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.
* * * *
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?
* * * *
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.
* * * *
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.
* * * *
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.
* * * *
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?
* * * *
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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