Rising clamour for new states puts Congress on defensive

New Delhi, Dec 11 The central government’s acceptance in principle of demand for a separate Telangana state has set off a chain reaction, prompting political leaders to raise old demands for Vidarbha, Gorkhaland, Bodoland, Harit Pradesh, Bundelkhand, Purvanchal and states carved out of some other regions.

Faced with the growing clamour for new states across the country, the Congress Friday accepted that lack of development of a region could be a reason for demand of smaller states, but stressed that the party was against demands for new states being made for “political adjustment of leaders”.

Reacting to developments, Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed admitted that the clamour for new states has increased the difficulties for the government. “But it (the government) will respond with a cool mind,” Ahmed told IANS.

He said that the Congress is not against smaller states but the demand should be need-based.
The Congress response came after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati raised the political pitch by demanding creation of three states from the present Uttar Pradesh.
“I have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to give us clearance for creating independent states of Budelkhand and Harit Pradesh out of a giant-sized and unmanageable Uttar Pradesh,” Mayawati told a hurriedly convened press conference in Lucknow Friday evening.
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh, a strong votary of Harit Pradesh, said in New Delhi that his party will launch an agitation if the central government does not consider demand for creation of the new state.
Activists of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) in West Bengal have also reignited their demand for Gorkhaland.
A four-member Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) delegation alongwith Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh met Home Minister P. Chidambaram here Friday to press for creation of a separate state.
In Assam, the Bodo, Karbis and Dimasa tribes have once again raised the demand for statehood.
Former railway minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, who at one point strongly opposed creation of Jharkhand from Bihar, said Friday that he supported demands for creating Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.
The Congress is also facing new demands from its own ranks with former minister and party MP Vilas Muttemwar stoking the demand for a new state of Vidrabha. Muttemwar has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding creation of the new state. In Andhra Pradesh, there are demands for a three-way bifurcation if Telangana is made a new state.
“If a region has lacked behind in economic indicators and has lacked focus in development, it can be a cause for demand for statehood. But new states cannot be formed for political adjustment of leaders,” he said.
The spokesman said even in case of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand, which were created as new states in 2000, results have not been to expectations. “The desired results have not come,” he said.
Justifying the decision regarding Telangana, he said it was an old demand and the government had to deal with the situation sensitively in view of the fast unto death of Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Sonia moots rehab panel

SUMAN K. SHRIVASTAVA & JAYESH THAKER

Sonia Gandhi at an election rally in Ghatshila on Tuesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad Sisai/Ghatshila, Dec. 8: Sonia Gandhi touched upon on all aam admi concerns in Jharkhand today and raised the hope on one of the primary issues facing the tribal state, promising to set up a National Rehabilitation Commission to ensure adequate compensation for people willing to part with land for development projects. Addressing two mammoth election rallies in Ghatshila and Gumla today, the Congress president took off from where her son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi left during his visit to Bermo and Latehar last week when he played on stability and the need for synergy between the Centre and state governments for the sake of development. “The rehabilitation commission would ensure that villagers who are willing to part with their land for development were compensated adequately and rehabilitated properly,” the Congress chief explained, touching a chord with the over 20,000 tribals who had gathered at a rally in Sisai in Gumla to garner support for party nominee Geeta Shree Oraon, daughter of veteran leader, late Kartik Oraon. “We want development but not at the cost of displacement of tribals,” she said, having echoed similar sentiments hours earlier at Ghatshila. At a rally in support of state Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu, Sonia recalled the party’s strong bond with adivasis and how Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi worked for their betterment post-Independence. Sonia's statement, that seeks to institutionalise relief and resettlement of the displaced is a fresh idea from the party’s backroom that could have far-reaching implications in tribal areas of central and eastern India. Congress sources said more such ideas relating to land acquisition are incubating in Rahul Gandhi’s mind as the UPA's initial commitment of restoring tribals’ rights over forests is not resolving problems. In her second leg of campaigning in Jharkhand, Sonia also referred to Naxalites but stuck to a tough line even as she reiterated what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has always maintained about holding talks with rebels only if they abjured violence. Development work, as Singh has said, and the law and order machinery would exist simultaneously. “But it is our responsibility to face the violence being perpetrated by anti-democratic forces,” she said. She refrained from mentioning former chief minister Madhu Koda by name but indicated the party’s regret at having supported a regime of Independents for close to two years. Listing the various people-friendly initiatives taken during President’s rule in the state, Sonia said: “We promise to provide a stable and corruption-free dispensation in Jharkhand.” She didn’t spare the Opposition BJP too. “Hamare virodhi jaat aur dharam ke nam par rajnitik rotiya saek rahen hain. Yeh log yeh kaam Jharkhand ke saath saath dusre rajyo mein bhi kar rahen hain (The Opposition is trying to score political points in the name of caste and religion. Besides Jharkhand, they are doing this in other states too),” she said.

Cong gains 11 in NC Hills

Silchar/Nagaon, Nov. 29: The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), a prominent regional political party in NC Hills district, suffered a jolt yesterday when 11 of its councillors joined the Congress to allow it to form the new ruling set-up in the district council. The Autonomous District Council of North Cachar Hills is now in a state of suspended animation as the state government had taken it over on June 30 in the wake of serious allegations of financial malpractice levelled against the ruling ASDC, led by its chief executive member Mohit Hojai. The desertions of the ASDC councillors came at a time when speculations are rife that governor’s rule in the district council would end in a few days time. Prakanta Warisa, a former Rajya Sabha MP and district president of the ASDC, was caught unawares. The ASDC had won 16 seats in the 2007 elections in the 28-member council. Later, four BJP councillors joined them to make it 20. Of the 20, seven subsequently joined Congress leaving ASDC with 13. Now of the remaining, 11 have joined the Congress. The Congress is keen to stitch together a ruling combination before governor’s rule is waived. Barring Warisa and Hojai, the former chief executive councillor now in jail for his alleged link with the Dima Halam Daogah (Gorlosa), all the present folk of the ASDC councillors had leapt on the Congress bandwagon. The important leaders of the ASDC who had chosen to discard their parent party and join hands with the Congress included among others Mayanan Kemprai, Galan Daolagopu and Bejoyendra Kemprai. A crestfallen Warisa said over the phone from Guwahati that he was shocked at the developing signs of “indiscipline” inside the party, paving the way for the Congress to form the new council under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule. He said he was considering quitting from the post of the president of the ASDC district committee as he could not keep his flock together. The district unit of the ASDC has convened a meeting in Haflong on December 11 to discuss the fallout of this change in the political equations in the district. Congress NC Hills unit president and former ASDC’s Haflong legislator, Samarjeet Haflongbar, rushed to the district headquarters from Guwahati on Saturday and distributed the party’s primary membership cards to the 11 ASDC members. A source said a cabinet meeting scheduled on December 2 is likely to recommend revoking the suspension of the council and the Congress-led council headed by Haflongbar as CEM and former ASDC chief Depulal Hojai as chairman would take charge.

Congress’ Assam unit holds record 18,828 meetings in a day

Guwahati, Nov 30 The ruling Congress party in Assam Sunday created a history of sorts by holding more than 18,500 meetings across the state as it kicked off its campaign for the 2011 state assembly elections, in which the party hopes to score a hat-trick.

A Congress party spokesperson said a total of 18,828 public meetings were held across the state Sunday aimed at reaching the grassroots workers ahead of the 2011 assembly elections.

“We know we are going to win the elections for the third time, but then we thought of involving our grassroots workers to ensure that all of them work together for the overall development of the state,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told journalists after attending one of the meetings in his home constituency of Jorhat in eastern Assam.

The idea to hold grassroots level meetings in block Congress booths was aimed at reaching the party workers and supporters to spread the message of the ruling government’s schemes and projects undertaken during its tenure since 2001.

“We have created history, a record of sorts, by holding 18,828 meetings in a single day. The meetings were highly successful with the supporters and workers greatly enthused,” Congress party spokesperson Haren Das said.

Assam Congress party president Bhubaneswar Kalita said the party is ready to hold elections even if it is held at an early date.

Elections are due in May 2011.

“No matter when the elections are held, we are ready to face the people. We know the Congress government since 2001 changed the entire landscape of Assam with allround development taking place,” Kalita said.

With the opposition in Assam a fractured lot and the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in a shambles following successive electoral defeats, the ruling Congress party is in an upbeat mood.

The AGP lost the state polls in 2001, then again in 2006, besides facing humiliating defeats in local elections earlier this year. More recently, the AGP also lost two by-elections to the state assembly.

The AGP-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in the last parliamentary polls failed to yield result as the AGP won just one seat compared to two seats the party won in 2004.

Rahul thanks tribals for Arunachal sweep

Rahul Gandhi

Itanagar, Nov 24 : The Congress-led UPA gover-nment would continue to work for development at the grassroots and steer the country towards rapid technological advancement, Rahul Gandhi said today while addressing a victory rally at Indira Gandhi Park here.

The afternoon rally was attended mostly by Congress workers as the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), the apex students’ body of the state, called for a boycott in protest against the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI)’s recruitment drive centred around the young Amethi MP.

Sporting a white galuk (tribal man’s costume) the AICC general secretary projected himself as the aam admi ka sipahi (the common man’s army) and eulogised the Arunachal Pradesh tribals for helping the Congress make a clean sweep of the Assembly polls held last month.

Rahul arrived here today on a one-day visit to the state.

Earlier in the day, he attended the 8th Inter-College Youth Festival at Rajiv Gandhi University as the chief guest and chaired the Arunachal PCC executive committee meeting.

The UPA government wanted to make India strong both internally and externally rather than wedge a divide between the rich and the poor, Rahul said. “The Congress does not play divide and rule game like other parties. We do not want to make two types of India but want to make the country stronger.”

“India’s strength lies in agriculture, so we cannot ignore rural India but at the same time we are striving to make India stride in the IT sector and compete with other countries,” Rahul said.

During his 15-minute speech, Rahul, however, avoided any mention of China’s claim to parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Rahul reiterated the UPA government’s pledge to implement people-oriented development schemes at the grassroots.

“I myself as an aam admi ka sipahi always emphasise working for the growth of the mass though the Opposition party pilloried me like anything for mixing with poor people and accused that my party had sold India’s poverty to the other countries.”

He said though he could not be a part of the party’s poll campaign during the first week of October because of inclement weather, he felt great to see Dorjee Khandu-led Congress government returning to power.

“I heartily thank the people of Arunachal Pradesh for supporting the Congress to retain power during the recently concluded Assembly polls in the state.”

Chief minister Dorjee Khandu, former chief minister Gegong Apang, MPs Takam Sanjoy and Ninong Ering, AICC general secretaries Sanjoy Bapna and V. Narayanswamy, home minister Tako Dabi and PWD minister Nabam Tuki were present among others.

Cong not to strip Paul of ministry

Shillong, Nov. 22: The AICC has asked party legislators in Meghalaya not to disturb coalition partners in the Congress-led alliance in the state to ensure smooth functioning of the government.

The directive comes in the wake of the demand of seven Congress MLAs to drop Paul Lyngdoh, the lone KHNAM minister, from the Meghalaya United Alliance ministry.

A senior member of the Congress and Meghalaya PCC functionary today said Paul Lyngdoh would not be dropped from the ministry as the Congress wanted to see that the present coalition completed its full term.

The AICC leaders who had summoned PCC president Friday Lyngdoh to Delhi wanted him to bury the issue and convince the Congress legislators to concentrate on development activities instead of raising the demand to drop urban affairs minister Paul Lyngdoh.

Friday Lyngdoh had a meeting with the AICC general secretary in charge of the Northeast, L. Faleiro, in Delhi yesterday and also met Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

An AICC source today said Sonia was unhappy over the persistent demand of some Congress legislators to drop Paul Lyngdoh only to get themselves accommodated in the ministry.

The AICC maintains if any Congress legislator is accommodated in the ministry, resentment among those left out will surface.

Legislators H.D.R. Lyngdoh, Founder Cajee, P.W. Kongjee, Ronney Lyngdoh, Friday Lyngdoh and A.L. Hek and Ampareen Lyngdoh recently submitted a letter to chief minister D.D. Lapang urging him to sack Paul Lyngdoh for his change of stand on uranium issue and his allegations that urban governance was not up to the mark.

Earlier, they had demanded that he be stripped of his portfolio.

Though on August 24 Paul Lyngdoh backed the cabinet decision to allow the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) to carry on with pre-mining development activities in West Khasi Hills, he later changed his stand and demanded a white paper from the government on the issue.

He had also asked the government to go slow on the project.

Paul Lyngdoh met Faleiro in Delhi last week and explained his position on the uranium issue.

The AICC wanted him to try to convince the people on the benefits of the uranium mining in the state.

The Congress leader said though the strength of the party legislators in the 60-member House is 28, the party does not want to ditch its coalition partners.

Congress leader assaulted, vehicle torched in Meghalaya

Shillong, Nov 22 (PTI) Unidentified youths assaulted a local Congress leader and set his vehicle on fire in front of his residence in the city.

Four youths turned up at the residence of Shillong unit of Congress Coordination Committee secretary Donkupar War yesterday and started beating him up, police said.

The youths then set his vehicle on fire and escaped after sighting neighbours coming to the aid of War, they said.

The vehicle was partially damaged in the blaze.

War lodged an FIR at Lumdiengjri police station, however, the reason behind the attack was not yet clear, police said.