India News and Features Alliance (INFA) - Chauvinism In Maharashtra:SUPREME COURT SEEKS AN ANSWER, by Insaf,12 November 2008

Thanks to the Supreme Court, there is hope around the States for all those eager to ensure India’s unity and integrity and see stern and meaningful action against regional chauvinism and linguistic terrorism in Maharashtra. The Apex Court sought on Monday from the Vilasrao Government in Maharashtra an answer to the allegation that its administrative and policing lapses had allowed Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to unleash violence against north Indians in the State. The Congress-led coalition Government was sent a notice by a Bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan on a Public Interest Litigation by Salek Chand Jain seeking a direction to the State to take effective measures to prevent recurrence of such violence. Initially the Bench appeared reluctant. But it changed its mind when the counsel for Jain pointed out that two doctor brothers --- Ajay and Vijay – from Bihar had been killed by an MNS mob blinded by regionalism for refusing to close their clinic. Shockingly, all this happened right in front of the State police, which did not even register FIRs.

Information now available confirms that the Prime Minister did seek from Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao “strongest possible measures” against Raj Thackeray and his men for indulging in violence against north Indians. The PM’s letter of October 27 stated: “There cannot be any compromise with those who are determined to destroy India’s uniquely liberal and pluralistic society in which all castes and communities, as well as linguistic minorities are free to live in whichever part of the country they wish”. Not just that. The PM also pulled up the CM for allowing things to develop to such a pass. “The situation itself had been building up for some time and the utterances and rhetoric of Raj Thackeray against north Indians and Hindi speaking people were a precursor of what was to follow…Too much latitude has been shown to Raj Thackeray and MNS. No State Government can be a passive spectator when deliberate efforts are made to disturb peace…” Shockingly, the State Government has so far ignored the PM’s letter.

The separatists in Jammu & Kashmir have redoubled their efforts for a boycott of the Assembly poll. Hurriyat’s moderate leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has announced that he would hit the streets as part of the protest. Earlier, he had supported the poll boycott but kept away from roadside protests. Hurriyat’s hardline leader, Syed Ali Geelani, is due to return to the Vally by the end of the week after his successful surgery in New Delhi. The Mirwaiz has also announced a joint anti-poll programme by the Kashmir Coordination Committee --- an amalgam of various separsatist constituents --- including peaceful marches to district headquarters on polling days. He has reiterated that on December 24, when the eight Assembly segments in Srinagar district go to the polls. They will hold a march to Lal Chowk. On election days, the people will first assemble at district headquarters, and then march to tehsil headquarters and stage sit-ins outside polling booths. The protestors will also march to the UN office to submit a memorandum.

Importantly, all this has not caused any great concern to either the National Conference or the Congress. In fact, the State’s former Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has decided in response to stage a comeback to electoral politics. He did not contest the 2002 Assembly elections having handed over the NC baton to his son, Omar Farooq’s decision is a calculated move to reap the maximum benefit in the elections considering his profile, charisma and popularity. The Congress, for its part, is hoping to do better than last time. Its PCC Chief, Union Minister Saifuddin Soz, has been working hard and his poll campaign has been attracting sizeable crowds. This has emboldened him to believe that the Congress has a fair chance of capturing power. He expects to win eight seats in the Valley (as against four last time), 15 seats in Jammu and all the four seats in Ladakh. This does not give him a majority. But that may still be possible with the help of independents. At least three of them are expected to win with Congress support.

Mayawati is pushing ahead with her grandiose plans to become India’s first Dalit Prime Minister. Toward that end she has put in place a new strategy to get anywhere from 55-65 Members of Parliament. She is hopeful of winning at least 50 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP. (Her loyalists put the figure at 60 while her arch rival Samajwadi Party avers 40 seats). Also, she would like to win 10-15 seats in the rest of the country. To test the waters and play spoiler for the Congress, Mayawati is making an initial foray into what is being slated as a mini-general election in November-December. She is putting up candidates in all constituencies in 5 out of the 6 poll-bound States. Namely, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and J&K. She intends playing on the existing differences between castes and repeating her UP winning formula, strategic pact between the Dalits and Brahmins. She has started thinking of herself as India’s Obama. Will she be successful?

The ‘abode of the Gods’ Uttaranchal is all set to get a state-of-art Science and Technology City. This was disclosed by Chief Minister BC Khanduri who unveiled his vision to make the State into one big entrepreneurial village at the third Uttaranchal Science and Technology Congress in Roorkee on Monday. To be set-up by the State Government in the picturesque Capital Dehra Dun, the city is meant to nurture and fulfil the aspirations of young and senior scientist. Especially as the State was full of science graduates who needed to be imparted employment-oriented innovative skills. Uttaranchalis have their fingers crossed that the Science City will generate employment.

It is raining populism in all the six poll-bound States with political parties busy trying to out-do each other in doling out freebies. However, Chhattisgarh takes the cake, or should on say rice. Where the two contenders to the State gaddi, the BJP and Congress, are engaged in bitter rice politics. The ruling BJP which had earlier promised rice at Rs 3 per kg to the BPL families has now reduced it to Rs one in its election manifesto. Primarily because the Congress had pegged the price at Rs 2. Given that rice is the staple diet of the people, the arch rivals have made it their political staple. All phokut mein, as they say in the Chhattisgarhi dialect. It is another matter that this mindless fight over who will wear the ‘Chaur Wale Baba’ crown would cost the State exchequer a whopping Rs 975 crore.---INFA