Round The States

New Delhi, 27 August 2008

VHP Leader’s Killing

ORISSA ENGULFED IN COMMUNAL FURY

By Insaf

Orissa is on the boil with communal fires engulfing more than 12 districts, claiming 10 lives so far and putting a big question mark on the ruling Biju Janata Dal-BJP alliance. Sadly, this eastern State is yet again embroiled in Hindu-Christian communal fury, triggered by the gunning down of Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples on last Saturday by masked men, who had stormed the Jaleshpata ashram, in Kandmahal district. For the past week mobs led by the VHP and Bajrang Dal have been on the rampage setting homes, churches, orphanages and schools run by the Christians on fire, forcing the Naveen Patnaik Government to seek additional Central paramilitary forces and imposing curfew in 9 towns.  While the Orissa DGP claimed that the 84-year-old Swami, who had been working against the conversion of tribals into Christianity, was killed by the Maoists, the Hindutva outfits maintain that the murder was the handiwork of the Christian community.

The mob did not even spare the State Capital, Bhubaneshwar, which too became a victim of communal wrath with churches stoned and vehicles set afire. Instead of dousing the fire, the parties are busy scoring brownie points. The Congress has moved a no-confidence motion against the BJD-BJP Government. The BJP has denied its hand in the VHP violence and mulls over whether to remain in the coalition. Meanwhile, the Dalit Christians forced to leave their homes in Korapat, Deogarh and other districts hide in jungles, without food and water. Sadly, the violence, reminiscent of the Graham Staines murder in January 1999, refuses to abate. There are reports of retaliatory action by the Christians, notwithstanding the Pope’s appeal for an end to the violence. When will this carnage stop?

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Now It’s Militant Attack In Jammu

Jammu has more worries on its plate than it can palate. In the throes of violent protests, shutdowns and curfew for the past 35 days over the Amarnath land transfer controversy the city witnessed its first terror attack in the past six years. On Wednesday last, three Fidayeen militants were killed by the security forces after an 18-hour gun battle on the outskirts of the city. The militants had taken eight members of a family, including four children hostage. Clearly, the attack was aimed at deepening the communal divide between Jammu and the Valley. Thankfully, the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti called off its rally on Wednesday, following a request from State functionaries that it could add to the law and order problem. National interest was top priority, said the Samiti. Are the separatists in the Valley listening?

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Soren Back As Jharkhand CM

After a three-year banwaas, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo and former Union Coal Minister, Shibhu Soren returned as Chief Minister of Jharkhand on Wednesday last. Thus ringing the curtain down on a fortnight-long political drama when outgoing Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who’s Government was brought down by the JMM withdrawing support, was persuaded to support Soren. The JMM chief was sworn in by Governor Syed Sibtey Razi along with an 11-member Cabinet. The Congress and the RJD, with nine and seven MLAs respectively in the 81-member Assembly, have extended outside support to Soren’s Government. Will lady luck favour Soren the second time given that his Government lasted a mere 9 days in 2005. Will the State finally see stability as the sixth Government in 8 years holds sway!

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Floods Play Havoc in Bihar

The flooding of the Kosi river is playing havoc in East Bihar. It has left nearly 21 lakh people in 441 villages marooned and homeless, over 50 dead and the Army working overtime in relief operations. Following the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s SOS, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released Rs 1,000 crore and 1.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrain. The State Government has also demanded boats and tents amidst fears of the flooding, caused by a breach in the embankment, worsening following more rains. Perhaps, it needs to haul up its bureaucratic engineers for their slipshod antics of “dropping truckloads of stones” as a pre-flood step. Well aware that this would not repair the breach. Clearly, this “national calamity” may trigger one of world’s biggest human evacuations ever. 

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Mamata Lays Siege at Singur

A big question mark hangs over the Tata Motors much-awaited wonder car Nano project in Singur, West Bengal. Thanks to Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s blockade of the factory, leaving the CPM Government scrambling for a solution. The TMC leader who launched an indefinite “peaceful” dharna” on Sunday, insisted that it would be lifted only after the Government returned the 400 acres to the “unwilling farmers.” However, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has refused to oblige. Not because his Government’s case has been upheld by the High Court but it would tantamount to stopping the project. With several States extending invites to the Tata’s, Buddhadeb is busy placating Mamata — written to her, had Jyoti Basu call her and even offered to raise the compensation. But the TMC leader refuses to budge even as the siege outside the plant continues. Will she play spoil sport to the Nano roll out in October?

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Chiranjeevi Launches Praja Rajyam

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi has finally stepped into a new avatar --- from a reel-life neta to a real life neta! On Tuesday last, the matinee idol of the South launched his own political party --- Praja Rajyam --- which he claimed is “pro-poor and of the people and by the people.” The mega show held in the temple town of Tirupati was stormed by over four lakhs frenzied crowd of fans from all over the State. Unveiling his Party’s white and green flag with a red sun in the middle, Chiranjeevi questioned the Congress Government’s SEZ policy, touched upon the Naxalite problem, the Telengana issue et al. The launch was reminiscent of the time 25 years ago, when the legendary Telugu actor NT Rama Rao launched his Telugu Desam party and altered the course of Andhra politics. Will super hero Chiranjeevi sweep the electoral box office? Will the fledgling Praja Rajyam give both the Congress and the TDP a run for their votes in the elections next year?

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Golden Temple’s ‘Girl Child’

Women devotees to the Golden Temple in Amritsar can expect a ‘Gurukripa’ offering — a free sapling to plant back home. All to spread the message: save the girl child, save the environment. The scheme envisaged by the Punjab Government, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and a private company seeks to put the force of faith behind the need to sensitize the State towards the girl child given that it has the lowest sex ratio (874:1000). Called the Nanhi Chaanh (small shade) scheme, saplings of a variety of trees mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib would be packaged in special boxes with the 1499 famous Guru Nanak inscription: “It is a woman who keeps the race going and we should not consider her condemned or cursed, when from woman are born leaders and rulers!” ---INFA

 (Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)