Round The States
New Delhi, 28 July 2011
Mining Scandal
CM QUITS, WHO NEXT?
By Insaf
The first Southern bastion of the BJP in Karnataka took a big
hit when its Chief Minister Yeddiyurappa kicking and screaming agreed to resign
on Sunday. This followed his indictment by the State Lokayukta Justice Santosh
Hegde in the illegal mining scam. Also caught in its cross-hairs are three of
his Cabinet colleagues including businessmen-turned-politicians, Bellary’s infamous Reddy
brothers and a Congress MP. The Lokayukta’s 25,228 page report details dubious
deals by Yeddiyurappa’s family including illegal pay-offs to them by mining
companies to hasten clearances of pending applications. His sons reportedly
sold a piece of land for Rs.20 crores and a firm ‘donated’ Rs.10 crores to a family
trust. Adding to Yeddiyurappa’s woes, the Lokayukta has recommended criminal
proceedings against him and his Ministers. More, shocking, the report pegs
losses to the State Exchequer of Rs 16,085 due to rampant mining over four
years (2006-2010) and recommends the amount be recovered from the guilty, politicians,
babus and companies.
Significantly, faced with a Hobson’s choice, the report left
no option for the BJP but to sacrifice Yeddiyurappa. Failing which its high
voltage campaign against the various scams of the Congress-led UPA at the
Centre would have led to a loss of face and credibility. This is not all.
Notwithstanding a new Chief Minister, the BJP realizes that the going for it is
going to get tough in the State. Thus, it has now upped the ante against JD(S)
and Congress leaders including JD(S) Kumaraswamy who was the Chief Minister in
2006 of being involved in various mining scandal. And is demanding that the
Lokayukta reopen cases during Union Foreign Minister Krishna rule as chief
Minister. It remains to be seen whether the State Governor HR Bharadwaj who has
been taking pot-shots against Yeddiyurappa will now have the last laugh and
recommend President’s rule!
* * * *
Chhattisgarh’s
Anti-Naxal Law
States hit by Maoists extremism, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and
Orissa have knocked at the Centre’s doors to find a way out over the Salwa Judum logjam following the Supreme
Court judgment disbanding it. Already, the Chhattisgarh Government has not only
absorbed Special Police Officers (SPOs) into the State’s police force but also plans
to bring in a new law to govern SPOs in their fight against Maoists in the
State. Importantly, it is all set to raise a tribals' armed force by introducing
the Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Force Ordinance, 2011 soon. The new law
would enable the State to hire tribals who have knowledge of the local area,
topography and language to assist security forces in combating Naxal violence.
Interestingly, the State Government’s suggestion seems to have caught the eyes of
a sympathetic Union Home Minister Chidambaram, who made plain that the Apex courts’
ruling would impact anti-Naxal operations.
* * * *
Cash Strapped West Bengal
Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal Government
cannot execute the Chief Minister’s much-touted mega development package for Red
zone, Jangal Mahal which comprises West Midnapore,
Bankura and Purulia districts. Simply, because the State is cash strapped for
funds. Besides, the scheme faces two
hurdles. Given the State’s acute financial crisis the law does not permit such
expenditure. Two, the projects were announced with much-fanfare. Without
getting the State’s finance department approval. Indeed, so ‘broke’ is the
Government that it is being forced to raise debts even for paying salaries and
pensions. Thus, Mamata’s dream of a setting up a national voluntary force
comprising 10000 local youngsters as special police constables has gone for a
toss. Politically speaking, as this development package is one of the two vital
components of the Chief Minister’s Maoists policy along-with holding peace
talks with the militants, it is a moot point how Mamata will now unravel the
financial mess and usher development in the State.
* * * *
Record Tourists In Kashmir
The cherry blossoms are blooming in Kashmir
once again as the State has recorded the highest tourism traffic this summer.
Visitors including foreigners now total over eight lakhs. Importantly, this is
the first peaceful summer after three years of violence street protest. This is
not all. It is also heartening to see the separatist leaders welcoming vacationers
with open arms. Importantly, Srinagar
is all set to host its own literature festival in September. On the lines of
the Jaipur Lit Festival, the three days Harud
Lit Fest will have book readings, inter-active session with authors and
cultural programmes. It also plans to promote local Kashmiri writers. It
remains to be seen whether this milestone journey to normalcy continues as
winter approaches.
* * * *
Haryana’s Land
Acquisition On Hold
The UP land acquisition drama is now resonating in
neighbouring Haryana. Despite winning fulsome praise and accolades for its land
acquisition policy as the country’s “best” and most “farmer-friendly”, the
State Government has put all land acquisitions on hold. Announcing this Chief
Minister Hooda asserted that no land would be acquired till Parliament passed a
composite Central legislation on land acquisition. In fact, taking a cue from its
brethren in UP, farmers from Ambala, Panipat and Rohtak are busy protesting.
Adding to Hooda’s headache is Haryana’s ongoing feud with Punjab.
All over the construction of a wall on the Hansi-Butana canal to protect
villagers from flood waters in both States. Calling it hogwash, Punjab leaders sought the wall’s demolition as it would
flood several villagers in the State. The war of words continues.
* * * *
Rajasthan’s
Birthing Scam
Rajasthan has turned child birth on its head by including 32
men among beneficiaries of various women welfare schemes in the State including
the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for
each delivery. Under the scheme Rs 1400 is given to a woman for each birth. More
scandalous, various centres in the Udaipur district show some women having
delivered two to three babies since December 2010-July 2011! In one sub-centre
in the district, out of the 222 delivery records, 67 entries were fake causing
a loss of nearly Rs.1.5 lakhs to the State. Needless to say the State
Government has ordered scrutiny of all the JSY records. Undoubtedly, there
seems to be no ‘deliverance’ from the abysmal delivery system of various
schemes. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature
Alliance)
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