Contentious NCTC Diluted
By Insaf
Good news awaits non-Congress ruled States, with the Union Home Ministry promising to further dilute provisions of the controversial National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Significantly, it has decided to keep the contentious Inter State Intelligence Support Teams (ISISTs) outside the NCTC’s purview which earlier could be only accessed through the Intelligence Bureau. Also, the ISIST would be formed and governed by the NCTC Standing Council which would include DGPs of all States. Pertinently, keeping the inter-State wing outside the Central Authority was a key demand of the States which felt the NCTC should delegate its powers, to the ISIST to investigate, search and arrest in the States. As things stand, the NCTC would now be an independent entity under the Ministry and not under the control of the Intelligence Bureau. Also, the NCTC Standing Council would be given more powers and functions than before. Will the States agree?
Land Row in W Bengal
In a reminder of Singur, fresh land acquisition trouble is brewing in West Bengal’s Dubrajpur, Birbhum district. Wherein, thousands of villagers protested against their fertile lands being usurped by a private coal mining company. In the resulting violence over 37 villagers and policemen were killed, 25 injured and nine police vehicles torched last Tuesday. Interestingly, the problem dates back to 2009, when private firm EMTA entered into a joint venture with the Damodar Valley Corporation for supply of coal to its plant and obtained the mining license. Set to acquire 3,500 acres the company was successful in acquiring only 700 acres so far. Interestingly, the district has a TMC-backed panchayat which has launched the Save Agricultural Land Committee as villagers alleged they were paid inadequate compensation. Mamatadi, is history repeating itself?
Bihar says No Tobacco
In a first of its kind in the country, over two crore school students in Bihar pledged never to consume tobacco or related products. Asserted Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, “The young ones promise holds a beacon for others to follow.” Notably, children from nearly 2.2 lakh Government and private schools are part of the State Government’s initiative ‘Pledge Day’ to discourage school student from using tobacco products. This comes against the backdrop of a recent survey which revealed shocking figures: Numerous children start smoking cigarettes or chew gutkha from class seven and in some cases they start using tobacco after class five. Worse, nearly 53.5 per cent of the State’s 10.5 crore population use tobacco in one form or the other and its prevalence is nearly 20 percentage points higher than the 35 per cent national average. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey last year in India 63 per cent males and 35 per cent females have khaini (smokeless tobacco product). Undoubtedly, a first step for a healthy future! It remains to be seen if other States follow?
BJP-JMM tussle in Jharkhand
The BJP’s cup of woes continue not only in Delhi where party President Gadkari is in the eye of the corruption storm but also in its Government in Jharkhand. Whereby its allies have mounted pressure to rotate the Chief Ministerial chair presently held by BJP. It major partner Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) alongwith AJSU want the chair by December end as promised when the State Government was formed 28 months ago. Asserted JMM Chief Shibu Soren in January 2013 it will be our turn to rule. Else, his party would withdraw support and topple the Arjun Munda Government. Not only this. He has made plain that he would team up with the Congress or any other party to forge another alliance. Meanwhile, the Congress sensing an opportunity of a likely split in the BJP-JMM-AJSU pact has already sent out feelers for talks. All eyes on BJP’s next move.
Gujarat’s defection game
Not only in New Delhi but major capitals worldwide are closely following the Gujarat polls. Will Narendra Modi win a third term or bite dust at the hands of the Congress in next month’s Assembly poll? Even as both parties are leaving no stone unturned to get the better of the other. The MLAs are having a field day defecting from the arch rivals BJP to Congress and vice-versa to better their electoral prospects. Already three sitting BJP MLAs have switched their loyalties to the Congress. In a tit for tat, the BJP has snatched six MLAs from its bête noir alongwith one from erstwhile saffron leader and Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel’s new party New Gujarat Parivartan Party. Both parties today are busy playing the I-spy-defector game to increase its electoral kitty. Who will emerge victorious?
Assam’s Civil Society in ULFA talks
The Centre is closely following the outcome of the ongoing dialogue between the State Government and the ULFA’s pro-talks faction led by Arvinda Rajkhowa given that the talks hinge on the role played by Assam’s civil society to prepare the ground for a lasting solution. Whereby the civil activists would play a crucial role in aggregating and consolidating the various communities socially and culturally that make up the greater Assamese society. Significantly, the ULFA talks interlocutor Sonia’s National Advisory Council’s PC Haldhar is ‘quite positive’ of a resolution. But the success depends on one of the ULFA founder members and prime strategists Anup Chetia’s release from jail in Bangladesh. Already there is a tussle between the pro-talks led by Rajkhowa and anti-talks faction led by Paresh Barua. To wean Chetia to their side as it would accord greater legitimacy to ULFA’s struggle.
Small towns power Solar Sector
Mofussil towns in cow-belt States UP, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have given a fillip to unprecedented growth of India’s solar power sector. Ballia, a small town in UP has an Rs.100-crore solar business, in Bhopal the solar business has nearly doubled since 2009 and Patna’s ‘astral’ market has earned over 500 crore. Many in the rural hinterland which is sans power connection and no power supply view solar power as a viable alternative. But the downside is that 70 per cent of solar products are Chinese along-with a solar water pump for a mere Rs.5,000. This has made the Centre sit-up as the solar market is growing at 22 per cent. What next?