Round The States

New Delhi, 21 August 2008

Centre’s ‘Go-Slow’ On Terror

STATES DEMAND TOUGHER LAWS

By Insaf

Five States are up in arms against the Centre’s ‘go slow’ on their demand for tougher laws to fight the ‘war against terror.’ Namely, three BJP-ruled Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh along with Congress’ Andhra Pradesh and BSP’s Uttar Pradesh. The proposed laws pertaining to Control of Organised Crime Bill of each State respectively have been hanging fire with the Union Home Ministry since 2003 when Gujarat mooted its proposal followed by Rajasthan and Andhra  in 2006 and MP and UP in 2007. Notwithstanding, that in the interim period all these States have been victims of terror.  Be it Varanasi, Hyderabad, Jaipur to the latest in Ahmedabad blasts. The States have refused to buy the Centre’s plea that many provisions in the said laws are similar to the now repealed POTA. Especially against the backdrop that similar terror laws are already in force in Maharashtra and Delhi. Also strange is the reason for withholding the Andhra legislation considering that the proposed Bill is simply a copy of the earlier law which was in force during 2001-2004.  The States hope that the Centre will ‘act tough’!

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Jharkhand Heading For President’s Rule?

Jharkhand is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons. It is in the throes of ‘horse-trading’ by all political outfits after the Madhu Koda-led State Government was reduced to a minority. Thanks to the 17-member strong JMM led by erstwhile CM ‘Guruji’ Shibhu Soren withdrawing support. True, the Governor Sibtey Razi has asked the Chief Minister to prove his majority in the State Assembly on Tuesday next. But in all probability the State is heading for another spell of President’s rule. This follows both Sonia’s Congress and Laloo’s RJD having second thoughts on backing Soren as CM. Recall, they had dangled this bait to get the JMM on the UPA board during the trust vote in the Lok Sabha. What is Guruji’s answer to this?

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North- East Dimension To Look-East Policy

The North-Eastern States has come out with a novel dimension to India’s look-East policy. Wherein all ‘seven sisters’ of the region have come together to promote trade, commerce and tourism with Bangladesh. Four States --- Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura, which share a long, torturous and troublesome border with Bangladesh, have set the ball rolling. Unfortunately, the Centre has played deaf to the States plea about the benefits of this policy. Worse, not only have the States been hamstrung by the geo-political developments in the region but the North Eastern Council too has been of no help in furthering the trade impetus with Bangladesh. Pointedly rued Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, “The over-a-decade old Look-East Policy had failed to bring any visible benefits to the people of the region.” To galvanize the process, he mooted the banding together of all the N-Eastern States to further their commercial cause jointly with Bangladesh.

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Andhra’s New Political Super Star

Another super star is set to make his political debut in Andhra Pradesh. Current Telugu heartthrob Chiranjeevi has donned on the poll war paint and has floated a new Party. The emergence of the new Party could change the complexion of politics in the State as the cinestar, a Kapu, is seen to be having the wherewithal to challenge the domination of Kammas and Reddys in the political arena. He joins the august company of erstwhile co-star N.T. Rama Rao, who founded the Telugu Desham Party. Predictably, Chiranjeevi’s outfit is giving the ruling Congress and the TDP Opposition the jitters. It remains to be seen whether Chiranjeevi will be able to script victory by riding the crest of synergizing Telugu pride with filmi flavour.

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States To Get Tourist Police

Tourists, both international and domestic have reason to smile. All States are soon to get tourist police to ensure that the visitors’ holiday remains crime-free. Especially against the background of tourists increasingly becoming the happy hunting grounds for criminals and murderers. As per the Union Tourism Ministry’s proposal to the States, apart from ensuring safety of the tourists the new guidelines would act as the bridge between the holiday-makers and the administration/district police. The States’ police have been directed to facilitate tourists’ visits and act appropriately during emergencies. The three tired structure --- state, district and destination will be supervised by the joint committee comprising the State Home Secretary. This hopefully should make foreign Governments recall their travel advisories asking its citizens not to travel alone in India. India, indeed beckons!

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MP Gears Up For Polls

The BJP-Led Madhya Pradesh Government has notched up a first in poll preparedness for the forthcoming State Assembly polls. Towards that end, the Party has already started short-listing candidates and is busy preparing its election manifesto. The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is all set to embark on a ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’ to seek the peoples’ blessing for another term. Besides highlighting the achievements of the five years of the BJP rule, the Party intends to go aggressive on the spiraling prices, terrorism and also court arrest for revocation of the land transfer order to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The Congress on its part has hired private research and survey agencies to verify the winnability of ticket seekers in the State.  It remains to be seen who will get the peoples’ ‘Ashirvad.’

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Uttarakhand To Get New Capital

Uttarakhand’s long wait for a Capital is soon to be over. The ‘abode of the Gods’ is all set to get a spanking permanent Capital, almost eight years after it became a State. This follows the handing over of the Justice Virendra Dikshit report to the State Government. Recall, the Commission was set up in 2001, three months after the region achieved Statehood to demarcate a Capital. Needless to say the issue of choosing a Capital has been politically sensitive as Dehra Dun continues to be the interim Capital. The four prominent areas shortlisted are Dehra Dun, Gair Sain, Ramnagar-Kashipur Belt and Rishikesh. It remains to be seen which one emerges the winner.

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Bihar’s Way To Save Grains – Eat Rats

The Bihar Government has done one better than France’s famous Maria Antoinette. On a take off on her infamous comment to her starving population, “If they don’t have bread give them cakes”, the Bihar Government is encouraging people to eat rats in an effort to battle soaring food prices and save grain stock. The rich and poor alike have been asked to switch to eating rats to reduce their dependence on rice. Rats are even soon going to be on restaurant menus. According to officials, this ‘ratty affair’ will kill two rats with one stone. It will save 50 per cent of India’s food grains which are eaten by rodents in the fields and warehouses and also give people a healthy alternative as rat meat has been declared nutritious. Any takers? ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)