States Watch

Assam

No alternative to Congress: Prasad

NAGAON: There is no alternative to the Congress in the State, and the party would return to power again with a thumping majority in the next Assembly election, said Shri Bishnu Prasad, ex-MP and APCC vice-president here. Prasad speaking to mediapersons said more and more people had realized that only the Congress could give them necessary security and create an atmosphere for the economic progress of the State.

Criticizing the Opposition in the State, Shri Prasad said the people were disenchanted with their negative outlook, adding, that they were criticizing the Government for the sake of criticism. The people had sidelined the Opposition parties as they were not satisfied with their style of functioning and their attitude on various issues.

Citing the success of the party on political and economic fronts, he said efforts have been made to bring different militant organizations operating in the State to the negotiating table. During the Congress rule, one militant group had shunned the path of violence while another expressed their eagerness to have talks with the Centre.

Commenting on the achievement of the present Government on economic front, Shri Prasad said that during the tenure of the present Government sick units like ASTC were rejuvenated, tea-gardens under ATC which were on the verge of closure during the previous Government revived. Criticizing the previous AGP Government heavily Prasad asserted that the previous Government had failed on all fronts. The employees under the State government during that period were passing through uncertain future due to irregular payment of their salary forcing them to undertake agitational paths. But the present Government improved the economic condition of the State and ensured the regular payment of employees' salaries.

Shri Prasad said the Government has taken up the work of constructing the road and the drains in the Teliapatty area in Nagaon town to drain out rainwater which had been compounding the woes of the local people.

Delhi

Book on Ramayan Ray

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dixit released here o January 3 "Ramaya Ray Smriti Granth" at a function organized at Constitution Club. Smt. Dixit said that late Ray was a model hero which he proved during his whole life by his activities from Benaras.

Smt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, president, All India Mahila Congress, Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Studies, Delhi, Shri Bhupendra Singh Vishnoi, former president, BHU Students Union, Professor Rameshchandra Tewari, Smt. Mohsina Kidwai, MP, Shri Devendra Dwivedi, former secretary of govt. of India, Shri Devidayal, Prof. Anand Kumari, Head of Dept of Social System Study Centre, JNU, and freedom fighter, Dr. Prahlad Prapati were among present on the occasion. n

Congress condemns TDP MLA killing

NEW DELHI: The Congress on January 24 condemned the killing of the Telugu Desam MLA, Shri Paritala Ravi, and said the party has never subscribed to violent activities. "We would like the culprits to be caught and punished as soon as possible," the party said adding that according to his information the slain legislator was also involved in some activities and there was tension between two groups. n

Maharashtra

Electoral system must be changed: Salman Khurshid

MUMBAI: The U.P. Congress Chief, Shri Salman Khurshid, has mooted changing the electoral system to proportionate representation in which political parties win seats in proportion to the percentage of votes they poll. The parties also field a collective list of all candidates and accord importance to a candidate by placing her/ him up or down in the list.

"This is the list system and 124 countries in the world are following it _ the latest to adopt it is South Africa," Shri Khurshid said here on January 24. He was delivering a talk on "Has the Indian electoral system failed?" under the auspices of the Observer Research Foundation's Mumbai Chapter.

Shri Khurshid wanted at least 50 % of the seats to be elected through the list and the balance could be met from territorial constituencies like now. "Since one would vote for a party rather than an individual on the list or all nominees on the list, the new system would have no room for casteist or communal appeal and would have no incentive for booth-capturing.

The Congress leader said the political parties would be compelled to give representations to candidates from all communities and regions on their list and also accord due priorities on it to be able to appeal to the entire electorate. Reservations could be enforced with suitable provisions. For instance, every third candidate on the list could be a woman to ensure 33 per cent seats to them. The Congress leader said the proposed system would guard against "winability" undermining the quality and character of a candidate. He pointed out that the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had lost in South Delhi five years ago for want of "winability".

When asked whether political parties would allow a new electoral system, Shri Khurshid said a national debate was needed on the issue. Noted social thinker Asgar Ali Engineer, said it was a mistake to copy the British electoral system because Britain was by and large a single religion and a single culture country unlike India, a multi-religion and multi-cultural country. Politicians manipulated the people and riots had been engineered in Gujarat only to win elections.

Shri Garson Da Cunha who heads AGNI, an NGO working to ensure fair elections by checking the use of money power, said the executive should be separated from the legislature to ensure that an anti-social element who gets elected by manipulating the process did not become the home minister. n

Uttar Pradesh

Congress Threatens Stir in U.P

LUCKNOW: Congress on January 25 threatened to launch an agitation in Uttar Pradesh next month if the Mulayam Singh Government failed to check atrocities on party workers and bring the law and order situation back on rails.

"The party will launch a massive agitation in case no improvement is perceived in the law and order situation of the State after the Assembly polls in three States in February and atrocities on Congress workers continued unabated," State Committee president, Shri Salman Khursheed told reporters here. Citing the recent cases of murder of two villagers in Farrukhabad district by Kalua dacoit gang, Shri Khursheed said the blatant manner in which the dacoits struck showed that it had somebody's protection.

He also claimed that the Samajwadi Party flag was found from near the incident site and sought an inquiry into it. Reacting sharply to the killing of BSP MLA, Shri Raju Pal in Allahabad, he alleged that the police was totally inactive and had "laid down arms before criminals."

TAMIL NADU

Human Rights Committee

KOVILPATTI (Tamil Nadu): Tuticorin North District Human Rights Committee meeting was held on January 28, 2005 in which eight resolutions were discussed and adopted. District president, Shri J. Mahesh Kumar presided over the meeting.

According to C. Thangavelu general secretary, Human Rights Deptt., T.N.C.C, about 30 members of the District Human Rights Committee were present in the meeting.

Messrs. K. Muthu Ramalingam, legal advisor, K. Muthu Pandiyan, vice-president, N. Keshav Rajan, ex-servicemen cell president, M. Chelladurai, union secretary (both of Kayathar) also participated in the meeting.

Relief work in Tsunami affected areas

 

TNCC General Secretary Shri H. Vasantkumar and other Congressmen assisting relief work in tsunami affected areas in Tamilnadu.