Kartarpur corridor: Fresh step in reconciliation between nations
Pakistan PM Imran Khan has said he is ready to engage in talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the most welcome step towards better relationships between both nations. Speaking to Indian reporters who had attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor project, Imran Khan has said encouraging terrorism activities would be detrimental for the future of Pakistan, which right now is working to establish peace.
India and Pakistan are neighbouring nations that should live in peace. This would help the nations prosper as well. While Pakistan needs to understand this, the war mongers in India need to comprehend with this truth as well. People of both nations do not want war since they are connected with each other at birth itself. But the issue is getting complicated thanks to politicians who care less for people’s concerns. The unrest between both nations is being beneficial for the others. Development and progress is possible only where there is peace and coexistence.
Talks have been on between both nations since long to establish peace but to no avail. India was connected to Lahore during Vajpayee’s time as PM, through Samjhota express. There were voices of dissidence within BJP over this. Now there is a new promise of improving relationships between both nations with Kartarpur Corridor. This project will connect Kartarpur Darbar Sahib Gurudwara which is a holy place of Sikhs.
The founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev had spent last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. This place consolidated the Sikhs to establish Sikhism. People living in the border area feel this corridor would improve relationships between both countries. But this may not happen instantaneously. PM Modi comparing this project to the tearing down of Berlin wall is a bit of stretched imagination. Union minister Sushma Swaraj’s words that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand, are a matter to ponder over. India has rejected the Pak invitation to participate in SAARC summit. Governments of both countries want the credit of Kartarpur corridor to themselves. Whatever be the case, improvement in bilateral relations will serve both countries well. A few issues need to be cleared about the corridor in this context. Would visitation rights be granted only during special occasions or can pilgrims visit Kartarpur round the year? Should they visit in groups or can they go alone? What would be the duration of their stay?
Though Kartarpur cannot sort out the issues pertaining to troubled relationship between both countries, this is a promising step towards better solution that can come up in the future. Hopefully this scheme that has been initiated to complete before the commemoration of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, should contribute to improving the relationships between two countries that are joined by their roots.
While the nation divided into two, the pilgrimage spaces were also torn away post partition in 1947 after India attained independence. Hence places of worship for people of both nations, exist in the other nation’s vicinity too. India and Pakistan have signed a treaty to allow issuance of visa for people of both countries to visit each other’s religious places such as Mandir and Dargah. The corridor right now is free from visa hassles and this would help the Indians to a large extent.
Imran Khan has been liberal in his stance towards allowing religious visits. He has said he would consider opening places of religious importance such as Sharada Peetha that exist in Pak Occupied parts of Kashmir. Administrative officer of Sringeri mutt had sought permission to visit Sharada Sarvajna Peetha in PoK. People on both sides need to act with positivity and respect to improve relations between the nations. The governments should facilitate peace through their decisions and this would reduce the animosity between both countries.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
