Round The
States
New Delhi, 25 August 2011
Congress In Trouble
‘SPLIT’ IN ANDHRA, UP
By
Insaf
The troubles of the Congress
continue to mount. Not only at the Centre where fasting Gandhian crusader Anna
Hazare has cocked a snoop at the UPA Government over the adoption of his Jan
Lokpal Bill but also in two States, Andhra and Uttar Pradesh. In Andhra, the
Party’s erstwhile problem-child Jaganmohan Reddy now chief of the YSR Congress
Party is giving his “alma
matar” sleepless nights. This follows 24 MLAs and two Congress MPs resigning in
support of Jagan over the CBI’s raids on his various companies and registering
cases for owning disproportionate assets. Accusing the investigating agency of
carrying out a “witch-hunt”, the last straw was when his late father and former
Chief Minister YSR Reddy’s name was included among those charge-sheeted.
However, the Congress is unperturbed as these resignations will not affect the
Party’s majority in the State Assembly. Happily, former super-star Chiranjivi
has merged his 18 MLAs strong Praja Rajyam Party in to the Congress. But the
Congress has its fingers crossed that no more desertions take place from its
ranks.
In UP, ‘ace-defector’ Ajit Singh
could play party pooper for the Congress. Thanks to the Party releasing its
first list of 73 candidates for next year’s Assembly election. Thereby, putting
its prospective alliance with the kisan leader’s Rashtriya Lok Dal in jeopardy.
Taken aback by the list, the RLD Chief hit back by asserting that he would
field candidates against the Congress. Of these 73 seats at least a dozen seats
are those which fall in the RLD’s area of influence in western UP and could
dent the Congress’s winnability quotient. Pertinently, Ajit Singh was hoping to
reap the benefit of the Anna Hazare campaign which has taken the sheen out of
the Congress’s seeming resurgence in UP, join hands and extract many seats.
Notwithstanding, the State PCC Chief Rita Bahuguna discounting Ajit Singh’s influence over 12 seats,
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is busy networking on a tie-up with the
kisan leader. Holding his cards close to his chest, Ajit Singh has allied with
‘non-UPA, non-NDA’ Parties in their agitation against the Government version of
the Lokpal Bill.
* * * *
Floods & Drought In States
Strange are the vagaries of nature.
While some States, such as Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal
are under flood siege, fear of drought looms large over Orissa. Torrential
rains have so far claimed around 100 lives in these three States. At least
50,000 people are said to be affected in UP with major rivers overflowing and
rendering the villagers homeless. Likewise, in Assam, flash floods triggered by
heavy rains have displaced around 9,00,000 people in 12 districts.
Additionally, 43 embankments have been breached. West
Bengal has tragically recorded the highest number of deaths --- 62
persons. On the other hand, rains have been playing truant in Orissa. At least
34 blocks in 16 districts have received less than 50 per cent rainfall this
year. Farm activities, such as transplanting of paddy, have been severely
affected giving sleepless nights to the Naveen Patnaik Government. The fear of
drought for the second consecutive year is writ large on the people’s faces.
All eyes are on the weather Gods.
* * * *
Trouble In Uttarakhand
Trouble is brewing in Uttarakhand.
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank’s announcement on Independence Day to
create four new districts, Yamunotri, Didihat, Kotdwar and picturesque
Ranikhet, has sparked off an agitation in various parts of the State. The
protestors demand more new districts, at least Kashipur, Roorkee and Purola.
The Opposition Congress too is further stoking the fire. It has promised do
deliver if voted to power in the next Assembly elections. The BJP Government
has had to beef up security at sensitive areas as the stir has turned violent
in some areas with protestors pelting stones at the police and vandalizing
offices. The agitators specifically in Kashipur insist that Government has ignored
their five decades-old demand for a creation of new district. Till now, Nishank
is non-committal. He prefers to wait and watch and test waters after the
creation of the four new districts.
* * * *
Boycott of Iftaar In Rajasthan
The Muslims in Rajasthan have said a
big no to Iftaar parties being hosted
by political leaders and Constitutional authorities during the ongoing Ramzan.
On Saturday last, the Rajasthan Muslim Forum, representing the State’s Muslim
groups has accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and other leaders of brazenly
disregarding their basic demands and problems, including threat to life and
property. Worse, it has alleged that the Congress has not provided any relief
to the victims of series of communal violence across the State during its rule.
Thus, besides putting up banners in Jaipur and other towns, the Forum is busy
distributing pamphlets and handbills with an impassioned appeal to boycott such
iftaars. The solemn ritual, many feel
should not be turned into a tamasha (gimmick).
Noting that “accepting such invites would be against the Muslims self-respect,”
the Forum convenor hit the nail on the head. Said he: “Instead of providing
justice to Muslims, political leaders exploit their sentiments by seeking them
for Iftaars.” Will political leaders in other States too pay
heed?
* * * *
Haryana’s
New Land Law
With the issue of land acquisition in UP, Karnataka
and other States reverberating in various High Courts, the Haryana Government
has quitely changed its land laws to usher in transparency. Three days ago, the
State Assembly passed the Ceiling on Land Holdings (Amendment) Bill 2011
thereby removing the limit on non-agriculture land ownership by an individual
or company in urban and industrial zones. This followed observation by the
Punjab and Haryana High Court that several real estate companies were busy
violating the ceiling on land holdings. Whereby, companies and private
individuals would buy land in benami names
to comply with the Land Ceiling Act which entitled one to a maximum land
holding of between 7.5-18 hectares. Clearly, not only will this law rationalise
land holdings but is a beacon to other States to follow suit.
* * * *
New Text
Books In Tamil Nadu
In AIDMK supremo Jayalalitha’s Tamil Nadu students
can finally heave a sigh of relief. After months of endless waiting, school
children finally got their text books. The reason: The texts prepared by
Karunnadhi’s previous DMK regime were
anethma for the new Government. Calling the textbooks sub-standard and
propagandist, the Chief Minister first tried to repeal these alongwith the
whole uniform system of school education. However, following the Madras High
Court striking down her grandiose plans, Jayalalitha took recourse to scissors,
stickers and markers. Thereby, successfully blocking out Karunanidhi’s
favourite Tamil anthem, a chapter on the World Tamil Conference, picture of her
bete noire’s dream project, the new Secretariat (now turned in to a hospital)
etc. Shockingly, even pictures of the sun and a solar eclipse have been blocked
out. Simply because ‘the rising sun’ is the DMK’s electoral symbol! Never mind
if the intense personal and political rivalry takes a toll on young
minds.---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature
Alliance)
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