Revocation of AFSPA
By Insaf
The proposed withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some areas in Jammu & Kashmir has unfortunately got caught in a merry-go-round. Will Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah be able to clinch matters, is the big question For one, normalcy appears to have taken a beating, since the decision to revoke AFSPA was taken by Omar. On Tuesday last, there have been two grenade attacks on police and paramilitary forces at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, a policeman was shot in Anantnag and a grenade was lobbed at policemen in Shopian. Worse, Omar’s uncle and National Conference spokesperson Mustafa Kamal seems to have jumped the gun by accusing the Army of carrying out the attacks to stall the revocation! This obviously, has greatly upset the Army, with its Chief Gen V K Singh curtly reacting: “Whosoever has given that comment, I think that does not deserve the courtesy of any remark from me”. Unfortunately, the NC’s partner, the Congress too has stepped in the brawl. State party president Saifuddin Soz has claimed: “The Chief Minister did not consult the Congress on AFSPA rollback,” and that “the decision is wrong if the country’s Defence Minister is not consulted.” Time for New Delhi to be firm–either AFSPA stays or it doesn’t-enough of vacillating.
Plan for Naxal-Hit States
The youth in Naxal-hit States can look forward to better times if the Centre’s plan finds favour with the Planning Commission. According to a map drawn up by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh about three lakh youth in 60 Left wing-affected districts of Orissa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh would be provided jobs. Additionally, 18,000-odd panchayat development officers and an equal number of junior engineers shall be appointed for better implementation of the Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The districts will be covered under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by March 2013 with the goal of training and providing jobs to the youths over the next five years. Other correctives include launching of a public-private partnership (PPP) pilot project in non-timber forest produce to ensure that the tribals were not shortchanged and building houses for the destitute-widows, disabled and old-age pensioners, under the Indira Awas Yojana. While the Centre is going to bear 75 per cent of the costs involved, it is keeping its fingers crossed that the States agree too and shell out the remaining 25 per cent.
Karnataka’s Corruption
Karnataka continues to cause embarrassment to the ruling BJP. On Monday, a Lokayukta court ordered investigation against Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani for allegedly denotifying Government land for pecuniary gain. The complaint filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, had the judge direct the Lokayukta Police to investigate and file a report on November 16. The complaint against Nirani and some of his family members is he “misused his position as Industries Minister” and floated a number of non-existent companies and denotified Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board land to them, causing over Rs 130 crore loss to the exchequer! Nirani is the second in the D V Sadananda Gowda Cabinet to face a probe, with the Home Minister preceding him. The timing couldn’t have been worse for the BJP, which is yet to recover from seeing its former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa in jail.
Mumbai In Trouble?
The Congress and the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra appear to be rearing for a fight. This time around the fire has been ignited by Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam taking a swipe at the Sena and speaking in favour of north Indians. Addressing a cultural organization on Monday last, the MP, stated: “If north Indians decide not to report to work one day, they can bring Mumbai to a halt.” While many would agree that there was ample truth in what he said, the Sena couldn’t stay silent in the background of its famous bogie of migrants’ vs locals. It reacted by challenging the MP to shut down the city. While observers see the controversial remark as a warm-up session for the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) poll scheduled for February next year, State Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan does not want to take any chances. He promptly intervened and declared that his Government would not allow anyone to enforce closure in Mumbai. Hope it doesn’t turn out to be a tall order.
South’s Inter State Council
The Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrim season at the Sabari Hills of the Western Ghats has brought the States of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka closer. The three southern States have agreed to set up an Inter State Council. This will be a permanent mechanism for coordination of activities for the millions of devotees which throng the hill shrine at Sabari Hills during mid-November to mid-January. The initiative was taken by the Kerala government on Sunday last, wherein Chief Minister Oomen Chandy also agreed to provide land at Nilackel for the other States for constructing guest houses and information centres for the pilgrims. It has been proposed that the Council, will meet at least twice a year-once on the eve of the pilgrim season and the other after it. This apart, Sabarimala cells would be set up in Thiruvananthapuram and capitals of the two other States; a “Clean Sabarimala” campaign would be launched on November and a security manual be brought out. A major issue of raising Rs 150 crore for the proposed Sabarimala Masterplan Infrastructure Fund, however, remains.
Left Front Eyes States
On a weak wicket, the Left parties have decided to change tack in the forthcoming Assembly polls in five States. In fact, it will be for the first time that the Left Front-the CPI, CPM, the RSP and the Forward Bloc will jointly contest at least 100 seats in Uttar Pradesh next year. The CPI has declared nominees for 30 seats, while the CPM is planning to contest 25. In the past, the numbers were small. This apart, the CPI has also started looking out for partners in Punjab and Uttarakhand. It proposes to forge an alliance with like-minded parties and groups, with the objective of providing the voter a non-Congress or non-BJP alternative. How many takers will there be, is worth a watch. —INFA