Round The States

New Delhi, 4 November 2010  

‘Adarsh’ Scandal

MUMBAI EMBARRASES CONG

By Insaf

The aam admi’s ‘Adarsh’ party, the Congress, is caught in the vortex of corruption scams in Maharashtra. What makes the latest scandal most shocking is the fact that it pertains to making profit out of the Kargil martyrs. It all started with a media expose’ about how politicians and bureaucrats in connivance with the defence authorities cornered flats in the 31-storeyed plush Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society in Mumbai’s prime location. Scandalously, the building came up on a piece of land meant for the families of Kargil martyrs. Instead, the flats were allotted to politicians, bureaucrats and former Defence chiefs for a fraction of the market rate. The ‘king pin’ in the eye of the storm is the Congress Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, who in his earlier avatar as Revenue Minister had changed the allotment rules.

The scam underscores the litany of political big wigs, who have their fingers in the Adarsh building pie, starting with Chief Minister Chavan and including his predecessors, Vilasrao Deshmukh (Union Heavy Industries Minister) and Narayan Rane (Revenue Minister). It has now been revealed that the building not only violates building and environment laws but also poses a threat to close by vital military installations. True, the ruckus has led to the State Government to scrap the occupation certificate, cut power supply to the building and order a CBI probe. But the grave damage to the Congress at the State and the Centre cannot be undone.  Specially against the backdrop of the war of words that has erupted between Chavan, Deshmukh and Rane and the High Command’s inability to sack the Chief Minister on the facetious plea of ordering an internal probe and remaining eloquently silent at the AICC session in New Delhi. Even as the Damocles’ sword hangs over Chavan’s head, brand Congress has taken a severe beating.

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Jharkhand Jolt To Cong

Not only Maharashtra, Jharkhand too spells bad news for the Congress. Out of the blue, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha supremo, Babulal Marandi, has severed ties with his coalition partner. Needless to say Marandi’s cut-off will certainly pour cold water on the Congress’ attempts to capture power in the State. Worse, it could also upset the Grand Dame’s efforts to project itself as a party which has the wherewithal to be a ‘model’ coalition partner. Recall, the JVM and Congress had forged an alliance just prior to the Assembly elections in December last after dumping its Lok Sabha ally the JMM and bagged 25 out of 81 seats. With the JVM gone, the Congress will find it extremely difficult to position itself as a serious claimant to the chair in Ranchi. Clearly, this is music to the State BJP-JMM Government’s ears which can now breathe easy.

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Bihar’s Reply To Maoists

The dreaded Maoists have been given a thumb’s down by the people in poll-bound Bihar. Happily, the fourth phase of polling for the 42 Assembly seats in eight districts, including Naxal-hit Banka, Jamui, Munger and Lakhisarai, on Monday last recorded 51 per cent voter turnout. That the heat is on the Naxalites was further underlined when Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee asserted that security forces would remain in the Maoist-hit areas in West Bengal as well as in the other States. Notwithstanding Trinamool’s and Union Railway Minister Mamata’s demand for the withdrawal of security forces from the Maoist-hit areas in West Bengal. Undoubtedly, the Centre is clear: Naxalites will not be allowed a free run any longer. Happily for it, Bihar has shown that the people at large are fed up with the politics of the gun.

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Jairam Puts Andhra On Mat

After Maharashtra, its now the turn of Andhra Pradesh to feel the Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh’s heat. The Minister has sought an explanation from the State Government for failing to get its clearance on the ongoing construction at the Polavaram multipurpose project. It has also threatened it with a show-cause notice. Recall the irrigation-cum hydel power project on the Godavri River had been asked over a year-and-a-half ago to conduct public hearings in Chhattisgarh and Orissa following changes in the design of the project, which could submerge areas in both the States. In fact, it was because of these objections by both the States that the original design had to be changed, notwithstanding environment clearance given in 2005. However, despite persistent reminders to hold public hearings Andhra chose to turn a deaf ear resulting in today’s stalemate.

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Orissa Hits Back

The Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared an all-out war against the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre. His angst is directed at New Delhi’s growing apathy towards the State. More so, after the ‘Green’ blows on the State’s much-venerated POSCO and Vedanta projects, which would have generated employment for the poverty-stricken people. Patnaik plans to undertake his second one-and a half month long patyatra covering every nook and corner of the State beginning next week. In fact, Patnaik is leaving no stone unturned to alleviate the State’s aam admi’s sufferings. Recalling the harassing days of 1999 super cyclone wherein the State was cut off from the rest of the country, he has launched a pilot project for communication hubs in cyclone shelters as part of the State’s disaster management. The Sambhab project would be a two-way communication system which would be linked to the emergency operation centre. Clearly, Patnaik is undeterred by the Centre’s bullying tactics.

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Haryana’s Change of Heart

Wonders never cease, believe it or not. Haryana has turned a new leaf. It now loves girls! Importantly, the State is in the throes of a social revolution of sorts wherein it seems to have given up its hatred for the girl child. In the ‘beti bachao abhiyan’ the people in Sirsa district are busy performing the kuan pujan to pray for the long life of their newborn daughters. Reversing the centuries-old practice where women in the State would go to a well to pray for the well-being of a male child. Pertinently this turn-around has come at a time when the sex ratio was causing alarm by dipping to a five-year low with just 837 girls for 1000 boys in the age group of 0-6 years. This turn-around got a push up after four women athletes from Haryana won gold medals in the CWG. Will the other States follow suit?---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)