Terror shatters peace
By Insaf
Shattering a two years eight months lull, terror struck Mumbai again on Wednesday evening. Seven bombs went off in three crowded market areas during the evening peek time killing over 23 people and injuring 130. The improvised explosive devices (IED) point fingers that it was the handy work of season terrorists. Clues lifted from the three sites indicate that the Indian Mujahidin or possibly the dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba could be the masterminds. Aluminum Nitrate used in the IEDs with timer devices and RDX as boosters are similar to those used by the IM in the Pune, Jaipur, Varanasi and Ahmedabad blasts. But the city renowned for its fortitude fought back with citizens rushing to help out the injured. Netizens guided people via social networking sites Twitter and Facebook. Ironically, even as the explosions rocked India’s financial hub, top police officers and bureaucrats were deliberating on measures to tackle terrorism.
This time round the intention of the perpetrators was not to hit at India’s financial hub but to cripple the ordinary people and instill a sense of fear. No other city in the world has been the tragic target of nearly 6 attacks since 1993. Clearly, showing that neither the Centre nor the State Governments have learnt any lesson after the dastardly the 26/11 2008 attacks. More scandalous is that not only was there an intelligence failure but the attacks also exposed how ill-prepared the Government is in ensuring timely action. Till date no correctives have been put in place, no CCTV cameras have been installed in crowded bye-lanes of various markets. It also raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the intelligence apparatus and the level of coordination between the Centre and the State agencies. For reasons best known to it, the State Government seems to have ignored intelligence reports pointing to attacks on the city. Clearly, India needs to wake up and smell the coffee given that this is the 18th attack since 2000.
Protest In Darjeeling
The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s initiative to form a Gorkhaland Territorial Council (GTC) has run into rough weather. Accusing her of giving in to the wishes of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, protest now dot North Bengal. Besides road blockades and demonstrations, the protestors organized a successful bandh yesterday (July 15) and have called another one early next week when the Chief Minister is scheduled to visit Darjeeling. Moreover, a social activists group Janachetana has challenged the legal standing of the talks between the State Government and the GJM in Calcutta High Court. The petition claims that there has been a growth of over 775% of non-Indians from Nepal in the Darjeeling district between 1951 and 2001. Shockingly, over 9.5 lakh voters were included in the electoral rolls during the 1995-99. It demands that the Government first ascertain the ‘true’ Gorkhas before it embarks on setting up a GTC. All eyes are now on how the new Chief Minister handles the situation.
ULFA Announces Cease Fire
Finally, some good news for Assam. After 32-long years of its birth, the outlawed ULFA has announced a unilateral cease fire to explore a ‘lasting peaceful solution’ to the conflict. Significantly, this is in answer to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Gogoi’s appeal to hold talks to find a way to resolve the issue. More significant is the fact that this is the first time since its inception in 1979 that the ULFA has declared a cease fire at its highest level. Recall, the last time it did so was in 1992 when ULFA leaders had given the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao an undertaking to desist from all forms of violence. Needless to say the outlawed outfit is engaged in informal talks with the Government since last year resulting in its top brass freely moving around in the State. Pertinently, the Central Government has already given ULFA a number of suggestions to chew on when its leaders met Manmohan Singh last February. The forthcoming talks would be based on the Centre’s proposals. It remains to be seen whether calm will return to salubrious Assam hills?
Karnataka’s Land Acquisition Mess
In a season of hunger strikes in Karnataka, it is now the turn of the priests to fast over land acquisition. Coming on the heels of the former Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, the pontiff of the Udupi Pejavar Mutt, has vowed to fast over the acquisition of over 2000 acres of land over and above the 1800 already acquired for a special economic zone in Mangalore. In fact, the priest has given Chief Minister Yeddiyurappa 24 hours to withdraw the land acquisition notification. Taking a cue from the success of the farmers’ agitation in Bhatta Parasaul in UP, the seer has proposed a Statewide agitation soon. This comes on the heels of report that the Opposition parties led by the Janata Dal (S) are planning to protest against the acquisition of 3000 acres for a steel plant in the State’s Gadak district. It is a moot point whether the priest’s protest would end up like Hazare’s success or Ramdev’s damp squib!
Jharkhand Slow On Caste Census
Jharkhand is in no hurry to start work on the caste census to ascertain the socio-economic condition of its people. Notwithstanding, a missive from the Centre to expedite the matter. In reply, the State Rural Development Department has stated that it would start data collection only at the end of the year, November when there is a lull in agriculture activities. It has cited two reasons. One, the monsoon rain is playing havoc leaving many roads un-motorable and cutting of scores of villages. Two, the State lacks trained staff to undertake data collection. Pertinently, Jharkhand has a huge bulky BPL list with 35 lakh families eligible for various benefits. But is hamstrung by allegations that the list includes ‘frauds’ who are well-to-do. The State Government game-plan seems to be to buy time before it gets down to serious business.
Haryana Jobs For Runaways
Haryana is busy giving itself an image makeover to rid itself of being the land of Khap justice. The State Administration is all set to dole out jobs, besides protection to runaway couples facing financial crunch thanks to the Khap panchayats braying for their blood. It has offered employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Now couples lodged in the State’s shelter homes to hide from their Khap village panchayats will also be provided work to sustain themselves and pay for their stay in the homes. However, skepticism continues to abound given that the young couples who take shelter seem to a lack of sense of responsibility and the ramifications of their action. More important, policy makers wonder whether the political class can sustain their anti-Khap justice plans. —- INFA