Mandatory Lokpal for states?
By Insaf
The Lokpal continues to receive major interest all over the country reflecting the clash between the Government and the Anna Hazare civil society. Surprisingly, however, one aspect of the Bill has not received the attention it deserves. This relates to the attitude of the States-should they have separate legislation or should it come under the national law. The civil society is clear that the States should be forced to appoint Lokpals under mandatory Central legislation. Some of the States, however, do not agree. They wish to have their own freedom in tackling corruption as it suits them best. A clearer picture would be available only next month at a meeting of all parties and Chief Ministers called by the Centre to elicit their opinion on the two drafts of the Lokpal Bill. Will they also agree to disagree or will the corruption issue bring them together as desired?
Fiery battle for UP
Politics in Uttar Pradesh is poised to get increasingly controversial and fiery, thanks to the BJP’s decision to re-induct Uma Bharti into the party. On day one, Uma, the leader in charge of UP, took on Chief Minister Mayawati on the rising crime in the State particularly women. Setting the political agenda for the Assembly polls next year, Uma announced on Wednesday last that these would be fought on the twin agendas of development and crime. The State has hit the headlines with a spate of rape cases this week, forcing Mayawati to announce more stringent punishment for the rape accused. But Uma has dismissed her proposals saying “Mayawati herself was patronizing criminals ….Whether the CM is a man or a woman is irrelevant. What matters is the will to execute the job.” While it is uncertain how much a dent Uma will make to Mayawati’s vote bank, it goes without saying the political campaign will be hot.
Bonanza for West Bengal
The Planning Commission has showered its benevolence to West Bengal. Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s plaint for much-needed development funds for reviving the State’s economy. The Commission has granted a whopping Rs.22214 crores, 23 per cent more than the 2010-11 Rs.17985 crore allocation. Importantly, the Chief Minister has fixed a target of creating 10 lakh jobs in the next two years, creating an investor friendly environment alongwith developing 17 new industrial clusters in the State. Also on the anvil, is transforming Kolkata into London and Darjeeling into Switzerland. It remains to be seen if the funds will indeed translate in to Mamata’s development vision!
Women leaders upset
Women leaders across the States are agitating and angry as seldom before. They are greatly upset that the latest attempt of the Speaker Meira Kumar to break the logjam over the Women’s Reservation Bill has failed yet again. On Wednesday last, Kumar had called an all-Party meet to iron out differences over the Bill so that it could be brought in the ensuing Monsoon session. Apparently, the women see no major breakthrough coming as the vociferous opponents, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party, were absent at the meet. While the BJP, the Congress, the Left Parties, AIADMK, the DMK, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the TMC, made it a point to attend, they failed to iron out differences over how 33 per cent reservation could be ensured. For instance, the Shiv Sena wants to make it compulsory for the parties to reserve certain per cent of tickets to women candidates, the RJD insists on a quota within the quota for OBCs. Will there ever be a meeting ground?
BJP’s relief in Maharashtra
The BJP has got a breather in Maharashtra. Sulking leader Gopinath Munde has decided to “remain with the party.” After days of anxious negotiations, the party was able to work out a formula to keep its Maharashtrian leader within its fold, in the backdrop of Munde threatening to join the opposite camp, the Congress. Apparently, Munde will now lead the party’s campaign for the Assembly elections in the State. Though the polls are years away, the announcement, which is yet to be made, will send the signal that Munde is its top most leader there. Obviously, the BJP realized that Munde’s enjoyed clout within the State and his exit could leave a big hole in its State unit. An estimate suggested that about 20-25 constituencies could be affected if the backward caste leader chose to quit. Guess the BJP got its calculations right.
Kerala’s Ponzi scam
Kerala is the latest State to be hit by scandal. The Kerala police has unearthed a multi-city investment scam totaling Rs.1000 crores involving real estate developers and money chain fraudsters. Thus, duping lakhs of victims poorer of their savings in the State and abroad. The modus operandi was simple: a money chain dealer would deposit crores taken from investors in to 14 bank accounts using fake identities and pocket the same. A real estate developer would default on his promise of handing over properties. Like Britain’s infamous Ponzi scheme in Kerala too investors were promised returns not from any actual profit earned by the organization, but from their own money or money paid by subsequent investors. A harried Chief Minister Oommen Chandy now is busy soothing frayed tempers.
Karnataka’s unbecoming objection
Karnataka wishes away what any State would vie for-a World Heritage site tag! The State, much to the embarrassment of the Union Environment Ministry, is campaigning against a probable tag for 10 sites on the Western Ghats, an acknowledged hot spot of bio-diversity. Just before the finalization of the list by UNESCO, the Yeddyurappa Government has sought to voice its opposition saying it is fully capable of protecting the Ghats on its own and insists that forest dwellers will suffer if the World Heritage tag prevents development work from taking place there. A baffled Ministry is pressing hard for the State to remove its objection. It argues that the Ghats spread over Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra had been actively involved through the entire process of identifying the 39 sites and wonders why this last minute objection. It pleads: Save the country an international embarrassment. Will Karnataka heed? —INFA