Round The States

New Delhi, 1 July 2010

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Chhattisgarh & Kashmir

CENTRE LEARNS NO LESSONS

By Insaf

Chhattisgarh and Kashmir have cast a sinister shadow over the Centre’s strategy to tackle internal security threats—be it the Maoists or the anti-national elements. Developments in the two States have also unwittingly put a big question mark on the functioning/handling of the country’s para-military forces: Is the CRPF an “uncontrolled force” mindlessly firing at civilians, as alleged by the J&K Government in curfew-ridden Kashmir Valley? Or is its personnel mere ‘sitting ducks’ for the trigger-happy Maoists in the jungles of Bastar due to a lack of cohesive policy? Sadly, the Centre appears to have learnt no lessons from the past. The Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram, continues to pass the buck on to the States. Revisit deployment of the Central forces and avoid criticizing New Delhi is the best that he offers time and again.    

Just over two months after the Dantewada massacre of 76 CRPF personnel, the Maoists struck again in Chhattisgarh, killing 27 CRPF personnel in Narayanpur district on Tuesday last. The 63-member CRPF contingent, which was returning to its camp after a road-opening, was an easy target for the Maoists. Reports yet again suggest that the Special Operation Procedures, such as guarding the heights and not taking the same route back, were not followed. Additionally, intelligence input of an attack was taken lightly. While Chief Minister Raman Singh held a meeting with senior officials to further “fine tune” the strategy to fight the Maoists, Chidambaram on Wednesday last suggested that deployments “needed to be revisited.” The State government, he advised must deploy Central forces keeping in mind only operational objectives or developmental requirements.

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Valley Under Curfew

Meanwhile, Kashmir is once again on the boil, forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to hold a meeting with Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony and National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon on Wednesday last to review the situation in the Valley, where peace and reconciliation have taken a severe hit this past week. Major towns in north and south Kashmir were placed under curfew, following widespread protests and riots against the killing of three protesters in CRPF firing. The Hurriyat took advantage of the situation and led the protests. In fact, the situation in Sopore town, once a hotbed of militancy, was reminiscent of the early 90s when pro-freedom slogans rent the air. A rattled Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was not a simple law and order problem and that anti-national forces had come together to foment trouble. He appealed to parents not to allow their wards on the streets and indulge in stone-pelting when curfew was imposed. Chidambaram agreed that anti-national elements had joined hands with the LeT to create violence. He also reiterated the Centre’s full support to the State government.   

Of considerable interest is the assessment of the Army Chief, Gen V K Singh, on the situation in the Valley. In an interview to a national daily on Tuesday last he said: “I feel there is a great requirement for political initiatives that take all people together. Militarily, we have brought the overall internal security situation in J&K firmly under control. Now the need is to handle things politically. The J&K police, too, needs to become more active.” The Army chief maintained that the terror infrastructure in Pakistan remains intact and that there are 34 “active” and eight “holding terror-training camps still operational across the border. Moreover, an estimated 500-600 terrorists’ are still active in J&K, with close to 50 per cent of them being of “foreign origin”! About three soldiers are deployed along the borders as well as the hinterland for counter insurgency.

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Bihar CM Woos Muslims

Bihar’s JD (U) Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, is going all out to woo the Muslim vote bank, for the forthcoming Assembly elections this year-end. This follows some  “undesirable” advertisements applauding Narendra Modi, his BJP counterpart in Gujarat for his help to the State Government in providing relief to flood victims. His party has assured recognition to over 2,400 madrasas and even demanded scheduled caste status for over one crore Dalit Muslims in the State. It has noted that so far only 1,127 madrasas have got recognition and none since 1994. The pro-Muslim agenda is also being followed by his Rajya Sabha MP, Ali Anwar, who organized a national convention of the All India Pasmanda (OBC) Muslim Mehaz (AIPMM) inviting Muslim clerics and intellectuals from across the country. Of the 1.35 crore Muslims in Bihar, one crore are stated to be Pasmanda (OBC) and the JD(U) proposes to take up their cause as per the Ranganath Mishra Commission report. How successful will the JD(U) be in reinstating its secular credentials will be known only by what chunk of the 16 per cent Muslim votes it garners in the Assembly poll.   

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BJP & Orissa Riots

The BJP has cut a sorry figure in Orissa. It has indirectly been indicted for its role in the Kandhamal anti-Christian riots in 2008. On Monday last, a fast track court sentenced BJP legislator Manoj Pradhan, one of the prime-accused in the riots, to seven years rigorous imprisonment for the murder of a Dalit Christian, Parikhita Nayak. Other than Pradhan, who is an MLA from G Udaygiri, which bore the brunt of the communal violence, the court also meted out similar punishment to his accomplice. Recall that the two-month long anti-Christian riots which broke out in Kandhamal district following the killing of the 80-year-old VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati claimed over 40 lives and witnessed burning of 4,600 houses and over 150 churches and prayer houses. Thousands were rendered homeless and Orissa and the BJP were under international glare. The court's verdict was welcomed by the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) as a "significant boost to the cause of justice in Orissa.” It, however, hopes that the State Government ensures that all perpetrators and inciters of the riots are brought to justice, that victims are rehabilitated properly and that community reconciliation is pursued.  

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Cong Readies For Bengal Poll

The Congress is busy putting its house in order in West Bengal. Months ahead of the crucial Assembly polls next year, if not earlier, the party has a new PCC chief, legislative party leader Manas Ranjan Bhunia. He took over as PCC chief from Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who stepped down on Saturday last on grounds of “heavy responsibilities” at the Centre. While that may be the official reason, many see the change in guard as an offshoot of the party’s recent drubbing at the civic elections. Taking over his new assignment, Bhunia, an MLA from West Midnapore and a close aide of Mukherjee, said he would work hard to strengthen the party and importantly its alliance with the Trinamool Congress. It is no secret that the two parties have had problems in seat-sharing formula leading to speculation whether the electoral alliance would last. For Bhunia the real challenge is removing all hindrances to put up a united fight against the Marxists and defeat them. ---INFA

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