Round The States

New Delhi, 26 December 2013 

‘Snooping Scandal’

CENTRE-GUJARAT ALL-OUT WAR

By Insaf

An all-out war between the Centre and Gujarat is set to keep both the Congress and BJP on its toes. On Thursday last, the Union Cabinet gave its approval to set up an inquiry commission, under the requisite Act, to investigate the snooping scandal in Gujarat, wherein a young woman architect was allegedly put under surveillance by the State police. The Cabinet’s justification is primarily being on two counts—one, that the surveillance, which violated phone-tapping rules, was carried out on the lady outside the State, without the mandatory permission from the Centre. Two, President Pranab Mukherjee had referred to the Union Home Ministry petitions from NGOs and women organisations seeking a probe into the scandal. However, UPA-II’s reasoning undeniably will be taken with a pinch of salt, at least by the BJP and its supporters. With election 2014 looming large, and BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi giving the Congress a run for its money, the Centre is obviously jittery and trying to nail its bête noire. On expected lines, smelling a rat, the BJP has questioned the Centre’s inquiry stating unequivocally that it is “legally suspect.” Further, it has warned of its decision being challenged in court on grounds that the probe violates the Federal structure. Sooner the better, as the inquiry report would be timed just before the big electoral battle. Ironically, credibility of both parties is at stake. 

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Relief For Maharashtra, Kerala? 

Maharashtra and Kerala have reason to be optimistic, with a change in guard in the Union Environment and Forest Ministry. The two Congress-ruled States’ Chief Ministers Prithviraj Chavan and Oommen Chandy wasted no time in meeting the new incumbent M Veerappa Moily, on Tuesday last and spelling out their grievances. The demand was for a rethink on New Delhi’s decision to implement the Kasturirangan report in Western Ghats, which bans polluting industries and mega construction projects in the Ecologically Sensitive Area, covering nearly 60,000 sq km and would impact thousands of villagers’ livelihood. Four other States affected-- Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, too are expected to join the chorus against the order, as they have accused the Centre of not consulting them before taking the decision. Moily has asked the CMs to send their “suggestions/objections”, which will be duly considered to be followed by “quick response.” However, it may not be that easy. With Moily also heading the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which need green clearances from the environment ministry, a conflict of interest cannot be ruled out. Will he be able to oblige the States and convince the green lobby at the same time, is worth keeping a close watch on. 

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Mulayam Stirs Communal Pot 

The communal pot in Uttar Pradesh continues to simmer. The latest salvo was fired by Mian Mulayam Singh who did a 180 degree turn and is now busy playing the Hindu card. His assertion that Muslims staying in Muzaffarnagar’s relief camps were not “riot victims” but enemy conspirators and political pawns is a brazen attempt to appear on the Hindu side of the religious polarization and massage Hindutva sentiment and its vote-banks. True, it strikes at the root of his minority politics but with 80 Lok Sabha seats at stake coupled with the anger among the minority community over his Government's failure to check the conflagration which left over 50,000 Muslims homeless, the shrewd Mulayam has reconciled to losing his Muslims edge in the forthcoming general elections.

Today, he is leaving no stone unturned to soften the Hindu anger against his Government’s minority appeasement.. In fact, last month the Samajwadi supremo called senior BJP leader Advani “honest”, followed by warning Saffron Prime Ministerial candidate Modi that the Congress-led Centre was planning to trap him and urged his Partymen to learn discipline from the Saffronites. Caught in the Hindu-Muslim crosshairs, it remains to be seen if Mulayam’s desperate strategy to get a slice of the Hindu vote, check the BJP tapping in to the rural OBC base by playing Modi’s backward card and ensure his core Muslim vote base stays behind the SP’s muscular minority politics will succeed.  

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Uttarakhand Lokayukta

Uttarakhand is in a tearing hurry, happily. It wants to be the first State to enforce the Lokayukta Bill, on the lines of the recently passed Lokpal Bill by Parliament. However, the big question is whether Congress Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna will be able to achieve the feat, as there is reported difference of opinion within the coalition Government on the amendments to the Lokayukta Act. It is said that the Progressive Democratic Front, in alliance, is not terribly enthused by these. Nevertheless, plans are afoot to call a special session of the Assembly on January 14 to pass the Bill, which will eventually cover top State Government functionaries including the Chief Minister and others. Accordingly, the Lokayukta Bill will be similar to the Lokpal at the Centre, with few necessary changes such as ‘PM’ being replaced by ‘CM’, etc. Once passed, the Lokayukta Act passed by the previous BJP government will stand scrapped. But Bahuguna will cross the bridge once he comes to it.

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Goans Opt For Portugal

The BJP government of Manohar Parikkar in Goa has reason to frown. According to the Election Commission records of the past five years, at least six Goans on an average are changing their nationality daily to Portuguese! Apparently, in Panaji, the Portuguese embassy has been getting a steady flow of locals seeking its passports. According to available figures between 31 January 2008 and 31 January 2013, some 11,500 Goans have surrendered their Indian passports and that 2,700-odd voters lost their voting rights as their names had been struck of the EC’s list. Worse, decision is pending in about 8,800 applications. This situation has arisen because former rulers of Goa, which was a Portuguese colony, relaxed certain norms allowing Goans to get citizenship of Portugal. However, is it that simple? The State Government should go into the reasons why the locals are surrendering their Indian passports and seeking foreign nationality? More so, as for the BJP it has been “Shining India” and its latest slogan being “Vote for India!” ----- INFA

(Copyright India News & Feature Alliance)

New Delhi, 26 December 2013