Round The States

New Delhi, 5 October 2011

NC Worker’s Death

OMAR HAS J&K IN TURMOIL

By Insaf

The death of a National Conference worker in police custody has not only raised a political storm in J&K but has put the State Government in jeopardy. Till yesterday, Syed Mohammad Yusuf was an unknown person but his demise reportedly due to a heart attack, has opened a Pandora’s box of allegations. The PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of being involved in Yusuf’s murder along with his confidant Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wahi and demanded his resignation. This is not all. The Party created pandemonium in the Assembly after the Speaker denied it permission for tabling an adjournment motion on Yusuf’s “mysterious death” resulting in senior PDP leaders hurling abuses and a pedestal fan at the Speaker. Worse, an angry Speaker retaliated by accusing the Opposition leader of being a traitor and hurling invectives. Omar Abdullah hurriedly set up a judicial probe by a sitting High Court Judge and announced that he was ready to face a probe into his party worker’s death, but it failed to douse the controversy surrounding Yusuf’s demise.

Adding fuel, Yusuf’s family alleges foul play in his murder as he never suffered from heart ailment. Stories also abound of Yusuf being exceedingly close and a confidant of the NC’s first family the Abdullahs’. Narrating the sequence of events the Chief Minister stated that after hearing complaints by two party workers who alleged they had paid over Rs. 1.2 crores to their colleague for Ministerial berths. During questioning of all three party workers by the police, Yusuf complained of chest pain, was rushed to the Hospital where he died. True, the Chief Minister has tried to take the ‘Yusuf war’ to the PDP camp by threatening to sue Mufti for defamation. He can also heave a sigh of relief temporarily as the Assembly has adjourned sine die but his troubles are far from over. Perhaps, Omar Abdullah might wriggle out of the murder charge, yet he may not be able to escape the serious allegations of dirt and corruption surrounding his family and party.

*                                         *                            *                                      *

Maoists Offer Truce

In a surprise move the Maoists in West Bengal have offered cease fire for a month. With the rider that the State Government rein in the joint CRPF and State Police officers. This follows Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s stern warning that the Maoists should not take her four months of soft line approach as a weakness. “Killings and dialogues cannot go together”, she said. However, the security establishment refuses to buy this ploy and alleges that it is the Maoists trick to regroup, plant more landmines and get new weapons. Arguably, how could the CPM propose truce in one State and fight security forces in another.  Recall, after coming to power the Chief Minister had suspended all anti-Maoists operations but a series of killings of Trinamool workers led to a change of strategy. It is a moot point if peace makes inroads in the Maoists ‘adda’ infamous Junglemahal.  

*                                         *                            *                                      *

Gujarat Vs Centre Over Bhatt

In Gujarat too, Chief Minister Narendra Modi is in the eye of squall over the arrest of former IPS officer-turned-squealer Sanjiv Bhat. He has opened the can of worms surrounding Modi’s role in the post-Godhra carnage of 2002. Recall, the suspended police officer was arrested and sent to judicial custody following an FIR against him by a constable, alleging that he had been made to sign false affidavits regarding a meeting called by Modi in February 2002 claiming that Bhatt was present therein. Worried about his safety Bhatt’s wife wrote to Union Home Minister Chidambaram urging him to protect the officer from a vindictive administration. In a surprising move, Chidambaram asked the State Government to ensure adequate security to Bhatt and his family. Countered an angry administration: mind your manners and business. Undoubtedly, the officer’s arrest has resulted in a Gujarat vs Centre flashpoint.

*                                         *                            *                                      *

Riots In Uttarakhand

Peace in the industrial town of Rudrapur, Uttarakhand took a severe beating on Gandhi Jayanthi Day following communal violence. Four people were killed and scores injured in the riots, which broke out on Sunday last after a copy of the Quran was found desecrated in a temple. The Muslims took to the streets following the police taking no action. In a counter attack, a mob of Hindus looted shops of Muslims and burnt their vehicles. The police had to resort to firing, which has claimed four lives. Curfew was imposed in the town, which houses manufacturing units of big industrial houses such as Tata Motors, Nestle, Bajaj Auto etc, and the Rapid Action Force called in. With Assembly elections due next year, the new Chief Minister BC Khanduri is closely monitoring the situation as he wants his State to be glitch free.

Policy On Engg. Colleges

The Centre has come up with a new policy on setting up of engineering colleges to appease disgruntled States. It has asked the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to consult the States before giving permission to set up any new colleges. This follows complaints by States that such colleges are being concentrated in the west and that the eastern and North Eastern region is underserved. Apparently, 70 per cent of the capacity in degree-level engineering education is concentrated in four States—Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The AICTE will now need to ask the State governments with a surplus of vacant seats whether more engineering colleges should be given recognition. The move, says a confident Union Ministry of Human Resources shall eventually address the wide inter-State and inter-region disparity, particularly the location of engineering colleges. Time will tell.  

*                                         *                            *                                      *

HIV Lower In 4 States

Regional disparity continues to be prevalent on another front. The four States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have every reason to pat themselves in the back. According to the annual HIV Sentinel Surveillance Survey the cases of HIV and STD among the high-risk population groups have declined in these high-prevalence States. Interestingly, all it took to bring down prevalence rate was the use of condoms during commercial sex acts across all districts. From 39 per cent in 2005-06 condom use went up to 70 per cent. Similarly prevalence of STD like Syphilis, Gonorrhoea declined from 7.6 per cent to 3.1 per cent in a majority of the districts.  Significantly, the use of condoms increased amongst gays and trans-genders from 73 per cent to 98 per cent. Sadly, the North-East, particularly Manipur and Nagaland continue to have high incidence of HIV and demand special attention. Clearly this is one area where awareness and sex education can lead to healthier sex relations. ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)