Jharkhand Cong woes to hobble Rahul on 3rd visit

Rahul Gandhi, Jharkhand Congress pleads sincere attention for an urgent housekeeping. The party is inching to a ‘cold and tearful termination’ in Jharkhand.

Gandhi twice visited Jharkhand in 2009 and 2010 to recruit young members to revive the sagging prospects of the party and its students’ wing NSUI. He had instructed immediate membership drive, saying subaltern voices and faces must get equal representation.

It will be his third visit. But his previous visits seduced many into promoting their family, sons and brothers in organizational and electoral politics. Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, probably remained the most blatant and sorry example of this when he fielded his younger brother Sunil Sahay in Hatia Assembly by-election despite doctoral pulses from ground suggesting his total rout. Rather than repenting and repairing that mistake, the warring group resorted to a reprisal act by turning violent in one such review meeting at party headquarters, few months back.

The drive netted less members and courted more controversies - membership list forged it was blamed. Only the number of leaders has swelled, not workers, and far and few left in a forced hibernation. And its staunch supporters are wheezing on expired emotion, too unattached and anaemic even to talk about the party today.

Old timers like Arun Pandey who took retirement from active politics are painfully nostalgic about lost old tradition of the Congress: part-timers replaced by full timers. It gets worse than that funereal lament.

Organisational elections are an unscheduled affair and a full-time elected president is an old demand. Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu overstayed beyond his tenure otherwise he had to be replaced after 2008 state organizational election. Twice in the past Balmuchu pretentiously resigned from his post and every time the slumbering central Congress leadership asked him to continue as an ad hock that forced many to question whether Jharkhand Congress really lacks in talent.

Balmuchu would parry to answer whether he is the only talented person left to run the party.

But many in the Congress feel that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her general secretary son Rahul Gandhi are serious about Jharkhand. Though, detailed itinerary of Gandhi, media was given to understand, a mere gossip job - meeting elected panchayat representatives, party workers, functionaries etc. Some of the district and block presidents will be felicitated and appreciated for their good performance on this occasion for all that they have not done.

However, top party sources confided that Rahul is on a mission in Jharkhand to help her mother who plans to rejig her team by October to face the 2014 general election.

Hopefully, Rahul will recommend somebody equally talented for the State president post. But Rahul’s efforts in Hindi-speaking States have always been a sorry excursion. Bihar had bemoaned him, Uttar Pradesh recently rasped him and Jharkhand unit has enough troubles to jangle him. Jharkhand unit is a deeply divided house, “where everybody is loyal to somebody,” observed a party senior.  

The Congress actually severed ties with party tradition and the masses that matter. It was probably after the end of popular era of Satyadev Narayan Tiwari and Jagganath Prasad Chaudhary who had called a many public stirring and kept the party organizationally robust and mobile.

The pity for the Congress is which its spokesperson Sailesh Sinha would often deny strongly. “Our mass base helped to survive …Our shares in vote have leaped into double digit,” he said.

But the Congress has never been a credible Opposition hardly summoning any mass agitation these years. Such a serial electoral defeats right from Jamshedpur to Hatia, more than a dozen high power committees including of KN Jha committee failed to stir party in right direction. That’s how lonely your party’s Jharkhand cortege is, Mr Gandhi.

Rahul assimilates Jharkhand Cong undercurrents

It happened when everyone was jostling for a photo opportunity with Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in Ranchi. A Congress worker quietly passed him a tiny paper, which Rahul glanced at hurriedly and dropped into his pocket.

The Congress scion has been chased with petitions galore, seeking personal and political grants, but this particular petitioner wanted him to stop ad hocism and end rehabilitation of non-performers in the State unit.

The plea is more urgent than a single voice - it is the need of the hour for the disintegrating State Congress. And the petitioner merely threw the rulebook at Rahul on the issue of rehabilitation.

Top party sources confided that Gandhi, who quietly launched Mission 2014, has dropped thick hints of bringing new and dynamic faces into the party organisation here. Under the scheme, Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu— continuing as State president—could be relieved and is likely to be rehabilitated in the Central body.  Balmuchu, long overstaying his tenure, has been continuing under an ad hoc arrangement from 2008, with two subsequent extensions.

Sonia Gandhi, party sources confided, is learnt to be keen on a team rejig by the end October. The organisational reshuffle is likely to coincide with the proposed change in the Central Cabinet, which may come as a farewell event for Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, who has courted the displeasure of the Gandhis over Coalgate. During his two-day visit, Rahul met several State leaders for feedbacks over the proposed party restructuring. The most urgent and common demand remained the appointment of a new president.

Balmuchu, though, did not give credence to any such widely-discussed latent move of Rahul’s Jharkhand visit, saying, “Rahulji never visits with such mandate. I will continue till the Central leadership wishes.”

But party insiders had a different say. “He sought our views and assured us that he would look into this matter. We were given to believe that he was serious about the affairs of the State party and demand for a new president,” said a senior party leader.

Sources said Rahul wants to test the Uttar Pradesh model in Jharkhand. He had divided Uttar Pradesh in various divisions from organisational point of view and made subsequent appointment of divisional in-charges, who would be parallel to the State head.

The move may work well to frustrate the tendency of too much centralisation of power and as a measure to stop infighting and factionalism.

For instance, Congress Jamshedpur (West) MLA Banna Gupta told Rahul candidly that leaders and workers have no choice to remain neutral in a faction-ridden State Congress. They have to identify either with the Balmuchu faction or that of the Sahays.

Even Balmuchu is aware of a growing sense of discomfort in a section of party leaders. Blessed by Oscar Fernandes at the Centre, he not only managed extension for him but mercilessly punctured the move of his desperate detractors.

Rahul has returned with enough feedbacks about State organisation. A couple of top leaders are likely to be summoned to Delhi within a couple of weeks. And when he does report to his mother about Jharkhand affairs, the memo of that unknown party worker will help him make the right points.

Rahul sounded out Soren on FDI

It was a midnight tryst of a different kind. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi reportedly met JMM chief Shibu Soren on Tuesday midnight during his Ranchi visit, in a bid to seek endorsement of fringe players over foreign direct investment (FDI) and coal block allotment controversy.

Soren denied having any such meeting with Congress scion, but insiders claimed that it did take place and that the JMM chief assured support to the UPA Government.

The Centre has been passing through a tumultuous phase, following stiff opposition on the issues from the NDA and an angered withdrawal of Trinamool Congress’ Mamata Banerjee. All this has stirred up prospects of an early election.

Sources said that as Rahul wished a one-to-one meeting with the JMM chief, Soren Jr — Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-led Government Hemant — was kept out of the discourse.

Shibu Soren explained his position to Rahul over FDI and said that ideologically, his party would oppose entry of FDI in the domestic market but politically, he would continue to remain in the UPA fold.

He made it clear that the JMM would back the UPA Government if it came to a floor test. Rahul reportedly told Soren that the Congress considers JMM a “valued and trusted ally”.

When Soren spoke to The Pioneer on Sunday, he displayed a similar political demeanour, striding adroitly over the FDI issue, firmly smothering murmurs of an impending mid-term election and the ‘third front’ formation.

“I have not gone into the details of FDI so far. But ideologically, I am opposed to such a move. It will harm Indian farmers and retailers. The decision should be taken keeping the larger public interest in mind,” Soren told The Pioneer.

Replying to whether his ideological opposition over FDI would reflect his political decision when it comes to opposing the UPA Government during floor testing, he said, “I am not in the favour of pulling out of the Government. Mid-term elections are not good for the country.”

In the immediate, Soren appeared to hint, he would be happier to be in the UPA boat — despite the choppy waters and its day-to-day struggle for survival. He seemed to issue a subtle public message that he would continue his romance with the UPA at the Centre and keep flirting with the NDA in Jharkhand. They are contrary political perceptions, which Soren justifies with baffling logic and actions.

At this stage, Soren is quick to snub those who are clamouring over the prospect of a third front at the Centre, saying it’s a “pani me bulbula” (bubble) which would hardly graduate beyond political gossip and column inches. “What is the third front that collapses soon after its formation? I don’t think there is any scope for a third front. It can’t be a credible alternative.”

Most of the volleys over the coal block scam were met with a flat bat, often not with conviction but always with an alibi. Soren mostly parried comments over the probable political fallout of the ongoing investigation into the coal block allotment scam. “The probe is going on,” was all he would say.

The JMM chief served Union Coal Minister in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government till he was forced to resign in 2006. But then, Soren has always supported the PM and the UPA during crises. He even lost his job as CM of Jharkhand in 2010, when an irked BJP withdrew its support after he voted in the favour of UPA during a cut motion.

Any apprehension Soren may feel about his own political future in the wake of ongoing probe of coal blocks cannot be ruled out and the Congress is well-versed in making a good deal of it. On that Tuesday night too, Rahul seems to have convinced Soren that FDI is a good idea.

All the world’s a stage for these politicos

Going by their histrionics and full-throated baritones within and without the Assembly, it seems that the long-buried actors within Samresh Singh and Satyanand Jha ‘Batul’ often dominate their political personas.

Picture this: During the ongoing Monsoon Session, JVM legislator Singh tore his kurta, rushed into the well of the House and was about to unfold his dhoti when he was requested not to, amid blushing female legislators. “Jatra party. Ye acting karta hai!” were all the plaudits heaped upon Singh.

Batul too happened to be a jatra actor, playing the role of Lord Ram and lead of the Vishwamitra-Meneka act.

At the age of 71, when many of his party leaders expect statesmanlike behaviour from him, Singh chides them, “Shut up, you fools! Just listen and watch me.”

Singh won’t mind jumping on to the reporters’ table during debate if he has a point to make. The table turns into a stage for his solo theatrics, where he delivers passionate and angry dialogues, unintentionally mimicking great Bengali film actor Uttam Kumar and Hindi film legendary Prithviraj Kapoor on many occasions.

This political heavyweight (86 kg) does not stay on the table for long — either because the table can’t sustain the weight of his rampage or he can’t sustain his own weight.

“He was part of Bengal’s famous jatra party (a theatrical troupe) during the 1960s. He often tore his clothes off to impress his heroine and audiences on stage,” said one of his close aides. Sudhamoi Chatterjee, a male actor who played the role of his heroine in most of his plays, is unfortunately not alive to narrate those kurta-tearing moments.

Politically, Singh continues it, gaining notoriety for pulling others’ dhotis too!

It is tough to estimate how many kurtas he has sacrificed for the public cause, so far. He had resorted to this and dashed his head against the wall in 1975, when the then Chas Police Station in-charge Tarkeswarnath Tiwari had put him in police lock-up during an agitation along with Badal Majumdar and Pawan Agrawal.

That year, he performed it in full public glare in Jamshedpur to support the cause of 86 unauthorised bastis. In 1980, he did it to protest against the then Bokaro ASP Manjari Jaruhar (known as Hunterwali) as she thrashed his political worker Akhilesh Mahto.

 “I tear my kurta when I am angry. But the real actors are those who pretend to serve the public,” said Singh, taking a jibe at the Opposition.

However, he doesn’t reply as to why he did a near cheerharan of the then Union Steel Minister Biju Patnaik in 1986, by pulling Patnaik’s dhoti during a public function. “Politics me ye sab chalta hai. Wo bhi ek zamana tha,” he reminisces happily.

He was considered an actor at par with famous jatra actors like Swapan Kumar, Ajitesh Bandophadyya and Rakhal Singh. A great fan of Uttam Kumar, he moved to Mumbai and screen tested with Nirupa Roy.

Batul, on the other hand, must be a keen watcher to Singh’s theatrics. This modern day Vishwamitra finds it tough to deny he has any relations with Soni Devi, who claims to be his wife and Batul, the father of her son. Even the Assembly waits for Batul to provide some comic as well as dramatic moments with his unique dialogue delivery, with the mannerism and pitch of jatra, while rebutting the Opposition’s charges.

It rarely happens that Batul is silenced as on Wednesday, when Congress’ Sarfaraz Ahmed read out an Urdu couplet for him: “Zindagi mein kuch aisa kaam kar kadradaan, ke jis gali se guzrein, bacche bolein abba jaan, abba jaan, abba jaan.”

Singh would have ripped off his kurta, something which Batul doesn’t — the only difference between the two actors.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/ranchi/92778-all-the-worlds-a-stage-for-these-politicos.html

India is free, but not for all!

To call them servant sounds an honour — slave is more appropriate. They serve their masters under the barge of brutality and barbarism, that too without a grumble. These are sewadars in police lingo, meant to serve the police contingent. But they serve their bosses instead, as menials.

Bhukhla Bhagat, a poor CRPF policeman, is not there to narrate the story of August 4 night. CRPF DIG Bhanu Pratap Singh, drunk on malt and high on power, allegedly used his boot to deliver a deadly blow to Bhagat’s stomach that ended up killing him. Reason: Bhagat was bit late in bringing wine for Singh during a ‘party’.

Bhagat having the history of kidney disorder from 2004 and had undergone surgery in the past; was admitted at Apollo Hospital under critical condition where he died four days back.

The CRPF bosses put blame onto his poor health than to admitting wrong. “Partner, he was not kicked. He died out of kidney failure. CRPF was footing his medical expense which was around `6 lakh. Some people are wasting tears over a matter which has no base. Have any of them visited his home to help the family? We are doing it,” CRPF IG DK Pandey was eloquently best to defend. CRPF officials indeed visited his village, Lapung, to pay posthumous praises and promises on the deceased and family.

Pandey, though, apparently did great mercy on the truth; otherwise he would have claimed Singh was barefoot that night. Pandey is not a medical expert, he says, but offers examples from medical history of his family to convince that such critical patients hardly survive despite best medical care. In plain: no commission even for token examination of Singh and his savagery.

But the unbearable weightiness of unpunished guilt is hard to cover, though. The family which was under some unseen pressure finally lodged police complaint against Singh, on Saturday.

Often a boot, often a slap and frequent derogative adjectives make them feel their position. A decade back an IPS officer in Jharkhand had brutally behaved with one such underling. The matter was brought to the notice of the National Human Right Commission, but nothing happened. The said officer known for abusing poor sewadar at disposal illegally retains more than three dozen sewadars and cops as gardeners, cooks etc. Flippantly one of the jawans is said to be on 24 hrs duty to keep mosquito away saheb’s resident.

Against a contingent of 150 policemen, five cooks, three water carriers, one sweeper and one barber are appointed to serve the force. But most of them are illegally retained by police bosses at their residence.

A mere visit of police barracks unveils the story of subjugation. When asked about the condition of sewadars Shrawan Dubey chief cook of mess number four of Ranchi police barrack, sardonically smiled as though a fool is trying to be intelligent. Dubey won’t speak. Bosses have sweeping power to suspend and dismiss them. Sudhir Thapa of JAP 1 having served as cook of an IPS has unspent payload of furry to release. “Ham hai sarkari pagar pane wale sahib ke gulam. Ham unke kutte ko bhi aadar se pukarte hain kyun kee sahib naraz ho jayenge,” he said. Bosses’ pet dogs are in more respectable position then them.

In Jharkhand there are 2500 such fourth grade sewadars. But most of them are retained by senior IAS and IPS officials. “We had requested police headquarter to supply us the details of such sewadars who are working as personal staffs of senior officials but nothing happened. Our boys are taken to serve retired officials, their relatives and those who on deputation in Delhi also,” said president of Jharkhand Police Fourth Grade Employees Union, Shashi Thakuri.

Sandeep Gurung of JAP 1 has still been retained by a former IAS, as cook. Two former IPS running—one believed to be running a dairy—has retained sewadars from JAP. Singh’s leather boot, half kg no more, has achieved a metaphoric leap of synonyms — a sorry exemplars of the ineffable crime.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/ranchi/95097-india-is-free-but-not-for-all.html

Jharkhand Cong woes to hobble Rahul on 3rd visit

Rahul Gandhi, Jharkhand Congress pleads sincere attention for an urgent housekeeping. The party is inching to a ‘cold and tearful termination’ in Jharkhand.

Gandhi twice visited Jharkhand in 2009 and 2010 to recruit young members to revive the sagging prospects of the party and its students’ wing NSUI. He had instructed immediate membership drive, saying subaltern voices and faces must get equal representation.

It will be his third visit. But his previous visits seduced many into promoting their family, sons and brothers in organizational and electoral politics. Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, probably remained the most blatant and sorry example of this when he fielded his younger brother Sunil Sahay in Hatia Assembly by-election despite doctoral pulses from ground suggesting his total rout. Rather than repenting and repairing that mistake, the warring group resorted to a reprisal act by turning violent in one such review meeting at party headquarters, few months back.

The drive netted less members and courted more controversies - membership list forged it was blamed. Only the number of leaders has swelled, not workers, and far and few left in a forced hibernation. And its staunch supporters are wheezing on expired emotion, too unattached and anaemic even to talk about the party today.

Old timers like Arun Pandey who took retirement from active politics are painfully nostalgic about lost old tradition of the Congress: part-timers replaced by full timers. It gets worse than that funereal lament.

Organisational elections are an unscheduled affair and a full-time elected president is an old demand. Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu overstayed beyond his tenure otherwise he had to be replaced after 2008 state organizational election. Twice in the past Balmuchu pretentiously resigned from his post and every time the slumbering central Congress leadership asked him to continue as an ad hock that forced many to question whether Jharkhand Congress really lacks in talent.

Balmuchu would parry to answer whether he is the only talented person left to run the party.

But many in the Congress feel that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her general secretary son Rahul Gandhi are serious about Jharkhand. Though, detailed itinerary of Gandhi, media was given to understand, a mere gossip job - meeting elected panchayat representatives, party workers, functionaries etc. Some of the district and block presidents will be felicitated and appreciated for their good performance on this occasion for all that they have not done.

However, top party sources confided that Rahul is on a mission in Jharkhand to help her mother who plans to rejig her team by October to face the 2014 general election.

Hopefully, Rahul will recommend somebody equally talented for the State president post. But Rahul’s efforts in Hindi-speaking States have always been a sorry excursion. Bihar had bemoaned him, Uttar Pradesh recently rasped him and Jharkhand unit has enough troubles to jangle him. Jharkhand unit is a deeply divided house, “where everybody is loyal to somebody,” observed a party senior.  

The Congress actually severed ties with party tradition and the masses that matter. It was probably after the end of popular era of Satyadev Narayan Tiwari and Jagganath Prasad Chaudhary who had called a many public stirring and kept the party organizationally robust and mobile.

The pity for the Congress is which its spokesperson Sailesh Sinha would often deny strongly. “Our mass base helped to survive …Our shares in vote have leaped into double digit,” he said.

But the Congress has never been a credible Opposition hardly summoning any mass agitation these years. Such a serial electoral defeats right from Jamshedpur to Hatia, more than a dozen high power committees including of KN Jha committee failed to stir party in right direction. That’s how lonely your party’s Jharkhand cortege is, Mr Gandhi.

http://dailypioneer.com/state-editions/ranchi/96986-jharkhand-cong-woes-to-hobble-rahul-on-3rd-visit.html

Sahay’s tryst with controversy

Published in The Pioneer September 10, 2012

Sahay’s tryst with controversy 

More to story than Colgate 

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Union Tourism Minister and Congress’ heavyweight Subodh Kant Sahay hates to go through those odd pages of ‘Open Secret: India’s Intelligence Unveiled’ by Intelligence Bureau’s former Joint Director MK Dhar, that unlock certain well guarded vaults of secrets of Sahay as Home Minister (state) in the Chandrasekhar led government during 1991-92. 

Sahay has often been a multilayer story — dived in intriguing plots and subplots — that speak about his relationship with controversy as a politician and minister.

Sahay recently found himself under the heap of Colgate scam after he wrote letter of recommendation to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek coal blocks for the company ‘SKS Ispat and Power Limited’ where his brother is Sudhir Kumar Sahay is an honorary director.

Sahy leaped from one press conference to another distributing copes of Delhi High Court’s order to explain media and people that neither he nor his brother had any relation with the said company. But nothing could stop his name and deeds turning into banner headline of morning dispatches. Hemmed and haunted Sahay accepted his bother having relation with the said company with great mayhem job on morality saying he did no moral wrongdoings.

Dhar passed away in month of May, this year, but left behind his narratives riddled with too many negatives: his associations with controversial godman Chandraswami and his key aide Mamaji aka KN Agrawal with whom he was indulged in many wheeling-dealings.

“Some of his deals relating to purchases made for the police and paramilitary forces in Assam and Punjab were routed through Chandraswami. A particular jeep deal for Assam was clinched after the minister and the targeted supplier had an exclusive meeting at the abode of the Swami,” book reads.

Dhar was seventh addition to his personal office which Dhar was unwilling to undertake. Sahay along with Swami were eager to clinch personal and political deals and gains and wanted Dhar to be the party of to this even offering him financial packages. Referring to two such deals which were of particular interest of Chandrasekhar also, Dhar wrote: “He (Sahay) said that his intentions were honourable and he wanted to liberate me from the miseries of pecuniary constraints ….”

Congress’ late Rajiv Gandhi extending support to the Chandasekhar government from outside was particularly averse about these two deals which Dhar does not disclose owing to the sensitivity of the matter. Late Gandhi was very critical about Swami and his involvement and IB considered Swami as a security threat which Sahayhad ruled out. Later on, Justice Jain Commission, probing broader conspiracy behind killing of Rajiv Gandhi on 21 May 1991 by the LTTE made damming references to Chandraswami.

Sahay kept him out of his private enterprises except on occasion when he demanded fat amounts from the secret service fund of the IB. “Funds (secret service) were not utilized for the purposes these were drawn,” Dhar writes.

“The most bizarre incident of that phase was the decision of Sahay,” Dhar writes, “to seek re-election to the parliament from Ludhiana constituency,” with the help of Manjit Singh and likes. Singh, president of All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF), having dubious terror records had come in touch with Sahay during Centre’s secret bid to open parallel peace process in Punjab with other outfits. Chandraswami, Mamaji and Punjab’s truckers lobby were there to mobilize finance for him, Sahay lost 1991 general election from Ludhiana.

The observation made by Dhar was even produced as evidence before Jharkhand High Court in 2007 by one of his relatives Hitesh Verma, a senior Ranchi based CCL official whom Sahay conspired to transfer to Margareta coliiray Assam allegedly to settle personal scores. Verma produced it as evidence to claim that Sahay may physically harm him in Assam by using his connection if he was transferred. The court had quashed his transfer order.

Sahay has a rich library but that particular book is missing from his bookshelves.

More skeltons keep tumbling out of the cupboard

Purchases made for the police and paramilitary forces in Assam and Punjab routed through Chandraswami.

A particular jeep deal for Assam was clinched at the abode of the Swami.

Tried to bribe IB head for certain deals

Ignored IB’s report over Chandraswami as security threat

Justice Jain Commission’s observation came to conform it.

“Funds (secret service) were not utilized for the purposes these were drawn.

Ignored IB’s suggestion to start police operation in Assam against separatist groups.

Sought re-election from Ludhiana constituency with the help of Manjit Singh and likes of All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF).

VIJAY DEO JHA   विजय देव झा 

VIJAY DEO JHA 

A state that exists between good and bad

A state that exists between good and bad

VIJAY DEO JHARANCHIJharkhand has been a story of too much of negatives. But the story that remains unreported is the story of perpetual fight of people and the way they have withstood many tides — chronic and extant. In some way they have teased miracle probably leaving rest of India confounded.Look at the people, their life, custom, art, culture and society that exist on many layers of time and reality. Very often one cannot relate to the other, much less have a measure of comprehension. Researchers in subaltern history and sociology return with more unfamiliar and unique facts about people, their life and history.Imperial eminences — Dalton, Denis and Oaks, et al — weren’t the first or the last one to realize that these peace loving people could be exploited and subjugated till the time they chose to retaliate and revolt. From 1772 to 1900 it carried 13 major revolts against British Empire.Until quite recently, imperial historians wrote only darkly about Jharkhand and its leaders who had fought against British Empire. Gautam Kumar Bera’s ‘The Unrest axle: Ethno-social Movement in Eastern India’ probably offers the best insight of journey of Jharkhand as part of British Empire and then Indian Republic. But they continued their fight for rights over land, forest and wanted their unique cultural land must get constitutional emboss in form of a separate state. But the new tribes of rulers at Delhi’s power portal proved themselves the pedigree of their predecessors in exploiting people and their rich resources. Through a deliberate and silent process, one by one, leaders representing sentiment of Jharkhandi masses were shunted on the sideline. Ironically, few chose to put themselves on auction to secure political profits. Addressing a huge mass in 1981 at Gandhi Maidan in Dumka, BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee had promised statehood to Jharkhand which he fulfilled in 2000.A decade passed and more yet to come. The turbulence of Domicile episode, frequent fall of governments, looting spree of public exchequer by people in establishment, petty and shady contractors turning into politician, hunger and famine, exploitation, corporate houses fast belting its mineral resources, and naxal terror sharking from dateline to dateline — Jharkhand got an unalloyed infamy as basket case and political laboratory of India.But Jharkhand has a way to fight, a quality that earned the state a grand concession and consideration in Shree Harivansh’s two books ‘Sapne Aur Yatharth’ and ‘Samay Aur Sawal’. Harivansh must be wishing to update his observation about Jharkhand with calmer analysis.As economist Dr Ramesh Sharan said that the chief cause of predicament of Jharkhand remained the gross abuse of power: “State and people were grossly misunderstood. Lack of mature leadership and no concrete policy led have brought this condition.” But everybody seriously believes that Jharkhand will right a fresh story of development and chuck odds in the bin of the past. It needs a fair examination of causes of mass displacement of tribal people and land acquisition policy that witnessed violent protest from Tapkara to Kathikund to Nagri and myriads of pockets are simmering with similar prospect. “170 MoUs so far…that means one crore tribal will be displaced. Tribal people are getting alienated in their own land, what a pity,” tribal leader Salkhan Murmu says. Two land related acts, CNT and SP Act are at place to protect tribal land besides Jharkhand falling in schedule 5^th state category. But the Acts miserably failed to protect tribal land. A section considers these Acts too outdated, not in sync with socio-economic development of the state and tribal. But then radical groups virulent and violently opposes to any change without offering any alternative. Some of them give live cry against outsiders. Their definition of outsider is sure to drive out half of the population.Thankfully, their appeal remains contained within a precinct.Jharkhand’s problems are complex in nature which were misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Primary education starts from nil and staggers at shameful index. Healthcare is in shamble. Large swathes of the state have no access to water or electricity. State has got dubious distinction as the state where human trafficking is rampant. But to ignore any of Jharkhand’s mutinies against such problems would be to court ugly surprises.A battleground of Naxalism and security forces Jharkhand’s hinterland speak terrible story of the plight of the people and the pitfalls of iniquitous growth.Fighting against inequality people are trying to discover ways of securing their rightful share in what they are being told is theirs. There is court where they fight their battle legally, they have ballot for political battle.Bad news has often portrayed Jharkhand in villainy. But there is a lot of good news too. Youths are coming forward for a change. Those calling Jharkhand a functional anarchy probably miss that Jharkhand is what quietly happens between the bad and the good. It is state whose painful stride for prosperity has gone unnoticed. The first Governor of Jharkhand Prabhat Kumar is of the view that change will chatter in Jharkhand and the civil society must come forward in opinion making.Jharkhand is destined to glory. It has resolved to fight against cumulated contradictions. Former Jharkhand Governor Ved Marwah in his book ‘India in Turmoil’ had observed Jharkhand baffling yet beautiful.  A decade later it sounds true.

Justice or death, Sonali makes plea

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI 

Her life is, as though, someone having ugly aesthetic sense has vandalized a picturesque landscape. In her case the life is black and bleak too. Sonali Mukherjee (27) has nearly destroyed albums of Kodak moments of those days when she was beautiful and full of energy.

Her life turned ugly on dreary night of April 22, 2003 when three accused named as Tapas Mitra, Sanjay Paswan, and Bhrahmadev Hajra splashed acid on her face when she was fast asleep on the terrace of her Bhelatand residence in Dhanbad. Her once beautiful face turned into an ugly visage of acid attack. Flesh on her face melted away, her nose and an ear got totally damaged, her beautiful big eyes turned into a circular orb leaving her partially blind for rest of her life. Acid left deep scar on her neck, right part of her chest and hands. Medically she was declared 72 percent burnt; emotionally injury was beyond repair and beyond any measurement. Her only faults that she dared them and threatened them police complaint as they were harassing her with lewd and leer.

She has been fighting a lone battle for justice over the years and there is no assurance and timeline about the deliverance of justice. “Gato chhaee varshe theke nyay pawaar High Court darjaaee dariye. Ataee kee justice delayed justice denied nai? Nayay pawaar aage awadhi aami dekhe thakle to,(From last six years I have been running to High Court to seek justice. Isn’t it justice delayed justice denied? I will see justice only if I remain alive),” Sonali said.

Her father Chandidas Mukherjee — once a watchman now unemployed — sold away all his property and the jewellary of his wife to fight legal battle and for her treatment. “No more money sir. I have spent more than 12 lakh. I am in deep debt. I have taken my daughter to almost all hospitals for her treatment,” her father said. Accused were convicted with nine years of jail term. They came out after securing bail from Jharkhand High Court only to threaten Mukherjees. Frightened, the family shifted to Kasmar in Bokaro leading life in isolation and deep depression. Long back Sonali appealed Jharkhand High Court for the cancellation of bail of the accused. Every time she returns with a next date of hearing — an unending agony that has shattered Sonali who was known for her courage as a brave NCC cadet. Her lawyer Paravver Chattarjee has absolutely no idea whether any section exists in penal code to end her agony.

Sonali Mukherjee

Her mother has become depressed; grandfather died in agony and her younger sister and brother Devasish and Sneha are jittery to venture out. Her father now works as a priest to run the family. He is blessing others, and, unfortunately he could not secure same for her daughter; even earthy Gods have denied so.

“Tell me where to go? Who will listen to me? Why should I suffer? When shall I get justice? I am gradually losing courage. Allow me to end my life you can’t give me justice. My life was destroyed.” Her many ‘who’ and ‘why’ have failed to jangle the nerves of power portal in Ranchi and elsewhere.

The family knocked all possible doors of high and mighty including three Chief Ministers of Jharkhand Madhu Koda, Arjun Munda and Shibu Soren and other for justice and assistance: all sympathized but no support.

She can’t withstand mirror for a moment, probably, she expects no miracle because even partial miracle of plastic surgery will cost not less than Rs 10 lakh. The thick-skinned establishment blithely eased responsibility off its shoulders and pretended not a crease of blame, much less a scar. Administration can pretend that she is already covered under social security scheme and paid Rs 200 each month disability allowance for being physically challenged. He grandmother is paid Rs 400 per month as old age pension. Her single page petition for financial assistance submitted to Welfare Department and CMO has turned into thick documents of official apathy because the file moved but not really.

She has approached the State Women Commission for protection. Fresh promises were made by the Jharkhand government to look into her case. “The case has been brought to our notice. Government will certainly look into the matter. All possible help will be offered,” Women and Child Welfare Minister Vimla Pradhan said.

Sonali’s eyes have welled up again and her distorted face makes sure she can’t contain her tears. Be it the High Court for justice or hospital for treatment she is asked to wait in patience and her patience knows no bound. 

Sankarshan Thakur