S Y Quraishi takes over as Chief Election Commissioner
New Delhi, Jul 30 : Election Commissioner Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi today took over as Chief Election Commissioner, succeeding Navin B Chawla, who demitted office yesterday after having presided over the Commission for little more than a year.
The notification appointing Mr Quraishi, who has become the first Muslim in the country to occupy the post of the CEC, was issued by the Law Ministry on July 27.
He will have a little less than two years in the Constitutional post.
Under his stewardship, the Election Commission will soon be conducting polls in a few states whose outcome may well redraw the political landscape of the country. They are -- Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
The government will have to appoint a new Election Commissioner with the elevation of Mr Quraishi. Mr V S Sampath is the other Election Commissioner.
''I feel honoured. I realise the responsibility that the Election Commission carries towards keeping India's democracy firmly on the rails. It would be my utmost endeavour to prove myself worthy of this trust. I have abiding faith that the Commission will continue to deliver on its mandate, in the face of all challenges old and new, as it has always done in the past,'' he said in his first reaction on taking over as CEC here.
Mr Quraishi told mediapersons that enhancing voters participation and restricting the role of money power in elections are among the emerging challenges before the poll panel.
He added, ''We are already working systematically to achieve a perfect electoral roll at the earliest.'' He said voter education, something that he has been closely involved within the EC for the past two years, tops his list of priorities.
He further said expenditure by candidates during elections is another issue that he would have to deal with, adding he wants to set up an expenditure monitoring division that will be manned by Indian Revenue Services officers Mr Quraishi is a Haryana cadre IAS officer of the 1971 batch.
He joined the Election Commission in the year 2006. Prior to joining the Election Commission, he was the Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs.
He has held several key positions before getting into the Election Commission and contributed enormously to the fields of health, education, population, drug abuse and other social issues.
Born on June 11, 1947, in Delhi, Mr Quraishi is a post-graduate in history. He did his PhD in the areas of communication and social marketing.
The title of his doctoral thesis was "The Role of Communication and Social Marketing in Development of Women and Children". His book 'Social Marketing for Social Change' has broken new ground in the field of development communication and is considered a pioneering effort with special reference to women and children.
He has authored two papers, 'Islam, Muslims and Family Planning in India', and 'Islam and AIDS'.
The notification appointing Mr Quraishi, who has become the first Muslim in the country to occupy the post of the CEC, was issued by the Law Ministry on July 27.
He will have a little less than two years in the Constitutional post.
Under his stewardship, the Election Commission will soon be conducting polls in a few states whose outcome may well redraw the political landscape of the country. They are -- Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
The government will have to appoint a new Election Commissioner with the elevation of Mr Quraishi. Mr V S Sampath is the other Election Commissioner.
''I feel honoured. I realise the responsibility that the Election Commission carries towards keeping India's democracy firmly on the rails. It would be my utmost endeavour to prove myself worthy of this trust. I have abiding faith that the Commission will continue to deliver on its mandate, in the face of all challenges old and new, as it has always done in the past,'' he said in his first reaction on taking over as CEC here.
Mr Quraishi told mediapersons that enhancing voters participation and restricting the role of money power in elections are among the emerging challenges before the poll panel.
He added, ''We are already working systematically to achieve a perfect electoral roll at the earliest.'' He said voter education, something that he has been closely involved within the EC for the past two years, tops his list of priorities.
He further said expenditure by candidates during elections is another issue that he would have to deal with, adding he wants to set up an expenditure monitoring division that will be manned by Indian Revenue Services officers Mr Quraishi is a Haryana cadre IAS officer of the 1971 batch.
He joined the Election Commission in the year 2006. Prior to joining the Election Commission, he was the Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs.
He has held several key positions before getting into the Election Commission and contributed enormously to the fields of health, education, population, drug abuse and other social issues.
Born on June 11, 1947, in Delhi, Mr Quraishi is a post-graduate in history. He did his PhD in the areas of communication and social marketing.
The title of his doctoral thesis was "The Role of Communication and Social Marketing in Development of Women and Children". His book 'Social Marketing for Social Change' has broken new ground in the field of development communication and is considered a pioneering effort with special reference to women and children.
He has authored two papers, 'Islam, Muslims and Family Planning in India', and 'Islam and AIDS'.
VHP wants govt action on illegal Bangla' problem
GUWAHATI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal (BD) on Tuesday demanded the state government form a special force to deal with the illegal immigrant problem in the state.
"The Assam government should form a special force to detect and deport illegal Bangladeshis' present in the state," said Subhas Chauhan, national coordinator of BD, at a press conference here. Abhijit Deka and Narayan Ranjan Baruah, president and spokesperson of the North East Chapter of VHP respectively, were also present at the conference.
The two parties opposed the postponement of the pilot project updating the NRC in Barpeta and Chaygaon revenue circles after violence in lower Assam's Barpeta district on July 21. Four people were killed and over 50 injured when police opened fire at a rally organised by All Assam Minorities' Students' Union (Aamsu) after it got violent.
VHP and BD said since the task of preparing the NRC is a Central project, the state government does not have any right to take a unilateral decision to postpone or halt it. "Preparing the NRC is a project of the Centre. How can the state government stop it?" said Chauhan. He appealed that the state government and the Centre resume the updating process without delay.
Contrary to the agreements of the Assam Accord, the two parties said only those immigrants who entered Assam (from Bangladesh) before 1951 will have a right to stay in the country. According to the accord, anybody who entered Assam before 1971 would be recognized as a citizen of the country.
In 1985, the Assam Accord was signed between the state government, the Centre and the All Assam Students' Union (Aasu), ending a six-year-long agitation (Assam Movement) led by Aasu. Chauhan said that VHP and BD will create public opinion across the country regarding the issue of updating the NRC.
"A public opinion will be created on the issue across the country and we will communicate the matter to the Centre," Chauhan said.
He added that illegal Bangladeshis' have changed the demographic profile of the state and this, in turn, is influencing the political scenario here.
"The Assam government should form a special force to detect and deport illegal Bangladeshis' present in the state," said Subhas Chauhan, national coordinator of BD, at a press conference here. Abhijit Deka and Narayan Ranjan Baruah, president and spokesperson of the North East Chapter of VHP respectively, were also present at the conference.
The two parties opposed the postponement of the pilot project updating the NRC in Barpeta and Chaygaon revenue circles after violence in lower Assam's Barpeta district on July 21. Four people were killed and over 50 injured when police opened fire at a rally organised by All Assam Minorities' Students' Union (Aamsu) after it got violent.
VHP and BD said since the task of preparing the NRC is a Central project, the state government does not have any right to take a unilateral decision to postpone or halt it. "Preparing the NRC is a project of the Centre. How can the state government stop it?" said Chauhan. He appealed that the state government and the Centre resume the updating process without delay.
Contrary to the agreements of the Assam Accord, the two parties said only those immigrants who entered Assam (from Bangladesh) before 1951 will have a right to stay in the country. According to the accord, anybody who entered Assam before 1971 would be recognized as a citizen of the country.
In 1985, the Assam Accord was signed between the state government, the Centre and the All Assam Students' Union (Aasu), ending a six-year-long agitation (Assam Movement) led by Aasu. Chauhan said that VHP and BD will create public opinion across the country regarding the issue of updating the NRC.
"A public opinion will be created on the issue across the country and we will communicate the matter to the Centre," Chauhan said.
He added that illegal Bangladeshis' have changed the demographic profile of the state and this, in turn, is influencing the political scenario here.
Government model schools still distant reality
New Delhi (IANS) The 6,000 Model schools to be set up by the Human Resource Development ministry is still a distant reality as data from the ministry shows that only two states have so far utilised the funds allocated for the project.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, HRD minister Kapil Sibal informed that 434 Model schools have been sanctioned for 12 states so far in the economically backward blocks.
According to the information given to the lower House, Punjab and Tamil Nadu are the only two states which have submitted the amount utilisation certificates to the centre.
Other states for which funds have been sanctioned are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, West Bengal and Gujarat.
The scheme, launched in November 2008, envisages setting up 6,000 model schools in every block 'as a benchmark of excellence' across the country with 3,500 of these being in educationally backward blocks.
Another 2,500 of these schools are to be built in the public-private-partnership mode.
"The objective of setting up the schools in public-private-partnership mode is to enhance access to quality school education through private investment to augment the efforts of the government," Sibal said.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, HRD minister Kapil Sibal informed that 434 Model schools have been sanctioned for 12 states so far in the economically backward blocks.
According to the information given to the lower House, Punjab and Tamil Nadu are the only two states which have submitted the amount utilisation certificates to the centre.
Other states for which funds have been sanctioned are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, West Bengal and Gujarat.
The scheme, launched in November 2008, envisages setting up 6,000 model schools in every block 'as a benchmark of excellence' across the country with 3,500 of these being in educationally backward blocks.
Another 2,500 of these schools are to be built in the public-private-partnership mode.
"The objective of setting up the schools in public-private-partnership mode is to enhance access to quality school education through private investment to augment the efforts of the government," Sibal said.
Assam Govt diverting attention from scam: AGP
GUWAHATI, July 28 – The Congress-led Government in the State is responsible for creation of a controversy regarding the issue of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951 just to divert the attention of the people from the financial scam in North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, alleged the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
AGP spokesman Atul Bora said that the regional party would never allow the Government to divert the attention of the people from the financial scam in NC Hills. He said that a delegation of the major Opposition parties of the state left for New Delhi today to meet the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to demand a thorough probe into all the financial dealings of the NC Hills Autonomous Council by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Till now, the CBI has been entrusted with the responsibility of probing only five cases of irregular financial dealings and the Opposition is demanding that all the financial dealings since 2001 should be probed by the CBI.
The Opposition delegation will also meet leaders of all the political parties so that the issue can be raised forcefully on the floor of the Parliament to force the Government to probe all the irregular dealings.
Meanwhile, clarifying the AGP’s stand on the issue of updating the NRC, Bora said that updating the citizenship document would provide Constitutional protection to all Indian citizens who came to Assam before March 25, 1971 irrespective of their religion and no Indian citizen should oppose the move. He said that the party was satisfied with the application form issued for the pilot project of updating the NRC. Bora alleged that the Congress Government was not keen on updating the NRC and that was why Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi declared suspension of the project immediately after a violent protest. The AGP was opposed to suspension of updating the NRC and would not allow the Government to stop the process, he asserted.
The AGP spokesman further said that the steering committee of the party had already decided to snap poll ties with the BJP and only the seal of approval of the central committee was awaited. He said that the central committee would meet next month to decide on the party’s preparedness for the Assembly polls.
Hitting out at the BJP, Bora said that during its tenure in power, the BJP did nothing to deal with the problem of infiltration of foreigners and no step was taken to repeal the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act. Only a case filed in the Supreme Court by AGP leader Sarbananda Sonowal led to the scrapping of the Act, which was a major hurdle in the way of detection and deportation of foreigners, he added.
AGP spokesman Atul Bora said that the regional party would never allow the Government to divert the attention of the people from the financial scam in NC Hills. He said that a delegation of the major Opposition parties of the state left for New Delhi today to meet the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to demand a thorough probe into all the financial dealings of the NC Hills Autonomous Council by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Till now, the CBI has been entrusted with the responsibility of probing only five cases of irregular financial dealings and the Opposition is demanding that all the financial dealings since 2001 should be probed by the CBI.
The Opposition delegation will also meet leaders of all the political parties so that the issue can be raised forcefully on the floor of the Parliament to force the Government to probe all the irregular dealings.
Meanwhile, clarifying the AGP’s stand on the issue of updating the NRC, Bora said that updating the citizenship document would provide Constitutional protection to all Indian citizens who came to Assam before March 25, 1971 irrespective of their religion and no Indian citizen should oppose the move. He said that the party was satisfied with the application form issued for the pilot project of updating the NRC. Bora alleged that the Congress Government was not keen on updating the NRC and that was why Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi declared suspension of the project immediately after a violent protest. The AGP was opposed to suspension of updating the NRC and would not allow the Government to stop the process, he asserted.
The AGP spokesman further said that the steering committee of the party had already decided to snap poll ties with the BJP and only the seal of approval of the central committee was awaited. He said that the central committee would meet next month to decide on the party’s preparedness for the Assembly polls.
Hitting out at the BJP, Bora said that during its tenure in power, the BJP did nothing to deal with the problem of infiltration of foreigners and no step was taken to repeal the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act. Only a case filed in the Supreme Court by AGP leader Sarbananda Sonowal led to the scrapping of the Act, which was a major hurdle in the way of detection and deportation of foreigners, he added.
Aiyar vs Kalmadi, the game is all politics
New Delhi: The Commonwealth Games begin in Delhi in October but before that the fight is between Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the games organizing committee.
Aiyar, a former sports minister, on Tuesday said he would be "happy" if the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are “spoilt”. "Personally, I will be unhappy if the Commonwealth Games are successful," Aiyar, a nominated Rajya Sabha member, told reporters outside parliament.
"I am very happy with the rains, firstly because it will ensure a good agriculture for the country and secondly because it will ensure thatthe Commonwealth Games are spoilt," Aiyar said.
"If the Commonwealth Games are successful, they will further organise Asian Games and other events... I will be happy if the Games are spoilt," he said.
Aiyar said the funds spent for the October 3-14 Games could have been utilised for ensuring a better sporting future for Indian children by providing them sports training.
"Just imagine if we would have spent the Rs 35,000 crore in providing training to the children, we would have won medals in every international sporting event," Aiyar said.
Aiyar, who was nominated to Rajya Sabha after he lost the Lok Sabha election, also alleged that India has bribed other Commonwealth nations forthe Games.
"To take the Games, the Olympic association of every Commonwealth country was given one lakh; it was given to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Britain. Those countries did not need this money," he said. "I would call it a bribe, I don't know what it is called from the legal point of view."
Kalmadi hits back
Kalmadi, while speaking at a function in Delhi, gave a curt response to Aiyar’s comments. “Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, nobody can spoilthe Commonwealth Games. Things are on track; stadiums have been built. If Mr Aiyar had continued to be the Sports Minister, you probably would not have seen these stadiums,” he said.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, however, refused to comment on the "personal opinion" of Aiya and said the whole world will see asuccessful Commonwealth Games 2010.
"Honourable Mani Shankar Aiyar is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, I will not comment on his personal opinion," Tewari told reporters.
"The Commonwealth Games is a matter of pride for the entire nation and when it will be executed the whole world will see successful Games," Tewari said.
Congress MP from Delhi Sandeep Dikshit played down Aiyar's comments. “I do not take him seriously," he said.
(With inputs from CNN-IBN and IANS.)
UPA trying to corporatise agriculture: Manik Sarkar
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar Tuesday accused the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in New Delhi of trying to 'corporatise' the agricultural sector in order to hand it over to a few people.
'Without land reforms India's agricultural development is not possible. In the National Development Council (NDC) meeting, this vital issue was not raised by any chief minister, central minister or the prime minister except by Tripura,' the Left leader said.
Sarkar was speaking after inaugurating northeast India's first private sector bio-fertilizer plant in west Tripura's Radha Kishore Nagar, 15 km north of Agartala.
The plant, with over 600 metric tonnes initial production capacity, was set up at a cost of Rs.20 million without government support.
Sarkar said: 'As land is a most productive resource, it should be utilised properly. Land reforms, as a tool for equitable distribution and productive use of an economic asset, should be given the highest priority with an aim of providing land to the actual tillers instead of confining it in fewer hands in the name of corporatisation of agriculture.'
Referring to the bio-fertiliser plant, the chief minister said: 'In many parts of the world, bio fertilizer-based food products are most valued and in real terms it has ten times higher value than products grown through chemical fertilizers.'
The plant managing director Ratan Debnath said that such fertilizer has huge demand not only in India but in neighbouring countries too, specially Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
The bio-fertilizer plant has a separate unit of vermicompost, which is a valued organic fertilizer.
Rice husk is used as one of the raw materials in the plant, which would produce four types of bio-fertilizers. It has started supplying the fertiliser to the other northeastern states.
Renowned agricultural scientist and Tripura agriculture department Director Shiv Narayan Sen said: 'For sustainable use of soil, its protection and for steady increase of production, there is no alternative to bio-fertilizer.'
'The Tripura government has been cultivating rice in large areas through system of rice intensification (SRI) method.'
'The bio-fertilizer would be helpful in the SRI cultivation method,' he said.
The SRI method, developed in the 1980s in Madagascar, is currently practised in 28 countries.
'Without land reforms India's agricultural development is not possible. In the National Development Council (NDC) meeting, this vital issue was not raised by any chief minister, central minister or the prime minister except by Tripura,' the Left leader said.
Sarkar was speaking after inaugurating northeast India's first private sector bio-fertilizer plant in west Tripura's Radha Kishore Nagar, 15 km north of Agartala.
The plant, with over 600 metric tonnes initial production capacity, was set up at a cost of Rs.20 million without government support.
Sarkar said: 'As land is a most productive resource, it should be utilised properly. Land reforms, as a tool for equitable distribution and productive use of an economic asset, should be given the highest priority with an aim of providing land to the actual tillers instead of confining it in fewer hands in the name of corporatisation of agriculture.'
Referring to the bio-fertiliser plant, the chief minister said: 'In many parts of the world, bio fertilizer-based food products are most valued and in real terms it has ten times higher value than products grown through chemical fertilizers.'
The plant managing director Ratan Debnath said that such fertilizer has huge demand not only in India but in neighbouring countries too, specially Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
The bio-fertilizer plant has a separate unit of vermicompost, which is a valued organic fertilizer.
Rice husk is used as one of the raw materials in the plant, which would produce four types of bio-fertilizers. It has started supplying the fertiliser to the other northeastern states.
Renowned agricultural scientist and Tripura agriculture department Director Shiv Narayan Sen said: 'For sustainable use of soil, its protection and for steady increase of production, there is no alternative to bio-fertilizer.'
'The Tripura government has been cultivating rice in large areas through system of rice intensification (SRI) method.'
'The bio-fertilizer would be helpful in the SRI cultivation method,' he said.
The SRI method, developed in the 1980s in Madagascar, is currently practised in 28 countries.
CBI 'proof' against Shah: Sohrabuddin tapes
New Delhi: The CBI's plan to nail former Gujarat minister Amit Shah in the alleged staged encounter killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh partly rests on video recordings secretly prepared by two Ahmedabad-based builder brothers -- Raman Patel and Dashrath Patel -- of their conversation with the politician's associates.
The Patels recorded their conversation with Yashpal Chudasama and Ajay Patel, Shah’s associates, in March and April this year after the CBI took over the investigation into the murders of Sohrabuddin and his wife Kauser Bi in November 2005. The conversation in Gujarati between the four men in the video recordings accessed by CNN-IBN suggests that Shah's associates were desperate to get him off the hook.
The Patels had allegedly been used to frame Sohrabuddin, but when the CBI investigation started picking up they recorded their conversation with Yashpal Chudasama and Ajay Patel to protect themselves.
A conversation between the four at the ADC Bank in Ahmedabad on March 3 allegedly reveals that Chudasama was worried about CBI trying to win over witnesses against Shah.
"Their (CBI) main aim is to nail Amit Shah -- that's what they want. So they are wanting to make those in jail witnesses against him. For the moment, they are trying to win over G L Singhal and Abhay Chudasama. Earlier, they took Mahendrasinh into confidence," says Chudasama.
Dashrath Patel is heard saying: "Is it true that the marble lobby gave a supari (contract) to kill Sohrabuddin? Did that come out during CID investigations?"
Chudasama then says: "There's a difference in the way the CID and the CBI functions. For the CBI, the final target is already fixed and then they go about investigating. All those whose role is found in the process, get picked up." (CID in this case is Gujarat's Criminal Investigation Department which conducted its owninvestigation into Sohrabuddin and Kauser Bi's deaths.)
“What is Amit saheb now saying?” Dashrath Patel asks.
“He is aware of what all is happening. He wants you to be ready," replies Yashpal Chudasama.
The conversation also allegedly details Shah's links with D G Vanzara, who was Gujarat ATS chief in 2005 and is currently in prison in connection with Sohrabuddin and Kauser Bi’s deaths.
“These fellows (Gujarat Police) have done some of the most crazy things. Look at Vanzara. He took her (Kauser Bi’s body) to the village and burnt it," says Chudasama.
Raman Patel refers to an argument with Vanzara during the conversation and asks: “What should we do now? Amit Shah is Home Minister. He knows best what should be done.”
“Vanzara troubled us a lot. In the firing case -- we were taken to ATS, then Sarkhej, then Navrangpura,” says Dashrath Patel.
But Ajay Patel asks the brothers to leave Vanzara alone. “Remember, there is no point in holding a grudge against him. Leave that issue now. Consider it over,” he says.
But Dashrath Patel insists on his complaints against Vanzara. “We were treated like terrorists. The area was cordoned off. All this after he took Rs 60 lakh from us,” says Dashrath Patel.
Raman Patel then suggests they consult Amit Shah --“saheb”. “We will do as saheb says. He knows what is best. The CBI people are strange creatures,” says Raman Patel.
By April the CBI began arresting more police officers in connection with the fake encounter and Shah and his associates were worried than ever before. A conversation recorded at the Jumboking Restaurant in Ahmedabad on April 10th between the same four persons confirms this. Here, the Patel brothers are warned not to reveal Amit Shah's name in the Sohrabuddin case at any stage.
Ajay Patel drops a hint when he speaks to the brothers. “Amit Shah asked me where are the two brothers. I told him I'll check. He then asked me if someone had taken them away. He has to keep a tab on people. The CBI has asked people about Amit Shah,” says Ajay Patel.
Chudasama tells the brothers: “They (CBI) might ask about Amit Shah and others. What is the problem in giving a statement that he (Shah) is not involved? That none of you are involved. It's for our own safety."
The most important recording that the Patel brothers did was with Abhay Chudasama, the IPS officer who is now in jail for his alleged involvement in the fake encounter. This recording was done when the Patel brothers met Abhay and Ajay at the Rifle Club in Ahmedabad on March 3 before the IPS officer was arrested.
The brothers ask the Chudasamas what are they to do if the CBI questions them. “They (CBI) will call you and tell you: did you give supari to Sohrabuddin? They do not have any concrete leads yet and are probing various angles,” says Abhay Chudasama.
“You just say: there was a firing incident at our office. We are the complainants and we had been arrested instead. We are now on bail and beyond that we do not know anything. We had no connection earlier too and not now,” he says. “Our logic is that they will call you and ask you whether you gave Rs one crore to Chudasama whether you gave money to the government.”
Dashrath Patel then denies giving money to kill Sohrabuddin and says the marble lobby did that.
Abhay Chudasama warns the Patels not to say anything like that. “Where did you get to know this (about the marble lobby) from? When they ask such questions, just say you don't know anything. Be precise and to the point.”
Dashrath Patel wants to know when will the CBI question him.
“Anytime. They will come to your house. Anything can happen. Be mentally prepared. Answer questions quickly and without hesitation,” says Abhay Chudasama.
The Patel brothers had allegedly used Sohrabuddin to threaten their business rivals -- this was their weak spot and the CBI could use them to nail Shah. The politician's associates knew this but what they didn’t know was that the Patels had done a “sting operation” to protect themselves after FIRs were lodged against them.
The brothers' “sting videos” is now with the CBI and they raise important questions. Why did Abhay Chudasama ask the brothers to hide the truth in the Sohrabuddin case? Why were Amit Shah's associates desperate to keep him out of the investigation? Are the claims of money changing hands made on tape true? And can a sting done by persons who themselves have several cases against them become a key piece of evidence?
These are questions for which the CBI will have to provide answers in the weeks ahead.
KEY NAMES IN THE STING TAPES
Who are the Patel brothers
Raman Patel and Dashrath Patel are promoters of Ahmedabad based Popular Builders. Both have a controversial past and have several cases pending against them in Ahmedabad. In December 2004, there was a gun attack at Popular Builders' office. Tulsiram Prajapati, an aide of Sohrabuddin, was allegedly involved in it. The CBI charge-sheet says this incident was stage managed by Amit Shah and some police officers. This was done to register a fresh case against Sohrabuddin before he could be eliminated. The Patel brothers told CBI that Amit Shah informed them that Sohrabuddin had run out of options to live.
Who is Ajay Patel
He is chairman of Ahmedabad District Co-operative bank, a close aide of Amit Shah and he been named as an accused in the CBI charge-sheet. He is also chairman of the Gujarat State Cooperative Bank and Director of Madhavpura Mercantile Cooperative Bank.
Who Is Yashpal Chudasama?
He is the director of the Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank and a cousin of IPS officer Abhay Chudasama, who has been arrested by CBI for his alleged involvement in the fake encounter.
Who is Abhay Chudasama?
Abhay Chudasama is a former head the Crime Branch in Ahmedabad and currently under arrest for his alleged involvement in the encounter. The CBI alleges that he carried out an extensive extortion racket with Sohrabuddin as his henchman.
BJP demands NRC updating work to resume
The BJP held state-wide protests in Assam on Saturday demanding National Register of Citizens (NRC) update pilot project in Barpeta and Kamrup districts be resumed immediately and blamed vested interests for stalling it. A BJP delegation submitted a memorandum to Governor J B Patnaik at the Raj Bhavan to ask the state government to restart the NRC pilot project in Barpeta district and Chaygaon in Kamrup (Rural) district.
They also demanded a roadmap for updating of the NRC in the state so that it was not confined to one pilot project.
The delegation also demanded arrest and punishment of those responsible for arson and rioting at Barpeta on Monday in which four All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) activists were killed and 50 others injured in police firing.
"The demographic change in Assam, driven largely by unchecked illegal migration was hurtling the state in a direction where all kinds of social and political tension will germinate and thrive. This is inimical to our national interest," the BJP said.
Charging vested interests of encouraging and supporting illegal migration and opposing updating of the NRC, BJP spokesman Kulendra Daulagopu asserted before reporters, "it came as no surprise that AAMSU in the guise of popular protest precipitated a law and order situation in Barpeta".
"Equally, it came as no surprise when the state government promptly suspended the NRC updation process thereafter," he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said the NRC updating work had been only temporarily suspended suspecting instigation by some subversive forces.
Legislators from minority dominated Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) also met the Governor on Saturday but they did not speak to the waiting reporters.
Trouble had erupted in Barpeta when a group of AAMSU activists set ablaze a building in a bid to stop updating of the NRC in progress inside the deputy commissioner's office.
When the irate mob pelted stones and set ablaze a building inside the office premises, the police resorted to firing and killed three student activists on the spot. Another succumbed to his injury in hospital.
They also demanded a roadmap for updating of the NRC in the state so that it was not confined to one pilot project.
The delegation also demanded arrest and punishment of those responsible for arson and rioting at Barpeta on Monday in which four All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) activists were killed and 50 others injured in police firing.
"The demographic change in Assam, driven largely by unchecked illegal migration was hurtling the state in a direction where all kinds of social and political tension will germinate and thrive. This is inimical to our national interest," the BJP said.
Charging vested interests of encouraging and supporting illegal migration and opposing updating of the NRC, BJP spokesman Kulendra Daulagopu asserted before reporters, "it came as no surprise that AAMSU in the guise of popular protest precipitated a law and order situation in Barpeta".
"Equally, it came as no surprise when the state government promptly suspended the NRC updation process thereafter," he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said the NRC updating work had been only temporarily suspended suspecting instigation by some subversive forces.
Legislators from minority dominated Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) also met the Governor on Saturday but they did not speak to the waiting reporters.
Trouble had erupted in Barpeta when a group of AAMSU activists set ablaze a building in a bid to stop updating of the NRC in progress inside the deputy commissioner's office.
When the irate mob pelted stones and set ablaze a building inside the office premises, the police resorted to firing and killed three student activists on the spot. Another succumbed to his injury in hospital.
Congress raps Nagaland Govt for presenting inaccurate data in House
Kohima, Jul 21 : The opposition Congress has strongly criticised the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) for not providing accurate information by various Government Departments during the reply to the questions of the legislators.
The issue was raised by Congress MLA Josua Sumi, who asked the Parliamentary Secretary of Horticulture to furnish the detailed list of the beneficiaries of Horticultural grants with proper addresses.
In the reply Parliamentary Secretary R Khing gave a list of the names, without title, father's name or address.
Mr Josua expressed unhappiness over the incomplete answer and asked Mr Khing to furnish all details, but was disappointed as only those records existed with the Deputy Commissioners of the districts.
Congress members criticised the ruling DAN for its ''careless attitude'' and cautioned the Government departments to reply in full whenever any question was asked.
Leader of Opposition Tokheho Yepthomi also criticised the Government for not keeping proper records, which may lead to corruption, and asked the Government to properly maintain all the records and keep it updated with accurate information.
The issue was raised by Congress MLA Josua Sumi, who asked the Parliamentary Secretary of Horticulture to furnish the detailed list of the beneficiaries of Horticultural grants with proper addresses.
In the reply Parliamentary Secretary R Khing gave a list of the names, without title, father's name or address.
Mr Josua expressed unhappiness over the incomplete answer and asked Mr Khing to furnish all details, but was disappointed as only those records existed with the Deputy Commissioners of the districts.
Congress members criticised the ruling DAN for its ''careless attitude'' and cautioned the Government departments to reply in full whenever any question was asked.
Leader of Opposition Tokheho Yepthomi also criticised the Government for not keeping proper records, which may lead to corruption, and asked the Government to properly maintain all the records and keep it updated with accurate information.
BJP to present 10 cr signatures to Prez to protest price rise
New Delhi, Jul 21 : After holding anti-price rise rallies across the country, the BJP will now present its protest memorandum signed by 10 crore citizens to President Pratibha Patil on July 29. All BJP MPs, BJP national office bearers, state BJP presidents, Leaders of Opposition would accompany the top party leaders from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhawan to present the memorandum signed by citizens to protest the price rise.
The BJP had held anti-price rise rallies across the country besides a nationwide Bharat Bandh on July 5 along with the NDA partners. The Left parties too had organised their Bandh on the same day.
In the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the BJP would take on the UPA government and highlight its failure to control the prices of food and other essential commodities. The BJP and the NDA would want the government to name those who aided the spiriting out of Warren Anderson, Chairman of the Union Carbide, responsible for the Bhopal gas disaster.
The opposition party also wanted the government to explain the failure to end blockage of supplies to Manipur.
The BJP had held anti-price rise rallies across the country besides a nationwide Bharat Bandh on July 5 along with the NDA partners. The Left parties too had organised their Bandh on the same day.
In the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the BJP would take on the UPA government and highlight its failure to control the prices of food and other essential commodities. The BJP and the NDA would want the government to name those who aided the spiriting out of Warren Anderson, Chairman of the Union Carbide, responsible for the Bhopal gas disaster.
The opposition party also wanted the government to explain the failure to end blockage of supplies to Manipur.
BJP sting on Cong shows terror bytes
New Delhi The BJP strongly reacted to a sting operation showing Congress leaders from Assam allegedly involved in terror funding, saying it shows dual face of the ruling party whose members were indulging in terror activities while it tried to brand Hindus as ultras.
"The dual face of Congress has been established time and again. On the one hand, their own ministers are hand in glove with terror elements while they take liberty in branding 80 crore Hindus as terrorists," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
A news channel sting operation shows some Congress leaders from Assam allegedly involved in terror funding. The Assam government has refused to name the leaders despite lodging of an FIR against them and involvement of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the probe, according to the channel.
"Irrespective of the partisan attitude of Congress, BJP stands by its policy that terror elements have to be fought unitedly above political and religious lines," Rudy said.
"The dual face of Congress has been established time and again. On the one hand, their own ministers are hand in glove with terror elements while they take liberty in branding 80 crore Hindus as terrorists," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
A news channel sting operation shows some Congress leaders from Assam allegedly involved in terror funding. The Assam government has refused to name the leaders despite lodging of an FIR against them and involvement of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the probe, according to the channel.
"Irrespective of the partisan attitude of Congress, BJP stands by its policy that terror elements have to be fought unitedly above political and religious lines," Rudy said.
Role of women in politics
PATRICIA MUKHIM
‘The Congress party’s Mahila Congress is a sort of hencoop where women workers are confined to do their little thing’
‘The Congress party’s Mahila Congress is a sort of hencoop where women workers are confined to do their little thing’
Ever since the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on March 9 this year, women have been asked rather patronisingly whether they are ready to jump into the turbulent world of electoral politics. Those who raise such questions presume that women and politics are strange bedfellows. But this is a completely wrong diagnosis. Women have been part of the Independence movement. They are an integral part of electoral politics because they have always played significant roles in mobilising voters for this or that candidate. In most of the northeastern states, women are reliable polling agents. So electoral politics is not the exclusive domain of men where women can only come in with their permission.
Of course, the way political parties in this country are organised, it would seem that women have to use extraordinary prowess to get a party ticket. We saw how the young party acolyte in the movie Rajneeti had to use her sexual dexterity for a party ticket. Cinema mirrors life, so that scene is indeed a slice of reality.
None of the political parties, including the Congress party, which spearheaded the Women’s Reservation Bill this time, has a special quota for women. The Congress party’s Mahila Congress is a sort of hencoop where women workers are confined to do their little thing. Few women make it to the highest decision-making body of the Congress — the All India Congress Committee (AICC), popularly known as the High Command. This despite the fact that the Congress is headed by one of the world’s most powerful women!
To say that women are not capable of taking the pressures of politics is a fallacy. So is the notion that after the reservation bill is passed, women would be entering a brand new domain they are not mentally and psychologically attuned to. Women have always been in the forefront of movements in Assam and the Northeast. The Naga Mothers’ Association, for instance, is instrumental in halting the blood-spill in Nagaland. This, to my mind is the highest form of political mobilisation. The meira paibis of Manipur have always led the fight against all forms of state oppression and non-state violence. So women know politics. What they need to do now is create political parties of their own, because the existing ones are not ready to make space for them.
A couple of weeks ago, I was on the same flight as the Assam PCC chief, Bhubaneshwar Kalita. I asked him whether the party would be fielding more women candidates to the state Assembly, considering that the Congress party is the avant-garde of the Women’s Reservation Bill, pending in the Lok Sabha. Kalita’s reply was a predictable staccato. “Let’s see. We will have to identify capable women,” he said.
Considering we were seated poles apart, there was no time to ask him the next question, which is, “What do you mean by capable?” Implied in Kalita’s answer is the clichéd argument that it would not be possible to get women contestants from many constituencies. And even if they did contest, they might not win the elections.
In today’s political parlance, “capable” might imply many things. But primarily it means the great “oomph” factor of Indian politics, which is “winnability”. And how does one define winnability? The way politics is played today, you cannot win an election if you have no money. So, winnability actually means that a candidate has enough money to pay for the party ticket, and having got it, to spend lavishly to win votes. In Meghalaya, the moment the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha, many sitting MLAs said if they could not stand for elections on a reserved seat, they would set up their wives instead. That way, it would all be within the family. I suppose the case is similar with all other states.
Today, candidates invest several crores of rupees to win elections. They intend to recover the money with interest once they are in the seat of power. The question is whether women should join this murky game of money for votes or votes for money? Many would say, “Money makes politics go round, so, we cannot be naïve to believe we can fight elections without money. If men can do it, so can we.” What they mean is, “If you cannot fight them, join them.” But this is hardly a good argument, for women would then only be replicating the politics of patriarchy, which is all about money, muscle and mafia.
Should women bring into politics the abrasive nature of the beast? If they do so, they would only be men in a woman’s body. The idea behind the Bill is to bring a sanitising effect in Parliament and state Assemblies. Politics must be rescued from the decadence that besets it today. This is a challenge that women ought to take up. But men would point to the likes of Mayavati and say, “Is she a paragon of virtuous politics or its antithesis?” Here I would say, Mayavati is not a simple case of black and white. She represents a complex bind of caste striving to claim the hallowed space occupied by an elite social class — a space denied to her kind for centuries.
Mayavati is claiming retributive justice with a vengeance. People might hate her but they cannot ignore her because in today’s coalition politics she makes eminent political sense. This is not to condone her vulgarly displayed wealth acquisition project but merely to give us a sense of what happens when a hungry person gets to sit in the granary.
For decades, men have defined the rules of politics. Even the Election Commission, with all its bravado, has failed to check election extravaganza. Today, electoral politics has no rules. Every rule in the book is broken. With the mafia taking control of the election processes in several parts of this country, women might feel the heat if they decide to give a fight. That is, if they are willing to throw their hat in the ring even before the Bill becomes a reality. Women should now become defiant and get into electoral politics with or without the Bill. Can they do it? Why can’t they when they have spent all their childhood and adult life fighting to claim their rightful space within the family and society. Politics is just another level in this hierarchy of rights.
There are critics who say that women cannot be too different from men when they get into politics. They point to the fact that 68 per cent of women in Parliament today are crorepatis. And when the same critics ponder if illiterate women can handle politics, the counter question is why are such arguments not advanced when it comes to men? Don’t we have male parliamentarians who are aangutha chhaps (thumb impressionists)? So why should an illiterate woman MP be an embarrassment? Why should there be a different set of rules for men and women in politics?
Coming back to Assam, which is soon heading for the polls, the present strength of the Assembly is 126 MLAs. Thirty-three per cent reservation would mean 42 seats for women. At present, women constitute only four per cent of the Assembly strength. The Assam Congress has been labouring with the argument that there is shortage of suitable women candidates. This argument no longer washes with the large constituency of women. So should women wait for reservation? Have women not always been ready for freedom, for liberation?
(The writer can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com)
Cong trying to divert public opinion: AGP
GUWAHATI, July 20 – Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today asserted that Tarun Gogoi is haunted by the fear of losing power. This is becoming gradually evident with the illogical statements he is making nowadays in his desperate bids to castigate the Opposition for the ills facing the State, said the Opposition party.
AGP chief spokesman Atul Bora told this newspaper that besides Chief Minister Gogoi, his party has also become desperate to divert public opinion from the issue of Rs 1,000- crore NC Hills (Dima Hasao) Autonomous Council scam.
To counter the popular awareness already generated on the issue, the party has also gone on to organise the so-called Jana Jagaran Yatras with the twin aims of silencing the Opposition and also to confuse the people with concocted information, Bora said.
But Tarun Gogoi and his cohorts should realize the fact that even all the perfumes of Arabia would not be able to sweeten their foul-smelling hands that misappropriated thousands of crores of public money.
Whenever the Opposition raises the issue of NC Hills scam, Tarun Gogoi and his cohorts start clamouring the same old slogan of the veterinary LoC scam to shout down the voice of the Opposition. But this trick has lost its magical power today.
Gogoi is also trying to project the AGP as a bunch of cheats. But in doing so he has, to his disadvantage, become oblivious of the fact that the Congress party itself is belived the “dismemberment of Assam into seven States”. Its first premier Late Jawaharlal Nehru virtually handed over Assam to the Chinese. And Congress is at the root of all the problems the NE region is facing today, Bora asserted.
Gogoi and his party should tell the people as to what made them nominate Abu Syed Khan, the brother of NC Hills scam-tainted RH Khan, as its candidate from Mankachar Legislative Assembly Constituency in the 2001 Assembly elections, Bora said.
Gogoi and his party have been trying to project the arrest of RH Khan as one of their major achievements in the drive to check corruption in the NC Hills Autonomous Council. In fact this is nothing but a face-saving formula of the Congress party and its Chief Minister. The Congress-led Government had in reality elevated RH Khan to the status of an officer capable of liaising corruption in the hills district.
The Jana Jagaran Yatras are in no way going to save the Congress from the wrath of the people this time. The sooner the ruling party realizes it the better, said the AGP chief spokesman.
AGP chief spokesman Atul Bora told this newspaper that besides Chief Minister Gogoi, his party has also become desperate to divert public opinion from the issue of Rs 1,000- crore NC Hills (Dima Hasao) Autonomous Council scam.
To counter the popular awareness already generated on the issue, the party has also gone on to organise the so-called Jana Jagaran Yatras with the twin aims of silencing the Opposition and also to confuse the people with concocted information, Bora said.
But Tarun Gogoi and his cohorts should realize the fact that even all the perfumes of Arabia would not be able to sweeten their foul-smelling hands that misappropriated thousands of crores of public money.
Whenever the Opposition raises the issue of NC Hills scam, Tarun Gogoi and his cohorts start clamouring the same old slogan of the veterinary LoC scam to shout down the voice of the Opposition. But this trick has lost its magical power today.
Gogoi is also trying to project the AGP as a bunch of cheats. But in doing so he has, to his disadvantage, become oblivious of the fact that the Congress party itself is belived the “dismemberment of Assam into seven States”. Its first premier Late Jawaharlal Nehru virtually handed over Assam to the Chinese. And Congress is at the root of all the problems the NE region is facing today, Bora asserted.
Gogoi and his party should tell the people as to what made them nominate Abu Syed Khan, the brother of NC Hills scam-tainted RH Khan, as its candidate from Mankachar Legislative Assembly Constituency in the 2001 Assembly elections, Bora said.
Gogoi and his party have been trying to project the arrest of RH Khan as one of their major achievements in the drive to check corruption in the NC Hills Autonomous Council. In fact this is nothing but a face-saving formula of the Congress party and its Chief Minister. The Congress-led Government had in reality elevated RH Khan to the status of an officer capable of liaising corruption in the hills district.
The Jana Jagaran Yatras are in no way going to save the Congress from the wrath of the people this time. The sooner the ruling party realizes it the better, said the AGP chief spokesman.
Assam opposition parties demand government's resignation
The combined opposition in Assam on Tuesday demanded the state's ruling Congress government resign for failing to curb price rise and its alleged involvement in the multi-million financial scam in the North Cachar Hills district. More than 5,000 protesters led by leaders of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the Bharatiya Janata Party
Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), and Left parties took to the streets of Assam's main city of Guwahati with placards and shouting slogans.
"The government has no moral right to continue in office as they have failed in all fronts - price rise, corruption, and failing law and order situation," AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said while addressing an impromptu rally in the middle of a busy city thoroughfare.
Police baton-charged the protesters as they tried to break a barricade and storm the state secretariat. About 20 people were injured.
The opposition also charged the Congress government of being involved in the politician-militant-bureaucrat-contractor nexus involving government funds siphoned off in the North Cachar Hills district. The scam, unravelled by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) last year, was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Last month, CBI officials seized Rs 13.05 crore in cash stacked in sacks and boxes from the house of a relative of a scam-accused official in Guwahati.
"The government is involved in all kinds of corruption and wrong doings. It is time the chief minister tenders his resignation," BJP state president Ranjit Dutta said.
Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), and Left parties took to the streets of Assam's main city of Guwahati with placards and shouting slogans.
"The government has no moral right to continue in office as they have failed in all fronts - price rise, corruption, and failing law and order situation," AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said while addressing an impromptu rally in the middle of a busy city thoroughfare.
Police baton-charged the protesters as they tried to break a barricade and storm the state secretariat. About 20 people were injured.
The opposition also charged the Congress government of being involved in the politician-militant-bureaucrat-contractor nexus involving government funds siphoned off in the North Cachar Hills district. The scam, unravelled by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) last year, was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Last month, CBI officials seized Rs 13.05 crore in cash stacked in sacks and boxes from the house of a relative of a scam-accused official in Guwahati.
"The government is involved in all kinds of corruption and wrong doings. It is time the chief minister tenders his resignation," BJP state president Ranjit Dutta said.
Initiate talks with Maoists, ULFA: Bardhan
The Communist Party of India (CPI) Monday urged the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to open a dialogue with the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) as also secessionist groups like the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).
CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan told media persons here that the Maoists have been pushed into a corner in areas like West Bengal's West Midnapore district.
'I agree with this,' he replied when asked whether there was need for initiating a dialogue process with the Left wing extremists.
'Let there be a dialogue with the ULFA also. Else how can you end insurgency?' he asked.
CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan told media persons here that the Maoists have been pushed into a corner in areas like West Bengal's West Midnapore district.
'I agree with this,' he replied when asked whether there was need for initiating a dialogue process with the Left wing extremists.
'Let there be a dialogue with the ULFA also. Else how can you end insurgency?' he asked.
Government neglecting northeast: BJP
IMPHAL - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday blamed the central government of being insensitive to the problems of the people of the northeast and said it would highlight their plight in the coming session of parliament.
“The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government is incompetent and non-functional towards the crisis and problems of the northeastern states,” senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters in Manipur capital Imphal.
Referring to the long blockade faced by Manipur, she said: “For over two months, the state has been facing acute shortage of essential commodities, and petrol is being sold in the black market at Rs.120 per litre while cooking gas is sold at around Rs.1,500 per cylinder.”
A BJP parliamentary team, led by Swaraj, arrived here Thursday for an on-the-spot study of the ground situation of Manipur.
The team comprises BJP MPs S.S. Ahluwalia, Chandan Mitra and party leaders Tapi Gao and Chandra Sekhar Rao, besides Swaraj. They held meetings with officials, ministers, common people, representatives of NGOs and other party leaders Thursday and Friday to be acquainted with the prevailing situation in Manipur.
Swaraj said: “In both the houses of parliament, the BJP would take up the issue in different forms and force the government to take steps to resolve the crisis of northeastern states, especially Manipur.”
“Had such a situation prevailed in any other part of the country, Congress leaders and union ministers would have made several trips in those states,” she said, adding that the prime minister and the union home minister were “badly neglecting” Manipur and other northeastern states and they hardly bothered to visit the region.
“The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government is incompetent and non-functional towards the crisis and problems of the northeastern states,” senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters in Manipur capital Imphal.
Referring to the long blockade faced by Manipur, she said: “For over two months, the state has been facing acute shortage of essential commodities, and petrol is being sold in the black market at Rs.120 per litre while cooking gas is sold at around Rs.1,500 per cylinder.”
A BJP parliamentary team, led by Swaraj, arrived here Thursday for an on-the-spot study of the ground situation of Manipur.
The team comprises BJP MPs S.S. Ahluwalia, Chandan Mitra and party leaders Tapi Gao and Chandra Sekhar Rao, besides Swaraj. They held meetings with officials, ministers, common people, representatives of NGOs and other party leaders Thursday and Friday to be acquainted with the prevailing situation in Manipur.
Swaraj said: “In both the houses of parliament, the BJP would take up the issue in different forms and force the government to take steps to resolve the crisis of northeastern states, especially Manipur.”
“Had such a situation prevailed in any other part of the country, Congress leaders and union ministers would have made several trips in those states,” she said, adding that the prime minister and the union home minister were “badly neglecting” Manipur and other northeastern states and they hardly bothered to visit the region.
BJP lashes out at APCC on dam issue
Itanagar, Jul 9 : The BJP in Arunachal Pradesh has taken strong exception to the allegations of ''anti-development'' levelled against its national secretary and former MP Tapir Gao by the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
The APCC, while reacting to a press briefing by the BJP leader at New Delhi recently on possible negative impacts of the hundreds of hydro-power projects coming up in the state, termed them as ''anti-development and anti-Arunachal''.
In a communique here today, the BJP said neither the party nor Mr Gao was against hydro-power projects as such, but they had expressed concern after realising disastrous implications of so many projects in a seismically fragile state.
It maintained that the Congress, being in power, did not have the right to randomly violate prescribed guidelines as well as necessary quality control and safety measures in implementing hydro-projects.
Reiterating that it advocated harnessing of natural resources for development, the party said hydro-projects should be scientifically feasible and accepted in full conscience and understanding of the long-term impacts by the indigenous people, who were likely to be affected .
''Today we are witnessing several anti-dam protests. Going by these, it can be well construed that neither these people were consulted nor their consent taken before going ahead with huge projects,'' it asserted.
Raising doubts over the various Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) signed with private and public sector companies, the BJP stressed that power developers need to be selected on merit through open and global competitive biddings as per the laid down guidelines.
''When the Assam Government can constitute an expert committee to study the impacts of Lower Subansiri project, why cannot the dispensation in Arunachal Pradesh invite global experts for studying the feasibility and implications of so many hydro-projects being proposed in the state?'' it questioned.
The party also negated the criticism of the APCC that ''Gao need not talk at national and international levels'', saying that river issues were international by virtue of their trans-national flow.
''Anything related to a river cannot be confined to one country as the waters of the same river may have impacts on several countries through which it flows,'' the party informed.
It also questioned the APCC if it could guarantee that there would be no catastrophe in the future from these mega-hydro projects or take the responsibility in case of any future disaster, the communique added.
The APCC, while reacting to a press briefing by the BJP leader at New Delhi recently on possible negative impacts of the hundreds of hydro-power projects coming up in the state, termed them as ''anti-development and anti-Arunachal''.
In a communique here today, the BJP said neither the party nor Mr Gao was against hydro-power projects as such, but they had expressed concern after realising disastrous implications of so many projects in a seismically fragile state.
It maintained that the Congress, being in power, did not have the right to randomly violate prescribed guidelines as well as necessary quality control and safety measures in implementing hydro-projects.
Reiterating that it advocated harnessing of natural resources for development, the party said hydro-projects should be scientifically feasible and accepted in full conscience and understanding of the long-term impacts by the indigenous people, who were likely to be affected .
''Today we are witnessing several anti-dam protests. Going by these, it can be well construed that neither these people were consulted nor their consent taken before going ahead with huge projects,'' it asserted.
Raising doubts over the various Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) signed with private and public sector companies, the BJP stressed that power developers need to be selected on merit through open and global competitive biddings as per the laid down guidelines.
''When the Assam Government can constitute an expert committee to study the impacts of Lower Subansiri project, why cannot the dispensation in Arunachal Pradesh invite global experts for studying the feasibility and implications of so many hydro-projects being proposed in the state?'' it questioned.
The party also negated the criticism of the APCC that ''Gao need not talk at national and international levels'', saying that river issues were international by virtue of their trans-national flow.
''Anything related to a river cannot be confined to one country as the waters of the same river may have impacts on several countries through which it flows,'' the party informed.
It also questioned the APCC if it could guarantee that there would be no catastrophe in the future from these mega-hydro projects or take the responsibility in case of any future disaster, the communique added.
