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Round The States
New Delhi, 7 March, 2013
Budget Bonanza
POLL SOAPS IN RAJASTHAN
By Insaf
Come elections, the
electorate hit a lottery. Sadly, it’s turning out to be a rule rather than an
exception in most States. Rajasthan is the latest to join the bandwagon. With
Assembly polls later this year, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced a brazen
‘please-all’ Budget on Wednesday last. The list of sops is rather long and
includes: subsidised wheat and sugar for poor (Rs 1 and Rs 10 per kg
respectively), extension of free medicines scheme, revised salaries from July 1
to the 6,000-odd employees demanding 6th Pay Commission arrears, 16
new medical colleges, over 1 lakh jobs in police, for teachers and education
helpers, 75,000 power connections, free laptops and higher (Rs five lakh)
medical insurance cover for accredited journalists et al. Faced with the
anti-incumbency factor and that Opposition BJP is getting prepared for the
royal battle under the leadership of former Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje,
Gehlot’s Budget sops give hints of worry. The burden on the State exchequer may
not yield desired results. Perhaps, he should have kept in mind that good
governance is the key to success, as Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya Assembly
results have recently proven.
* * * *
Bengal’s Vote Politics
Likewise, in preparation mode for the ensuing panchayat
polls, the Trinamool Congress government of Mamata Banerjee is all set to
introduce reservation in higher education for the backward Muslims. The
Cabinet’s decision on Wednesday last will take the form of the West Bengal
State Higher Education Reservation in Admission Bill. It shall provide 17 %
quota to the OBC category, including Backward Muslims other than the
reservation to the SC/ST. Mamata, however, has kept two important aspects in
mind. One, that it shouldn’t exceed 50 per cent limit as prescribed by the
Supreme Court and two that it shouldn’t upset the General category, for which
she has promised an increase in the quota. Where she seems to have tripped
is—how will her Government get that additional Rs 1,000 crore? Guess, getting
the votes is a priority and she will cross the bridge when she comes to
it.
* * * *
UP Law & Order
The Uttar Pradesh Government of Akhilesh Yadav is caught
between the devil and the deep sea. The murder of top cop, Pratapgarh DSP
Zia-ul-Haq, has put the young Chief Minister in an awkward position. On the one
hand, there is a growing demand to arrest former minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh
alias Raja Bhaiya for his alleged involvement in the murder of Haq following an
FIR lodged by the slain officer's wife Parveen Azad, accusing him of criminal
conspiracy. On the other, an FIR lodged by the local police puts the blame on a
mob led by family members of slain Balipur village pradhan Nanhe Lal Yadav. The
Samajwadi Party’s appeasement policy towards both the communities, may
therefore take a beating if the Government even gives a hint of siding with
either. While Akhilesh would need to tread carefully, he must also put his
house in order. Instead of law and order improving as promised, the situation
has deteriorated further. With the Centre ordering a CBI inquiry, is not a way
out.
* * * *
Cong Disconnect in Punjab & MP
Punjab and Madhya Pradesh are
the latest examples of Congress being its own enemy. Developments in these
States reveal the disconnect between local leaders and the High Command. In Punjab, Congress President Sonia Gandhi didn’t think it
worthwhile to consult former Chief Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee
chief Capt Amarinder Singh over who should replace him. While he was aware of
being shown the door, given that the party was in complete doldrums, Singh at
least expected minimum courtesy of being consulted. His choice would have been
someone other than Gurdaspur MP Pratap Singh Bajwa, who was anointed the PCC
chief on Wednesday last. While it may not have been considered, at least he
would have gone out gracefully. Likewise, the PCC Chief Kantilal Bhuria in
Madhya Pradesh is gravely upset over Union Ministers from the State (hinting at
Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia) holding meetings and touring the State
without involving him. These developments ironically come at a time when Vice
President Rahul Gandhi seeks to set his house in order. Perhaps, he should
address his concern to the top brass as well.
* * * *
TN Pressure On Centre
The Centre is under severe pressure from Tamil Nadu,
particularly its biggest ally the DMK, over the plight of ethic Tamils in Sri Lanka. In the
Lok Sabha on Thursday last, the DMK leader T R Baalu demanded that the
Government vote against Sri
Lanka and ensure the passage of the UN
resolution to fix accountability for the war crimes. More importantly, he
insisted that India
should not be “lukewarm” but should have a clear-cut approach on the issue at
the UN. However, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid refused to yield and did not
give a commitment. He stated that the Government did not want to play the role
of “big brother” with respect to Lanka and that it would let Parliament know
when it would decide on how to vote on the resolution that the US had planned.
Its ally was clearly unhappy and staged a walkout. Fortunately, for the UPA-II
that is all the DMK can do, for the moment.
* * * *
Arunachal Dam Protests
Arunachal Pradesh is simmering with both fear and anger.
Hundreds of Buddhist monks were out on the streets in Tawang on Tuesday last,
protesting against construction of 13 hydel projects in the district. Other
than fearing a grave threat to their 400-year-old Tawang Monastery, the monks
claim that the dams, mainly on two rivers, Tawang Chu and Nyamjang Chu would
impact the holy sites along the river basin, other than affecting ecology. The
monks, who have been holding protests intermittently, also dismiss the Centre’s
justification for so many hydel projects with the argument that as the district
has a population of 49,000 only smaller projects would meet their electricity demand.
Last year, a representative group put across its concern and demand to Prime
Minister and Power Minister but in vain. However, New Delhi would do well to a re-think. It
should keep in mind that Tawang is sensitively located--barely 30 km from the
Line of actual control with China.---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
New Delhi, 7 March 2013
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