Round The States

New Delhi, 4 February 2010

Drive Against Corruption

STATES GIVEN CODE OF CONDUCT

By Insaf

The States and their Chief Ministers have been formally alerted by the Centre against the countrywide clamour against mounting corruption and demand for effective action. Regret has been conveyed to the CMs for their failure largely in not even adhering to the code of conduct on declaration of assets by the Ministers. The code for the States, which has been revised and is almost on par with that for the Centre, requires CMs and Ministers to disclose their “assets and liabilities: as also “business interests” for the previous year by August 31 every year. It also expects them to ensure that they and their families do not start or participate in business concerns engaged in supplying goods and services to the Government. The revised code, communicated to the States and Union Territories in December, also requires the CMs and Ministers to refrain from buying or selling to Government any movable property, except in public interest. The Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister are the authorities for ensuring the observance of the code by the Chief Ministers. The CMs are the authority for their Ministers. But will the code really be implemented? Or will it again remain a pious hope!

Telangana Panel Set-Up

The contentious issue of the formation of a separate Telangana State has moved half a step forward. On Wednesday last, the Centre announced a five-member committee headed by former Supreme Court judge B N Srikrishna, “to hold wide-ranging consultations with all sections of the people and all political parties and groups in Andhra Pradesh”. However, its terms of references are yet to be drafted and no time-frame has been mentioned. This apart, eyebrows have been raised over the wording of the official statement, which does not mention Telangana. This could be deliberate. Those supporting Telangana could infer the Centre had finally set the ball rolling on the formation of a new State. Those from Andhra/Rayalseema could interpret it as only “a continuation of the consultation process.” While both the Telangana Rashtriya Samithi and the Joint Action Committee are non-committal and await the panel’s terms of references, the BJP has rejected the committee, denouncing it as a “dilatory exercise.” It added: If at all the committee was to be set up, it should have been charged with identifying “the nitty-gritty of bifurcation.”

Nitish Under Attack

All is not well with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal (United). On Monday last, close aide and MP Ranjan Singh Lallan put in his papers as the State party president accusing Nitish of “behaving like a dictator”. He alleged that the CM was “ignoring and overlooking genuine party workers and treating the party as his pocket organization…” The rebel chief was closely associated with Nitish since long and had emerged as one of the most powerful men in Bihar politics, enjoying a great deal of say in bureaucratic reshuffle and decision-making. However, since the Lok Sabha election last May, the relationship sour as Nitish reportedly refused to allow him to interfere in the Government’s functioning. While Nitish is confident that everything will be sorted out and the people will finally decide, party President Sharad Yadav said he had kept the resignation pending and would resolve the issue within a fortnight. Time is crucial as the State goes to the polls this October.    

Meghalaya’s Record ‘CMs’

Meghalaya offers a novel way of keeping rebels at bay. Last week, Chief Minister DD Lapang elevated Chairman of Programme Implementation and Congress PCC chief and political advisor Friday Lyngdoh to the rank of Chief Minister. Two others (former chief ministers) are already enjoying the same rank—State Planning Board chairman Donkupar Roy and Economic Development Council Chairman JD Rymbai. In addition, the tiny north-eastern State has two Deputy Chief Ministers—Mukul Sangma and Bindo Lalong. While many see the latest move to quell rebellion against him by a section of congress MLAs, wanting more ministerial berths, Lapang defends his decision, saying it is not the first time the State has had more than one person enjoying the rank of CM. In the past, he enjoyed the status of CM when Rymbal was Chief Minister. What is more, the decision making powers lie only with Lapang. The other three CMs only enjoy the status, security, perks and emoluments which go with the post. With his hands tied in a downsized Cabinet of 12 ministers, the upgrading of the PCC chief should help Lapang neutralize any threat.      

Nation-wide Protests Over Bt Brinjal

The protest against Bt Brinjal, genetically modified crop is growing steadily louder across the country. A day-long fast was observed by thousands of protestors on Martyr’s day, in Bihar, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Kerala. The protestors emphasised that the hard-won independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi could not be lost to agri-business MNCs. They sought that the Centre remember the Mahatma’s dream of Hind Swaraj and uphold the food sovereignty of the country from the onslaught of technologies like GM seeds and not let the farmers lose control over their seed and agriculture. India is the second largest producer of brinjals, producing 3,600 varieties that are cheap and have high yields. However, tests have shown that the insertion of genetic material that makes the brinjal plant produces Bt toxin could have harmful effects on liver, kidney and other functions. The protests have forced Union Environment Minister to hold public hearings and he will take a final decision on Feb 10.  

Never-ending Woes Of CM Chavan

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan miseries are far from over. Other than handling the murky situation arising out of Shiv Sena’s threats against Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Gandhi, Chidambaram et al, he is yet to be let off the hook by the Election Commission for alleged electoral malpractice. Last week, Chavan had replied to the EC’s notice and denied paying money for news in local papers in his favour during the Assembly poll last year and undervaluing his poll expenses, as complained by the BJP. He also questioned the EC’s authority to seek his “comments” on the charges, as his expense account was the subject matter of an election petition pending before the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court. However, the Commission is keeping the suspense going. It will wait for the complainant BJP’s counter before taking further action on Chavan’s reply.

Goa A “Rape City”?

Is Goa the “rape city” of the country, as described by its Tourism Minister Mickey Pachecho? The answer could turn out to be in the affirmative, if the ruling Congress-NCP Government doesn’t get its act together. The recent case of a nine-year-old Russian girl raped on Arambol beach on Republic Day has made New Delhi sit up. The Congress high command has demanded a report from Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on the security steps being taken by his government and sought intelligence inputs on whether Russian tourists were being specifically targeted. Further, it has demanded the government prepare a report on police presence at different places and the progress of investigation in various cases. These include: a 14-year-old German girl allegedly raped by the son of a Goa minister in October 2008 and the body of a 19-year-old Russian girl found on rail tracks on May 2009. Recall, that Goa had hit the headlines after a British teen Scarlet Keeling was allegedly raped and found dead on a beach in February 2008. --INFA

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