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Maoists’ Chhattisgarh Strike:CENTRE SHOOTS FRESH ADVISORY, by Insaf,16 July 2009 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 16 July 2009

Maoists’ Chhattisgarh Strike

CENTRE SHOOTS FRESH ADVISORY

By Insaf

The Maoists bloody strike in Chhattisgarh has once again brought into focus the glaring communication gap between the Centre and States, other than suggesting that the war against Naxalism is far from over. Scoffing at the UPA Government’s recent ban, the Maoists laid siege on Rajnandgaon district, killing 36 security personnel, including an SP, on Sunday last. While Chief Minister Raman Singh, announced a relief package for the families of those killed and extra allowance for the security forces, the Union Home Ministry averred the killings could have been averted had its standard operating procedures (SOPs) been followed. It thus dashed off a fresh advisory to all Naxal-affected States asking their police to guard against walking into death traps and carry out operations according to their own plans rather than those of the Naxals, as was the case in Rajnandgaon.

With security forces invariably becoming sitting ducks for the Maoists cadres, the Centre insists that the States ensure that its SOPs be strictly followed. These include: the counter-Naxal forces tread on foot or cycles instead of vehicles in extremist-infested jungles to steer clear of landmines; avoid reinforcements during a Naxal attack for fear of subsequent ambushes, adopt multiple-attack strategy; stick to guerrilla warfare only; use different approach and return routes through a Naxalite stronghold. The standard drill sounds good on paper, but can it win the war? After Lalgarh and now Chhattisgarh, the latest take on the Maoists plan is scary -- they are building a corridor through three States, Andhra Pradesh-Orissa and Chhattisgarh, allowing the cadres and arms to travel freely from the coast to the deep inland.  

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Darjeeling On Boil Again

West Bengal’s picturesque Darjeeling Hills are on the boil again, with the militant Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) flexing its muscles and launching an indefinite bandh since Monday last. Initially the stir was to force the State Government to take action against culprits, two senior police officers and 35 GNLF cadres for alleged violence against its activists in Panighatta during a rally. However, with the bandh picking up steam, the agitation is back to its demand for a separate Gorkhaland. The GJM has asked schools to send boarders back and tourists to leave.  Worse, the blockade in Siliguri and the NH31A has hit normal life in adjoining Sikkim, forcing the civil administration to take stock of vegetables, fuel, grocery etc, which can at best last only a week. While Kolkata has informed the GJM about New Delhi’s willing to talk and to call off the strike, its chief Bimal Gurung has turned down the offer asserting, “mere invitation for talks is not enough, there have to be positive results.” What now?    

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States Told To Reserve Land

All States have been asked to add a new entrant to their list of ‘reservations’ by the Centre to make the country slum-free. Kick starting its latest scheme, Rajiv Awas Yojana, the Union Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Selja Kumari has written to all Chief Ministers “to consider amending town planning, urban area development, municipal and other related laws to provide for reservation of land for affordable housing, basic amenities and informal sector activities of the poor.”  Thus, within the next three months while the CMs are expected to create a database of slums in their cities, the Centre is to work on a legal framework wherein property rights are accorded to slum-dwellers and the urban poor. The Centre expects to complete this “inclusive cities” project in its “five-year period” rule.    

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CPM’s Kerala Mess Sorted?

The curtain has finally come down on Kerala’s long-drawn unsavoury CPM faction feud with Chief Minister V S Achutanandan having to pay a price for sounding the bugle against corruption. The Central Committee removed him from the Politburo on Sunday last on charges of ‘indiscipline” and violating organizational principle. Adding insult to injury it gave a clean chit to State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan saying he “was not involved in any corrupt practice whatsoever, and that the Party would fight the case politically and legally” (SNC Lavalin power deal). Achutanandan mercifully has been allowed to continue as CM on grounds of being “the senior-most leader who has made a big contribution to the party in Kerala.” Obviously, the CPM top brass has made a note of the pro-Achutanandan demonstrations held in parts of State and does not want to start another controversy.    

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Delhi Metro Setback

Delhi’s Metro pride took a beating last week when five workers and an engineer were killed and 15 others injured after a launching girder gave way at a construction site in the South district. Worse, three cranes collapsed the next day while clearing the debris injuring another five workers. Clearly, it was the worst-ever mishap in the history of Delhi Metro, which in these past 10 years has maintained high standards of work. Another casualty was inflicted when the much-venerated “Metro Man” Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Chief E Sreedharan resigned within hours taking “full moral responsibility,” upholding the best traditions of personal probity. His resignation was rightly rejected. Back at work, he is now busy investigating what went wrong. Equally crucial is whether the project will roll out successfully for the Commonwealth Games next year.  

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Gujarat To Amend Prohibition Law

Under severe attack for the worst-ever hooch tragedy in Gandhi’s land, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi proposes to toughen the prohibition law. After 150 deaths in the “dry” State last week, his Cabinet has approved “The Bombay Prohibition (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2009,” wherein in case of deaths, anyone found manufacturing or distributing the spurious liquor, shall on conviction be punished with death or imprisonment for life, among other changes. However, the amendments are soft on bootleggers supplying Indian Made Foreign Liquor. Therefore, even as the Bill is all set to be introduced in the ongoing Assembly session, Modi should note that a piece of legislation alone will not suffice. He must address the basic question: How can illicit liquor trade flourish in a State, where prohibition is under force?  

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Booming Liquor Business In J&K

Meanwhile, as Gujarat grapples with its illicit liquor trade business, Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing the mushrooming of wine shops and bars in hotels and restaurants. According to official figures, liquor business is emerging as the major source of income for the State Government. In 2006-2007 it earned Rs 212.08 crore which rose to about Rs 245 crore last year. Needless to say, the consumption of liquor in Kashmir has increased with the tally being 4 lakh bottles in 2007-2008. The Jammu region, however, appears to be the big guzzler, with 191.51 lakh bottles including 53.81 lakh beer bottles being consumed in 2007. Thus, keeping the State Government Excise Department on its toes, issuing more and more new licenses. Hic!

 
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

 

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