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ROUND THE STATES
ID Cards Storm
STATES ARE UP IN ARMS
By Insaf
New Delhi, January 12, 2008
All the States and Union Territories are up in arms against
an order of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Tejendra Khanna,
last week. One, making carrying of identity cards mandatory
for people in the Capital from January 15. Two, requiring
people with driving licences from other States to get them
revalidated in Delhi. Little did Khanna realise that his
well-intentioned order designed to “step up security in the
wake of recent terror attacks” would snowball into a major
controversy. Wherein faced with an angry backlash from various
Chief Ministers, he was forced to beat a hasty retreat. A
livid Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar termed the move as
“unconstitutional and anti-Biharis” as they comprised almost a
third of Delhi’s total population together with the people
hailing from eastern UP. Similar anger was expressed by the
BJP, JD, BJD and UP’s Mayawati who called it “anti-Dalit” and
used it to up the ante against the Congress.
True, Delhi’s Lt Governor may have been forced to backtrack on
his ID cards order. Nevertheless, he has once again
spotlighted the dire need for all Indians to carry proof of
their identity, especially now that factories of terrorism
have made India their favourite hunting ground. Recall, since
the sixties the Election Commission has been crying hoarse for
the need of multi-purpose identity cards for all citizens. In
fact, two Chief Election Commissioners, SL Shakhdar and Peri
Shastri had even worked out the proposal which would have cost
the national exchequer Rs 100 crore then. But successive
Governments have slept over the proposal even as the amount
has increased manifold. Today, with terror becoming a byword
of modern life, Khanna’s proposal should be considered
seriously instead of being used as fair-game of vote-bank
one-upmanship!
* * * *
NSA’s Red Alert To CMs
More so, after the National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan has
sounded a ‘red corner alert’ to all the Chief Ministers in the
country, following former Pakistan Prime Minister, Benazir
Bhutto’s assassination. In a letter to them, he has warned
that the jehadis outfits are now posing a major threat to key
political leaders and advised them to beef up their security.
Especially as the terrorists were using “new wave” tactics.
This includes a “great deal of planning, studying the habits
and activities of their targets, more sophisticated techniques
and the vulnerability of the security forces.” Following this
missive, the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s security
has been upgraded. Surprisingly, however, the Union Home
Ministry has rejected the UP Chief Minister, Mayawati’s
request for SPG cover as there was a threat to her life on the
facetious plea that her security was adequate!
* * * *
Politics Hits New Violent Low In UP
Politics has hit a new low in UP. If the criminalization of
the polity was not bad enough the latest head-on confrontation
between Chief Minister Mayawati and her bete noire, Samajwadi
Chief Mulayam Singh, has brought violence to the centre stage
of the political theatre. True, we are accustomed to elected
legislators coming to blows in various State Assemblies.
However, this is the first time that one has witnessed the BSP
and SP cardres clashing in several towns and cities in the
State, leaving one dead, three injured and many buses burnt .
The provocation? The Samajwadi workers’ demand for the
students union poll. All hell broke lose when Mulayam’s
brother, Shivpal, and son, Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh, were
slapped. Sadly, this in not the end. Mayawati has notified
Mulayam to behave or he too would not be spared. Clearly, if
this continues, brutality would become a byword for UP! .
* * * *
BJP’s Kisan Yatras
A two victory-flush BJP is now busy readying for bigger
electoral battles that lie ahead in 2008-09 ---- 9 State
Assemblies and the Lok Sabha elections. Towards that end, the
BJP President, Rajnath Singh, plans to make kisans one of the
USPs of his campaign strategy. He is now undertaking a two-day
kisan yatra to spotlight the burning issue of farmers’ suicide
in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, which continue till date,
notwithstanding the Prime Minister’s relief package of
thousand of crore rupees. Shockingly, a recent survey on the
farmers’ plight has exposed that a mere 16 per cent of the
relief percolated down to the farmers. The rest was taken away
by financial and land sharks. What makes the BJP Chief’s yatra
all the more significant is that it is taking place at a time
when strains have developed among the ruling combine, Congress
and NCP, with each accusing the other of not doing enough.
* * * *
CPM: Goodbye Socialism, Hello Capitalism
Winds of change are blowing across ‘Red’ West Bengal.The
Communist CPM is busy humming a new song: goodbye socialism,
hello capitalism. The CPM old warhorse, Jyoti Basu took not
only his comrades but also votaries of reform by surprise when
he contended that capitalism was the only way to industrialise
West Bengal. This has no doubt come as a shot in the arm for
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who has been the lone
torch bearer for economic reformation of the State steeped
under the burden of antiquated socialist models of economic
governance. But it has left the CPM’S Front partners seething.
They are aghast that the veteran leader is speaking the
language of Manmohan Singh (read reform). Either which way,
there is no gainsaying that capitalist winds of change are
blowing over Red Bengal!
* * * *
Maya Dissolves Bhaichara Samitis
Is UP Chief Minister Mayawati’s honeymoon with the Brahmins
over? Though it’s too early to say anything, signs of her
getting wary are there. The BSP President has dissolved all
Brahmin and Vaishya Bhaichara Samitis, formed last year to
bring the Upper castes, closer to the BSP. And these did, as
the UP Assembly elections proved. However, the defeat of its
candidate Vinay Shankar Tiwari in the Ballia byelection last
month has made Mayawati angry. At a recent party meeting she
blamed the Brahmins for the party’s defeat in the Ballia
byelection. Moreover, she has announced a reshuffle in the
State unit and appointed State coordinators. Significantly,
not a single Brahmin has been included. Is Mayawati going back
to her party’s roots — the Dalits? Time alone will tell.
* * * *
Goan Feni To Get Patent
The New Year has good news for the Goans. Its famed Kaju Feni
shall soon “get patent and we will easily be able to export
it,” says the Feni Producers’ Association. Goa is the only
place in the world where Feni (liquor) is produced from the
juice of cashew apple. Though the process was introduced in
Goa nearly 450 years ago by the Portuguese, nowhere in
Portugal, or anywhere else is feni produced from Kaju fruit.
Goa has over 2,000 distillation outlets and factories working
overtime. A team of officers from the Geographical Indications
Registry, Chennai were recently satisfied with the
Association’s claim and the Government expects certification
by early May. The GIR will publish the information on the
“World Trademark’ journal inviting objections. A period of
four months hence should see the Kaju Feni, in all
probability, patented to the joy of the Goans!. ---INFA
(Copyright India News & Feature Alliance)
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