Round The States

New Delhi, 25 August 2011

Congress In Trouble

‘SPLIT’ IN ANDHRA, UP

By Insaf

 The troubles of the Congress continue to mount. Not only at the Centre where fasting Gandhian crusader Anna Hazare has cocked a snoop at the UPA Government over the adoption of his Jan Lokpal Bill but also in two States, Andhra and Uttar Pradesh. In Andhra, the Party’s erstwhile problem-child Jaganmohan Reddy now chief of the YSR Congress Party is giving his “alma matar” sleepless nights. This follows 24 MLAs and two Congress MPs resigning in support of Jagan over the CBI’s raids on his various companies and registering cases for owning disproportionate assets. Accusing the investigating agency of carrying out a “witch-hunt”, the last straw was when his late father and former Chief Minister YSR Reddy’s name was included among those charge-sheeted. However, the Congress is unperturbed as these resignations will not affect the Party’s majority in the State Assembly. Happily, former super-star Chiranjivi has merged his 18 MLAs strong Praja Rajyam Party in to the Congress. But the Congress has its fingers crossed that no more desertions take place from its ranks.

In UP, ‘ace-defector’ Ajit Singh could play party pooper for the Congress. Thanks to the Party releasing its first list of 73 candidates for next year’s Assembly election. Thereby, putting its prospective alliance with the kisan leader’s Rashtriya Lok Dal in jeopardy. Taken aback by the list, the RLD Chief hit back by asserting that he would field candidates against the Congress. Of these 73 seats at least a dozen seats are those which fall in the RLD’s area of influence in western UP and could dent the Congress’s winnability quotient. Pertinently, Ajit Singh was hoping to reap the benefit of the Anna Hazare campaign which has taken the sheen out of the Congress’s seeming resurgence in UP, join hands and extract many seats. Notwithstanding, the State PCC Chief Rita Bahuguna discounting  Ajit Singh’s influence over 12 seats, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is busy networking on a tie-up with the kisan leader. Holding his cards close to his chest, Ajit Singh has allied with ‘non-UPA, non-NDA’ Parties in their agitation against the Government version of the Lokpal Bill.

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Floods & Drought In States

Strange are the vagaries of nature. While some States, such as Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal are under flood siege, fear of drought looms large over Orissa. Torrential rains have so far claimed around 100 lives in these three States. At least 50,000 people are said to be affected in UP with major rivers overflowing and rendering the villagers homeless. Likewise, in Assam, flash floods triggered by heavy rains have displaced around 9,00,000 people in 12 districts. Additionally, 43 embankments have been breached. West Bengal has tragically recorded the highest number of deaths --- 62 persons. On the other hand, rains have been playing truant in Orissa. At least 34 blocks in 16 districts have received less than 50 per cent rainfall this year. Farm activities, such as transplanting of paddy, have been severely affected giving sleepless nights to the Naveen Patnaik Government. The fear of drought for the second consecutive year is writ large on the people’s faces. All eyes are on the weather Gods.    

Trouble In Uttarakhand

Trouble is brewing in Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank’s announcement on Independence Day to create four new districts, Yamunotri, Didihat, Kotdwar and picturesque Ranikhet, has sparked off an agitation in various parts of the State. The protestors demand more new districts, at least Kashipur, Roorkee and Purola. The Opposition Congress too is further stoking the fire. It has promised do deliver if voted to power in the next Assembly elections. The BJP Government has had to beef up security at sensitive areas as the stir has turned violent in some areas with protestors pelting stones at the police and vandalizing offices. The agitators specifically in Kashipur insist that Government has ignored their five decades-old demand for a creation of new district. Till now, Nishank is non-committal. He prefers to wait and watch and test waters after the creation of the four new districts. 

Boycott of  Iftaar In Rajasthan  

The Muslims in Rajasthan have said a big no to Iftaar parties being hosted by political leaders and Constitutional authorities during the ongoing Ramzan. On Saturday last, the Rajasthan Muslim Forum, representing the State’s Muslim groups has accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other leaders of brazenly disregarding their basic demands and problems, including threat to life and property. Worse, it has alleged that the Congress has not provided any relief to the victims of series of communal violence across the State during its rule. Thus, besides putting up banners in Jaipur and other towns, the Forum is busy distributing pamphlets and handbills with an impassioned appeal to boycott such iftaars. The solemn ritual, many feel should not be turned into a tamasha (gimmick). Noting that “accepting such invites would be against the Muslims self-respect,” the Forum convenor hit the nail on the head. Said he: “Instead of providing justice to Muslims, political leaders exploit their sentiments by seeking them for Iftaars.”  Will political leaders in other States too pay heed?

Haryana’s New Land Law

With the issue of land acquisition in UP, Karnataka and other States reverberating in various High Courts, the Haryana Government has quitely changed its land laws to usher in transparency. Three days ago, the State Assembly passed the Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill 2011 thereby removing the limit on non-agriculture land ownership by an individual or company in urban and industrial zones. This followed observation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court that several real estate companies were busy violating the ceiling on land holdings. Whereby, companies and private individuals would buy land in benami names to comply with the Land Ceiling Act which entitled one to a maximum land holding of between 7.5-18 hectares. Clearly, not only will this law rationalise land holdings but is a beacon to other States to follow suit.

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New Text Books In Tamil Nadu

In AIDMK supremo Jayalalitha’s Tamil Nadu students can finally heave a sigh of relief. After months of endless waiting, school children finally got their text books. The reason: The texts prepared by Karunnadhi’s previous DMK regime  were anethma for the new Government. Calling the textbooks sub-standard and propagandist, the Chief Minister first tried to repeal these alongwith the whole uniform system of school education. However, following the Madras High Court striking down her grandiose plans, Jayalalitha took recourse to scissors, stickers and markers. Thereby, successfully blocking out Karunanidhi’s favourite Tamil anthem, a chapter on the World Tamil Conference, picture of her bete noire’s dream project, the new Secretariat (now turned in to a hospital) etc. Shockingly, even pictures of the sun and a solar eclipse have been blocked out. Simply because ‘the rising sun’ is the DMK’s electoral symbol! Never mind if the intense personal and political rivalry takes a toll on young minds.---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)