Round The States

New Delhi, 29 October 2016

UP Imbroglio

YADAV CAT & MOUSE GAME

By Insaf

Political parties are watching the never-ending cat and mouse game between father-son-- Mulayam and Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, with uncle Shivpal Yadav as the ménage de trios. This, specially against the backdrop of Chief Minister Akhilesh meeting Governor Naik on Wednesday last, his other uncle Ram Gopal Yadav (on his side) meeting Deputy Election Commissioner, and Mulayam reportedly sending Shivpal to sound out anti-communal forces--the Congress, JD(U), RJD and RLD’s Ajit Singh for of a possible mahagatbandhan prior to the State Assembly poll, due next year. While Akhilesh swears he is not going to go against his father and form a separate party, all efforts to settle the differences so far have yielded no results. Predictably, while the satta market had already discarded the SP coming back to power, the Yadav clan big fight has now relegated its position to number three, with BSP being seen as  numero one and BJP second in line. This apart, how more ministers and party leaders are going to be sacked is being keenly watched to help assess which side carries more weight. In all this uthal puthal (ups and downs), reports suggest that the Muslims, a large vote bank chunk, are at a loose end as Maulana Mulayam cannot ensure his party’s victory in this mess. Indeed, the entire drama is a nagging suspense and governance would surely be taking a beating. Will the fire die out post-Diwali dhamaka? Many would refrain from even making a guess.

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Andhra-Odisha Naxal-Hit

Success notwithstanding, State governments in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha need to introspect. Undoubtedly, the special security forces would be upbeat with their operation in Malkangiri district bordering the two States, wherein 28 Maoists were killed on Monday last, giving a big blow the outlawed group. However, the political leadership needs to think, and seriously, why such encounters still continue to take place. Obviously, governance has faltered in its strategy. It is not just containing the threat of Maoists but widening its developmental outreach in the affected districts. While the Greyhounds can have a sense of déjà vu having revenged the killing of its 38 commandoes in Malkangiri in June 2008, the fact is naxalite insurgency has not been contained. But then it is not its mandate alone. The political leadership must re-look its overall strategy with development and welfare programmes being key it. So far these have been uneven and slow. The shortcomings need to be addressed and concerted attempts made to lure the Maoists to join the political mainstream as well as pursue tribal empowerment. Gloating over the operational success would be missing the woods for the trees. 

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Karnataka BJP Upbeat

Karnataka brings good news for the BJP. Its State president and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurapppa, has been given a clean chit by a special CBI court for lack of evidence in a bribery case, in which he is alleged to have taken kickbacks worth Rs 40 crores from two mining firms for allowing ‘illegal mining’ in Bellary district. Recall in August 2011, he had to quit as CM after the State Lokayukta Santosh Hegde indicted him, his two sons and a son-in-law for colluding in illegal iron-ore mining. The money was said to be transferred through Prerna Trust, managed by them. Yeddyurapppa was in jail for three weeks before getting bail by the High Court. The Supreme Court had stepped in March 2012 and had asked CBI to investigate. Following Wednesday’s verdict a relieved Yeddyurapppa tweeted: “Satyameva Jayathe. Justice is done. I stand vindicated,” and that the case was politically motivated. However, the Opposition too sees the CBI verdict as politically motivated as State elections are in 2018. The order has BJP cadres upbeat as they can now hope of regaining power.

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Bird Flu Alert

States have been put on alert for bird flu. While avian influenza is an infectious viral disease of birds and doesn’t infect humans, the Centre doesn’t want to take any chances. The Agriculture Ministry’s Animal Husbandry Department has set up a high-level committee to monitor and help State governments. This, after cases have been reported from among others Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Kerala (over 1,000 ducks already culled in Alappuzha district). Laboratories have been identified to get samples tested in an emergency response manner and an advisory has been issued to minimise bird-human interface, use personal protective equipment by those handling dead or sick birds, keep person exposed to the dead/sick birds under surveillance and provide them treatment as well as keep clean and a close watch on zoological parks. The States will do well to remember a stitch in time saves nine.

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TN Tops Detention Chart

Tamil Nadu tops the chart on preventive detention. As per data of the National Crime Records Bureau, 1,268 suspects, including 21 women, were detained under the State’s Goonda’s Act law last year. Of these 62 were either graduates or post-graduates. As against this record, other States use preventive detention law sparingly. For example Telangana had 339 cases, Karnataka 232, and Gujarat 219. The TN Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Forest Offenders, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders, Sand Offenders, Slum Grabbers and Video Pirates Act, 1982, which is referred to as the Goondas Act, empowers law-enforcement authorities to issue orders to detain ‘habitual offenders’ in prison for up to a year. Human rights activists have criticised the Act saying the police was misusing it. However, the numbers are bound to grow, as the Government is proposing to bring sexual offences and cyber crime under its ambit. Certainly, not a feather in its cap.

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Bihar’s Porn Rendezvous

Incorrigible! That’s how exasperated Indian Railways would end up describing the Biharis. It so happens that the authorities at the Patna Railway Station have had to block access to porn sites in its free Wi-Fi service at the station. The action comes on the heels of the Railway Station, which has over 200 trains passing through it, being given kudos in terms of being tops in internet search using the free Wi-Fi services. Only to realise ten days later that the facility was being used for opening porn sites! “Initially, we have blocked selected porn sites, and gradually all such sites will be blocked at the railway station,” said an official. The big question is will the Railways end up taking similar action elsewhere? The scheme has been launched at 23 railway stations so far and the big question is will it go off-track?  --- INFA

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