People&Voices

PEOPLE & VOICES

BY: SUBHASH AGRAWAL AND MADHU AGRAWAL

Violent Agitation on Reservation

It refers to violent agitation by Gujjar community involving killing of ten persons in Bharatpur (Rajasthan). To avoid further confusion and chaos it would be good to merge all reservation-categories into one single category with an annual review of progress or benefits made by different casts/tribes by virtue of reservation. Communities with maximum postings/admissions may be deleted from reserved categories as being creamy layer leaving opportunities for reservation to the deserving backward categories. Also, instead of the Courts devoting precious time on the issue through regular petitions, the Apex Court should direct for a permanent formula on reservation if it is to be indefinitely continued.

Ban ‘tips’ or Bakhshish

Elite urbanites in India blindly follow status-culture of British legacy by paying ‘tips (Bakhshish)’ everywhere which is nothing but bribery to get treated well. Interestingly, heavy amount of ‘tips’ is received by highly paid employees in five-starred hotels and restaurants. Even credit-card slips have special space to write ‘tip’ amount. Union government should seriously consider retiring-eve advice from former President APJ Abdul Kalam on gifts. Quoting from Hindu code in ‘Manusmriti’, Dr Kalam rightly analyzed that, gifts coming with a purpose cause persons lose their personality greatly. Government should impose a ban on paying or receiving ‘tips’ which many-a-times induce bribes by getting added facilities/services/goods free-of-cost. It is sure that status-conscious people will also gladly accept ban on ‘tips’ if implemented by a government-order.

Equating Afzal with Sarabjit

It would have been better and matured if Union Home Minister keeps quite rather than equating hanging of Afzal Guru in India with that of Sarabjeet Singh in Pakistan. It is a known fact that the two hangings cannot be equated because case of Sarabjeet Singh is of a mistaken identity while that of Afzal Guru is not. It may be that Shivraj Patil has been forced to give such untimely and immature statement because of some compulsion to get Sarabjeet Singh released from Pakistan jails.

Karnataka Poll Results

Karnataka poll-results giving majority seats to two major parties BJP and Congress and shrinking opportunist blackmailers like JD(S) and ‘others’ are positive sign in Indian political system. But role of ‘others’ becomes vital even now when BJP requires some of ‘others’ to form a government. It is unfair that these minority MLAs suddenly become king-makers, and in bargain get lucrative ministerial posts and other gains at cost of loyal party-MLAs of the majority party. Otherwise also, usual groupism within the winning party always threatens stability in case of slim-majority governments.

Best is to elect Chief Minister by secret and compulsory vote of all MLAs through EVMs on nominations signed by at least one-third members. Such an elected CM may only be removed by same process but with compulsion to name alternate incumbent in the same motion. It would be worthwhile to have only non-members having contested no elections in last one year of general elections as ministers to prevent blackmailing to become ministers. Rather same system should be adopted to elect Speakers and Deputy Speakers simultaneously with Chief Minister.