Can Ahimsa Prevail Over Naxals?

The police of non-violence rabidly followed by the government of India will bring no result in the fight against Maoist or Naxals extremists.

As I write this, a gunbattle is on between Naxals and Central Reserve Police Force. Not stopping at one of the worst attacks by Naxals on a camp in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, they have again opened salvo today defying stepped-up security.

The Naxals fired four rounds at the CRPF camp in Palampalli village which was promptly retaliated by the security personnel, DGP Chhattisgarh Viswa Ranjan told PTI. However, the official termed it as “a routine activity the Naxals indulge in."

The firing comes a day after the Maoists wiped out virtually an entire CRPF company, killing 76 CRPF and police personnel in an ambush during a joint offensive against the ultras in the thick forests of Mukrana in Dantewada district.

Home minister P.Chidambaram said government is not resorting to air strikes on Naxal affected areas. This paves the way for the militants to wreck havoc on hapless citizens. Can this ahimsa prevail over Naxals? I don’t think so!

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Will Ministers Listen To This?

Honking without any valid reasons and running blaring loud speaker at every possible opportunity are two of the favourite pastime for the politicians in India. The problem is more severe in Maharashtra. In this background, the news came as a fresh air.

In a bid to curb the menace of pollution, Environment Department of Maharashtra has recommended the ministers to cut down honking and avoid use of fire crackers in official programmes. Environment Minister Suresh Shetty informed the Legislative Council in Mumbai.

In Pune, the problem is especially seen during the rush hour. People seem to be in so hurry that every traffic signal is filled with noise of horns. The Department, at least on the paper, is trying to reduce noise and air pollution.

For a change, the debate on which Shetty gave above reply was started by Shiv Sena MLC Deepak Sawant who raised the issue of global warming and its impact on the environment.

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Maharashtra Bent On Making Liquor

It seems that Maharashtra government is hell bent on making wine or liquor. After its ambitious and controversial scheme to make liquor from the foodgrains was mire into controversy, it is now considering proposals to make wine from wild berries (Karvand), found mainly in coastal Konkan region.

"We will positively consider any proposals to make wine from wild-berries and if possible... capital in the 1:9 ratio would be made available for the business," Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar informed the Legislative Council today.
The government's intention is to help farmers make profit, he said.

Only last week the state government announced in the Council it would consider a proposal for making liquor from jowar, cashew fruit, 'jamun' (java plum) and 'chikoo'. In an apparent reference to the row over production of liquor from foodgrains, Pawar said, these matters have been unnecessarily politicised.

In the past, the government even announced to make alcohol from bamboom shoots. “This will enable the Adivasis to earn extra money,” was the government’s contention.

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Sania Should Stop Playing For India

The people are agog over the marriage between Sania Mirza and Shoeb Malik. Sania is from India and Shoeb is from Pakistan. Already Sania Mirza is known as a glamour girl. She has got more publicity than what she deserves, if going by her sports record. The various online forums and TV channels are running messages from her fans criticising her decision.

The hype went to such level that the proposed wedding today figured in Maharashtra Legislative Council. Opposition Shiv Sena raised the issue of increasing number of cheating cases of spouses by foreigners. "Marriage cheating cases are increasing and in Sania's matter there are reports about her fiance (Shoaib Malik) being already married," MLC Neelam Gorhe said during a debate on the law and order situation in the state.

For me, it is a routing affair. There is nothing one can do to stop such marriages. Sania knows she is marrying an already married man. It is her decision. But after marriage, she should not be allowed to play for India. Because whatever tournament she takes part in, she is going to benefit from it. How can we allow Pakistani nationals to benefit monetarily by posing as an Indian?

If she is ready to part way with India, let her do it. But then, let us not allow her to make profit from her Indian credentials.

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Unchallenged Power Generates Internal Sparks

NEWS : Rift In Congress, NCP
The exchange of brickbats between Congress and ally NCP provided an added element of entertainment to the public. Added because the public is already burdened with the IPL tamasha and price rise in the market-is that anything lesser than a horror movie?

The inauguration of the additional carriageway of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Wednesday only brought to fore what was the  known to wide strata of public for long.  This was not the first time that Deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhujbal took potshots at the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. The language he used at the ceremony was a veiled one. He had used much sharp and toned language during the cabinet meeting.

Bhujbal said that ministers ought to clear files and not sit on them. This was because Chavan had thwarted at least two attempts by Bhujbal to award contracts for big works to his prefered men.  Not a man to take it easily, Chavan retaliated by taking a dig at NCP ministers who headed Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and said that there seemed to be preferential treatment for road-building in areas like Nagpur, Aurangabad and Beed where they hailed from.

The second leg of Bandra-Worli sea link was inaugurated yesterday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan  Superstar Amitabh Bachchan graced the occasion. Keeping in view the relation between Congress leaders and Bacchan family, Chavan took a dig saying, "I feel like coming to a fIlm awards function." The  ontroversy over Bacchan being invited for the inauguration function is still raging.

With opposition parties in Maharashtra more or less in slumber, the members of ruling combination have got a free hand. Not surprisingly, they have started fighting each other. After all, not long ago these two parties were avowing each other's credentials when they were pitted against Shiv Sena, BJP and MNS in the assembly elections. Whatever these senior leaders talked last night at Sea Link, had it any link to the common man?

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What Should One Do With Such News

First the news: Legendary naxal leader Kanu Sanyal dead - Yahoo! India News

What should one do with such news stories? Are they to be celebrated that the end of an old naxal leader will bring much needed peace in my country? Or should we seat to think whether the fight for the justice and equality has suffered one decisive blow to say that any new transformation is ages away.

Ironically, Sanyal’s suicide comes after heavy activities by the naxal activists in many parts of the country. The man who created a path of violence for youngster spanning three generations finally chose a much trodden path. Why he chose to do what he did will be discussed in the days to come.

For the time being,  the question hangs either way.

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Cases Count Too Little Against Raj Thackerey

Raj Thackerey, it seems has become the new obsession of media and police and administration.

PTI has reported that Raj Thackeray. chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is facing as many as 73 criminal cases in various courts all over Maharashtra for allegedly inciting riots which broke out after his arrest in connection with anti-North Indian tirade launched by his party in 2008, police said.

Of the 73 cases, Raj has appeared in six cases and secured bail. In the rest of the cases he has yet to appear in person and get bail, the report quotes.

As the cases are still in the court of law, one can not authoritatively comment on them. But there seems no reason to believe that these cases will cause any damage to his political career. Foremost of all, he is not going to contest a election so he is unlikely to lose something. His erstwhile mentor and inspiration Balasaheb Thackerey, the Shive Sena chief forfeited his right to vote for six years but commands the same authority over his party. Raj can do the same.

The cases, in truly Maharashtra police fashion, are built on some distant relations. Raj can claim he had not directly incited the crowd and whatever happened was a legitimate reaction from his angry followers. If only, the count of cases only provides a relief to the rival parties, which unfortunately includes mediamen.

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