Round The States

New Delhi, 14 May 2008

Serial Blasts In Jaipur

RED ALERT ON TERRORISM

By Insaf

Brazen terrorism in Jaipur has blown sky high hopes of peace and an end to senseless violence from across Pakistan, despite assurances by the new leadership in Islamabad. The serial blasts on Tuesday evening in the Pink city have only confirmed the signals sent out by militant attacks two days earlier in Jammu and put the nation on alert. Seven blasts within a span of just 20 minutes in busy marketplaces and near five temples in Jaipur’s congested old city have so far claimed 60 lives and injured over 150 people. The bombs, of medium intensity with clock timers, a mixture of RDX and ammonium nitrate, were placed under bicycles and cars, pointing the needle of suspicion towards three militant outfits: Pakistan-based Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI) or Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). In addition, not only was the attack very well coordinated, but the militant outfit ensured world attention as Jaipur is an international tourist hub.   

Regrettably, both the State and the Centre were once again taken by surprise in Rajasthan, even though security agencies suggest that there was an alert regarding “most popular tourist destination.” Other than deployment of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), the Centre has rushed National Security Guards (NSG) to Jaipur and more BSF and CRPF troops to J&K. The latter follows attack by militants near the international border at Samba, Jammu, on Sunday killing six persons, and injuring 15 others. Two militants, suspected to belong to the LeT, were killed in the fierce encounter in Samba which lasted 13 hours. The attack came close on the heels of an infiltration bid three days ago, which the BSF claimed to have foiled. However, that is not the case. The infiltrators obviously were able to negotiate the fence across the border in J&K and strike prior to the Amarnath yatra in July. With terror attacks on Jaipur and Jammu, New Delhi would need to tread cautiously with the new regime in Pakistan and focus on critical local support.  

*                                   *                                   *                                   *

Disillusionment In Karnataka

Karnataka elections have failed to generate the expected enthusiasm among the voters. The past four weeks saw all political parties actively push for popular involvement. Yet the average voter turnout in the first phase of the Assembly polls for 89 seats, held on Saturday last, was a mere 60 per cent, as against 65 per cent recorded in 2004. Worse, the urban voters, whose numbers and importance has grown with fresh delimitation of constituencies, appear to be a disillusioned lot vis a vis the politicians, if Bangalore turnout is any indication. The capital city recorded just 44 per cent voting as against Bangalore rural district, which polled a record highest of 72.5 per cent. Of the 953 candidates whose fate was sealed included former chief ministers H D Kumaraswamy, former deputy CM Siddaramaiah and 10 ex-ministers.

Meanwhile, political parties are not allowing the poor turnout to dampen their spirits. The BJP, for its part, is already claiming that it has emerged “as the leader” in the first phase, thanks to an increase in the urban seats and an urban disenchantment with Deve Gowda’s JD (S). In fact, an exit poll suggests that the BJP could win 119 to 129 seats, out of a total of 224 seats, the Congress 60-64 and the JD (S) would suffer a major setback with just 20 seats. Three other reasons are being cited for the BJP scoring over its rivals: One, there is widespread sympathy for the way the BJP was “betrayed” by the Deve Gowda’s JD(S) and done out of power. Two, Mayawati’s BSP, which has put up 218 candidates, is expected to cut into the Congress’ dalit vote. Three, price rise, is a major issue which the Congress can’t wish away. Of course, opinion polls could go completely off the mark, as happened in the UP and Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

*                                   *                       *                       *                       *

Shiv Sena Revives “Mumbai” Agitation

One upmanship between political parties continues to play havoc in Maharashtra. Even as the Congress-led government is dragging its feet over Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) shameless and unrelenting tirade against the North Indians since February last, the Shiv Sena is gearing up to revive its 90s agitation to rename Bombay as Mumbai. On Sunday last, a dozen-odd Shiv Sainiks painted “Mumbai Scottish” on the wall outside Bombay Scottish School. The sainiks also knocked down Bombay Dyeing boards outside the company’s showroom in Worli. Balasaheb Thackray’s “Samna”, sharply rebuked institutions for still using Bombay. “Even when the whole world refers to the city as Mumbai, by using Bombay they are trying to smite the self respect and dignity of the Maharastrians.” What about the shock caused to the whole world by the insanity let loose by the Sainiks in India’s financial capital?

*               *                                               *                                   *

Dalai Lama To Visit Arunachal

Congress Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh deserves three cheers. He has imaginatively invited Dalai Lama to visit the State and leave no one in the world, especially China, in any doubt, that it is an integral part of India. The invite was extended to Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader by Khandu and his nine-member ministerial delegation on Monday last during a visit to Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama’s spiritual abode. Responding to specific media queries, the CM minced no words and said:  “We are unhappy over the situation in Tibet.” And as for his State, he asserted: “China is making an untenable claim…there is no question of a border dispute… Tawang is an integral part of India”. Khandu’s statement is certain to ruffle feathers in Beijing. But it will send a much-needed message to China, a message which should have been sternly delivered by none less than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself during his recent visit to the State.

*                          *                                                        *                                 *

Alarm Bells Over Ganga

Alarm bells are ringing in Allahabad and Varanasi. The holy river Ganga may get reduced to a trickle! This is a feared at the Sangam, following a sharp fall in the water level of the Ganga, especially downstream from Narora, Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh. The reasons being cited by engineers range from mandatory diversion of river water to different sources of irrigation, to rapid industrialization and increasing levels of pollution to steep rise in number of water users. The river, which originates from Gangotri as Bhagirathi, and is joined by Alaknanda at Prayag raj to become Ganga, is considered the lifeline of UP since ancient times. With water levels going down, its state in Varanasi is no better.  However, as summer progresses the mighty glaciers in Gangotri, in the upper reaches of Himalayas are likely to start melting, thus replenishing the river level. So, there is hope. --- INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)