By L S Herdenia
BHOPAL:
The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has averted a political crisis by
agreeing to withdraw all “politically motivated” cases filed by the
previous BJP government as demanded by BSP leader Mayawati.
The decision comes within a day of
Mayawati threatening to reconsider her party’s support to the Congress in the
state and neighbouring Rajasthan if cases in connection with Bharat bandh on
April 2 last year were not withdrawn. The April 2 shutdown was called by Dalit
organisations against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act due to a Supreme
Court order. The BSP is supporting the Congress in both MP and Rajasthan, where
the latter had fallen short of the majority mark.
The Congress won 114 seats in MP,
short of the 116-majority mark in the 230-member House. In MP, two MLAs from
the BSP, one from the SP and four Independents are supporting the Congress.
Asked whether Mayawati’s threat had
prompted the MP government to initiate withdrawal of such cases, PC Sharma,
state law and legislative affairs minister said, ‘No, that’s not the case. The
Congress government was already considering the withdrawal of politically
motivated cases. Majority of these matters are against the Congress.
The move to withdraw such cases is
among the several new initiatives taken by the government. These include
formation of new department named spiritual department, decision to allow
legislators to participate in the Jan Sunvai (public hearing), to grant
policemen one day off in a week and also lift criminal cases against Dalits
registered after the violent incidents during the agitation against the
dilution in SC and ST atrocities Act.
The proposed spiritual department
will replace the department of happiness, established by the previous Shivraj
Singh government. The department will take care of various religious affairs
and also promote harmony among the followers of different religions. There are
reports that Computer Baba may be made in charge of the new department.
Computer Baba is one of the sants who took the oath of defeating the BJP government.
Earlier he had close proximity with the BJP. In fact, he was one the five sants
who were given minister of state status by Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan. But
following differences with the BJP government he gave up ministerial status and
declared war against BJP.
According to another important
decision, legislators would be allowed to take part in public hearings to
enable common man to bring their problems before the officials. So far these
hearings were held by officers only. According to the changed policy,
legislators will be allowed to be part of the hearing. While many legislators
have welcomed this decision, there are others who question it on the ground
that the hearings could see tension as the legislators belonging to different
parties.
As a New Year gift to more than 1.25
lakh police personnel, the state police headquarters announced that from now
onwards cops will get a weekly off. The order comes in the light of a pre-poll
promise made by Congress. If due to any unavoidable reasons, the weekly off is
cancelled, the cops would be entitled for compensatory off up to a maximum of
two days within one months’ time.
The permission for cancelling the
weekly off would be given only by the superintendent of police concerned and
information regarding cancellation of the weekly off would have to be provided
to the Inspector General of police, says the order. Similar rules would be
applicable to personnel posted in the special forces of the districts. (IPA Service)
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