Disquieting Pattern; Caste Quota; Capitol Chaos
AAP leader Sanjay Singh; Bihar CM Nitish Kumar; former US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
Opinion Watch
Disquieting Pattern
The Indian Express has built on the Supreme Court’s questioning of the Enforcement Directorate on proof against jailed Manish Sisodia, former deputy chief minister of Delhi, in the alleged liquor scam to opine that there is a disquieting pattern to hound the Opposition leaders and almost remove them from active political scenes. The Noida-based daily argued that the only evidence against Sisodia is that of a statement by a person who is himself an accused in the case. The daily, while commenting on the arrest of Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party, spotlighted lack of actions by agencies against leaders from the ruling alliance at the Centre, and also change of tack if leaders switch allegiance to the BJP.
The Opposition has for long been accusing the Centre of weaponosing the agencies. The intensity of ED action against AAP is such that the party may now become a headless chicken ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Caste Quota
The Hindu in its Editorial has counted the scientific basis of the Bihar caste survey, while noting that the exercise was based codes to identify castes and their sub-castes. The Chennai-based daily leans to argue that the Bihar data offers a template for the judiciary to revisit the 50 per cent reservation ceiling. The daily almost heaped praise on Bihar government for doing a better job than the Centre, which found 46 lakh castes in “the confusing data set” in the Socio-Economic Caste Census, 2011.
Half facts are quite dangerous as is the case with The Hindu’s hurried commentary, for Bihar did a survey and the Centre had done a Census and there exists a world of difference in two activities. Complaints are already pouring that the Bihar Survey, completed in not more than five months, didn’t connect with several people and even villages were left out. Lest it be forgotten, Census takes years for a full-proof headcount.
Capitol Chaos
The Asian Age in its Editorial spotlighted a complete chaos that has gripped the US Congress where Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the chair of the Speaker, with hardliners among the Republicans joining hands with Democrats. The New Delhi-based daily has compared the events unfolding in the Capitol Hills to a horror film with “revenge time returning to the American politics”. The daily underlined that the partisan politics is hitting a new low in Washington.
The next year’s elections in the US are setting up to be most chaotic as claimants are baying for blood of rivals. That the events in the US threaten to pin down Washington to domestic politics may distract its attention from the global mess that the leadership has created.
About The Author
