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Babri Masid Revisited:LIBERHAN IGNITES U.P. POLITICS, by Insaf, 26 Nov, 09 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 26 November 2009

Babri Masid Revisited

LIBERHAN IGNITES U.P. POLITICS

By Insaf

Babri Masjid is once again dominating the political scene in Uttar Pradesh--- and beyond. All the key players in the State are trying to get maximum political mileage out of the Liberhan Commission report tabled in Parliament last Tuesday. UP Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati has been quick to dismiss the Action Taken Report as leepa poti (hush up). At a press conference in Lucknow, she accused the Congress of being “equally responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid.” It was a result of “active connivance of the then Congress government at the Centre with the BJP,” she said and warned the people to be aware of both the parties “divisive politics.” Likewise, rival Samajwadi Party has not wasted any time to woo back the Muslim voters in the State. Its General Secretary Amar Singh took strong exception to BJP benches shouting “Jai Shri Ram” when the report was tabled in the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). He walked across and not only accosted its Chief Whip SS Ahluwalia but later started yelling: “Ya Ali”. Remember, the House proceedings are live on TV.

In the meantime, Samajwadi Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has launched a massive exercise to regain the support of the Muslim community, a section of which has ditched him and turned back to the Congress. For one, “Maulana Mulayam” has directed the presidents of his party units to hold meetings in Muslims-dominated areas and demand the reconstruction of the Babri Masjid among other issues such as lifting of the ban on SIMI and publishing of the Sri Krishna Commission report. This is in addition to sending the message across the State that he has distanced himself from former UP Chief Minister and BJP leader Kalyan Singh, the man behind the demolition of the Babri Masjid. On its part the Congress has questioned Mayawati’s moral right to accuse it of hushing up the Babri case saying she had taken help of the BJP to become Chief Minister. In all this the BJP is keeping an aggressive posture and is unapologetic. Guess, the Babri Masjid will play a major role in the UP Assembly elections in 2012. 

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Jharkhand Goes To Polls

Jharkhand, reeling under a Rs-2000 crore scam by its former Chief Minister Madhu Koda has finally gone to the polls. On Wednesday last, the first phase of elections for 26 Assembly seats passed off peacefully despite a poll boycott call by the CPI (Maoists).  About 54 per cent voter turnout was recorded amidst tight security involving about 60,000 security personnel. Other than the Maoists threat, the State has the dubious reputation of having had six chief ministers in a span of just nine years. This time around the major players are in a three-corner fight-- the BJP-led NDA, which had 36 seats in the 81-member Assembly, the Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (of former CM Babulal Marandi) combine and former Chief Minister Shibhu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Lalu Prasad’s RJD is fighting the polls in alliance with Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP after the two failed to convince the Congress to join hands. To top it all, Madhu Koda isn’t giving up. He has put up six candidates, including his wife Gita, on behalf of Jharkhand Navanirman Morcha. The next phase of polling is on December 2.   

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Relief For Bundelkhand

Drought-hit Bundelkhand region has caught the Centre’s attention at long last. On Thursday last, the Union Cabinet cleared a special package worth Rs 7,266 crore for its integrated development beginning 2009-10. Thanks to Rahul Gandhi and his determined bid to revive the Congerss in UP. The three-year package will cover seven districts of Uttar Pradesh and six of Madhya Pradesh. It envisages optimization of water resources through rain harvesting and proper utilization of the river systems. Animal husbandry and dairy activities are to be expanded as an ancillary activity to enhance the farmers’ income. Besides, to meet the gaps in availability of funds and to give a boost to the drought mitigation package an additional Rs 3,450 crore assistance will be provided to the two States. But the State governments will need to identify their agencies to draw up the project proposals. That done, a monitoring group headed by the Planning Commission members of the two States will oversee the package’s implementation.    

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Punjab, Himachal Look To Israel

Israel appears to be the hot destination for NDA-ruled States this season. Chief Ministers Parkash Singh Badal of Punjab and Prem Kumar Dhumal of Himachal Pradesh have taken a high-level delegation to get first-hand knowledge about agricultural irrigation technology on display at the International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition there. Apparently, the severe drought this year has underlined the need for improving water use in the country, especially Punjab which is one of the largest producers in the country, and Himachal which leads all others in horticulture. In 2006, former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje had visited Israel and subsequently the State took up olive cultivation with its assistance. Gujarat and Haryana governments too are in touch with Israeli experts. 

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Bihar Gets Good Chit

Backward Bihar has reason to be happy. It’s got a pat on its back from unexpected quarters. On Wednesday last, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia noted with satisfaction that the State had made progress in infrastructure, education and health sectors and “recorded desired economic growth” in the past four years. And, if it kept the momentum, the State could achieve 8-9 per cent growth, he added at a book release function in Patna. However, for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the kind words were not enough. He cautioned that a State government can chalk out plan but the real power was vested with the Centre. He hoped that separate coalition regimes at the Centre and Bihar would not have any bearing on Central assistance to the State! Using the UPA Government’s favorite jargon he said: “let there be inclusive growth,” prompting Ahluwalia to commit: “whatever promises UPA-I could not fulfil, UPA-II will.” Well done Nitish!

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Goodbye To Delhi Tongas

Delhi roads shall soon bid goodbye to its traditional tongas. Its Municipal Corporation has decided to phase out the horse-drawn carriages in the next two months. The rationale: there is no demand or space for these slow-moving vehicles in the city in today’s age and time. Besides, the animals are subjected to cruelty by their owners —long hours of work with no proper food. But what happens to the 232 licensed tonga owners and 26 others who have been plying without permission? The MCD has an answer: it has earmarked Rs 35 lakhs for rehabilitation and shall provide tehbazari (mobile temporary vendors) rights other than financial aid to purchase auto-rickshaws. Some owners, however, suggest an alternate-- rather than banning them, “why can’t some stretches be dedicated to offer joy rides like the Victorias in Mumbai?” After all the tongas were introduced during emperor Shahjahan’s rule and with the ban wouldn’t the country’s capital lose a slice of its heritage? ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

 

 

 

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