Candid Notes

Uttara ‘after-effects’

The now infamous Uttara Bahuguna-CM showdown has landed the members of the CM’s magic circle in a deep soul-searching mode. This was after the knee-jerk response in which some of TSR camp-followers tried to paint the media in black hue, dubbing those present at the eventful Darbar as culprits for circulating video footages of the vituperative spat. Besides, suggestions were put forward to restrict entry of the media in such programmes. However, they seem to be now coming off the high horse after being chastened by the fierce reaction triggered by the showdown and its equally bitter aftermath. The CM camp is now trying to seriously figure out what went wrong from their side and firm up a course correction in case the same recurs. The think tank of the CM coterie is also worried over the State BJP maintaining an icy distance when the row was running in full swing. The chastened TSR camp claims to have derived   important lessons from the row as it has exposed where the mandarins of the State saffron camp are standing vis-a-vis the CM. They say they are now sadder but wiser.

Saffron eye on Devbhoomi

A sudden spurt in the ground activities of RSS and  its affiliates coupled with increased visits of BJP bigwigs and Union Ministers in Uttarakhand has  fuelled speculations. Many think it is just a prelude to the saffron party fielding a political stalwart from one of the five Lok Sabha seats during the 2019 high-stake general election. Known from its quiet but relentless ground work among the masses which provides muscle to its political  wing BJP, the RSS has recently shifted the office of its regional Prachar Pramukh – a key one for spreading its ideology- from Meerut to Haridwar. In another important change, a high- profile VHP functionary has been shifted by RSS here as ‘saha prant prachar pramukh’. While the RSS functionaries term these changes as routine ones meant to give impetus to the organisational works in the Himalayan State the political observers attribute them as an indication of the increased focus of RSS in the State. They point out that the State, blessed  with its fabled pilgrimage centres and Ganga, provides an ideal platform to push forward the Hindutva agenda espoused and pursued vigorously by RSS, BJP and other members of the saffron constellation.

Demolition Dilemma

Apart from being an overall success in terms of achievement and public support so far, the High Court- ordered demolition drive in Dehradun has thrown some interesting moments to the  officers involved. One such incident happened near the bustling Saharanpur Chowk when the administration teams reached  to measure the encroachment  done by a shop. After putting the measuring tape, the team told the shop owner that as he has encroached five feet of the road  parts of the shop would be pulled down. Leaving the team flabbergasted,  the shop owner asked them to peg the encroachment measurement at six instead of  five feet. Questioned why, the wily owner of the shop replied innocently that  the width of the nearest shop is six feet and by losing one more feet, he is paving the way for the shop run by his rival to be razed down completely.