Round The States
New Delhi, 29 March 2012
Naxals Stike Again
ARE CENTRE-STATES
LOSING?
By Insaf
The Naxalites are
back in business: killing. They struck again, 13th time, with a
vengeance in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district
brutally murdering 12 CRPF personnel and injuring several others Tuesday last.
All it took was a landmine blast set up by the terrorists. Alas, the State continues
to grope in the dark on how to tackle the menace, notwithstanding talk of tough
action. The shocking statistics say it all. While 90-95 per cent killings of
security personnel in Naxal-infested areas are on account of landmine blasts,
triggered during the forces transit, barely 10 per cent casualties occur due to
active engagement with Maoists. More scandalous, in all of three months this
year over 310 incidents have left 96 dead. This is not all. In Orissa’s Kandhamal district the abduction of
two Italians was the first of its kind. Also, since 2008 the district has
witnessed an alarming spurt in extremist violence thanks to the dense forest,
an ideal security cover for the Naxals.
Meanwhile, the Centre continues to underscore that these strikes are one-off
and do not indicate major Maoist resurgence. In fact, it persists in playing
the blame-game by foisting the responsibility on security forces complacency
and their failure to adhere to the standard operating procedures for operations
in Naxal-infested zones. Questionably, why where 40 CRPF personnel packed into
a single bus, a strict no-no in Naxal-hit areas? As this only maximises
casualties in a landmine blast. Normally, jawans should split in groups of 4-5
and travel in smaller vehicles, whereby if a landmine is triggered, it would
blow up only one vehicle thus minimising casualties. Clearly, the forces
seem to be losing the battle against the Maoists who enjoy the support of the
poor and backward tribal’s, due to the succour they provide. High time for both
the Centre and States to act, not prepare blueprints. Suggestions anyone?
* * * *
Mercy For Rajoana
Punjab politicians had their say and way
when the Centre bowed down by staying the hanging of suicide bomber Balwant
Singh Rajoana, former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh’s assassin scheduled
for today (31 March) following a mercy petition filed by the SGPC. Never mind
Law Minister Salman Khurshid asserting, “neither the Centre nor the State
Government can do anything outside the system”. Indeed, Rajoana’s hanging had
got Punjab politics in turmoil with the ruling
Akali Dal campaigning against his execution, its coalition partner BJP
dis-favouring it and State Congress leaders’ privately favouring clemency.
Keeping the pressure, the State observed a day-long bandh. It all started with the SAD Government expressing inability
to carry out a Chandigarh
sessions court's order to hang Rajoana. But even as the Administration pandered
to extremist Sikh elements, Rajoana condemned it and Akal Takht for ‘betraying’
Sikhs. “They are pushing for a pardon out of fear of losing support of Sikhs”,
he asserted. Who will be granted
Presidential pardon next?
* * * *
Meghalaya’s Illegal
Saw Mills
After Karnataka’s mining scam, Bihar’s
coal scandal now it is the turn of North Eastern Meghalaya to be caught by the
CAG in the illegal saw mills sleaze. In its latest report, the country’s
Auditor General points out that over 218
unlawful saw mills are brazenly destroying the forest cover and
endangering the ecology and environment of the State. Of these 109 illegal units
were operating in Khasi Hills, 96 in Jaintia Hill and 12 on the Assam-Meghalaya
border in Garo Hills region. Worse, both the State Administration in cahoots
with the police and electricity board were turning a blind eye to the illegal
industry. Will the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma now heed?
* * * *
Mamata Targets Newspapers
Trinamool’s
stormy petrel Mamata Bannerjee adept at stoking controversy has now directed
her anger at English newspapers and mass circulated Bengali dailies by banning
them from State-sponsored and aided libraries, in “public interest.” Leaving,
only eight select newspaper to spread free-thinking among readers. With critics
including ally Congress decrying the move as “undemocratic and worse than
censorship”, a nonchalant West Bengal Chief Minister remained unmoved, waving
criticism away by asserting it was “in accordance with the Government’s
policy.” More. Post her ire against the NCTC, Mamata has accused neigbouring Bangladesh of
getting over 80 per cent water instead of a 65:35 ratio due to a breakdown of
two sluicegates of Farakka barrage. Demanding immediate action, the Chief
Minister asserted, this had caused severe power and drinking water crisis in
West Bengal. Clearly, there is no
stopping Mamata!
* * * *
Goa & TN Show
Way
Tiny salubrious Goa and Dravidian Tamil Nadu’s Governments
scored a first. In the former, BJP’s
Manohar Parrikar Government has reduced petrol prices by Rs 11 by virtually
abolishing VAT to ease the burden on the common man. Today the State boasts of
the cheapest fuel, Rs 55, in the country. In the latter, Jayalalitha led AIADMK
Government intends slapping a fine of up to Rs 50,000 on people who don't clean
their water tanks or have puddles that breed mosquitoes. This extreme measure
was necessary as incidents of dengue, malaria and chikunguniya cases are
increasing across the State, Chennai alone accounts for 60 per cent of malaria
cases. Pressure is now building up on other States to follow the lead of their
Western and Southern counter-parts.
* * * *
Universal Helpline
For States
The Centre is all set to take a leaf from some States
initiative to report highway accidents and help victims. Worried about the
sharp increase in accidents and fatalities, the Union Road & Highways
Ministry has gone one step further: It has decided to start a universal
helpline linked to a call centre and manned centrally to shorten the response
time, on the pattern of 911. A pilot project is soon to be launched on a
highway stretch near Pune along-with training of toll plazas staff.
Appallingly, India has displaced China from the top spot vis-à-vis road accidents in the last five years. While China
reduced the number of deaths from 1.07 lakh in 2004 to 73,484 in 2008, in India
the number rose from 92,618 to 1.20 lakh during the same period. Shockingly,
over 1.35 lakh people died on roads in 2011. Indeed, our rulers need to realise
peoples’ life are not mere statistics!
---- INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature
Alliance)
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