Proceedings of the much awaited meeting of the chief ministers chaired by the Prime Minister on the question of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) went on as was generally apprehended. About a dozen of non-Congress led States put up tooth and nail opposition to the proposal of the Home Minister. Incidentally some of the allies of the UPA Government like Mamta Banerjee of West Bengal and Omar Abdullah of J&K also opposed the proposal on various counts. Some of the opposing chief ministers were bitter and harsh in calling the centre as having autocratic and dictatorial tendencies as was explicit from the manner in which the proposal was drawn. The main objection to NCTC, as was expected, was that the dissenting participants thought it was erosion of the philosophy of federalism and encroachment on the powers and position of the States. They pointedly referred to the powers of centre or central agency in conducting searches or arresting suspected persons without the consent or even the information of the State Government. They also questioned the constitutional specification of the States when the centre interfered in such matters as fall under the state list. Mamta Banerjee went to the length of saying that there existed rules in the states or at least in her state, and there was no need for new enactments like NCTC. Each dissenting chief minister tried to make his or her position clear that they had not the mandate of the people to accept erosion of state authority.
The opening address by the Prime Minister followed by that of the Home Minister was a big effort to convince the chief ministers that there was absolutely no intention on the part of the Central Government either to snatch away or to subvert constitutional powers of the states. There were some cogent and strongly put arguments by both, the PM and the HM, about the tactics, objectives and mechanisms of terrorism and the need to meet this challenge on national level. They argued that terrorists had a wide network that transcended state boundaries and even national boundaries. The type of motivation, training, equipment and arms they have acquired and above all the enormous funding which their sympathizers and promoters provide them, all indicate that the states may not be able to meet the challenge on their own and a centralized institution was unavoidable to provide security to the people of India. Home Minister Chidambaram emphasized that cooperation at all levels was the basic character of NCTC and that there was no question of centre asserting its authority or thrusting its views and decisions on the states.
From the debate on this sensitive issue of national importance, one could glean that chief ministers who opposed the proposal had some lurking doubts that the Union Government led by UPA had its eye on the parliamentary elections 2014. Keeping in mind that it had to face debacle in recent assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and also in the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections, the Congress was not feeling secure on the results of next parliamentary elections. Hence it wants to undertake some measures that would win it the favour of the masses of people. Nevertheless some political observers call it a far-fetched idea and think that there is little connection between the two. But the real issue to which Chidambaram has made a short and passing reference though in reality is of fundamental importance, is the fact that terrorists, terrorist organizations and their networks have, in many cases, received, if not direct patronage of the ruling apparatus, at least their benign negligence enabling them to carry on with their nefarious activities. Political mileage is sought to be drawn out of it. Chidambaram asked a pointed question. “What are we going to do when the State Government fails or is unwilling to make certain arrests that are important for ensuring the security of the country?” None of the dissenting chief ministers came out with any reaction to this line of argumentation.
Omar Abdullah, though his party NC is an ally of UPA Government, has his own problems about security, terrorism and related matters. Being the leader of a state that is in turmoil for last two decades, he has deeper and wider experience of the challenge terrorism poses to State. He finds NCTC almost akin to AFSPA for the withdrawal of which he has made a strong bid. If he becomes a supporter and a votary to NCTC, he will not be able to defend his case of withdrawal of AFSPA before the people of his state. Notwithstanding that, Omar Abdullah has made a very considerate and rational approach to the entire issue and made various suggestions about amending the proposal of making some innovations on the basis of experience gained by the country in its fight against terrorism. In final analysis, we feel that both sides have a case and chances of a compromise formula should not be elusive. At least there is full realization on each side of the threat country is facing at the hands of terrorists. The two sides will zero in on a consensus paper at the end of the day.
Mailbag
Falling family edifice
Sir,
Apropos the well orchestrated Arushi murder case now getting more sensational with the remand of Dr Nupur Talwar, the mother of Arushi, to the judicial custody as a sequel to her surrender in the court, few critical queries crop up in the mind of all sensible citizens of the country. A debate is likely to get triggered and the organized civil society of India would clamour for rational answers from the enlightened segments of the society such as the Government, educationists, the NGOs operating in the socio-religious fields, the parents and the teachers with regard to the genesis and the origin of this spine chilling tragedy.
The moot point in the whole episode is that the teenaged Arushi was only child of the materialistically prosperous parents. Both are Dental Practitioners. There is triangular relationship in the formation of parents, teenaged child and the domestic help. There is no veteran in the family. Parents do have sufficient money at their disposal but acute paucity of time to spend with the child to foster her tender emotions and to channelize her energy in the right direction. Schools do provide English medium education which is predominantly information and job centric and has no provision or system of value and moral based education for balanced personality development. Consequently the values of moral courage, tolerance, simplicity, austerity, loyalty and sound moral characters are lacking.
The present day small families are deprived of the subtle affection and care of Chacha-Chachi, Taya-Tayee and story-telling Dada-Dadi etc. This was the elixir of Indian family system which has since suffered a serious breakdown. Resultantly, the crime graph is steeply rising.
All parents, young ones in their teens and the awakened folks have to take a lesson from this gruesome episode. Give time to the children, keep elders in the family. Don’t barter away the fate of your children in the hands of servants and alien attendance. Children are the property of the nation. Save it at all costs for vibrant and blissful future.
Yours etc…
P C Sharma
Trikuta Nagar
Check rural-urban migration
Sir,
The phenomenon of rural-urban migration is witnessed throughout the country.
The pushing forces in rural-urban migration, commonly observed, are diminishing land holdings, dwindling agricultural employment of village youth. The pulling forces include job opportunities available in urban areas and industrial centres, moreover facilities available to city dwellers in respect of education, communication, healthcare etc. The migrants usually settle in pre-urban slums located beyond the reach of municipal services, in areas littered with by garbage dumps in area and threatened by a large population of various types of field rodents. They also settle in areas exposed to industrial pollutants. Settlement of migrant population in such areas further aggravates the insanitation of the environment, besides threatening the health and well-being of the adjacent urban population. Migrants are the worst sufferers from a host of air-borne, water-borne and contact borne diseases. They are also exposed to traffic hazards and social evils of various kinds.
Rural-urban migration occurs on a relatively smaller scale in which the pushing forces are the same as operating in rural-urban migrants. The non-availability of employment in urban area may perhaps be an additional factor that diverts the migrants towards another rural area. The pulling force is the availability of land wherefrom migrants can obtain fuel and fodder to satisfy their needs. Overcutting of trees, erosion of forests and agricultural land associated with settlement of migrants in these areas result, in environmental degradation and disturbance of ecological balance.
In addition to this, the population is exposed more or less to snake and scorpion bites and various types of accidents. The migrants may also fell victim to malaria as quickly as anything.
It should be the endeavour of the Govt to provide employment opportunities both in rural and urban areas so that migration is minimum to the extent that cannot harm our environment and save life from destruction.
Yours etc…
S N Raina
Jammu
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