Candid Notes

Friday, 09 August 2024 | Gajendra Singh Negi

Picture politics 

The politics of the saffron party in the Himalayan State has taken a queer turn in the last couple of weeks with a plethora of pictures of the political personalities with top leadership in New Delhi keeping the political cauldron of the Himalayan State simmering. All the prominent players of the ruling party in the State including former CMs, Member of Parliaments and cabinet ministers are continuing to make rounds of Delhi and their social media handlers are promptly circulating their pictures which soars the political temperature amid the monsoon showers in Doon valley. Perturbed by the inputs that some of the leaders making rounds of Delhi Darbar are conveying message that the CM Pushkar Singh Dhami is not taking everyone in the party along in the State, his camp decided to retaliate by releasing the pictures of the leaders paying a visit to the CM residence on the social media. This counter offensive has somewhat succeeded in taking the air out of the propaganda of Dhami detractors but has further accentuated the practice and politics of meetings, deciphering their hidden messages and circulation of pictures. The resultant mess however has given enough ammunition to the rumour mongers in the State.

Harak’s plan

The upcoming Kedarnath Assembly bypoll has given an opportunity to Harak Singh Rawat to resurrect his political career currently in shambles. Known as the mercurial maverick of the politics of Uttarakhand, Rawat has thrown his hat for the Congress party’s ticket from Kedarnath. The wily leader believes that after the recent wins in Badrinath and Manglaur Assembly bypolls and the fiasco surrounding the foundation stone laying ceremony of a replica of the Kedarnath Dham at Buradi in New Delhi, things are conducive for the Congress party in the bypoll battle of Kedarnath.  Harak’s ambition however can hit a roadblock due to his fickle political nature and the fact that almost all his trusted lieutenants including his daughter-in- law are in BJP’s fold.  Though Harak is banking on the support of PCC president Karan Mahara, the antipathy of Congress strongman Harish Rawat can put a spanner in his plans.

Disaster lessons 

The recent disaster triggered by heavy rains in Kedarnath and incidents of cloud bursts in different parts of Uttarakhand has again underlined the importance of having a robust disaster management and mitigation mechanism in the Himalayan State. Apart from strengthening the State and district disaster management authorities by equipping them with modern technology and machinery and increasing the battalions of a highly efficient force such as State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the government should provide basic training on disaster management to the common people. The modules of disaster mitigation and management should be designed for the students of the schools and Colleges in the State. After getting the basic and advanced training in disaster management the youngsters will not only be able to save their own lives during any natural crisis but will also act as first responders for the affected people during tough times. This approach will help the people and the government to effectively tackle different types of disaster hitting the State with alarming regularity.