25 Oct Page 2

Imphal Times Supplementary issue 2 Editorial Four IB Operatives Held for Snooping Outside CBI Thursday, October 25, 2018 Director Alok Verma’s Residence Courtesy The Wire The Wire has the names and Sources close to Verma say that the has used the same media networks When arrogance New Delhi, Oct. 25 identification numbers of the four apparent attempt to snoop on him regularly used by the BJP and its IB operatives but is withholding is “vintage Gujarat model” – a social media cell to try to muddy Four men, identified as Intelligence those details. reference to the police tactics the waters by making “spurious meets ignorance Bureau (IB) operatives, were This snooping on Verma, like the Modi and Amit Shah, currently BJP allegations” about Verma on Arrogance, overconfidence, dismissive - traits that caught outside the residence of entire search and raid of the CBI president, used when they ruled Twitter. have proven to spell the downfall of an individual. And if former Central Bureau of headquarters on Wednesday that the state to stymie any opposition Despite repeated attempts, Delhi that individual happens to be the elected leader of a Investigation (CBI) director Alok was carried out by unidentified or threat to their position. police and Verma were not available state, then it would not be much way off the mark to Verma around 4 am on Thursday. intelligence and police officials, is The action is bound to fuel the for comments. state that the state is bound to regress, and the very Verma was ousted as director of believed to have been conducted opposition campaign that the Modi According to the Indian Express , the premier investigation agency in by a team working under national government acted against Verma Verma was dealing with seven leader would have been digging his own political grave. the early hours of Wednesday, a security advisor Ajit Doval. because of its fears over what steps sensitive cases when the prime Could it be the practically limitless power derived from move he has described as “patently Doval played a key role in the CBI may take on crucial minister decided to pull the plug the position he holds, or is it a manifestation of the illegal” in a petition before the implementing Prime Minister investigations. on him. money and muscle power he has inherited as the Chief Supreme Court. Narendra Modi’s decision that the Sources say that the situation The first was the Rafale deal, in Minister of a state with one of the most heinous record The men were observed loitering CBI director be removed forthwith. became untenable for Verma the which Sinha, Shourie and Bhushan of human rights abuse and state-sponsored terrorism? Is in a motor car outside the perimeter Under the official rules of business, moment he sought “verification” hav e alleged corruption in the it just a natural progression of the vagaries of being in and were confronted by Verma’s the NSA has no executive authority of the Rafale papers handed over decision to acquire 36 fighter jets from power? While it is still not possible to put a finger on the official security detail. They have to direct such operations. to him by former BJP ministers Dassault Aviation. Then there exact reason or cause of the emerging facet of the been handed over to Delhi Police. However, since the IB and RAW Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and charges against two former high court present Chief Minister hitherto assiduously kept away The suspicion is that they were chiefs report to the prime minister, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan. judges for their alleged involvement either looking for ways to plant who, like his predecessor, has Sources point out that Rakesh in the medical college bribery case, a from public, it has become increasingly clear that N Biren listening devices or were keeping outsourced this supervision to the Asthana, who floated an expensive coal scam case in which the name of is a man who does not like to have his decisions an eye on all visitors to the NSA, Doval can play a key role in video and a hashtag on social top PMO official Bhaskar Khulbe questioned. There are also recent incidents which have residence. such actions. media to buttress his credentials, figures and the case against Asthana. surfaced through various social media strongly indicating that he does take affront to unfavorable comments or critical opinions of his actions and tends to take these expressions personal- a frightening revelation given the BJP MLA withdraws CECB wants strict adherence power and resources he wields due to his position as the elected head of the state. And there are an increasing to SC ruling on firecrackers number of people questioning the wisdom in putting him resignation in Assam to power, more convinced than ever after witnessing Agency and assured that these will be Agency place during the designated time the intolerant and intimidating manner in which Guwahati, Oct 25 addressed in future. As he Raipur, Oct 25 and at the designated places, dissenting voices are sought to be suppressed. personally requested me to CECB’s PRO Amar Prakash Savant Despite the much publicized effort of connecting BJP MLA Terash Gowalla withdraw the resignation, so I have The Chhattisgarh Environment told Agency Thursday. with the people of the state, the increasingly impregnable Thursday withdrew his resignation decided accordingly. I sent a mail Conservation Board (CECB) has In case any violation is found, the from the Assembly, two days after to him this morning and withdrew official residence which had put untold pedestrians not directed officials to ensure strict station house officer of the police he submitted it to the Chief the resignation,” Gowalla said. implementation of the Supreme station area concerned shall be only to much inconvenience but also to risks of physical Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on On October 23, the BJP legislator Court’s order on bursting of held liable, and it will also amount injury is an ironic twist to the whole public stunt. While some issues. had alleged that he was neglected firecrackers during Diwali and to committing contempt of court, the compulsive obsession with safeguarding the heavy Gowalla, however, had not in recent appointment in the Assam other festivals. he said. iron gate from the frustrating kicks of the enraged public submitted his resignation to the Gas Company Ltd (AGCL). The SC said Tuesday that people He said the officials have also been may be explained away as a personal indulgence of Assembly Speaker. “That is one reason. AGCL is in can burst firecrackers from 8 pm to asked to ensure manufacture and someone in power, the real issue of why the public has “The chief minister called me for a Duliajan and people have made me 10 pm only on Diwali and other sale of “green” (eco-friendly) to resort to such dire acts has been sidelined. Imphal meeting last night to discuss the their representative. They have festivals. It allowed manufacture crackers that cause minimum noise Times has been trying to put the issue of barricading the issue. He explained the some expectations from me. and sale of just the “green and air pollution, and that they Chief Minister’s official quarter in the correct complexities regarding Without any consultation to me, crackers” which have low emission should be sold through licensed perspective, pointing out the futility and the symbolic appointments as different the appointment in the company of light, sound and harmful traders only. communities and regions have to was made. I am not saying that you detachment of the Chief Minister from the grave and chemicals. A public awareness campaign is be accommodated,” the first time (government) give the post to me, The apex court carved out an also being run on the FM radio immediate concerns of the general public. Truth be told, MLA told Agency. but at least I should have been exception for the Christmas and the stations and television channels to no amount of barricades and rolls of barbed wires will be “The CM appreciated my concerns consulted,” he had said. New Year eve saying that crackers follow the order, he said. able to keep the enraged public away for long- it will for these occasions would be burst The state-run CECB had banned only result in the public feeling neglected and pushed between 11.55 pm and 12.30 am, the use of crackers in six cities - away by the very person they looked up as a leader to since these celebrations start at Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhilai, Durg, allay their fears and listen to their concerns. Prez dismisses plea to midnight. Raigarh and Korba - for two months Another sign of immaturity is the failure to reign in In view of the SC’s ruling, all from December 1 last year to the chest-thumping attitude even after enough incidents disqualify 27 AAP MLAs district collectors and senior police January 31 this year, as part of its that should have taught the elected leaders that the officials in Chhattisgarh have been initiative to control air pollution, only way forwards is to make radical changes and pave New Delhi, Oct 25 Such pleas are sent to the President asked to ensure that fireworks take Savant said. new roads towards progress. So long as the present who forwards it to the EC. The EC government keeps comparing the result of their actions President Ramnath Kovind is learnt then gives its opinion based on with that of the previous government, the focus will to have dismissed a plea to disqualify which the President has to issue Parrikar being pressured to continue never be on the future development.

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