Round The States
New Delhi, 8 November 2012
Contentious NCTC
Diluted
WILL STATES NOW
AGREE?
By Insaf
Good news awaits non-Congress ruled States, with the Union
Home Ministry promising to further dilute provisions of the controversial
National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Significantly, it has decided to keep
the contentious Inter State Intelligence Support Teams (ISISTs) outside the
NCTC’s purview which earlier could be only accessed through the Intelligence
Bureau. Also, the ISIST would be formed and governed by the NCTC Standing
Council which would include DGPs of all States. Pertinently, keeping the
inter-State wing outside the Central Authority was a key demand of the States
which felt the NCTC should delegate its powers, to the ISIST to investigate,
search and arrest in the States. As things stand, the NCTC would now be an
independent entity under the Ministry and not under the control of the
Intelligence Bureau. Also, the NCTC Standing Council would be given more powers
and functions than before. Will the States agree?
* * * *
Land Row In W Bengal
In a reminder of Singur, fresh land acquisition trouble is
brewing in West Bengal’s Dubrajpur, Birbhum
district. Wherein, thousands of villagers protested against their fertile lands
being usurped by a private coal mining company. In the resulting violence over
37 villagers and policemen were killed, 25 injured and nine police vehicles
torched last Tuesday. Interestingly, the problem dates back to 2009, when
private firm EMTA entered into a joint venture with the Damodar Valley
Corporation for supply of coal to its plant and obtained the mining license.
Set to acquire 3,500 acres the company was successful in acquiring only 700
acres so far. Interestingly, the district has a TMC-backed panchayat which has
launched the Save Agricultural Land Committee as villagers alleged they were
paid inadequate compensation. Mamatadi, is history repeating itself?
* * * *
Bihar Says No Tobacco
In a first of its kind in the country, over two crore school
students in Bihar pledged never to consume
tobacco or related products. Asserted Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi,
“The young ones promise holds a beacon for others to follow.” Notably, children
from nearly 2.2 lakh Government and private schools are part of the State
Government's initiative 'Pledge Day' to discourage school student from using
tobacco products. This comes against the backdrop of a recent survey which
revealed shocking figures: Numerous
children start smoking cigarettes or chew gutkha from class seven and in some
cases they start using tobacco after class five. Worse, nearly 53.5 per cent of
the State's 10.5 crore population use tobacco in one form or the other and its
prevalence is nearly 20 percentage points higher than the 35 per cent national
average. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey last year in India 63 per
cent males and 35 per cent females have khaini (smokeless tobacco product).
Undoubtedly, a first step for a healthy future! It remains to be seen if other
States follow?
* * * *
BJP-JMM Tussle In
Jharkhand
The BJP’s cup of woes continue not only in Delhi where party President Gadkari is in the eye of the corruption storm but
also in its Government in Jharkhand. Whereby its allies have mounted pressure
to rotate the Chief Ministerial chair presently held by BJP. It major partner
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) alongwith AJSU want the chair by December end as
promised when the State Government was formed 28 months ago. Asserted JMM Chief
Shibu Soren in January 2013 it will be our turn to rule. Else, his party would
withdraw support and topple the Arjun Munda Government. Not only this. He has
made plain that he would team up with the Congress or any other party to forge
another alliance. Meanwhile, the Congress sensing an opportunity of a likely
split in the BJP-JMM-AJSU pact has already sent out feelers for talks. All eyes
on BJP’s next move.
* * * *
Gujarat’s Defection Game
Not only in New Delhi but
major capitals worldwide are closely following the Gujarat
polls. Will Narendra Modi win a third term or bite dust at the hands of the
Congress in next month’s Assembly poll? Even as both parties are leaving no
stone unturned to get the better of the other. The MLAs are having a field day
defecting from the arch rivals BJP to Congress and vice-versa to better their
electoral prospects. Already three sitting BJP MLAs have switched their
loyalties to the Congress. In a tit for tat, the BJP has snatched six MLAs from
its bête noir alongwith one from erstwhile saffron leader and Chief Minister
Keshubhai Patel’s new party New Gujarat Parivartan Party. Both parties today
are busy playing the I-spy-defector game to increase its electoral kitty. Who
will emerge victorious?
* * * *
Assam’s Civil Society In
ULFA Talks
The Centre is closely following the outcome of the ongoing
dialogue between the State Government and the ULFA’s pro-talks faction led by
Arvinda Rajkhowa given that the talks hinge on the role played by Assam’s civil
society to prepare the ground for a lasting solution. Whereby the civil
activists would play a crucial role in aggregating and consolidating the
various communities socially and culturally that make up the greater Assamese
society. Significantly, the ULFA talks interlocutor Sonia’s National Advisory
Council’s PC Haldhar is ‘quite positive’ of a resolution. But the success depends on one of the ULFA founder members
and prime strategists Anup Chetia’s release from jail in Bangladesh. Already there is a
tussle between the pro-talks led by Rajkhowa and anti-talks faction led by
Paresh Barua. To wean Chetia to their side as it would accord greater
legitimacy to ULFA’s struggle.
* * * *
Small towns Power
Solar Sector
Mofussil towns in cow-belt States UP, Madhya Pradesh and
Bihar have given a fillip to unprecedented growth of India’s solar power sector. Ballia,
a small town in UP has an Rs.100-crore solar business, in Bhopal
the solar business has nearly doubled since 2009 and Patna’s ‘astral’ market has earned over 500
crore. Many in the rural hinterland which is sans power connection and no power
supply view solar power as a viable alternative. But the downside is that 70
per cent of solar products are Chinese along-with a solar water pump for a mere
Rs.5,000. This has made the Centre sit-up as the solar market is growing at 22
per cent. What next?
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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