Friday, 31 January 2025 | Gajendra Singh Negi
Dhami’s Code
The smooth implementation of the uniform civil code in the Himalayan State has etched the name of Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami firmly in the annals of social, political and cultural history of the country. The CM took the onus of onerous task of creating and implementing the code – on which the constitution framers had held intense discussions and which has remained an issue of the political and social discourse in the post-independence era of the country- on himself and in a planned and diligent manner the code was crafted meticulously and its regulations were designed and amalgamated with the existing laws. It is apparent that after fulfilling the promises it made to the electorate on abrogation of article 370, abolition of triple talaq and construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the ruling BJP intends to move ahead on its plans on UCC and for this, Uttarakhand was selected as a test case. The appreciation heaped by Prime Minister Modi on Dhami during the inaugural ceremony of 38th National Games shows that the young CM has succeeded in the task and his stature and stake has risen considerably in Delhi darbar.
VIP Culture
Blatant display of VIP culture on the opening day of the 38th National Games created problems for the sports enthusiasts, locals and sportspersons and put up a blot on the image of the Himalayan State endeavouring to host the mega sports event for the first time in its 25 year long history. Engrossed in the ULB polls just ahead of the inaugural event of the NG 2025, the administration and Police probably ignored the situation a huge crowd will create in a stadium with seating capacity of only 25,000. The security protocols associated with the Prime Minister and other restrictions coupled with confused policemen who allowed the movement of hooter mounted VIP vehicles on the wrong side of the road connecting Dehradun to Rajiv Gandhi sports stadium created a mega chaos on the roads and outside the venue. The arrangements inside the stadium during the cultural programme also proved to be ineffective to deal with surging crowds. The State government should take a lesson from the chaotic event and try to curb VIP culture in the programmes involving public participation.
Khanpur show
Though the spicy yet filthy showdown involving Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar and former MLA Pranav Singh Champion in Roorkee falling under the Haridwar district captured media headlines and public attention, it presented a wrong image of Uttarakhand, the State of peace loving, god fearing people. The videos of gun-toting and foul-mouthed law makers have not only created panic in the area but have also divided the local society sharply on the caste lines. Questions are being asked on the slackness of the administration in dealing with the two political rivals when they were targeting and threatening one another on social media platforms. The delay in taking a disciplinary action against Pranav Singh, who has a history of creating trouble by the ruling BJP is also raising doubts over the intention of the saffron party. Concerned citizens are of the view that the Vidha Sabha Speaker should take cognisance of the matter and pass strictures against Khanpur MLA against whom a disqualification petition is already pending.
