കണ്ണൂരിൽ നടത്തിയ ഓരോ കൊലപാതകത്തേയും രാഷ്ട്രീയ കാരണം പറഞ്ഞ് ന്യായീകരിക്കുകയാണ് സിപിഎം പതിവ്.
രാഷ്ട്രീയ കാരണം എന്നത് അവർക്ക് തന്നെ മനസ്സിലാകുന്ന ന്യായീകരണമാകും എന്നതാണ് യാഥാർത്ഥ്യം. പാർട്ടി ഗ്രാമങ്ങളിൽ കടന്നു ചെന്ന് ശാഖാ പ്രവർത്തനം തുടങ്ങുക, ബിജെപി കൊടി ഉയർത്തുക, ബിജെപി പ്രകടനം കാണാൻ കവലയിൽ ചെന്ന് നിൽക്കുക, ബിജെപി ഹർത്താലിന് കടയടക്കുക, സിപിഎമ്മിന് എതിരെ തദ്ദേശ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പുകളിൽ മത്സരിക്കുക, സിപിഎം അക്രമത്തിന് സാക്ഷി പറയുക, ബിജെപി ആർഎസ്എസ് പ്രവർത്തകർക്ക് മകളെ / സഹോദരിയെ വിവാഹം കഴിച്ചു നൽകുക, ബിജെപി പ്രവർത്തകന്റെ ശവസംസ്കാരത്തിന് പോവുക, വിലാപയാത്രയിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കുക, ചികിത്സയിൽ കഴിയുന്ന ബിജെപിക്കാരനെ സന്ദർശിക്കുക, ബിജെപി പ്രവർത്തകനോട് കവലയിൽ വെച്ച് കുശലം പറയുക, അവർ ഓടിക്കുന്ന ഓട്ടോ റിക്ഷാ സവാരിക്ക് വിളിക്കുക, തുടങ്ങി പൊതുസമൂഹം കേട്ടാൽ ചിരിച്ചു തള്ളുന്നവയാണ് രാഷ്ട്രീയ കാരണങ്ങൾ.
രാഷ്ട്രീയ എതിരാളികളോടുള്ള സിപിഎമ്മിന്റെ പക കുപ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്. വെട്ടിയും ബോംബെറിഞ്ഞും കല്ലെറിഞ്ഞും തീവച്ചും വാഹനം ഇടിപ്പിച്ചുമൊക്കെ എതിരാളികളെ ഇല്ലായ്മ ചെയ്യാനുള്ള സിപിഎമ്മിന്റെ കഴിവ് സമൂഹം നിരവധി തവണ കണ്ടതാണ്. കൊല്ലൽ മാത്രമല്ല കൊല്ലാക്കൊലയും പാർട്ടിക്ക് വഴങ്ങും. ഊരു വിലക്ക് കൽപ്പിക്കുക, കിണറ്റിൽ മനുഷ്യ വിസർജ്ജ്യവും തലമുടിയും കലക്കുക, കരി ഓയിൽ അഭിഷേകം നടത്തുക, പൊതുജനമധ്യത്തിൽ അപഹസിക്കുക എന്നിവയെല്ലാം പാർട്ടിയുടെ ശിക്ഷാ രീതിയാണ്. പാർട്ടി വിട്ടുപോയ എം.വി രാഘവനോടുളള വൈരാഗ്യം തീർത്തത് പാപ്പിനിശ്ശേരിയിലെ പാമ്പു വളർത്തൽ കേന്ദ്രം തീയിട്ട് പാമ്പിനെ കൊന്നായിരുന്നു.
എന്നാൽ ഇപ്പോള് നടത്തിയ രമിത്തിന്റെ കൊലപാതകം സിപിഎം പകയുടെ ഏറ്റവും നികൃഷ്ടമായ രൂപമാണ്. ഇന്നത്തെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയും മുൻ പാർട്ടി സെക്രട്ടറിയുമായ പിണറായി വിജയന്റെ വീടിനു അടുത്ത് തന്നെയാണ് രമിത്തിന്റെ വീടും. പിണറായി ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ സംഘ സന്ദേശം എത്തിച്ചു എന്ന ഒറ്റക്കാരണത്താലാണ് രമിത്തിന്റെ അച്ഛനും ബിഎംഎസ് പ്രവർത്തകനുമായ ഉത്തമനെ സിപിഎം ഇല്ലാതാക്കിയത്. ഉത്തമൻ ഓടിക്കുന്ന ബസ് തടഞ്ഞു നിർത്തി ബസിനുള്ളിൽ ഇട്ടാണ് സിപിഎം വൈരാഗ്യം തീർത്തത്.
ഉത്തമനോടുള്ള പക അവിടം കൊണ്ടും അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാൻ സിപിഎം തയ്യാറായില്ല. വിലാപയാത്രക്ക് നേരെ ബോംബെറിയാനും സിപിഎം കാട്ടാളൻമാര് തയ്യാറായി. അമ്മു അമ്മ എന്ന നിരപരാധിയായ 70 കാരിയും ജീപ്പ് ഡ്രൈവർ ഷിഹാബുദീനും അന്നത്തെ ബോംബേറിൽ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു. ബോംബുമായി വന്നവരോട് അമ്മുഅമ്മ ഇരുകൈയും തൊഴുത് യാചിച്ചിട്ടും വെറുതേ വിടാൻ സിപിഎം ക്രിമിനലുകള് തയ്യാറായില്ല. 2002 ലായിരുന്നു ആ സംഭവം. 14 വര്ഷങ്ങൾക്കിപ്പുറത്തും അടങ്ങാത്ത പകയാണ് ഇന്ന് സിപിഎം വീട്ടിയത്. നിരവധി തവണ ഉത്തമന്റെ വീടാക്രമിച്ച് ഭാര്യയേയും മക്കളേയും ഇല്ലാതാക്കാൻ സിപിഎം ശ്രമിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരുന്നു. ഇക്കഴിഞ്ഞ തെരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് സമയത്തും അത് ആവർത്തിച്ചു. ഒരു കുടുംബത്തിന്റെ ഏക ആശ്രയമായിരുന്ന യുവാവിനെ സ്വന്തം വീട്ടു മുറ്റത്ത് വെച്ച് അമ്മയുടേയും സഹോദരിയുടേയും മുന്നിൽ തന്നെ വെട്ടി വീഴ്ത്തി 2016 ഒക്ടോബർ 12 ന് സിപിഎം കലി തീർത്തു.
ഇനിയും എത്ര രമിത്തുമാർ ഉണ്ടാകണം സിപിഎമ്മിന്റെ രക്തദാഹം തീരാൻ? കണ്ണിന് കണ്ണ് പല്ലിന് പല്ല് എന്ന നിലയിൽ തിരിച്ചടിക്കാൻ കഴിവില്ലാത്ത പ്രസ്ഥാനമല്ല ബിജെപിയെന്ന് സിപിഎമ്മിന് അറിയാത്തതല്ല. പക്ഷേ പുരോഗതിയിലേക്ക് കുതിക്കുന്ന ഒരു സമൂഹത്തിനും ഇത് ചേർന്നതല്ലെന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവിലും ഇത് അവസാനത്തേതാകും എന്ന പ്രതീക്ഷയിലുമാണ് ബിജെപി മുന്നോട്ട് നീങ്ങുന്നത്. ഈ രാജ്യത്ത് നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന ജനാധിപത്യത്തിൽ ഉള്ള എല്ലാ മാർഗ്ഗങ്ങളിലൂടേയുമാണ് ബിജെപി ഇതിനെ പ്രതിരോധിക്കുന്നത്. ഇനിയും അങ്ങനെ തന്നെ ആകണമാണെന്നാണ് ബിജെപി ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നതും. പക്ഷേ അപ്പോഴും ബിജെപിയാണ് നാട്ടിലെ ക്രമസമാധാനം തകർക്കുന്നതെന്ന മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രസ്താവന സ്വന്തം അണികളെ കയറൂരി വിട്ട് അക്രമത്തിന് പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുന്ന നിലപാടാണ്.
നാട്ടിൽ സമാധാനം പുലരാൻ മുഖം നോക്കാതെ നടപടിയെടുക്കുമെന്ന് പറയേണ്ട മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഏകപക്ഷീയമായി സംസാരിക്കുന്നത് സാധാരണക്കാരോടുള്ള വെല്ലുവിളിയാണ്. അതിൽ നിന്ന് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി പിന്തിരിഞ്ഞ് അക്രമികൾക്കെതിരെ കർശന നടപടി സ്വീകരിക്കുമെന്നാണ് ബിജെപി പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുന്നത്.
News Credits,Janmabhumi Daily.com
Showing posts with label Bandh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bandh. Show all posts
Friday, October 14, 2016
Thursday, October 29, 2015
'മാണി 25 ലക്ഷം കോഴ വാങ്ങി' : വിന്സന് പോള് കേസ് അട്ടിമറിച്ചു
തിരുവനന്തപുരം: ധനമന്ത്രി കെ.എം. മാണിക്ക് എതിരായ ബാര് കോഴക്കേസില് തുടരന്വേഷണം നടത്താന് തിരുവനന്തപുരം വിജിലന്സ് കോടതി ഉത്തരവിട്ടു. രണ്ടു തവണയായി മാണി 25 ലക്ഷം കോഴ വാങ്ങിയെന്ന വിജിലന്സ് എസ്.പി: ആര്. സുകേശന്റെ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് ശരിവച്ച കോടതി വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര് വിന്സന് എം. പോളിനെ രൂക്ഷമായി വിമര്ശിച്ചു.
പൂട്ടിയ 418 ബാറുകള് തുറക്കുന്നതിനായി മന്ത്രി മാണി ആദ്യ തവണ 15 ലക്ഷവും രണ്ടാം തവണ 10 ലക്ഷവും വാങ്ങിയെന്നു വിജിലന്സ് റിപ്പോര്ട്ടിലുണ്ട്. പണം കൈമാറിയതിനു പ്രഥമദൃഷ്ട്യാ തെളിവുണ്ടെന്നു വിജിലന്സ് ജഡ്ജി ജോണ് കെ. ഇല്ലിക്കാടന്റെ ഉത്തരവില് പറയുന്നു. മാണിക്കെതിരായ കേസ് അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാന് അനുമതി തേടി വിജിലന്സ് സമര്പ്പിച്ച അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് കോടതി തള്ളി.
കേസിലെ സത്യാവസ്ഥ മറച്ചുവയ്ക്കാന് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര് ശ്രമിച്ചുവെന്ന് കോടതി നിരീക്ഷിച്ചു. ഉന്നത ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് എന്ന സ്ഥാനം ഉപയോഗിച്ച് സമ്മര്ദം ചെലുത്തിയ വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര്, അന്വേഷണ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന്റെ നിഗമനങ്ങള് അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടില്നിന്ന് ഒഴിവാക്കി. സുപ്രീം കോടതി വിധിന്യായങ്ങളുടെ ലംഘനം ബാര് കോഴക്കേസില് നടന്നെന്ന് കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി. ഡയറക്ടറുടെ സൂക്ഷ്മപരിശോധനാ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് ലഭിച്ചശേഷം അന്വേഷണ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് ഒരടി മുന്നോട്ടു നീങ്ങിയില്ല. അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടില് പ്രതിഫലിക്കേണ്ടത് അന്വേഷണോദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് എസ്.പി: ആര്. സുകേശന്റെ കണ്ടത്തലുകളാണ്- കോടതി വ്യക്തമാക്കി.മന്ത്രി കെ.എം. മാണി കോഴ കൈപ്പറ്റിയെന്ന് വസ്തുതാന്വേഷണ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടില് എസ്.പി. ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടിയിരുന്നു. ഇക്കാര്യം മറികടക്കാനായി പുറത്തുള്ള അഭിഭാഷകരില് നിന്ന് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര് നിയമോപദേശം തേടി. ഉന്നത ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് എന്ന നിലയില് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര്ക്കു ചില അധികാരങ്ങളുണ്ട്. അന്വേഷണം തൃപ്തികരമല്ലെങ്കില് തുടരന്വേഷണത്തിന് ഉത്തരവിടാന് മാത്രമാണ് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് അധികാരമുള്ളതെന്നു കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി. അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് എങ്ങനെയായിരിക്കണമെന്ന് തീരുമാനിക്കാന് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര്ക്ക് അധികാരമില്ല. വസ്തുതാ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് കേസിലെ ആധികാരിക രേഖയല്ലെന്ന വിജിലന്സ് പ്രോസിക്യൂഷന് ഡയറക്ടര് ജനറലിന്റെ വാദം കോടതി തള്ളി.
2014 മാര്ച്ച് 22നു കെ.എം. മാണി ബാറുടമകളുമായി കൂടിക്കാഴ്ച നടത്തി. മാണിയുടെ വീട്ടില്വച്ച് ബാര് ഹോട്ടല് ഓണേഴ്സ് അസോസിയേഷന് നേതാവ് ജോണ് കല്ലാട്ട് 15 ലക്ഷം രൂപ െകെമാറിയെന്നു സാക്ഷിമൊഴികളുണ്ട്. ഈ തുക മാണിക്കു െകെമാറാനായാണു പിരിച്ചെടുത്തതെന്നും സാക്ഷിമൊഴിയുണ്ട്. അസോസിയേഷന് അംഗങ്ങളില് നിന്നു പിരിച്ചെടുത്ത പണം അസോസിയേഷന്റെ ബാങ്ക് അക്കൗണ്ടില് നിക്ഷേപിച്ചിട്ടുമില്ല.
മാര്ച്ച് 31നു നടന്ന രണ്ടാം കൂടിക്കാഴ്ചയ്ക്കു മുമ്പ് 50 ലക്ഷം രൂപ പണപ്പിരിവ് നടത്തി. ശാസ്ത്രീയ തെളിവുകള് സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് മാര്ച്ച് 30നു ബാറുടമകള് പാലയിലെത്തിയെന്നാണ്. കൂടിക്കാഴ്ചയില് പണം െകെമാറിയതു സംബന്ധിച്ച് അന്വേഷണ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനു തെളിവ് ലഭിച്ചില്ല. എന്നാല്, അസോസിയേഷന്റെ കാഷ് ബുക്കില് ഈ തുകയെപ്പറ്റി ശരിയായ രീതിയില് രേഖപ്പെടുത്തലുകളില്ല. അതിനാല് ഇക്കാര്യത്തില് കൂടുതല് അന്വേഷണം ആവശ്യമാണ്. അസോസിയേഷന് നേതാക്കള് 2014 മാര്ച്ചില് പിരിച്ചെടുത്ത ലീഗല് ഫണ്ടിനെക്കുറിച്ചും ബാങ്ക് ഇടപാടുകളെക്കുറിച്ചും അന്വേഷണം നടത്തണമെന്നും കോടതി നിര്ദേശിച്ചു.
ബാര് ഉടമാ അസോസിയേഷന് നേതാവ് രാജ്കുമാര് ഉണ്ണി മന്ത്രിയുടെ ഔദ്യോഗിക വസതിയില് എത്തിയെന്ന ബിജു രമേശിന്റെ ഡ്രൈവര് അമ്പിളിയുടെ മൊഴിയും ശാസ്ത്രീയ തെളിവുകളും ഒത്തുചേരുന്നതായി കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി. മൂന്നാം കൂടിക്കാഴ്ചയില് മന്ത്രി പത്തു ലക്ഷം കോഴ െകെപ്പറ്റിയതിന് ആവശ്യമായ തെളിവുണ്ടെന്നും കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി.
മാര്ച്ച് 26നു നടന്ന മന്ത്രിസഭായോഗത്തില് ബാര് വിഷയത്തില് നിയമമന്ത്രിയുടെ അഭിപ്രായം ആരാഞ്ഞതു െകെക്കൂലി വാങ്ങാനാണെന്ന എസ്.പിയുടെ കണ്ടെത്തലുകളും കോടതി ശരിവച്ചു. ബാറുടമ ബിജു രമേശ് നല്കിയ സി.ഡിയിലെ ശബ്ദരേഖയെക്കുറിച്ച് ശാസ്ത്രീയ അന്വേഷണം വേണം. ബാറുടമയുടെ ശബ്ദവും ശബ്ദരേഖയിലെ ശബ്ദവും താരതമ്യം ചെയ്യേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. ഇതിനുശേഷം മാത്രമേ ശബ്ദരേഖ സംബന്ധിച്ച് അന്തിമ തീരുമാനത്തിലെത്താന് കഴിയൂ. വസ്തുതാ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടിനും അന്തിമറിപ്പോര്ട്ടിനുമിടയില് ഒരു അന്വേഷണവും നടന്നിട്ടില്ലെന്നും കോടതി ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടി.
News Credits,Mangalam Daily
ബാര്കോഴ കേസ് തുടരന്വേഷണം: ആരോപണ പ്രത്യാരോപണങ്ങളുമായി ഇടത്-വലത് നേതാക്കള്
തിരുവനന്തപുരം: ബാര്കോഴ കേസില് കെ.എം.മാണിക്ക് ഉറച്ച പിന്തുണയുമായി മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി രംഗത്തെത്തി. വിധിയുടെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില് കെ.എം.മാണി രാജിവെക്കേണ്ട ആവശ്യമില്ലെന്നായിരുന്നു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രതികരണം. എന്നാല് വിധിയെ സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യുന്നതായും തുടരന്വേഷണം നടക്കട്ടേയെന്ന് മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണി വ്യക്തമാക്കി. അതേസമയം മാണി കോഴ വാങ്ങിയതായി തെളിഞ്ഞതായും സര്ക്കാര് തന്നെ രാജിവെക്കണമെന്നും ഇടത് നേതാക്കള് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.
രാഷ്ട്രീയ കേരളത്തില് ഏറെ വിവാദങ്ങള്ക്കും ചര്ച്ചകള്ക്കും വഴി വെച്ച ബാര്കോഴ കേസില് മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണിക്കെതിരെ വിജിലന്സ് കോടതി തുടരന്വേഷണ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചതിന് പിന്നാലെയാണ് ഇടത്-വലത് നേതാക്കള് ആരോപണ പ്രത്യാരോപണങ്ങളുമായി രംഗത്തെത്തിയത്.
വിധി വന്ന ഉടന് സര്ക്കാരിന്റെ ഭാഗത്ത് നിന്ന് ആദ്യം പ്രതികരിച്ചതാകട്ടെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടിയാണ്. വിധിയുടെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില് കെ.എംമാണി രാജിവെക്കേണ്ട ആവശ്യമില്ലെന്നായിരുന്നു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രതികരണം.
അതേസമയം വിധിയെ സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യുന്നുവെന്ന് മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണി പറഞ്ഞു. അന്വേഷണം നേരിട്ട മന്ത്രിമാര് രാജിവെക്കുന്ന കീഴ്വഴക്കമില്ലെന്ന് കെ.എം.മാണി വ്യക്തമാക്കി.
മന്ത്രി സ്ഥാനം രാജിവെക്കണമോയെന്ന കാര്യത്തില് തീരുമാനം എടുക്കേണ്ടത് കെ.എം. മാണി തന്നെയാണെന്ന് ആഭ്യന്തര മന്ത്രി രമേശ് ചെന്നിത്തല പറഞ്ഞു.
സര്ക്കാരിനെ ഒരു തരത്തിലും വിധി ബാധിക്കില്ലെന്ന് എക്സൈസ് വകുപ്പ്് മന്ത്രി കെ.ബാബു പറഞ്ഞു. നിയമപരമായി കാര്യങ്ങള് പരിശോധിച്ചശേഷം അപ്പീല് നല്കുന്ന കാര്യത്തില് തീരുമാനം കൈക്കൊള്ളുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു.
എന്നാല് രൂക്ഷമായ ഭാഷയിലാണ് ഇടത് മുന്നണി നേതാക്കള് മന്ത്രിമാരുടെ വാക്കുകള്ക്കെതിരെ പ്രതികരിച്ചത്. മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണിക്ക് ആത്മാഭിമാനം ഉണ്ടെങ്കില് രാജിവെക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിപക്ഷനേതാവ് വി.എസ്.അച്യുതാനന്ദനും സിപിഎം സംസ്ഥാന സെക്രട്ടറി കോടിയേരി ബാലകൃഷ്ണനും ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.
കേസ് അട്ടിമറിക്കാനുള്ള സര്ക്കാരിന്റെ ശ്രമങ്ങള് വിധിയിലൂടെ പരാജയപ്പെട്ടെന്ന് വി.എസ് സുനില്കുമാര് എംഎല്എ വ്യക്തമാക്കി.
തദ്ദേശ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിന് മണിക്കൂറുകള് മാത്രം നിലനില്ക്കെ ബാര്കോഴ വിവാദം വീണ്ടും യുഡിഎഫിനെ പിടിച്ചുലക്കുകയാണ്. വരും ദിവസങ്ങളില് കേസിന് കൂടുതല് വഴിത്തിരിവുകളുണ്ടാകുമെന്നും ഏറെക്കുറെ ഉറപ്പായി കഴിഞ്ഞു.
News Credits,Janamtv News
പൂട്ടിയ 418 ബാറുകള് തുറക്കുന്നതിനായി മന്ത്രി മാണി ആദ്യ തവണ 15 ലക്ഷവും രണ്ടാം തവണ 10 ലക്ഷവും വാങ്ങിയെന്നു വിജിലന്സ് റിപ്പോര്ട്ടിലുണ്ട്. പണം കൈമാറിയതിനു പ്രഥമദൃഷ്ട്യാ തെളിവുണ്ടെന്നു വിജിലന്സ് ജഡ്ജി ജോണ് കെ. ഇല്ലിക്കാടന്റെ ഉത്തരവില് പറയുന്നു. മാണിക്കെതിരായ കേസ് അവസാനിപ്പിക്കാന് അനുമതി തേടി വിജിലന്സ് സമര്പ്പിച്ച അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് കോടതി തള്ളി.
കേസിലെ സത്യാവസ്ഥ മറച്ചുവയ്ക്കാന് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര് ശ്രമിച്ചുവെന്ന് കോടതി നിരീക്ഷിച്ചു. ഉന്നത ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് എന്ന സ്ഥാനം ഉപയോഗിച്ച് സമ്മര്ദം ചെലുത്തിയ വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര്, അന്വേഷണ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന്റെ നിഗമനങ്ങള് അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടില്നിന്ന് ഒഴിവാക്കി. സുപ്രീം കോടതി വിധിന്യായങ്ങളുടെ ലംഘനം ബാര് കോഴക്കേസില് നടന്നെന്ന് കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി. ഡയറക്ടറുടെ സൂക്ഷ്മപരിശോധനാ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് ലഭിച്ചശേഷം അന്വേഷണ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് ഒരടി മുന്നോട്ടു നീങ്ങിയില്ല. അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടില് പ്രതിഫലിക്കേണ്ടത് അന്വേഷണോദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് എസ്.പി: ആര്. സുകേശന്റെ കണ്ടത്തലുകളാണ്- കോടതി വ്യക്തമാക്കി.മന്ത്രി കെ.എം. മാണി കോഴ കൈപ്പറ്റിയെന്ന് വസ്തുതാന്വേഷണ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടില് എസ്.പി. ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടിയിരുന്നു. ഇക്കാര്യം മറികടക്കാനായി പുറത്തുള്ള അഭിഭാഷകരില് നിന്ന് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര് നിയമോപദേശം തേടി. ഉന്നത ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന് എന്ന നിലയില് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര്ക്കു ചില അധികാരങ്ങളുണ്ട്. അന്വേഷണം തൃപ്തികരമല്ലെങ്കില് തുടരന്വേഷണത്തിന് ഉത്തരവിടാന് മാത്രമാണ് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് അധികാരമുള്ളതെന്നു കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി. അന്തിമ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് എങ്ങനെയായിരിക്കണമെന്ന് തീരുമാനിക്കാന് വിജിലന്സ് ഡയറക്ടര്ക്ക് അധികാരമില്ല. വസ്തുതാ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് കേസിലെ ആധികാരിക രേഖയല്ലെന്ന വിജിലന്സ് പ്രോസിക്യൂഷന് ഡയറക്ടര് ജനറലിന്റെ വാദം കോടതി തള്ളി.
2014 മാര്ച്ച് 22നു കെ.എം. മാണി ബാറുടമകളുമായി കൂടിക്കാഴ്ച നടത്തി. മാണിയുടെ വീട്ടില്വച്ച് ബാര് ഹോട്ടല് ഓണേഴ്സ് അസോസിയേഷന് നേതാവ് ജോണ് കല്ലാട്ട് 15 ലക്ഷം രൂപ െകെമാറിയെന്നു സാക്ഷിമൊഴികളുണ്ട്. ഈ തുക മാണിക്കു െകെമാറാനായാണു പിരിച്ചെടുത്തതെന്നും സാക്ഷിമൊഴിയുണ്ട്. അസോസിയേഷന് അംഗങ്ങളില് നിന്നു പിരിച്ചെടുത്ത പണം അസോസിയേഷന്റെ ബാങ്ക് അക്കൗണ്ടില് നിക്ഷേപിച്ചിട്ടുമില്ല.
മാര്ച്ച് 31നു നടന്ന രണ്ടാം കൂടിക്കാഴ്ചയ്ക്കു മുമ്പ് 50 ലക്ഷം രൂപ പണപ്പിരിവ് നടത്തി. ശാസ്ത്രീയ തെളിവുകള് സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് മാര്ച്ച് 30നു ബാറുടമകള് പാലയിലെത്തിയെന്നാണ്. കൂടിക്കാഴ്ചയില് പണം െകെമാറിയതു സംബന്ധിച്ച് അന്വേഷണ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനു തെളിവ് ലഭിച്ചില്ല. എന്നാല്, അസോസിയേഷന്റെ കാഷ് ബുക്കില് ഈ തുകയെപ്പറ്റി ശരിയായ രീതിയില് രേഖപ്പെടുത്തലുകളില്ല. അതിനാല് ഇക്കാര്യത്തില് കൂടുതല് അന്വേഷണം ആവശ്യമാണ്. അസോസിയേഷന് നേതാക്കള് 2014 മാര്ച്ചില് പിരിച്ചെടുത്ത ലീഗല് ഫണ്ടിനെക്കുറിച്ചും ബാങ്ക് ഇടപാടുകളെക്കുറിച്ചും അന്വേഷണം നടത്തണമെന്നും കോടതി നിര്ദേശിച്ചു.
ബാര് ഉടമാ അസോസിയേഷന് നേതാവ് രാജ്കുമാര് ഉണ്ണി മന്ത്രിയുടെ ഔദ്യോഗിക വസതിയില് എത്തിയെന്ന ബിജു രമേശിന്റെ ഡ്രൈവര് അമ്പിളിയുടെ മൊഴിയും ശാസ്ത്രീയ തെളിവുകളും ഒത്തുചേരുന്നതായി കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി. മൂന്നാം കൂടിക്കാഴ്ചയില് മന്ത്രി പത്തു ലക്ഷം കോഴ െകെപ്പറ്റിയതിന് ആവശ്യമായ തെളിവുണ്ടെന്നും കോടതി വിലയിരുത്തി.
മാര്ച്ച് 26നു നടന്ന മന്ത്രിസഭായോഗത്തില് ബാര് വിഷയത്തില് നിയമമന്ത്രിയുടെ അഭിപ്രായം ആരാഞ്ഞതു െകെക്കൂലി വാങ്ങാനാണെന്ന എസ്.പിയുടെ കണ്ടെത്തലുകളും കോടതി ശരിവച്ചു. ബാറുടമ ബിജു രമേശ് നല്കിയ സി.ഡിയിലെ ശബ്ദരേഖയെക്കുറിച്ച് ശാസ്ത്രീയ അന്വേഷണം വേണം. ബാറുടമയുടെ ശബ്ദവും ശബ്ദരേഖയിലെ ശബ്ദവും താരതമ്യം ചെയ്യേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. ഇതിനുശേഷം മാത്രമേ ശബ്ദരേഖ സംബന്ധിച്ച് അന്തിമ തീരുമാനത്തിലെത്താന് കഴിയൂ. വസ്തുതാ റിപ്പോര്ട്ടിനും അന്തിമറിപ്പോര്ട്ടിനുമിടയില് ഒരു അന്വേഷണവും നടന്നിട്ടില്ലെന്നും കോടതി ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടി.
News Credits,Mangalam Daily
ബാര്കോഴ കേസ് തുടരന്വേഷണം: ആരോപണ പ്രത്യാരോപണങ്ങളുമായി ഇടത്-വലത് നേതാക്കള്
തിരുവനന്തപുരം: ബാര്കോഴ കേസില് കെ.എം.മാണിക്ക് ഉറച്ച പിന്തുണയുമായി മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി രംഗത്തെത്തി. വിധിയുടെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില് കെ.എം.മാണി രാജിവെക്കേണ്ട ആവശ്യമില്ലെന്നായിരുന്നു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രതികരണം. എന്നാല് വിധിയെ സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യുന്നതായും തുടരന്വേഷണം നടക്കട്ടേയെന്ന് മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണി വ്യക്തമാക്കി. അതേസമയം മാണി കോഴ വാങ്ങിയതായി തെളിഞ്ഞതായും സര്ക്കാര് തന്നെ രാജിവെക്കണമെന്നും ഇടത് നേതാക്കള് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.
രാഷ്ട്രീയ കേരളത്തില് ഏറെ വിവാദങ്ങള്ക്കും ചര്ച്ചകള്ക്കും വഴി വെച്ച ബാര്കോഴ കേസില് മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണിക്കെതിരെ വിജിലന്സ് കോടതി തുടരന്വേഷണ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചതിന് പിന്നാലെയാണ് ഇടത്-വലത് നേതാക്കള് ആരോപണ പ്രത്യാരോപണങ്ങളുമായി രംഗത്തെത്തിയത്.
വിധി വന്ന ഉടന് സര്ക്കാരിന്റെ ഭാഗത്ത് നിന്ന് ആദ്യം പ്രതികരിച്ചതാകട്ടെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടിയാണ്. വിധിയുടെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില് കെ.എംമാണി രാജിവെക്കേണ്ട ആവശ്യമില്ലെന്നായിരുന്നു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രതികരണം.
അതേസമയം വിധിയെ സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യുന്നുവെന്ന് മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണി പറഞ്ഞു. അന്വേഷണം നേരിട്ട മന്ത്രിമാര് രാജിവെക്കുന്ന കീഴ്വഴക്കമില്ലെന്ന് കെ.എം.മാണി വ്യക്തമാക്കി.
മന്ത്രി സ്ഥാനം രാജിവെക്കണമോയെന്ന കാര്യത്തില് തീരുമാനം എടുക്കേണ്ടത് കെ.എം. മാണി തന്നെയാണെന്ന് ആഭ്യന്തര മന്ത്രി രമേശ് ചെന്നിത്തല പറഞ്ഞു.
സര്ക്കാരിനെ ഒരു തരത്തിലും വിധി ബാധിക്കില്ലെന്ന് എക്സൈസ് വകുപ്പ്് മന്ത്രി കെ.ബാബു പറഞ്ഞു. നിയമപരമായി കാര്യങ്ങള് പരിശോധിച്ചശേഷം അപ്പീല് നല്കുന്ന കാര്യത്തില് തീരുമാനം കൈക്കൊള്ളുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു.
എന്നാല് രൂക്ഷമായ ഭാഷയിലാണ് ഇടത് മുന്നണി നേതാക്കള് മന്ത്രിമാരുടെ വാക്കുകള്ക്കെതിരെ പ്രതികരിച്ചത്. മന്ത്രി കെ.എം.മാണിക്ക് ആത്മാഭിമാനം ഉണ്ടെങ്കില് രാജിവെക്കണമെന്ന് പ്രതിപക്ഷനേതാവ് വി.എസ്.അച്യുതാനന്ദനും സിപിഎം സംസ്ഥാന സെക്രട്ടറി കോടിയേരി ബാലകൃഷ്ണനും ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു.
കേസ് അട്ടിമറിക്കാനുള്ള സര്ക്കാരിന്റെ ശ്രമങ്ങള് വിധിയിലൂടെ പരാജയപ്പെട്ടെന്ന് വി.എസ് സുനില്കുമാര് എംഎല്എ വ്യക്തമാക്കി.
തദ്ദേശ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിന് മണിക്കൂറുകള് മാത്രം നിലനില്ക്കെ ബാര്കോഴ വിവാദം വീണ്ടും യുഡിഎഫിനെ പിടിച്ചുലക്കുകയാണ്. വരും ദിവസങ്ങളില് കേസിന് കൂടുതല് വഴിത്തിരിവുകളുണ്ടാകുമെന്നും ഏറെക്കുറെ ഉറപ്പായി കഴിഞ്ഞു.
News Credits,Janamtv News
Monday, September 1, 2014
മനോജിന്റെ മരണം: അഭിവാദ്യമര്പ്പിച്ച് സി.പി.എം. നേതാവിന്റെ മകന്റെ ഫേസ്ബുക്ക് പോസ്റ്റ്
കണ്ണൂര്: ആര്.എസ്.എസ്. നേതാവ് കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ട് ഒരു മണിക്കൂറിനുള്ളില് സി.പി.എം. ജില്ലാ സെക്രട്ടറി പി.ജയരാജന്റെ മകന് ജയിന്രാജ് സഖാക്കള്ക്ക് അഭിവാദ്യമര്പ്പിച്ച് ഫേസ്ബുക്കില് പോസ്റ്റിട്ടു. ഇതു സോഷ്യല് മീഡിയയില് ചൂടേറിയ ചര്ച്ചയ്ക്കു വഴിതെളിച്ചു. ഇതോടെ, മണിക്കൂറുകള്ക്കകം പോസ്റ്റ് പിന്വലിച്ചു. ജയിന് രാജിന്റെ പേരിലുള്ള ഫേസ്ബുക്കില് "ഈ സന്തോഷ വാര്ത്തയ്ക്കായി എത്ര കാലമായി കാത്തു നില്ക്കുന്നു...
അഭിവാദ്യങ്ങള്, പ്രിയ സഖാക്കളെ..." എന്ന കമന്റാണ് പോസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തത്.
ചുരുങ്ങിയ സമയം കൊണ്ട് ഇതു നാല്പതിലേറെ പേര് ലൈക്ക് ചെയ്തു. ഏതു വാര്ത്തയ്ക്കായാണ് ഇയാള് കാത്തിരുന്നതെന്നു വ്യക്തമല്ല. എന്നാല്, കതിരൂരിലെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ കൊലപാതകത്തിനാണെന്ന തരത്തിലുള്ള കമന്റുകള് ഫേസ് ബുക്കില് പ്രചരിച്ചു തുടങ്ങി.
Dated: Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
'തോറ്റിട്ടില്ല, തോറ്റിട്ടില്ല തോറ്റ ചരിത്രം കേട്ടിട്ടില്ല'
കാലം മാറുന്നതനുസരിച്ച് രാഷ്ട്രീയത്തില് എല്ലാം മാറേണ്ടിയിരിക്കുന്നു. സമരത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തിലായാലും മുദ്രാവാക്യത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തിലായാലും ഈ മാറ്റം അനിവാര്യമാണ്. ലോക ജനതയും ഇന്ത്യന് ജനതയും അംഗീകരിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു യാഥാര്ഥ്യമുണ്ട്. സമൂഹത്തില് സാധാരണക്കാരെ പീഡിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ടും അവര്ക്ക്് ക്ലേശങ്ങള് മാത്രം സൃഷ്ടിച്ചുകൊണ്ടും നടത്തുന്ന ഒരു രാഷ്ട്രീയ സമരത്തിനു ഒരു നേട്ടവും ഉണ്ടാക്കാന് കഴിയുകയില്ല എന്ന യാഥാര്ഥ്യം. കാരണം അങ്ങനെയുള്ള സമരങ്ങള് ജനങ്ങളില് അറപ്പും വെറുപ്പും മാത്രമേ സൃഷ്ടിക്കാന് കാരണമാകുകയുള്ളൂ. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ അത്തരം സമരങ്ങള് പരാജയപ്പെടുക തന്നെ ചെയ്യും.
അത് കേരളത്തില് ഈയിടെ സംശയലേശമന്യേ തെളിയിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. സോളാര് പ്രശ്നം ഉയര്ത്തിപ്പിടിച്ച് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടിയുടെ രാജി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടുകൊണ്ട് ആറുമാസമാണ് സി.പി.എമ്മിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലുള്ള ഇടതുപക്ഷമുന്നണി പ്രക്ഷോഭം നടത്തിയത്. ആറുമാസത്തിനു ശേഷം പ്രക്ഷോഭം ഒരു ന്യായീകരണവുമില്ലാതെ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വം പിന്വലിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. അതിനു മുഖ്യമായ ഒരു കാരണം സാധാരണ ജനങ്ങള്ക്കു മാത്രമല്ല ഇടതുപക്ഷ മുന്നണിയിലെ ഘടകകക്ഷികളില് ചിലതു തന്നെയും അപഹാസ്യമാണ് സോളാര് സമരം എന്ന് തുറന്നു പറഞ്ഞതാണ്.
കൃത്യമായി പറഞ്ഞാല് കഴിഞ്ഞ ജൂലൈ ആദ്യ വാരത്തിലാണ് സോളാര് പ്രശ്നത്തില് പ്രതിപക്ഷം സമരമാരംഭിച്ചത്. ഈ പ്രശ്നത്തില് ജുഡീഷ്യല് അന്വേഷണം നടത്തണം. അതിന്റെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില് ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടി മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിപദം രാജിവയ്ക്കണം തുടങ്ങിയ ആവശ്യങ്ങളാണ് സഭയില് പ്രതിപക്ഷം ഉന്നയിച്ചത്. ബഹളവും വാക്കൗട്ടും കാരണം സഭയ്ക്കു പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കാന് കഴിഞ്ഞില്ല. സഭ ബഹിഷ്കരിച്ചുവെങ്കിലും പ്രതിപക്ഷാംഗങ്ങള് എല്ലാ ദിവസവും ഹാജര് ബുക്കില് ഒപ്പുവച്ച് പ്രതിദിന അലവന്സ് വാങ്ങിയെന്നതു മറ്റൊരു കാര്യം. നിയമസഭയ്ക്കു പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കാനാവാതെ വന്നതുമൂലം സഭാ സമ്മേളനം ചുരുക്കി നേരത്തെ പിരിഞ്ഞു.
ജൂലൈ 22-നു പ്രതിപക്ഷ നേതാവ് വി.എസ്. അച്യുതാനന്ദനും പാര്ട്ടി സെക്രട്ടറി പിണറായി വിജയനും മറ്റു പ്രമുഖ നേതാക്കളും സെക്രട്ടേറിയറ്റ് നടയില് രാപകല് സമരമാരംഭിച്ചു. അടുത്ത ദിവസം മുതല് ഇടതുപക്ഷ പാര്ട്ടികള് രാപകല് സമരം ഏറ്റെടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.ഓഗസ്റ്റ് മാസമായപ്പോള് പ്രക്ഷോഭരീതി മാറി. ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടിയുടെ രാജി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ട് സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ വിവിധ ഭാഗങ്ങളില് നിന്നു വന്ന പതിനായിരക്കണക്കിനു പ്രവര്ത്തകര് അനിശ്ചിത കാലത്തേക്കു തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് സെക്രട്ടേറിയറ്റ് ഉപരോധിക്കുന്ന വന് പ്രക്ഷോഭം ആരംഭിച്ചു. പക്ഷേ രണ്ടു ദിവസം തികയുന്നതിനു മുമ്പ് സമരക്കാരെപ്പോലും ഞെട്ടിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് നാടകീയമായി ആ പ്രക്ഷോഭം പിന്വലിച്ചു. രാജി ഇല്ലെങ്കിലും ജുഡീഷ്യല് അന്വേഷണം നടത്താമെന്ന് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി സമ്മതിച്ചു എന്നതിന്റെ പേരിലാണ് സമരം പിന്വലിച്ചതെന്ന് സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വം പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു. പക്ഷെ പ്രഖ്യാപനം അനുസരിച്ച് ജുഡീഷ്യല് അന്വേഷണത്തിന് സിറ്റിംഗ് ഹൈക്കോടതി ജഡ്ജിമാരെ കിട്ടിയില്ല. ജഡ്ജിമാര്ക്കു വേറെ ജോലികളുള്ളതുകൊണ്ട് രാഷ്ട്രീയ തര്ക്ക പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്ക്കായി അവരെ വിനിയോഗിക്കാന് സമയമില്ല എന്നതാണു ഹൈക്കോടതി ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടിയ കാരണം.
പക്ഷെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ രാജി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടുകൊണ്ട് സി.പി.എം. പ്രവര്ത്തകരും മുന്നണി ഘടകകക്ഷികളും സമരം തുടര്ന്നു. മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ ജനസമ്പര്ക്ക പരിപാടി അലങ്കോലപ്പെടുത്തുകയെന്നതായിരുന്നു സമരരീതി. അതിനു പുറമെ ജില്ലകള് തോറുമുള്ള സത്യഗ്രഹവും മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ യാത്ര തടസപ്പെടുത്തലും കരിങ്കൊടി വീശലുമായി സമരം തുടര്ന്നു. പിന്നീടാണ് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ ഔദ്യോഗിക വസതിയായ ക്ലിഫ് ഹൗസ് ഉപരോധിക്കുന്ന സമരപരിപാടി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചത്. മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ രാജി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടുകൊണ്ടായിരുന്നു ഔദ്യോഗിക വസതി ഉപരോധിക്കുന്ന സമരം. ഒന്നരമാസം മുമ്പ് പ്രതിരോധ സമര തീയതി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു. കാരണം ആവശ്യം മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ രാജിയും. ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടിയുടെ രാജിയാണ് ആവശ്യമെങ്കില് എന്തിന് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് ഒന്നരമാസത്തെ കാലയളവു നല്കണം. ഒന്നരമാസം മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി പദത്തിലിരുന്ന് എന്തു ദുര്ഭരണവും എന്ത് അഴിമതിയും നടത്തിക്കോട്ടെ എന്ന് സി.പി.എം. ഔദാര്യമായിരുന്നോ അത്? ആര്ക്കറിയാം.
അങ്ങനെ ആരംഭിച്ച ഔദ്യോഗിക വസതി വളഞ്ഞുവയ്ക്കല് സമരമല്ലേ പൊളിഞ്ഞു പാളീസായത്? ഈ സമരം മൂലം ഒരു മണിക്കൂര് പോലും ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടിയെ ഔദ്യോഗിക വസതിയില് വളഞ്ഞുവയ്ക്കാന് ആര്ക്കും കഴിഞ്ഞില്ല. ഈ വഴിപാടു സമരത്തിനായി സമരസഖാക്കള് ക്ലിഫ് ഹൗസില് എത്തുന്നതിനു മുമ്പ് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി തന്റെ ജോലികള്ക്കായി സെക്രട്ടേറിയറ്റിലേക്ക് പോയിക്കഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കും. അല്ലെങ്കില് ജനസമ്പര്ക്ക പരിപാടിക്കായി മറ്റു ജില്ലകളിലേക്കും മറ്റു ചില ദിസങ്ങളില് രാഷ്ട്രീയ ചര്ച്ചകള്ക്കായി മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ഡല്ഹിയിലേക്കും പോയി. ഒരു സമരത്തെ ഒരു മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയും സര്ക്കാരും എതിര്ക്കുന്നത് സമരം ചെയ്യുന്നവര്ക്ക് അല്പമെങ്കിലും അന്തസുണ്ടാക്കിയേനെ.
പക്ഷേ വലിയ വിളംബരത്തോടെ തുടങ്ങിയ സമരത്തെ ഒരു സര്ക്കാരും മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയും അവജ്ഞയോടും പുച്ഛത്തോടും കൂടി അവഗണിച്ചു എന്നതിനേക്കാള് വലിയ അപമാനം ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒരു പാര്ട്ടിക്ക് കേരളത്തിന്റെ ചരിത്രത്തില് നേരിടേണ്ടി വന്നിട്ടുണ്ടോ? ഈ വഴിപാടു സമരത്തിനിടയില് എത്രയെത്ര അപഹാസ്യകരമായ രംഗങ്ങളുണ്ടായി. ക്ലിഫ് ഹൗസ് പ്രതിരോധ സമരത്തിന് സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വം ഒരു ദിവസത്തെ അവധി നല്കി. കാരണം തിരുവിതാംകൂറിലെ ഇളയ മഹാരാജാവ് മാര്ത്താണ്ഡവര്മ നിര്യാതനായതാണ്.
ഇന്ത്യയിലെ രാജഭരണങ്ങള് അവസാനിക്കുകയും ബ്രിട്ടീഷുകാരില് നിന്നു സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം നേടി ജനങ്ങളുടെ കൈയില് അധികാരമെത്തുകയും ചെയ്തിട്ട് അറുപത്തിയാറു വര്ഷമായി. പഴയ തിരുവിതാംകൂര് രാജാവിന്റെ അനന്തരാവകാശിയുടെ മുമ്പില് പോലും തൊഴുതു വഴങ്ങി നില്ക്കുന്നവരാണ് വര്ത്തമാന കേരളത്തിലെ സി.പി.എം. നേതാക്കള് എന്നവര് തെളിയിച്ചു. ഇനി എത്ര തലമുറ വരെ കമ്യൂണിസ്റ്റുകള്ക്ക് ഈ രാജഭക്തിയുണ്ടാകുമെന്ന് ആര്ക്കറിയാം? റഷ്യയിലെ ജനങ്ങള് സാര് ചക്രവര്ത്തിമാരെ ആദരിക്കാന് തുടങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു എന്നു മനസിലാക്കിയതു കൊണ്ടായിരിക്കണം കേരളത്തിലെ കമ്യൂണിസ്റ്റുകള്ക്കുള്ള ഈ രാജഭക്തിയെന്നു തോന്നുന്നു. കേരളത്തിലെ ഇടതുപക്ഷ ബുദ്ധിജീവികള് ഇനി എന്തെല്ലാം കാണാനിരിക്കുന്നു? സി.പി.എമ്മിന്റെ മാര്ത്താണ്ഡവര്മ ഭക്തി കൊണ്ട് കാര്യം അവസാനിച്ചില്ല. പിന്നെ ക്രിസ്മസ് പ്രമാണിച്ച് ക്ലിഫ് ഹൗസ് പ്രതിരോധ സമരത്തിനു സി.പി.എം. രണ്ടു ദിവസത്തെ അവധി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു. യേശുക്രിസ്തുവും ഒരു വലിയവിപ്ലവകാരിയായിരുന്നല്ലോ? അതുകൊണ്ട് ആ വിപ്ലവകാരിയുടെ ജന്മദിനവും പിറ്റേദിവസവും സത്യക്രിസ്ത്യാനിയായ ഉമ്മന്ചാണ്ടിയും കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങളും ആഘോഷിച്ചുകൊള്ളട്ടെ എന്നു കരുതിയാവണം ലോകത്തിലെങ്ങും കാണാത്തവിധം അല്ലെങ്കില് ഇറ്റലിയില് പോലും സംഭവിക്കാത്ത വിധം സി.പി.എം. സമരത്തിനു രണ്ടുദിവസത്തെ അവധി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചത് എന്നു വേണം കരുതാന്. എന്തെല്ലാം കാണാന് വിധിക്കപ്പെട്ടവരാണ് കേരളത്തിലെ ജനങ്ങള്, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ഇടതുപക്ഷ മുന്നണി സമരത്തൊഴിലാളിക്കൂട്ടങ്ങള്?
പക്ഷെ ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ദേശീയ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പത്രങ്ങള് എഴുതിയത് ക്ലിഫ് ഹൗസിനു സമീപം താമസിക്കുന്ന സന്ധ്യ എന്ന വീട്ടമ്മയുടെ മുമ്പിലാണ് സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വം മുട്ടു കുത്തിയതെന്നാണ്. ഒരു വിധത്തില് അതു ശരിയാണ്. സാധാരണക്കാരെ വല്ലാതെ നരകിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വഴിതടയലും സമരങ്ങളും കാരണം ജനങ്ങള് പൊറുതിമുട്ടിക്കഴിഞ്ഞു. പക്ഷേ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വത്തിന് ഒരേയൊരു സമരമാര്ഗമേ അറിയൂ. ഇല്ലായ്മക്കാരായ സാധാരണ ജനങ്ങളെ നരകിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുള്ള സമരം. അവരുടെ പ്രതീകമായാണ് സന്ധ്യ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വത്തിന്റെ ധിക്കാരത്തിനെതിരെ ശബ്ദമുയര്ത്തിയത്. സന്ധ്യയെ മുതലാളിത്ത മൂരാച്ചിത്വത്തിന്റെ പ്രതീകമെന്നോ അമേരിക്കന് സാമ്രാജ്യത്വത്തിന്റെ ഏജെന്റെന്നോ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വം പറഞ്ഞതുകൊണ്ടു കാര്യമില്ല. സത്യം കേരളത്തിലെ ജനങ്ങള്ക്കറിയാം. അനീതിയേയും ജനദ്രോഹത്തേയും എതിര്ക്കാന് സന്ധ്യ കാണിച്ച ധീരതയ്ക്കു പാരിതോഷികമായി കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ചിറ്റിലപ്പിള്ളി എന്ന വ്യവസായി അഞ്ചുലക്ഷം പാരിതോഷികം നല്കിയതാണ്് പിന്നെ വലിയ വിവാദ വിഷയമായത്. സമരങ്ങള് കൊണ്ടു സഹികെട്ട ജനങ്ങളുടെ രോഷം പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കാന് ഒരു വീട്ടമ്മ ധീരത കാട്ടിയെന്നതിനാണ് വി ഗാര്ഡ് വ്യവസായ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ ഉടമയായ കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ആ പാരിതോഷികം നല്കിയത്. പിന്നെ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ വിരോധവും കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പിന്റെ നേരെയായി. ഇലക്ട്രിസിറ്റി സ്റ്റെബിലൈസര് വീട്ടിലിരുന്നു നിര്മിച്ച് അതു സൈക്കിളില് കൊണ്ടുനടന്നു വില്ക്കുന്ന ഒരു കുടില് വ്യവസായിയായിട്ടാണ് കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് വ്യവസായ ജീവിതമാരംഭിച്ചത്. അദ്ദേഹത്തെ മര്യാദയുടെ എല്ലാ സീമയും ലംഘിച്ച് അധിക്ഷേപിച്ചു സംസാരിച്ച സി.പി.എം. നേതാക്കള് മനസിലാക്കിയിട്ടില്ലാത്ത ഒരു കാര്യം കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ഒരു ഇടതുപക്ഷ വിദ്യാര്ഥി നേതാവായിരുന്നു എന്നതാണ്. പക്ഷെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ പ്രവര്ത്തനം ഉപജീവന മാര്ഗമോ സമ്പാദ്യ മാര്ഗമോ ആയി കാണാന് കഴിയാത്തതുകൊണ്ട് സഹപ്രവര്ത്തകരില് പലരേയും പോലെ അദ്ദേഹം രാഷ്ട്രീയ രംഗത്തു തുടര്ന്നില്ല എന്നേയുള്ളൂ. എന്നു മാത്രമല്ല എ.ടി. കോവൂര് അവാര്ഡിന് അര്ഹനായിട്ടുള്ള കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ചിറ്റിലപ്പിള്ളി ഒരു യുക്തിവാദിയുമാണ്. പക്ഷെ ഇന്നു കേരളത്തില് കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് സര്വാദരണീയനാണ്. അതിനു കാരണം ഒരു നിര്ധന രോഗിയുടെ ജീവന് രക്ഷിക്കാന് സ്വന്തം വൃക്ക അദ്ദേഹം സംഭാവന ചെയ്തു എന്നതാണ്. അവയവദാന പ്രക്രിയയില് അതിസാഹസികമായ ഒരു തീരുമാനമാണ് സ്വന്തം കിഡ്നി സംഭാവന ചെയ്യുകയെന്നത്. സാധാരണ ഗതിയില് ഒരു ധനികന് ഊഹിക്കാന് കഴിയാത്ത കാര്യമാണത്. അത് കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ചെയ്തു. സ്വന്തം കിഡ്നി ഒരു പാര്ട്ടി സഖാവിനു സംഭാവന ചെയ്യാനുള്ള ചങ്കൂറ്റം പിണറായി വിജയനോ കോടിയേരി ബാലകൃഷ്ണനോ ആനത്തലവട്ടം ആനന്ദനോ എ.കെ. ബാലനോ മറ്റേതെങ്കിലും സി.പി.എം. നേതാവോ കാണിക്കുമോ. അല്ലെങ്കില് അവരുടെ മക്കളെ വൃക്കദാനത്തിനു പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുമോ? ഓര്ക്കുമ്പോള് വിപ്ലവ നേതാക്കളുടെ മുട്ടും നെഞ്ചും വിറയ്ക്കും. സാധാരണ ജനങ്ങളെ നരകിപ്പിക്കുന്ന സമരരീതിയെ എതിര്ത്ത സന്ധ്യയേയും കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പിനേയും അപഹസിച്ച സി.പി.എം. നേതാക്കള് ഒരു കാര്യം പറഞ്ഞു. സമരങ്ങള് കൊണ്ടു മാത്രമേ ജനങ്ങള് എന്തും നേടിയിട്ടുള്ളൂ. അതാണ് സി.പി.എം. നടത്തുന്നതെന്നാണ്.
കഴിഞ്ഞ ഇരുപത്തിയഞ്ചു വര്ഷത്തിനിടയില് ജനദ്രോഹ സമരം കൊണ്ടു സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വവും ചിന്താശക്തിയില്ലാത്ത അണികളും എന്തു നേട്ടങ്ങള് കേരളത്തില് കൈവരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്? ഓഫീസുകളും ബാങ്കുകളും തല്ലിത്തകര്ത്തുകൊണ്ട് ദിവസങ്ങളോളം നടത്തിയ കമ്പ്യൂട്ടര് വിരുദ്ധ മഹാസമരം, സര്ക്കാര് വാഹനങ്ങളും മറ്റും തീവച്ചു നശിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് പ്രീഡിഗ്രി ബോര്ഡ് രൂപീകരണത്തിനെതിരെ നടത്തിയ ദിവസങ്ങള് നീണ്ടുനിന്ന അക്രമാസക്തമായ സമരം, അഞ്ചു ഡി.വൈ.എഫ്.ഐ. പ്രവര്ത്തകരുടെ ജീവന് ബലികൊടുത്തുകൊണ്ട് സ്വാശ്രയ കോളജ് തുടങ്ങുന്നതിനെതിരേ ദിവസങ്ങള് നടത്തിയ സമരം, നെടുമ്പാശേരി വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനെതിരെ നടത്തിയ സമരം. എത്ര രക്തം തെരുവിലൊഴുക്കി. ഈ സമരങ്ങള് കൊണ്ട് ജനങ്ങള്ക്ക് എന്തു നേട്ടമുണ്ടായി? ഒഴുക്കിയ കണ്ണീരും രക്തവും മാത്രം നേട്ടം. എല്ലാം പൊളിഞ്ഞു പാളീസായ സമരങ്ങള്. കാരണം അവയെല്ലാം ജനങ്ങള്ക്കെതിരായ സമരങ്ങളായിരുന്നു. കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറുകള്ക്കെതിരെയുള്ള സമരത്തിനു നേതൃത്വം നല്കിയ പിണറായി വിജയനെപ്പോലെയുള്ള ഒരു സി.പി.എം. നേതാവ് സ്വന്തം പേരില് കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറില് ഫേസ് ബുക്ക് തുറന്നിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന പത്രവാര്ത്ത എത്രയോ പ്രത്യാശാഭരിതമാണ്.
തുറന്ന മനസോടെ
Article Credits, കെ.എം. റോയ്,Mangalam Daily,January 6 2014
പക്ഷെ ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ദേശീയ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പത്രങ്ങള് എഴുതിയത് ക്ലിഫ് ഹൗസിനു സമീപം താമസിക്കുന്ന സന്ധ്യ എന്ന വീട്ടമ്മയുടെ മുമ്പിലാണ് സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വം മുട്ടു കുത്തിയതെന്നാണ്. ഒരു വിധത്തില് അതു ശരിയാണ്. സാധാരണക്കാരെ വല്ലാതെ നരകിപ്പിക്കുന്ന വഴിതടയലും സമരങ്ങളും കാരണം ജനങ്ങള് പൊറുതിമുട്ടിക്കഴിഞ്ഞു. പക്ഷേ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വത്തിന് ഒരേയൊരു സമരമാര്ഗമേ അറിയൂ. ഇല്ലായ്മക്കാരായ സാധാരണ ജനങ്ങളെ നരകിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുള്ള സമരം. അവരുടെ പ്രതീകമായാണ് സന്ധ്യ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വത്തിന്റെ ധിക്കാരത്തിനെതിരെ ശബ്ദമുയര്ത്തിയത്. സന്ധ്യയെ മുതലാളിത്ത മൂരാച്ചിത്വത്തിന്റെ പ്രതീകമെന്നോ അമേരിക്കന് സാമ്രാജ്യത്വത്തിന്റെ ഏജെന്റെന്നോ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വം പറഞ്ഞതുകൊണ്ടു കാര്യമില്ല. സത്യം കേരളത്തിലെ ജനങ്ങള്ക്കറിയാം. അനീതിയേയും ജനദ്രോഹത്തേയും എതിര്ക്കാന് സന്ധ്യ കാണിച്ച ധീരതയ്ക്കു പാരിതോഷികമായി കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ചിറ്റിലപ്പിള്ളി എന്ന വ്യവസായി അഞ്ചുലക്ഷം പാരിതോഷികം നല്കിയതാണ്് പിന്നെ വലിയ വിവാദ വിഷയമായത്. സമരങ്ങള് കൊണ്ടു സഹികെട്ട ജനങ്ങളുടെ രോഷം പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കാന് ഒരു വീട്ടമ്മ ധീരത കാട്ടിയെന്നതിനാണ് വി ഗാര്ഡ് വ്യവസായ സ്ഥാപനങ്ങളുടെ ഉടമയായ കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ആ പാരിതോഷികം നല്കിയത്. പിന്നെ സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ വിരോധവും കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പിന്റെ നേരെയായി. ഇലക്ട്രിസിറ്റി സ്റ്റെബിലൈസര് വീട്ടിലിരുന്നു നിര്മിച്ച് അതു സൈക്കിളില് കൊണ്ടുനടന്നു വില്ക്കുന്ന ഒരു കുടില് വ്യവസായിയായിട്ടാണ് കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് വ്യവസായ ജീവിതമാരംഭിച്ചത്. അദ്ദേഹത്തെ മര്യാദയുടെ എല്ലാ സീമയും ലംഘിച്ച് അധിക്ഷേപിച്ചു സംസാരിച്ച സി.പി.എം. നേതാക്കള് മനസിലാക്കിയിട്ടില്ലാത്ത ഒരു കാര്യം കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ഒരു ഇടതുപക്ഷ വിദ്യാര്ഥി നേതാവായിരുന്നു എന്നതാണ്. പക്ഷെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ പ്രവര്ത്തനം ഉപജീവന മാര്ഗമോ സമ്പാദ്യ മാര്ഗമോ ആയി കാണാന് കഴിയാത്തതുകൊണ്ട് സഹപ്രവര്ത്തകരില് പലരേയും പോലെ അദ്ദേഹം രാഷ്ട്രീയ രംഗത്തു തുടര്ന്നില്ല എന്നേയുള്ളൂ. എന്നു മാത്രമല്ല എ.ടി. കോവൂര് അവാര്ഡിന് അര്ഹനായിട്ടുള്ള കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ചിറ്റിലപ്പിള്ളി ഒരു യുക്തിവാദിയുമാണ്. പക്ഷെ ഇന്നു കേരളത്തില് കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് സര്വാദരണീയനാണ്. അതിനു കാരണം ഒരു നിര്ധന രോഗിയുടെ ജീവന് രക്ഷിക്കാന് സ്വന്തം വൃക്ക അദ്ദേഹം സംഭാവന ചെയ്തു എന്നതാണ്. അവയവദാന പ്രക്രിയയില് അതിസാഹസികമായ ഒരു തീരുമാനമാണ് സ്വന്തം കിഡ്നി സംഭാവന ചെയ്യുകയെന്നത്. സാധാരണ ഗതിയില് ഒരു ധനികന് ഊഹിക്കാന് കഴിയാത്ത കാര്യമാണത്. അത് കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പ് ചെയ്തു. സ്വന്തം കിഡ്നി ഒരു പാര്ട്ടി സഖാവിനു സംഭാവന ചെയ്യാനുള്ള ചങ്കൂറ്റം പിണറായി വിജയനോ കോടിയേരി ബാലകൃഷ്ണനോ ആനത്തലവട്ടം ആനന്ദനോ എ.കെ. ബാലനോ മറ്റേതെങ്കിലും സി.പി.എം. നേതാവോ കാണിക്കുമോ. അല്ലെങ്കില് അവരുടെ മക്കളെ വൃക്കദാനത്തിനു പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുമോ? ഓര്ക്കുമ്പോള് വിപ്ലവ നേതാക്കളുടെ മുട്ടും നെഞ്ചും വിറയ്ക്കും. സാധാരണ ജനങ്ങളെ നരകിപ്പിക്കുന്ന സമരരീതിയെ എതിര്ത്ത സന്ധ്യയേയും കൊച്ചൗസേപ്പിനേയും അപഹസിച്ച സി.പി.എം. നേതാക്കള് ഒരു കാര്യം പറഞ്ഞു. സമരങ്ങള് കൊണ്ടു മാത്രമേ ജനങ്ങള് എന്തും നേടിയിട്ടുള്ളൂ. അതാണ് സി.പി.എം. നടത്തുന്നതെന്നാണ്.
കഴിഞ്ഞ ഇരുപത്തിയഞ്ചു വര്ഷത്തിനിടയില് ജനദ്രോഹ സമരം കൊണ്ടു സി.പി.എം. നേതൃത്വവും ചിന്താശക്തിയില്ലാത്ത അണികളും എന്തു നേട്ടങ്ങള് കേരളത്തില് കൈവരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്? ഓഫീസുകളും ബാങ്കുകളും തല്ലിത്തകര്ത്തുകൊണ്ട് ദിവസങ്ങളോളം നടത്തിയ കമ്പ്യൂട്ടര് വിരുദ്ധ മഹാസമരം, സര്ക്കാര് വാഹനങ്ങളും മറ്റും തീവച്ചു നശിപ്പിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് പ്രീഡിഗ്രി ബോര്ഡ് രൂപീകരണത്തിനെതിരെ നടത്തിയ ദിവസങ്ങള് നീണ്ടുനിന്ന അക്രമാസക്തമായ സമരം, അഞ്ചു ഡി.വൈ.എഫ്.ഐ. പ്രവര്ത്തകരുടെ ജീവന് ബലികൊടുത്തുകൊണ്ട് സ്വാശ്രയ കോളജ് തുടങ്ങുന്നതിനെതിരേ ദിവസങ്ങള് നടത്തിയ സമരം, നെടുമ്പാശേരി വിമാനത്താവളത്തിനെതിരെ നടത്തിയ സമരം. എത്ര രക്തം തെരുവിലൊഴുക്കി. ഈ സമരങ്ങള് കൊണ്ട് ജനങ്ങള്ക്ക് എന്തു നേട്ടമുണ്ടായി? ഒഴുക്കിയ കണ്ണീരും രക്തവും മാത്രം നേട്ടം. എല്ലാം പൊളിഞ്ഞു പാളീസായ സമരങ്ങള്. കാരണം അവയെല്ലാം ജനങ്ങള്ക്കെതിരായ സമരങ്ങളായിരുന്നു. കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറുകള്ക്കെതിരെയുള്ള സമരത്തിനു നേതൃത്വം നല്കിയ പിണറായി വിജയനെപ്പോലെയുള്ള ഒരു സി.പി.എം. നേതാവ് സ്വന്തം പേരില് കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറില് ഫേസ് ബുക്ക് തുറന്നിരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന പത്രവാര്ത്ത എത്രയോ പ്രത്യാശാഭരിതമാണ്.
തുറന്ന മനസോടെ
Article Credits, കെ.എം. റോയ്,Mangalam Daily,January 6 2014
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
RTI applications for NRIs simplified
The Government of India took a major step forward in enabling Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to file applications under the Right to Information Act this week, announcing that it has launched a service called “elPO,” or Electronic Indian Postal Order. Using this, NRIs across the world may now be in a position to file RTI applications conveniently via direct payment of fees for the same.
According to an Office Memorandum put out on Friday by the government’s Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Department of Posts service will permit NRIs to purchase an Indian Postal Order electronically by paying a fee on-line through e-Post Office Portal i.e. http://www.epostoffice.gov.in. It could also be accessed through India Post website www.indiapost.gov.in, the memorandum explained.
Lokesh Batra, a retired commodore and an RTI activist who was said to be one of the principal campaigners behind the move, said, “At last eIPO launched today. Indian Citizens Abroad can now file RTIs and participate in Nation Building. The Journey that started for me in October 2008 in the U.S. (Boston) 54 months ago has reached its destination today.” He was also quoted as saying that the eIPO would allow Indians abroad to enjoy the same rights as those living in the country."
According to reports it was his frustration with the difficulties in filing an RTI application from the U.S. during a two-month visit there to see his daughter four years ago that led Mr Batra to start an online petition to make it easier for to buy IPOs or demand drafts in Indian rupees. He was said to have moved the Central Information Commission which in 2010 reportedly ordered that a system be put in place to make it possible for Indians living abroad to file RTIs.
The Ministry’s note clarified that at present the facility was provided only for Indian citizens abroad across the globe to facilitate them to seek information from the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) under the RTI Act, 2005, and debit and credit cards could be used to purchase the elPO.
In terms of process users are required to get themselves registered at the website, select the Ministry or Department from whom they desire the information under the RTI Act and then elPO so generated can be used to seek information from that Ministry or Department only. Further, the memorandum explained, a printout of the elPO is required to be attached with the RTI application, or if the RTI application was being filed electronically, the elPO must be attached.
As a caveat it should be noted that all the requirements for filing an RTI application as well as other provisions regarding eligibility, time limit and exemptions, as provided in the RTI Act, 2005 will continue to apply. CPIOs are required to maintain a record of the elPOs so received from Indian citizens abroad, but eIPO details can be verified from the website of India Post.
In emailed comments to The Hindu, Somu Kumar, a volunteer with the AID NGO based in Washington said that an activist, Vishal Kudchadkar, conducted the first transaction using the ePIO facility and filed an RTI immediately.
Regarding his experience on using the system Mr. Kudchadkar said, “The ePIO system was very simple and straightforward. It will be nice to have all PIO email IDs also in the list so that we can easily mail the RTI application along with ePIO transaction.”
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Kochi Metro will be implemented under Sreedharan's leadership - 18 Dec
Thiruvananthapuram: Minister Aryadan Muhammad told in the Assembly on Tuesday that the Kochi Metro would be implemented under the leadership of E Sreedharan and with the participation of DMRC. Union urban affairs minister Kamal Nath would be arriving in Kerala on January 8 to discuss the issue and a final decision would be taken after discussions with him.
He also added that the govt has so far not enquired if an explanation from KMRC former MD Tom Jose was sought in connection with the allegations raised against Sreedharan by him who had sent a letter to the centre in this connection.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Pre-paid mobile numbers to lose ISD facility soon - NRI family's to affected more
New Delhi: Telecom regulator TRAI has asked telecom companies to de-activate the international calling facility in pre-paid numbers and restore it only after a subscriber gives his explicit consent to avail this facility.
"Inform all pre-paid subscribers having ISD facility, through SMS, within 10 days of the date of issue of this direction, that ISD facility of the subscribers shall be discontinued after sixty days," Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said in a directive to telcos.
"If such subscribers want to continue with ISD facility, they should give their explicit consent for availing such facility within 60 days of the receipt of the SMS," it added.
TRAI has issued this directive following complaints from consumers about missed calls from international telephone numbers which are often premium numbers charging high tariff, prompting the consumers to make call to such numbers.
TRAI said it has also been receiving complaints from consumers about receiving calls and SMSes from international numbers informing them about winning of prizes or lottery and prompting consumers to call a particular number to claim the prize or lottery money.
"These numbers are international numbers, which are often premium numbers charging higher tariffs. By responding to such calls/SMS the consumers have to pay unintended charges," Trai said.
The regulator has asked telecom operators to inform subscribers through SMS, within 10 days of the direction, that pre-paid cellular mobile telephone service consumers need not respond to all missed calls from unknown international numbers or calls about winning prizes or lottery.
Trai has asked telecom service providers to send such SMS to consumers every six months and provide easy and transparent opt-in and opt-out facility to the consumers of the cellular mobile telephone service for activation or deactivation of ISD facility.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Mullaperiyar row: MDMK blocks routes to Kerala
All the 13 routes from Tamil Nadu to Kerala remained sealed for hours on Wednesday disrupting the movement of goods and people after MDMK activists conducted an ‘economic blockade’ of Kerala protesting its stand on the Mullaperiyar dam issue.
The MDMK leader, Mr Vaiko, and the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, P.Nedumaran, who led thousands of protestors to lay siege to the Kerala border at Kumily were arrested at Seelayampatti near Theni.
They were arrested while proceeding towards Uthamapalayam where prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPc were clamped.
MDMK had planned a meeting at Lower Camp earlier but as police denied permission, the party decided to shift the venue to Cumbum.
However, when Mr Vaiko, who commenced his journey from Theni in an open vehicle, was intercepted at Seelayampatti, hundreds of persons blocked the road and tried to prevent the police from arresting him. He finally persuaded them to disperse.
The MDMK leader accused the Congress-led Central government of betraying the interests of Tamil Nadu and its people and also criticised Kerala for refusing to heed the Supreme Court order to raise the water level in the dam to 142 feet.
More than 10,000 people gathered near Gudalur to protest Kerala’s stand on the dam issue. Traffic was completely disrupted in four border check posts in Idukki district following the protest.
Five check posts were closed down along the Palakkad border following protests from fringe outfits. On the national highway, K G Chavadi, Nadapunni, Meenakshipuram, Valanthai witnessed protests in which hundreds of people took part.
MDMK workers also organised protest at Aryankavu check post. Nanjil Sampath inaugurated the dharna.
Police blocked vehicles from Kerala at Aryankavu and those coming from Tamil Nadu were stopped at Tenkasi. The police swung into action and removed the protestors from the area by noon.
At Kalyikavila near Thiruvananthapuram, MDMK workers began the protest at 11 am and blocked the vehicles coming from Kerala. A large police posse led by the Kanyakumari SP, Ms Lakshmi and the Thiruvananthapuram rural SP, A. Akbar ensured there was no violence in the area.
The MDMK leader, Mr Vaiko, and the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, P.Nedumaran, who led thousands of protestors to lay siege to the Kerala border at Kumily were arrested at Seelayampatti near Theni.
They were arrested while proceeding towards Uthamapalayam where prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPc were clamped.
MDMK had planned a meeting at Lower Camp earlier but as police denied permission, the party decided to shift the venue to Cumbum.
However, when Mr Vaiko, who commenced his journey from Theni in an open vehicle, was intercepted at Seelayampatti, hundreds of persons blocked the road and tried to prevent the police from arresting him. He finally persuaded them to disperse.
The MDMK leader accused the Congress-led Central government of betraying the interests of Tamil Nadu and its people and also criticised Kerala for refusing to heed the Supreme Court order to raise the water level in the dam to 142 feet.
More than 10,000 people gathered near Gudalur to protest Kerala’s stand on the dam issue. Traffic was completely disrupted in four border check posts in Idukki district following the protest.
Five check posts were closed down along the Palakkad border following protests from fringe outfits. On the national highway, K G Chavadi, Nadapunni, Meenakshipuram, Valanthai witnessed protests in which hundreds of people took part.
MDMK workers also organised protest at Aryankavu check post. Nanjil Sampath inaugurated the dharna.
Police blocked vehicles from Kerala at Aryankavu and those coming from Tamil Nadu were stopped at Tenkasi. The police swung into action and removed the protestors from the area by noon.
At Kalyikavila near Thiruvananthapuram, MDMK workers began the protest at 11 am and blocked the vehicles coming from Kerala. A large police posse led by the Kanyakumari SP, Ms Lakshmi and the Thiruvananthapuram rural SP, A. Akbar ensured there was no violence in the area.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Krishna Iyer wants a probe into former CJI Balakrishnan’s assets
Dec 28, 2010
Former Supreme Court Judge Krishna Iyer , who completed 95 years last month, wants a thorough inquiry into the allegations claimed by a local Malayalam news channel, Asianet in to the assets of former CJI K.G Balakrishnan .
Asianet News had reported that Balakrishnan's son-in-law, PV Sreenijan, had amassed crores of rupees in the past four years. As a Congress candidate from the Njarackkal assembly constituency, Sreenijan in the 2006 had declared just Rs 25,000 in his bank and no land but later went on to amass property worth at least Rs 7 crore in the past four years.
Speaking at a press conference Justice Iyer said, “I myself feel sad that I was a judge. I used to say that an era had begun when K G Balakrishnan became the first Dalit chief justice. Now, I don’t feel that way”.
“The Press has disclosed now that the son-in-law and daughter have amassed wealth under suspicious circumstances indirectly due to dubious linkage with the Chief Justice. This is atrocious and must be inquired,” said Justice Krishna Iyer.
Deccan Herald has reported the growth in Sreenijan’s assets over the last four years. Sreenijan had declared he possessed no landed property and that his wife had only gold worth Rs 4.38 lakh and a little over Rs 1 lakh in cash in 2006.
Three years later, Sreenijin and his wife K B Sony, both lawyers, declared Rs 35 lakh while filing their income tax returns. However, according to reports now, the couple, who have not declared any sources of income other than their legal profession, own property worth crores and are constructing a river-front resort in Thrissur.
“We have more evidence to prove that the former CJI’s relatives have property in Dubai, Bangalore and Tamil Nadu. The needle of suspicion naturally points to Justice Balakrishnan himself,’’ said DYFI state president and MP M B Rajesh.
Justice Krishna Iyer also demanded a probe into to find the truth about Balakrishnan's statement regarding then Madras High Court chief Justice H L Gokhale's letter that a central minister had tried to influence a judge of that court.
Justice Balakrishnan is currently serving as the Chairman of the National Human Right Commission and several activist groups have even demanded his resignation from NHRC.
Former Supreme Court Judge Krishna Iyer , who completed 95 years last month, wants a thorough inquiry into the allegations claimed by a local Malayalam news channel, Asianet in to the assets of former CJI K.G Balakrishnan .
Asianet News had reported that Balakrishnan's son-in-law, PV Sreenijan, had amassed crores of rupees in the past four years. As a Congress candidate from the Njarackkal assembly constituency, Sreenijan in the 2006 had declared just Rs 25,000 in his bank and no land but later went on to amass property worth at least Rs 7 crore in the past four years.
Speaking at a press conference Justice Iyer said, “I myself feel sad that I was a judge. I used to say that an era had begun when K G Balakrishnan became the first Dalit chief justice. Now, I don’t feel that way”.
“The Press has disclosed now that the son-in-law and daughter have amassed wealth under suspicious circumstances indirectly due to dubious linkage with the Chief Justice. This is atrocious and must be inquired,” said Justice Krishna Iyer.
Deccan Herald has reported the growth in Sreenijan’s assets over the last four years. Sreenijan had declared he possessed no landed property and that his wife had only gold worth Rs 4.38 lakh and a little over Rs 1 lakh in cash in 2006.
Three years later, Sreenijin and his wife K B Sony, both lawyers, declared Rs 35 lakh while filing their income tax returns. However, according to reports now, the couple, who have not declared any sources of income other than their legal profession, own property worth crores and are constructing a river-front resort in Thrissur.
“We have more evidence to prove that the former CJI’s relatives have property in Dubai, Bangalore and Tamil Nadu. The needle of suspicion naturally points to Justice Balakrishnan himself,’’ said DYFI state president and MP M B Rajesh.
Justice Krishna Iyer also demanded a probe into to find the truth about Balakrishnan's statement regarding then Madras High Court chief Justice H L Gokhale's letter that a central minister had tried to influence a judge of that court.
Justice Balakrishnan is currently serving as the Chairman of the National Human Right Commission and several activist groups have even demanded his resignation from NHRC.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Three months jail term for Congress MLA
Tuesday,3 November 2009
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 3: Seven UDF activists including P.C.Vishnunath, MLA and Youth Congress former vice president M.Muneer have been sentenced to three months simple mprisonment by a court here.
The UDF activists have been sentenced in the case related to gheraong of Kerala University Pro Vice Chancellor in 2001.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 3: Seven UDF activists including P.C.Vishnunath, MLA and Youth Congress former vice president M.Muneer have been sentenced to three months simple mprisonment by a court here.
The UDF activists have been sentenced in the case related to gheraong of Kerala University Pro Vice Chancellor in 2001.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Kerala CM says governor not wrong, riles CPM
11 Jun 2009,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI: Differences within the CPM sharpened over Kerala governor R S Gavai's nod to CBI to prosecute party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday when chief minister V S Achuthanandan veered away from the party line to make light of Raj Bhavan's move against the CPM strongman.
"There have been other instances when governors, in keeping with their discretionary powers, have adopted a similar approach after studying the facts and circumstances," Achuthanandan told mediapersons after a weekly meet of the state Cabinet on Wednesday.
This contradicted CPM's official line that Gavai, a former Congressman, acted with bias. Achuthanandan's assertion is being seen as open defiance of the CPM's central leadership that rallied behind Vijayan, and marks the escalation of factional feud at a time when the party is in turmoil over its rout in the Lok Sabha polls.
An embarrassed party leadership refused to comment on the CM ploughing his factional furrow on an issue over which the party has locked horns with the rival Congress-led UDF as well as the Centre.
The aggravated fighting in CPM coincided with Centre getting ready to back the Kerala governor. The home ministry has prepared a note, based on a Supreme Court judgment of 2005, to endorse the governor's action in a move which will further strain Congress-Left ties.
However, Achuthanandan would not care less. Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, he also refused to back Kerala home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The latter had on Tuesday criticised Gavai saying he had not communicated the decision to sanction Pinarayi's prosecution to the state Cabinet even though he had given it to CBI. "The governor keeping the Cabinet in the dark could lead to a constitutional deadlock," the minister warned.
Asked about the charge, Achuthanandan said, "There's no reason to talk about all that now. The governor gave it to us. That was his duty. Once entrusted, I handled it the way I was bound to. The report was placed in the Cabinet on Wednesday so that members could see and discuss it."
Congress was quick to seize the opportunity, and its state unit spokesman M M Hassan welcomed the CM's stand and said that now he must sack the home minister who had "misinterpreted" the Constitution.
Achuthanandan's comments have embarrassed the party and left it in a quandary. Certain sources say the CPM's state leadership may still persist with a strategy to keep the governor out of important events and may even put forth the demand that he be called back.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI: Differences within the CPM sharpened over Kerala governor R S Gavai's nod to CBI to prosecute party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday when chief minister V S Achuthanandan veered away from the party line to make light of Raj Bhavan's move against the CPM strongman.
"There have been other instances when governors, in keeping with their discretionary powers, have adopted a similar approach after studying the facts and circumstances," Achuthanandan told mediapersons after a weekly meet of the state Cabinet on Wednesday.
This contradicted CPM's official line that Gavai, a former Congressman, acted with bias. Achuthanandan's assertion is being seen as open defiance of the CPM's central leadership that rallied behind Vijayan, and marks the escalation of factional feud at a time when the party is in turmoil over its rout in the Lok Sabha polls.
An embarrassed party leadership refused to comment on the CM ploughing his factional furrow on an issue over which the party has locked horns with the rival Congress-led UDF as well as the Centre.
The aggravated fighting in CPM coincided with Centre getting ready to back the Kerala governor. The home ministry has prepared a note, based on a Supreme Court judgment of 2005, to endorse the governor's action in a move which will further strain Congress-Left ties.
However, Achuthanandan would not care less. Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, he also refused to back Kerala home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. The latter had on Tuesday criticised Gavai saying he had not communicated the decision to sanction Pinarayi's prosecution to the state Cabinet even though he had given it to CBI. "The governor keeping the Cabinet in the dark could lead to a constitutional deadlock," the minister warned.
Asked about the charge, Achuthanandan said, "There's no reason to talk about all that now. The governor gave it to us. That was his duty. Once entrusted, I handled it the way I was bound to. The report was placed in the Cabinet on Wednesday so that members could see and discuss it."
Congress was quick to seize the opportunity, and its state unit spokesman M M Hassan welcomed the CM's stand and said that now he must sack the home minister who had "misinterpreted" the Constitution.
Achuthanandan's comments have embarrassed the party and left it in a quandary. Certain sources say the CPM's state leadership may still persist with a strategy to keep the governor out of important events and may even put forth the demand that he be called back.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Kerala governor gives nod to prosecute Vijayan
The investigation into was handed over to the CBI despite the government taking up the SNC Lavlin scam.to the supreme court level
Kochi: RS Gavai, Kerala governor, on Sunday gave the Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, the nod to prosecute Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPM Kerala state secretary and politburo member, in the SNC Lavlin scam.
This is overruling the Kerala cabinet decision more than a month ago not to prosecute Pinarayi after the governor had sought the cabinet opinion.
The case relates to the grant of contract to the Canadian firm SNC-Lavlin for modernization of the Pallivasal, Chengulam and Panniyar hydro-electric projects during the Left Democratic Front rule in 1998 when Pinarayi was the power minister. The Comptroller and Auditor-General, or CAG, had in its report said that the state lost Rs374.5 crore because of the deal.
The investigation into was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, despite the government taking up the issue to the supreme court level. The CBI had early this year proposed to chargesheet Pinarayi, who it named the ninth accused in the case.
Since Pinarayi was a former minister, it had to seek the consent of the governor who in turn had to get the nod from the cabinet to allow prosecution. The government had sought legal opinion from the advocate-general in the matter who ruled against prosecution which was conveyed to the governor.
The issue had become a serious point of discussion within the CPM with VS Achuthanandan, chief minister and Pinarayi’s bete noire, publicly stating on several occasions that the law should be allowed to take its own course and that the party should fight the matter both politically and legally. However, the party central leadership, even after the poll debacle in Kerala where the CPM could manage to win retain just four seats of the 20 Lok Sabha seats, had said that the Lavlin was an issue that had been discussed earlier and the party would face it politically.
It was in February 1996 during the Congress-led UDF regime that the KSEB signed an MoU with the Canadian firm for consultancy services.
But when the LDF assumed power in May the same year, Pinarayi as power minister changed the consultancy MoU to a fixed price contract for distribution of equipment and services. There were charges then that Pinarayi had a role in granting the deal to SNC-Lavlin at high rates, overlooking the low rates of state-owned BHEL. As part of the deal, the Canadian firm promised to give Rs 98 crore to the Malabar Cancer Centre at Thalassery in northern Kannur district, Pinarayi’s hometown, though the money did not come.
In 2001, an Assembly subjects committee found that the government had suffered losses on account of the agreement. The CAG report in 2005 quantified the loss at Rs374.5 crore. It had said that the entire amount spent on the renewal projects was lost as the company did not complete the renewal process and not an extra megawatt of power was generated from the three projects.
In January 2007, the Kerala high court, acting on a public interest litigation, ordered a CBI probe into the scam.
The CBI has sought the governor’s permission to file a chargesheet that accuses Vijayan and 10 others, including some officials, of receiving kickbacks for allotting a contract.
The high court had asked the state government to give its views by 11 May for which it sought the views of CP Sudhakar Prasad, the advocate-general who in his report not only gave Pinarayi a clean chit but also proposed that there need not be any prosecution proceedings.
Oommen Chandy, opposition leader, was quick to react saying that with the Governor having given permission to prosecute Pinarayi it has been proved that nobody is above the law.
Kochi: RS Gavai, Kerala governor, on Sunday gave the Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, the nod to prosecute Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPM Kerala state secretary and politburo member, in the SNC Lavlin scam.
This is overruling the Kerala cabinet decision more than a month ago not to prosecute Pinarayi after the governor had sought the cabinet opinion.
The case relates to the grant of contract to the Canadian firm SNC-Lavlin for modernization of the Pallivasal, Chengulam and Panniyar hydro-electric projects during the Left Democratic Front rule in 1998 when Pinarayi was the power minister. The Comptroller and Auditor-General, or CAG, had in its report said that the state lost Rs374.5 crore because of the deal.
The investigation into was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, despite the government taking up the issue to the supreme court level. The CBI had early this year proposed to chargesheet Pinarayi, who it named the ninth accused in the case.
Since Pinarayi was a former minister, it had to seek the consent of the governor who in turn had to get the nod from the cabinet to allow prosecution. The government had sought legal opinion from the advocate-general in the matter who ruled against prosecution which was conveyed to the governor.
The issue had become a serious point of discussion within the CPM with VS Achuthanandan, chief minister and Pinarayi’s bete noire, publicly stating on several occasions that the law should be allowed to take its own course and that the party should fight the matter both politically and legally. However, the party central leadership, even after the poll debacle in Kerala where the CPM could manage to win retain just four seats of the 20 Lok Sabha seats, had said that the Lavlin was an issue that had been discussed earlier and the party would face it politically.
It was in February 1996 during the Congress-led UDF regime that the KSEB signed an MoU with the Canadian firm for consultancy services.
But when the LDF assumed power in May the same year, Pinarayi as power minister changed the consultancy MoU to a fixed price contract for distribution of equipment and services. There were charges then that Pinarayi had a role in granting the deal to SNC-Lavlin at high rates, overlooking the low rates of state-owned BHEL. As part of the deal, the Canadian firm promised to give Rs 98 crore to the Malabar Cancer Centre at Thalassery in northern Kannur district, Pinarayi’s hometown, though the money did not come.
In 2001, an Assembly subjects committee found that the government had suffered losses on account of the agreement. The CAG report in 2005 quantified the loss at Rs374.5 crore. It had said that the entire amount spent on the renewal projects was lost as the company did not complete the renewal process and not an extra megawatt of power was generated from the three projects.
In January 2007, the Kerala high court, acting on a public interest litigation, ordered a CBI probe into the scam.
The CBI has sought the governor’s permission to file a chargesheet that accuses Vijayan and 10 others, including some officials, of receiving kickbacks for allotting a contract.
The high court had asked the state government to give its views by 11 May for which it sought the views of CP Sudhakar Prasad, the advocate-general who in his report not only gave Pinarayi a clean chit but also proposed that there need not be any prosecution proceedings.
Oommen Chandy, opposition leader, was quick to react saying that with the Governor having given permission to prosecute Pinarayi it has been proved that nobody is above the law.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
No reason for Achuthanandan to resign: CPI
10 May 2009
Alappuzha (Kerala), May 10: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who is reportedly facing pressure from within his Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to toe the party line on the Vijayan issue or quit, Sunday got support from the Communist Party of India (CPI) who said that he need not step down.
"The CPI is of the firm belief that there is no reason for Achuthanandan to resign. None has so far asked for the resignation of Achuthanandan and all what you hear is just media reports," CPI's Kerala state secretary Veliyam Bharghavan told reporters here.
Bharghavan's statement is on expected lines simply as the CPI always had a soft corner for Achuthanandan as the party too was often rubbed the wrong way by CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and his faction. The CPI had to fight hard before it got a fourth Lok Sabha seat from the state, with Vijayan and his faction reportedly opposed to its demand.
Demands for Achuthanandan's resignation were raised in the meeting of the party's 13-member state secretariat last week for not toeing the party line in the SNC Lavalin corruption case, in which Vijayan has been charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Achuthanandan had reportedly displayed hesitation in abiding by the party's directive to forward the state advocate general's report, giving a clean chit to Vijayan in the case, to Governor R.S. Gavai. However, he had finally given in.
With the entire media highlighting the news that Achuthanandan has been asked to go, the top brass of the party both in the state and in Delhi was quick to deny any demand for his resignation.
Senior CPI-M leader and Minister for Local Self Government Paloly Mohammed Kutty said that the party will settle all the issues concerning Achuthanandan.
"So far, there has been no demand for his stepping down. The criticism against Achuthanandan is another issue and the party will settle this issue through discussions," said Kutty, who the Vijayan faction sees as the likely successor to Achuthanandan as and when the need arises.
Alappuzha (Kerala), May 10: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who is reportedly facing pressure from within his Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to toe the party line on the Vijayan issue or quit, Sunday got support from the Communist Party of India (CPI) who said that he need not step down.
"The CPI is of the firm belief that there is no reason for Achuthanandan to resign. None has so far asked for the resignation of Achuthanandan and all what you hear is just media reports," CPI's Kerala state secretary Veliyam Bharghavan told reporters here.
Bharghavan's statement is on expected lines simply as the CPI always had a soft corner for Achuthanandan as the party too was often rubbed the wrong way by CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and his faction. The CPI had to fight hard before it got a fourth Lok Sabha seat from the state, with Vijayan and his faction reportedly opposed to its demand.
Demands for Achuthanandan's resignation were raised in the meeting of the party's 13-member state secretariat last week for not toeing the party line in the SNC Lavalin corruption case, in which Vijayan has been charge-sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Achuthanandan had reportedly displayed hesitation in abiding by the party's directive to forward the state advocate general's report, giving a clean chit to Vijayan in the case, to Governor R.S. Gavai. However, he had finally given in.
With the entire media highlighting the news that Achuthanandan has been asked to go, the top brass of the party both in the state and in Delhi was quick to deny any demand for his resignation.
Senior CPI-M leader and Minister for Local Self Government Paloly Mohammed Kutty said that the party will settle all the issues concerning Achuthanandan.
"So far, there has been no demand for his stepping down. The criticism against Achuthanandan is another issue and the party will settle this issue through discussions," said Kutty, who the Vijayan faction sees as the likely successor to Achuthanandan as and when the need arises.
SNC-Lavalin case: governor seeks more details
11 May 2009
Thiruvananthapuram, May 11: Kerala Governor R S Gavai has sought further clarifications from the state government on the legal opinion forwarded by state Advocate General (AG) C P Sudhakara Prasad, that there was no firm ground to grant permission to prosecute CPI(M) state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the SNC-Lavalin case.
The legal opinion from the AG, the minutes of the cabinet decision in the case, forwarded by the state government and the related documents and reports received from CBI were being examined in detail, a Raj Bhavan press release said here.
The clarifications sought for are awaited from the government, it said, adding that an appropriate decision would be taken as stipulated in the Constitutional provisions, after considering all aspects.
The statement was issued in the wake of the "conflicting news and views appearing in the media" in relation to the matter of granting sanction to prosecute Vijayan in the case, it said.
The SNC-Lavalin case relates to alleged corruption in awarding of contract for renovation of three hydro power stations in 1997 to Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, when Vijayan was state Power Minister.
Four months back, CBI had written to Governor, seeking permission to prosecute Vijayan, who in turn, referred the matter to the state government.
Considering the political ramifications, the government had referred the matter to the Advocate General.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 11: Kerala Governor R S Gavai has sought further clarifications from the state government on the legal opinion forwarded by state Advocate General (AG) C P Sudhakara Prasad, that there was no firm ground to grant permission to prosecute CPI(M) state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the SNC-Lavalin case.
The legal opinion from the AG, the minutes of the cabinet decision in the case, forwarded by the state government and the related documents and reports received from CBI were being examined in detail, a Raj Bhavan press release said here.
The clarifications sought for are awaited from the government, it said, adding that an appropriate decision would be taken as stipulated in the Constitutional provisions, after considering all aspects.
The statement was issued in the wake of the "conflicting news and views appearing in the media" in relation to the matter of granting sanction to prosecute Vijayan in the case, it said.
The SNC-Lavalin case relates to alleged corruption in awarding of contract for renovation of three hydro power stations in 1997 to Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, when Vijayan was state Power Minister.
Four months back, CBI had written to Governor, seeking permission to prosecute Vijayan, who in turn, referred the matter to the state government.
Considering the political ramifications, the government had referred the matter to the Advocate General.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Kerala govt not to prosecute Vijayan in Lavlain case
6 May 2009, PTI
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF-led Kerala government today accepted the Advocate General's advice against granting permission to prosecute former minister and CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC Lavlain corruption case.
According to LDF sources, the cabinet formulated its view in the matter based on the opinion given last week by AG Sudhakaran Prasad that there was no firm ground to prosecute Vijayan.
Meanwhile, Congress-led UDF today called a strike tomorrow in protest against the government decision.
After the cabinet meeting today, chief minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters that the government had formed its opinion on the issue and the governor would be informed of it. He, however, declined to reveal the content of the communication to be sent to the governor.
"We have taken our decision on the issue. But I don't intend to share it with media," Achuthanandan said.
CBI, which investigated the case, sought the permission of Governor R S Gavai to prosecute Vijayan and two officials. CBI sought to arraign the former minister as ninth accused.
The politically-sensitive case pertained to alleged corruption in awarding contract to Canadian firm SNC Lavalin for renovation of three hydro power stations when Vijayan was power minister in 1997.
CBI said it found ground for prosecuting Vijayan stating that he was involved in a conspiracy with others for clinching the deal which resulted in a big loss to the state
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF-led Kerala government today accepted the Advocate General's advice against granting permission to prosecute former minister and CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC Lavlain corruption case.
According to LDF sources, the cabinet formulated its view in the matter based on the opinion given last week by AG Sudhakaran Prasad that there was no firm ground to prosecute Vijayan.
Meanwhile, Congress-led UDF today called a strike tomorrow in protest against the government decision.
After the cabinet meeting today, chief minister V S Achuthanandan told reporters that the government had formed its opinion on the issue and the governor would be informed of it. He, however, declined to reveal the content of the communication to be sent to the governor.
"We have taken our decision on the issue. But I don't intend to share it with media," Achuthanandan said.
CBI, which investigated the case, sought the permission of Governor R S Gavai to prosecute Vijayan and two officials. CBI sought to arraign the former minister as ninth accused.
The politically-sensitive case pertained to alleged corruption in awarding contract to Canadian firm SNC Lavalin for renovation of three hydro power stations when Vijayan was power minister in 1997.
CBI said it found ground for prosecuting Vijayan stating that he was involved in a conspiracy with others for clinching the deal which resulted in a big loss to the state
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Full text of BJP manifesto
4 Apr 2009,
For stability & security India needs a decisive leader
A quirk of fate brought the Congress to power at the Centre in the summer of 2004. The United Progressive Alliance that it put together, which was able to secure parliamentary majority with the help of the Left parties, has shown remarkable lack of cohesiveness with individual Ministers representing the Congress’ allies running their allotted Ministries like their personal fiefdom. This was a Government totally divorced from the twin principles of collective responsibility and accountability.
The nation was thus burdened with a Prime Minister who was in office but not in power; and, a Government that was in power but not in authority. This was supposed to be a Government that would work for the welfare of the aam admi – the common man. As it prepares to exit office after five years, the government has nothing to show by way of extending a ‘hand’ to the aam admi.
This Government will be remembered for four things. It was headed by the weakest Prime Minister the country has ever had. Its reversal of NDA’s policies has led to a mounting sense of insecurity fuelled by repeated terrorist attacks, Maoist insurgency and separatist violence which together have claimed hundreds of innocent lives. Its gross mismanagement of the economy has caused inflation, job losses and lockouts. And, it has shielded corruption at high places by misusing agencies of the state, namely the CBI.
The Congress has tried to whitewash its terrible record on the national security front, especially its abysmal failure to protect citizens from terrorism, by making cosmetic changes in antiquated laws. This is clearly not enough. It has sought to gloss over the increasing cost of food, which is eight per cent higher than in 2008, and many times more than in 2004, by projecting misleading statistics.
Lakhs of people in the unorganised sector have lost their jobs over the past year. Skilled workers are losing their jobs in the organised sector. This is far worse than unemployment because it impoverishes families dependent on assured income and dampens the national spirit.
The worst hit are India’s youth, especially those who are looking forward to enter the job market. The Congress-led UPA Government has gifted them with a bleak future. As for the poor, they feel abandoned by the Congress-led regime. The much-publicised National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme has turned out to be as much a flop as all other schemes of the Government. It is a telling comment on the UPA’s performance that a whopping 55 million people have been pushed below the poverty line over the past five years. This is according to a study by the Indian Statistical Institute, based on data collated by the National Sample Survey Organisation; the real figure could be much higher.
In rural India, thousands of farmers have committee suicide to escape the burden of mounting debt and grinding poverty. They are victims of Government apathy.
An equally damning indictment of the Congress-led UPA regime is galloping urban poverty. An estimated 23.7 per cent of the population in cities and towns lives in slums, according to ‘India: Urban Poverty Report, 2009’, amid squalor, crime, disease and tension.
Such glaring deprivation and denial, such rising numbers of people below the poverty line, contradict this nation’s aspirations. They are obstacles to India’s emergence as a great power and need to be removed through remedial Government intervention.
The stability of the NDA years helped India to prosper. The drift of the UPA years has put India in reverse gear. The BJP will restore the stability which India desperately needs.
The BJP, immediately upon coming to power, will address the key issues of security and economy. It will resume the employment-generating, prosperity-creating policies of the NDA government headed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, through massive investments in infrastructure projects, by nursing agriculture back to health, and by making credit easily accessible to industry, while ensuring the safety and security of all people from the depredations of terrorists.
India today faces a severe crisis of leadership. The nation needs determined and decisive leader who has the capacity, commitment and conviction to take command of the situation and lead from the front. The country needs a leader who can restore Government’s credibility and the people’s confidence in themselves. The polity needs a leader who values consensus over conflict, consultation over confrontation. Then alone can good governance replace the all-round failure of the Congress.
That leader is LK Advani.
Shri Advani has an exemplary record of service to the nation covering over six decades. A leader of impeccable integrity, he was one of the chief crusaders for democracy during the Emergency (1975-77) and spent 19 months in jail. He led the Ayodhya movement, the biggest mass movement in India since Independence, and initiated a powerful debate on cultural nationalism and the true meaning of secularism. Along with Shri Vajpayee, he was the principal architect of the BJP’s triumph, as the head of the National Democratic Alliance, in forming a stable and successful non-Congress coalition Government at the Centre (1998-2004). As India’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, he ably assisted Shri Vajpayee in steering the ship of the nation through difficult waters.
The BJP is proud that it is seeking the people’s mandate in the 2009 general election, along with its allies in the NDA, under the leadership of Shri Advani. The BJP is contesting the 2009 15th Lok Sabha election on a Manifesto that commits the party to an agenda for change guided by three goals: Good governance, development and security.
Our focus will be on the nation’s youth, on addressing their concerns and helping them achieve their aspirations. We will lay emphasis on empowerment through excellence by providing quality education. We will ensure the security of life and property. Reviving the economy, re-orienting it towards agriculture, rural development, and unorganised and informal sectors; creating adequate employment opportunities for the youth; pushing back the price line; and, investing heavily in infrastructure projects are at the top of our agenda.
The BJP believes that after five years of drift and missed opportunities, the time has come for a Government that works, a Government that cares. Our primary concern will be India’s rapid, inclusive, equitable and all-embracing development and stable growth that benefits the largest number of people. We will invest in rural development; we will ensure higher agricultural productivity and guarantee an assured income to farmers; and, we will protect the livelihood of the masses while creating myriad opportunities of gainful employment.
National security: Fear shall no longer stalk this land
The last five years have been a nightmare for the people of this country as terrorists, separatists and insurgents have led the effete UPA Government on a macabre dance of death and destruction. From the daring attack on Delhi on the eve of Diwali in 2005 to the fidayeen raid on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, from the horrendous bombings in Hyderabad (including at Mecca Masjid), Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Guwahati to the slaughter of worshippers at Sankat Mochan Temple in Banaras, the terrorists have struck repeatedly with impunity as the Prime Minister spent sleepless nights agonising over the plight of terror suspects and eagerly offered to reward the kith and kin of terrorists killed in action.
The UPA began its tenure by dismantling the anti-terror regime put together by the BJP-led NDA Government: The Prevention of Terrorism Act was scrapped; investigations were halted; and, prosecution was slowed down. The mastermind behind the daring attack on Parliament House, Mohammed Afzal Guru, was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court after being prosecuted under POTA. But a dissolute Government headed by an irresolute Prime Minister has failed to carry out the execution, sending out a clear message to India’s enemies: They shall not be punished till such time the Congress is in power.
It is, therefore, not surprising that terrorists should have repeatedly attacked our cities, leaving behind a bloody trail of death and destruction. Delhi, the nation’s capital, and Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, have been hit twice, as has been Bangalore, India’s technology capital. As if the bombings of the commuter trains were not enough, the ISI despatched fidayeen for a multiple strike on Mumbai which began on November 26, 2008, and lasted for more than 60 hours. Never before has India been seen to be so helpless in the face of terror.
Terrorism sponsored by Pakistani agencies is only one of the reasons behind the fear that grips the people in cities, towns and villages. The life and limb of the aam admi is equally in danger on account of Maoists who have expanded their theatre of violence to 156 districts across 13 States. The inter-State coordination mechanism put in place by the NDA Government has been dismantled and State Governments have been virtually left to fend for themselves in the face of mounting Maoist hostility. In Jammu & Kashmir, separatists continue to use the services of Pakistani terrorists to promote their agenda of relentless violence. In the North-East, insurgents have remorselessly killed and maimed innocent people. The situation in Assam is particularly of concern as the ULFA, which had been all but smashed during the NDA years, has regrouped and rearmed its cadres, and unleashed a relentless wave of terror. The Congress State Government has done nothing to either prevent this violence or punish ULFA; instead, unconditional talks have been offered to the killers!
Internal security is also imperilled by unchecked illegal immigration across our eastern border. The vulnerability of these illegal immigrants has been time and again exploited by the ISI and its jihadi front organisations as well as local terror cells to carry out bombings and provide logistical support to foreign terrorists. The Supreme Court has described illegal immigration as an act of ‘external aggression’ while striking down the IMDT Act. But the Congress, both at the Centre and in Assam, has tried to circumvent the Supreme Court’s judgement through executive orders. The Gauhati High Court last year lashed out at the State Government for doing nothing to stop the illegal immigration. The High Court highlighted how a Pakistani, who had entered Assam via Bangladesh, contested Assembly elections unchallenged. Vote-bank politics has not only changed the demography of vast stretches of eastern and North-East India but also eroded the authority of the state. India is sitting on a tinderbox. The consequences of this unabated illegal immigration are bound to be disastrous.
In its dying days, the UPA Government has tried to fool the people by tampering with outdated laws and setting up a National Investigating Agency to fight terror. But such half-hearted efforts to calm anger and disquiet following the 26/11 outrage are neither enough nor the right approach to tacking the menace of terrorism.
The BJP will initiate the following measures within 100 days of coming to power:
1. Revive the anti-terror mechanism that has been dismantled by the Congress; improve upon POTA to ensure it is more effective as an instrument of deterrence and a tool to prosecute offenders without innocent people being harassed; and, strengthen the operational role of the National Investigating Agency.
2. Give assent to laws drafted by State Governments for dealing with organised crime and terrorism; encourage other State Governments to adopt similar laws.
3. Launch a massive programme to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants.
4. Completely revamp the internal and external intelligence agencies and review the existing system of coordination, convergence and dissemination of intelligence inputs. A massive exercise will be undertaken to modernise intelligence agencies so that they are better equipped to use technology and cope with the rapidly changing trends and patterns of terrorism at home and abroad. The National Security Council will be made the hub of all sector-related assessments. It will be accountable for real-time intelligence dissemination; intelligence agencies will be held responsible for lapses. Appointments to intelligence agencies will be on merit and not because of political patronage as has been the system during the Congress years.
5. A Digital Security Agency will be set up to deal with cyber warfare, cyber counterterrorism, and cyber security of national digital assets.
6. State Governments will be provided with all assistance to modernise their respective police forces and equip them with the latest weaponry and communications technology.
This will be done on a mission mode approach. The police are the first responders to any crisis situation. Drawing lessons from experience, police forces will be trained and fully equipped to deal with situations similar to that of Mumbai and in meeting the challenge posed by Maoists and insurgents.
7. Border management will be reviewed and improved. Punitive measures will be introduced to block illegal immigration.
8. India’s vast coastline is virtually unprotected. Coastal security will be strengthened for better patrolling of Indian waters and preventing terrorists from taking the sea route to enter India. A National Maritime Authority will be set up to coordinate coastal security.
9. Special courts will be set up for speedy prosecution of those involved with acts of terrorism. Their trial shall be fair and justice will be done to the victims swiftly.
10. Coercive measures, including diplomacy, will be used to deal with countries which promote cross-border terrorism. India will engage with the world in the global war on terror while not compromising on its domestic interests, primarily protecting citizens from the ravages of terrorism.
11. The Centre will facilitate better inter-State coordination and real-time intelligence-sharing, apart from helping States to raise anti-insurgency forces, to face the threat posed by Maoists. The ‘Chhattisgarh Model’ will be used for counter-Maoist operations. At the same time, every effort will be made to address the social and economic issues that make the ground fertile for Left-wing extremism.
12. Any talks with insurgent groups will be conditional and within the framework of the Constitution. The BJP will send out a simple message, loud and clear, to terrorists and their sponsors: They will have to pay a heavy price for each innocent life lost. Retribution will be swift and exemplary. The authority of the state, which has been diminished by the Congress in pursuit of vote-bank politics, shall be restored.
National Identity Cards for All: The BJP will launch an innovative programme to establish a countrywide system of multi-purpose national identity cards so as to ensure national security, correct welfare delivery, accurate tax collection, financial inclusion and voter registration. Voter identity cards, PAN cards, passports, ration cards and BPL cards are already in use though not all with photo identity. The NDA proposes to make it incumbent for every Indian to have a National Identity Card. The programme will be completed in three years.
The National Identity Card will contain enough memory and processing capabilities to run multiple applications. Through it the NDA will ensure efficient welfare delivery and tax collection. The card will also be linked to a bank account. All welfare payments, including widow and old age pensions, through the wide range of schemes such as Mother and Child support/ Kisan Credit, Students Assistance and Micro-Credit will be channelised through the National Identity Card. The card will make it possible for individuals to save and borrow money; for farmers to get bank credit, also establish accurate land titles data.
The National Identity Card will also strengthen national security by ensuring accurate citizen identity, thus tracking illegal immigration. All financial transactions, purchase of property and access to public services will be possible only on the basis of the National Identity Card which will be made forgery and hacking resistant.
Engaging the world: India’s voice shall be heard
The BJP believes a resurgent India must get its rightful place in the comity of nations and international institutions. The BJP also believes in a multi-polar world with no nation having overriding powers over others. Towards this end, the BJP in power will engage in meaningful diplomacy with nations across the world on equal terms. The BJP’s foreign policy will be based on the principle of enlightened self-interest.
The BJP desires good relations between India and the USA and will strengthen the India US strategic partnership on the principle of equality. But we will not compromise on either India’s national interest or relations with another friendly country. The BJP will restore the balance that has been disturbed by the UPA Government.
India’s traditional relations with Russia and the Central Asian Republics will be refashioned to keep pace with current realities and derive maximum mutual advantage.
We will pursue friendly relations with the European Union, West Asian countries and South-East Asian nations. It will further strengthen relations with Arab countries and pursue enhanced cooperation with Israel – the two are not inter-linked and both are beneficial for India.
The dialogue process of solving the outstanding border dispute with China, which was initiated by the NDA Government under Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership, will be revived. We believe that both India and China can prosper and rise together; increased economic cooperation can contribute to this.
India has a special role to play in the Indian Ocean region and we will pursue this vigorously. The BJP believes in forging enduring friendly and cooperative relations with India’s neighbours. We also believe that political stability, progress and peace in India’s neighbourhood are essential for South Asia’s growth and development: SAARC is a good platform to promote these goals.
But the BJP will be guided solely by national interest while dealing with India’s neighbours. Towards this end, its decisions and actions in power will be determined by the following:
Pakistan: There can be no ‘comprehensive dialogue’ for peace unless Pakistan a) dismantles the terrorist infrastructure on territory under its control; b) actively engages in prosecuting terror elements and organisations; c) puts a permanent, verifiable end to its practice of using cross-border terrorism as an instrument of state policy; d) stops using the territory of third countries to launch terror attacks on India; and, e) hands over to India individuals wanted for committing crimes on Indian soil.
Nepal: The BJP will re-craft India’s Nepal policy to rid it of the UPA’s biases that have influenced India’s response to events in Nepal with which our country shares a common civilisational and cultural history. India-Nepal relations must be based on friendship, mutual cooperation and harmony of interests. Towards this end, existing arrangements will be reviewed and revised bearing in mind mutual interests and benefits on the basis of dialogue. The BJP would like to see Nepal emerge as a stable, prosperous country, and will strive to strengthen age-old fraternal ties.
Bhutan: Existing close relations with Bhutan will be strengthened.
Bangladesh: The BJP will pro-actively engage the Government of Bangladesh on issues of mutual assistance and benefit. A friendly Government in Dhaka is in India’s interest.
Sri Lanka: The BJP believes that Sri Lanka has the right to deal with terrorism on its soil. At the same time, the political, economic and human rights of Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority community must be protected by the Government in Colombo. The BJP will pursue a robust relationship with Sri Lanka and regain the initiative that has been lost during the last five years.
Afghanistan: The BJP believes that India has an important role in helping the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their country and stabilise their society, as well as secure their lives from the depredations of the Taliban operating from Pakistani sanctuaries. The BJP will further build upon India-Afghanistan relations and work in close association with the international community to ensure a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan.
Mother India’s Children Abroad: The BJP will maintain close contacts with people of Indian origin who have settled on foreign shores. It has been the consistent policy of the BJP to promote the interests of people of Indian origin living abroad. During the NDA years, special efforts were made to revive and revitalise the ties between Pravasi Bharatiyas and their ancestral land by institutionalising the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, honouring achievers and introducing the PIO card. Those efforts will be given a further boost.
Defending India: No compromise, no concession
The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy need to be strengthened in view of rapidly changing regional and global realities. Tragically, the services have been ignored by the Congress and failure to address the concerns of the Army, Air Force and Navy has bred undesirable discontent. The BJP will address all pending issues immediately. It will be guided by the following solemn commitments while dealing with the defence of India:
1. The long-pending acquisition of military hardware will be expedited through absolutely transparent means in a time-bound manner.
2. Budget allocations for defence forces will be spent without being allowed to lapse. The criminal negligence of the defence forces by the UPA Government has resulted in nearly Rs 24,000 crore by way of budgetary allocations being allowed to lapse over five years. This not only endangers the lives of our soldiers but also the security of the nation.
3. Our forces are performing a service to the nation and deserve better pay and privileges.
Towards this end, the BJP is committed to the following measures:
a. The pending issues of pay and privileges will be revisited and resolved to the satisfaction of the defence forces. The modalities for setting up a separate Pay
Commission for the forces will be expedited;
b. All personnel of the Army, Air Force and Navy, as also paramilitary forces, will be exempt from paying income tax on their salaries and perquisites;
c. The honorarium for winners of gallantry awards like Pram Vir Chakra, which is abysmally low at Rs 500 to Rs 3,000, will be increased ten-fold to Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.
This will be done with retrospective effect; the honorarium will be tax free.
d. The principle of one rank, one pension will be implemented;
e. Incentive-based steps will be taken to make joining the defence services an exciting proposition for young men and women to overcome the shortage of officers; and,
f. Incentives will be offered to State Governments for ensuring honourable settlement of retired personnel of the defence services.
4. The present shortage of defence personnel at all levels will be met by making the Services an attractive career option. This would include competitive pay and privileges, and pension benefits. This task will be completed in a time-bound manner. 5. The capacities of Defence Research and Development Organisation will be enhanced. The PPP route will be explored for conventional defence production bearing in mind the nation’s needs and to make India a competitive player in the global market by 2020.
Independent strategic nuclear programme: We will assert India’s sovereignty
The BJP believes that India’s strategic nuclear programme has been deeply compromised by the Congress. The gains of Pokhran-II and subsequent development have been frittered away for gains that have accrued to those who wish to see India’s nuclear programme to be contained, rolled back and eventually dismantled.
The BJP will reverse this drift. India’s indigenous thorium technology programme will be expedited and given all financial assistance, correcting the grievous wrong done by the UPA Government. India needs nuclear energy, but not at the cost of our national strategic interests. The Congress has fooled the people of India by selling the over-hyped India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement as an absolute necessity and how it will help light up people’s homes. It has done so by suppressing two crucial facts. First, as the CAG has pointed out, the UPA Government did not make the smallest effort to tap India’s own nuclear fuel supplies. Had it done so, our reactors would have produced many times more power than at present. Second, nuclear power is tremendously expensive and not affordable for the aam admi. The India-US nuclear deal, in the final analysis, is not about empowering India but disempowering India by making us dependent on American supplies and tying us to discriminatory regimes from which Pakistan is free.
The BJP will honour India’s commitments to prevent proliferation. But it will pursue an independent nuclear policy based on the following:
1. All options will be kept open and all steps will be taken that are necessary for the technological advancement of India’s civil and military nuclear programmes.
2. Maintain a credible minimum deterrent that is in tune with changing realities.
3. Seek cross-party consensus before agreeing to any control regime, including CTBT, FMCR and MTCR.
In view of the uncalled for and regrettable secrecy with which the Congress and the Prime Minister dealt with the India-US nuclear deal, the BJP proposes to introduce an amendment to the Constitution to make it mandatory for Government to seek Parliament’s approval/ratification by two-thirds majority before signing any bilateral or multilateral agreement that impinges on India’s strategic programmes, territorial integrity and economic interest.
Food security: We will make India hunger-free
The BJP views food security as integral to national security. The spectre of a looming food crisis haunts the developing world as never before. With the agriculture sector suffering on account of the Congress’ gross negligence, India faces a real threat of food scarcity. With India becoming a net importer of food under Congress rule, there is genuine concern about food security. Three factors have contributed to increasing food scarcity and the resultant sense of growing insecurity among the masses. First, the real income of workers and farmers has not kept pace with the rising cost of food, thus reducing their purchasing power. Second, the public distribution system has been severely crippled by the Congress-led Government which has been more interested in importing food grains and selling them at a high price than in securing the needs of the people. Third, with an additional 55 million people pushed below the poverty line over the last five years, there is widespread malnourishment. The economic recession has only worsened the situation and made it grimmer, especially for workers in the unorganised sector.
The BJP believes people have the right to food. To ensure food security for all and eliminate hunger, we will:
1. Provide 35 kg of rice or wheat every month to BPL families at Rs 2 per kg under an improved and expanded Antyodaya Anna Yojana. This will be available against ‘Food Coupons’ redeemable at both PDS and private outlets.
2. Allocate more funds for expanding, universalising and improving the functioning of the Public Distribution System.
3. Preventing families from slipping below the poverty line.
4. Setting up community kitchens in extremely impoverished areas with the help of NGOs through shared funding.
5. Aggressively addressing the problem of widespread malnutrition, especially by expanding the scope of the existing mid-day meal scheme.
6. Encouraging the production of cereals and discouraging the conversion of fertile farm land for dubious industrial projects.
7. Ensuring a sufficient level of food stocks are maintained to meet any exigencies due to possible global food crisis which could be severely debilitating and make imports prohibitively expensive, if not impossible.
Energy security: We will protect India from future crises
India cannot afford to lose any more time on securing its energy requirements. The Congress’s response to this issue has been episodic at best, often resulting in India failing to secure its energy interests even as other countries in the neighbourhood, most notably China, have spared no effort to single-mindedly pursue the goal of securing their energy needs for the present and future.
At present India is largely dependent on imported oil and gas to meet its energy demands, especially demand for power although our per capita power consumption is only a sixth of the world average. Sixty-seven per cent of our power supply comes from fossil fuels, of which 70 per cent is imported. With market fluctuation and manipulation, as it happened in 2008, this makes us vulnerable to external factors.
The BJP proposes to invest heavily in developing non-fossil fuel-based clean energy sources, especially for electricity production. Our goal will be to add at least 120,000 MW of power over the next five years, with 20 per cent of it coming from renewable sources. Similar emphasis will be placed on developing alternatives to petrol and diesel to lessen the burden of imported oil and gas as well as meet the challenges of climate change.
Adequate support will be extended for developing hybrid technologies and their applications. There will be special emphasis on developing renewal energy sources, especially solar energy, wind energy and run-on-the-river technology, and bio-fuel. Innovation will be rewarded.
Impetus will be provided for the production of non-conventional energy by enabling people and firms to bank it in the power grid and draw it at the time of their need.
----------------------
India's BJP offers tax cuts, tough Pakistan policy
Fri Apr 3, 2009
NEW DELHI, April 3 (Reuters) - India's main Hindu-nationalist opposition party promised low taxes and interest rates to revive a slowing economy and a tough posture on Pakistan in an election manifesto on Friday aimed at boosting its poll ratings.
The Bharatiya Janata Party also promised to retrieve Indian money illegally stashed abroad, generate employment through massive infrastructure projects and give cheaper farm loans to cushion Indians from the global financial crisis.
It said it would cut housing interest rates, give tax exemption to citizens above the age of 60 and also waive personal income tax for hundreds of thousands of defence personnel and pensioners.
"We are giving a message to our voters that if you give us an opportunity then whatever we do we will do with honesty," the party's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani said.
The BJP said India will resume peace talks with Pakistan only after Islamabad dismantled the "terrorist infrastructure" on its soil. "Without that there can be no comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan," spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The party has accused the ruling Congress party in the past of being soft on national security, sharpening the criticism in the wake of the Mumbai attacks in November blamed on a Pakistan-based guerrilla group.
The BJP-led opposition alliance trails in most opinion polls for the month-long election beginning on April 13 and is struggling to find allies in potentially swing states.
For stability & security India needs a decisive leader
A quirk of fate brought the Congress to power at the Centre in the summer of 2004. The United Progressive Alliance that it put together, which was able to secure parliamentary majority with the help of the Left parties, has shown remarkable lack of cohesiveness with individual Ministers representing the Congress’ allies running their allotted Ministries like their personal fiefdom. This was a Government totally divorced from the twin principles of collective responsibility and accountability.
The nation was thus burdened with a Prime Minister who was in office but not in power; and, a Government that was in power but not in authority. This was supposed to be a Government that would work for the welfare of the aam admi – the common man. As it prepares to exit office after five years, the government has nothing to show by way of extending a ‘hand’ to the aam admi.
This Government will be remembered for four things. It was headed by the weakest Prime Minister the country has ever had. Its reversal of NDA’s policies has led to a mounting sense of insecurity fuelled by repeated terrorist attacks, Maoist insurgency and separatist violence which together have claimed hundreds of innocent lives. Its gross mismanagement of the economy has caused inflation, job losses and lockouts. And, it has shielded corruption at high places by misusing agencies of the state, namely the CBI.
The Congress has tried to whitewash its terrible record on the national security front, especially its abysmal failure to protect citizens from terrorism, by making cosmetic changes in antiquated laws. This is clearly not enough. It has sought to gloss over the increasing cost of food, which is eight per cent higher than in 2008, and many times more than in 2004, by projecting misleading statistics.
Lakhs of people in the unorganised sector have lost their jobs over the past year. Skilled workers are losing their jobs in the organised sector. This is far worse than unemployment because it impoverishes families dependent on assured income and dampens the national spirit.
The worst hit are India’s youth, especially those who are looking forward to enter the job market. The Congress-led UPA Government has gifted them with a bleak future. As for the poor, they feel abandoned by the Congress-led regime. The much-publicised National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme has turned out to be as much a flop as all other schemes of the Government. It is a telling comment on the UPA’s performance that a whopping 55 million people have been pushed below the poverty line over the past five years. This is according to a study by the Indian Statistical Institute, based on data collated by the National Sample Survey Organisation; the real figure could be much higher.
In rural India, thousands of farmers have committee suicide to escape the burden of mounting debt and grinding poverty. They are victims of Government apathy.
An equally damning indictment of the Congress-led UPA regime is galloping urban poverty. An estimated 23.7 per cent of the population in cities and towns lives in slums, according to ‘India: Urban Poverty Report, 2009’, amid squalor, crime, disease and tension.
Such glaring deprivation and denial, such rising numbers of people below the poverty line, contradict this nation’s aspirations. They are obstacles to India’s emergence as a great power and need to be removed through remedial Government intervention.
The stability of the NDA years helped India to prosper. The drift of the UPA years has put India in reverse gear. The BJP will restore the stability which India desperately needs.
The BJP, immediately upon coming to power, will address the key issues of security and economy. It will resume the employment-generating, prosperity-creating policies of the NDA government headed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, through massive investments in infrastructure projects, by nursing agriculture back to health, and by making credit easily accessible to industry, while ensuring the safety and security of all people from the depredations of terrorists.
India today faces a severe crisis of leadership. The nation needs determined and decisive leader who has the capacity, commitment and conviction to take command of the situation and lead from the front. The country needs a leader who can restore Government’s credibility and the people’s confidence in themselves. The polity needs a leader who values consensus over conflict, consultation over confrontation. Then alone can good governance replace the all-round failure of the Congress.
That leader is LK Advani.
Shri Advani has an exemplary record of service to the nation covering over six decades. A leader of impeccable integrity, he was one of the chief crusaders for democracy during the Emergency (1975-77) and spent 19 months in jail. He led the Ayodhya movement, the biggest mass movement in India since Independence, and initiated a powerful debate on cultural nationalism and the true meaning of secularism. Along with Shri Vajpayee, he was the principal architect of the BJP’s triumph, as the head of the National Democratic Alliance, in forming a stable and successful non-Congress coalition Government at the Centre (1998-2004). As India’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, he ably assisted Shri Vajpayee in steering the ship of the nation through difficult waters.
The BJP is proud that it is seeking the people’s mandate in the 2009 general election, along with its allies in the NDA, under the leadership of Shri Advani. The BJP is contesting the 2009 15th Lok Sabha election on a Manifesto that commits the party to an agenda for change guided by three goals: Good governance, development and security.
Our focus will be on the nation’s youth, on addressing their concerns and helping them achieve their aspirations. We will lay emphasis on empowerment through excellence by providing quality education. We will ensure the security of life and property. Reviving the economy, re-orienting it towards agriculture, rural development, and unorganised and informal sectors; creating adequate employment opportunities for the youth; pushing back the price line; and, investing heavily in infrastructure projects are at the top of our agenda.
The BJP believes that after five years of drift and missed opportunities, the time has come for a Government that works, a Government that cares. Our primary concern will be India’s rapid, inclusive, equitable and all-embracing development and stable growth that benefits the largest number of people. We will invest in rural development; we will ensure higher agricultural productivity and guarantee an assured income to farmers; and, we will protect the livelihood of the masses while creating myriad opportunities of gainful employment.
National security: Fear shall no longer stalk this land
The last five years have been a nightmare for the people of this country as terrorists, separatists and insurgents have led the effete UPA Government on a macabre dance of death and destruction. From the daring attack on Delhi on the eve of Diwali in 2005 to the fidayeen raid on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, from the horrendous bombings in Hyderabad (including at Mecca Masjid), Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Guwahati to the slaughter of worshippers at Sankat Mochan Temple in Banaras, the terrorists have struck repeatedly with impunity as the Prime Minister spent sleepless nights agonising over the plight of terror suspects and eagerly offered to reward the kith and kin of terrorists killed in action.
The UPA began its tenure by dismantling the anti-terror regime put together by the BJP-led NDA Government: The Prevention of Terrorism Act was scrapped; investigations were halted; and, prosecution was slowed down. The mastermind behind the daring attack on Parliament House, Mohammed Afzal Guru, was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court after being prosecuted under POTA. But a dissolute Government headed by an irresolute Prime Minister has failed to carry out the execution, sending out a clear message to India’s enemies: They shall not be punished till such time the Congress is in power.
It is, therefore, not surprising that terrorists should have repeatedly attacked our cities, leaving behind a bloody trail of death and destruction. Delhi, the nation’s capital, and Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, have been hit twice, as has been Bangalore, India’s technology capital. As if the bombings of the commuter trains were not enough, the ISI despatched fidayeen for a multiple strike on Mumbai which began on November 26, 2008, and lasted for more than 60 hours. Never before has India been seen to be so helpless in the face of terror.
Terrorism sponsored by Pakistani agencies is only one of the reasons behind the fear that grips the people in cities, towns and villages. The life and limb of the aam admi is equally in danger on account of Maoists who have expanded their theatre of violence to 156 districts across 13 States. The inter-State coordination mechanism put in place by the NDA Government has been dismantled and State Governments have been virtually left to fend for themselves in the face of mounting Maoist hostility. In Jammu & Kashmir, separatists continue to use the services of Pakistani terrorists to promote their agenda of relentless violence. In the North-East, insurgents have remorselessly killed and maimed innocent people. The situation in Assam is particularly of concern as the ULFA, which had been all but smashed during the NDA years, has regrouped and rearmed its cadres, and unleashed a relentless wave of terror. The Congress State Government has done nothing to either prevent this violence or punish ULFA; instead, unconditional talks have been offered to the killers!
Internal security is also imperilled by unchecked illegal immigration across our eastern border. The vulnerability of these illegal immigrants has been time and again exploited by the ISI and its jihadi front organisations as well as local terror cells to carry out bombings and provide logistical support to foreign terrorists. The Supreme Court has described illegal immigration as an act of ‘external aggression’ while striking down the IMDT Act. But the Congress, both at the Centre and in Assam, has tried to circumvent the Supreme Court’s judgement through executive orders. The Gauhati High Court last year lashed out at the State Government for doing nothing to stop the illegal immigration. The High Court highlighted how a Pakistani, who had entered Assam via Bangladesh, contested Assembly elections unchallenged. Vote-bank politics has not only changed the demography of vast stretches of eastern and North-East India but also eroded the authority of the state. India is sitting on a tinderbox. The consequences of this unabated illegal immigration are bound to be disastrous.
In its dying days, the UPA Government has tried to fool the people by tampering with outdated laws and setting up a National Investigating Agency to fight terror. But such half-hearted efforts to calm anger and disquiet following the 26/11 outrage are neither enough nor the right approach to tacking the menace of terrorism.
The BJP will initiate the following measures within 100 days of coming to power:
1. Revive the anti-terror mechanism that has been dismantled by the Congress; improve upon POTA to ensure it is more effective as an instrument of deterrence and a tool to prosecute offenders without innocent people being harassed; and, strengthen the operational role of the National Investigating Agency.
2. Give assent to laws drafted by State Governments for dealing with organised crime and terrorism; encourage other State Governments to adopt similar laws.
3. Launch a massive programme to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants.
4. Completely revamp the internal and external intelligence agencies and review the existing system of coordination, convergence and dissemination of intelligence inputs. A massive exercise will be undertaken to modernise intelligence agencies so that they are better equipped to use technology and cope with the rapidly changing trends and patterns of terrorism at home and abroad. The National Security Council will be made the hub of all sector-related assessments. It will be accountable for real-time intelligence dissemination; intelligence agencies will be held responsible for lapses. Appointments to intelligence agencies will be on merit and not because of political patronage as has been the system during the Congress years.
5. A Digital Security Agency will be set up to deal with cyber warfare, cyber counterterrorism, and cyber security of national digital assets.
6. State Governments will be provided with all assistance to modernise their respective police forces and equip them with the latest weaponry and communications technology.
This will be done on a mission mode approach. The police are the first responders to any crisis situation. Drawing lessons from experience, police forces will be trained and fully equipped to deal with situations similar to that of Mumbai and in meeting the challenge posed by Maoists and insurgents.
7. Border management will be reviewed and improved. Punitive measures will be introduced to block illegal immigration.
8. India’s vast coastline is virtually unprotected. Coastal security will be strengthened for better patrolling of Indian waters and preventing terrorists from taking the sea route to enter India. A National Maritime Authority will be set up to coordinate coastal security.
9. Special courts will be set up for speedy prosecution of those involved with acts of terrorism. Their trial shall be fair and justice will be done to the victims swiftly.
10. Coercive measures, including diplomacy, will be used to deal with countries which promote cross-border terrorism. India will engage with the world in the global war on terror while not compromising on its domestic interests, primarily protecting citizens from the ravages of terrorism.
11. The Centre will facilitate better inter-State coordination and real-time intelligence-sharing, apart from helping States to raise anti-insurgency forces, to face the threat posed by Maoists. The ‘Chhattisgarh Model’ will be used for counter-Maoist operations. At the same time, every effort will be made to address the social and economic issues that make the ground fertile for Left-wing extremism.
12. Any talks with insurgent groups will be conditional and within the framework of the Constitution. The BJP will send out a simple message, loud and clear, to terrorists and their sponsors: They will have to pay a heavy price for each innocent life lost. Retribution will be swift and exemplary. The authority of the state, which has been diminished by the Congress in pursuit of vote-bank politics, shall be restored.
National Identity Cards for All: The BJP will launch an innovative programme to establish a countrywide system of multi-purpose national identity cards so as to ensure national security, correct welfare delivery, accurate tax collection, financial inclusion and voter registration. Voter identity cards, PAN cards, passports, ration cards and BPL cards are already in use though not all with photo identity. The NDA proposes to make it incumbent for every Indian to have a National Identity Card. The programme will be completed in three years.
The National Identity Card will contain enough memory and processing capabilities to run multiple applications. Through it the NDA will ensure efficient welfare delivery and tax collection. The card will also be linked to a bank account. All welfare payments, including widow and old age pensions, through the wide range of schemes such as Mother and Child support/ Kisan Credit, Students Assistance and Micro-Credit will be channelised through the National Identity Card. The card will make it possible for individuals to save and borrow money; for farmers to get bank credit, also establish accurate land titles data.
The National Identity Card will also strengthen national security by ensuring accurate citizen identity, thus tracking illegal immigration. All financial transactions, purchase of property and access to public services will be possible only on the basis of the National Identity Card which will be made forgery and hacking resistant.
Engaging the world: India’s voice shall be heard
The BJP believes a resurgent India must get its rightful place in the comity of nations and international institutions. The BJP also believes in a multi-polar world with no nation having overriding powers over others. Towards this end, the BJP in power will engage in meaningful diplomacy with nations across the world on equal terms. The BJP’s foreign policy will be based on the principle of enlightened self-interest.
The BJP desires good relations between India and the USA and will strengthen the India US strategic partnership on the principle of equality. But we will not compromise on either India’s national interest or relations with another friendly country. The BJP will restore the balance that has been disturbed by the UPA Government.
India’s traditional relations with Russia and the Central Asian Republics will be refashioned to keep pace with current realities and derive maximum mutual advantage.
We will pursue friendly relations with the European Union, West Asian countries and South-East Asian nations. It will further strengthen relations with Arab countries and pursue enhanced cooperation with Israel – the two are not inter-linked and both are beneficial for India.
The dialogue process of solving the outstanding border dispute with China, which was initiated by the NDA Government under Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership, will be revived. We believe that both India and China can prosper and rise together; increased economic cooperation can contribute to this.
India has a special role to play in the Indian Ocean region and we will pursue this vigorously. The BJP believes in forging enduring friendly and cooperative relations with India’s neighbours. We also believe that political stability, progress and peace in India’s neighbourhood are essential for South Asia’s growth and development: SAARC is a good platform to promote these goals.
But the BJP will be guided solely by national interest while dealing with India’s neighbours. Towards this end, its decisions and actions in power will be determined by the following:
Pakistan: There can be no ‘comprehensive dialogue’ for peace unless Pakistan a) dismantles the terrorist infrastructure on territory under its control; b) actively engages in prosecuting terror elements and organisations; c) puts a permanent, verifiable end to its practice of using cross-border terrorism as an instrument of state policy; d) stops using the territory of third countries to launch terror attacks on India; and, e) hands over to India individuals wanted for committing crimes on Indian soil.
Nepal: The BJP will re-craft India’s Nepal policy to rid it of the UPA’s biases that have influenced India’s response to events in Nepal with which our country shares a common civilisational and cultural history. India-Nepal relations must be based on friendship, mutual cooperation and harmony of interests. Towards this end, existing arrangements will be reviewed and revised bearing in mind mutual interests and benefits on the basis of dialogue. The BJP would like to see Nepal emerge as a stable, prosperous country, and will strive to strengthen age-old fraternal ties.
Bhutan: Existing close relations with Bhutan will be strengthened.
Bangladesh: The BJP will pro-actively engage the Government of Bangladesh on issues of mutual assistance and benefit. A friendly Government in Dhaka is in India’s interest.
Sri Lanka: The BJP believes that Sri Lanka has the right to deal with terrorism on its soil. At the same time, the political, economic and human rights of Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority community must be protected by the Government in Colombo. The BJP will pursue a robust relationship with Sri Lanka and regain the initiative that has been lost during the last five years.
Afghanistan: The BJP believes that India has an important role in helping the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their country and stabilise their society, as well as secure their lives from the depredations of the Taliban operating from Pakistani sanctuaries. The BJP will further build upon India-Afghanistan relations and work in close association with the international community to ensure a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan.
Mother India’s Children Abroad: The BJP will maintain close contacts with people of Indian origin who have settled on foreign shores. It has been the consistent policy of the BJP to promote the interests of people of Indian origin living abroad. During the NDA years, special efforts were made to revive and revitalise the ties between Pravasi Bharatiyas and their ancestral land by institutionalising the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, honouring achievers and introducing the PIO card. Those efforts will be given a further boost.
Defending India: No compromise, no concession
The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy need to be strengthened in view of rapidly changing regional and global realities. Tragically, the services have been ignored by the Congress and failure to address the concerns of the Army, Air Force and Navy has bred undesirable discontent. The BJP will address all pending issues immediately. It will be guided by the following solemn commitments while dealing with the defence of India:
1. The long-pending acquisition of military hardware will be expedited through absolutely transparent means in a time-bound manner.
2. Budget allocations for defence forces will be spent without being allowed to lapse. The criminal negligence of the defence forces by the UPA Government has resulted in nearly Rs 24,000 crore by way of budgetary allocations being allowed to lapse over five years. This not only endangers the lives of our soldiers but also the security of the nation.
3. Our forces are performing a service to the nation and deserve better pay and privileges.
Towards this end, the BJP is committed to the following measures:
a. The pending issues of pay and privileges will be revisited and resolved to the satisfaction of the defence forces. The modalities for setting up a separate Pay
Commission for the forces will be expedited;
b. All personnel of the Army, Air Force and Navy, as also paramilitary forces, will be exempt from paying income tax on their salaries and perquisites;
c. The honorarium for winners of gallantry awards like Pram Vir Chakra, which is abysmally low at Rs 500 to Rs 3,000, will be increased ten-fold to Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.
This will be done with retrospective effect; the honorarium will be tax free.
d. The principle of one rank, one pension will be implemented;
e. Incentive-based steps will be taken to make joining the defence services an exciting proposition for young men and women to overcome the shortage of officers; and,
f. Incentives will be offered to State Governments for ensuring honourable settlement of retired personnel of the defence services.
4. The present shortage of defence personnel at all levels will be met by making the Services an attractive career option. This would include competitive pay and privileges, and pension benefits. This task will be completed in a time-bound manner. 5. The capacities of Defence Research and Development Organisation will be enhanced. The PPP route will be explored for conventional defence production bearing in mind the nation’s needs and to make India a competitive player in the global market by 2020.
Independent strategic nuclear programme: We will assert India’s sovereignty
The BJP believes that India’s strategic nuclear programme has been deeply compromised by the Congress. The gains of Pokhran-II and subsequent development have been frittered away for gains that have accrued to those who wish to see India’s nuclear programme to be contained, rolled back and eventually dismantled.
The BJP will reverse this drift. India’s indigenous thorium technology programme will be expedited and given all financial assistance, correcting the grievous wrong done by the UPA Government. India needs nuclear energy, but not at the cost of our national strategic interests. The Congress has fooled the people of India by selling the over-hyped India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement as an absolute necessity and how it will help light up people’s homes. It has done so by suppressing two crucial facts. First, as the CAG has pointed out, the UPA Government did not make the smallest effort to tap India’s own nuclear fuel supplies. Had it done so, our reactors would have produced many times more power than at present. Second, nuclear power is tremendously expensive and not affordable for the aam admi. The India-US nuclear deal, in the final analysis, is not about empowering India but disempowering India by making us dependent on American supplies and tying us to discriminatory regimes from which Pakistan is free.
The BJP will honour India’s commitments to prevent proliferation. But it will pursue an independent nuclear policy based on the following:
1. All options will be kept open and all steps will be taken that are necessary for the technological advancement of India’s civil and military nuclear programmes.
2. Maintain a credible minimum deterrent that is in tune with changing realities.
3. Seek cross-party consensus before agreeing to any control regime, including CTBT, FMCR and MTCR.
In view of the uncalled for and regrettable secrecy with which the Congress and the Prime Minister dealt with the India-US nuclear deal, the BJP proposes to introduce an amendment to the Constitution to make it mandatory for Government to seek Parliament’s approval/ratification by two-thirds majority before signing any bilateral or multilateral agreement that impinges on India’s strategic programmes, territorial integrity and economic interest.
Food security: We will make India hunger-free
The BJP views food security as integral to national security. The spectre of a looming food crisis haunts the developing world as never before. With the agriculture sector suffering on account of the Congress’ gross negligence, India faces a real threat of food scarcity. With India becoming a net importer of food under Congress rule, there is genuine concern about food security. Three factors have contributed to increasing food scarcity and the resultant sense of growing insecurity among the masses. First, the real income of workers and farmers has not kept pace with the rising cost of food, thus reducing their purchasing power. Second, the public distribution system has been severely crippled by the Congress-led Government which has been more interested in importing food grains and selling them at a high price than in securing the needs of the people. Third, with an additional 55 million people pushed below the poverty line over the last five years, there is widespread malnourishment. The economic recession has only worsened the situation and made it grimmer, especially for workers in the unorganised sector.
The BJP believes people have the right to food. To ensure food security for all and eliminate hunger, we will:
1. Provide 35 kg of rice or wheat every month to BPL families at Rs 2 per kg under an improved and expanded Antyodaya Anna Yojana. This will be available against ‘Food Coupons’ redeemable at both PDS and private outlets.
2. Allocate more funds for expanding, universalising and improving the functioning of the Public Distribution System.
3. Preventing families from slipping below the poverty line.
4. Setting up community kitchens in extremely impoverished areas with the help of NGOs through shared funding.
5. Aggressively addressing the problem of widespread malnutrition, especially by expanding the scope of the existing mid-day meal scheme.
6. Encouraging the production of cereals and discouraging the conversion of fertile farm land for dubious industrial projects.
7. Ensuring a sufficient level of food stocks are maintained to meet any exigencies due to possible global food crisis which could be severely debilitating and make imports prohibitively expensive, if not impossible.
Energy security: We will protect India from future crises
India cannot afford to lose any more time on securing its energy requirements. The Congress’s response to this issue has been episodic at best, often resulting in India failing to secure its energy interests even as other countries in the neighbourhood, most notably China, have spared no effort to single-mindedly pursue the goal of securing their energy needs for the present and future.
At present India is largely dependent on imported oil and gas to meet its energy demands, especially demand for power although our per capita power consumption is only a sixth of the world average. Sixty-seven per cent of our power supply comes from fossil fuels, of which 70 per cent is imported. With market fluctuation and manipulation, as it happened in 2008, this makes us vulnerable to external factors.
The BJP proposes to invest heavily in developing non-fossil fuel-based clean energy sources, especially for electricity production. Our goal will be to add at least 120,000 MW of power over the next five years, with 20 per cent of it coming from renewable sources. Similar emphasis will be placed on developing alternatives to petrol and diesel to lessen the burden of imported oil and gas as well as meet the challenges of climate change.
Adequate support will be extended for developing hybrid technologies and their applications. There will be special emphasis on developing renewal energy sources, especially solar energy, wind energy and run-on-the-river technology, and bio-fuel. Innovation will be rewarded.
Impetus will be provided for the production of non-conventional energy by enabling people and firms to bank it in the power grid and draw it at the time of their need.
----------------------
India's BJP offers tax cuts, tough Pakistan policy
Fri Apr 3, 2009
NEW DELHI, April 3 (Reuters) - India's main Hindu-nationalist opposition party promised low taxes and interest rates to revive a slowing economy and a tough posture on Pakistan in an election manifesto on Friday aimed at boosting its poll ratings.
The Bharatiya Janata Party also promised to retrieve Indian money illegally stashed abroad, generate employment through massive infrastructure projects and give cheaper farm loans to cushion Indians from the global financial crisis.
It said it would cut housing interest rates, give tax exemption to citizens above the age of 60 and also waive personal income tax for hundreds of thousands of defence personnel and pensioners.
"We are giving a message to our voters that if you give us an opportunity then whatever we do we will do with honesty," the party's prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani said.
The BJP said India will resume peace talks with Pakistan only after Islamabad dismantled the "terrorist infrastructure" on its soil. "Without that there can be no comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan," spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The party has accused the ruling Congress party in the past of being soft on national security, sharpening the criticism in the wake of the Mumbai attacks in November blamed on a Pakistan-based guerrilla group.
The BJP-led opposition alliance trails in most opinion polls for the month-long election beginning on April 13 and is struggling to find allies in potentially swing states.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Abdul Nasser Madhani Acquittal - Why is the Left celebrating?
Posted on August 1st, 2007 by yossarin in All News
Madhani would carry out his political functions sticking to the principles of secularism and democracy - V S Achuthanandan, Chief Minister, Kerala
Abdul Nasser Madhani, who was the accused number 14 in the February 14, 1998 serial blasts in the city, was released on bail, after he was exonerated from all the five charges against him, including criminal conspiracy to trigger the blasts, by the Session Court (Bomb Blast Cases) today. On his future plans, particularly in the political field after returning to Kerala, he said it would be decided at an appropriate time. Madhani is also likely to meet Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. Unhappy with the acquittal of PDP chairman, Abdul Nasser Madani, in the 1998 Coimbatore blasts case, the Opposition BJP today demanded that an appeal be filed against the verdict on the “biggest terror attack in south India.” Senior BJP leader L K Advani, the then Union Home Minister, escaped only because his flight was late. The Kerala government has welcomed Madhani’s acquittal. Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said that the Left Front’s stand on Madhani will depend on his position on various issues.
”Our government tried to provide him medical help while in jail. Following our intervention he was provided minimum relief. His release was very important considering his deteriorating health condition,” said V S Achuthanandan, Chief Minister, Kerala.
The PTI also quotes the Kerala Chief Minister
Madhani would carry out his political functions sticking to the principles of secularism and democracy.
The latter quote by the Kerala has Offstumped intrigued enough to pose the question why is the Left keen to get Madhani’s good side. According to the PTI it is not just the Left but also the Congress.
“We happily welcome his acquittal in the case. The UDF had always tried to help him when he was in jail for over nine years as an undertrial,” KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala
Some hints into the love for Madhani can be found in this tid-bit reported by NDTV.
Madhani’s party, the PDP, has pockets of influence in southern Kerala quite crucial in the state’s bi-polar politics. The CPI(M) benefited from the PDP in the 2006 assembly elections and the UDF in 2001.
But first some historical perspective. On September 28th, 1998, PTI reported on the filing of chargesheets in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case after 8 months of investigation by the CB-CID’s special investigation team (SIT). The Chargesheet named 166 persons and was 800 pages long. Heading the list of 166 persons arraigned by the police, was S.A. Basha, President of the banned fundamentalist outfit Al-Umma. Its Vice-President Tajudeen, his absconding colleague Mohammed Ansari and chief of People’s Democratic Party, Kerala, Abdul Nazar Madhani, were named second, third and fourth accused respectively. The charge against Madani according to the PTI report was
Tajudeen made several trips to Kerala and procured high grade explosives for the small box-bombs from accused Madani, who supplied them through another accused Raju, alias Army Raju (a deserter from the Assam Rifles), it said.
It is kind of strange that Madani should have all charges quashed when a Muslim friendly DMK ruled Tamil Nadu and a LDF ruled Kerala saw enough of a case to chargesheet Madani back in 1998 after 8 months of investigation. Surely one cannot argue there was a vast right wing hindutva conspiracy to nail Madani, so what then prompted his inclusion in the chargesheet in the first place.
If the Left’s praise of Madani is curious enough its hypocrisy is galling.
On April 22 2001, the CPM mouthpiece People’s Democracy criticized the UDF’s dalliance with Madani.
They also earnestly want to be in company with the PDP of Abdul Nazar Madani who is in jail for the last three years for his alleged involvement in the Al-Umma conspiracy that led to the Coimbatore riots. Madani is desperately trying to get released from prison, and for this he requires the BJP’s help to persuade the DMK government of Tamil Nadu to release him. Here the UDF’s role is to pimp between the PDP and the BJP, to forge an indirect understanding by which PDP votes are polled for BJP candidates and Madani is released from prison.
The gutter language apart, the CPM seems to be unambiguous about Madani’s role in the blasts.
On May 20, 2001, the CPM mouthpiece had even more interesting things to say.
The Congress record in Kerala was no better insofar as fighting the forces of communalism is concerned. Here, as is well known, the Congress is in the leadership of the United Democratic Front that includes the Muslim League as well as several caste-based parties. But the Congress did not remain content with this only. It went to the extent of having an open understanding with the BJP as well as with the Muslim fundamentalist People’s Democratic Party (PDP). As reported by the media, some of the Congressmen even went to the Coimbatore Jail to seek support from the PDP leader Madani who is lodged there on the charge of his involvement in the Coimbatore bomb blasts.
Note how Madani goes from being muslim fundamentalist in 2001 to secular and democratic in 2007.
While in November 2001 the CPM mouthpiece calls Madani the leader of a terrorist organization, In December 2001, the CPM mouthpiece makes the argument that existing laws were adeuqate to contain terrorism and as proof point for its argument it cites the Madani case.
Much has been written about the existing laws being sufficient to meet the terrorist challenges. A former Chief Justice and two Judges of the Supreme Court in the National Human Rights Commission have said that POTO provisions are “substantially taken care of under the existing laws”. This can be seen by the fact that PDP leader Madani, prime accused in the Coimbatore blasts of 1998, continues to remain in detention till date. Similarly, SIMI was banned by this very government recently.
So as far as the CPM was concerned Madani was not just a Muslim Fundamentalist but a Terrorist.
The Hindu carried an excellent chronicle on the rise of Madani in Kerala. Till as recently as 2004 it was only the UDF and Congress that were hobnobbing with Madani. In 2004 then Kerala CM Oomen Chandy even offered to visit Madani in jail on a visit to Tamil Nadu owing to pressure from the PDP.
The degree of Muslim radicalization in support of Madani becomes evident in a Jan 2003 report by the PTI
a youth has been questioned in connection with the recovery of an electronic timer device and gelatine sticks from an STD booth near the Coimbatore Press club
Police said the youth was also being questioned in connection with the receipt of fax messages by some newspaper offices in Coimbatore.
The messages stated: “We have done it. If Tamil Nadu police repeat torturing PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani and his family, we will repeat it - ISS- Kerala”.
As recently as 2005 the Supreme Court rejected Madani’s bail plea after a similar rejection by the Madras High Court. So how did Madani manage a clean chit, it is baffling.
But the 2006 elections in Kerala change everything with media reports of the Left turning Green in Kerala’s Muslim Heartland of Malabar. In March 2006 the Kerala Assembly passes a resolution calling for Madani’s release. News media outlets from Hindustan Times to Times of India roundly criticize the move calling it “using a terrorist” for vote bank politics. By March 31st Madani returns the LDF’s favor by announcing from Jail that his party the PDP would support the LDF in the upcoming polls. The change of heart is attributed to secret talks Mr. T.K. Hamza, CPI(M) MP, had with Madani in jail. The dividends to the Left in Kerala come in the assembly polls that saw the Muslim vote overwhelmingly favoring the LDF over the UDF.
So what reasons did the court give for acquitting Madani ?
“lack of sufficient evidence”
Of the 166 accused in the blasts that killed 58 people, special judge K Uthirapathy acquitted eight, including the Kerala-based People’s Democratic Party chairman Abdul Nazar Madani. All the acquitted were from Kerala. If this was strange enough, the Economic Times today carries a story
The government proscribed the Al Ummah and the Jihad Committee within three hours of the incident. Investigators had unearthed a link between the Al Ummah and Pakistan’s ISI, with PDP leader from Kerala, Abdul Nasser Madani, acting as bridge.
Offstumped Bottomline: The acquittal of Madani in the Coimbatore Blast Case is highly suspect and is bound to be subject to intense public scrutiny. The shameful turnaround by the Left in the run up to the 2006 Kerala Assembly polls exposes its hypocrisy and doublespeak. Madani went from being a Muslim Fundamentalist and Terrorist to a Secular Democrat. If his continued detention was first hailed by the Left as effectiveness of existing laws to curb terrorism, it is now decried as a human rights violation.
While the Madani acquittal is headed for legal challenges the CPI-M stands exposed.
Madhani would carry out his political functions sticking to the principles of secularism and democracy - V S Achuthanandan, Chief Minister, Kerala
Abdul Nasser Madhani, who was the accused number 14 in the February 14, 1998 serial blasts in the city, was released on bail, after he was exonerated from all the five charges against him, including criminal conspiracy to trigger the blasts, by the Session Court (Bomb Blast Cases) today. On his future plans, particularly in the political field after returning to Kerala, he said it would be decided at an appropriate time. Madhani is also likely to meet Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. Unhappy with the acquittal of PDP chairman, Abdul Nasser Madani, in the 1998 Coimbatore blasts case, the Opposition BJP today demanded that an appeal be filed against the verdict on the “biggest terror attack in south India.” Senior BJP leader L K Advani, the then Union Home Minister, escaped only because his flight was late. The Kerala government has welcomed Madhani’s acquittal. Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said that the Left Front’s stand on Madhani will depend on his position on various issues.
”Our government tried to provide him medical help while in jail. Following our intervention he was provided minimum relief. His release was very important considering his deteriorating health condition,” said V S Achuthanandan, Chief Minister, Kerala.
The PTI also quotes the Kerala Chief Minister
Madhani would carry out his political functions sticking to the principles of secularism and democracy.
The latter quote by the Kerala has Offstumped intrigued enough to pose the question why is the Left keen to get Madhani’s good side. According to the PTI it is not just the Left but also the Congress.
“We happily welcome his acquittal in the case. The UDF had always tried to help him when he was in jail for over nine years as an undertrial,” KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala
Some hints into the love for Madhani can be found in this tid-bit reported by NDTV.
Madhani’s party, the PDP, has pockets of influence in southern Kerala quite crucial in the state’s bi-polar politics. The CPI(M) benefited from the PDP in the 2006 assembly elections and the UDF in 2001.
But first some historical perspective. On September 28th, 1998, PTI reported on the filing of chargesheets in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case after 8 months of investigation by the CB-CID’s special investigation team (SIT). The Chargesheet named 166 persons and was 800 pages long. Heading the list of 166 persons arraigned by the police, was S.A. Basha, President of the banned fundamentalist outfit Al-Umma. Its Vice-President Tajudeen, his absconding colleague Mohammed Ansari and chief of People’s Democratic Party, Kerala, Abdul Nazar Madhani, were named second, third and fourth accused respectively. The charge against Madani according to the PTI report was
Tajudeen made several trips to Kerala and procured high grade explosives for the small box-bombs from accused Madani, who supplied them through another accused Raju, alias Army Raju (a deserter from the Assam Rifles), it said.
It is kind of strange that Madani should have all charges quashed when a Muslim friendly DMK ruled Tamil Nadu and a LDF ruled Kerala saw enough of a case to chargesheet Madani back in 1998 after 8 months of investigation. Surely one cannot argue there was a vast right wing hindutva conspiracy to nail Madani, so what then prompted his inclusion in the chargesheet in the first place.
If the Left’s praise of Madani is curious enough its hypocrisy is galling.
On April 22 2001, the CPM mouthpiece People’s Democracy criticized the UDF’s dalliance with Madani.
They also earnestly want to be in company with the PDP of Abdul Nazar Madani who is in jail for the last three years for his alleged involvement in the Al-Umma conspiracy that led to the Coimbatore riots. Madani is desperately trying to get released from prison, and for this he requires the BJP’s help to persuade the DMK government of Tamil Nadu to release him. Here the UDF’s role is to pimp between the PDP and the BJP, to forge an indirect understanding by which PDP votes are polled for BJP candidates and Madani is released from prison.
The gutter language apart, the CPM seems to be unambiguous about Madani’s role in the blasts.
On May 20, 2001, the CPM mouthpiece had even more interesting things to say.
The Congress record in Kerala was no better insofar as fighting the forces of communalism is concerned. Here, as is well known, the Congress is in the leadership of the United Democratic Front that includes the Muslim League as well as several caste-based parties. But the Congress did not remain content with this only. It went to the extent of having an open understanding with the BJP as well as with the Muslim fundamentalist People’s Democratic Party (PDP). As reported by the media, some of the Congressmen even went to the Coimbatore Jail to seek support from the PDP leader Madani who is lodged there on the charge of his involvement in the Coimbatore bomb blasts.
Note how Madani goes from being muslim fundamentalist in 2001 to secular and democratic in 2007.
While in November 2001 the CPM mouthpiece calls Madani the leader of a terrorist organization, In December 2001, the CPM mouthpiece makes the argument that existing laws were adeuqate to contain terrorism and as proof point for its argument it cites the Madani case.
Much has been written about the existing laws being sufficient to meet the terrorist challenges. A former Chief Justice and two Judges of the Supreme Court in the National Human Rights Commission have said that POTO provisions are “substantially taken care of under the existing laws”. This can be seen by the fact that PDP leader Madani, prime accused in the Coimbatore blasts of 1998, continues to remain in detention till date. Similarly, SIMI was banned by this very government recently.
So as far as the CPM was concerned Madani was not just a Muslim Fundamentalist but a Terrorist.
The Hindu carried an excellent chronicle on the rise of Madani in Kerala. Till as recently as 2004 it was only the UDF and Congress that were hobnobbing with Madani. In 2004 then Kerala CM Oomen Chandy even offered to visit Madani in jail on a visit to Tamil Nadu owing to pressure from the PDP.
The degree of Muslim radicalization in support of Madani becomes evident in a Jan 2003 report by the PTI
a youth has been questioned in connection with the recovery of an electronic timer device and gelatine sticks from an STD booth near the Coimbatore Press club
Police said the youth was also being questioned in connection with the receipt of fax messages by some newspaper offices in Coimbatore.
The messages stated: “We have done it. If Tamil Nadu police repeat torturing PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani and his family, we will repeat it - ISS- Kerala”.
As recently as 2005 the Supreme Court rejected Madani’s bail plea after a similar rejection by the Madras High Court. So how did Madani manage a clean chit, it is baffling.
But the 2006 elections in Kerala change everything with media reports of the Left turning Green in Kerala’s Muslim Heartland of Malabar. In March 2006 the Kerala Assembly passes a resolution calling for Madani’s release. News media outlets from Hindustan Times to Times of India roundly criticize the move calling it “using a terrorist” for vote bank politics. By March 31st Madani returns the LDF’s favor by announcing from Jail that his party the PDP would support the LDF in the upcoming polls. The change of heart is attributed to secret talks Mr. T.K. Hamza, CPI(M) MP, had with Madani in jail. The dividends to the Left in Kerala come in the assembly polls that saw the Muslim vote overwhelmingly favoring the LDF over the UDF.
So what reasons did the court give for acquitting Madani ?
“lack of sufficient evidence”
Of the 166 accused in the blasts that killed 58 people, special judge K Uthirapathy acquitted eight, including the Kerala-based People’s Democratic Party chairman Abdul Nazar Madani. All the acquitted were from Kerala. If this was strange enough, the Economic Times today carries a story
The government proscribed the Al Ummah and the Jihad Committee within three hours of the incident. Investigators had unearthed a link between the Al Ummah and Pakistan’s ISI, with PDP leader from Kerala, Abdul Nasser Madani, acting as bridge.
Offstumped Bottomline: The acquittal of Madani in the Coimbatore Blast Case is highly suspect and is bound to be subject to intense public scrutiny. The shameful turnaround by the Left in the run up to the 2006 Kerala Assembly polls exposes its hypocrisy and doublespeak. Madani went from being a Muslim Fundamentalist and Terrorist to a Secular Democrat. If his continued detention was first hailed by the Left as effectiveness of existing laws to curb terrorism, it is now decried as a human rights violation.
While the Madani acquittal is headed for legal challenges the CPI-M stands exposed.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
LS poll campaign yet to start in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): With barely a month left for Lok Sabha polls in Kerala, both the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-spearheaded UDF opposition, are yet to start election campaign in the state following issues related to seat-sharing and selection of candidates.
The stand-off between the CPI(M) and the CPI over the Ponnani Lok Sabha seat has forced the Left front to postpone election conventions in all the 20 constituencies, scheduled to start last week.
According to the Left front sources, Central leadership of both the CPI(M) and the CPI have been apprised of the matter and a solution is expected by Monday.
The CPI has been insisting on Ponnai seat but CPI(M) argued that it was agreed at the LDF seat sharing meeting that a 'common independent' candidate would be put up this time from the constituency, a CPI seat, to defeat the IUML which had been winning it over the years.
The CPI move to field film director Kamal, as an alternative candidate to both CPI(M) supported Prof Hussian Randhathani and CPI identified candidate A P Kunhamu, has also failed.
Mr. Kamal has refused to enter the fray unless, Randhathani, who had started campaigning in Ponnai as an independent candidate, with facit support of CPI(M) withdrew from the polls.
The stand-off between the CPI(M) and the CPI over the Ponnani Lok Sabha seat has forced the Left front to postpone election conventions in all the 20 constituencies, scheduled to start last week.
According to the Left front sources, Central leadership of both the CPI(M) and the CPI have been apprised of the matter and a solution is expected by Monday.
The CPI has been insisting on Ponnai seat but CPI(M) argued that it was agreed at the LDF seat sharing meeting that a 'common independent' candidate would be put up this time from the constituency, a CPI seat, to defeat the IUML which had been winning it over the years.
The CPI move to field film director Kamal, as an alternative candidate to both CPI(M) supported Prof Hussian Randhathani and CPI identified candidate A P Kunhamu, has also failed.
Mr. Kamal has refused to enter the fray unless, Randhathani, who had started campaigning in Ponnai as an independent candidate, with facit support of CPI(M) withdrew from the polls.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
The symptoms of a meltdown in Kerala
13 Mar 2009, ET Bureau
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The symptoms of a meltdown in Kerala’ ruling Left Democratic Front that surfaced on Thursday, worsened into a full-blown recession today with the CPI leadership eye-balling coalition big-brother CPM and daring it to take the Ponnani seat away from the party.
The two communist parties that rarely bring their disagreements out into the open, today dumped tradition and held back-to-back press conferences, virtually taunting each other to take up their respective threats.
A furious CPI state secretary Veliyam Bhargavan went to the extent of saying that the “CPM never learns a lesson”, and predicting that “the CPM will not win a single seat without CPI support”.
As if those words were not caustic enough, Mr Bhargavan added, “We will lose our three seats, and they (CPM) will lose all their seats”, appearing to take pleasure in the possibility of the CPM’s utter downfall in the forthcoming polls.
Mr Bhargavan said if the Ponnani seat were not to be given to the CPI, the party would field its own candidates in all the constituencies in the state barring the two constituencies where the Kerala Congress (J) and the Janata Dal (Secular) are contesting.
Asked if that meant the end of the Left Democratic Front coalition in the state, Mr Bhargavan snapped, “What else does it mean, then? If the CPM is insisting that all parties obey their diktat, where is the concept of a coalition?”
Later, CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan clarified that the CPI had indeed been given four seats to contest, adding that the understanding in the LDF was that a mutually acceptable Left-backed independent would be fielded in Ponnani.
Hussein Randathani, who has the overt backing of the CPM has already begun campaigning in Ponnani, while the CPI has chosen A P Kunhamu, who has a bank trade union background, as its candidate for Ponnani. How the two communist parties sort out the issue of the Ponnani candidacy could well decide the outcome across all constituencies, say political observers.
Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (Secular), which is demanding the Kozhikode seat, may also follow the CPI example and stand firm on its demand. The CPI leadership’s allegation that the CPM was snatching the seats of coalition partners may embolden Janata Dal, too, to stick to its demand for the Kozhikode seat.
The CPI state executive is scheduled to meet on March 16, when a final decision is expected on the party’s continuance in the LDF. Observers here expect negotiations to continue between the CPM and the CPI over the next two days to amicably solve the Ponnani issue before March 16.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The symptoms of a meltdown in Kerala’ ruling Left Democratic Front that surfaced on Thursday, worsened into a full-blown recession today with the CPI leadership eye-balling coalition big-brother CPM and daring it to take the Ponnani seat away from the party.
The two communist parties that rarely bring their disagreements out into the open, today dumped tradition and held back-to-back press conferences, virtually taunting each other to take up their respective threats.
A furious CPI state secretary Veliyam Bhargavan went to the extent of saying that the “CPM never learns a lesson”, and predicting that “the CPM will not win a single seat without CPI support”.
As if those words were not caustic enough, Mr Bhargavan added, “We will lose our three seats, and they (CPM) will lose all their seats”, appearing to take pleasure in the possibility of the CPM’s utter downfall in the forthcoming polls.
Mr Bhargavan said if the Ponnani seat were not to be given to the CPI, the party would field its own candidates in all the constituencies in the state barring the two constituencies where the Kerala Congress (J) and the Janata Dal (Secular) are contesting.
Asked if that meant the end of the Left Democratic Front coalition in the state, Mr Bhargavan snapped, “What else does it mean, then? If the CPM is insisting that all parties obey their diktat, where is the concept of a coalition?”
Later, CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan clarified that the CPI had indeed been given four seats to contest, adding that the understanding in the LDF was that a mutually acceptable Left-backed independent would be fielded in Ponnani.
Hussein Randathani, who has the overt backing of the CPM has already begun campaigning in Ponnani, while the CPI has chosen A P Kunhamu, who has a bank trade union background, as its candidate for Ponnani. How the two communist parties sort out the issue of the Ponnani candidacy could well decide the outcome across all constituencies, say political observers.
Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (Secular), which is demanding the Kozhikode seat, may also follow the CPI example and stand firm on its demand. The CPI leadership’s allegation that the CPM was snatching the seats of coalition partners may embolden Janata Dal, too, to stick to its demand for the Kozhikode seat.
The CPI state executive is scheduled to meet on March 16, when a final decision is expected on the party’s continuance in the LDF. Observers here expect negotiations to continue between the CPM and the CPI over the next two days to amicably solve the Ponnani issue before March 16.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)