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Mining Scandal :CM QUITS, WHO NEXT?, by Insaf, 28 July, 2011 Print E-mail

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!

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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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