. Hence he bargained, and bargained hard before entering the electoral arena. 

 One of his conditions was, apparently, that he would not quit the State cabinet in a hurry. Hence he refused to quit the cabinet even after resigning his Vidhan Sabha seat. As part of the bargain, he also got a party ticket for his son to contest the assembly seat vacated by him. Now that his son has become an MLA, he is brazenly demanding that his son replaces him in the ministry!

BJP's seedy underbelly  

The case study should form part curriculum of School of Good Governance that MP Government has promoted. It demonstrates how a chief minister ought not to work. Shivraj Singh Chouhan allowed Gyan Singh to continue in his cabinet even after he ceased to be a member of Vidhan Sabha. He made this compromise just to keep the heavyweight politician in good humour.

Gyan Singh’s case thoroughly exposes BJP and its seedy underbelly, crowded with power hungry and self-seeking politicians. It has become an exact replica of Congress. One can give benefit of doubt when BJP workers are found involved in espionage for ISI. One can also condone the party when its leaders are found involved in sex rackets. After all, it is a mass organisation. 

 It is difficult to keep track of personal lives of multitudes that flock to every ruling party, looking for a share in the spoils of office. But one cannot understand the case of Gyan Singh. BJP simply caved in to moral deprivation in this case. It is time for Deendayal Upadhyay’s party to hang its head ---- in shame.

 Published in DB Post of 14 May 2016

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for your comment. It will be published shortly by the Editor.