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Round The States
New Delhi, 16 February 2012
Odisha Panchayat Polls
MAOISTS MAKE INROADS
By Insaf
Alarm bells should be ringing in Odisha and New Delhi, if they haven’t already. The
Maoists have had unexpected victory and made dangerous inroads into some
panchayats in the recent elections across the State. The Naxals are said to
have ‘taken control’ of 30 blocks in two districts of Malkangiri and Koraput,
of the eight, they had issued a boycott call in. All their nominees plus some
2,500-odd members of these panchayats, and at least 32 heads, (sarpanches)
having Naxal links got elected unopposed. Obviously, the Maoists writ ran large
as they had issued a warning to the people not to nominate any candidate
without their consent. While there would be jubilation in the Naxal camp, the
Centre and Naveen Patnaik government need to sit up. The reach of the Maoists
would clearly increase in more areas and undermine the anti-Naxal efforts
underway. Worse, it is feared that as the sarpanches have access to development
funds under various Central schemes such as NREGS and Backward Region Grant
Fund, the Maoists group would in a way now control these by default. And, there
is no denying that priorities while dispensing these funds will definitely
change. Can New Delhi
and Odisha guard against this and perhaps stop this loot?
* * * *
Karnataka’s Embarrassment
The BJP government in Karnataka is truly jinxed viz the
institution of the Lokayukta. Already reeling under the controversy and
subsequent resignation of the Lokayukta and the Upalokayukta, the D V Sadananda
Gowda Government is now mired in a storm over the appointment of former judge
Chandrashekaraiah as the second Upalokyukta. Last week, High Court Chief
Justice Vikramjit Sen termed Chandrashekaraiah’s appointment as illegal. In a
letter to Chief Minister Gowda, Sen made
known his displeasure about not being consulted as required under section
3(2)(A) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984. Accordingly, the Government has
to consult a panel comprising of both Houses’ presiding officers and opposition
leaders and the Chief Justice. This apart, Sen has stated that recent events
and reports in the media against the Chandrashekaraiah (alleged involvement in
sex scandal and illegal allotment of plot) are not in good taste and thus “he
should be recalled at the earliest”. Will the State government heed?
* * * *
J&K Allies’ Drifting?
Cracks within the National Conference-Congress alliance in
Jammu & Kashmir are unfortunately widening. The latest blow to the
partnership has come from the controversial ouster of Education Minister
Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed last week. The Congress Minister was accused of using
his clout to help his foster-son Imam Sauban pass the matriculation examination
and even score a distinction. While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had ordered a
crime branch probe into the scandal, a peeved Sayeed questions the demand for
his putting in his papers. In fact, he suspects there is more than meets the
eye than the “scandal”. For example he asks why the concerned exam papers were
preserved for three years when these are normally destroyed after six months.
Is the NC having other designs—of denting the Congress’ base in the Valley or
taking out its vendetta against it for not supporting it on partial revocation of
AFSPA from the State? Hope the probe, throws some light on these.
* * * *
Darjeeling’s Peace
Peace in Darjeeling hills may
be short lived if egos continue to bloat, of West Bengal
and the Centre. On Saturday last, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee washed her
hands off for the delay in the implementation of the Gorkha Territorial
Administration (GTA) accord, which gives unprecedented autonomy to the Gorkhas.
Instead, she accused New Delhi
of sitting pretty on the clarifications given by her administration as desired.
While Mamata can feel happy that she was able to convince the Gorkha Janmukti
Morcha about her ‘nobel’ intentions, she must reconsider whether passing the
buck would be any solution. The GJM has been patiently waiting for the
formation of the GTA as the tripartite agreement was signed way back on 31 July
2011. It has agreed to stick to the deadline of March 27, 2012 for its
formation and then no more, for after that it will launch an agitation.
Additionally, Mamata cannot ignore the Adivasi Vikash Parishad’s warning that
it would not allow any of its territory in Terai and Dooars be included in the
GTA. It’s time for her to concentrate on her governance rather than finding
faults with the Centre.
* * * *
Andhra Court Lesson
Andhra Pradesh provides an interesting case of political
rivalry. On Thursday last, a division bench of the State High Court, dismissed
a public interest petition (PIL) filed by YSR Congress President, Y. S.
Vijayamma against Former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The ground stated
was that there was political rivalry and that the PIL was a counter attack!
Vijayamma, had sought CBI probe into alleged disproportionate assets of Naidu,
which she claimed had been amsses after doling out several favours to select
corporate and as such amassing huge wealth. Dismissing the petition, the bench
noted that Vijayamma, widow of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S.
Rajasekhara Reddy does not satisfy parameters of PIL and it amounts to abuse of
the process of court. While Naidu may well have a smirk and glee over the
dismissal, it would be worthwhile if the politicians took a cue from the case:
Please don’t waste the courts time as these are already over burdened.
* * * *
Chhattisgarh anti-V Day
It was Valentine’s Day Vs Mother-Father Worship Day in
Chhattisgarh. In his penchant to ensure Hindu culture is not degraded, Chief
Minister Raman Singh decided that February 14 would be observed as Matri-Pitra Pujan Divas. The western
concept of V-Day should not influence the State’s young minds. Thus, the
schools, both Government and private, were advised to make requisite
arrangements for the ceremony, wherein students would perform an elaborate
worship of their parents by offering flowers and performing the aarti. They did so on Tuesday last. In
fact, on Saturday last a circular of the school education department to all
collectors, district education officers etc noted that they must ensure that “the
programme is organised in a festive-like manner,” in all the schools (about
50,000-odd) and that parents must ensure they come for the pooja. Of course, some
schools and parents are upset with the diktat. Is such a worship day necessary
is one big question worth asking, particularly so as children at least in our
culture respect their parents and don’t need to be reminded of it like in the
West. Right, Mr Singh? ---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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