Marxistindia Digest, Vol 1136, Issue 1

[Anil Chandran]

marxistindia
news digest from cpi(m)

Today's Topics:

   1. SC/ST/OBC Reservations are Mandatory (news from the cpi(m))
   2. Transparency with Public Engagement on the Central Vista
      Reconstruction (news from the cpi(m))
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2020 12:58:29 +0530

February 9, 2020

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued
the following statement:

SC/ST/OBC Reservations are Mandatory

A two-member bench of the Supreme Court has interpreted that Article
16(4) and 16 (4-A) are enabling provisions and there is no fundamental
right to claim reservations for SC/ST/OBCs in government jobs and
promotions. The Supreme Court has reversed the Uttarakhand High Court
order directing the state government to provide reservations.

While this provision for reservation and promotions may not be a
fundamental right, these are constitutional provisions that are
mandatory, to be applicable universally in India.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) considers this interpretation of the
Constitution as being anti-dalit, anti-tribal and anti-OBCs. It calls
upon the Central Government to rectify the lacuna leading to such an
interpretation through legislative resolutions in both houses of
parliament and set right this lacuna in the Constitution forthwith. All
possible legal measures to seek a review of such an interpretation must
be explored.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) considers the provisions for reservations
and promotions as being obligatory upon all states and Union territories
of the Union of India.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2020 13:27:40 +0530

February 9, 2020

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:

Transparency with Public Engagement on the Central Vista Reconstruction

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) calls upon the  BJP government to lift  the
veil from the proposed project of redevelopment of the Central Vista in
Delhi. Apart from the citizens, it is the Parliament that will get most
affected. It is therefore imperative that the Government must discuss the
details of the project in the current ongoing budget session of the
Parliament. Such a historical and important proposal  should not be rushed
through.

The government must know that the land in consideration for the Central
Vista belongs to the people, and the government is just the custodian. The
Supreme Court has already laid it down in the 2G spectrum allocation case,
the precise definition of natural resources and the limits to the manner of
government intervention. The government therefore cannot unilaterally decide
on the project.

The Delhi Development Authority had conducted a two days public hearing on
February 6 and 7, 2020, where a large number of urban planners,
environmentalists and other sections of the society participated. There is a
general and genuine concern of the citizens that the Central Vista project
has been designed in an ambiguous and hidden manner.  Therefore it is the
responsibility of the Government to provide certain facts to the Parliament
and the public before going any further with the project.  These
responsibilities include, amongst other issues, providing  the following
information to Parliament and to place these in the public domain:

.        List of all buildings intended to be demolished in Central Delhi
and in the vicinity of the Central Vista.
.        List of new buildings to be built in Central Delhi and in the
Vicinity of the Central Vista.
.        Total cost of the entire project and its year-wise outlay.

.        Duration of time over which it is intended to reconstruct the
Central Vista.

.        List of changes  proposed to the Master Plan  for the
reconstruction of the Central Vista.

.        Total area of land in acres that will be affected by the proposal.

.        Whether Environment Impact Assessement study has been carried out
for the proposed project by an independent authority.

The re-development proposed  for the construction of the Central Vista
cannot  violate the existing master plan of Delhi without completing due
processes provided by law. There is no information in the public domain
about   how the construction of the Central Vista  will impact the heritage
area of  Delhi.

The CPI(M) demands that the government put the project on hold and first
discuss it in the Parliament as it concerns the reconstruction,
redevelopment and expansion of the Parliament building which is unique to
Delhi, country's capital.

(Hari Singh Kang)

For CPI(M) Central Committee office

_______________________________________________
End of Marxistindia Digest, Vol 1136, Issue 1
*********************************************