Gajendra Singh Negi/Dehradun
Reservation rancour
The belligerent attitude adopted by ruling BJP after the constitution amendment bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 was defeated in Lok Sabha has heated up the political atmosphere in Uttarakhand also. An acrid game of allegations and counter allegations has started between the BJP and Congress with leaders of both parties accusing one another for putting roadblocks in the way of providing reservation to women. While the BJP has hit the streets with Akrosh rallies in different parts of the State, the Congress has retaliated by holding a Dharna outside Vidhan Sabha. The war of words is expected to escalate further in the coming week with the government concerning a special session of Vidhan Sabha on the issue. Interestingly, while both parties vouch to support 33 per cent reservation to women in the legislature, none of them give women a respectable representation while distributing tickets. In the last Vidhan Sabha elections, the BJP gave eight while Congress gave seven tickets to women. As a consequence, the 70 member strong assembly has only eight women members. Which is less than 12 per cent of the total strength of the house.
Digital detox
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advice to the pilgrims to observe ‘digital fasting’ while in Uttarakhand for the famed Char Dham Yatra is appreciable and recommended for the devotees for enjoying the natural beauty of Devbhoomi and get a feel of its deep rooted spiritually. Digital fasting involves maintaining a distance from the digital world and the gadgets. PM has also called upon the pilgrims to show sensitivity towards nature, maintain cleanliness, promote local products, follow rules, travel without single use plastics and maintain sanctity of the sacred shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri nestled in the Himalaya. He has also requested the pilgrims to cooperate with those involved in organising and managing the pilgrimage. This mantra of self-discipline given by the PM to the pilgrims when coupled with the proper arrangements, prompt management and strict implementation of traffic rules by the Uttarakhand administration is a recipe for a safe, convenient and hassle free Yatra in which more than 55 lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the State this year.
Hassled Harish
Former chief minister Harish Rawat ended his month-long break from politics by attending a Dharna organised by the State Congress outside Vidhan Sabha on the issue of women reservation. It is an open secret that in recent times when the Congress high command had handed over the responsibility of running the show in Uttarakhand to the quartet of Ganesh Godiyal, Pritam Singh, Yashpal Arya and Harak Singh Rawat, the former CM Rawat was increasing feeling getting alienated in the party. Annoyed by his consistent neglect, Rawat took a break from the politics which created a furore within the party. However during this break, Rawat continued to meet his supporters, attend social gatherings and write long posts on social media platforms answering his critics within the party in his unique style. It is learnt that during his recent meeting with the state in -charge of the party, Kumari Selja, Rawat expressed his pain at the utterances of some of the leaders who are minnows when compared with his stature. The central leadership of the Congress should understand that it will be suicidal for it to make its electoral plan sans Harish Rawat in Uttarakhand. He is still the tallest leader of the party with supporters in every part of the State.
