On the functioning of the secretariat, cabinet and civil society in Gujarat...a must read.. States should be like Gujarat and C Ms should be like Narendra Modi. This is the gist of the slogans that resound across India for some time. No question, Modi is central character in the coming election. He is the man who comes closest to being the next prime minister in all surveys and opinion polls. His track record as the chief minister of Gujarat for the past 12 years has brought him to this coveted position. As this bearded man is in the dress rehearsal for becoming the C E O of the largest democracy in the world, here is some food for thought for those who are fed up with the Development vs. Communalism racket raised by the pro and anti-Modi brigades. It is about his democratic credentials. Democracy is an organic process. It is self-correcting system too. Its restrictions are inherent. Democracy has the potential and process to realize peoples aspirations, recently Modi himself said this. But what happened to Gujarats democracy in his period? Activities of the legislature, the fundamental institution of a democracy, became just a ritual. Studies point out that the working days of Gujarat assembly was decreasing steadily during his period. Earlier the average number of annual working days was 49, in Modis period it came down to 29. A budget session that lasts from 20 to 25 days and a monsoon session that lasts a couple of days. Finished. This is the way the Gujarat assembly has been functioning for the past few years. There were times when the house met only for half a day. Once the sole business of a session was to mourn the death of a former M L A. , said Mahesh Pandya, the coordinator of Gujarat Social Watch which has studied about the house. Modi is an orator. When it comes to public speaking he is second to none in India today. But the same man is an example to silence in the legislature. Though he handles over 15 important portfolios, he wouldnt answer any questions in the house. His deputies in the cabinet would do the job. He will retire to his cabin immediately after the question and answer session and will watch the rest of the show over TV. Sometimes he will ask some ministers to do the needful, or scold some other unlucky minister. According to the Social Watch study Modi spoke thrice in a session, and twice it was to read condolence motions. Even for asking questions there are some unique restrictions in the Gujarat assembly. No M L A could ask a question regarding the entire state, they could ask only for district level figures. For example, you are not allowed to ask stupid questions like the number of suicides or the number of gender violence cases in the state. The case of the BJP MLAs are pathetic –they are not allowed to ask questions by themselves. Government will distribute questions for them to ask! In 2007 a curious case was reported in Gujarat. Government mailed blank legislative question forms to police superintends of respective districts for the BJP MLAs. The cops were supposed to get the blank forms signed by the MLAs and return them. The ploy was to include questions about the achievements of the government. One officer unwittingly gave a form to a Congress MLA. People came to know of this drama only when he brought the form to the Assembly. Respect for opposition is not a term you would find in Modis lexicon. Even though he has a comfortable majority, Modi doesnt confront the opposition through a debate – he uses the speaker to do the job. When the opposition creates an uproar, the speaker simply suspends them en masse! Suspending the entire opposition is a usual practice in Gujarat assembly. Opposition was suspended during two days of the last three-day session. Shakti Singh Gohil, who was the Leader of Opposition in the last Assembly, was once suspended for the entire budget session. It is quite common here to pass bills in the absence of the opposition members, say media persons covering the Assembly. Further, public opinion is never sought on new bills, says Pandya. There are several instances of draft bills being enacted in the Assembly without any debate. For the last 12 years, the post of deputy speaker had been lying vacant. Generally, this seat goes to the opposition, which is a custom followed in most of the states in India. When criticism arose form some quarters, initiatives were taken to appoint the deputy speaker in the last three-day session. The election was scheduled for the last day. But the Congress members had boycotted the session in protest against the two-day suspension. In their absence, BJPs Manjubhai Patel was elected the Deputy Speaker. Usually, the Comptroller and Auditor generals report is tabled on the last day of the session. Often the last day falls on Friday and on Fridays the house adjourns after two hours. So, no discussion on the report takes place. The M B Shah Committee, which conducted an enquiry into some allegations made by the opposition, had submitted its report a year ago. But it is yet to be tabled in the house. A one-man show The Gujarat cabinet is now a one-man show. More than half of the key departments are under the control of Modi. An investigation conducted by Tehelka in 2010 had found that 44 percent of the state budget - which amounts to Rs 29,500 crore- is spent by the departments handled by Modi. Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, a close associate of Modi, spent another 14 percent of the budget allocation the same year. People on the street know that no one in the cabinet has the freedom of opinion. Many of the ministers dont even know of what is happening in their own departments. They simply have to implement the decisions taken by Modi and Co. There was this incidence of a minister feeling hurt when he came to know about a decision regarding his department only at the cabinet meeting. Of the 15 ministers, seven has been given cabinet status. Modi himself appoints the personal staff, including driver, for all ministers. The reach of Modis spy network hit the headlines only when he sent personnel to check a woman architect. But everyone here knows that the Sachivalaya (secretariat) is under the watchful eyes of Modis spies. Ministers, bureaucrats or anyone capable of raising voice against the CM will be under their observation. Court orders wont affect Modi Government in any manner. Whatever the verdict, the government wont backtrack even an inch. It is common sight here of officials facing the music of for contempt of court, says noted lawyer Mukul Sinha. If the High Court verdict is against the government, it will move the Supreme Court. It will be followed by review petition and amended petition…delay tactics ad infinitum. It has tried this strategy in Lokayukta case and also the pre-matric scholarship case. Commissions for namesake The State Information Commission and the Human Rights Commission are there for the sake of appearance. Nearly 10,000 appeals are pending before the Gujarat Information Commission. The problem is the vacant post of Information Commissioner. For quite a long time, only one Commissioner was in service. After much hue and cry two more were appointed. In a large state like Gujarat, at least 10 members are needed, say sources associated with the sector. They noted that the lower-rung office wouldnt even properly respond to the RTI applications. Though the Chairman of Human Rights Commission has been appointed, adequate staff hasnt been given so far (Kerala has one Chief Commissioner and five commissioners; Tamil Nadu: one chief, four commissioners; Maharashtra: 1 chief, 6 Commissioners, Andra Pradesh: 1 chief, 8 Commissioners; Uttar Pradesh: I chief, 10 Commissioners) Most of the civic bodies are controlled by the government and grama sabhas exist only on paper. Government is trying to establish samaras panchayats across the state. This form bypasses the democratic election process and the villagers are to select their ward member on consensus. They have to unanimously elect the sarpanchs too. This is how samaras panchayats function. These panchayats are given preference while disbursing grants. If a samaras panchayat is established for the second time, it will be allotted more grants. This is how the move is encouraged. Despite the government striving hard for 12 years, only 20 percent of the panchayats have became samaras. Now government is putting pressure on village, taluk and panchayat officials to force people to go the samaras way. To meet the required numbers, the officials are even giving false information to the villagers about the advantages and asking them to go for it, says college lecturer and social activist Hemanth Shah. Enforcing samaras panchayats on public with bribes of benefits is making a mockery of the democracy, points out renowned linguist and critic Ganesh Devi. Modi has devised a special tactic to confront media persons too. He ignores print journalists. If he wants to say something, he will invite TV reporters, will speak to them and no questions please. After the usual cabinet meetings, the government spokesperson will approach the media with press release. And again and no questions please! Just take the release and leave. Initially, Modi directly dealt those reporters writing against him. Now, only a handful of journalists have the guts to go against him. Hemanth Shahs says the column he wrote in Gujarat Samachar was stopped after its third issue and he suspects Modis hand behind it. Noted journalist Sheela Bhatt, quoting a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity, portrays the state of Gujarat like this: Take a closer look at what Modi has done over the last 10 years. Tactically, he stemmed the growth of the Congress. The State Assembly has also become inactive. Often, the BJP MLAs wont have any idea about what is happening in the Assembly. Modi has his own team managers comprising of executives, IAS and IPS officers. The CMs office at Gandhi Nagar is the power centre that turns Modis visions into reality. His infantry comprises of the IAS and IPS officers, who are enjoying powers above ruling MLAs. Gujarat Cabinet is a mere rubber stamp. Protests dealt with iron hand No one is willing to go on strike in the state. They cant expect any mercy from Modi. Recently, farmers who were proceeding to participate in a stir against land acquisition, were stopped on the way and were threatened by the police. On the eve of a bandh call given by the Congress recently, around 1,000 party activists were arrested. The strongest protest seen during Modis period was staged by BJPs own fringe outfit, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh. It was against the hiking of power charges four-fold in a sweep. The protest council was headed by Jetha Bhai Patel, popular local figure. First, the government ignored the protest. Once a rally attended by lakhs was taken to Gandhi Nagar, the governments representatives called on Jetha Bhai for talks and tried to lure him with money or positions. When he didnt relent, they cut power supply to more than a lakh farmers and removed 300 transformers. But the farmers didnt give up. But Modi too was not ready to give up. One fine day, Jetha Bhais house at Halvad, located 150 km away from Ahmedabad, was razed down by corporation officials without any reason. Further, the office of Kisan Sangh that was functioning at a single room in the MLA hostel was evacuated overnight. While throwing out the cupboards, table and books, they threw out pictures of Golwalkar and Hedgewar, says Jetha Bhai. (Manoj is Mathrubhumis Ahmedabad correspondent) courtesy - Gujarat Memes
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 17:00:26 +0000
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