Round The States

New Delhi, 14 February 2008

Maharashtra Regionalism

COMPETITIVE POPULISM RUNS AMUCK

By Insaf

Maharashtra continues to be in turmoil, notwithstanding MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s token arrest and ‘conditional bail’ within an hour on charges of promoting animosity between groups and inciting selective violence on Wednesday. Already, over 10,000 North Indians have fled the State. But the arson shows no sign of abetting and has in fact spread to Nasik, Pune, Pimpri Chinwad and the Marathwada region with MNS cadres on the rampage targeting non-Maharashtrian establishments burning vehicles and destroying property. What makes the Raj saga distressing is that both the Congress-led Governments at the Centre and the State dithered shamelessly for 13 days, faced with a Catch 22 situation that arresting the MNS Chief would make him a hero and not taking him into custody would invite the charge of being weak.

Perhaps, it has something to do with the fact that the Congress is caught between two formidable rivals: the Shiv Sena-BJP combine and its own ally the NCP. The situation has been complicated with the NCP Chief Sharad Pawar flirting with the SS’s supremo Bal Thackeray and the possibility of an NCP-Shiv Sena nexus. The Grand Dame of Politics, it seems has chosen to use the MNS to kill two birds with one stone. First, counter Pawar’s clout over Maharashtra and, second, use Raj Thackeray’s new stature to eat into the Shiv Sena base and, eventually, benefit the Congress. Meanwhile, joining the me-too chorus of the MNS Chief is his cousin Uddhav Thackeray. Seeking to reclaim the title of protector of “Marathi manoos,” the SS’s scion has threatened to pack off all non-Maharashtrians “brought from outside” for modernization of Mumbai airport. That the SS has had to fall back on its old tactics clearly exposes that the last word on regionalism and competitive populism has still to be said.

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Congress Double Standards

A BSP rally in Bhopal and a CPM State Conference in Kottayam has exposed the Congress’ double standards with its supporters. It appears to be playing ball with the CPM and hookie with the BSP, if one goes by its reactions to the two events. The first is a stoic silence to CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat’s speech at the Kerala State Conference on Monday last. Karat clearly said: the Congress would have to work out to seek fresh mandate from the people if it wanted to go ahead with the strategic partnership with the US. There has been no reaction from the Congress, raising eyebrows that more or less confirm that it has clearly chosen to give up the Nuclear deal rather than its coalition partner and seek a fresh mandate before 2009. 

On the other hand, the Congress has decided to take on BSP supremo Mayawati and let her carry out her threat. At a public rally on Sunday last, Mayawati accused the Congress-led UPA of trying to implicate her in the Taj corridor case and warned that “within a month’s time” she would decide whether to support them at the Centre or not. The Congress sent out its response promptly. Party spokesman Shakil Ahmad said: It is up to her to withdraw or support. The Congress is not going to buckle under any type of threat.” So, the challenge is thrown back at Mayawati. Even though the CPM is in the UPA and the BSP out of it, will Mayawati force the Congress to treat all equally?

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AP Subsidy For Christians

Andhra Pradesh has notched another first in minority appeasement. After the Muslims, it is now the turn of the Christians, comprising a miniscule 1.5 per cent of the State’s eight crore population to rejoice over the largesse of the Rajasekhar Reddy-led Congress State Government. In the form of subsidies to visit the Holy land in Israel on the lines of the Haj scheme.  Justified on the grounds that Jerusalem was located in a virtual war zone and only a few Christians would brave going there. Clearly, the religious bounty by the Christian Chief Minister, smacks of vote bank politics to woo the minority ahead of the General and Assembly elections scheduled for early next year. Needless to say, it is bound to open the flood gates of similar demands from various other communities. Already, the BJP has upped the ante for Hindus going on a pilgrimage to Mansarovar.  Importantly, the Government has no business to play the politics of religion in a secular India. 

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BJP-BJD Alliance To Continue

Contrary to a widespread impression, there are no hiccups in the BJP-BJD marriage. The alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Biju Janata Dal in Orissa shall continue. They will fight the 2009 Assembly election together is the message so far. “We want to go with the BJD,” is how the BJP General Secretary in-charge of Orissa, Vinay Katiyar made known his party’s decision to those opposed to it. The BJP State unit is divided on keeping the alliance. But Katiyar feels that the team-up has provided the people of Orissa “good governance” since it came to power in 2000. And, if all goes well, the strategy should help the BJP’s strategy for the General Election at the same time too.

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Rs.700 Cr Package for Bird Flu Victims

The West Bengal government has announced a Rs.700 crore package for seven lakh families affected by bird flu. Remember, the avian flu had affected 19 districts and put the neighbouring States on tenterhooks. The relief package announced last Saturday comprises an outright budgetary grant of Rs 100 crore and Rs 600 crore through disbursement of loans from banks. Around 3.8 million birds were culled since the outbreak broke and the State’s losses are said to be Rs 500 crore. While bankers have been asked to apply different rates of interest to help families restart their poultry business, the Centre will be requested for a total loan waiver for those below poverty lines. Will it oblige?

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JeM Posters Appear In MP

‘Mysterious’ posters have put the Bhopal police into a tizzy. The poster carrying Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Azhar Masood’s photo were found plastered on the walls of Chief Minister, Shivraj Chauhan’s bungalow. Fortunately, it wasn’t his official residence. However, the police are embarrassed as the poster ridicules the top BJP leadership. It reads: “Hey BJP brothers, was the terrorist Maulana Azhar a close relative that you escorted him to freedom at Kandahar? Shame on you Atal, Advani and Jaswant for all your big talk on terrorism!” The BJP could suspect a Congress hand behind the mischief since a youth brigade of the party recently had put up posters outside MPCC office asking: “Why has the UPA government not taken a decision on Mohd Afzal Guru’s fate, the man who masterminded attack on Parliament? When his mercy plea is rejected!” Is it a tit-for-tat? Or will the mystery unfold? ----INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)