MINISTRY OF TRUTH
1. Context
Despite a barrage of criticism and concerns, the Centre has decided to create a regulatory regime that will allow a fact-checking body it appoints to label content related to the government on online platforms like Facebook and Twitter as "fake" or "misleading".
2. Key Points
- Content marked as such by the body will have to be taken down by online intermediaries if they wish to retain their "safe harbour", which is the legal immunity they enjoy from third-party content.
- The Ministry of Electronics and IT notified amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which allows the ministry to appoint a fact Minister of check body who will take a call on whether online information related to the Central Government is accurate.
- The final rules come months after the Ministry, in January, had first proposed that any piece of news that has been identified as "fake" by the fact-checking unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) the Centre's nodal agency to share news updates will not be allowed on online intermediaries. However, the final draft has removed the reference to PIB.
3. Final rules
- On paper, what the final rules now say is that an online intermediary including social media platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter and internet service providers like Airtel, Jio and Vodafone Idea should make "reasonable efforts" to not host content related to the Central Government that is "identified as fake or misleading" by a "fact check unit" that may be notified by the IT ministry.
- In essence, if any piece of information is marked as fake by the upcoming fact check unit, intermediaries will be required to take it down, failing which they would risk losing their safe harbour, which protects them from litigation against third-party content.
- Social media sites will have to take down such posts and internet service providers will have to block URLs of such content.
4. Concerns with the new rules
- Civil society groups have said that the rules could hamper speech online.
- The notification of these amended rules cements the chilling effect on the fundamental right to speech and expression, particularly for news publishers, journalists, activists etc.
- The fact check unit could effectively issue a takedown order to social media platforms and even other intermediaries across the internet stack, potentially bypassing the process statutorily prescribed under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000.
- The notified amendment, unlike the previous proposal, does not designate the Press Information Bureau as the appropriate fact-checking agency, its ultimate effect is the same.
5. Concerns around censorship
- Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar "assured" that the government-backed fact check body will work credibly, in a bid to address the concerns.
- The agency will certainly be very clear that any doubts in the mind of people that the power will be misused on behalf of the government will be addressed. There will be a list of dos and don'ts that it will have to adhere to.
- It will not be business as usual, where it will be a government department type of organisation.
- It certainly wants to conduct fact checks credibly and that is not just for the government but also for the intermediary that is going to depend on that particular fact check.
6. Criticism
- The Editors Guild of India had said that the "determination of fake news cannot be in the sole hands of the government and will result in censorship of the press.
- The News Broadcasters & Digital Association said it will "have a chilling effect on the media and should be withdrawn.
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For Prelims: Ministry of Electronics and IT, PIB, Editors Guild, Censhorship, IT Act 2000, Fake news,
For Mains:
1. Explain the concerns over the government's new fact-check body. Discuss the challenges in effectively curbing the spread of fake news. (250 Words)
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Source: The Hindu
ONLINE GAMING: CENTRE VS TAMILNADU
1. Context
The state’s assembly passed the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Ordinance, 2022 last October. However, in early March, Governor RN Ravi returned the ordinance for reconsideration. A few weeks later, the assembly readopted the Bill and sent it to Raj Bhavan once again
State laws on online gaming are a pain-point that many in the industry are foreseeing. They have also raised these concerns with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), which is now the nodal agency for the sector. They are also likely to challenge Tamil Nadu’s measure in court once it is notified by the state governmen
2.Tamilnadu's law on Online Gambling
- The Bill prohibits online gambling and online games of chance played for money or other stakes
- While it specifically names Rummy and Poker as games of chance, it can go much wider in scope
- It defines online games of chance as those where both an element of chance and skill are involved, and the element of chance dominates over the element of skill; games are presented as games of chance; the element of chance can only be eliminated by superlative skill; or games involve cards, dice, or wheel which work on random event generators
- It also establishes the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority and empowers it to regulate online gaming companies
- Companies that are based outside the state are required to follow specified due diligence or restrict access to prohibited games for people in Tamil Nadu
- The state’s proposed gaming authority will identify games of chance and recommend them to be included in the Schedule of prohibited games.
- It is worth noting that the state’s Governor gave his assent to the Bill hours after the legislative assembly passed a resolution against him for indefinitely withholding assent to several bills
3. Online Gaming: Centre vs Tamilnadu
- Aside from the state assembly’s resolution against the Governor, the timing of the development is also particularly significant given that his assent to the Bill comes just days after the Centre notified amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, which brought in rules for regulating online real money games
- According to the Ministry of State for Electronics "State governments’ regulating online gambling is not required any more after the IT rules for online gaming have been notified"
- Online gaming companies had raised concerns around state governments passing competing legislations which could potentially go against norms prescribed under Centre’s rules
- According to MeitY gambling is a state subject, activities that occur on the Internet including online gambling and gaming fall exclusively in its domain to regulate
4. Centre's Norms for Online Gaming
- The fresh changes require the setting up of multiple self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) whose approval will be required for online games with a monetary element. Games that involve wagering on outcomes of events will not be allowed
- Online gaming companies will also have to complete a KYC procedure for users when they first make a deposit in their accounts to play a game
- KYC norms laid down by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for its regulated entities will have to be followed by them
- All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) challenged the constitutional validity of Tamil Nadu’s Bill at the Madras High Court. However, at the time, the state government had said that it was yet to notify the Bill as a law, following which the court had allowed AIGF to withdraw its petition with the liberty to file it once the law is in effect
Source: indianexpress
CENTRE VS STATE OF DELHI
1. Context
The Centre recently introduced the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha, reviving the dispute on the distribution of powers between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor (L-G).
2. What does the Bill say?
- In the “statement of objects and reasons” section, the Centre claims that the amendment Bill seeks to give effect to the Supreme Court’s interpretation and that it “further defines” the responsibilities of the elected government and the Lt Governor in line with the Constitutional scheme.
- Among the major proposed amendments, one makes it explicitly clear that the term “government” in any law made by the Legislative Assembly shall mean the L-G.
- This, essentially, gives effect to former L-G Najeeb Jung’s 2015 assertion that Government means the Lieutenant Governor of the NCT of Delhi appointed by the President under Article 239 and designated as such under Article 239 AA of the Constitution.
- The Bill adds that the L-G’s opinion shall be obtained before the government takes any executive action based on decisions taken by the Cabinet or any individual minister.
3. What purpose does the 1991 Act serve?
- Delhi's current status as a Union Territory with a legislative Assembly is an outcome of the 69th Amendment Act through which Articles 239AA and 239BB were introduced in the constitution.
- The GNCTD Act was passed simultaneously to supplement in the constitutional provisions relating to the Assembly and Council of Ministers in the national Capital.
- For all practical purposes, the GNCTD Act outlines the power of the Assembly, the discretionary powers enjoyed by the L-G, and the duties of the Chief Minister with respect to the need to furnish information to the L-G.
4. What did the constitutional bench say?
- In its 2018 verdict, the five-judge Bench had held that the L-G's concurrence is not required on issues other than Police, public order, and land.
- It had added that decisions of the Council of Ministers will, however, have to be communicated to the L-G.
- It has to be clearly stated that requiring the prior concurrence of the Lieutenant Governor would absolutely negate the ideas of representative governance and democracy conceived for the NCT of Delhi by Article 239AA of the constitution, the court had ruled.
- The L-G was bound by the aid and advice of the councils of ministers, it has said.
5. What is a Constitutional Bench?
- Article 145(3) deals with the setting up of a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court comprising at least five judges to decide any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution.
- This is the second time that a constitutional bench has been set up to decide on issues between the Delhi Government and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor- the Centre's representative in the capital in the past four years.
6. What will change if the amendments are cleared by Parliament?
- Encouraged by the Supreme Court verdict, the elected government stopped sending files on executive matters to the L-G before the implementation of any decision.
- It has been keeping the L-G abreast of all administrative developments, but not necessarily before implementing or executing any decision.
- But the amendment, if cleared, will force the elected government to take the L-G's advice before taking any action on any cabinet decision.
- The Bill seeks to add a provision in the original GNCTD Act, 1991, barring the Assembly or its committees from making rules to take up matters concerning day-to-day administration, or to conduct inquiries about administrative decisions.
7. Is the L-G left with no discretionary power?
- The L-G does have the power to refer any matter, over which there is a disagreement with the elected government, to the President under Article 239AA(4).
- The Delhi Law Secretary had 2019 written in an internal memo that the elected government cannot use the Supreme Court verdict to keep the L-G in the dark about its decisions as that would prevent him from taking informed decisions on whether to invoke Article 239AA(4) or not.
- But the SC had also categorically pointed out that the L-G should not act mechanically without due application of mind to refer every decision of the Council of Ministers to the President.
8. What are the state governments' Powers?
- From 2015 to 2018, the AAP government was engaged in a constant battle with the Centre over policy decisions and the powers of the L-G vis-à-vis the elected
government. - The Supreme Court judgment gave it a freer hand in terms of policy decisions.
Government insiders have maintained that it was because of the judgment that the government was able to clear policy decisions like giving free power to those using under 200 units, free bus riders for women, and doorstep delivery of ration. - By making it mandatory for the elected government to route all its files through the L-G, the amendments will essentially take away the government’s autonomy and the dream for full statehood for the state, which each political party BJP, Congress, and AAP have promised the electorate at various times.
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For Prelims: National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Lok Sabha, Lieutenant Governor, Article 239, Article 239AA, Article 239BB, and Article 145(3).
For Mains: 1. Whether the Supreme Court Judgement (July 2018) can settle the political tussle between the Lt. Governor and the elected government of Delhi? Examine. (UPSC 2018)
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Previous year Question
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1. In the context of India, which one of the following is the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy? (UPSC 2020) A. An agency for widening the scope of parliamentary democracy B. An agency for strengthening the structure of federalism C. An agency for facilitating political stability and economic growth D. An agency for the implementation of public policy
Answer: D
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Source: The Indian Express
JYOTI RAO PHULE
1. Context
The nation is remembering renowned social reformer, thinker, writer and anti- caste activist Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his 196th birth anniversary. Jyotiba Phule, who played a significant role in eradicating untouchability and promoting girl education, was born on April 11, 1827
He was India’s foremost social reformer, educator, and thinker. Born in Maharashtra, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was an anti-caste social reformer who played a crucial role in eradicating untouchability and empowering society. He also made organised efforts for the rights of farmers and labourers
2. Childhood & Early Life
- Jyotirao Govindrao Phule was born in the Satara district of Maharastra in 1827. His father, Govindrao was a vegetable vendor at Poona
- Jyotirao's family belonged to the 'mali' caste and their original title was ‘Gorhay’. Malis was considered an inferior caste by the Brahmins and was shunned socially. Jyotirao's father and uncles served as florists, so the family came to be known as `Phule'. Jyotirao's mother passed away when he was just nine months old
- In 1841, Jyotirao got admission in the Scottish Mission's High School, Poona, and completed his education in 1847. There, he met Sadashiv Ballal Govande, a Brahmin, who remained his close friend throughout his life. At the age of just thirteen years, Jyotirao was married to Savitribai
3. Social Movements
- In 1848, an incident sparked off Jyotiba’s quest against the social injustice of caste discrimination and incited a social revolution in the Indian society
- Jyotirao was invited to attend the wedding of one of his friends who belonged to an upper-cast Brahmin family. But at the wedding, the relatives of the bridegroom insulted and abused Jyotiba when they came to know about his origins
- Jyotirao left the ceremony and made up his mind to challenge the prevailing caste system and social restrictions
- He believed that the enlightenment of the women and lower caste people was the only solution to combat the social evils
4. Efforts towards Women Education
- Jyotiba’s quest for providing women and girls with right to education was supported by his wife Savitribai Phule. One of the few literate women of the time, Savitribai was taught to read and write by her husband Jyotirao
- In 1851, Jyotiba established a girls' school and asked his wife to teach the girls in the school. Later, he opened two more schools for girls and an indigenous school for the lower castes, especially for the Mahars and Mangs
- Jyotiba realised the pathetic conditions of widows and established an ashram for young widows and eventually became an advocate of the idea of Widow Remarriage
- Female infanticide was a common occurrence and so was child marriage, with children sometimes being married to men much older
- These women often became widows before they even hit puberty and were left without any family support. Jyotiba was pained by their plight and established an orphanage in 1854 to shelter these unfortunate souls from perishing at society’s cruel hands
5. Efforts towards Elimination and Caste Discrimination
- Jyotirao attacked the orthodox Brahmins and other upper castes and termed them as "hypocrites". He campaigned against the authoritarianism of the upper caste people and urged the "peasants" and "proletariat" to defy the restrictions imposed upon them
- He opened his home to people from all castes and backgrounds. He was a believer in gender equality and he exemplified his beliefs by involving his wife in all his social reform activities
- He believed that religious icons like Rama are implemented by the Brahmin as a means for subjugating the lower caste
- The orthodox Brahmins of the society were furious at the activities of Jyotirao. They blamed him for vitiating the norms and regulations of the society
- Many accused him of acting on behalf of the Christian Missionaries. But Jyotirao was firm and decided to continue the movement. Interestingly, Jyotirao was supported by some Brahmin friends who extended their support to make the movement successful
6. Satya Sodhak Samaj
- In 1873, Jyotiba Phule formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth)
- He undertook a systematic deconstruction of existing beliefs and history, only to reconstruct an equality promoting version. Jyotirao vehemently condemned the Vedas, the ancient holy scriptures of the Hindus
- He traced the history of Brahmanism through several other ancient texts and held the Brahmins responsible for framing the exploitative and inhuman laws in order to maintain their social superiority by suppressing the "shudras" and “atishudras” in the society
- The purpose of the Satya Shodhak Samaj was to decontaminate the society from caste discrimination and liberate the oppressed lower-caste people from the stigmas inflicted by the Brahmins
- Jyotirao Phule was the first person to coin the term ‘Dalits’ to apply to all people considered lower caste and untouchables by the Brahmins
- Membership to the Samaj was open to all irrespective of caste and class. Some written records suggest that they even welcomed participation of Jews as members of the Samaj and by 1876 the 'Satya Shodhak Samaj' boasted of 316 members
- In 1868, Jyotirao decided to construct a common bathing tank outside his house to exhibit his embracing attitude towards all human beings and wished to dine with everyone, regardless of their caste
7. Literary Works
Jyotiba had penned a number of literary articles and books in his lifetime and most were based on his ideology of social reforms like the ‘Shetkarayacha Aasud’
He also penned some stories like ‘Tritiya Ratna’, ‘Brahmananche Kasab’, ‘Ishara’
He wrote dramas like ‘Satsar’ Ank 1 and 2, which were enacted under his directives to spread awareness against social injustice
He also wrote books for the Satyashodhak Samaj that dealt with history of Brahminism and outlined Puja protocols that the lower caste people were not allowed to learn
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For Prelims: Jyotirao phule, Satya Sodhak Samaj, Savitrabhai phule
For Mains: 1. Explain the Contributions of Jyoti rao phule towards Women Upliftment. Discuss the efforts for Caste Discrimination (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions:
1.Satya Shodhak Samaj organized ( UPSC 2016)
A. a movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar Answer (C) |
Source: Cultureindia.net
GURU TEGH BAHADUR
1. Context
The ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur's 401st birth anniversary was celebrated across the country on April 11th, 2023.
2. The Early life
- The Guru was born in Amritsar in 1621 to Mata Nanki and Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, who raised an army against the Mughals and introduced the concept of warrior saints.
- As a boy, Tegh Bahadur was called Tyag Mal because of his ascetic nature.
- He spent his early childhood in Amritsar under the tutelage of Bhai Gurdas, who taught him Gurmukhi, Hindi, Sanskrit and Indian religious philosophy, while Baba Budha trained him in swordsmanship, archery and horse riding.
- At the age of 13, Tegh Bahadur distinguished himself in a battle against a Mughal chieftain.
- His bravery and heroic swordsmanship in the battle earned him the name of Tegh Bahadur. (Tegh is a "sword" in Punjabi).
- He was married to Mata Gujri at Kartarpur in 1632 and he subsequently left for Bakala near Amritsar.
3. Selection as the ninth Sikh Guru
- After Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru, the guruship became hereditary.
- Guru Ram Das was succeeded by his son Guru Arjan.
- After Guru Arjan was executed by the Mughal emperor Jahangir, the Guru's young son, Guru Hargobind, became the sixth Guru of the Sikhs.
- After Guru Hargobind's eldest son, Baba Gurditta, died young, the Guruship went to Gurditta's 14- year-old son, Guru Har Rai, in 1644.
- Guru Har Rai remained in the seat until his death at the age of 31 in 1661.
- Guru Har Rai was succeeded by his five-year-old son, Guru Har Krishan.
- The eighth Guru has the shortest tenure among all the Sikh Gurus and passed away in Delhi in 1664 before he could reach the age of eight.
- It is said that when asked about his successor, Guru Har Krishan only said "Baba Bakala".
4. Significance in Sikh History
- At that time, Tegh Bahadur, who was the younger brother of Baba Gurditta (and the granduncle of Guru Har Kishan), was living in Bakala.
- He had built a "bhora" (basement) in his house, where he spent most of his time in mediation.
- In the ancient Indian tradition, "bhoras" were considered ideal for mediation as they were soundproof and had an even temperature.
- But since Guru Har Krishan had not directly named Guru Tegh Bahadur, many claimants cropped up.
- According to lore, Makhan Shah, a wealthy trader whose ship was caught in a storm at sea, had prayed that if it was saved the would give 500 gold mohurs (coins) to the reigning guru.
- But when he reached Delhi, he learnt that Har Krishan had passed away and there was a line of claimants at Bakala.
- It is said that he decided that whoever was the real guru would ask him for the exact sum he had promised in his prayers.
- He had exhausted his options when he was told about Tegh Bahadur meditating in the "bhora".
- Tegh Bahadur took look at Makhan Shah and told him that he had promised 500 coins.
- It's not wise to test your guru, An ecstatic Makhan Shah is said to have run to the rooftop and shouted "Guru ladho re! (I have found the guru!)".
- Soon afterwards, Tegh Bahadur moved to Kiratpur Sahib. In 1665, on the invitation of Raja Bhim Chand of Kahlur who was his devotee, he bought land at Makhowal village and renamed it Chak Nanki (now Anandpur Sahib) after his mother.
5. The Times of Guru Tegh Bahadur
- Aurangzeb was the ruling Mughal emperor at the time. There were conversions either through a government order or coercion.
- When people were charged with some crime or misdemeanour, they would be pardoned if they converted.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur who started travelling extensively through Malwa and Majha, first came into conflict with the authorities when he started questioning the tradition of worshipping at the graves of pirs and faqirs.
- He preached against this practice and urged his followers to be "nirbhau"(fearless) and nirvair (without envy).
- His sermons delivered in a mix of Sadukhri and Braj languages were widely understood from Sindh to Bengal.
- The metaphors he used resonated with people across North India.
- Guru Tegh Bahadur often alluded to Panchali (Draupadi) and Ganika in his preachings declaring that Hindustan could regain its piety if it took refuge in one God.
6. The Guru and the Raja of Amer
- As his message began to spread, a local chieftain at Dhamtan near Jind in present-day Haryana picked him up on fabricated charges of collecting revenue from villagers and took him to Delhi.
- But Raja Ram Singh of Amer, whose family was a long-time follower of the Gurus intervened and kept him in his house for about two months until he convinced Aurangzeb that the Guru was a holy man with no political ambitions.
- Earlier, Raja Jai Singh of Amer had donated land for a dharamshala where the Gurus could rest while visiting Delhi. The Present-day Bangla Sahib Gurdwara is built on this site.
7. Guru's travels beyond Punjab
- A little more than a year after setting up his headquarters in present-day Anandpur Sahib in 1665, the Guru spent four-odd years travelling up to Dhaka in the east and going up to Puri in Odisha.
- He also visited Mathura, Agra, Benares, Allahabad and Patna, where he left his wife and her brother in the care of the local devotees. Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna in 1666.
- While the Guru was on the way back from Dhaka, Raja Ram Singh sought his help to broker a truce with the Ahom King.
- Gurdwara Dhubri Sahib on the banks of the Brahmaputra commemorates this peace accord. The Guru was also honoured at Guwahati's Kamakhya temple.
- According to historians, the Guru rushed back to Punjab on learning about the increasing atrocities by the Mughals.
8. The Martyrdom of the Guru
- Back in Anandpur Sahib, the Guru was approached by Kirpa Das, a Kashmiri Brahmin who sought his protection with a group from the Valley.
- Kirpa Das told Guru Tegh Bahadur that local chieftains had told him to convert or face retribution.
- The Guru assured Kirpa Das and his group of his protection and told them to tell the Mughals that they should first try to convert the Guru.
- Aurangzeb considered this an open challenge to his authority.
- According to the "Sri Gur Bilas Patshahi Dasmi', a biography of Guru Gobind Singh by Kavi Sukha Singh written in 1797, the Guru himself went to Delhi where he revealed his identity and was arrested by the Mughals.
- The Aurangzeb ordered the public execution of the Guru on November 11, 1675, after the Guru refused to embrace Islam.
- He was tortured to death and beheaded at Chandni Chowk along with his three companions, Bhai Mati Das, who was torn apart, Bhai Sati Das, who was burnt alive and Bhai Dyala ji, who was put in boiling water.
- Till the very end, they were asked to change their minds, but they remained resolute. Gurdwara Sis Ganj was built on the site on which they were executed in 1783.
- There is some confusion regarding the date of Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom.
- Until a decade or so ago, it used to be observed on November 11.
- However, some scholars have since sought to introduce the Nanakshahi calendar to fix dates of important events in Sikh history, the Guru's martyrdom has since been observed on November 24.
- The Islamic Hijri calendar was in force when Guru Ji was beheaded.
- Later, Sikh historians started relying on the lunisolar Bikrami Samvat Calender traditionally used in the Indian Subcontinent. And then the British introduced the Gregorian calendar. This led to some confusion.
- A few years ago, some Sikh scholars sought to introduce the Nankshahi calendar to fix the dates of important historical events in Sikh history but there was no unanimity on it.
- Describing his father in Vichitra Natak, Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru who founded the Khalsa wrote: "Dharam het Saka jin kiya, sees diya par sir nahin diya (He sacrificed his life for dharma, he gave up his head but not his honour)".
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For Prelims: Guru Tegh Bahadur, Kirpa Das, Aurangzeb, Guru Ram Das,
For Mains: 1. Discuss the significant contributions of the Guru Tegh Bahadur to the Sikh community. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CAPF 2021)
1. The early Sikh Gurus were religious preachers and did not interfere in politics but Guru Arjan extended his good wishes for the rebel prince Khusrau.
2. Guru Arjan attempted to organize the finances by introducing the system of more or less compulsory 'spiritual tribute' to be collected by his agents called Masands.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
2. With regard to the Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, which of the following statements are correct? (UGC NET 2020)
(A) Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs grew up to excel in both martial arts and spiritual leadership.
(B) He reinterpreted the Sikh ideologies to justify military action
(C) Prince Muazzam, the governor of Kabul reached an understanding with the Sikhs and gave them refuge.
(D) Prince Muazzam was subsequently ordered to expel the Sikh Guru who had taken refuge in his province, but he refused to comply with.
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
1. (A), (C) and (D) only 2. (B) and (D) only 3. (A), (B) and (C) only 4. (C) and (D) only
Answer: 3
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Source: The Indian Express
GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
1. Context
US President Joe Biden is to visit Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, on Tuesday (April 11, 2023) to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
2. What is the Good Friday Agreement?
- The Good Friday Agreement was signed on April 10, 1998, between factions of Northern Ireland, and the governments of Britain and Ireland, to end decades of violence in Northern Ireland among those who wished to remain with the United Kingdom (UK) and those who wanted to join Ireland.
- The negotiators included then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, then-Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, George Mitchell, a former Democratic senator who acted as the envoy of then-US President Bill Clinton, and eight parties from Northern Ireland.
- Northern Ireland was created in 1921 and remained part of the UK when the rest of Ireland became an independent state.
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This created a split in the population between unionists, who wish to see Northern Ireland stay within the UK, and nationalists, who want it to become part of the Republic of Ireland.
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The Good Friday Agreement is based on the idea of cooperation between communities.
3. Historical Perspective of Northern Ireland Conflict
- Geographically, Northern Ireland is part of Ireland. Politically, it is a part of the United Kingdom.
- Ireland, long dominated by its bigger neighbor, broke free about 100 years ago after centuries of colonization and an uneasy union.
- Twenty-six of its 32 countries became independent, Roman Catholic majority countries. Six counties in the north, which have a protestant majority, stayed British.
- Northern Ireland's Catholic minority experienced discrimination in jobs, housing, and other areas in the Protestant-run state.
- As a result, people on both the Catholic and Protestant sides formed armed groups that escalated the violence with bombings and shootings.
- By the 1990s, after secret talks and with the help of diplomatic efforts by Ireland, Britain, and the United States, the combatants reached a peace deal.
- The 1998 Good Friday accord led to the cooling down of the armed struggle and established a Catholic-Protestant power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.
- The question of Northern Ireland's ultimate status was postponed. It was decided that it would remain British as long as that was the majority's wish. But, the scope of the referendum was not sidelined.
4. What were the terms of the Good Friday Agreement?
- By the mid-1990s, momentum for peace was building. In April 1998, the negotiators gathered at Hillsborough Castle outside Belfast.
- Eventually, a deal was thrashed out, which many believe is deliberately ambiguous on several fronts.
- It is in a way allowed all groups to stick to the points most precious to them while agreeing on ending violence.
- Thus, Northern Ireland would remain part of the UK but could join Ireland if, in a referendum, a majority of people on both sides voted for it.
- People born in Northern Ireland could have Irish or British nationality or both.
- Weapons by paramilitary groups would have to be decommissioned, but people in jail for violence so far would be released.
- Northern Ireland would get a new government, where both the nationalists and unionists would be represented.
- This devolved government would sit at Stormont and have powers over most local matters, while the UK government would look after security, foreign policy, tax laws, immigration rules, etc.
- On May 22, 1998, a referendum was held in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the agreement was approved by 94 percent of voters in Ireland and 71 percent in Northern Ireland.
5. What is the current status of this agreement?
- After Brexit, Northern Ireland became the only part of the UK to have a land border with an EU country the Republic of Ireland.
- Checks are required on goods transported between the UK and the EU's markets.
- But both sides agreed this should not happen on the Irish border, to protect the Good Friday Agreement, because it was feared the cross-border cooperation could be threatened if new checkpoints were set up.
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For Prelims: Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland Conflict, Brexit, United Kingdom (UK), Referendum.
For Mains:1. What is Good Friday Agreement and discuss the historical perspective of the Northern Ireland Conflict?
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Source: The Indian Express
