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Round
The States
New Delhi, 17 February
2018
Nagaland & Tripura
WARY OF HINDUTVA INVASION?
By Insaf
The Hindutva movement
invading the North East is a political hot potato, at least in poll-bound
Nagaland and Tripura. While tribal and development issues are much on the
agenda, the rise of the saffron brigade has become a major talking point. The
Nagaland Baptist Church Council, the biggest church organisation in the
Christian-majority State has surprised many by asking believers to choose between
‘Trishul’ and ‘Cross’. In an open letter,
which has religious-political overtones, it has lashed out at the BJP, which
till recently was an ally of ruling NPF. For past three years, it stated, the
nation has experienced its ‘worst persecution of minority communities’ and
urged presidents of all political parties “not to surrender Christian
principles for sake of money, development...” Obviously, taking a swipe at
Modi’s development and Act East agenda. Likewise, in CPM bastion Tripura, Chief
Minister Manik Sarkar too has warned against ‘a change’ that BJP is plugging
for. The entire country, he says is witnessing protests against Hindutva forces
as “these are trying to divide people along lines of caste, creed and community...Choose
between peace and violence...” For the BJP, the question would be: will Modi
charm work again or is it on the wane? Time for voter to decide.
* * * * * * *
Maoists
in Kerala?
Kerala has reason to
worry. For the first time in the State’s history, it has asked the Union Home
Ministry to include two districts, Palakkad and Malappuram in its list of left
wing insurgency-ridden areas. These will be part of the 35 districts
‘worst-affected’ among 106 districts in 10 States across the country. While no
violent incidents have been reported from these two districts last year, there
have been “multiple sightings of Maoist cadres in the area, in addition to
intelligence reports suggesting the insurgents being close to establishing a
base in the region.” Apparently, for several years inputs show the naxals are
planning to establish a base in the Kerala-Karnataka-Tamil Nadu tri junction.
The Ministry must make up its mind fast, as only after it agrees to the State’s
recommendation will it be entitled to receive Central funds to counter Left
Wing Extremism through the reimbursement scheme. It must remember the adage: a stitch
in time saves nine.
* * * * * * *
Delhi
Takes Credit
Delhi gives itself a
superb report card. On Wednesday last, celebrating the third anniversary of his
AAP government, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was satisfied with the
performance, notwithstanding the tug-of-war with the Lt Governor and Centre. He
claimed there was a ‘drop in corruption’ and ‘every single penny had been spent
on development’, be it electricity, or mohalla clinics, water, hospitals,
roads, school and colleges, et al. And this was because the people had elected
‘an honest government’. Deftly, he chose to steer clear of corruption charges
against his health minister and the 20 MLAs disqualification for holding office
of profit. The Opposition, however, trashed his claims, accused him of pushing
Delhi back 30 years and a big flop on every front. Be that as it may, Kejriwal
hopes to make up lost time in squabbling by concentrating on improving Delhi’s
pollution, its roads, sewage system, fulfilling his promise of free wi-fi,
installing CCTV cameras etc in the remaining two years. He should, however, be
prepared for a jolt in by-elections to 20 seats. Will he need to change course?
* * * * * * *
Andhra
Taunt’s Centre
Andhra Pradesh serves
an ultimatum to the Centre. Fulfil promise or else ministers from the ruling TDP
and MPs of Opposition YSR Congress will put in their papers. Obviously, with
the ensuing Assembly elections, both parties need to keep the heat on Modi
government to appease their vote bank as well as score brownie points. In a
Cabinet meeting on Wednesday last, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said if the
Centre doesn’t comply with its ‘wish list’ by 5 March, then he may ask his two ministers--Aviation
and Science and Tech to resign from NDA government. Plus, it will decide
whether to opt out of the alliance. A day earlier, Jagan Mohan Reddy, on a
state-wide Praja Sankalp padyatra, too threatened his Lok Sabha
MPs will resign if the Special Category status is not granted by April 6th.
Both have asked their respective MPs to camp in New Delhi to give the requisite
push. Will Delhi oblige?
* * * * * * *
Maha, Gujarat Added Woes
BJP-ruled
Maharashtra and Gujarat will have to dig deeper into the State coffers to fix
farmers’ woes. Recent hail and thunderstorm in Marathwada and Vidarbha have
severely hit over 1.8 lakh hectares of farm land, across 1,269 villages in 16
districts. Main crops, Chana, jowar almost ready for harvesting and standing crops of vegetables are destroyed!
While Chief Minister Fadnavis has offered to compensate these farmers, he is
yet to budget for the promised loan waivers. Likewise, in Gujarat, the onset of
summer season is forcing the Rupani government to stop release of Narmada water
to four districts of Surendranagar, Botad, Bhavnagar and Ahmedabad a month in
advance, i.e. mid-February rather than in March. The farmers obviously are
angry as it puts the entire winter crop, requiring last couple of rounds of
water, in danger. Give us water or compensation, they demand. Will praying to
the Weather God help, as suggested by a minister in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh?
* * * * * * *
TN’s
Incredible Job Hunt
Tamil Nadu takes the
cake in the pursuit of a Government job. Of the 20 lakh-odd applicants appearing
for exams by the TN Public Service Commission last week, a staggering 23,000
MPhil holders, 992 PhD holders, 2.5 lakh post graduates and 8 lakh graduates
applied for Class IV posts -- 494 Village Administrative Officers, 3,463
typists, 815 steno-typists, 4,349 junior assistants and bill collectors! This,
when the qualification required is a mere Class 10th pass. Obviously,
the trend reveals that educated youth in the State have scarce opening in the
private sector and the craze for a secure government job is intact. This is also
confirmed by the fact that in the recent selection of police constables,
4000-odd graduates and another 500-odd post graduates tried their luck. Other
than Chief Minister Palaniswami, it is Prime Minister Modi who cannot ignore
these statistics. His much-touted schemes of ‘Start up India’, ‘Skill India’, ‘promise
of 10 million jobs for youth’ etc, simply fall flat. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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