Cong wary of BJP-JMM ties after fall of Govt

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Saturday, May 29, 2010

They are still honourable ministers in the coalition Government of Chief Minister Shibu Soren; continue to enjoy perks privileges even after they tendered resignations a few days back. Their resignation has not been accepted so far.

BJP’s Raghuwar Das, Barkuwar Gagrai, Nilkanth Singh Munda, Vaidyanath Ram and JD(U) Sudha Chaudhary, constitutionally, are still Ministers despite their parties withdrew support to the Soren Government.

It might have little news value but gives thick political indications that the JMM has still not severed its relation with the BJP. “I will not comment on the political aspects. You are free to draw your conclusion. But their resignations are still pending with the Chief Minister.” a senior official of the CMO told The Pioneer.

Although the BJP and the JD(U) have announced to oppose the Soren Government during the floor test but Ministers’ resignation letters on hold; has made the Congress wary about probable realignment of the JMM and the BJP after or before floor test on May 31.

Working quietly behind uncertain political babble, Congress’ spin doctors are in close door negotiation to stitch numbers behind to stake claim to form next government.

Party can approach Governor MOH Farook to form the Government after the fall of the Shibu Soren Government, claiming the second largest coalition partner-JVM-Congress with 25 MLAs on its side.

Sources in the Congress close to The Pioneer said that the party is mulling to stake claim to form Government to stop any chance of the JMM-BJP realignment after Soren fails to win the trust vote on May 31 or resign before that.

Even after the BJP withdrew its support to the coalition Government led by Chief Minister Shibu Soren, the Congress has not ruled out the possibility of a fresh JMM-BJP realignment.

“They are strange partners without any divorce. They can unite compelled by political circumstances even after BJP opposes Soren during the floor testing. The JMM might offer its support to the BJP to form the Government. But then, we will stake claim to form next Government as second largest alliance partner to frustrate them,” a senior Congress leader said.

Claiming a Government without the JMM was possible, he suggested a rainbow coalition consisting of the JVM (11 MLAs), the Congress (14MLAs) the RJD (5MLAs) the AJSU (5 MLAs) and seven independent MLAs.

“That makes a comfortable majority,” he said and claimed, “JVM chief Babulal Marandi will finally agree to this.”

In the past couple of days AJSU chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Kumar Mahto grabbed the centre stage of political parley with the BJP and the JMM to bring to bring the BJP-JMM on the same platform to avert the fall of the Government.

AJSU shaking hands with the UPA appears to have a dubious distinction owing to its natural affiliation with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Kiss media then kick media

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi| Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Gregor Johann Mendel took pain to experiment with pea pods to bring to us the kernel truth about genetics and heredity: Like Begets Like. Three decades of rearing in the BJP, another many years of stay in party’s student wing—ABVP failed to chisel him. He continues to be raw even today as he happened to be during his young days in Chhatra Sangharsh Wahini of Jay Prakash Narayan movement.

State BJP president Raghuwar Das may have just proved himself a keen student of Jharkhand’s rule of political conduct where decency is seldom required despite he heads ‘the party with discipline’ and had been Minister in the previous Governments.

Images rolling on the television screen on Monday afternoon underlined this where Das misbehaved with a news channel scribe outside of the Raj Bhawan. It ended in the hairline fracture of right hand wrist of senior scribe of Sahara news channel Madhukar when he tried to take a bite of Das over the next move of the party following the resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Sunday late night.

“As he came outside of Raj Bhawan along with state BJP general secretary Ganesh Mishra after his meeting with the Governor in his vehicle. He lowered down the speed of his vehicle. He lowered down his power widow. I requested him to comment over what transpired during the meeting…and inserted my boom mike inside. He bluntly refused to speak and rolled-on power window; speeded-up the vehicle without allowing me to drag my hand out,” Madhukar said after the incident.

Das was particularly annoyed with some of the reports of the scribe about resentment among BJP MLAs against Das and his probable role in persuading central BJP not to form government with the JMM after Arjun Munda defeated him in the race for CM post.

Das’ act did not surprise many who have been covering BJP and him from the last many years. An errant tongue Das stings his opponents and has created an aura of firebrand around him sans sophistication. It is not the first and last case of verbal spat of Das with the media.

“Two years back in Jamshedpur he threatened a local scribe to chop the fingers pointed at him. As one’s inherent quality and demerit grows with age. It has reached to an alarming point in case of Das,” a senior BJP leader of Jamshedpur said.

“I do not know what is going wrong with this man now a day?” his one time patron Amrendra Pratap Singh expressed surprise, “he was a good and disciplined man.”

After becoming deputy chief minister Das stopped to speak to the media even on telephone and on some occasions invoked earthy adjectives Das faced the protest of the media at party headquarter on Monday evening over his act. Media refused to enter into BJP office to cover official briefing until he seeks unconditional apology.

Raghuwar Das remained unrepentant over patent wrongdoing and refused to accept it a mistake, initially. Half an hour later he admitted half tone, “I am really sorry I regret. But some times media unnecessarily haunt us for comment. Madhukar was doing the same. But I did not do it intentionally.

Das’ close aide and his inexperienced PA had already passed the verdict this afternoon. “This is a drama.”

Central rule set to haunt State again

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Governor MOH Farook on Monday sent an interim report to the Centre stating that no political party or combine seems to be in the position to form Government after the resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

Specter of President’s Rule in Jharkhand is looming large as sources said that a meeting of the Union Cabinet is likely to be held on Tuesday over Jharkhand for the recommendation.

In New Delhi, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram at a Press conference told the mediapersons that the Centre has received the Governor’s report on Jharkhand crisis.

An official of Governor House said, “Farook has sent the report after he met the leaders of the BJP, Congress and JVM separately in the afternoon. None claimed majority to form Government. He has stated the fact very plainly.”

As the Raj Bhavan became the centre stage, it witnessed frequent visit of different party MLAs and leaders-seeking time, seeking President’s Rule. While a BJP delegation led by State BJP president Raghuwar Das met the Governor twice in the afternoon and requested another appointment on Tuesday to make its stand clear.

Party leaders claimed that they need time to consult MLAs and senior leaders to discuss the probability of the Government formation. Request was turned down, sources in the party said.

“We can be in the position to say anything about the move of the BJP only after we consult central leadership; our MLAs and leaders,” Das said to the media at Governor House.

BJP leaders huddled in a close door meeting at the party headquarter in the evening. Majority of MLAs were in the favour of going with the JMM to form Government. “Though, central BJP leadership is against any further alliance with the JMM we have apprised-off the central leadership the sentiment of the MLAs. We had sought time from the Governor on Tuesday which was turned down,” a senior BJP leader said.

On being asked whether the JMM is a close chapter for the BJP, he echoed the sentiment of the party MLAs. “JMM is still our ally…we should form Government with the JMM… the BJP leadership will be convinced in this regard but it will be time taking process.”

Congress leaders also refused having enough number to form Government in their meeting with the Governor and assured to come back to Raj Bhavan to claim the Government if they garner enough support.

“We have clearly told Governor that we do not have magic number to form the Government. We will approach the Governor only when we are satisfied on the number count,” leader of the Congress legislative body leader Rajindar Singh said. Stating that the party needed to talk to its alliance partner-Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) - he accepted that it is tough to form a Government without the support of the JMM. But he refused to disclose whether his party has been negotiating with the JMM to form Government.

JVM chief Babulal Marandi after visiting Governor demanded imposition of President’s Rule. “We wish JVM-Congress Government. But we do not want any bargaining and horse trading. Currently no party is in the position to form the Government. We demand President’s Rule,” he said.

Unhappy days are again in the BJP sorely divided over whether to form the Government or not. Around 16 party MLAs supporting the claim of Arjun Munda have opened a battle front against Raghuwar Das terming him instrumental in pressurising central leadership not to form the Government with the JMM.

Party discipline could not deter them to hold a separate meeting at the residence of BJP MLA Gurucharan Nayak on Sunday; dropped missive to the BJP national president Nitin Gadkari to allow BJP-JMM Government.

Rajya Sabha polls to clear political haze in State

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Political parties reacted differently over the imposition of the President's rule in Jharkhand. However, the BJP and the JMM leadership gave identical reaction despite having parted their ways in the coalition politics in Jharkhand.

Both the parties have opposed President's rule and refused to blame each other for the same. While the BJP accused the Congress for conspiring against the democracy, the JMM remained silent on this count.

Rajya Sabha elections for two seats scheduled to be held on June 17 will provide some clues of the coming day politics and combination where none of the political party is in the position to win even a single seat. “Though JMM (18 MLAs) is a floating vote it has the tendency to drift anywhere…but its tilt towards a political party — be it Congress or BJP. It will prove crucial to ascertain about 'what next of government formation,” a senior Congress leader said.

“President's rule cannot be an option in democracy. What happened is unfortunate, I had earlier expressed my apprehension that the Congress wants a proxy rule in Jharkhand…our party will keep an eye on the function of the State Government under President rule,” BJP national general secretary Arjun Munda said.

However, party's spokesperson Sanjay Seth found nothing new in this. “It was bound to happen. The Congress succeeded in its design. From the very first day of the formation of Jharkhand; the Congress has been trying to destabilise Governments.” Seth demanded fresh mandate stating that a fresh election was the only solution of a stable Government.

But JMM's stand is slightly different from the BJP. “We are facing President's rule once again. It is unfortunate for Jharkhand. We have already resigned from the Government. But efforts should certainly be made to form a Government. But then it is premature to tell that when will be the next Government formed. There is no option for a popular Government,” JMM general secretary Hemant Soren said.

JMM-BJP maintaining same line of condemnation could be a mere coincidence or it could be an indication of the future course of State politics even as BJP insiders said that the option to form Government along with the JMM has been ruled out totally.

“We still treat the JMM as our friend despite the fact that our relation has soared. Central BJP might not agree to form a coalition Government in the coming days fearing unprecedented criticism from different quarter. But then the leadership would be convinced to relax its stand so far opposing Government formation,” the BJP insider said.

Rajya Sabha polls to clear political haze in State

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Political parties reacted differently over the imposition of the President's rule in Jharkhand. However, the BJP and the JMM leadership gave identical reaction despite having parted their ways in the coalition politics in Jharkhand.

Both the parties have opposed President's rule and refused to blame each other for the same. While the BJP accused the Congress for conspiring against the democracy, the JMM remained silent on this count.

Rajya Sabha elections for two seats scheduled to be held on June 17 will provide some clues of the coming day politics and combination where none of the political party is in the position to win even a single seat. “Though JMM (18 MLAs) is a floating vote it has the tendency to drift anywhere…but its tilt towards a political party — be it Congress or BJP. It will prove crucial to ascertain about 'what next of government formation,” a senior Congress leader said.

“President's rule cannot be an option in democracy. What happened is unfortunate, I had earlier expressed my apprehension that the Congress wants a proxy rule in Jharkhand…our party will keep an eye on the function of the State Government under President rule,” BJP national general secretary Arjun Munda said.

However, party's spokesperson Sanjay Seth found nothing new in this. “It was bound to happen. The Congress succeeded in its design. From the very first day of the formation of Jharkhand; the Congress has been trying to destabilise Governments.” Seth demanded fresh mandate stating that a fresh election was the only solution of a stable Government.

But JMM's stand is slightly different from the BJP. “We are facing President's rule once again. It is unfortunate for Jharkhand. We have already resigned from the Government. But efforts should certainly be made to form a Government. But then it is premature to tell that when will be the next Government formed. There is no option for a popular Government,” JMM general secretary Hemant Soren said.

JMM-BJP maintaining same line of condemnation could be a mere coincidence or it could be an indication of the future course of State politics even as BJP insiders said that the option to form Government along with the JMM has been ruled out totally.

“We still treat the JMM as our friend despite the fact that our relation has soared. Central BJP might not agree to form a coalition Government in the coming days fearing unprecedented criticism from different quarter. But then the leadership would be convinced to relax its stand so far opposing Government formation,” the BJP insider said.

A file photo of Maharaja Kameshwar singh of Darbhanga (1907-1962



RS SPECIAL

Grass is green in Jharkhand for all to enter Upper House

Vijay Deo Jha | NATION | Thursday, June 3, 2010



From Maharaja to business tycoon, Jharkhand has been the green pasture for the political refuge. Outsiders' ability to win elections specially that of Rajya Sabha has inspired many.

The upcoming Rajya Sabha election for two seats in Jharkhand, scheduled for June 17, has come as an open invitation to outsiders, politicians and tycoons: Grass is green here in Jharkhand.

The Maharajadhiraj of Raj Darbhanga, Sri Kameswar Singh, was not a refugee when he won Rajya Sabha election as the candidate of Jharkhand Party of Jaipal Singh in 1952. But he had no connection with the tribals, the party and tribal politics of the region known as Jharkhand was yet to born on the Indian map.

There might not be so many around to give you first-hand narration of Maharaja's pact with hockey wizard Jaipal Singh to enter into the Rajya Sabha after he had lost the general election. Jaipal Singh was persuaded by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to give Maharaja the party symbol.

Gautam Kumar Bera in his book The Unrest axle: ethno-social movement in Eastern India has presented that details: "It was given against the consent of the party workers who resented. Maharaja had no connection with the tribal people and Jharkhand. His (Jaipal) MLAs did not dare to oppose the decision."

Jharkhand ended embargo on the Diku (outsider) in their political life and the same came along with the election of Minu Mashani from the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat.

But those who were closely associated with Raj Darbhanga and Maharaja despite their falling age and memory lapse will tell you that Jaipal Singh was seduced to accept the offer believing that Kameswar Singh with his fabulous wealth and his two leading newspaper --- Indian Nation and Aryavarta --- would prove beneficial for him and his party as well.

Winning Rajya Sabha election even that time was not possible without money. Maharaja had to spend around Rs three lakh to keep the JP fold together, it is said. But he could not succeed in getting the ticket second time. It is another story.

And after the formation of Jharkhand, the State became the free hunting ground of the political aspirations of the tycoon and refugees. The man who startled people of the State the most was Parimal Nathwani, the corporate head of Reliance Industries Limited, during Rajya Sabha election 2008. He entered in the fray as an independent and won it without any pains. At least nine JMM, two RJD and a few of others made him to win.

It is despite JMM chief Shibu Soren had filed Kishorilal as the party candidate. But then, Kishorilal was also an outsider. Media wasted rims of paper to narrate the success story of Nathwani: It is money that matters."

The JMM is not to be blamed alone; the BJP and the Congress in the past have shown hospitality in fielding outsiders in the Rajya Sabha election since there is no constitutional impropriety.

BJP MP SS Ahluwalia, a Sikh born and brought up in Asansol, is married to a Bengali and speaks Bengali fluently but never had any role in Bengal politics. He was accommodated in Jharkhand. Former BJP MP Devdas Apte is not seen after his term ended. Similarly, Congress MP Mabelo Rebello of Goan descent born in Udupi and close to the Goan border with Karnataka, has no connections, even remote, with Jharkhand and its soil. She is an articulate, seasoned and spirited parliamentarian.

They are obviously assets to their respective parties they are god lobbyists, but do not have any mass base to fall back on the poll. There is no dearth of seasoned politicians in the political parties to field them as candidates. Among non-politicians there are academicians and others who could be the best choice. But it seems all political parties are looking for some rich and outsider as candidate in this election too. Only JVM chief Babulal Marandi has said no to it.

Soren pays back lawyer with RS seat

Vijay Deo Jha | NATION | Friday, June 4, 2010

JMM chief might not have paid a high fee to his eminent lawyers but then he has already paid them handsomely with Rajya Sabha nomination.

He had offered Rajya Sabha seat to lawyer RK Anand who had bailed him out of Parliament bribery case. In a similar vein, Soren on Thursday projected his lawyer Sanjeev Kumar as JMM candidate for Rajya Sabha election who has been arguing in Kurko murder case of Giridih. Soren made this announcement in Giridih where he stated "lawyer Sanjeev is the choice of the JMM for Rajya Sabha election."

The announcement helped to develop fissure in the index of JMM-AJSU alliance as AJSU chief Sudesh Kumar Mahato expressed surprise over the announcement of Soren. Sudesh used a close guarded language to comment over what he said: "I think it is an announcement of the proposal. Do not read so much between the lines. Sanjeev might be Soren's choice."

"But, it will have to be decided in the joint meeting of the alliance partners," Sudesh concluded.

Independent MLA Chamra Linda who continues to side with Soren the day Soren's Government landed in trouble is also the part of the political confederacy which has so far decided to maintain unity for the Rajya Sabha polls for the two seats scheduled to be held on June 17.

"I am not aware of this. No such proposal of the name of the lawyer has come from the side of the JMM," Linda said. Resentments are brewing in the JMM fold. "We have no problem with the person proposed as JMM candidate but the thing is that Soren has the tendency to make announcement without discussing it at the party forum," a senior JMM leader said.

But the lawyer is merely happy at the prospect of being nominated as JMM candidate and claimed that even in the past he was offered Rajya Sabha seat by Soren himself.

"On many occasions in the past Soren hinted me his intention to field me in Rajya Sabha election. I politely turn down the proposal as I wanted to concentrate on my career as a lawyer in the Supreme Court," Sanjeev Kumar said to The Pioneer.

Sanjeev who had argued the Sashinath Jha murder case involving Soren at Delhi High Court worked under eminent apex court lawyer Ram Jethmalani. Sanjeev joined the apex court in 1986. He has also argued in the behalf of Soren in Jamtara case.

Claiming his association with Soren during his childhood days; the lawyer reserves high regard for him. "I belong to the place Maniyadih in district Giridih where Soren had started his movement for a separate Jharkhand and against the money launders. It was Soren who brought me to New Delhi for further study in law from the hard-to-reach area like Maniyadih."

The lawyer completed his schooling in Rajgang High School in Dhanbad and shifted back to Giridih to complete his intermediate. A student of Ranchi College where he studied Physics (Hons.) Sanjeev shifted to Delhi University to pursue study in the law faculty.

After nominating Sanjeev as JMM candidate Soren spent some times with his old friends including Vansi Ram, Vansi Sen, Narad Sen and Kaushwa Tudu at his old abode at village Balwa.

Cong nomination for RS stings JVM

Vijay Deo Jha | RANCHI | Saturday, June 5, 2010


The Central leadership of the Congress on Friday announced the name of Dhiraj Sahu as party candidate for Rajya Sabha election, leaving its alliance partner Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) fumed.

"Sahu's name has been finalised for the RS election. Talks are going on to persuade the JVM to accept the Congress candidate," a senior Congress MLA said.

Claiming that State Congress incharge K Keshav Rao has been in touch with JVM chief Babulal Marandi, he said that a final picture will emerge within a few days.

The JVM reacted sharply over the decision and decided to hold a special meeting on Saturday to announce its stand. "At this point of time I can say only that it is the decision of the Congress that came without consulting us. We had requested the Congress leadership to leave Rajya Sabha seat for the JVM," party general secretary Praveen Singh said.

The JVM argued that the Congress should leave some home space for regional party like JVM reminding that during the Assembly election the JVM had conceded more than enough seats for the Congress.

"You need to reciprocate with same gesture as we deed during election. The Congress can field and manage to win Rajya Sabha seats from any part of the country which we cannot," senior JVM leader Pradeep Yadav said. Two JVM stalwarts Saba Ahmed and Praveen Singh are the strong contenders for the Rajya Sabha seat.

Meanwhile, JMM chief Shibu Soren on Friday retracted from his statement given on last day where he announced the name of his lawyer Sanjeev Kumar as the JMM candidate for Rajya Sabha.

"His candidature is not final," Soren said to the media in Bokaro. Soren moved to New Delhi this afternoon leaving bad taste for the lawyer. Sources admitted that Soren went to New Delhi to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi under the impression that his well-wishers have actually fixed an appointment with Gandhi to discuss the politics of the State. Though, the fact is far from reality.

Soren's sudden announcement was resented by his own party leaders and the alliance partner Sudesh Mahato of the AJSU, who contested that the final announcement could be made only during the joint meeting of the alliance partners. After the fall of the Soren Government, Sudesh continued to stand with the JMM and formed an alliance for Rajya Sabha elections. At least two independent MLAs --- Chamra Linda and Bidesh Singh are the part of this alliance.

Even the division and difference among the alliance partners over the choice of the candidate are worst. Dhanbad-based Pradeep Sonthaliya is the choice of some MLAs. Sunil Mishra of Godda has the blessing of JMM general secretary Hemant soren. Another Sahid Khan of Jamshedpur is being backed by JMM MLA and former Minister in the Soren Government Hazi Hussain Ansari and a few other party MLAs of Kolhan region. All of them are stated to have sound financial background that is probably an unstated requisite to win Rajya Sabha election as far as Jharkhand is concerned.

In a peculiar number game in the Assembly none of the political party or alliance is in the position to win even a single seat. But then, they are not far away in number to win the seat provided they scratch each others' back and do not stray till the date of election: June 17.

The Congress (14) and JVM (11) together need three more votes to win. So is the case with the JMM (18), AJSU (5) that needs another five votes to win. The alliance has the support of two independent MLAs. Independents will prove crucial in tapping the balance.

BJP Parliamentary Board remained undecided over the selection of candidate despite a meeting in this regard was called in New Delhi. Party sources said that BJP national president Nitin Gadkari has been authorised to take a decision. Sources admitted that the meeting did not discus the name of any candidate.

BJP (18MLAs) is far behind in number game with the support of another two MLAs of the JD(U). It still needs another eight votes to win. The party is probably looking for a heavyweight who could be able to muster support. "We are scratching our head," a senior BJP leader said on being about the party candidate.

Alchemist files nomination as RS candidate for JMM

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Sunday, June 6, 2010

He is an alchemist who has developed passion for politics. Kanwar Deep Singh landed in Ranchi on Saturday as an air-dropped candidate of the JMM to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha election.

Interestingly, he never figured in the list of the possible candidates of the JMM-AJSU combine till a few days back. Including Mathura Mahato, Hazi Hussain Ansari, Hemlal Murmu another five JMM MLAs seconded his candidature besides two independents-Videsh Singh and Chamra Linda.

Soon after his arrival the JMM held a meeting at the residence of Mathura Mahato to forge a consensus over the name of Singh. A peeved AJSU chief Sudesh Kumar Mahato left the meeting in the middle. “I wanted that local people should be projected as the candidate of the alliance,” he told the media.

“I am not an outsider. I have been associated with Jharkhand for the past seven years,” Singh offered the explanation without any asking. He was addressing a Press conference at the residence of JMM chief Shibu Soren on Saturday evening.

Singh who runs a chain of hospitals in New Delhi and Chandigarh named as Alchemist Hospital Group claims high about his connection with Jharkhand and its people. “I have been running an aviation training institute in Jamshedpur and have trained around 200 people so far,” he said but then conceded having no prior apprenticeship in politics.

He said he had got the inspiration from Shibu Soren, Hemant Soren and Sudesh to join politics. Hemant who was sitting by his side reciprocated in the same gesture and said it was Singh who inspired Soren to open an aviation training institute in Sonasugandh in Dumka. Both showered compliments on each other.

The rookie then showed his political colours. “Sudeshji se meri baat hui hai wo mere saath hai…agar Baba (Shibu Soren) mujhe sansad me Jharkhand ki awaaz banana chahte hai to kya galat hai, (I had a talk with Sudeshji.

He is with me. What’s wrong if Baba wants me to make the voice of Jharkhand in Parliament.)?”

Stating that he had some plans to do some good for Jharkhand in the health sector, he claimed that this was one of his reasons behind joining politics through the Rajya Sabha election. “You can imagine what I can do for Jharkhand…a lot of works are to be done,” Singh rather tried to suggest that he could be a valuable edition for Jharkhand where health care service was not present even in token.

Tragic comedy was at its best display in the Congress-Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) following the decision of the Congress to field Dhiraj Sahu as the party candidate for the Rajya Sabha.

State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu applied balm over the hurt sentiment of the JVM at a Press conference pledging the unity of the alliance. Balmuchu refuted the fact that his party had announced the candidate without consulting the JVM which wanted to field its candidate. “We were in regular with JVM chief Babulal Marandi during these days before announcing Sahu’s candidature. But we regret for not consulting the JVM before making a final announcement. We hope that they will understand,” Balmuchu said at a Press conference at the party headquarters.

Marandi held a marathon meeting on Saturday to decide the further course of strategy following the decision of the party. “We understand that people have a lot of expectation from the Congress-JVM alliance. We do not want to break it for petty reasons. But then the Congress did not consult us before announcing the name of Sahu. We have decided to field a JVM candidate in Rajya Sabha election…we are ready for a friendly contest,” JVM general secretary Praveen Singh said soon after the meeting.

The JVM has demanded that the Congress explain how it had announced its candidate without consulting them. The JVM has left enough space for the crisis to defuse. But it depends on the ability of the Congress leadership to convince the JVM the circumstances under which it announced the name of Sahu.

“If they can convince us with genuine and sound logic we might think about changing our stand,” Praveen Singh said. The party has authorised Marandi to take a final decision.

Meanwhile BJP sources said that they were ready to support an independent candidate if they felt that such a candidate had a chance of winning.

BJP bets on veteran Ajay Maru

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Monday, June 7, 2010

The BJP has pinned its hopes on its old horse Ajay Maru for the Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand, knowing well that he can at most make the contest triangular — he has no chance to win the election.

The BJP Parliamentary Board after a brief meeting announced his candidature for the Rajya Sabha election on Sunday. “Maru will be the BJP candidate for the election to Rajya Sabha seat, scheduled to be held on June 17,” said State BJP spokesperson Sanjay Seth. At a time when the BJP miserably suffered a major shrink in recently held Assembly election having to console with only 18 seats, the party does not even think to give a decent fight to JMM and Congress-AJSU candidates — KD Singh and Dhiraj Sahu.

In another major development on Sunday, the Jharkhand Vikash Morcha finally agreed to lend support to the Congress candidate. Earlier, the JVM had threatened to field its candidate blaming their alliance partner, the Congress, for not taking it into confidence before the announcement of the Rajya Sabha candidate.

The day began with hectic political parleys after AICC incharge K Keshav Rao, along with other senior leaders like Pradeep Balmuchu, CLP leader Rajinder Singh, Radha Krishna Kishore and others, visited JVM chief Babulal Marandi at his residence.

Soon after the meeting, Rao announced Sahu as the joint candidate of the alliance and claimed: “Our alliance stands as a rock against the Opposition,” he said and added, “We trust each other because people trust us.” Promising to ensure better coordination between the alliance partners, Rao mooted the proposal to form a coordination committee. Sources in the Congress said that the party might offer Marandi to head the committee.

Marandi also talked about the need to forge better coordination and said that his party will support Sahu and said: “Sahu is the candidate of the alliance we will vote for him.”

The Congress after getting assurance from the JVM has now 25 votes in its hand and needs another three votes to win. Besides the support of lone MLA of Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch, Bandhu Tirkey, the party is looking for another two crucial votes.

The Congress displayed no sign of wariness as a senior Congress leader claimed that the party will get more than 28 votes. “At least one vote of the NDA will stray in the Congress side the day of the voting,” the leader indicated towards JD(U) MLA Raja Peter.

The JMM candidate, KD Singh, is comfortable in the fray; it is despite AJSU chief Sudesh Kumar Mahato airing his discontent in public over the choice. “I was in the favour of a local candidate. But they (JMM leaders) fielded KD Singh without consulting us,” Mahato said. On being asked whether he will carry his impression till the date of election, Mahato was not so resolute. “We will discuss this issue with the JMM. We don’t have enough number of MLAs to field our own candidate.”

The two seats of the Rajya Sabha are going to poll on June 17, for which nominations can be filed by June 7. Maru will file his nomination on Monday. One cannot rule out a surprise till last minute of the election. Money rules the game in the Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand.

Three candidates left in RS poll race

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Tuesday, June 8, 2010

As the time to file nomination for two seats of the Rajya Sabha ended at 3 pm on Monday, three candidates remained in fray —- Ajay Maru (BJP), Dhiraj Sahu (Congress-JVM), and KD Singh of the JMM. Maru filed his nomination papers on Monday.

The election to the two seats will be held on June 17. The JMM-AJSU rattled over the selection of Kuwar Deep Singh. However, Singh got some relief after AJSU chief Sudesh Kumar Mahato finally announced to support the JMM candidate at a Press conference on Monday. The AJSU chief rued the decision of the JMM to field an outsider in the Rajya Sabha election, but finally Mahato conceded as a compulsion of the coalition dharma.

“We wished the JMM field a local candidate. We wanted a discussion among the coalition partners before agreeing to a name. It did not happen. But then AJSU is the alliance partner of the JMM. It is the part of our coalition dharma to support the JMM candidate,” Mahato said. He was flanked by four of his party MLAs.

The BJP, which expected that a last-time rupture in the JMM-AJSU alliance to force Mahato to drift towards the NDA, will have to knock some other houses for critical support of eight MLAs to win the seat. Ironically doors are not even ajar for the BJP.

The presence of the BJP has only made the battle triangular. While a candidate needs 28 votes of the first preference, the Congress-JVM and the JMM-AJSU candidates are very close to the number and require just three votes each, which may come from the independents. Even if the BJP and the JD(U), with 18 and two MLAs respectively, stands together they require another 10 votes of the first preference and it hardly appears feasible for Maru to win the race even if acts smartly to garner some votes of second preference. The BJP has instructed its MLAs not to cast the vote of second preference.

The RJD with five MLAs has maintained a tactical silence over its voting behaviour. “We have not decided our move so far. Let the picture become clear,” leader of the RJD legislative party Annapurna Devi said.

However, the RJD is divided over the choice: the Congress or the JMM. “If we are at loggerhead with the Congress in Bihar there is no point to join hands with them in Jharkhand,” a senior RJD leader said complaining Congress of step-motherly treatment.

Even the RJD is not clamouring in secular voices to support the Congress or the JMM either, as it used to echo for the formation of a secular government. Fact of the matter is that as a Congress leader said: “If Sahu has been in touch with the RJD MLAs then it is a different matter but the Congress leadership has not approached them. This time their support is not crucial for us as it happened last time.” There was unconfirmed swirl of rumours about the arrival of a NRI of Gujrati origin, NH Patel, who reportedly contacted the RJD and the AJSU for himself.

On the other hand, the JMM and its chief Shibu Soren continued to be a new story everyday. Soren maintained his unique distinction to change his stand over the projection and selection of the party candidate contradicting what he said publicly last day and even a few hours back.

For example, he projected and even announced the name of his lawyer Sanjeev Kumar as JMM candidate for the Rajya Sabha. The very next day he retracted it and termed it a mere proposal. JMM general secretary and Soren’s son Hemant Soren imported a business tycoon Kuwar Deep Singh as party candidate.

The day after his nomination Soren sprang surprise. “Who is KD Singh, I do not know him. I had not seen his face before. Hemant called me to accompany him (Singh) from New Delhi to Ranchi and I followed it. I was told that he is my doctor.”

Soren’s tom might make news but hardly serious. In the political circle it is widely believed that the JMM has been trying to lemon-off the maximum out of the purse of billionaire Singh. But, when politics and politicians of Jharkhand have date with such people during Rajya Sabha elections the weight of currency often under-weights ideological mooring.

Guv orders FIR against ex-chairman of JPSC

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Thursday, June 10, 2010

Governor MOH Farook on Wednesday directed State vigilance bureau to lodge an FIR against the then members and examination controller of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) for giving undue privilege to their close relatives and some others in the second State civil service examination. It includes the then Chairman of the JPSC, Dilip Prasad, and members —- Gopal Prasad Singh, Shanti Devi, Radha Krishna Nagesh and others.

With the direction of the Governor, 19 officials against whom the bureau has collected evidences have been attached with the Department of Personnel. Farook also directed the bureau to serve show-cause notices on them asking why their employment should not be terminated.

Among the tainted officials is Prashant Kumar Layak, the Dhalbhumgarh BDO of who was abducted and later released by the Maoists this year. Layak is stated to be the relative of JVM leader Pradeep Yadav. Radha Prem Kishore (DSP); Vinod Ram (Administrative service), younger brother of Shanti Devi; Mukesh Kumar (DSP). brother of AJSU chief

Sudesh Kumar Mahato; Kundan Kumar Singh (Finance service) and Rajnish Kumar (administrative service), both sons of Gopal Prasad Singh, are some other officials who have been taken to task.

Moushmi Nagesh (Finance service), daughter of Radha Govind Nagesh; Sangita Kumari (Finance service), relative of Dilip Prasad; Harishankar Barik (Administrative Service),Kumar Kujur, relative of a senior IPS officer, and Shivendra, relative of Gopal Singh, all from police service; Kanu Ram Nag, associated with former Chief Minister Arjun Munda; Prakash Kumar, Santosh Kumar Chaudhary, Kumari Gitanjali, Lal Manoj Nath Sahdeo and Hari Oraon all from administrative service, are those officials against whom proceedings will be started.

Directing to constitute a special team, the Governor has asked the bureau to complete the investigation within three months. In case the bureau requires manpower for investigation, the State Government asked it to appoint retired CBI officials on contract basis. Farook acted tough following the report of the investigation bureau indicating malpractices in the scrutiny of the examination copies of the candidates listed above. The bureau that has been investigating the case following the instruction of the State Government has scrutinised examination copies and the records of the interview of around 37 passed candidates. Taking a stern view against the report of irregularities in other examinations conducted by the JPSC, the Governor asked the bureau to form special team to investigate lectureship, Marketing Supervisor and Cooperative examination.

Earlier on April 13 this year, the Governor had ordered the suspension of former JPSC chairman Dilip Prasad. It should be noted that the advisory council of then Governor Syed Sibtey Razi on February 25, 2009 had recommended Prasad’s dismissal. Other JPSC members Gopal Prasad Singh and former member Radha Govind Singh Nagesh were also in the line of fire. The council had also requested President Pratibha Patil for a probe into their conducts and institution of criminal cases against them. Razi had acted following the complaints, including of irregularities in the appointment of 239 civil servants and 1,044 college teachers.

The University Grant Commission, following Jharkhand BET-NET Association’s complaints of irregularities in the appointment of college lectures, had requested the Governor to look into the allegation. There was no respite for the JPSC chairman after the next Governor, K Sankaranarayanan, on August 4, 2009 had given nod for vigilance inquiry against Prasad, Nagesh and Santi Devi.

Rules reshaped to accommodate politicians, JPSC members’ kin

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Friday, June 11, 2010

The result of lectureship examination 2007 conducted by the JPSC has revealed a massive scam, wherein, kin of panel’s members and politicians of the State have been selected en masse. Their selection is already under scanner of the State vigilance bureau.

Most of them are close relatives or the associates of the members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the powerful politicians of the State.

Around 200 of the selected 850 (approx) candidates are close associates or the relatives of the members of the JPSC or the politicians for whom law was twisted despite the directives of then acting chief justice SD Mukhopadhayay who asked the JPSC while hearing the case number WPS 1059/ 2006, to hold the examination under the guidelines of the University grant Commission and the Central University Act.

Former JPSC member Gopal Prasad Singh reaped maximum benefit by securing the success of around a dozen of his relatives and associates.

Learned justice had asked the JPSC to give preference to candidates having cleared National Eligibility Test and Bihar Eligibility Test. Showing thumbs to Court JPSC members in collusion with the vested interest formed Jharkhand Appointment Rules and conducted Jharkhand Eligibility Test to ensure easy entry of their close associates in the lectureship interview. Scam was in formative phase at that time.

“We will probe the matter once the investigation into irregularities in the results of the second civil service examination conducted by the JPSC is complete. But we will start working out the case any time after June 20. Special team is in the process to be formed to handle the case,” a senior official of the vigilance bureau said.

Take a look at the list of the close relatives of the then JPSC member Gopal Prasad Singh. Anil Kumar Singh, Tripurari Prasad Singh (brother-in-law), Jugnu Singh (daughter in law), Shankar Singh (brother), Rekha Singh (relative), Kundan Singh (son), Sailendra Singh (close friend), Piush Bala (wife of close friend), Juli (wife of Dinesh Singh) another close friend of Gopal, Ratna Jha, Indira Tiwari, Narendra Jha, Manish Dubey (family friend) etc are some of the beneficiaries of lectureship scam.

Among them Kundan has a very interesting case as he had not cleared his Master in Commerce before he was selected in the lectureship. It is a matter of investigation that how Kundan was allowed to appear in the interview. “A candidate is not allowed to appear for the interview without having Master degree. Lectureship examination was not free and fair,” said an official of the JPSC.

Another former JPSC member Shanti Kumari resorted to malpractice to favour her sister Kanti Kumari.

Take a look at the political beneficiaries and you will come to know as to why leaders are pretty silent over such a mega scam. Rajkumar, the close associate of former BJP Chief Minister is teaching history at SS Memorial College. Preoccupied with the political activity of Jharkhand, Rajkumar might not have got time to update his knowledge in history. Jajdish Lohara the close aide of former HRD Minister Bandhu Tirkey also teaches history.

Luck smiled on Satrudhan Pandey one time reporter covering Trikey and HRD also became the lecturer of history teaching in a college in Hazaribagh. Dhruvnarayan Singh brother of assembly speaker CP Singh is now the lecturer in Mathematics at Chas College Bokaro, Snehlata Murmu daughter of former HRD Minister Hemlal Murmu is another history in making as she teaches History in one of the primer college of Santhal Pargana SP College Dumka, Rozlina wife of younger brother of NCP leader and former Minister Kamlesh Kumar Singh teaches Psychology to the girls of Ranchi Women’s College. Dr Ajay Kumar Singh who is stated to be the brother of RJD leader Girinath Singh was appointed as the lecturer of Psychology with another RJD leader Ramchandra Chandravansi whose brother is among those influential few who became lecturer. Two of the relatives of the suspended IAS officer Avinash Kumar—his wife and sister-in-law as well—were fortunate few. One of them was selected in History.

History is a case study of mass irregularities. JPSC appointed 41 candidates against sanctioned 37 posts. The fact came to light after one Vina Dubey sought the details from the JPSC under Right to Information. The preliminary investigation has revealed that besides flouting several laws the JPSC flouted three percent mandatory reservation for physically handicapped.

“Most of them left study decades back. They became lecturers by dubious means. They will spoil whole generation because they are not meant for teaching. They should be removed,” said secretary of Jharkhand BET-NET Association who is fighting this battle. After the removal of Dilip Prasad in the wake of controversies AK Sengupta has been appointed as an acting chairman. He refused to comment over what happened in the past. He promised a fresh beginning. “Transpa-rent,” he said.

Fix priorities for development: PC

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked officials and secretaries of departments to fix their priorities of the fiscal year 2010-11 by the end of June 30 so that its benefits reach the people.

During a marathon meeting with top officials of the Jharkhand Government at Raj Bhavan on Friday morning, Chidambaram rebuked the babus for their poor performance and rejected the statistics put forward by them.

Sources in the Government that the PC took officials to task for the non-execution of plans that he had set in his last visit to the State when Jharkhand was under President’s rule.

When officials tabled a proposal to construct another five lakh houses under Indira Awas Yojna in Jharkhand, the Union Minister demanded an explanation of the progress made in the past. Dismissing the data as ‘insufficient and incomplete’, he asked the officials to do more homework and directed them to complete pending works. Blowing hot and cold during the meeting, PC advised them to work in high spirits irrespective of how long the President’ Rule continue in Jharkhand. “You will stay. Do not care about the duration of the President’s rule,” he said.

Holding meetings in two phases; first with Governor MOH Farook, two newly appointed advisers and other top officials, including Chief Secretary AK Singh, DGP Neyaz Ahmed. Chidambaram held second round of meeting exclusively with the secretaries of the departments.

Chidambaram expressed concern over his flagship project Operation Green Hunt in the first phase of the meeting. Three officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs —- architects of anti-Naxal operation and security adviser DS Dadwal, Joint Secretary (Naxal management) Kashmir Singh and additional secretary (Naxal Management) DRS Chaudhary —- along with additional director of Intelligence Bureau P Mahendu took part in the security meeting.

Chidambaram, who in the past blamed ‘limited mandate’ as reason behind after failure of anti-Naxal operations in the States like Chhattisgarh, was not pleased with soft-peddling of Naxal issues by the Shibu Soren Government

Directing the police to continue a sustained operation against Naxalites, Chidambaram briefed strategy for the coming days. He assured to provide logistic supports, including specialised military training for the cops.

A source said: “Chidambaram asked top police and CRPF officers to work out strategy and avoid unplanned move to minimise the chances of the casualty.”

He heard patiently the request of the Governor to provide financial assistance for infrastructural development of Special Task Force (Jharkhand Jaguar) and Cobra Battalion specially formed for anti-Naxal operation. Farook had another proposal —- to include Naxal-hit villages of Ranchi (rural), Giridih and Khunti under Centre’s scheme of special financial package.

Stating that the development project must be pro-poor, he listed a number of programmes meant for the BPL family: distribution of food, old-age pension through Public Distribution System meant for people falling under Antyodaya.

Chidambaram directed strict implementation of projects under MGNREGA as well as the distribution of land among tribals of the Naxal-infested area. The Chief Secretary requested relaxation in guidelines of some of the centrally sponsored schemes like MGNREGA and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna to which Chidambaram assured consideration. But he made it clear that delay in the execution of the projects particularly in Naxal-hit areas cannot be tolerated.

Don’t fight in public, prepare for poll: BJP

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The BJP bosses mustered no courage to discuss the party’s fiasco in Jharkhand during the national executive in Patna. However, they asked the Jharkhand BJP leaders to prepare for Assembly election that might go along with Assembly election in Bihar.

“It was a national executive meeting and discussed only national issues. Jharkhand was not on the agenda. But then, we have been indicated to be prepared for the election in Jharkhand that might be held along with Bihar,” BJP’s national general secretary Arjun Munda said.

Meanwhile, the sources said that the central leadership was not pleased with the way differences among the leaders of Jharkhand BJP became public over the formation of the Government.

Cautioning them not to air their differences, the central leadership has sent a stern message to leaders. “Though the Nitish Kumar affair overshadowed most of the crucial issues and the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar remained the focal point of the agend, the BJP suffered a loss of image in Jharkhand. The leadership suggested for a quick plan of action to end the organisational dishevelment in Jharkhand,” a senior BJP leader said.

As the BJP leadership apprehends the Assembly election in Jharkhand, it has decided to start the process of the appointing the Jharkhand BJP president after the Rajya Sabha elections.

The central BJP has been relying on the field reports of Jharkhand gathered from different sources (other than regular feed) that has portrayed the party organisation a complete basket case. “If the elections are held in the near future, the party might not even retain the present tally of 18. We are left with little time to correct the things,” an office bearer of the party said.

Following the issues that has been raised, a crucial meeting of the Jharkhand BJP would be held on Wednesday. Besides the senior party functionaries, district president of the party, MLAs and MPs have been asked to attend the meeting. State BJP spokesperson Sanjay Seth said that the process of the organisational elections will be discussed during the meeting. A fresh appointment of the State BJP president is also on the agenda.

Nevertheless, central BJP asked Raghuwar Das to stay as the party president who soon after becoming the Deputy Chief Minister of the coalition Government had resigned from his post.

But, whether the appointment will be made through election or selection, is another controversial issue dogging the party. A section of the BJP-led by Munda in the past had demanded the appointment of the president through election. The central BJP may find it tough to maintain balance between the warring factions.

In the memory of the last one-decade, elections for the State BJP president was done only once in 2002. The way Abhayakant Prasad got elected against Suryamani Singh was another interesting story.

Within limited period, it will be difficult for the party to rejuvenate the organization as there are three prolems arising at this point: Firstly, membership drive is in tardy process; it is yet to be completed; and another is, the organisational election cannot be kicked-off before completing the first. Third problem is the party’s core committee that often takes crucial view over such matters before holding a larger meeting is defunct from the past eight months.

“My memory supports me to say that after the election, no such meeting of the core committee has been held so far. The core committee plays a crucial role in such matter and here the core committee is looking for a role which it has not been asked for,” senior BJP leader Saryu Rai said.

JPSC bends rules to appoint kin as deputy registrar

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Former members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) is now facing a vigilance probe for allegedly twisting rules to appoint their kith and kin as deputy registrars in the universities of Jharkhand.

For instance, the deputy registrar of the Ranchi University, Preetam Kumar did not fulfill the minimum qualification, ie, a minimum of eight years of service at a Government college holding the post of reader, the day he was appointed as the deputy registrar.

He was appointed against an advertisement by the JPSC in 2004 for vacancy of five deputy registrar, assistant registrars and others. But Preetam Kumar was only a lecturer with barely two-and-half years of service at a Government college when he was appointed deputy registrar.

“Rules were bended in his favour. According to rule the candidate must be a reader with minimum of eight years of teaching experience at a Government college. He had barely two and half years of teaching experience the day he was appointed deputy registrar of Ranchi University,” Sunil Kamal, Secretary Jharkhand NET-BET Association, said.

Preetam Kumar is stated to be the younger brother of sacked JPSC chairman Dilip Prasad. Interestingly Kamal who had applied for the post of deputy registrar at Ranchi University under Scheduled Caste category was surprised to know after the publication of the results that the JPSC had abolished the reserved post without publishing any corrigendum.

Preetam Kumar, who was selected in Bihar by the Bihar State University Commission in the year 2003, joined as lecturer of English at one of the colleges of Jaiprakash Narayan University, Chapra.

But then his association with the then chairman of the JPSC came as an added advantage. Though, rule regarding to the selection of deputy registrar clearly mentioned that the incumbent must possess a minimum of eight years of teaching experience at a constituent college. RU insiders said that JPSC relaxed the rule and counted his teaching experience of an affiliated college; Sanjay Gandhi Memorial College, where he taught for around six years.

“Since the post of deputy registrar is equivalent to the post of reader, the incumbent must fulfill the criteria. The appointment was finally made in April 2005…Preetam had superseded others,” a top RU official said.

While such appointments have come under the scanner the current status of the deputy registrar is not known. RU Vice-Chancellor AA Khan does not know whether Preetam Kumar is on lien or he resigned from the Jaiprakash Narayan University or continuing service in both the universities.

Khan took shelter behind memory-muddle to ascertain whether the service of the deputy registrar has been confirmed or not. “I do not remember and I do not know anything,” Khan said.

So was the case with Preetam Kumar who refused to answer to those questions. “Mujhko maaf karo. Mai sidha-sadha aadmi hoon…koi controversy me fasna nahi chahta hoo. Aap university se inquiry kar len. (Spare me. I am a simple man…do not want to get indulged in controversy. You better inquire from the university about the matter.)”

AJSU demands fresh election

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Passing political resolution against the continuation of the President’s Rule in Jharkhand, the AJSU has demanded a fresh Assembly election if an alternative Government is not formed.

Stating this during 25th foundation day of the party on Tuesday called Mahapanchyat, the AJSU chief Sudesh Mahato said that his party was not afraid of facing electorates. “President’s Rule cannot be an option in democracy…we opposed to the continuation of the President’s Rule for a longer duration,” Sudesh said this while addressing a motley crowd at Morhabadi Ground.

He also demanded fresh election if an alternative Government is not formed within a timeframe. However, he gave no sign whether his party will take an initiative to explore the possibility of a popular Government he also refrained from accusing any political party for the political mess in Jharkhand. It was left for second-in-command in the party Chandraprakash Chaudhary and others to accuse national parties — without giving them a name — for dishonouring popular mandate.

Yet, he dropped a cryptic note of his role as the peacemaker to save the coalition Government of Shibu Soren where he was the deputy Chief Minister.

But he reminded his party workers and audience, “Lack of an effective leadership is the root cause of the plight of Jharkhand,” and made claim for AJSU that can give effective leadership. He appealed the party workers to enhance leadership quality in them and said that the era of borrowed leadership must end for of the betterment of Jharkhand.

Though, it was a meeting to celebrate the foundation day of the party; it looked an election rally. Confident to increase tally in the coming elections party leaders projected Sudesh as the mascot of the party and Jharkhand and spoke loud about his achievements and dedication for development in his capacity as the Minister in the previous Governments.

So was Sudesh; busy collecting laurels from the crowd sitting on the right flank of the stage: women. “In the previous government I got less time, four months to perform. But I gave you more than what you had been fighting from the past 40 years—reservation in the Panchayat body. Instead 33 percent I gave you 50 percent reservation in the Panchayat body,” the election to which yet to be held.

In the political resolution the AJSU demanded the creation of greater Jharkhand comprising the parts of West Bengal and Orrisa. Among the regional parties of Jharkhand the AJSU became the first party to demand census on the basis of caste. Demanding separate column for backward classes and others the party said that the people of such categories fail to get their due share.

But the AJSU which so far trusted its electoral base among Mahato community has taken the cause Sarna code of the tribals of the State. “Tribals of Jharkhand follow Sarana religion. But due to absence of a separate column of Sarana in the census form; their religion is often misquoted,” political resolution reads.

The party also demanded the identification, rehabilitation and reservation for those who took part in separate Jharkhand movement asking the State Government to take necessary actions following the initiatives taken by Sudesh as the Minister in the previous NDA Government.

Results of third JPSC mains under scanner

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Thursday, June 24, 2010

The news from the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) is not that it has published the results of third JPSC Mains', but the main news is that the results are not going to help it to refurbish its tainted image.

A random survey of the result of 720 selected candidates against 228 sanctioned posts suggests that the aspirants having taken regional languages like Nagpuri, Khortha and Santhali in their mains' examination have outnumbered others appeared who in the examination sans regional languages.

Though, the acting chairman of the JPSC, AK Sengupta, appeared confident about the result hoping it to be free and fair it is yet to be ascertained whether earlier JPSC exams deliberately left loopholes for the mass mayhem of merit on the result sheets.

There are few teachers or say experts of the regional languages — those can be counted on the finger — whose service the Jharkhand Public Service Commission might have been taking to prepare examination questions and scrutiny of the answer sheets.

It does not go with an intended question mark over teaching expertise of such few who are also running regular classes for the JPSC aspirants. JPSC like any other public service commission of the country maintains secrecy of the method of the evaluation of the examination copy.

"But if there is anything dirty deal inside it will come out very soon. Yet the result is surprising the way students of those who have been running coaching institute of regional language and literature have passed in large number creates suspicion," an aspirant Anil Kumar said.

For instance one Rajesh Kumar running coaching centre of Nagpuri language and literature for JPSC aspirants is credited with an astounding success ration. 18 out of 20 students who attended his classes are reported to have been called for interview.

For instance BN Ohdar and Vinod teaching Khortha are boasting with success ration which is around 90; so is Somrai Tete who runs classes in Santhali in Ranchi.

Nevertheless, a score of students made unsubstantiated claim that all of them have been associated with the examination process of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. The JPSC will never divulge any detail. The interview of the selected candidates will start from July 1.

The news about the result of third JPSC Mains is that commission's secretary Shivshankar Tiwari is reported to have already sent his doubts to the State Government with official seal.

Furious students block traffic for four hours

Vijay Deo Jha/Shruti Sahay | RANCHI | Saturday, June 26, 2010

College students and activists of the students’ union surged on the Ranchi University on Friday forcing shutdown and disrupting traffic for around four hours.

Unions like NSUI, ABVP, Jharkhand Chatra Morcha, Jharkhand Chatra Vikas Morcha, Student’s union AJSU and others held a joint demonstration in front of the university gate alleging RU administration for not taking any step to regularise their classes in the past three months in the wake of the strike of the non-teaching staff of the university.

Those who triggered rampage, though, are not listed as the regular attendee of the classes but they held placards to tell the problem faced by students in filling up the admission and examination forms.

At 10.30 am, NSUI activist tried to barge on the RU campus and blocked the narrow road connecting Firayalal Chowk to the Kutchery for four hours. They prevented RU Vice-Chancellor AA Khan, Vice-Chancellor and Pro-VC, VP Sharan from entering the university gates. The officials tried to pacify students, who were in no mood to relent.

RU Vice-Chancellor is scheduled to meet Governor’s adviser VS Dubey to resolve the issue of strike of the non-teaching strike on Saturday.

Partially accepting the problem of students, Khan said that students have been facing problem in filling up examination and admission forms which can be downloaded through internet. “We are trying to solve the problem. Yes, there is staff crunch due to the strike. The university has many days to scrutinise the forms. But teaching except in Intermediate classes are not hampered. RU is not responsible for this. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Jharkhand Academic Council,” Khan said.

For hours the university gate remained the centre of student’s unrest — sloganeering and burning tyres as the mark of protest. Around 2.30 pm, City SP, Shambhu Thakur along with Law and Order ADM, Debar Jonko and Executive Magistrate, Narendra Kumar Gupta reached the spot and appealed to the students to sit across the table. They demanded that the Director Higher Education Anjani Kumar Srivastava should meet them.

Director Higher Education probably had nothing to do with their complaints. “It seems that the non-teaching staffs not satisfied over few points after their salary was fixed in accordance with the recommendation of the Fifth pay Commission. But the HRD refused some of their demands, including that of sanctioned post. Non-teaching staff association used students force to pressurise the Government and the RU,” a senior HRD officer said.

Late on Friday evening, a delegation of NSUI leaders met Srivastava. It was decided to hold joint meeting of the representatives of the non-teaching staffs, leaders of the students union and RU official on Saturday to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, the ABVP has called the meeting of State representatives on Saturday to decide on their programme to intensify the agitation.

“If the issue is not resolved in a couple of days, the ABVP will gherao the Raj Bahvan in the coming days,” Suman Kumar, ABVP general secretary said.

In the last five days, students’ unrest has spread from one college to another starting from SS Memorial to the campus of RU getting murkier with each passing day.

Maoists performs marriage of couple at kangaroo court

Vijay Deo Jha RANCHI | Thursday, June 24, 2010

You will not expect the Maoists singing and dancing on filmi songs at a kangaroo court instead of their pet revolutionary songs: Lal Salam. That was true with the kangaroo court held on late Tuesday night in the deep forest of village Barbaiyah situated on the border of Latehar-Palamu district.

Call it their desperate move to rebuild their image among the public or their spirit to fight against social evil cadres of the CPI(Maoist) they performed the marriage of a couple Pawan Kumar and Sandhya Kumari, who had been in love from the past three years. But they could not marry due to the demand of dowry by Virendra Prasad, the father of groom. Maoist even managed local priest to perform the marriage ceremony.

"We are against the dowry system. We acted only after the organisation has approached us in this regard. We tried to negotiate which failed and later on we forced the family of groom to be ready to face the consequence," CPI(Maoist) zonal commander, Satyendraji said.

The ceremony was performed at a kangaroo court in the presence of the family members of both the sides and the villagers as well. The boy hails from Barbaiyah while the girl is the native of Amba Kothi of Latehar district. Both are pursuing their graduation in Ranchi and Latehar, respectively. Though the bride side had paid around Rs 1.48 lakh as dowry to Pawan's family but they demanded more than what was offered.

The girl probably contacted local Maoist operative to settle the issue. Fearing Maoist backlash Virendra sent his son to Ranchi. Maoists allegedly threatened the family of boy to burn their house and even kill them if they do not call back Pawan for marriage.

Willingly or out of fear local villagers participated in the kangaroo marriage as witnesses. Claiming that CPI(Maoists) have carried nearly a dozen of such marriage ceremony, Satyendraji added that a few other similar cases are yet to be solved.

Vigil on mining houses paying levy to Maoists

Vijay Deo Jha |
RANCHI | Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Union Home Ministry is reported to have asked the Jharkhand Government to keep tabs on mining and industrial houses who are being accused of paying levies to Maoists. Though refusing to divulge the details of the content, sources said that the Centre has sought a detail report on the ground situation in Jharkhand.

"We are aware of the situation. Only yesterday, we were discussing to hold a special meeting in this regard. Though, I cannot give you the timeline, it will be held very soon," said Jharkhand DGP Neyaz Ahmed.

Although the Union Ministry regularly drops such missives, the current one has a background. It is in the wake of Central Government's seriousness to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2010. The mining lease of the companies found guilty of paying Maoists, or indulging in illegal mining, could be scrapped.

A joint secretary-level official of the Union Home Ministry had once told The Pioneer that after Chhattisgarh, mining companies in Jharkhand top the lists in paying a levy to Maoists for hassle-free operations.

The draft proposal currently with the Prime Minister Office has been actively advocated by the Union Home Ministry, which wants to snap financial lifeline of the Maoist for the success of the Operation Green Hunt.

Though there is no established data of the amount of the Maoist levy on mining companies, a top officer of Intelligence Bureau guessed that the amount could be above Rs 300 crore.

"It is true that some are in connivance with the Maoists while some others are paying out of fear. It is a big problem," the DGP said. But the State police have not been able to provide round-the-clock security against red ultras because the mines are often located in Maoists' den and buying passage from Maoist is easier than contacting police.

"Who pays them willingly? If you do not, be ready to shut down your operation. Some are fortunate as they have to deal with one outfit. But what about those areas where around dozen of such groups have cropped up," retorted an official of a prominent industrial house having stake in Jharkhand.

Timber and public works contractors must regularly pay them a cut. Coal and iron ore transporters --- Government and private --- must buy safe passage, industry, big and small, must cough up protection money.

And the amount paid is probably shown under the head of miscellaneous expenditure, i.e, road maintenance, purchase of taints for labourers and sundries.

Hindalco Industries Limited, a company of Aditya Birla Group, had to stop its operation after Maoists disrupted transportation of bauxite from mines in Gumla and Lohardaga. A senior politician knowing the region well said that the company could start its operation after accepting increased demand of levy by the Maoist.

But the security forces engaged in bloody battle against Maoists have a serious allegation against mining companies: Maoists using explosives to kill the forces are procured from the mining companies.

"Where from Maoists get explosives and gelatins? Jharkhand is littered with land mines killing innocent people and security forces. They must be getting these from such companies," Alok Raj, CRPF DIG said.

Raj sought a special probe and said that the inventory of the supply and use of the explosives by the mining companies in the mining operation should be checked.



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Advisor’s appeal to varsities’ staff to call off strike rejected

Vijay Deo Jha | RANCHI | Sunday, June 27, 2010

Advisor VS Dubey's appeal to the non-teaching staff members of the universities of Jharkhand to call-off their strike was rejected as paper sentiment by the employees' unions.

Dubey communicated this on Saturday through Ranchi University Vice-Chancellor AA Khan following a meeting on Saturday with the RU Vice-Chancellor and Director Higher Education Anjani Kumar Srivastava and the Human Resource Department Secretary assuring to form a committee to correct anomalies in pay fixation under the Fifth Pay Commission within three months. He also assured the non-teaching staff that their salaries for the strike period won't be cut.

"He (Dubey) has assured the continuation of the service and regular payment of salary to those third and fourth grade employees whose names were deleted by the Human Resource Department as illegal. A committee will be formed comprising of the principals of the colleges, representative."

Khan said during another meeting with the representatives of the union of the non-teaching staff and students' unions. Requesting non-teaching staff to call-off their meeting in the interest of the students he said that the strike had affected the future of thousands of students who have not been able to fill-up their examination and admission forms.

Khan said that the HRD department would publish an appeal in the newspaper to call off the strike mentioning their concerns will be addressed.

Refusing this the union leaders demanded a written agreement with the Government in this regard. "Such appeals and promises have no meaning. Demands for which we have been fighting today were already accepted by the previous Government in 2007. How can one believe the Government when it is retracting from the agreement?" said Shiv Tiwari.

Yet there is good news for the harried students as the agitating employees agreed to spare some of their comrades-in-arms from the strike for a few days to help the students fill up their forms. A meeting of the representatives of the union of the non-teaching staff of all five universities will be held on Monday whether to call-off the strike in the wake of the appeal of Dubey or not.

As per instance while revising the pay scale of non-teaching employees the State HRD omitted the name of more than a dozen employees stating their appointment was not made against sanctioned posts. They alleged Srivastava was a troublemaker and produced papers to claim that whose service the HRD now disputes were attested by him in his capacity as the registrar of the Ranchi University in the past.

As the tripartite meeting begun at RU leaders of the students' unions Prasan Mishra of the ABVP and Kumar Raja of the NSUI objected the absence of Srivastava. They asked employee' unions present in the meeting and the V-C to end the stalemate and demanded the resumption of classes and official work in the colleges by Monday to help the students. The V-C assured to open the colleges by Monday. But how? On Friday students came out in the support of the demands of the employees forcing shut-down on the RU. Each used his lung power to score media point-more noise less communication. "Now the advisor to the Governor has intervened in the matter. We should honour him. He has accepted you demands. I have done the best possible thing for you…Go to the Governor if you want. Carry on agitation if you wish," Khan said.

At one point Khan put the burden of the current mess on the establishment and leadership of the State. "Unfortunately no proper system could evolve in Jharkhand after its formation…Salary fixation of the employees was not done."

Out of more dozen complaints of anomalies two can be recommended for the special case study of the administrative apathy of the HRD. The RU employee Radha Prasad who retired from the service as the head clerk was given the pay scale of peon in the salary fixation.

The name of SP Bundu, the physical training instructor who joined university service in 1989 was terminated by the HRD is in the list.

"They terminated my name saying there was no sanctioned post when I was appointed…they said I do not hold requisite qualification," Bundu said to The Pioneer.

If RU scored some points over the agitating employees it was division among students' leader. A couple of them who till a day back were hurling slogans in favour of striking staff were more enthusiastic today than any RU's spokesperson.