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Round The States
Big Boo To Criminalisation
MAYAWATI ROPES IN MAFIA DONS
By Insaf
New Delhi, February 21, 2009
UP’s Chief Minister, Mayawati is going all out in her
publicly announced ambition to capture the Prime Ministership
of India. No holds are barred in her determined bid to win as
many of the State’s 80 Lok Sabha seats in the next general
election as she can to stake her claim to the country’s top
job. In December last, she said a big boo to the Election
Commission’s efforts to check criminalization of politics. She
then not only inducted a Lucknow mafia Don, Arun Kumar Sharma,
alias Anna into her party but also made him the BSP’s
candidate for the Unnao constituency, notwithstanding over a
dozen criminal cases against him since 1980. That is not all.
Earlier this week, Mayawati said a bigger boo to the Election
Commission’s efforts to curb criminalization of politics. On
Sunday last, the BSP named mafia don-turned MLA, Mukhtar
Ansari, as its candidate for the Lok Sabha from Varanasi.
Mukhtar is facing over two dozen criminal cases, including
those of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, extortion,
loot and land grabbing. What is more, he is presently lodged
in Ghazipur jail in connection with the murder of former BJP
MLA Krishnanand Rai. His candidature was announced on Sunday
by the BSP General Secretary and Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui
at a party rally in Varanasi. Notably present at the rally was
Mukhtar’s brother and fellow Don, Afzal Ansari, MP from
Ghazipur. Time alone will tell whether Mayawati will succeed
in her ambition with the help of the Dons, including Atiq
Ahmed, BSP’s candidate from Phulpur. But one thing is clear.
More and more people are reacting to her volte face. Remember,
she stormed to power in UP on the promise of ridding the State
of mafia-raj. Now she herself is banking on muscle power to
help her achieve her ambition of becoming the Prime Minister
---- or, at least, the King maker.
* * * *
Srinagar Gets International Airport
Winds of change are blowing in Jammu & Kashmir. The State has
for the first time been put on the international air map. On
Saturday last, Srinagar opened its brand new airport terminal
to international traffic. An Air India flight from Dubai
touched down at the airport, with UPA Chairperson Sonia
Gandhi, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Union Civil Aviation
Minister Praful Patel waiting to receive the two dozen-odd
passengers. The flight, which will operate once a week
initially, returned with 30 passengers on board adding Kashmir
as the latest entry into the global village. In addition to
the international airport, the Valley got an extension of its
train service from Mazhom to Baramulla connecting another four
district towns. Both the services are bound to catalyse
economic growth in the State and give a further impetus to
people’s expectations of better days ahead. It’s time for the
separatists to take note of the popular, joyous mood,
triggered by the latest change!
* * * *
Reprieve for Haryana Farmers
Haryana’s farmers have got a unique gift this year. Chief
Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has assured them that their
land would no longer be auctioned in case they are unable to
repay their loans. In addition, tractors and modern
agricultural tools would be within the reach of even small
farmers who own no more than an acre of land. These
announcements were made during the ongoing Budget session of
the Assembly. Accordingly, the State government will soon
enact appropriate legislation. Under the new law, 50 per cent
of the income of borrowing farmers would be given to the bank
and the other half for their livelihood, in addition to
returning the loan. Not just this. The Government earlier
abolished the law wherein hard-pressed farmers were jailed for
recovery of cooperative loans and even the cost of their diet
was included to their loan amount! Hooda is truly keeping his
word: this is “the Year of the Farmer-Labourer.”
* * * *
Impropriety in Jharkhand
Constitutional propriety and decencies are being thrown to the
winds in Jharkhand. Governor Syed Sibte Razi, a sworn Congress
loyalist, appears all set to put the UPA government at the
Centre to shame and unprecedented embarrassment. Less than a
month after President’s rule was promulgated, Razi has taken
out full-page advertisements in local newspapers trumpeting
his government’s achievements. The advertisement, in at least
three dailies, is an adoption of an official report “On path
to development…” prepared by the PR Department with Razi’s
photograph. The achievements, mundane and listed by date,
include “ending doctors’ strike.”, “probe ordered into
appointment of ayurveda doctors.”, “meeting with police
officers to maintain law and order.” Shockingly, the Governor
has surpassed even the politicians’ traditions of announcing
personal achievements and self promotion. His behaviour brings
back memories of the dangerous, anti-democratic use of
Governor’s office by the Centre since the ‘80s and especially
during Emergency. Will the President rein in her
representative?
* * * *
Fresh Charges Against Andhra CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy is brutally in the
line of fire in the run-up to the next Assembly and Lok Sabha
poll. The TDP-alliance leaders in the State have brought their
campaign against Reddy to New Delhi. Armed with a huge volume
of documents entitles “Raja of Corruption”, the TDP, TRS, CPM
and CPI leaders propose to submit a memorandum to President
Pratibha Patil about Reddy’s “dubious” transactions. The
alliance has charged the Congress CM with violating the
Prevention of Corruption Act, FEMA, Money Laundering Act,
Companies Act, RBI Act and Income Tax Act. Worse, they have
alleged that the Reddy family has become richer by “Rs 10,000
crore.” They allege: “In 2003-04, Reddy family’s income was
around Rs 41 lakh. Today it is Rs 10,000 crore!” With the
Satyam Scam already threatening to prove costly at the
elections for the Congress in the State, Reddy needs to put up
a good defence for the latest onslaught.
* * * *
Mizoram’s Taj Mahal
A small village in enchanting Mizoram can boast of its own
“Taj Mahal.” A marble and granite “monument of love”, has been
built by 54-year-old K Chhawnthuama in the memory of his wife,
in Durtlang village. Measuring 128 sq mtr, the monument is not
as grand as the Agra landmark, but could give the village,
Aizawl’s biggest supplier of milk and vegetables a new
identity. In addition, the Rs 1.10 crore monument may well
provide Mizo women some hope as by and large they are treated
like second class citizens-- their marriage warranting a bride
price, equivalent to the tag a pig for feasting carries. The
tomb was built by Chhawnthuama with part of the money (Rs 31
lakh) he had saved to take his wife on a world trip. But as
she died in a car crash, he decided to put it into something
he could “remember her by”. Truly, in the footsteps of
Shahjeahan. ---INFA
(Copyright India News & Feature Alliance)
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newseditor@sarkaritel.com
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