Soren calm, son cries bureaucratic highhandedness 

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

They say it takes two to tango. But the dance of the polity was a shade out of step on Wednesday, when Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s father and son sang differing tunes. While a magnanimous JMM chief Shibu Soren exhorted party-men to extend complete support to the coalition Government, his son seemed more weighed down by the more pragmatic compulsions of bureaucracy.

A day before when Soren is supposed to preside the meeting of State Coordination Committee (SCC) as chairman to review performance of coalition government, he summoned meeting of party’s core committee as well as district presidents to gauge their mood about coalition government headed by BJP.

“He (senior) was of the view that the performance of the government should be critically reviewed keeping in mind limitations and odds that the government has been facing in matter of governance. He accepted government need to improve on its performance in certain key areas. He rather advised that any note of dissent or disapproval over the functioning of the government should not cross beyond certain decibel,” a senior JMM functionary said.

Soren was critically high and jarring in his note and sounded like a monarch who is overshadowed, rather crippled by bureaucracy in matter of governance in both the meetings. Hemant Soren, party sources said, was critical about bureaucracy during the meeting of JMM’s minister saying that a particular bureaucratic circle seems to be allergic towards suggestions coming from the JMM’s fold about governance and they are critical and conspiratorial towards departments under the control of the JMM in the government.

Junior Soren was termed the coalition government being shoved and shuttled in different directions by the coalition partners: BJP, JMM, AJSU and JD (U). “He did not refer any particular case to suggest this. He was just giving certain outline of the situation. He indicated communication gap coming in the way of taking a collective decision,” sources said.

Hemant and his party critically differ with the BJP and CM over Nagari land row where CM has refused to buzz under the pressure of the JMM which wanted the government to return land to its owners.

Junior Soren speaking against bureaucracy is an old signature tune which he repeatedly announced from the public platform. But the JMM insiders confided that father gave some useful tips to son to tame-in the bureaucracy.  “He (Soren) advised Hemant against such serial cry and bemoaning in public. He (Hemant) by this way is exposing his own administrative and political incompetence which he should not. JMM is equally responsible if the government is labeled as under achiever,” sources said.

At this moment both JMM and BJP are seems to be in competing clamour to take credit of some of successful the welfare projects started by the government. But the JMM feels the BJP has smartly taken credits to these even ignoring the right claim of JMM.

About Thursday meeting of Coordination Committee; Soren may press for a united effort besides asking government to rein-in the bureaucracy. But at least on one policy decision of the state government Soren decided to defer. A few months back, state government formed a panel to indentify people who took part in separate Jharkhand movement. The government will give them monthly pension on the line of Bihar which started pension plan for the people who had taken part in Jayprakash Narayan led movement during 70s.

“We don’t have problem with panel. We have objection that district and block officials have been asked to prepare the list. The government should have asked political parties involved in that movement to furnish ground list of such people. We beg to defer here. We have formed a committee of the party in this regard,” Soren said after the meeting.

But those who know Soren don’t offer any guarantee that Soren will not cry hoarse against the government on Thursday.

The darling of scamsters now in pit of despair

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

“The ground had receded horribly; the drop appeared terrifying out of all proportion to this height he had reached. From the ground such a height would have appeared un-noteworthy.”

From The Vertical Ladder by William Sansom

If not the story, at least former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda is metaphorically close to Sansom’s poor boy Flegg, who was instigated by his friends to climb a vertical ladder to reach dizzying height of an old gasometer. At the top he was in the grip of isolation and fears with no way to climb down: his friends had vanished and ladder removed.   

Decency doesn’t allow commemoration of jail going anniversary of a convict or a suspect. On November 30, three years back, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda was arrested for massive corruption charges which investigative agencies are still struggling to find out exact figure of heist. Couple of his associates in alleged corruption (Koda & Co, that’s how investigative agencies often refer to) Binod Sinha, Vikash Sinha, Vijay Joshi etc were arrested and charge-sheets were produced against couple of them.

Koda has been granted bail in few cases but denied in the rest because he was dubbed as mastermind and key of huge loot of public money of a poor state: Rs 2500 crore and even more. It is beyond the capacity of a normal calculator of nine digit flash to compute the alleged heist. But if one divides the money made by Koda and his cahoots, Binod and Sanjay Choudhary, by the number of days he remained as CM (23 months) and as minister of mines in the BJP-led Arjun Munda government, it is whopping Rs 3.6 crore a day.

Those in the power portal who controlled him as Chief Minister and baptized him in corruption are loath to admit him as friend. And the man is desperately begging sympathy and support against frustrating numbers of sections of penal code imposed on him which he refutes false and fabricated. “Charges against me are politically motivated. Sometimes they (investigative agencies) say I made more than Rs 3,549.72 crore, sometimes the figures go higher. They claim I invested in abroad. Why don’t they bring proofs? How long will they keep me in jail,” Koda had told The Pioneer during Presidential election.      

This year Income Tax Department issued him a notice to pay fine of Rs 1200 crore against his undisclosed assets. The CBI and Enforcement Directorate claim Koda individually minted Rs 1,340 crore out of allotment of mining lease, rural electrification projects and others.

Koda may not be totally wrong in claiming innocence but probing agencies are also not wrong in claiming the man compromised with conscience to indulge in corruption.

A simple and innocent tribal man rose from a petty miner at Gua mines in Chaibasa to Chief Minister of Jharkhand and earned a place in the Limca Book of Records for being the first independently elected legislator to have led a State for such a long time.

But what goes up must come down. “I don’t know whether he regrets or not from behind the bar but he must be thinking as to what went wrong with him in the pits of despair. Look at this man everybody despise he has become a generic name of corruption in Jharkhand,” Ashok Sarangi a resident of Gua known to Koda observed.

Koda is critical legal and political story: the man who took the wrong man’s company just like Flegg.

Yours truly of masters remain vital links in corruption cases

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi

There is a particular breed that stalks the corridors of power in Jharkhand with their collar-up shirt, flaunting ‘connections’ and proximity to their MLA and Minister bosses. Talking big, fast and loud, these personal assistants bask not in fame, but in its shadow. They are Man Fridays often assume mien of boss and bark in front of poor constituents but wag tail on mere summon of master.

But they have privy of closeness with their bosses that make many feel envy. But they know many a secrets and dirty details and designs of their bosses as well that makes them vulnerable too. In some of the cases they end mysteriously like Sashinath Jha (former PA of JMM chief Shibu Soren) and Hariom Jha (the man who made small time miner Madhu Koda into a mighty politician.) A couple of them like Manoj Singh (one time private assistant of Minister Chandra Prakash Chaudhary) made a swift rise in short span. His bank account swelled like his fat belly — Rs 12.54 crore, when Income Tax on October 15, 2009 conducted raids at his residences in Saran (Bihar) and Ranchi.

Their names prominently figure in dozens of Public Interest Litigations which were filed before the Jharkhand High Court to seek CBI investigation of corruption and disproportionate cases against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda & Co.

Sample this: Atish Singh and Ajit Roshan Tete PA to former minister Ainosh Ekka who recently came out of jail on bail in corruption case, Sanjay Sinha former PA to former minister Harinarayan Roy who along with Ekka released on bail in corruption case, Vivek Raut and Manohar Paul former PA of JMM chief Shibu Soren, Gaznafar Imam PA to former minister Bandhu Tirkey and many more. If bosses allegedly minted money these PAs were not far behind in filling their own coffer by dubious dealings, if not all of them. But Sanjay Jha (former PA of Minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi) was known for flashy life style.  

“They are equal partners in crime. Now High Court has directed CBI to investigate about official and unofficial associates of these politicians,” senior lawyer Rajiv Kumar said.

 

Most of them are ambitious and hook their prospect with MLAs and ministers to make fast bucks. Old association and loyalty with their bosses are considered to be prerequisite to become PAs. But no such test on the integrity index. When Paul was hired by Soren as private secretary he was already dismissed from his job of the CMPDI for forging his engineer degree following the CBI investigation. He is facing charges of minting Rs 65 crore by misusing coal linkages.  

“We got bad name due to some unscrupulous people. There is loot in Jharkhand and they are looting their share. But not all of them are involved,” said a PA of a BJP MLA.

The CBI during investigation of horse trading case of March 30 Rajya Sabha was stunned to find out a good number of them having played an active role in fixing kickback deal of their MLA bosses with respective candidates. A couple of them allegedly got premium amounts for their service. The CBI zeroed in on a good number of them to elicit vital information. A couple of them like Vikash Singh, Vikash Pandey (former assistants of JMM MLA Sita Soren) turned CBI approver in the case.

Many of them are claiming innocence and feigning ignorance about any secret deal of their bosses during the Rajya Sabha elections.

“Very funny,” chortled a CBI official, “their excuse provides some comic relief…but they know a lot.”

There is no guarantee the Man Fridays will not be slaughtered to save lives of their bosses. 

Guv seeks Attorney General’s opinion on IC appointment  

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

As the appointment of Information Commissioners (IC) in Jharkhand caught in legal and political wrangle, Governor Syed Ahmed has sought the opinion of Attorney General of India G E Vahanvati on this matter.

“It is basically a constitutional appointment hence a decision was taken to seek opinion of Attorney General. It is also because of the fact that Supreme Court has given certain directives regarding appointment of Information Commissioners in the States of the country which central government has challenged on certain grounds. We are awaiting Attorney’s opinion,” Principle Secretary to Governor Aditya Swaroop said. This is third such opinion taking exercise — Governor twice obtained the opinion of State’s Advocate General (AG) Anil Kumar Sinha.

But the Supreme Court ruling given on 13 Sept 2012 in Namit Sharma Vs Union of India case and centre’s review petition therein; is not the sole issue forcing the Governor to seek Attorney’s opinion.

A PIL was filed by one Sri Krishna Pandey at Jharkhand High Court challenging the very process and criteria fixed for the appointments of ICs in Jharkhand. Pandey sought Apex Court’s intervention to direct Jharkhand government to start fresh process of appointment in the light of SC’s ruling.  

The ruling says appointments should be made through public advertisement as well as in accordance with the SC directives. It strictly forbids hush-hush to stop pick and chose appointments on political and personal basic. It said Chief Information Commissioner must be a retired justice of Supreme Court or an ex chief justice of High Court besides 50 per cent of members appointed must be legally qualified, judicially trained and experienced. Centre contended ‘Information Commission’ is a kind of social legislation. The SC ruling will make difficult to appoint people from different walk of life hence it will be a lopsided arrangement, Centre contended.

But in Jharkhand concerns leaps beyond constitutional limit where the very process of appointments and faces selected were dubbed as case of personal and political favouritism.

When the process of appointment was started in Jharkhand; a three men committee of Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh and Land Revenue Minister Mathura Mahato finally picked three names: PR Das (former Registrar General of the Jharkhand High Court), Rajesh Srivastava and Himanshu Chaudhary.

The only qualification of Srivastava is that he is hotelier and budding building constructor. The idea that probably promoted Srivastava to vie for such important post is not a speculation job. Sources confided that Srivastava was a personal choice of Singh because he (Srivastava) happens to be business partner of Anup Singh who is Singh’s son and political heir apparent. Nevertheless, AG in his opinion given to Governor in the past is learnt to have found Srivastava poorly under qualified. Hence his name was reportedly dropped from the list. But Srivastava has not lost hope.

Chaudhary in his polished CV claims himself as an outstanding and veteran journalist with years of public exposure. But the state and people came to know about him — that to quite little — when he joined as political advisor of Chief Minister Shibu Soren in 2010. Political sources admitted Chaudhary is Soren’s choice.

Sources in the Raj Bhavan confided those factors which forced Governor to seek opinion of Attorney. “SC’s observation is off course an issue. But Governor being the appointing authority he will not like any controversy after much doubts and disputes raised over appointment process,” sources said. Retired justice DK Sinha; Chief Information Commissioner, is the only member left at of State Information Commission. He will have to wait for some times.

Gadkari visits Munda but heels coalition

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

It was handshake largely seen as an attempt to minimize the shock that once rocked the coalition boat; even disturbing trust template between the BJP and the JMM during and after the Rajya Sabha elections.

National BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren had this handshake moment twice, on Sunday, without clamour of attention and pops of the flashbulbs.

Gadkari along with party’s national general secretary Vijay Goyal and Kiran Maheswari visited Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Sunday who is recovering after sustaining injuries during chopper crash and later admitted in Apollo Hospital. Conspicuously, Soren arrived moments before Gadkari reached at the Apollo to receive him. Gadkari along with Soren stayed for around 20 minutes with Munda and expressed satisfaction over his recovery. Neither the place nor the moment was convenient even for light political discussion.

Sources having privy to that meeting said: “Gadkariji inquired about the health of Chief Minister and he was particularly pleased to find Soren alongside Mundaji and had a warm handshake. It was a not a mere handshake…it was political gesture by both to rebuff reports of rift between the coalition partners after the Rajya Sabha elections.”

There were instances and episodes outside to suggest it. Though, both Soren and Gadkari did not offer anything for political consumption over the functioning of the government and understanding of the coalition partners except saying that any report of misunderstanding and grudge was unfounded. Soren rather insisted to accompany Gadkari to the airport in his car where they had detailed talk over strengthening coalition tie and running the government smoothly.

“Gadkari’s visit has energized the party and strengthened the government further,” state BJP president Dineshnanda Goswami told The Pioneer later on.   

“Soren was very active. He remained with Gadkari and even insisted to drop him to his private aircraft as though he was trying to compensate the mistake in the past for not visiting Gadkari and other senior party leaders in Delhi to resolve differences between the BJP and the JMM over separate candidature of these two parties. They had handshake here again,” sources said.

Even the JMM insiders were of the view that such gesturers are subject to serious political interpretation. “It was something beyond mere courtesy meeting and welcome if Deputy Chief Minister accompanied Gadkari during his Ranchi visit. He even did not mind to let himself mixed-up with the state BJP leaders and workers who had turned in large number to welcome Gadkari,” a senior JMM leader said.

“If something was lost during and after the Rajya Sabha election we recovered it,” the leader said. When one of those men called Gadkari and the other Soren, it’s never just a handshake, it is something beyond that.

CM puts performance tag on officials

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Monday made his intention known to start first phase of administrative reforms by forming three different committees that will review performances of IAS, IPS and IFS officers of Jharkhand cadre those who have completed 15 and 25 years of their service.

Munda ordered the formation of committee in the wake of amendment in section 16 (3) of the All India Service Act by Central government in January where it proposed review of the performances of officials under said cadre after 15, 25 years of their service or if they have attended 50 years of age. After the amendment officials can be removed from the service if found incompetent following the review of their service.

“It is a landmark decision of the state government and a good opportunity to start administrative reform. Chief Minister on many occasions has taken steps to make administration responsive and sensitive towards public welfare and development,” a top CMO official said.

Munda has precisely defined mandates for the committee to “hold an objective review of the performance of officials whether satisfactory or unsatisfactory…state government will take suitable decisions within provisions of the Act.” Provisions of the Act say that such officials could be removed from the service by serving them either three months notice or three of salary.    

Asked whether committees have been given a timeline by which it need to complete the review, sources termed it a continuous process believing that assessments will be made on the ground performance rather than Annual Confidential Report of an official concerned. Sensing that flocks of these three elite service have inbuilt tendency to save skin of each specially if they happen to belong to same state cadre; the government ensured that one out of four members of review committee must not be from Jharkhand cadre. Government further ensured that the said member in no case should be the resident of Jharkhand. While Chief Secretary is set to head the committee, at least one member of the committee must be an SC or ST category official.

A four men committee headed by Chief Secretary will review performance of IAS officials of Jharkhand cadre. An SC, ST official of Principal Secretary’s rank will also be the members of the committee besides Principal Secretary or secretary of Department of Personnel will be the member of the committee. In case of the review committee for appraisal of IPS officials Director General Police will be the part of the committee besides Principal Secretary/ Secretary Home as another member. Chief Forest Conservator and Principal Secretary / Secretary Forest will the member of the committee meant to review performances of officials of Indian Forest Service.

In a state like Jharkhand where officials are notorious for dereliction of duty the step has widely been welcomed. “I don’t want to get indulged in a debate whether the government voluntarily took the decision or directed by the Centre to constitute such committees. I simply say it is a good decision. It will make officials responsive towards their duty. But we need a tough appraisal of their performances otherwise the whole idea will collapse,” former Chief Secretary of Jharkhand A.K. Singh said.

Singh said that he never heard any official of these cadres being removed from the service on the ground of incompetency. “Now you are prone to be eliminated from the service if you don’t perform. There has been a set procedure that with the beginning a financial year each official is given certain task to perform which is reviewed at the end. Often their Confidential Record shows them as one of the best performers even if they performed quite badly. It will have an impact now,” Singh said.

Menu of mistrust on Mishra’s platter

BJP organisational secretary Prasanna asked to take charge of Odisha

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Clueless state BJP bosses are decoding subtle message behind sudden shift of Prasanna Kr. Mishra as organisational secretary of the state BJP amid ongoing organisational elections of state unit.

Top sources in the BJP confided Mishra has been shifted to his home state Odisha following a decision taken by central BJP bosses in consultation with party’s national organisational secretary Ramlal, on late Monday evening.

His repatriation was kept under such a high level of secrecy that the state BJP leaders refused to admit it. State BJP president Dineshnanda Goswami parried to reply repatriation of Mishra. 

State BJP in-charge Harendra Kumar, however, accepted Mishra has been given the charge of Odisha BJP. Kumar refuted Mishra has been removed as organizational secretary of Jharkhand BJP. “He has been given dual assignment. Party felt his service is required to tone-up Odisha unit of the BJP,” Kumar said.

But top BJP sources claimed Mishra has been asked to pack-up and proceed to Odisha for a new assignment. Unofficially Mishra has been asked to stay till organisational elections of Jharkhand BJP are over by the end of December 10. It is yet not cleat as to who will replace Mishra.

 “It sounds unusual that an important functionary of the party is removed all of a sudden amid ongoing organisational elections which is a critical part of impending election of the state party head. It seems Delhi is not happy with organisational health and factionalism in the state unit. He had done his best but one can’t perform beyond a point in such a situation,” a top BJP leader said.

In the BJP, post of the organisational secretary does not come with a fixed tenure. The decision of appointment and removal of organisational secretary is taken after prior approval of the RSS because as per set tradition organisational secretary happens to be the RSS pracharak. Serving party for around three years in Jharkhand before he served West Bengal and Sikkim as well, Mishra is considered to be quite malleable and moderate unlike Ranjan Patel who was disliked by a large section of the party.

But he largely failed to strike coordination among different factions. “It probably remained one of the biggest drawbacks of his tenure,” said a senior party leader.

Mishra may be the right man to repair cracking and crumbling Odisha unit. He long wished for Odisha assignment when central BJP dispatched him to Jharkhand against his wishes. Asked to leave job in Jharkhand midway; an upset Mishra is learnt to have communicated his feeling to central bosses. Odisha BJP is a chronic case of factionalism and organisational dishevelment and Mishra is not sure whether he will be able to deliver a humdinger in short span.

Bhagwat seeks special law on Ram Temple

Strap: Urges minority support for peace and harmony

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Refreshing his appeal over contemporary India’s most divisive tangle — Ram Janmabhumi issue — the RSS boss Mohanrao Bhagwat asked Parliament to pass a law for the construction of Ram Temple and sought support of the Muslim minority.

“Though the matter is pending before the court, I appeal Muslim brethrens to sink their difference and come forward to support the move of national integration” Bhagwat was speaking during an interactive session over ‘Role and Responsibility of RSS’ on Thursday.

He was speaking in the background of the Allahabad High Court ruling of September 2010 which left the temple claimants triumphal but it also gave a toehold to mosque protagonists by three way split division of disputed land.

“Constructing temple is not the issue of prestige or disgrace…fissiparous forces have been creating a divide between two communities for their petty political end. Constructing Ram temple at Ayodhya is a matter of national pride and confirmation of our faith in pluralistic society. Indian Parliament should make law in this regard and political parties should ask their MPs to support this,” he said.

Terming Ram Mandir movement as the only movement where the RSS directly participated, Bhagwat said that the RSS restricted itself in the work of character and society building. Speaking over campaign against corruption Bhagwat urged: “All those who are fighting against corruption in the country should stay united. RSS has always supported movement against corruption and such,” he said.

Repeatedly removing anti-Muslim tag attached to the RSS Bhagwat said the notion was created by some so called secular parties who are on the job of demonizing RSS. “Muslims of Nagpur has no such confusion about RSS because they watch us every day. Come and join RSS. Stay with us. Your notion will be changed. Muslims are seduced into conspiracy of Muslim separatism which they should understand,” he said.

During hour long interaction Bhagwat replied to around 15 questions which were previously selected by the organizers. On being asked whether RSS runs and controls the affair of the BJP; Bhagwat said that RSS has never been HR manager of the BJP. “It is true that top slots of the BJP are occupied by people of RSS background. But we have nothing to do with internal matter of the BJP. Politics is not our mien because it divides the society,” he said.

Those who sought his attention towards RSS as an organization that that refuses changes its ideology and dress sense according to time and an organization whose base is fast eroding; Bhagwat made an elaborate reply.

“When I was in-charge of Bihar affair on average six to seven lakh Swayamsevak used to attend regular shakhas of the RSS. Now this number has swelled around 12 lakh. We are not shrinking. We have our presence in around 60,000 villages across the country,” he said.

He also disputed that numbers of pracharak have gone down in the organization. “Pracharak is a very tough job. Right now we have 2300 fulltime pracharaks. Changes are slow. But over the years we have made changes in the dress code except half pant and nikkar which are adopted for all practical purpose. RSS takes decision on consensus basis,” he said.

Sources said that some of the questions with explicit political overture were left out of discussion during screening those related with ongoing political tussle in the BJP for Prime Ministerial post. Even if Bhagwat answered any political prodding it was ideologically high sounded. 

King is quite, claimants of Hatia create clamour

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

The Ratu royal family maintaining studied silence over Hatia assembly by-election; has kept two potential contenders in the fray — Ajay Nath Sahdeo (JVM) and Sunil Sahay (Congress) clueless about the leaning of the Palace.   

King – Lal Chintamani Saran Nath Shahdeo (80) hardly made any public appearance after the death of his son Gopal Saran Nath Shahdeo in 2010, who twice represented Hatia assembly as Congress candidate. Left without any heir-apparent to take over royal title and one who could carry on the political legacy, Palace was least interested that Priyadarshani Sahdeo, widow of Gopal, should join politics when the State Congress had approached Chintamani with that request, last year.

Though, the Palace has maintained detachment as distinction in any of the elections but it has considerable hold over people and even whispering appeal from Palace is enough to tap electoral balance at least in Ratu area.  Though, Palace is not the hub of the election but it is crucial a notch because of vast number of Ratu raj loyalists. Silence is being interpreted as a kind of support which both Ajay and Sahay camp have been claiming.

Ajay is associated with one of the branches of vast family tree of the Ratu royal family and was closely associated with Gopal. A regular visitor of the Palace and the king, Ajay is not only claiming himself as unchallenged flag bearer of Palace but also as legitimate political successor of Gopal and family.

“Maharaja (Chintamani) blessed me with success and morally encouraged me to fight election. I start my campaign after taking his blessings and return to him in evening to brief him,” Ajay said during the campaign. He holds two sets of identity: one as Deputy Mayor of Ranchi Municipal Corporation who has grown on popularity index by making himself available anytime and anywhere and secondly as scion of the royal family. Seeking votes he invokes his said identity as per mood and sentiment of audience, that too area specific.

He admitted: “Whenever I meet people they recognize me as their son and bother one who has made himself available for them. Many associate and identify me as the scion of the glorious royal family which has been serving people from centuries. It is especially in Ratu area. They have placed so much of faith in me.” Ajay said that his title and association with the family will help him in Ratu area if not everywhere.

But Palace and king are quite unlikely to come out of their grand isolation to help Ajay. Chintamani had not come out and even desisted from issuing any public appeal when Gopal was contesting election. In fact, Ratu Palace has often been reluctant in displaying political loyalty. In the 50s Chintamani contested as Independent from the Ranchi Assembly constituency (Hatia was part greater Ranchi constituency till 1974.) Later on, Chintamani was elected in Bihar Legislative Council as Congress candidate.

Congress feels the claim of Ajay politically incorrect, not ready to allow him to en-cash popularity of late Gopal Sharan and the royal family. “Association of royal family with the Congress is an established fact. Late Gopal Saran was the Congress legislator. JVM candidate can’t claim to carry on unfulfilled tasks of our late legislator just because he holds royal appendage…It is for the Congress party to do. Many members of the royal families across the country have different political association have any of them tendered same logic,” State Congress spokesperson Sailesh Sinha retorted.

If Ajay kicked off his campaign with royal blessings Sahay had also knocked the gate of the Palace. Amid preparation of electoral battle in Hatia set on June 12, Ratu Palace is still mourning the death of its bright scion and it does not want any flag or poster on its premise. 

He banks upon his voters, not on his bank

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

He flung a simple notion into Hatia’s fiery electoral battle that elections can be contested without money also, all too aware about public forecast and personal foreboding that he has least chances to win.

To a people torn between such high-voltage campaign and powerful candidates he merely decided to say: “I don’t have any party, I don’t have flags. I don’t promise beyond the point that I am your servant.”

Virendra Bhagat has truly been a nightmare for political parties and candidates those who are aware of his hold over rural voters. He is contesting as an independent against all the power and resources of parties like the Congress, AJSU and the JVM. Contesting 2009 assembly election from Hatia as the JMM candidate he remained on fourth position by netting 22,173 votes.

The JMM denied him ticket in this by-election as the party decided not to field any candidate. Bhagat, a popular face among tribal knows how to win hearts and votes. “Jo paise ka khel Hatia me ho rahaa hai uske khilaf log aage aa rahe hain. Mere paas paise nahi mere paas public aur unka support hai. (The people are coming forward against use of money in the election. I don’t have money but I have support of the people.)” Many call him a maverick and wonder about his dream to contest election and win it without spending even a single penny. But they, too, appreciate the way the man has carved his constituency and followers.

“While rest of the candidates has pumped money ensuring all comforts for people campaigning for them but youths campaigning for Bhagat doesn’t require these. People even bring food from their home and even invest their own savings,” Mahaveer Gupta, owner of a garment shop at Ratu said.

Bhagat exhausted his personal savings to put into his campaign. But that sum was gone even before he could begin to count it, so he went to the people. But his supporters and people of his area started filling up his coffers with fivers and tenners, and a couple of odd hundred-rupee note, too. He is sure to reflect poorly upon poll expenditure sheet of the Election Commission but he is getting impressive response.

His candidature and claims are being discussed at roadside tea stalls and eateries, one who has consolidated his hold over tribal voters in parts of Itki, Ratu, Naya Sarai, Kute and Nagri area. “He is a unique candidate who is seeking vote along with note,” said one Dinesh Sao. Dinesh wouldn’t mind even wasting his vote for a candidate who is popular but assures no guarantee.

But he has given many sleepless nights to party candidates. The Congress candidate Sunil Sahay has been in disparate bid to gain grounds in the rural area. Bhagat is there to stop him. The JVM chief Babulal Marandi has pulled all stops to make a dent in his loyal vote bank for his candidate Ajay Nath Sahdeo. He returned without getting any convincing assurance. In Naya Sarai youths appeared less obsessed with tantalizing offers and resources of the AJSU Party.

“He is challenging us from the flank. Though, he has no support base in the urban area but in his area of control he is potential contender,” a senior BJP leader said.

Bhagat becomes bit over conscious while talking to journalists and flash of camera. Every time the camera clicks, he halts mid-sentence…“flash dazzles me I am not used to this. His followers at Kute laugh at the discomfiture of their hero. He raises issues that concern his constituents: displacement. But Bhagat appears a man of more courage and conviction than a flashbulb can daunt.

“I don’t have resource but have reason to fight. Many call me vote katwa but I am fighting for people,” he said. He may loose battle but not the cause to it. 

Sita crosses Lakshman Reka

Sita crosses Lakshman Reka

FIR against Sita for abducting CBI witness, agency suspects Police doing hush-hush job

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI 

On Christmas eve JMM MLA Sita Soren amply displayed how she had not yet cut her teeth in political wisdom and had hired wrong advisors. When rest were preparing for Christmas, she allegedly perpetrated a crime to abduct her former aide Vikas Pandey who is CBI’s witness against her in Rajya Sabha horse trading case. It remained three hours jaw opening ‘abduction and rescue drama—Sita’s solo performance of crude satire on CBI’s witness protection mechanism in a case involving dozens of top politicians of Jharkhand.

On her behest her men allegedly lifted Pandey from Ranchi’s busiest place Sahjanand Chowk on Monday evening and kept him in confinement at her residence for hours. He was browbeaten to withdraw as witness. His wife Reena Pandey promptly lodged complaint at the police station.

Even after a battery of media, top CBI and police bosses rushed at her residence, police had a tough time to rescue Pandey. Images rolling on the television screen on Monday night showed her gun totting security men threatening to open fire if anybody dared to enter her official residence.

An FIR of abduction was lodged against Sita (but not against her men) on Tuesday which the CBI suspects a mere hush-hush job. This estranged daughter-in-law of JMM chief Shibu Soren retorted the charges terming it a drama scripted by her rivals. “Vikas and his men were drunk and they barged on my residence. They were not ready to go. I had not abducted him,” she said.

Meanwhile, the CBI has sent detailed reports to its headquarter and quizzed Vikas on Tuesday. Earlier, Vikas had disposed before the CBI and his revelations and evidences produced are the part of CBI’s central exhibit of evidence against Sita.

But the way CBI left one of its top witnesses unattained and unguarded all these months, have left other key witnesses worried. The delay in investigation has opened can of worms for the CBI whether it would be able to keep its witnesses intact amid internal and external threats.

Private assistant of an MLA who provided key details and inside story to the CBI about money game in March 30 Rajya Sabha elections, has been receiving regular threats.

Even a top CBI official admitted it was a mistake on the part of investigative agency not done deliberately: “Even no case of threatening witnesses in Fodder case, CWG scam and 2G scam were reported. Such small time leaders are drunk high on power and threatening witnesses. It is a serious issue of interfering in investigation. We will remain careful towards their protection,” the official said.

Sita is facing serious charges and the episode is likely to bring further legal trouble for her. “We will lose face and receive reprimand from High Court as we mention it before the court. But I can say the lady has actually signed her own arrest warrant. She will face consequences. We have strong doubts about the role of her father Baudh Narayan Manji who is her key advisor also,” the official said.

Vikas in the statement given to the CBI revealed that he had been receiving threat from Sita. She even threatened Pandey to pack off from Jharkhand.

“Sita forcefully obtained his signatures on plain papers and threatened as well. She is twisting the story. Vikas is CBI’s witness. It is case of abduction, wrongful confinement, tampering with evidence and lot more. We are investigating the case,” CBI DSP AK Jha who is investing RS poll case said.

Sleep no more

Vijay Deo Jha 

Ranchi

They came, they yawned and they slept. But they are hardly likely to conquer this way. Something about the itinerary of the political class of Jharkhand makes them soporific more often than not. Thursday was a fine case in point.

State HRD Minister Vaidyanath Ram, Agriculture Minister Satyanand Jha Batul, Congress’ MLAs Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mannan Mallik and former Minister Sudhir Mahto were captured on camera dozing and sleeping for an hour during the 13th Foundation Day ceremony of Jharkhand Assembly.

They occupied the front row, earmarked for Ministers and mandarins, but found themselves in the league of dozing politicians when morning dispatches came with a crisp news note.

Blushing at being caught so strategically, they rushed in with explanations and excuses, simultaneously putting the blame on a lack of adrenaline and a surfeit of workload. They cursed the legislative and public responsibility that made overloaded beasts of burden of them.

A couple claimed they were not sleeping. They were using the time to muse over the state of affairs when the dignitaries occupying dais — Governor Syed Ahmed, Chief Minister Arjun Munda and Speaker CP Singh, among others — were at their verbal best on ‘Jharkhand: Past, present and future’, replete with flowery quotes and thoughts.

Sample this: Batul said, “I was ill, so I could not overcome drowsiness.”

“Why do you believe pictures? My eyes were closed but I was in serious thought over Jharkhand while hearing stale talk of promises of the ruling party towards people of the State,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed accepted that politicians sleeping during a public programme showed badly in the eyes of the public.

Nonetheless, there are around a dozen politicians who are photographed, talked about and seen as frequent dozers, including Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief and Dumka MP Shibu Soren. In fact, he is referred to as ‘Jharkhand’s very own HD Deve Gowda’ for his frequent siesta moments during public programmes.

Old people often face this problem due to a reduced level of sodium in the body.

Senior psychiatrist and RINPAS director Dr Amol Ranjan and neurologist Sanjay Kumar offer medical and psychological explanations that might help to understand the reason that forces public figures to nap in full public glare.

“People tend to sleep when tired, over-stressed or not having proper sleep. The other
reason could be they find the programme uninteresting or unimportant enough to stimulate and certain biological and psychological factors kick in, lulling them to sleep,” said one.

But then, was the Foundation Day discourse so boring, as to cause them to sleep? It may have been.

On the other hand, a couple of other legislators and Ministers — Health Minister Hemlal Murmu, Simon Marandi (JMM), Sajay Yadav (RJD) — can afford a sound sleep even during surcharged Assembly debate.

“Mauka milte hi ye log dugdugi bajana shuru kar dete hain. Kabhi kabhi toh Speaker tok bhi dete hain (The moment they get chance they start mild snoring. Sometimes, the Speaker has to awaken them),” a senior MLA quipped.

Other than flash sleep, medicos explain another two types of sleep — non-REM and paradoxical sleep.

But they have as yet been unable to explain what causes the State’s politicians to bumble so — is it “to sleep, perchance to dream”?

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