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.
* * * *
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.
* * * *
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.
* * * *
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.
* * * *
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!
* * * *
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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