Round The States

New Delhi, 21 December 2012

Congress Wins Himachal

MODI EXULTS, GUJARAT APPLAUDES

By Insaf

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi scripted new history by winning his third consecutive term in office, the BJP’s fifth. The Hindutva acolyte won 115 seats, two shorts of his 2007 mandate of 117  while the Congress bettered its tally by three seats to 61 in 182 State Assembly. Predictably, even as there was no doubt of Modi emerging  triumphant the question was whether his tally would increase and translate in to his shifting base to Delhi and being projected as the Saffron Party’s 2014 Prime Ministerial candidate. Undoubtedly, the unusually high voters turn out of 71.9 per cent was the key to the Chief Minister’s big win. Interestingly, to Modi’s credit he coined a new poll slogan of “pro-incumbency” not letting his laurels rest on providing good governance and development. Clearly, the Congress failed to dent his larger-than-life image and following and his detractor and erstwhile BJP Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel’s fledging Gujarat Parivartan Party too managed to net only two seats. ‘Arrogant Modi’ as his detractors describe him surprised critics by visiting Patel to seek his blessings. More. He  apologized and sought forgiveness for mistakes he might have committed. Love him or hate him, but one cannot ignore Modi as he continues to churn the political landscape in Ahmedabad and Delhi.

For the Congress, left licking its wounds in Gujarat, it saved face by wresting Himachal from the BJP. Led by five-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the Party got 36 compared to BJP’s 26 seats in the 68-member Assembly with five Independents, three of which BJP rebels. Importantly, both Parties suffered from severe infighting with many disgruntled leaders emerging as Party poopers. However, the 78-year-old Raja from Bushair battled BJP’s allegations of corruption along-with the CD case filed by the State Government resulting in his resignation from the Union Cabinet, ran a spirited campaign projecting this election as his last. His rival Chief Minister  Dhumal lost out due to his failure to deliver on governance instead hoped to ride a perceived anti-UPA wave  on  corruption and high prices. According to sources, the BJP’s  undoing was the corruption allegations leveled against Party President Nitin Gadkari. All eyes are on Sonia Gandhi. Will she give Virbhadra his richly-deserved sixth term!

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Delhi India’s Rape Capital

Union Capital Delhi has earned the ignominy and ire as India’s Rape Capital. This follows the gruesome and brutal gang-rape of a 23-year old medical intern in a moving chartered bus by six men for two agonizing hours. Shamefully, the culprits not only molested and striped her but dumped her naked body on the road, along-with her male friend who tried to save her. This is not all. Worse the ‘human animals’ shoved rods in to her body severely injuring her. Battling for life, the young girl has already undergone two major surgeries, her intestines have been removed and she is on life support system yet her spirit to live amazes all. Pertinently, not only Delhi, but a horrified country has risen in one voice against this cruelty. Candle light vigils are taking place across various States raising a moot point which that need immediate answers and action: How safe are our cities for the fair sex?  Is the police the private army of VIPs? Or is it to protect the citizens?

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India In Grip Of Male Lust

More scandalously, Delhi with 572 women raped last year tops the list of rapes in a survey of five metroes. Followed by 239 in Mumbai, 96 in Bangalore, 76 in Chennai and 47 in Kolkata. Like Delhi in Karnataka’ Bidar district a five year old is battling for life after she was raped by two men last week and had to undergo immediate surgery. Shockingly, the perpetrators had earlier tried to rape her twelve-year old sister a few weeks ago and are still to be arrested. This is not the end. In Bangalore, a fourteen-year old girl was raped by a shopkeeper when she went to buy provisions early this month. In Kerala, a special court has sentenced a man to seven years in jail for raping his minor daughter for eighteen months and then selling her to the sex trade. Most reprehensibly, in the last eight years only one killer rapist has been hanged and twenty five spared the gallows. Also of the 95,065 trials, only 15,423 have been completed and 4072 convicted against 11, 351 acquitted. Notwithstanding our polity’s expressing their shock, the fact is that there is a wide chasm of what the police assert’s it is doing to make cities safe for women and the brutal reality of girls becoming victims of male lust.

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CAG Nails Odisha On Ports

Naveen Patnaik’s Odisha has come under the CAG’s scanner regarding its port projects. In a telling comment, the Auditor found five projects started by the Chief Minister through public-private partnership with irregularities totaling Rs.10,418 crores. Significantly, of these four ports ventures were awarded without competitive bidding as stipulated in the State’s 2004 port policy. Thereby, rubbishing the model Concessionaire Agreement which specifies that the concession period should normally be the capacity of a port terminal to handle the expected cargo at the end of the proposed concession period. Moreover, it also prescribed that exceptions should be made if there were valid reasons to condone the 30-years construction period. All eyes are now on Patnaiak deals with the CAG’s bombshell.

Darjeeling Tea Gets EU Certificate

The cup that cheers, Darjeeling Tea has finally got its due recognition in the world. Thanks to the European Union  agreeing  to phase out the use of "Darjeeling" on blended teas. Now, just as a bottle of scotch whisky orginates in Scotland and Cognac must come from the region around the French town of Cognac, a cup of Darjeeling tea will have to be made only from tea grown among 87 certified manicured tea bushes around the salubrious Himalayan foothills.  The hilly mountainous region produces about 20 million pounds of tea every year and its smooth and mellow taste commands a premium price, Evoking a bygone era when the British first introduced Chinese tea plants in the region.  Clearly, few teas surpass a good Darjeeling among connoisseurs! ---INFA

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