Maharashtra and Gujarat, two of the most urbanised and industrialised states with relatively better health infrastructure, are flailing in their fight against coronavirus. Both chief ministers show a lack of administrative acumen and experience to deal with a public health crisis. The Centre must pro-actively engage with them to course-correct.
Galwan row shouldn’t be viewed through prism of 1962. Local responses can’t dictate India’s strategic thinking
The ingress in Galwan area along India-China border caused predictable outrage. But border incursions shouldn’t be viewed through the outdated prism of 1962 hurt and revenge. Border skirmishes can be and are being tackled by the army. The challenge is to not let tactical, local responses dictate India’s strategic thinking.
India needs uniform policy on travel and quarantine. Modi govt can’t pass the buck to states
The differing requirements and confusion about quarantining travellers across states is absurd. Now, states are calling the shots and creating chaos. India needs a uniform policy for people travelling by any mode of transport. The Modi government can’t abdicate its responsibility and pass the buck to states in exiting lockdown.
Yes, the centre would do an excellent job of solving the problem by arresting anyone who says otherwise.
Don’t be daft. If the last few months have shown us anything, it’s that the centre is completely incompetent, and this has been covered in great depth on your website. I actually live in Maharashtra unlike you, and I think the government is doing a passable job. Please back up your statement that the centre should help with an argument. What could the centre help with?
Don’t think it correct to include Gujarat in the list. The numbers of infected are less than 10,000. Ahmadabad is a hotspot since it is also densely populated and has many slums. But then so are Delhi, Banguluru and Channai . Maharashtra takes the cake for the casual manner of tackling the infection. Unless the State governments ask for help, the center will not intervene in any way.
Watched an interview with Lt Gen Hooda in which he said that these face offs are different from what has happened in the past, mainly due to differences in the perception of where the LAC lies and aggressive patrolling by both sides. He feels there is a higher political direction to what the PLA is doing and that it is time now to invoke diplomacy. There is no prospect of local military commanders resolving this issue.
Without getting into the politics of it, it is a fact that both Maharashtra and Gujarat, led by their capital cities, are failing to deal effectively with the medical challenge posed by the coronavirus. Any reopening of the economy and its restoration to normalcy and health requires these two premier industrial and commercial states to be in the forefront. Without differentiating between the two states, the Centre needs to play a mentorship role. Support state governments that are struggling to cope.
I agree. It should be finalised in consultation with the states, take into account their legitimate fears and reservations to opening up, rest on the best medical evaluation of where we are in relation to further spread.