Iyer named new Niti Aayog chief
FARIDKOT : Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s posthumously released song SYL garnered nearly 20 million views and 2.5 million likes on his Youtube page within hours apart from being widely shared on Instagram and other social media platforms.
Over 1.2 million user comments were posted on the Youtube page alone as fans paid emotional tributes to the slain musician whose latest work sparked intense conversations over the politically charged nature of the song. The title SYL refers to the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal and the lyrics warn that Punjab will not share its river waters if the injustices meted out to it are not stopped, bringing up years of militancy in state that led to widespread fear and social tumult. The song, leaked on social media a day earlier, was officially uploaded at 6pm Thursday on Youtube and its teaser on Instagram received more than 8 million views; the musician’s account has 10.6 million followers on Instagram, over 3 million of those added after his murder on May 29.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, who went by the stage name Sidhu Moosewala, sings about the politically complex four-decade-old issue of the construction of the SYL canal. Visuals accompanying the song showcase events Punjab has witnessed since 1947. Apart from the SYL dispute with neighbouring Haryana, the song talks about the post-independence undivided Punjab, issue of states’ sovereignty under a federal system, the 1984 riots, the incident of the Sikh flag being hoisted at the Red Fort during the farmers’ agitation, and calls for release of Sikhs taken political prisoners. It ends with the message: “Each one of you is the last hope for protecting Punjab’s river waters to prevent state from turning into a desert.”
Moosewala, no stranger to controversy in his lifetime, opens SYL on a controversial note with a statement by Aam Adami Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha member Sushil Gupta after his party formed the government in Punjab: “Now we have a government in Punjab. In 2024, the AAP will form the government in Haryana, too. In 2025, water will reach every farm in Haryana. This is not our promise but our guarantee.”
The song features excerpts from a statement by Meghalaya governor Satya Pal Malik on the farm laws: “Indira Gandhi knew that she would be killed and she was. They killed former army chief General AS Vaidya in Pune and Dwyer (Sir Michael O’dwyer, the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab in whose tenure the Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened) in London. I have said that don’t test the patience of the Sikhs.”
The song appears to glorify Sikh militant Balwinder Singh Jattana, who killed two officials at the SYL head office at Chandigarh in 1990.
The visuals also feature images of militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and army movement during Operation Bluestar.
Jattana, who was associated with pro-khalistan outfit Babbar Khalsa, along with three accomplices killed the officials preparing plans for the construction of the canal. Their action halted the construction of the canal and it has still not resumed.
Moosewala demands that Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana be merged with Punjab.
HT Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Former drinking water and sanitation secretary Parameswaran Iyer, who led the Centre’s flagship Swachh Bharat Mission, was on Friday appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of Niti Aayog, appointments committee of cabinet said.
Iyer will replace Amitabh Kant, who is scheduled to demit office on June 30. A 1981-batch officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, Iyer will serve as Niti Aayog CEO for two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, according to a notification released by the committee.
His appointment has been made on the same terms and conditions as were applicable for Kant, the notification added.
Iyer opted for voluntary retirement from the IAS in 2009, after 17 years of service, to join water and sanitation initiatives at the World Bank.
However, in 2016, he returned to serve as secretary of department of drinking water and sanitation till 2020. He spearheaded the Centre’s flagship Swachh Bharat Mission, a campaign to eradicate open defecation. He has over 25 years of experience in the water and sanitation sector and has worked in several countries, including Vietnam, China, Egypt and Lebanon.
Kant was appointed as Niti Aayog CEO on February 17, 2016, for a fixed two-year term. He was later given an extension till June 30, 2019. His term was further extended for two years till June 2021, and then another one-year extension was given till June 30 this year.
During his tenure, Kant drove the Aspirational Districts Program, which aims to improve the socio-economic outcomes in some of the most backward districts of the country through a mix of data-based governance, competitive federalism and collaborations.
“I have had a wonderful experience since Niti has been interdimensional. It cuts across several segments and ministries, and as a new institution, there was immense potential to mould it,” Kant said.
“We were able to transform 112 districts of India on social indicators. We have managed to surpass most of our targets, and the last six years have been a very exciting time.”
HT reached out to Iyer for a comment but did not get one immediately.