Round The World

New Delhi, 24 May 2012

Petrol Price Hike

CMs, AAM AADMI PROTEST

By Insaf

India is protesting. The scandalous petrol price hike has ignited the aam aadmi’s anger and made a good number of Chief Ministers, other than friends and allies of the Congress-led UPA government fume. On Thursday last, the steepest-ever increase of Rs. 7.54 in petrol prices was thrust upon the nation. A sample: petrol now costs Rs. 78.57 a litre in Mumbai, Rs 77.88 in Kolkata, Rs 77.53 in Chennai, and Rs 73.18 in Delhi! The States are rightly up in arms. While opposition-ruled Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Odisha among others have expectedly protested, Chief Ministers of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, her counterpart in Kerala Oomen Chandy and ‘friendly’ parties Samajwadi, RJD, National Conference are insisting on a roll-back.

Widespread protests as in rallies and dharnas are being staged by the common man, and in some cases as in Delhi, petrol pump owners had to seek more security fearing violence. The NDA has threatened a bharat bandh on May 31 and the Left is preparing its strikes. All signs emanating suggest that the Congress, leading the UPA, is in the dock. Not only is its timing pathetic—24 hours after the Budget session and the Government’s third anniversary celebrations, but its defence that “the decision was taken unilaterally and it was not consulted” clearly indigestible. Perhaps, it would do better if it admitted its folly and made corrections. A partial roll-back is a way out for the Congress and it is likely to opt for it. Aam aadmi should keep fingers crossed. If not, then it is best to share J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s resentment which he aptly tweeted: “Petrol Pump Attendant: Saab, Kitne ka daaloon? (Sir, how much petrol should I put?) Customer: 2-4 Rupaye ka car ke upar spray kar de bhai. Aag lagani hai,' (Rs 2-4 worth spray on the car. I want to burn it)!

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J&K’s Poor Health

All is not well with Jammu & Kashmir’s health services. In fact, it is affecting the well-being of the coalition partners, the National Conference and the Congress in the State. On a two-day visit to the Valley, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad slammed the Omar Abdullah government for not implementing the Central schemes, wherein his Ministry has not only sanctioned 200-bedded hospitals in both Jammu and Kashmir but even sent across the funds. He insisted that the facilities under a scheme in the country should be made available to the Kashmiri children i.e. they should get free medicines and diagnostic facilities and their attendants get free meals for a month during hospitalisation. The Minister was obviously hinting at the shocking state of affairs at the GB Pant hospital which has been in the spotlight for a shocking 358 deaths of infants since January 2012. Will the NC please pay heed instead of wasting more time in taking up cudgels with Azad.       

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Bengal Woos Muslims

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the latest entrant to the minority politics club. Her party, the Trinamool Congress, plans to reach out to Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (U) and RJD leaders to raise the shrill against a mere 4.5 per cent job reservation for Muslims within the 27 per cent quota announced by the Centre. Mamata definitely wants more in return for the support she got from the Muslim vote bank in her historic Assembly victory last year. The firebrand CM has been wooing the community, about 26 per cent, with an eye on ensuing panchayat polls and General elections 2014. Recently, she has announced freebies including a monthly honorarium of Rs 2500 for 30,000 imams in the State, free education for children, setting up of a committee for development of Muslims and initiating a process for recognising 10,000 madrasas. Her next step is to head to Delhi and get the Centre to agree to her latest wish. Will it? 

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Aid For Maharashtra

Maharashtra can heave a short sigh of relief. New Delhi has been sympathetic to its appeal for aid for its 15 drought-affected districts. On Tuesday last, the Centre sanctioned Rs 588 crore against a demand by Congress Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan of Rs 2,700-crore relief. To tide over the crisis the State government had hoped to get Rs. 1,500 crore as reimbursement, for the relief provided by it and Rs. 1,200 crore under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP). However, the Centre has been kind to also sanction Rs 3,000 crore for the Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme, which is to be implemented over the next five years. But it’s not enough. The State would need to cough up its own funds and step up relief measures—be it providing tankers or setting up fodder depots in affected areas. It cannot afford to rely solely on New Delhi. 

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Andhra Takes Brunt

It was Andhra Pradesh’s turn to take the brunt of the Railways’ inefficiency and callousness. The Hampi Express collision in Penukonda in Anantpur district on Tuesday last, which left 25 people dead and scores injured is the latest tragic incident. Despite repeated assurances from various Railway Ministers there seems to be no brakes put on the number of train accidents. Figures reveal that in two years alone 600 casualties were reported in train mishaps, in the past two years. Worse, the latest CAG report on the railways reveals that there are over 1.26 lakh safety personnel posts’ lying vacant across the States; safety equipment installed in sub-standard, anti-collision devices less than reliable etc. While there is no denying that the “railways is facing a severe financial crunch and its accumulated funds have eroded by 93 per cent," the Centre should finally realise that the rising death toll from rail mishaps is unacceptable.  Rail Minister Mukul Roy should be told to show the green signal for reforms. 

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Good News For N-E

Good news appears to be on its way to the north-eastern States. Fingers are being crossed over the proposal to start a bus service between Manipur’s capital Imphal and Mandalay in Myanmar. A MoU is likely to be signed by month-end during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the neighbouring country, hosting a large population of Indian-origin.  With Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur sharing the border with Myanmar, there is hope for ‘regional connectivity’ which among others could boost trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people contact across the border. Importantly, the Centre is confident that the bus service shall not only facilitate open up the landlocked north-eastern region to the world but shall help in its development and stability. Reason to rejoice? ---INFA

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