Round The States

New Delhi, 19 November 2008

First Phase Poll In J&K

KASHMIRIS GREATLY SURPRISE ALL

By Insaf

Kashmiris have greatly surprised all, including themselves and their leaders, defying boycott calls by the Hurriyat and other separatists and the harsh winter to vote heavily in the first phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir.  Polling averaged 69 per cent, way above the voting in 2002.  It was 57.24 per cent in Bandipora as against 31 per cent in 2002.  Again it was 74.38 per cent in Surankote against 40.  In Poonch-havell it was 74.46 against 60 in 2002.  Former Chief Minister and National Conference Chief Ministerial candidate Farooq Abdullah, believes the voting has shown that “democracy has taken roots” and the voters want a Government that will work.  His bitter rival, Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples’ Democratic Party however, has another take.  The people, according to her, came out in large numbers to ensure the defeat of the National Conference.  She has stated: “They were apprehensive that the low turnout would help the National Conference and that is why they thronged the polling stations. NC was counting on people’s non-participation.”

All this does not, however, justify euphoria seen in some quarters as also in some sweeping comments.  Many have chosen to describe the heavy poll as a slap in the face of the separatists and a major rebuff to the Hurriyat and other anti-national leaders demanding azadi or a link-up with Pakistan.  As Farooq Abdullah himself stated: “People have voted heavily.  That’s a good thing.  But lets not go beyond that.  This is only the first phase. There are many stages still to cover.”  Said separatist leader Sajjad Lone : “Just three valley constituencies went to polls on Monday. It is too early to get excited.  There are seven phases in all. We have to wait for the whole process.  Remember, the separatists were not allowed to campaign as most of them are under arrest.”  The Hurriyat leaders ditto what Lone has stated. But that does not change one basic fact.  The Hurriyat and the separatists, aided by Dukhtaran-i-Millat, (Daughters of Islam) have been campaigning all along for a poll boycott.  That their leaders are under arrest should have given an edge to their boycott call.  Instead, the people rejected their call and came out in large numbers to vote as never before!

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Of interest and relevance to the J & K election is the overall view of the Election commission.  The Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalaswami, visted the State four days ahead of the first phase of polling and emphasized that “nothing less than free and fair polls will be acceptable to us.”  On being asked whether security forces would compel voters to vote on the polling day, Gopalaswami replied the police, the Army or any other security agency would never be allowed to coerce voters.  Importantly, he clarified that a low turn-out was no issue for the Election Commission and added: “We are not concerned about the meagre poll percentage.  Our aim is to hold a free and fair poll.  For us, the weather is a big challenge.”  The CEC was also asked about the arrest of separatist leaders for mounting a poll boycott campaign.  Sajjad Lone, Chairman of the People’s Conference, who had been under house arrest for five days had denounced the arrests and security restrictions as “undemocratic”. Gopalswami merely replied; “We want a free, fair and peaceful poll. The law will take its own course.

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Maoist & Naxal scare

Maoist dominance over Chhattisgarh is widely known.  Twelve of the States’s 18 districts are facing Maoist onslaughts.  In the past two years alone, the Maoists have killed 538 civilians and security men and has itself lost 143 cadres. But one aspect of the poll campaign in South Chhattisgarh has not received the attention it deserves.  One witnessed in the area a conspiracy of silence about the most important issue in the region: the Maoists.  Not one candidate spoke a word about the Maoists or the Naxalites no matter to which political party they belonged.  They did not even try to persuade voters to disregard the call to boycott elections that the Maoists had given.  On Sunday last, two senior BJP workers in Bastar’s Dantewada district were brutally killed by the Maoists.  But the BJP candidate from the region refused to condemn the killing.  He only spoke about Chief Minister Raman Singh’s development initiatives arguing: “Development will render the Maoists irrelevant.” Clearly, people are scared. Remarked an independent candidate: “Who wants to risk his life!”

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Mizoram’s Grand Old Man

Mizoram’s grand old man, Brig T.  Sailo, is poised to make history once more by plunging into the latest electoral battle for the State Assembly.  Brig. Sailo, who will soon be 87, had retired from active politics five years ago, making way for younger people.  But he has felt compelled to return to active politics because of the sorry state of affairs.  A veteran of World War II, Sailo asserts:” The people are fed up of corruption.  First, it was the Congress Government.  And then ten years of MNF misrule.  It has disgusted and frustrated the people like never before.”  In 1975, Sailo set up the People’s Conference and was swept to power in the 1978 Assembly election.  He was Chief Minister for the full term but lost to the Congress thereafter.  This time, a new non-Congress outfit by the name of United Democratic Alliance has projected the Brig as its candidate for the State’s chief ministership.  Incredibly enough, Sailo is campaigning seven to eight hours a day for himself and others, boosting enthusiasm and morale all round.

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Cosmopolitan Mumbai

Overwhelming opinion at the Centre and across the States strongly favours steps that would ensure that Mumbai retains its cosmopolitan character.  They are one with India’s Vice President, Hamid Ansari, who recently made two forceful points.  First, “Mumbai represents the cosmopolitan spirit of India.  Any other depiction of Mumbai would be to lessen it and deny its history and its ethos.”  Second, 50 per cent of India’s population would be living in the cities by 2050.  There would be no place in these urban conglomerates, which would be attracting people from different geographical, linguistic and religious backgrounds, for “cultural chauvinism and linguistic jingoism.”  It was for cities like Mumbai to take the lead in what Nehru called the emotional integration of India.  Importantly, veterans recall that at the time of the reorganization of the States in 1956 there was a serious move to make Mumbai a Union Territory to ensure its cosmopolitan character.  The proposal was eventually dropped and Mumbai became the capital of Maharahstra when Maharashtrian leaders solemnly assured that the city would remain cosmopolitan.

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Temples Razed In Modi’s Gujarat

Narendra Modi’s Gujarat is widely acknowledged for giving its people good governance, as reflected in the State’s popularity for major investors, both Indian and foreign.  It can now also stake a claim to good secular governance, at least in enforcing the law.  Incredible as it may seem, Gujarat’s capital, Gandhinagar, has recently witnessed 80 temples or their boundaries razed to the ground or demolished as part of a drive against illegal encroachments.  The campaign, which started on October 13, went into top gear on Wednesday last when 15 small and medium temples were demolished on two roads.  What Gandhinagar has done should be a lesson for its twin city of Ahmedabad.  It has yet to carry out a Gujarat High Court directive against shrines obstructing traffic in the city.  Interestingly, Saudi Arabia enforces its laws sternly and ensures that neither masjids nor graves are allowed to come in the way of widening of roads and other development plans. As Insaf learnt on a visit to Riyadh, a formal notice is served on those concerned and stern action follows by the end of the month. ---INFA

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