States Watch

Uttar Pradesh

Demand for Action against Mayawati on CD issue

ALLAHABAD : AICC secretary, Shri Anil Shastri said here "in the emerging situation, India-China friendship is the need of the hour because both the countries are economically sound and can face the American pressure". He said the US did not like Indo-Pak friendship for it would then decrease "American hegemony" in the South Asian region. Recalling the days of Indira Gandhi he maintained that she did not bow before America.

Earlier in an interview to a newspaper, Shri Shastri called for appropriate action against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati in connection with the CDs which show her demanding donations from Bahujan Samaj Party MPs and MLAs. Shri Shastri said, the Centre should take steps against the CM after ordering inquiry. He lashed out at the Centre for maintaining a studied silence on the ‘tape revelations’. Mayawati’s actions were against the law of the land, said Shri Shastri and added that the Bharatiya Janta Party was keeping quiet as it wanted to remain in power.

He also took strong exception to Mayawati’s disparaging remarks against the Hindu Gods and Godesses. No leader in the country had the right to denigrate any religion, he said. Though every Hindu felt insulted, the BJP and the RSS had chosen to remain silent, Shri Shastri said. He said it was ironical that saffron outfits had forced the unit of the film ‘Water’ to leave Varanasi a few years ago on the ground that the movie was against Hindu customs and tradition. The Congress, he said, was the only party which respected the people of all religions. He dubbed Mayawati a dictator who was ruling the state with an iron hand. The state, he said, had no law and order worth its name.

Prominent among others who spoke on the occasion were Justice (retd) Shamshul Islam Zafri and former union Minister and Congress leader Rampujan Patel. Shri Shamshul Islam said protests launched throughout the world is proof enough of America’ hegemonistic action. A welcome address was given by Rakesh Hajela while Ashok Arora proposed a vote of thanks. Special invitee to UPCC and senior Congress leader Kishore Varshney conducted the proceedings.

US Dictated PM’s J&K initiative :
Anil Shastri

ALLAHABAD : AICC Secretary, Shri Anil Shastri, said on 21 April that the Prime Minister Shri AB Vajpayee’s sudden declaration to initiate dialogue with Pakistan seems to be at the behest of America. Shri Shastri, while addressing a function of Congressmen here said, that Prime Minister and his Government have all along maintained that there was no question of any dialogue with Pakistan until it stopped cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. It may be recalled that only a few weeks ago the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell had categorically stated that after Iraq their next agenda would be Kashmir.

He said the statement of External Affairs Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha, regarding pre-emptive strike was brushed aside by Shri Powell that a parallel could not be drawn between Kashmir and Iraq. Shri Shastri further said that Prime Minister’s dialogue with Pakistan is contrary to Shri Sinha’s stand. Regarding pre-emptive strike it is ironical that Defence Minister Shri Fernandes has also talked on the lines as Shri Sinha. Shri Shastri said "we have always favoured a peace initiative, but we would like to know why there is a sudden shift in the government’s stand". The dichotomy and confusion in the Government must end, he said.

The Congress leader has urged the Prime Minister that let not America determine the foreign policy of India. The self-respect of the Indians must be preserved, he added. He said that in the context of the present unipolar world India should move closer to China particularly after the U.S invasion of Iraq. It is for all to see that Shri Bush has been itching for mediation in Kashmir. Congress party insists that Shimla Agreement should be the basis of any dialogue with Pakistan, which does not allow third party involvement.

Lalkar Rally’s Memo to Government

PHULPUR : The Congress Party organised a massive ‘Lalkar Rally’ in front of the District Headquarters here on 29 April. Farmers and poor people participated in large number. AICC treasurer, Shri Motilal Vora was the chief guest. After the rally, the Congress workers, led by former chief minister, Shri Ram Naresh Yadav handed over a memorandum highlighting local problems to the District Collector.

The memorandum demanded among other things, immediate completion of 132 KV Teunga power sub-station work to guarantee power supply to farmers at least for 18 hours a day, to arrange sugarcane procurement Centres and same day payments and to pay last year dues with interest, install hand-pumps for drinking water, to repair state tubewells, to remove excise duty and VAT system for handloom and powerloom industries, registration of cases against criminals, to provide protection to minority communities, to declare Ahraula Bazar as urban area and Phulpur as the municipal area, to set up a sub-Mandi Council in Phulpur, to take initiative for promoting pan production by experts, to guarantee regular payment of scholarships to the children of minority classes and to give old age pension and to postpone land tax and irrigation tax in draught affected areas.

Dayal BHEL SC,ST Union Chief

JHANSI : The Congress candidate, Shri Hari Dayal was elected president of the BHEL Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe Workers’ Association held here on 21 April. The elections were held after five years and eight months. Other office-bearers were Shri Kashi Ram, senior vice-president, Shri Kashiram Gautam and Shri Sanjivan Lal, vice-presidents, Shri Harvansh Lal, general secretary, Shri Krishna Kumar, joint secretary and Shri Har Prasad, treasurer. The Congress candidates gave a tough fight to the BJP and BSP candidates.