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Uttar Pradesh continues to give sleepless nights to the UPA-II. True to her style, BSP supremo Mayawati revels in playing games with the Centre. On Tuesday last, she sent out a loud and clear message to all and sundry: the Government’s survival is in her hands. After a crucial meeting of the national working committee and the parliamentary board committee, the firebrand Dalit leader had some good news for the Congress-led UPA i.e. even though it had failed on all fronts, her party would continue to give outside support. But in the same breath she quickly put a rider: that the Congress would need to constantly consult and get her support on every single issue! To put it simply, Mayawati made it known that she could pull the plug anytime. And, that the rival Samajwadi Party with 22 MPs was not the only surviving factor for the Government.

Fortunately for her, the two meetings couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, as only a day earlier the Supreme Court ruling had rattled her. It gave the CBI the green signal to move afresh on the nine-year-long disproportionate assets case against her. Will it make her life difficult? The answer in all probability is a big no. For if it does, behenji would obviously fight back. Thanks to her 21 MPs in tow and TMC’s exit, she could pull the plug anytime. In fact, the former Chief Minister has ensured that like her bête noire, SP supremo, Mulayam Singh she is very much in the reckoning and cannot be wished away. The two parties of Uttar Pradesh are the UPA’s life support, whether the centre likes it or not.

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Haryana “Rape State”?

Haryana is unfortunately acquiring the dubious reputation of being a “rape State”. Close on the heels of last month’s record of 14 cases of rape being recorded, another case of gang-rape was reported in Kaithal district on Wednesday last. This, hours after Congress President Sonia Gandhi had visited the family of a dalit girl, who had immolated herself after she was gang-raped in Jind district. Worse, the administration tragically refuses to admit that crime against Dalits and women is on the rise and instead blames the media for sensationalising the cases. On top of it, the local Congress leaders are busy describing the cases as an “Opposition conspiracy” to malign the Hooda government! The latter regrettably is silent and has even chosen to ignore the Khap Panchayat’s absurd suggestion that marriageable age for girls should be reduced to 16 as it will help check instances of rapes in the State. There can be no two opinion that a highly developed State can ill-afford such backward thinking. Haryana needs to get its act together.

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Mamata Eyes Himachal

Himachal Pradesh is now on the radar of the Trinamool Congress. With the Assembly elections in November, Mamata Banerjee wants to enlarge the party’s canvas outside West Bengal. Having tasted a little success in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, the TMC has decided to put up candidates for all the 68 seats. The decision, apparently, is influenced by the fact that both the ruling-BJP and the Congress are plagued by infighting, and the party could flog its favourite idea of a “third front” at the Centre. While political pundits agree that TMC is no factor in the hill State, Mamata’s team is going all out to try its luck and for that the campaign is Mamata-centric. Plans are to highlight her crusade against the UPA, insist on women and youth empowerment and even her simple lifestyle—wearing cotton dhotis (saris), ordinary chappals (slippers) and carrying a jhola (cloth bag)! It’s worth a watch whether the TMC’s first time attempt in Himachal will yield any result.

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J&K Yearns For Jobs

The unemployment crisis in Jammu & Kashmir has taken centre stage. On Monday last, the State Assembly witnessed an unusual protest, not by the members but outsiders. Three slogan-shouting and flag-waiving workers of a new political outfit jumped into the well of the House demanding employment schemes and jobs for the youth. Though the incident sent security officials into a tizzy and forced the Speaker to take necessary action, it also had a brighter side. The focus of the people is slowly shifting from violence to everyday needs. And, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah may insist that economic policies are in place, a visit of his friend, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to Srinagar confirms what the youth are asking. Only last week, Rahul took a group of leading businessmen to the Kashmir University, for an interaction. The aim was to build “trust and a long-term relationship with the youth,” but the deliberation also focussed on career opportunities outside the State. While the business tycoons sent out the message that “doors have opened”, the big question is how many shall pass through.

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TN-Karnataka Clash

The Cauvery row between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is getting uglier. On Wednesday last, the former was forced to move the Supreme Court for contempt of court proceeding against Karnataka. The latter had, it protested defied the court's order and stopped the supply of 9,000 cusecs of water from Cauvery River to the State. On its part, Karnataka has been facing violent protests and agitations from the farming community across the State for initially complying with the apex Court’s order of September 28 and to stop further supply. It has thus, put up its hands and said that it is physically impossible to release any more water. This apart, Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar has asked the Government counsel to plead that its neighbor doesn't need water from Cauvery River as it is receiving excess water due to heavy north-east rains. Further, it is ready to give a promise that it would raise the quantity of water to be released to Tamil Nadu when required.

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Punjab Woos Investors

Punjab is giving all out signals of favouring the controversial FDI. Though its Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has stepped short of openly admitting it, his SAD-BJP Government is gearing to woo investments for the cash-strapped State. For the first time, a new portfolio in his Cabinet has been introduced --Department for investment promotion, to be headed by him and to headquartered in Delhi. While the initial focus would be on sectors such as food processing, dairy and textiles, Badal hopes the department would be able to help revive industrial growth and create jobs. Taking a cue from neighbouring Haryana, Punjab too has realised that it needs to do away with red tapism and usher in the single window system, if it means business. This apart, it should be prepared to deliver and has thus set up a Punjab Investment Advisory Council (PAIC). The Council’s target is to enhance skill development, infrastructure, industries and IT & IT-enabled services in the State. Will it succeed, like the SAD-BJP combine’s consecutive come back to power, only time will tell? ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

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