Home arrow Archives arrow Round the States arrow Round The States - 2010 arrow Nitish-Lalu-Cong Bout:OLD PROMISES, NEW CASTE EQUATIONS , by Insaf, 21 Oct, 2010
 
Home
News and Features
INFA Digest
Parliament Spotlight
Dossiers
Publications
Journalism Awards
Archives
RSS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nitish-Lalu-Cong Bout:OLD PROMISES, NEW CASTE EQUATIONS , by Insaf, 21 Oct, 2010 Print E-mail

Round The States

New Delhi, 21 October 2010


Nitish-Lalu-Cong Bout

OLD PROMISES, NEW CASTE EQUATIONS

By Insaf


All eyes are riveted on the Bihar State Assembly elections. The ballot boxes have been sealed after the first phase of polling. But the political slug fest continues in poll-bound Bihar. The first to up the ante against NDA’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. In his whirlwind electioneering in the State, he questioned Nitish’s secular credentials by stating that it was all a farce given that his Party was a key ally of BJP’s Hindutva mascot Narendra Modi. Dittoed mother Sonia. The Prime Minister, who followed next, accused Nitish for failing to give an impetus to development in the State despite large Central fund doles. A livid Chief Minister not only accused Manmohan Singh of adopting ‘hit and run’ tactics but also for commenting factual errors. Said he, “the ‘economic’ PM should not react as a politician.” Adding that the Central Funds were not the personal jaagir of the Congress but the tax payers’ hard earned money. Watch this space. The Bihar poll tamasha of gaali-galoch, jhoot-sach continues.

 

This is not all. There is hardly any raucous drum beating for or against any party as the electorate holds its cards close to its chest. Specially, against the backdrop that all parties are afflicted by large-scale dissidence. Also, the poll manifestoes are replete with the usual ghisa-pita promises. The JD(U)-led NDA alliance talks of the initiatives it took to develop the State during the last five years. The RJD-LJP combine, led by Lalu and Paswan, is seeking to demolish Nitish’s development plank, while the Congress’ tries to stage a climb-back under Rahul Gandhi. The Congress’ USP: a young and incorruptible future leadership. As of now, the emerging poll picture is, consolidation of the Other Backward Classes, a settled Muslim constituency, the rise of the extremely backward castes and the march of women following reservations in panchayats.

*                                               *                                               *                                      *

 

New Naxal Plan In AP

Naxalism is all set to rear its terror head again in Andhra Pradesh. Namely against the Polavaram dam and Telengana. This strategy of the Maoists was disclosed in diaries, letters and literature recovered from two camps in Khammam district which the security forces stumbled on during anti-Maoists operation. What is worrying the security forces is that a high-level meeting of north Telangana Special Zonal Committee of CPI (Maoist) leaders in August last proclaimed there intention to ‘re-establish’ their existence and dominate in Warrangal, Khamam and Karimnagar, alongwith igniting anti-dam sentiments. The Maoists plan to regain lost ground in Khamam district is to create a seamless corridor between Dantewada in Chhattisgarh and Malkangiri in Orissa. Needless to say, the State Government and its grey hounds would need to be vigilant and nimble footed.

*                                               *                                               *                                      *

Haryana’s Communal Harmony

 

Remember Haryana’s infamous Mirchpur district, which became synonymous with communal killings in April last. Wherein 18 Dalit houses were torched by 130 Jats resulting in Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi making a surprise visit, leading to the setting up of the justice Iqbal Singh Commission. What makes Mirchpur stand out today is that nine months later the two communities have begun a patch-up bid to improve ties. Both communities set up a 21-member Shanti Samanvay Samiti (Peace Committee) and decided to remain united and not speak against each other as it would vitiate cordial relations between them. Coming as it does prior to the one-man Commission’s visit to the district, it holds out portends of reconciliation and acceptance. Perhaps, Mirchpur will earn accolades for communal harmony between Jats and Dalits.

*                                               *                                               *                                      *

 

Punjab Is Upset

 

Punjab is upset that the US President intends giving the golden city Amritsar a miss on his forthcoming visit to India early next month. First, the stumbling block was that the US President would not use head scarf on his visit to the Golden Temple. According to centuries old Sikh traditions it is mandatory to cover the head with any cloth. To overcome this contentious issue and not hurt Sikh traditions the Shrimani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee has now appealed to Obama that he might cover his head with a cap or hat. Anything, but a military helmet. The Sikhs community’s apex body has also sent an SOS to influential Sikh NRIs in the US for appealing to Obama to keep his date with Amritsar. It remains to be seen whether Obama will partake the famous Sikh hospitality!

*                                               *                                               *                                      *

 

Orissa Awaits Clearance 

 

After the controversy over the Navi Mumbai Airport, the Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is giving sleepless nights to Orissa. The South Korean steel major POSCO proposed $12 billion iron and steel project in the State is the latest bone of contention. A new expert panel set up by the Environment Ministry has alleged violations of environmental laws and suggested scrapping all environmental clearances given to the 12 million tonne steel plant. Coming on the heels of the Ministry’s canceling the aluminum conglomerate Vedanta’s Bauxite mining plant in the Niyamgiri mountains has raised the hackles of the State Government. Even as a livid Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik refused to comment on the issue reports aver that he is likely to take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Given that the project was the raison d’ atre of Orissa’s industrialization.

*                                               *                                               *                                      *

 

Kerala’s Brews New Scheme

 

Tea estates in God’s own country Kerala can give a run for their money to Central and State Governments’ much tom-tommed mid-day meal schemes. In a record of sorts the various State Government run tea plantations have registered a record production simply by introducing free afternoon meals for their workers. If tea production in 2009 was 10 kgs, the production has touched 14 kgs post free meals. Not just this but the meal-at-noon incentive has led to many women turning up for work. A significant fall-out of this scheme was that the medical bills of the workers had drastically decreased as it motivated the workers to put their best foot forward. Importantly, to meet the expense of the free meals, the State has turned to innovative tourism.  Wherein vacant bungalows have been turned into guest houses to promote tea tourism. Clearly, the success of the brew has enthralled Kerala’s workers! ---INFA

 

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

 

< Previous   Next >
 
   
     
 
 
  Mambo powered by Best-IT