Prod for leads on Ranchi terror suspect

Prod for leads on Ranchi terror suspect

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi, Feb. 24: The Hyderabad serial bomb blasts have put the state police on their toes yet again. Jharkhand police received a missive from the Union ministry of home affairs two days ago prodding the department for latest inputs on elusive Ranchi-based youth Manzar Imam, 35, who bears the same name as the one involved in the latest Hyderabad serial blasts, sources said. The central ministry wants to ascertain any possible connection of Imam with Thursday’s twin blasts, as he is known to be among the top 12 men on the ranks of militant group Indian Mujahideen. Jharkhand’s border districts such as Dumka, Pakur, Sahebganj and Jamtara which are prone to illegal immigration, as well as Hazaribagh, Dhanbad and Ranchi have been given special instruction as there have been reports of Indian Mujahideen’s sleeper cells operating in these places, a top police official confided. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the role of Imam and one of the friends, Danis Reyaz (under judicial custody), in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bombing case, is slated to attach movable properties of the Ranchi youth soon. In December 2012, the NIA could not attach his property due to some technical issues. “We are freshly scanning and verifying records of people whose conducts may be doubtful. We have information that a suspect of the same name belongs to Bihar. I believe investigations into the Hyderabad blasts are in the initial phase. Let a clear picture emerge. But it is a fact that Ranchi boy Imam, as evidences suggest, has clear terror connection,” DGP G.S. Rath told The Telegraph. He pointed out that the state police did not have any intelligence input about “direct or indirect links of Jharkhand in the Hyderabad episode”. He added: “But owing to the fact that there exists sleeper cells of IM in some parts of Jharkhand we have sounded a high alert. We appeal to citizens to alert the police about any suspicious objects and persons in their areas.” According to intelligence sources, Imam who allegedly joined IM’s terror camp along with 40 others at Thangalpara forest in Kottayam district of Kerala in 2008, is among the top operatives of the outfit. “As long as he does not turn up to prove his innocence, he will be seen as a suspect whenever IM triggers terror strikes. IM is a closely-knit group. There are evidence of Imam’s close association with top IM operatives like Yasin Bhatkal,” said a top intelligence official. Police officers, however, declined to speak in detail about security measures and alerts. Sources said the districts bordering Bengal that are prone to illegal immigration owing to proximity with Bangladesh had been specifically told to remain alert. The name of Imam, a resident of Bariatu in Ranchi, surfaced in the Ahmedabad bomb blasts case following confessions by Reyaz, an IM member. Reyaz, also a resident of Bariatu, was arrested from Baroda in Gujarat. “Manzar Imam would have been arrested in July 2011 when an NIA team had raided his house in Ranchi, as he was in the city. We doubt this highly secret operation was leaked and Imam managed to flee,” said an intelligence official. Sources did not rule out the possibility of Imam escaping to Nepal or Bangladesh. The NIA has moved a Hyderabad court to seek fresh order to attach movable properties of Imam in Bariatu. Manzar Imam, alias Manzar Imam Ali, is said to have received terror training at one of the camps of IM in Kerala. A case was registered against Imam and 40 others in Kerala. After the investigation was transferred to the NIA, it lodged a fresh case in Hyderabad under different sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Autos spare hike spiral, but fare pinch if reserved

Autos spare hike spiral, but fare pinch if reserved VIJAY DEO JHA An auto-rickshaw being refilled in Ranchi on Sunday, after the petrol price hike. Picture by Hardeep Singh Ranchiites dreading yet another jump in auto-rickshaw fares after the latest hike in fuel prices are in for a pocket-friendly surprise. The unions have promised that you will be charged the existing fare, but with the condition that you will only feel the pinch — a prickly 10 per cent extra — if you reserve petrol-driven auto-rickshaws. The price of petrol was hiked by Rs 1.50 per litre and diesel by 45 paise nationally on Friday. In Ranchi, however, the hike is Rs 1.80 for petrol and 53 paise for diesel as the state administration charges 20 and 18 per cent as value added tax respectively. The two auto-rickshaw unions in the state capital — Chotanagpur Taxi Tempo Driver Union and Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Auto Chalak Mahasangh — announced not to increase auto fares after a decision on Saturday. There are around 1,000 petrol-operated auto-rickshaws, whereas the number of diesel-run autos is nearly 8,000 in and around Ranchi. “Though we will suffer minor losses, we are not going to raise the fare for the time being. In Ranchi, petrol will now cost Rs 68.48 and diesel Rs 50.33 per litre. But the next time there is a diesel price hike, we will have no option but to raise the fare,” said Shakil Akhtar, the president of Chotanagpur Taxi Tempo Driver Union. Last year in June, diesel auto fares saw a hike of Re 1, besides Rs 2 for the two-wheelers running on petrol. Chotanagpur Taxi Tempo Driver Union monitors diesel-run auto-rickshaws, while Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Auto Chalak Mahasangh takes care of petrol-driven autos. Asked about frequent complaints against auto drivers arbitrarily charging money from passengers in the name of fuel hike, Akhtar said the union was planning to hold a meeting next week to discuss the issue. “We do receive such complaints. It is mandatory for every member of the union to display a fare chart. We are going to hold a meeting next week. The problem is that the district administration, too, never issued any directive for a clear-cut rule on increase in fare,” he said. Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Auto Chalak Mahasangh president Dinesh Soni told The Telegraph: “We were forced to hike fare big 10 per cent in case of passengers who reserve petrol-operated auto-rickshaws. The increase is quite minimal. But fare for unreserved autos has not been increased.” Soni said the organisation would soon inform authorities at the prepaid taxi stands in Ranchi Railway Station and other places about the decision. Interestingly, a faction of the organisation led by Lankesh has not made any decision to this effect. A 10 per cent increase will make a substantial difference for passengers. For instance, those who were earlier charged Rs 200 to travel from Gandhinagar (Kanke Road) to Ranchi Railway Station would now have to pay another Rs 20. “We know that auto-rickshaws do not run on water. But any increase in fare must be logical, even if somebody reserves an auto. There are cases of arbitrary hike only because the district administration fails to regularise fare,” argued Deepak Prasad, a resident of Gandhinagar. Could the 10 per cent fare hike in petrol autos be avoided?

State chief by Feb. 20

State chief by Feb. 20

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi, Feb. 8: The BJP national general secretary and Jharkhand in-charge, Dharmendra Pradhan, arrived in Ranchi today to gauge the mood of a divided leadership over the appointment of a state party president. Pradhan convened an hour-long meeting of the core committee this afternoon. The general secretary dropped hints that the party chief would be named by February 20. The meeting, however, was marked by the glaring absence of former party chief Raghubar Das. Das told The Telegraph he skipped the meeting due to personal reasons. In an official statement earlier, the party said Pradhan was scheduled to hold a meeting of the core committee to discuss the emerging political scenario in the state in the wake of President’s Rule after the fall of the Arjun Munda-led coalition in January. Party insiders confided that Pradhan is scheduled to hold one-to-one meeting with top leaders during his two-day stay to draw consensus over the state unit president’s post. The scramble for the top job has resulted in a faction-ridden BJP. Former chief Das, who returned on Wednesday after a weeklong visit to Delhi and Nagpur to lobby his prospects, is opposed to former chief minister Arjun Munda. His grouse is that Munda has been trying to gain one-upmanship in the party by projecting himself for the state president’s post or any of his confidants in the worst case. Today’s meeting was attended by 11 members including Munda, Yashwant Sinha and state president Dineshanand Goswami.

Injured recall station horror

Injured recall station horror - Ranchi elder among injured in UP stampede

VIJAY DEO JHA

Devotees wait to board a train at Allahabad station on Monday. AFP photo Ranchi, Feb. 11: Three pilgrims from Jharkhand were injured in yesterday’s station stampede in Allahabad that left 36 dead, while one is missing. Retired schoolteacher from Ranchi Ganga Prasad Yadav (70) had gone to attend the Mahakumbh Mela with four family members. Yadav fractured his leg in the melee and is undergoing treatment at the Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital in Allahabad, but more worryingly, his nephew Lakhan (35) is missing. The two other injured pilgrims from the state are shop owner Ajay Prasad Gupta (40) from Latehar and homemaker Parvati (50) from Dhanbad. “The station was teeming with people. I was caught unawares when all of a sudden people started running from one platform to another. Within moments I was on the ground and people were running over me. I saw so many people dying in front of me even as I struggled to save myself,” a feeble Yadav told The Telegraph over telephone. His only plea was that someone should locate his missing nephew. Commenting on Yadav’s condition, senior medical officer of the hospital Dr R.S. Thakur said: “Yadav has been complaining of severe muscular pain and was admitted here last night. Routine check-up has been done and he is under observation.” Gupta is also admitted in the same hospital with similar complaints. “Pichhle janm me shayad koi punya tha, so bach gaye (I might have done some good in my previous birth so I am safe),” Gupta said. Recalling the incident, he added that a footbridge collapsed as people rushed to platform 6 from platform 2 to catch a Howrah-bound train. “All of a sudden there was an announcement that the train will arrive on another platform and people started rushing. At the same time, the police resorted to mindless lathi-charge, hitting anybody in sight, leading to a stampede,” he said, adding that he was worried as he had not been able to contact his family back home. Homemaker Parvati has been admitted in Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital (SRNH) with fractures and bruises. As she was in no condition to talk, senior medical officer of the hospital Ajay Saxena said her condition was stable. Superintendent-in-chief of SRNH Shradha Dwivedi said as most of the injured admitted in the hospital are in a state of shock, it had not been possible to collect their details. A helpline number — 0532-2256006 — had been set up to provide information about patients. Meanwhile, Ranchi railway station has given special instructions to booking counters to provide tickets on priority basis to people who want to visit Allahabad to meet their near and dear ones who are either missing or convalescing in hospitals. “Though we are not running any special trains, instructions have been issued to provide tickets to such people on priority basis. They can personally ask me for any help,” Ranchi DRM Gajanan Mallya said.

MoU signed for tech cradles

MoU signed for tech cradles

AMIT GUPTA & VIJAY DEO JHA

Science and technology director Arun Kumar and chief operating officer of Techno India Suman Chatterjee exchange files as chief secretary SK Choudhary (centre) and governor’s adviser K Vijay Kumar look on in Ranchi on Tuesday. Picture by Prashant Mitra Ranchi, Feb. 5: The state science and technology department today signed an MoU with a Calcutta-based company to run two engineering colleges in Chaibasa (West Singhbhum) and Dumka — the firsts in both districts — on public-private partnership (PPP) basis. Governor’s adviser K. Vijay Kumar, under whose presence the agreement with Techno India Group was signed, termed the partnership a welcome move to spread technical education in Jharkhand, adding the state had the potential to emerge as a hub in this regard. “It will also benefit the poor and unprivileged classes which cannot afford high costs for technical education,” he said. Director of state science and technology department Arun Kumar told The Telegraph: “According to the agreement, 53 per cent of the state’s students can avail of education at rates fixed by the government in the Chaibasa institute, while the percentage will be 21 per cent in Dumka.” The authorities are expecting Techno India — which has also been roped in by the department for an engineering institute and polytechnic at Ramgarh and Silli — would manage to gain approval from All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to start courses at Chaibasa and Dumka from this academic session (2013-14). Kumar said that to start with, 300 seats each would be on offer at the Chaibasa and Dumka cradles, with a break-up of 60 for five separate trades. But, he added, the final approval from AICTE would be crucial. Chief operating officer of Techno India Group Suman Chatterjee said, “Jharkhand is our focus area. We are planning more such projects in Jharkhand in the coming days. The state’s response has been very encouraging. We would certainly like to continue partnering the department of science and technology.” Techno India will admit 25 per cent of the seats based on its own entrance test while 75 per cent berths will be filled up through the Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board, a state entity that conducts tests for engineering, medical, agriculture, forestry, veterinary and other courses. The company will be responsible to run the institutes for 30 years on licence. Its role will include upgrade, operation, maintenance and management according to AICTE norms, besides securing and maintenance at its cost all applicable permits/approvals/licences, et al. Chaibasa, the headquarters of West Singhbhum which is known for its vast mineral reserves and faced with the Naxalite menace in several pockets including Saranda, lacks an engineering college till date. Dumka, too, is deprived of an engineering college, though BIT-Mesra runs an extension centre in neighbouring Deoghar district. Sources said the college building in Chaibasa was complete, while few tasks including electrification were pending in the upcoming institute in Dumka. The authorities are hopeful about readying the buildings within a couple of months. The colleges were supposed to start functioning two years ago, but the laggard government machinery failed to take the projects off the ground. Chief secretary S.K. Choudhary, development commissioner Debashish Gupta, additional chief secretary Vinod Agrawal who holds the science and technology portfolio, industry secretary A.P. Singh and his urban development department counterpart Nitin Madan Kulkarni were also present during the signing of the MoU at Project Building this afternoon

All work and no play in babudom - Leave nixed, chai-paani denied, bureaucracy sweats under central rule

VIJAY DEO JHA & AMIT GUPTA

Work is our worship: Employees at Project Building in Dhurwa, Ranchi, pore over files on a busy day last week. Picture by Hardeep Singh Ranchi, Feb. 12: A for adda, Z for zzz. That’s the A to Z of Jharkhand’s babudom or so popular wisdom went before President’s Rule started on January 18. Less than a month later, W stands for work and workstations. Junk all clichés of “forty winks, files for swatting flies and chai-paani” into the nearest waste bin and watch the power corridors of Project Building, the state’s main bureaucratic hub, hum with busy efficiency. President’s Rule has jerked awake snoozing babudom. Red tape is now sweating on the corporate treadmill. Well, almost. Catch a section officer of the state personnel department hurriedly disposing and dispatching pending files. To avoid interruptions, he has placed a “Do not disturb” placard on his table. “Jaldi karoji, tezi se haath chalao (Faster man, move your hands faster),” the babu scolds his junior. Asked about the placard, he said: “I’m busy, can’t be interrupted, can’t risk keeping a file pending. I need to clear them all by this evening.” Democracy, for all its obvious virtues of freedom and choice, has not been able to conjure up this marvel. There’s more. A circular was issued weeks ago asking employees to reach office on time. But there was no mention of the closing time. Fresh applications for leave are not being entertained till March-end. The clear message — come on time, work hard, fast and smart, do not watch the clock. Personnel sources said at least seven employees across different government departments received showcause for sauntering in late to office. “We have become very punctual in our work. By 10.30am sharp everybody is at work. It is our daily routine. The new regime has indeed brought changes. You can feel it everywhere,” Nand Kumar Thakur, an under secretary rank official, said. Jharkhand’s two “tough taskmasters” — governor Syed Ahmed’s advisers Madhukar Gupta and K. Vijay Kumar — are indeed living up to their reputations. They are working late and setting the tone for all the other bureaucrats. Even senior officials are toeing the line, said a babu snidely. “Earlier, seniors came late, left early, threw their weight around and no one questioned them. Now, you will see them in their chairs. And they are also working,” he said, grinning. The reason is too well-known. “At the state guest house, the official residence of the advisers, work goes till late evening. So everyone here has to stay back till Gupta and Kumar work. The advisers also ask for status reports, host marathon meetings at Project Building till late evening, set the agenda. For instance, they asked secretaries concerned to furnish details of pending projects and amount spent. The fiscal is ending so budgetary details have to be ready.” Kumar is chairing meetings every second day, seeking precise data on pending projects. Gupta, another stickler for speedy work, is disposing of at least 50 files a day. So, is workaholism suiting everyone? It has been disorienting for those used to a snail’s pace. “Too much of workload all of a sudden,” an official of the department of cabinet coordination said diplomatically. “They want everything precise and complete. They want daily reports. They even got us digging into old and forgotten files. It is good for those who want to work.” Not good for those who want to relax and earn their sarkari salaries. Not good for betel and tea shops in and around Project Building too. Paan shop owner Om Prakash has been quick to sense the pulse of change and the plunge in his business. “Office time mein yahan pakde jayenge to action hoga. Do logon ko warning bhi mili hai. Mera income gira hai,” he rues. More work, less paan. “Will President’s Rule stay for long?” he wonders.

Hemant running out of ideas

Hemant running out of ideas

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi, Feb. 7: Hemant Soren, former deputy chief minister and JMM’s heir-apparent, is faced with a serious crisis as partymen are getting restless and want him to come out with a political plan in the wake of President’s Rule in Jharkhand. Hemant’s chief ministerial ambition has already been forestalled in the wake of the Congress leadership spurning his proposal to form an alternative government in the state after the JMM withdrew support from the Arjun Munda- led coalition. As of now, the prospects of forming an alternative dispensation look bleak even though he accompanied party chief Shibu Soren to Delhi last month and spent a couple of days there trying to convince senior Congress leaders. Ultimately, the father-son duo returned, but only with half-hearted assurances that their plea would be looked at afresh after the Union Budget was placed in Parliament. So far, Hemant has managed to keep his flock together with no one speaking out against him openly. But privately, many have started questioning his leadership abilities. “It’s one thing to be the son of the party chief and another thing to project political maturity,” said a senior JMM MLA. “He (Hemant) pulled out of the coalition without proper homework, blindly believing state Congress leaders who convinced him about their party’s support. He seems to have no clear vision about the future.” Party MLA Vidyut Baran Mahto refused to talk about Hemant’s political acumen, but agreed that many within the party weren’t quite sure about him. But Hemant is trying to reassert himself in his own way. Recently, he addressed two well-attended JMM rallies in Dumka and Dhanbad where he appealed to the Congress once again to help the party form a government. However, insiders feel that the JMM’s indecisiveness will rob the party of political space in future. “These rallies were successful. We have waited for a month to know the response of like-minded forces on government formation. Now, we should take a decision,” party MLA Shashank Sekhar Bhokta said. Hemant, those close to him say, still harbours hopes of being able to persuade the Congress. He believes that for the Congress, the JMM is the only party it can choose as an ally to fight the 2014 parliamentary and Assembly elections. But, senior JMM leaders like Hemlal Murmu contest this position. “Only Hemantji can explain his silence,” he said.

Slurs on MLAs worry Guruji VIJAY DEO JHA Shibu Soren Ranchi, Feb. 17: The JMM has been enduring ill omens for long, but it is more fidgety than ever as party supremo Shibu Soren battles growing concerns about a section of his MLAs facing legal wrangles and imminent arrest. The latest entrant in the list of troubled MLAs is his daughter-in-law Sita Soren, adding to Guruji’s worries beyond a failure to form alternative government with the Congress in Jharkhand after the BJP-led coalition fell last month when the JMM withdrew support. Almost half of his party MLAs, out of 18, is in legal soup over the ongoing CBI probe into cash-for-vote Rajya Sabha election scandals in 2010 and 2012 and few other vigilance cases. Sita, the Jama MLA, is not only believed to be an accused in the 2012 case, but she could face music as Ranchi police have corroborated evidence against her of allegedly abducting her former aide Vikas Pandey, alias Santi, who is a CBI witness against her. “Guruji is worried about the way things have progressed. He is particularly concerned about Sita, as he was emotionally attached to his elder son Durga. There are definite indications of serious crisis in the party,” a close aide of Soren told The Telegraph. Soren himself was summoned and questioned by the CBI on January 25, in connection with the coal scam in his capacity as former Union coal minister in the UPA government. The CBI is even gathering and scrutinising evidences against the Soren family in a disproportionate assets case. But JMM insiders fear deepening legal problems on half of the legislative flock of the party in the Rajya Sabha elections probe. During a raid on the premises of JMM Jamtara MLA Vishnu Bhaiya on April 21 last year, the CBI had seized a Toyota Fortuner and Rs 4 lakh. Another MLA Paulus Surin (Torpa) is believed to be in the CBI net in the 2012 horse-trading case. Refusing to divulge details, CBI sources hinted involvement of a good number of JMM MLAs in the episode. As the CBI is acting fast to meet the deadline set by Jharkhand High Court to complete investigation and constitutional procedures to file chargesheet against the accused in the 2012 case, it has deeply worried the JMM. “My detractors are trying to finish my political career and have implicated me in false cases. Believe me I am innocent,” Sita told The Telegraph. Party senior Simon Marandi (Littipara MLA) stands as an accused in the 2010 Rajya Sabha cash-for-vote row after he was caught on camera along with five other legislators from the party, BJP and Congress. JMM leader Nalin Soren (Shikaripara), too, has been evading arrest in a 2007 scam when he was agriculture minister in the then Madhu Koda government. Leaders at the JMM headquarters looked despaired for explanations they could not afford to air publicly. “Kya bolen? Election aa raha hai aise me toh adhi party hi samapt ho jayegi. Yah ham logon ko kamjor karne ki sajish hai. Lekin kuch galti hui tab to kisi ko hamen fasane ka mauka mila, (What do we say? Elections are nearing and half the party will be finished this way. This is a conspiracy to weaken us. Some mistakes provided other a chance to implicate us,)” said a party leader. Senior Soren is struggling to establish son Hemant as his rightful and unquestioned political successor at a time the party’s rank-and-file members are in a directionless drift. Senior leaders like Hemlal Murmu and some others from Kolhan are apprehensive that a political rookie like Hemant should be given such a promotion at the cost of experienced. However, the loyalists are engaged in a dutiful defence, sparing father and son any blame for the JMM’s woes. Soren is about to summon an emergency meeting of party functionaries and MLAs next week and discuss legal and political challenges. “Guruji is very worried. He has convened a meeting to discuss all these issues. We will fight them legally and politically,” said Vinod Pandey, senior party leader and close aide of Soren.

Sahay fears Coalgate backlash after Vijayadashmi

The ticking time-bomb of a Union Cabinet reshuffle — ready to explode anytime after President Pranab Mukherjee returns to Raisina Hills post-Vijayadashmi — may yet ruin the festive mood for Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay.

His office exudes optimism. Sahay’s media coordinator Ravichand Kapoor says the office has been receiving requests from different organisations seeking the Minister’s time to inaugurate puja pandals in Ranchi. “Within a couple of days, the list (of the places he will visit) will be finalised,” he added.

However, another close aide of Sahay was concerned, saying the Minister is quite unsure about his position in the Cabinet.

“Politics me utha-patak chalta hai lekin aise nahi. Kisi ko bura lagega,” he confided.

The report of a proposed Cabinet rejig the next week is spreading like the virus after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi met the President. Top Congress sources claimed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had summoned Sahay last month and advised him to be prepared.

Singh believed to be quite unhappy over Sahay’s subterfuge and repeated show of innocence towards ‘moral wrongdoing’ of recommending coal blocks to SKS Ispat & Power Ltd, where his younger brother Sudhir is a director, all the while keeping the PM in the dark.

A couple of other Ministers are also likely to be asked to step down.

Sahay has been a desperate man, having made three unsuccessful attempts to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her political advisor Ahmed Patel in the past month, to plead innocence in a bid to save his chair.

On the other hand, a top Central Congress leader hinted that this Cabinet reshuffle could not be a very straight affair, since the party really can’t risk sulking drops-out and may anyway accommodate them.

“Such things are under deliberation. Sahay might be in the dropouts list. Cabinet reshuffle and organisational overhaul will be simultaneous, keeping in mind general election of 2014,” the leader said.

Sonia Gandhi is likely to reshuffle the Central organisation of the Congress by the end of this month or the next month. Rahul, during his two-day Jharkhand tour last month, had indicated a probable change of guard of the State unit.

Sahay is expected to lobby for the post of State party president to compensate for the loss of his precious Ministerial post.

Sahay’s impending departure from Cabinet is eagerly awaited by his rival faction, headed by State party president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, who does not stop smiling when asked about his proposed induction in the Cabinet.

While a shaky and preoccupied Sahay would be busy inaugurating puja pandals in Ranchi, Balmuchu will be in Delhi to confirm his Cabinet prospects. He is slated to visit Delhi on Friday.

Nonetheless, visiting all those puja pandals, Sahay would surely seek the blessings of the goddess against the feared guillotine.

But what he really needs are political blessings.

Long considered rivals, a series of rapid political developments and their stars seem to have brought Jharkhand Congress president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu and erstwhile Union Cabinet Minister Subodh Kant Sahay to a similar fate.

Advisory capacity is the role sections of the State Congress are now considering for the duo, rather than appointing either to head the party in proposed restructure of the State unit.

The idea got the desired impetus in the wake of two shifts in national politics of the Congress as well as UPA-II in the past week, when Sahay was dropped from the Cabinet and Balmuchu was denied a berth.

An ‘over-extended’ term for Balmuchu as State party president is going to expire this month and he is quite unlikely to be anointed afresh. Nonetheless, he is believed to have started a lateral negotiation with Central party bosses to allow him to head the party.

Removed from the Ministry, Sahay — who has of late started identifying himself as a ‘man meant for the organisation’ — has given thick hints as to where his interests chiefly lie now — State party and people.

Both Sahay and Balmuchu have publicly undertaken their commitment to serve the party. Both of them 

Advisory role on cards for Balmuchu, Sahay?

are speaking in guarded language, but with enough adjectives to give clues to their understated meaning and the message they want conveyed. “I had never been keen on a ministerial job and never lobbied for that. I will keep serving party and organisation, which is my top-most priority,” says Balmuchu.

If the Central Congress dropped Sahay and denied Balmuchu a berth, it was solely because it did not want a fresh bout of factionalism in the State unit since both are known for sponsoring blatant factionalism.

The section of the State party averse to the Balmuchu-Sahay tandem has made a fresh plea to Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. It wants him to help the party break fresh ground in Jharkhand and get fresh people in its ranks, rather than pressing for either of these two old boys, who are known for favouring kith and kin.

This non-cohesive and amoeba-like ‘third front’ consists chiefly of young MLAs and leaders like Banna Gupta, Geetashree Oraon, Sukhdeo Bhagat, Sarfaraz Ahmed and the likes, who consider themselves key flag-bearers of Rahul’s Mission Revive Jharkhand, for which Rahul visited Jharkhand in September. He returned with sufficient sense and reports that his party requires immediate housekeeping, with major surgery on its body politics.

“I had already told Rahulji about the precarious position of people like us. We are forced either to be in the Balmuchu camp or that of Sahayji. We believe an energetic leader — non-controversial and acceptable to all — should be appointed as the next president. One who will keep the party on the priority list,” Gupta notes. 

Though this close-knit group refrains from making explicit public statements that could court big brothers’ ire or lead to any disciplinary action, it has the support of many of Rahul’s confidantes.

However, they differ in one critical regard — whether the next president should be a tribal or non-tribal.

The Central Congress, which traditionally favours a tribal face to head the party in Jharkhand, will have a delicate task cut out since a section of the party is also pushing the idea of giving a non-tribal a chance.

Subodh Sahay did it for his brothers

Delhi as well as Ranchi’s power portals have long been buzzing with the story of Congress Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay’s love for his brothers. His denial is not so convincing a political plea.

At the beginning of the Coalgate controversy, Sahay had denied that either he or his brother had any connection with SKS Ispat & Power Ltd, which was granted coal blocks following his recommendation to the Prime Minister. But a flood of proof forced Sahay to accept that Sudhir Kumar, his younger brother, was honorary director.

“Many more SKS companies will surface in the coming days, which Sahay promoted and established to favour his family and brothers. He has a shrewd political and business sense. He has brought much disgrace to the party,” said senior Congress leader Alok Dubey.

Securing a ticket for his brother Sunil for the recently-held Hatia Assembly by-election remained a prestige point. He had pulled out all the stops despite open protest by the party’s old guards, who termed him yet another political opportunist to sacrifice the Congress’ larger interest at the alter of promoting his family.

Officially, Sunil was a Congress candidate; practically, it was a Minister contesting. Sunil was a just poster boy smiling from under the shadow of his heavyweight brother.

Unfortunately, the Sahays ended up flapping their wings hopelessly in a wind that did not obey their commands and lost the deposit. Sunil was left to carp and cry over the defeat — more than his party.

“Let him mourn the defeat. And please don’t say that the Congress got defeated. It was the Sahay family that was fighting election,” a senior Congress leader had said at the time. Sunil is still struggling to rise in politics as representative of his MP brother.

Subodh Kant Sahay was accused of keeping the high command in the dark just to promote his rookie brother.

Having a large family of six brothers — Sahay has three younger brothers Sudhir, Sunil and Tarun — the Minister has done his best to promote them politically and financially.

Sahay had frantically lobbied for Sudhir too, as party nominee for the Rajya Sabha election. But Dhiraj Sahu was just much better.

When it comes to tilting the scales in favour of his siblings, all it takes is a little tap of senior Sahay’s finger. One of his relatives who did not wish to be named refused to comment but advises going through MK Dhar’s ‘India’s Intelligence Unveiled’.

“This book speaks about how Sahay misused his position as Union Home Minister (State) to promote personal interest. Family is often a key arbiter in his scheme of politics,” he said.

Sahay, as Minister during the regime of Prime Minister Chandrasekhar, had faced the Opposition’s accusation for awarding contracts and tenders to front companies where his brothers had stakes.

“It is purely an attempt to establish patent; heirloom politics at its best and worst. Here, succession trend exhibits a flat model of the business family,” said former veteran Congress leader Pratibha Pandey.

Sudhir may not be a keener student of politics but Sahay has ensured a good place for him. He is part of the Congress delegation from Palamau. When Sahay was part of the Janta Dal, he had hijacked Janta Mazdoor Sangh, an RSS-supported trade union body active in Heavy Engineering Corporation, Ranchi. He became a patron of the trade body and appointed Sudhir as its head.

Promoting family might help, but not always — it is a sword that can cut both ways. Sahay seems to have learnt this fact the hard way.

Sankarshan Thakur (The Telegraph) and me Vijay Deo Jha at Khan Market, New Delhi. January 31st 2013 

From politics to petition Dumka remained the hotspot

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Politically Dumka remained the most happening place on Friday in the wake of cabinet meeting here. Disgruntled JMM MLA Sita Soren who had raked-up the nerve of the coalition government by her anti-government noises in the past, appeared to be in perfect sync with the government and her party. The fear that Sita might sabotage the cabinet meeting and the purpose behind it (by airing her differences) proved wrong.

Sources confided about an hour long meeting of Sita with the Godda BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday evening in Deoghar to diffuse crisis and to persuade her to play rather a positive role in persuading the government for the development of Santhal Pargana division.

“Sita is the baby of media that hyped her small complains and grievances into a major political crisis. She is not of that nature as projected,” JMM MLA Sheshank Sekhar Bhokta told the Pioneer.

Nevertheless, common people remained indifferent even after the cabinet meeting was held in Dumka. “People are least excited this time as they were in 2006 when the cabinet meeting was held in Dumka. Probable reason is that Dumka and Santhal Pargana were neglected in terms of development,” RK Nirad, political analyst and editor of a Hindi newspaper observed.

But, around a dozen of political and non-political outfits had their ways to raise voices of people. Garib Das, deputy chairman of Dumka Municipality, covered around four km distance by crawling himself on the road and reached the suchana Bhavan where cabinet meeting was scheduled. His demand included giving Dumka Municipality the status of corporation, funds for the development of Dumka under urban development fund and correction of the BPL list.

Lawyers of Dumka Bar Association held a silent march and demonstration for long pending demand of the bench of Jharkhand High Court in Dumka.  The activists of Left parties held a march to demand immediate stop to the land transfer in Santhal Pargana adding that the issue of displacement must be addressed.

Jharkhand Adim Janjatiya Sangh held a rally to demand Pahariya battalion.  Gram Pradhan Sangathan, an outfit of village heads, submitted memorandum to highlight corruption in the land settlement office in Dumka and elsewhere in Santhal Pargana.  Another organization representing the interest of the Bhuyan and Ghatwal demanded scheduled caste status for them. The association of the Para teachers pressed for the regularization of their job. Though, none could meet the Chief Minister but they submitted their memorandum to the officials.

House raps government on MLA fund

Strap: Nagri protesters present paddy bouquets to MLAs

VIJAY DEO JHA

Ranchi  

Infuriated fund starved MLAs of Jharkhand assembly fired salvo at the government for not releasing money under ‘MLA Area Development Fund’ from last nine months and forced the who’s who of government to take shelter behind silence.

Agitated members even urged Speaker CP Singh to move a resolution to terminate MLA Fund if the state government was handicapped and cash strapped.

As the second half of the winter session began on Tuesday MLAs cutting across party lines charged the government for sitting upon MLA funds from last nine months. Raising the matter BJP MLA Raghuwar Das quoted the ruling of the House during Monson Session where the government was directed to remove bottleneck and ensure the release of funds. Under the scheme, each MLA has the choice to suggest to the Deputy Commissioner for, works to the tune of Rs three Crores per annum to be taken up in his/her constituency. 

Chief Minister Arjun Munda and his Deputy Hemant Soren intervened in the debate to explain the position of the government. “There may be problems with ‘MLAs Fund.’ But the government committed for financial discipline and is concerned towards financial irregularities,” Munda said. Unsatisfied over the answer members alleged the government holding partisan attitude and shielding officials. “By ignoring the ruling of the assembly the government has brought contempt on the House. Why should MLAs suffer due to officials DC, DDC and likes? The government is promoting regional imbalance,” Das said.

Outside of House an MLA of ruling coalition explained ‘regional imbalance’ should be understood in the context of ‘assembly imbalance’ as provisions have been relaxed and constraints removed for three top ministers of the government in availing MLA Area Fund.

Earlier in the house Hemant rose to intervene with mien of an arbitrator. “Ham Sangharsh nahi samadhan ki disha me badhen, let us take the path of solution then confrontation,” Hemant urged. But before he began speaker snubbed him silence.  “You must be feeling very happy in protecting your DCs and DDCs. They won’t be helpful for you. Minister please mind you will not remain on this post till life,” Singh said.  Hemant could not marshal courage to continue in the face of mounted assault; none from the treasury, and, even JMM MLAs appeared harsh on him.

Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh even suggested the House and Speaker to move resolution to do away with MLA Area Fund if government can’t provide it. “I request the Chair not to give further ruling in this matter because these are not taken seriously,” he said.

But the first half of the session and question hour were gutted in the Nagari land row as the House was adjourned before to start. Quite surprisingly, the Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) remained which had stalled the House on previous day over Panem issue, did not rake-up it on Tuesday.

JVM and other Opposition demanded special debate over Nagari land row. The demand was fiercely opposed by the treasury bench which alleged Opposition (JVM particularly) for taking the House on ransom. Before the session around 50 farmers of Nagari and agitators converged on assembly’s outer premise. They handed over bouquets made of paddy to MLAs and requested them to persuade the government to withdraw from 227 acres of arable land where three elite academic institutions are proposed. Despite adjournment MLAs continued pitched battle over Nagari and Panem.

The house symbolically did a good job of passing the Jharkhand Advocate Welfare Fund Act to help practicing lawyer with Rs. 50000 of financial assistance for treatment of critical disease. 

Munda concludes his trips, Hemant wonders how to begin

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

There is a strong central view in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) that Chief Minister Arjun Munda is subtly surveying and strengthening political and electoral prospect of his party—the BJP— by undertaking frequent tours across the State.

JMM insiders confessed the party bosses have reasons to remorse since their wake-up calls arrived quite late because by this Munda has already completed more than six legs of tours of districts in last one year. Munda on Wednesday returned Ranchi after completing four days of Johar Yatra hinting further trips in making. 

JMM is an alliance partner in Munda led BJP-JMM-AJSU- Janta Dal (United) and has four ministers including Hemant Soren who is deputy Chief Minister.

The fear in the JMM has made considerable delay in preparing grounds for upcoming elections and Munda has outshined the JMM in this regard. The JMM insiders accepted that Munda through such trips has certainly improved his party on political and electoral index which ultimately will barricade the prospect of the JMM. JMM chief Shibu Soren, insiders said, roughly prodded Hemant to come out of cozy conform of his plush office and ministerial bungalow in Ranchi and undertake similar tours and reviews and assert his authority as deputy CM. In the last couple of days Hemant’s office remained busy in chalking out detailed itinerary of official trip to Dhanbad and adjoining districts where he will review government projects.

“Baap-bete ke beech ka mamla hai, (This is between father and son,)” a top JMM leader said adding: “But they (Sorens) have realized and learnt quite late to encash the performance of government for the party…while Mundaji played masterstrokes he (Hemant) was collecting the ball on the fence” a close Soren aide put it.

 Nevertheless, Munda deliberately banished party flags at any such public programmes during trips. He kept it a mixture of coalition conglomerate and even inviting Opposition. He never took sloe credit of what so ever the success coalition government has achieved so far, but he carried a larger sense of having put his best efforts and visions to bring best for the people out of government’s kitty. Aware of the fact running a coalition government is a risky and uncertain enterprise Munda made best use of these occasions to tone-up party organization to secure an incremental constituency.

Trouble has just erupted on the coalition front and surface bonhomie between coalition allies have turned into shadow boxing. Senior Soren has been signalling to the BJP leadership to hand over CM’s post to the JMM after January next year. Munda will respond JMM’s call in the right time, as he told the media. Munda may not have opportunity to decide his next trip but Hemant must be wondering how to begin. 

Soren asks farmers to plough leaves deep furrow

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI 

JMM chief Shibu Soren asked villagers to plough their field during meeting of the agitators at Nagri leaving a deep furrow on the forehead of many in the government. Soren, on Sunday, was addressing a meeting of agitators who are opposed to establishment of IIM, IIIT and Law University on 227 acres of land at Nagri. 

Soren made best use of podium moment to assure his core constituents that he would oppose any decision of the government if it is subversive to the interest of tribal and farmers.

“Go and plough your field. I have always spoken against the government even I happen to be the part of the government. Land belongs to farmers. Government can’t take their land away. Government taking their land is unjust.” Soren said this to a gathering.

Soren spoke around 10 minutes; but did not talk much about the issue except extending support to their cause. But he made loud and clear to his BJP counterpart in the coalition government that either he or his party can’t risk becoming the party of such decision. 

A week back, a delegation of agitators had visited Soren and sought his support for farmers from the public forum. Soren agreed to attend their meeting which was scheduled on Sunday. Despite of heavy rain thousands came to attend public hearing.

“He has supported us. We hope he will pressurize the government to withdraw decision to establish institutions here. Our land will be returned” Soren had barely left the dais when the announcement was made.

But sources in the government have their own sets of concern that Soren only helped to turn more conflicting. “Five men committee has already been formed which is exploring ways to short out this issue. Let the negotiation to take place first. Addressing a public gathering and making such statement so loud and clear will create further deadlock…after all he happens to be the chairman of State Coordination Committee. What he utters will be considered the policy of the government,” top sources in the government said.

Five men committee headed by JMM leader and Land Revenue Minister Mathura Mahto is likely to convene meeting with villagers and their representatives on Monday.

“We have called them for a meeting. We will listen to their points and their demand. Farmers should be given justice,” Mahto told The Pioneer over telephone. 

“What Soren announced can’t be said as reflection of the mind of the government. But the way JMM leaders in the government are speaking it seems that they putting blame on to the BJP for the crisis. Any public statement of this kind reflects poorly upon the government,” a BJP minister of coalition government headed by Chief Minister Arjun Munda said.

Minister argued that the government will take all aspects — humane and legal before taking any decision. “But this is not the way. You (Soren) are grilling your government where you are a partner,” minister said.

But the JMM insisted that Soren being a mass leader can’t be confined to the nitty gritty of the governance. “Unka dil janta me basta hai sarkar me nahi wah janta kee baat karte hain (his heart lies in the people not in the government, he talks about the people,)” JMM MLA Shashank Sekhar Bhokta said.   

After controversy flared into flame the BJP too appears jittery about venturing out too far alone. The BJP has already faced political consequences during anti-encroachment drive last year when the JMM had shrugged off from taking responsibility of the drive. It cost the BJP in Jamshedpur parliamentary election and elsewhere.

Sr Dhoni roped in for Hatia poll campaigns  

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

At least on two occasions — when summer is on its peak and when elections are announced — Narendra Singh Dhoni, elder brother of team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni turns busy.

During summers he inaugurates drinking water kiosks at different places in Ranchi to help public and he does not miss to invite media to showcase his philanthropy. He takes on the job of a plumber, often repairing water taps. He gets busy when there is election as he is invited by political parties or candidates for campaigning. This summer, Narendra has double assignments as the by election of Hatia assembly has been announced.

Narendra has been roped in by the AJSU Party to campaign for the party candidate Naveen Jaisawal. Narendra inaugurated election of office of the AJSU Party at Doranda on Friday. “AJSU Party represents dream of vibrant Jharkhand. It is the party of young people,” Narendra said during the inauguration.

“Among candidates in this by-election I have found Naveen is true to the trust of the people. It is time for us to show trust in him,’ Narendra has fulsome praise for Naveen. Leaders of the AJSU Party were happy not just because a couple of the BJP workers and ward level leaders joined the AJSU Party fold, it was happy also because of the reason that Narendra has joined them.

Younger brother Dhoni is a close friend of AJSU Party chief Sudesh Kumar Mahto. “If cricket family of Jharkhand makes an appeal for the party it will at least compel youths to think,” Deepak Thakur, an AJSU Party worker told it convincingly.

Politics is not a new enterprise for Narendra, though, every time he got a bad taste in his mouth. During 2009 parliamentary elections Narendra had joined the BJP in the presence of the party president Raghuwar Das. Narendra had taken primary membership of the party along with 11 others. He had campaigned for the BJP. Though, he was nowhere responsible for the defeat of the BJP candidate Ramtahal Chaudhary, but he was not a vote catcher even in his locality. “He had delivered a dud. Funnily, many in the party believed that he will be successful in wooing voters,” a senior BJP leader said.

The BJP has no idea whether Narendra hold primary membership of the party or have resigned. “We have no idea about this. He has obsession for politics. Politics is something that you learn over the years. Politics is something that comes as inheritance. Being the brother of a celebrity is no guarantee of success in politics. Mahendra Singh Dhoni can have an impact on voters. But being the elder brother of Dhoni will not work,” BJP leader Kamal Khan said.   

While atmosphere has surcharged in Hatia, weathermen have predicted no respite from scotching heat. Many are waiting Narendra to find time for philanthropic act of starting drinking water kiosks out of busy schedule in politics.

Once an actor always an actor!

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Going by their histrionics and full-throated baritones ringing out within and outside the state Assembly it seems that the long-buried actors within Samresh Singh and Satyanand Jha ‘Batul’ often dominate their political persona.

Picture this: During the ongoing monsoon session this JVM legislator tore his kurta apart, rushed to the well and was about to unfold his dhoti when House requested him not to blush female legislators. “Jatra party. Eh acting karta hai, (Jatra party. Doing acting),” no plaudits heaped upon Singh’s theatrics.

At the age of 71, when many of his party leaders expect an statesmanlike bahaviour from him, he would chide in a manner, “shut-up you fools just listen and watch me.”

Singh won’t mind jumping on reporter’s table during debate if he has some points to say. Table turns into a stage of his solo theatrical performance where he delivers passionate and angry dialogues, unintentionally mimicking great Bengali film actor Uttam Kumar and Hindi film legendry Prtiviraj Kapoor. Last year he had offered this show. This political heavyweight (86kg) does not stay on table for longer time: either 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 60s. He often tore cloths to impress his heroine and audiences on the stage,” one of his close aides said. Sudhamoi Chatterjee, a male actor who played the role of his heroine in most of his plays, is not alive to narrate those Kurta tearing moments.

Political Singh continued it even gaining notoriety for pulling others’ Dhoti too.  It is tough to suggest how many Kurta he has sacrificed for public cause, so far.

He resorted to Kurta tearing act in 1975. The then station in-charge of Chas police station, Tarkeswarnath Tiwari, had put him in police lock up during an agitation along with Badal Majumdar and Pawan Agrawal. In lock-up he tore his Kurta and dashed his head against wall. That year, he had performed it in full public glare in Jamshedpur to support the cause of 86 unauthorized bustees. In 1980 he did it to protest against the then Bokaro ASP Manjari Jaruhar (known as Hunter Wali) as she thrashed his political workers Akhilesh Mahto.

“I tear Kurta when I am angry. But actors are those who pretend to serve public,” Singh takes a jibe on his opposition.  He doesn’t reply as to why he did a near cheerharan of the then Union Steel Minister, Biju Patnayak in 1986, by pulling Patnayak’s dhoti during a public function. “Politics me yah sab chalta hai. Wo bhi ek jamana thaa,” Singh said.

That was a time when 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 Bombay and even had screening test with Nirupa Roy. The great dream dashed. He turned into politics but passion continued.

Batul must be a keen watcher to Singh’s theatrics. He happened to be Jatra actor playing role of Lord Ram and a lead actor of Vishwamitra-Menaka act. This modern day Vishwamitra finds tough to deny he having any relation with Soni Devi who claims to be his wife and father of her son. Even House awaits Batul for some comic as well as dramatic moments with his unique dialogue delivery having mannerism and pitch of Jatra while rebutting Opposition’s charges.

It happened rarely happened when Batul would have subdued in silence as on Wednesday when Congress’ Sarfaraz Ahmed read out an Urdu couplet for him: “Jindgi me kuch aisa Karen kadardan, ke jis gali se guzre bacche kahne abba jaan.  Singh rips his Kurta which Batul doesn’t, is the only difference.