Uttar Pradesh is in many ways India in a microcosm, given the diversity of its people and the complexity of the problems it faces. Which is why facile and bombastic promises like the one its chief minister, Rajnath Singh, had made about bringing the law and order situation in the state under control in two weeks, are best avoided. After a bare ten days in office, Rajnath Singh already has egg on his face and UP's law and order situation certainly does not inspire confidence. While there will be those who will counsel patience and say that it is only fair to give the new incumbent a chance to set things right in a chronically misgoverned state, the horrific killing of Nirbhay Pal Singh in Saharanpur indicates that the state's criminals are not impressed by the chief minister's dire warnings.This was no ordinary murder. Nirbhay Pal Singh happened to be an MLA, attended by his own security guards. His house was broken into in the dead of night and he was shot down at pointblank range. Call this law and order, chief minister? In five days, the deadline that Rajnath Singh set for himself would have lapsed and it is unlikely - given the present evidence - that things would get dramatically transformed by then. If anything the impunity with which Nirbhay Pal Singh's assailants have struck, in a neighbourhood where the commissioner of police himself resides, will only encourage further crimes of this kind. For the new chief minister there is a lesson in this: Adopt the Gandhian talisman - act, don't talk. To which can be added another dictum: Anticipate, then preempt. From all indications this period which is a run up to next year's Assembly elections, is sure to be marked by extreme volatility, whether on class, communal, or caste lines. If he is indeed the good administrator that his mentors inDelhi seem to believe, he would be advised to take intelligent preemptive action.The worrisome demonstration of sectarian violence that manifested itself in Azamgarh recently is a case in point. The chief minister should have anticipated it, given the fact that the state has already experienced Shia-Sunni rioting - most notably in June 1997 when the Mayawati government proved unequal to managing the Azadari processions taken out from various parts of Lucknow by the local Shias. More recently - late last week in fact - the Kashmir Valley had witnessed deaths, clashes and mob fury after the assassination of Shia leader Agha Syed Mehdi. In any case, Azamgarh itself has experienced such clashes earlier. In January, a cycle of Shia-Sunni violence had erupted in the area and resulted in at least three deaths. This time the casualty figures are much higher. These deaths, given the history of such violence, could lead to an ugly cycle of retributive action. The situation needs deft handling; a government that has its hand on the pulse of the people and an administration prepared to work hardtoward ensuring peace. Not just for one day, one week, one month, but in the long term.
