By Gajendra Singh Negi
Strategy revealed?
The challenge thrown by the BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt recently to the leaders of the third front- who were at the forefront of the recent agitation of unemployed against the UKSSSC paper leak- along with the use of demeaning language for them seems to have exposed the saffron party’s grand plan for the Assembly elections of 2027 which hitherto was kept carefully under wraps by the BJP’s leadership. Having excelled in the art of attracting controversies, Bhatt threw a gauntlet for these leaders whom he called perpetual agitators, to contest the Assembly elections to know their public standing (Aukat). Apart from showing his impetuous nature, Bhatt’s comment also revealed the BJP’s game plan wherein a formidable third front is able to garner a considerable number of votes in the Assembly polls. Many BJP leaders are of the view that their candidates will be in an advantageous position in three cornered contests thus paving the way for the party regaining power in the Himalayan state for third consecutive time.
Syrup scandal
Following the advisory issued by the Centre in the aftermath of deaths of children after consuming cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Uttarakhand government has also come into an alert mode. After imposing a ban on the culprit brands Coldrif, Respifresh TR and Relife, the FDA has started a drive to seize samples of syrups having Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride. In their advisories both the Centre and State government have stressed on rational use of cough syrups and have banned their use for children aged below two years. Amid the nationwide concern on deaths of children, the authorities seem to have ignored the most important aspect about the unholy nexus of drug manufacturers and doctors. Offering thick commissions, the agents of these companies lure the doctors to prescribe medicines which not only are unnecessary but are also harmful as it happened in the case of spurious cough syrups causing deaths of children.
Glaring yesmanship
The recent episodes showcasing the haste and sycophantic behaviour of administration and police in Pauri and Bageshwar districts has given ammunition to opposition parties to attack the Pushkar Singh Dhami government. In the first case, the additional district magistrate of Pauri sent an official letter to the general secretaries, Mandal presidents and heads of all frontal organisations of district BJP requesting them to attend the Shaheed Samman Samorah at the historic ground of Garhwal Rifles in Lansdowne. Though the programme was hosted by the Sainik Kalyan department of the State government, the invitation- which was given only to BJP office bearers- and its language drew criticism from various quarters. In another instance, a police officer was seen offering a bouquet to newly appointed general secretary of Uttarakhand BJP Kundan Parihar in a picture during his visit to Bageshwar. After the picture of the officer going overboard to welcome the BJP leader started circulating on social media platforms, the superintendent of Bageshwar police ordered an inquiry in the unsavoury incident.
