Apolitical is the Most Political these Days, Most Effective to Sustain the Hegemony!

Apolitical is the Most Political these Days, Most Effective to Sustain the Hegemony!


Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, chapter 536

Palash Biswas

http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/

Top Maoist leader Kishenji had also extended support to the rally, welcoming the Trinamool Congress chief's initiative to stop violence!The Congress' West Bengal unit Monday welcomed Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's decision to hold the Aug 9 rally at Maoist-infested Lalgarh under the banner of an apolitical forum and said if the party was extended a formal invitation, it will consider participation.

'We welcome Mamata Banerjee's rally at Lalgaragh on August 9. The democracy loving people will love to participate in it. If we get formal invitation about it we will consult with our leadership and decide on the matter,' said West Bengal state Congress president Manas Bhuinya.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that the August 9 Lalgarh rally will be "apolitical" and invited all other outfits, which have called for the ouster of the joint forces in the Jungalmahal, to join the rally.

"We will organise the rally under the banner of Santrash Birodhi Mancha. I have come to know that there are many who want to go. I would urge everyone to join the rally. We would not hold it under the Trinamool Congress banner," said Banerjee at her Kalighat residence.

   

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had Sunday announced that her party's Aug 9 meeting in trouble-torn Lalgarh of West Midnapore district would be held under the banner of an apolitical forum 'Santras Birodhi Mancha' (Anti-Atrocities Platform).She said the rally will be for peace and progress, and establishing democratic rights for the people in Lalgarh.The tactical move of the Railway Minister is seen as an attempt to win the support of intellectuals and a section of those with ultra-Left ideologies. This move is expected to put pressure on the Left Front government which have denied permission to organise a rally in Lalgarh till now, citing security concerns.

A few days ago, a group of intellectuals had welcomed Banerjee's decision to hold a rally in the heart of the Maoist-affected parts of Bengal. They also announced their plan to visit Lalgarh on August 15 to hoist a flag of 'Independent Lalgarh'.

Banerjee reiterated her determination to visit Lalgarh and said she would visit the area despite all resistance.Mamata told a press conference and explained though political parties and other organisations could carry their flags to the meeting, no party banner would be allowed on the stage. She said Swami Agnivesh, appointed by the Centre as the interlocutor for talks with the CPI (Maoists), and Medha Patkar were planning to start from the metropolis on August 9 and reach Lalgarh on August 15. "But, I appeal to them to join our meeting at Lalgarh on August 9," she said, adding she had spoken to Agnivesh about the matter, but did not say if he had responded to her request. The decision to keep the meeting apolitical was to involve the people in the campaign for restoration of peace and democracy in the area, she said. Asked whether the district administration would permit the meeting to be held, she said, "Obstacles will be there.Earlier, the administration had obstructed us during (agitations) at Singur and Nandigram." Stating that August 9 will be observed as 'Ganatantra Bachao Dibas' (Save Democracy Day), Mamata pointed out although her party had observed the day at various places in West Midnapore district in earlier years, Lalgarh was chosen this time because it was under Section 144 CrPC for the past one year. The section prohibits demonstrations, rallies, processions, shouting of slogans, carrying of arms and other lethal weapons and assembly of five or more people. Charging the CPI(M) with stalling democracy in Lalgarh, Salboni and Goaltore areas, Banerjee alleged outsiders visiting the area were being "checked" by CPI(M) activists. A number of top Trinamool Congress leaders have been killed in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts over the past one year, she said. While the Centre had sent forces in the areas, they were being kept in the dark by the CPI(M) activists who were committing murders, rapes and torture on tribals, she said. Banerjee alleged that the foodgrains sent by the Centre for distribution through PDS was being sold in the open market by CPI(M) activists. Alleging the CPI(M) cadres have stockpiled a hugh cache of arms and ammunition, she said, "They have so much arms and ammunition that they issue threats all the time. Many plans are being made at many places."

Adequate security to be given to Mamata:Pranab

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that adequate security will be provided to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched by the CPM to eliminate her. "I have seen (her statement) in the newspapers. She is a Union minister. Of course, adequate security arrangements will be made," Mukherjee told mediapersons in Kolkata.

   

'We want peace to be restored in that area. The state government is misusing the joint forces in that area. The state government is not using the joint forces properly. That's the reason the law and order situation is far for normal in the Lalgarah belt,' Bhuniya told media persons here.

   

Political observers feel Bhuniya's statement was intended at sending out a positive message for strengthening the alliance between Congress and Trinamool Congress before the crucial state assembly polls next year.

Banerjee, the principal opposition leader in the state ruled by the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Front for over 33 years, said the party would observe August 9 as Democracy Day in trouble-torn Lalgarh.The Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) on Wednesday changed its stand and extended support to the rally called by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee at Lalgarh on ninth of August. "This is not a political rally and many people like Swami Agnivesh, Medha Patkar,
who have protested against the government's oppressive policies and extended moral support to our movement, will be present at the rally," PCPA's new secretary Manoj Mahato told PTI from an undisclosed location.

Foreign Funded NGOs claim to be most Apolitical and we all know what it means. The Prime Minster of India, Dr Manmohan Singh is believed to be Most apolitical as the Extra constitutional elements representing India Incs and LPG Mafia are. We know all the Policy Makers , Intellelctuals, Media Dragons famous for apolitical stance. They may not belong to any Political ideology openly, but all of them have proved to be the Greatest SAVIOURS of the Zionsist Manusmriti Rule in this Divided Bleeding Geopolitics and APOLITICAL Face legitimate their Role to work in the interest of the Global Imperialist Fascist and Zionist Order!Bengali Brahamin Intelligentsia is the Front runner amongst the dedicated flag bearers of Change and it loses No Opportunity to Expose the Marxist Genocide culture. But it Never stands with Indigenous Aboriginal human scape and ironically Support Dr Manmohan Singh and his Agenda of Mass Destruction!

Apolitical is the Most Political these Days, Most Effective to Sustain the Hegemony!It is most relevant in Bengal specifically where the Ruling Left Front has opted for Lalgarh Operation and DIDI is demanding withdrawal of Security Forces. She has declared that the Maoists and Marxists are only Two sides of the same coin. The Vertically divided demography believes most the Subversion and Conspiracy theory against the Opposing Political Side. Railway Accidents in Bengal are never the matter of safetey or security. It is Political. Even, the most Apolitical cultural Scenerio is vertically Divided by the Politics. This time, Mamata has called for a Rally in the Heart of Maoism Inflicted Lalgarh Jungle Mahal while the People`s Committee against the Police Atrocity has declared to join the Anti Terror rally organised by TMC. Ironically the Committee leader Chhtradhar Mahato is behind the Bars. Lalmohan Tudu and Sidu Soren have been Killed. Other leaders have been declared ABSCONDING.CBI has issued declartion of Prizes for the Clues to arrest them. Being the Rly Minister of India, Mamata Banerjee has chosen to hold the Rally providing space for the PCPA as well as the Maoists wanted in Gyaneshwari Railway Accident and it is APOLITICAL!

In a bid to rope in other parties and intellectuals, as also the agitating tribals, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced that her party's August 9 meeting in Maoist-affected Lalgarh would be held under the banner of an apolitical forum. "The Trinamool is ready to organise
its programme not under the party banner but under the banner of Santras Birodhi Mancha (Anti-Atrocities Platform). Trinamool is more concerned at enforcing the rule of law in Lalgarh... Everyone is invited to attend the programme," Banerjee told media persons at her Kalighat residence.  

"We are always against violence and for the last three years we have been fighting the police and the government's atrocities on innocent tribals," Manoj Mahato claimed.

Asked why it changed its stand after it earlier said it was against the event, he said it was because the programme was not being held under a party banner and had the common purpose to stop 'oppression in jungle mahal'.

Questioned if PCPA leaders would be present on the dais during the rally, he said those wanted by the police would not be there. Others against whom there were no charges would be present.

.

Apolitical

                                                                       
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*	Look up apolitical in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The state or quality of being apolitical can be the apathy and/or the antipathy towards all political affiliations.[1] Being apolitical can also refer to situations in which people take an unbiased position in regard to political matters.

[edit] See also

• Non-politics
• Non-voting

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ P.51, Rabin & Bowman

[edit] References

• Rabin, Jack & Bowman, James S., Politics and Administration: Woodrow Wilson and American Public, CRC Press, 1984. ISBN 970824770686

[edit] External links

• Strictly Apolitical
• Open source is apolitical

*	This article about a political term is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

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Categories: Politics by issue | Political spectrum | Political term stubs
"The CPI-M is trying to prevent us from entering and holding our meeting. The CPI-M is perpetrating a blood bath in Junglemahal (the forested stretches of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts where Maoist ultras are active). Come what may, our programme will be organised on the scheduled date," she said.
Banerjee said though she had earlier announced that the programme will be held under her party banner, "for a greater cause we have decided not to take any constricted view".
She also urged the people to be aware of the CPI-M leaders alleging "they were on the loose to kill the innocent people".
Banerjee also alleged that CPI-M leaders are smuggling arms to their men across the state. "Now an arms-rain is going on in Bengal during the monsoon period," she said.
"The CPI-M men conspiring against the Trinamool leaders and supporters, but we have to thwart their attack," she added.
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has already opposed Banerjee's Lalgarh programme, saying conditions there are not conducive for such a meeting.

'Caste should be included in census'

New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) Academics, politicians and intellectuals Thursday were of the opinion that enumeration of all castes in the ongoing census will help the country move towards a caste-free society and provide a sound basis for formulating policies.
Speaking at the national conference organized by the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy of the National Law School of India University dwelt all aspects of caste enumeration in the census and said all castes and not just the other backward classed (OBCs) be included in the census.
Communist Party of India leader D. Raja said caste-based census will enable the government to formulate certain sections of society which are deprived of their due share of the country's wealth.
'Caste is a complex reality in India and so there should be a census. I hope that the group of ministers will apply their mind on the issue and agree for caste census,' he added.
National Backward Classes Commission chairman Justice M.N. Rao said it is the responsibility of the government to revise the list of the backward castes.
Satish Deshpande from the Delhi School of Economics emphasised the need to move from caste-blind to a caste-aware position and open opportunities for a rational discussion on related issues.
The demand for a caste-based census was made by the opposition during the budget session of parliament, with some members from the treasury benches supporting this.
A group of ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is currently discussing the issue.

Cooperate on GST, Pranab urges states

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday urged Rajya Sabha members to push their state governments for a goods and services tax (GST) regime, a day afer the states rejected the centre's proposal for a constitutional amendment to introduce the measure.
'Some more push is needed. I request the leadership sitting here to take it up with the states and chief ministers,' Mukherjee said while replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on price rise.
The finance minister urged the house to support the government in bringing the GST regime.
'If we receive cooperation from all concerned and introduce GST and bring within its purview petrol and other petroleum products, and with your support introduce it from April 2011, I do feel the variations in petroleum prices can be taken care of,' Mukherjee contended.
'If we have to introduce GST from April 2011, an amendment bill should be introduced in this session. Only then can it can go to the standing committee and be passed in the winter session,' he said.
Cutting across party lines, a number of states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have refused to endorse a constitutional amendment on GST, arguing this impinged on their fiscal autonomy.
The finance minister also suggested forming a council of finance ministers, including all state finance ministers.
'I have no intention of becoming the super finance minister to interfere with the state GST,' he said.
He, however, pleaded for more powers for the union finance minister to enable changes in the indirect tax regime from time to time that would be ratified by parliament.
'The states will have the liberty to make changes in the tax structure. The passage of this bill will be the most revolutionary step in the country's tax reforms,' he said.

Kashmir protests: Indian police in Kashmir don't get a break

Christian Science Monitor - Ben Arnoldy - ‎1 hour ago‎
The police, meanwhile, are working 17-hour shifts as they grudgingly grapple with 'a political problem.' Kashmiri protesters shout slogans near a burning ...
Indian Authorities Struggle to Control Widening Kashmir Protests Voice of America
Held Kashmir unrest getting out of Indian hands The News International
The only package Kashmir needs is justice The Hindu
MorungExpress - The Economist
all 915 news articles »Email this story

India should have zero tolerance to Hindutva terror too: CPI(M)

Daily News & Analysis - ‎3 hours ago‎
He says It is a political conspiracy to defeat and defame Hindutva forces. "What we are speaking about is Hindutva terror, not Hindu terror. ...
Telegraph.co.uk (blog)

Common stealth at Commonwealth Games

Daily News & Analysis - Anand Philar - ‎22 hours ago‎
They have given the scam a political hue. These politicians will not only stir up the muddied waters but also deflect attention to non-issues. ...
Video: Heads roll
Why the Congress will not nail Suresh Kalmadi Daily News & Analysis
all 1,262 news articles »Email this story
Reuters India

FM seeks political consensus on GST

Business Standard - ‎22 hours ago‎
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today pitched for a political consensus to pass the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the sake of rationalising petroleum ...
Video: Price rise debate ends
all 248 news articles »Email this story

Snap out of denial

Indian Express - ‎19 hours ago‎
It is makes it all the more unlikely if your domestic political space becomes apolitical. Ultimately it is not just economics but the political economy of ...
India Talkies

India sends envoy to Nepal over political crisis

AFP - ‎Aug 4, 2010‎
NEW DELHI — India is to send a senior envoy to Nepal to help resolve a political crisis that has left the Himalayan nation without a prime minister for ...
Shyam Saran in Nepal to help defuse political crisis Daily News & Analysis
Nepal Political Stalemate Continues: Indian PM's Envoy In Kathmandu Eurasia Review
all 72 news articles »Email this story
The Hindu

Delhi games a political footy: Australia

Sydney Morning Herald - Steve Larkin - ‎Aug 1, 2010‎
Australia suspects the Delhi Commonwealth Games have become a political football in India amid widespread corruption claims. ...
Delhi Games corruption furore seems political: Australian CWG official Hindustan Times
Australia raises suspicion on CWG 2010 corruption, calls it politically motivated SINDH TODAY
Will India Be Ready to Host the Commonwealth Games? TIME
AFP
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Lalgarh meeting under apolitical banner: Mamata

Hindustan Times - ‎Aug 1, 2010‎
Banerjee, the principal opposition leader in the state ruled by the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Front for over 33 years, ...

PM releases stamp of Kerala Muslim League leader

Hindustan Times - ‎Aug 2, 2010‎
"As a political leader, he contributed to the first successful experiment of coalition politics in India in the form of the Congress–IUML combine," he said. ...

Economic policies affecting credibility of India's economists: BJP

Hindustan Times - ‎Aug 4, 2010‎
"The issue of price rise and the suffering of the common man is a political tool in the hands of the opposition," she said. She also lamented the lack of ...

RIM headache grows as govts seek BlackBerry access

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd on Thursday faced more demands to open its smartphones to government scrutiny as Lebanon joined India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in raising concerns over security.
RIM's co-CEO Michael Lazaridis in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, accusing the governments of picking on smartphones to score political points.
"This is about the Internet," Lazaridis told the Journal. "Everything on the Internet is encrypted. This is not a BlackBerry-only issue. If they can't deal with the Internet, they should shut it off."
(For Slideshow: Evolution of the BlackBerry, click http://in.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=INRTR2H0R)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said officials will hold talks with the United Arab Emirates and others who are citing security concerns in seeking access to BlackBerry's messaging service.
"We are taking time to consult and analyze the full array of interests and issues at stake because we know that there is a legitimate security concern, but there is also a legitimate right of free use and access," she told reporters in Washington.
Clinton has promoted Internet freedom as a basic human right. Earlier this year she called on China to respond to charges by Google Inc of censorship and a sophisticated hacking attack from within the country.
RIM's shares fell nearly 2 percent in trading on the Nasdaq and Toronto stock exchanges. The stock has lost about 8 percent of its value since the UAE threatened over the weekend to ban BlackBerry email, messaging and Internet services after three years of negotiations with RIM over access to user data.
The BlackBerry faces a ban in Saudi Arabia as early as Friday if RIM cannot reach a compromise there. RIM and Saudi officials met on Thursday.
Global smartphone market: http://link.reuters.com/fup82n
Reuters Insider: http://link.reuters.com/myw92n
Lebanon raised concerns over the smartphone on Thursday, saying it was studying security concerns related to the BlackBerry and would begin talks with RIM, which has its headquarters in Waterloo, Canada.
Media reports had said that Indonesia was pressing on RIM to allow monitoring of BlackBerry data, though the country's communications minister said it was not banning the service.
India, worried that BlackBerry's secure messaging services could be misused by militants, has demanded more access for its security agencies, and the country's telecoms minister said it had not reached an agreement with the company.
The Indian government may block the BlackBerry messenger service, but allow emails and voicemails, the Times of India said on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.
Government standoffs could hurt confidence in RIM on Wall Street, which had been reassured that a Gulf states ban would affect a tiny portion of the BlackBerry's more than 41 million subscribers.
Lazaridis said the company was in discussions with various governments, and said the issue will likely get resolved.
RIM has said BlackBerry security is based on a system where customers create their own keys. The company neither has a master key nor any "back door" to let RIM or third parties to gain access to data.
The company said Wednesday it has never provided anything unique to the government of one country and cannot accommodate any request for a copy of a customer's encryption key.
(Additional reporting by Souhail Karam and Emma Ashburn, Writing by Ritsuko Ando in New York, Editing by Tiffany Wu, Dave Zimmerman)

RBI can't be pure inflation targetter: Subbarao

Hyderabad, Aug 5 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cannot be and should not be a pure inflation targetter and it needs to balance between growth, price stability and financial stability, said RBI Governor D. Subbarao.
Stating that inflation targeting is neither desirable nor practical in India, he felt that as drivers of inflation emanate from supply side, the monetary policy has limited role to play.
'In an emerging economy like ours it is not practical for the central bank to focus exclusively on inflation oblivious of the larger development context. The Reserve Bank needs to balance between growth, price stability and financial stability,' Subba Rao said.
'More often than not, the drivers of inflation in India emanate from the supply side. Food items have a weight of 46 to 70 percent in various CPIs (consumer price indexes) and are notoriously subject to the supply shocks which are normally beyond the pale of monetary policy.'
The RBI governor was delivering the 10th C.D. Deshmukh memorial lecture on 'Financial crisis - some old questions and may be some new answers' at the Council for Social Development, southern regional centre, here Thursday.
The central bank head pointed out that post crisis the dominant view around the world is shaped by the new environment hypothesis which says that flexible inflation targeting, rather than pure inflation targeting, is more efficient.
According to this hypothesis, if inflation is way off target, a central bank's first call is to bring it within acceptable range, and if inflation is within the range, the central bank should focus on other objectives.
Subbarao also said the autonomy of monetary policy from fiscal compulsions was once again under threat and called for credible efforts by both the government and central bank to resolve it.
'The challenge for the government is to continue the fiscal consolidation that started with this year's budget and for the Reserve Bank to regain the space to conduct monetary policy free of fiscal compulsions.?
'In the aftermath of the crisis, fears about the fiscal dominance of monetary policy have resurfaced. There are widely shared concerns about the extraordinary fiscal expansion necessitated by the crisis, and when and how long it will take to reverse that,' he said.
He pointed out that, like in most countries, in India too fiscal stimulus was part of the crisis response, and monetary policy had to acquiesce in elevated government borrowing.
'We can make progress only if we are willing to accept new answers to old questions when circumstances change,' he added.
                                
Mainstream, Vol XLVII, No 37, August 29, 2009

               

Economic Reforms in India: Is there a Political Consensus?

               
Protiti Roy
       
                        
Having lost almost all its wealth to the colonial overlords, the erstwhile Golden Bird was now afraid to allow any outsider to participate in its economy. However, a certain degree of liberal-capitalism was considered essential, and thus newly independent India adopted a "mixed economy", in which features of both the capitalist model and socialist model were prevalent. The "mixed economy", however, was not very well mixed, and had strong socialist tendencies.
The policy-makers adopted a planned economy approach to development, and advocated state run industries with just a few areas open to the private sector. This was largely due to the influence of the tremendous success of the USSR's economy and the impact of the Great Depression of the 1930s.1 But given the capitalist history of the Indian economy, the government was keen to reconcile equity with the free market.2 The Government of India, while recognising private industries, declared that the functioning of this sector—establishments, products, capacities for production etc.—would be regulated by the government.3
This state run structure, though advocated by the Congress, and backed by Left-wing parties such as the Communist Party of India, was not supported by the Swatantra Party.4
This structure worked well for the first fifteen years, but thereafter started to decline as a result of, inter alia, political interference at top management levels and declining accountability which came with the security of employment. State owned industries were afflicted by diseases such as under-utilisation and poor management of resources, obsolete technology, wrong selection of products, to name a few.5 Such problems led to a downswing in the economy. The Licence Raj stifled India's trade relations and deprived consumers of choice with regard to products for consumption.
Towards the beginning of the eighties decade, world oil prices doubled, resulting in a huge deficit in India's current account which had so far bordered balance.6 An inappropriate exchange rate led to complete stagnation of exports during the phase 1982-1985, causing persistent current account deficits.7 Though the economy grew rapidly through the 1980s, the growth was not sustainable due to unstable fiscal conditions.8 Inflation surged to an all-time high by the end of the decade.9
This crisis forced India to open up its economy to the world and adopt the policy of Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation. The new government that came to power in 1991 had to restructure the economy, but the greater need of the hour was to stabilise the economy—reduce inflation and reduce fiscal deficits.10 The fiscal deficits would have to be substituted by foreign borrowings. But the structural model of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank involved India having to open up its economy and replace public institutions and investments by market determined investment and production decisions.11 Thus, the early attempts of Rajiv Gandhi to loosen state control over the economy finally found completion in the measures taken by the Narasimha Rao Government and the New Economic Policy (NEP) was adopted.
Once India had embraced the free-market system, economic reforms in the country were supported by a standby credit from the IMF. In 1991-92, this credit supported fiscal retrenchment and a credit squeeze in the economy. The rupee was devalued by 19 per cent. Import controls were instituted. The deflation and import compression helped improve the balance of payments to a large extent.12 The Indian economy has taken a definite upward swing since the 1991 reforms, and is now one of the fastest growing economies of the world.
However, globalisation leads to erosion in the state's capacity. The ability of the government in its position as a welfare government is getting reduced to a large extent. The world over, welfare states are giving way to more minimalist states that perform only the core functions of governance such as maintenance of law and order.13
Free-market forces have become the prime determinants of economic and social priorities in the country. The appearance of multinational companies on the global economic platform has also led to a reduction in the capacity of governments to take their own decisions.14
¨
How favourably is this form of governance suited to the various political parties? This is a crucial question. Soon after assuming power in 1991, the Congress Government, headed by the then Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, announced its decision to liberalise, privatise and globalise the Indian economy. The Opposition reacted strongly to this, describing Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's ideas as "far too radical for what the compulsions of democratic politics would allow".15
The Indian National Congress, in its present Economic Agenda, has claimed that its policies have led to a substantial increase in the growth rate of the country and has brought a major segment of people above the poverty line.16 The Congress also claims that it was the manner in which the reforms were carried out that made a big difference to their rate of success.17 However, a major factor in the continuing success of the economic reforms, through the regimes of many different political parties, has been the "directional convergence" of all these parties towards the same economic goals.18 They all maintained the economy's orientation towards the free market and encouraged globalisation.19
It is also true, however, that the parties in the Opposition lived up to their role of "opposing" the government. All parties, when in Opposition, vehemently criticise the policies of the government. Nonetheless, the debates in Parliament and the manifestoes of most major national parties have always argued over the minor details of economic policies, rather than objecting to the idea of reforms as whole.20
A comparison of the 2004 election manifestoes of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress point out, interestingly, that both parties essentially guarantee the same things, though their promises are worded very differently. It is also interesting to note the acrimonious language in which each speaks of the other's failures, while taking the very same steps themselves.21
The BJP had opposed the Congress Govern-ment's policies of external liberalisation in the early 1990s, but after it came to power (from 1998 to 2004), it itself promoted external liberalisation and announced measures that aimed at attracting private foreign investment on a large scale.22
The Communists have passionately opposed liberalisation policies, and termed them as "abject surrender to the IMF".23 However, when the United Front governments came to power from 1996 to 1998, the Left-wing parties supported them all through their policies regarding financial sector liberalisation, disinvestment, foreign investment etc.24
Thus, even though the powers of the state have been reduced to a large extent because of the open economy, economic reforms are still being favoured as compared to the earlier socialist model of development.
The evident reason for this is the fact that ever since the Indian economy was liberalised, we have seen phenomenal growth rates, touching the six-point mark in the 1990s.25 The inflow of better quality consumer goods satisfied the middle class of society and high foreign exchange stocks were beneficial to investors. Thus, such conditions proved satisfactory to most people. The other possible reason could be the fact that along with the collapse of the USSR, the rupee-rouble trading system collapsed as well. All over the rest of the world, the dollar was essential for carrying on trade. Thus, it was essential to have a large stock of foreign exchange, particularly in terms of dollars, in order to carry on trade relations with other countries.
The fact that all governments that have come to power post-1991 have followed and advocated the free market ideology without any hesitation, also requires explanation. One possible explanation is the fact that after the Narasimha Rao Government, all other governments till date have been coalition governments supported by a number of ideologically neutral regional parties.26
In a democracy it is the people who decide the rise and fall of a regime. They are the foundation on which the political superstructure is built. Also, the various policies pursued in order to effect the economic reforms, at the end of the day, have affected nobody but the common man. Even if political consensus is prevalent among various political parties, it is essential that the vote-bank of these parties also agree to the policies. "Political consensus", therefore, cannot be complete if the consensus of the common man is not taken into consideration.
¨
The trouble is, what the people want, or even need, may not always be what the government considers before defining its policies. The external debt of the nation, while a major cause of concern for the government, is not something ordinary citizens would ever worry about.27 Similarly, the internal debt of the government, Budget deficit, balance-of-payments situation, financial losses of public sector enterprises, expansion of money supply etc. are economic issues which are of utmost importance to the government of a country, but themes that are very distant from the lives of the people.28
However, there is indeed a connection between the economic necessities of ordinary people and the economic compulsions of the state. A person belonging to the middle class of society would need a television, a refrigerator, a car, an air-conditioner, and so on. Economic liberalisation of the country meant that the government allowed foreign investment in and freer imports of consumer goods.29
But even among the people, there are differences in what different classes of people desire from the free market. The choice between better cars or better public transport system, cellphones or ploughs and pumpsets, soft drinks or safe drinking water is the choice that has to be made.30 Now, the production and supply of a product depend to a large extent on its demand and the price it gets in the market. The rich in society have more purchasing power, and thus, it is the cars and the cellphones and the soft drinks that get produced, not the ploughs and buses.31 Private investment would also, therefore, be attracted towards sectors producing goods to satisfy the needs of richer consumers.
Consensus for economic reforms, therefore, seems to be coming from political parties and the middle and upper classes. The interests of the poor are hardly being taken into consideration. Such a state of affairs is sure to have backlashes, particularly for the government in terms of votes secured. An example of such an incident was that of the Chandrababu Naidu Government. As reported in the Hindustan Times, "Though the state had made significant progress on the IT front and the reforms process had been initiated by the Chief Minister, the unrest in the interiors of Andhra Pradesh continued. Farmers were committing suicides and hunger and poverty had made life tougher for the common man."32
It is but obvious that technological progress alone cannot help a country progress. Liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation may ensure availability of foreign exchange and high quality consumer goods, but it does not necessarily ensure a decent standard of living for the common man. On the other hand, it may lead to loss of livelihood, if policy implementation is not done with sufficient care and consideration.
The Deccan Herald reported on August 26, 2007 that the Central Government had approved of the iron ore mines in Bailadila, Chhattisgarh, to be opened up for steel giants Tata Steel and Essar to prospect for their steel projects.33 The Tatas plan to set up a five million tonne steel plant at Bastar, in Chhattisgarh, and the iron ore would be used for that purpose.34
Nearly four years before this article was published, The Times of India had come out with an article "Mining Plans Threaten Water Security: NGO". The article spoke at length of a report by the non-governmental organisation, Kalpvriksh, about how mining activities are threatening some of India's most ecologically sensitive places, including Bailadila.35 Such activity will also be interrupting drinking water supply to millions of people as many crucial catchments would be severely affected, including the Sankhini river at Bailadila.36 Kalpvriksh called for "a rethink of development policies and introspection on the wasteful ways in which minerals are used".37
Counter Currents, an online journal which has articles on issues concerning common people, carried an article on how the mining industry is hurting not only the environment, but also human rights. "Refutation of the rights is characteristically multidimensional—one is the denial of the eligible rights of the people in mining zones, another is the flouting of law by the state machinery and third is the rights of the mineworkers," said the article.38
More importantly, the article talked of how privatisation, and subsequent mechanisation of mining, has led to the loss of livelihoods, and in cases where the workers protested, of life itself.
The mechanisation goes to such an extent that in future it may need only two or three workers to run the plant. The prophets of industrialisation talk about prosperity and creation of jobs, but what is actually happening is shocking. In the Bailadila mines, 10,000 labourers were rendered jobless at one stroke. All resistance was crushed. Ten thousand huts were burnt down, numerous women raped, and labourers fired upon. The orgy of mechanisation forced 10,000 labourers to face the desperation of hunger.39
Similarly, the Government of India introduced Bt cotton to Indian farmers in March 1995.40 Though it initially met with some resistance, the farmers finally accepted the new variety of seeds, and took to it in a big way. And, to begin with, the effect was tremendous. The cotton acreage increased by 20 per cent.41
However, India being a monsoon dependent country, and irrigation not being up to the mark, there were soon problems with using this genetically modified plant variety. The technology was not well-suited for non-irrigated areas, and cotton is mostly grown in dry regions.42 Bt Cotton failed miserably for small farmers, in terms of both yield and expenses, and it also did not reduce pesticide use for them.43 The cost of cultivation rose to a great extent and the farmers earned no profit at all.44 In Vandana Shiva's words,
The seeds aren't tested, they aren't adapted, the same seeds are sold across different climate zones, they obviously don't perform well. Instead of 1500 kilograms per acre, farmers get 200, 300, sometimes total failure; add to this the fact that even if they have 300 kilograms of a bad cotton variety because its fibre is of a very inferior quality.45
The crop failure hit farmers in Vidarbha and Andhra Pradesh particularly hard, and incidents of farmer suicides rose at an alarming rate. Dr Suman Sahai, the Director of an organisation called Gene Campaign, conducted a study on the introduction of Bt Cotton in India.46 The results announce, in no uncertain terms, that the government's zest to introduce private investment onto the agricultural sphere has cost the nation very dear. That the government has failed the people badly, is most evident through this incident. "Despite specific knowledge that Bt cotton would not work in rainfed areas, the government had introduced it in Vidarbha. The result was that in an area with a history of indebtedness, the high input costs of Bt cotton had increased indebtedness," says a report about the study in The Hindu. It also says: "The study revealed that many farmers adopted Bt cotton because they believed it was a 'government seed' and did not know that it was privately produced and marketed. They also accepted it because the government was actively promoting the technology."
Farmers have been committing suicide in hundreds. Their government failed them.
The government is the elected representative of the people and their policies, therefore, should be directed towards the benefit of the people. If privatisation leads to loss of livelihood, if liberalisation introduces such poor quality of industrial inputs, it is then meaningless to continue with such policies.
True, the economic reforms had their benefits —the life of a middle class consumer improved manifold, foreign exchange reserves skyrocketed, our GDP increased to levels unparalleled in the past. However, the poor just ended up being poorer. Development should be holistic, and should necessarily take all sections of society under its purview.
Politics in India stems from the people. Political consensus in our country cannot be taken to mean only the various political parties. It is true that the various political parties in our country agree that the economic reforms were essential. Most object to the stand taken by the government when they are in power, but they themselves further the same policies when in power. Thus, even if not in words, in deed there is a definite political consensus, so far as political parties go.
But as far as the people of this country are concerned, only a minuscule urban middle and upper class have benefited from the reforms. Most of India still lives in her villages, and even the cities have a large number of people living below the poverty line. How far the reforms benefit these people should be a matter of concern. They have so far not found any advantage in the New Economic Policies, and their consensus on them is definitely missing. Not just all political parties, but also all sections of society should have consensus on the reform policies before they are instituted in India. Regrettably that is not the case till date.
Footnotes
1. S. Palshikar and Y. Yadav, Politics in India since Independence (1st edition, New Delhi: NCERT, 2007), pp. 49, 50.
2. C.P. Bhambri, The Indian State: Fifty Years (Delhi: Shipra Publications, 1997), pp. 156-159.
3. Supra note 2 at p. 162.
4. Supra note 1 at p. 37.
5. San José State University, Department of Economics, "Economic History and the Economy of India", available at (November 8, 2008).
6. V. Joshi and I.M.D. Little, India's Economic Reforms 1991-2001 (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1996), p. 14.
7. Supra note 6 at p. 14-15.
8. Supra note 6 at p. 15.
9. Supra note 6 at p. 15.
10. Supra note 6 at p. 16.
11. Supra note 2 at p. 195.
12. Supra note 6 at p. 16.
13. Y. Yadav and S. Palshikar, "Globalisation", Contemporary World Politics, (1st edn., New Delhi: NCERT, 2007), p. 139.
14. Id.
15. R. Jenkins, Democratic Politics and Economic Reform in India (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999), p. 12.
16. "Economic Agenda", Indian National Congress, available at (November 11, 2008).
17. Id.
18. S.D. Tendulkar and T.A. Bhavani, "Understanding the Post-1991 Indian Economic Policy Reforms", Global Development Network, available (November 11, 2008).
19. Id.
20. Ibid.
21. See generally "Vision Document – 2004", Bharatiya Janata Party, available at and "Economic Agenda", Indian National Congress, available at .
22. Supra note 18.
23. Supra note 18.
24. Supra note 18.
25. C.D. Wadhwa, "India Trying to Liberalise: Economic Reforms Since 1991", available at (November 13, 2008).
26. Supra note 18.
27. A. Bhaduri and D. Nayyar, The Intelligent Person's Guide to Liberalisation (New Delhi: Penguin Books India, 1996), p. 4.
28. Id.
29. Supra note 27 at p. 6.
30. Supra note 27 at p. 7.
31. Supra note 27 at p. 7.
32. H.T. Correspondent, "Andhra Elections", Hindustan Times, available at (November 16, 2008).
33. DH News Service "Prospecting 250 MT iron Ore: Tatas, Essar get Centre's Nod", The Deccan Herald, available at (November 9, 2008).
34. Id.
35. The Times News Network, "Mining Plans Threaten Water Security: NGO", The Times of India, available at (November 10, 2008).
36. Id.
37. Ibid.
38. Goldy M. George, "Mining to Destruction and Hijacking their Rights to Submission", Counter Currents, available at (November 10, 2008)
39. Id.
40. "Chronology of Bt Cotton in India", Inida Resource Centre, available at (November 11, 2008).
41. BS Reporter, "Bt Cotton Acreage Rises 20 per cent", Business Standard, available at (November 11, 2008).
42. Devinder Sharma, "Has the Bt Cotton Bubble Burst?", India Together, available at (November 11, 2008).
43. Rhea Gala, "India's Bt Cotton Fraud", Institute of Science in Society, available at (November 11, 2008).
44. Id.
45. Vandana Shiva, "Closing Address to the Soil Association Conference", Transition Culture, available at (November 16, 2008).
46. Special Correspondent, "Bt Cotton has Failed in Vidarbha: Study", The Hindu, available at (November 11, 2008).
Protiti Roy is a student of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore.
       
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Modeled after the British Westminster System, Politics of India take place in a framework of a federal parliamentary multi-party representative democratic republic. India is the world's largest democracy.[1][2] In India, the Prime Minister of India is identified as the head of government of the nation, while the President of India is said to be the formal head of state and holds substantial reserve powers, placing him or her in approximately the same position as the British monarch. Executive power is enforced by the government. It can be noted that federal legislative power is vested in both the government of India and the two characteristic chambers of the Parliament of India. Also, it can be said that the judiciary is independent of both the executive and the legislature.

Looking at the constitution, India is a nation that is characterized to be "sovereign socialist secular democratic republic." India is the largest state by population with a democratically-elected government. Like the United States, India has a federal form of government, however, the central government in India has greater power in relation to its states, and its central government is patterned after the British parliamentary system. Regarding the former, "the Centre", the national government, can and has dismissed state governments if no majority party or coalition is able to form a government or under specific Constitutional clauses, and can impose direct federal rule known as President's rule. Locally, the Panchayati Raj system has several administrative functions.

For most of the years since independence, the federal government has been guided by the Indian National Congress (INC),[3] In India the two largest political parties have been the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Presently the two parties have dominated the Indian politics, however regional parities too exist. From 1950 to 1990, barring two brief periods, the INC enjoyed a parliamentary majority. The INC was out of power between 1977 and 1980, when the Janata Party won the election owing to public discontent with the corruption of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1989, a Janata Dal-led National Front coalition in alliance with the Left Front coalition won the elections but managed to stay in power for only two years.[4] As the 1991 elections gave no political party a majority, the INC formed a minority government under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and was able to complete its five-year term.[5] The years 1996–1998 were a period of turmoil in the federal government with several short-lived alliances holding sway. The BJP formed a government briefly in 1996, followed by the United Front coalition that excluded both the BJP and the INC. In 1998, the BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with several other parties and became the first non-Congress government to complete a full five-year term.[6] In the 2004 Indian elections, the INC won the largest number of Lok Sabha seats and formed a government with a coalition called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), supported by various parties.[7] In the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, it won again with a surprising majority, the INC itself winning more than 200 seats.

At the federal level, India is the most populous democracy in the world.[1][2] While many neighboring countries witness frequent coups, Indian democracy has been suspended only once.[8] Nevertheless, Indian politics is often described as chaotic. More than a fifth of parliament members face criminal charges[8].

Contents [hide] 1 Central and State Governments 1.1 Legislative branch 1.2 State Government 1.3 Judicial branch 2 Local governance 3 Role of political parties 4 Political issues 4.1 Social issues 4.2 Economic issues 4.3 Law and order 5 See also 6 Further reading 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Central and State Governments

The central government exercises its broad administrative powers in the name of the President, whose duties are largely ceremonial. The president and vice president are elected indirectly for 5-year terms by a special electoral college. The vice president assumes the office of president in case of the death or resignation of the incumbent president.

The constitution designates the governance of India under two branches namely the executive branch and Real national executive power is centered in the Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister of India. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who is designated by legislators of the political party or coalition commanding a parliamentary majority. The President then appoints subordinate ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. In reality, the President has no discretion on the question of whom to appoint as Prime Minister except when no political party or coalition of parties gains a majority in the Lok Sabha. Once the Prime Minister has been appointed, the President has no discretion on any other matter whatsoever, including the appointment of ministers. But all Central Government decisions are nominally taken in his/her name.

[edit] Legislative branch

The constitution designates the Parliament of India as the legislative branch to oversee the operation of the government. India's bicameral parliament consists of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Council of Ministers is held responsible to the Lok Sabha.

[edit] State Government

States in India have their own elected governments, whereas Union Territories are governed by an administrator appointed by the president. Some of the state legislatures are bicameral, patterned after the two houses of the national parliament. The states' chief ministers are responsible to the legislatures in the same way the prime minister is responsible to parliament.

Each state also has a presidentially appointed governor who may assume certain broad powers when directed by the central government. The central government exerts greater control over the union territories than over the States, although some territories have gained more power to administer their own affairs. Local state governments in India have less autonomy compared to their counterparts in the United States and Australia.

[edit] Judicial branch

India's independent judicial system began under the British, and its concepts and procedures resemble those of Anglo-Saxon countries. The constitution designates the Supreme Court, the High Courts and the lower courts as the authority to resolve disputes among the people as well as the disputes related to the people and the government. The constitution through its articles relating to the judicial system provides a way to question the laws of the government, if the common man finds the laws as unsuitable for any community in India..

[edit] Local governance

Main article: Panchayati Raj

On April 24, 1993, the Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 came into force to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions. This Act was extended to Panchayats in the tribal areas of eight States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan from 24 December 1996.

The Act aims to provide 3-tier system of Panchayati Raj for all States having population of over 2 million, to hold Panchayat elections regularly every 5 years, to provide reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women, to appoint State Finance Commission to make recommendations as regards the financial powers of the Panchayats and to constitute District Planning Committee to prepare draft development plan for the district.

[edit] Role of political parties

For other political parties see List of political parties in India. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in India.

As like any other democracy, political parties represent different sections among the Indian society and regions, and their core values play a major role in the politics of India. Both the executive branch and the legislative branch of the government are run by the representatives of the political parties who have been elected through the elections. Through the electoral process, the people of India choose which majority in the lower house, a government can be formed by that party or the coalition.

Indian state governments led by various political parties as of March 2009.

India has a multi-party system, where there are a number of national as well as regional parties. A regional party may gain a majority and rule a particular state. If a party represents more than 4 states then such parties are considered as national parties. In the 61 years since India's independence, India has been ruled by the Indian National Congress (INC) for 48 of those years. The party enjoyed a parliamentary majority barring two brief periods during the 1970s and late 1980s. This rule was interrupted between 1977 to 1980, when the Janata Party coalition won the election owing to public discontent with the controversial state of emergency declared by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Janata Dal won elections in 1989, but its government managed to hold on to power for only two years. Between 1996 and 1998, there was a period of political flux with the government being formed first by the right-wing nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed by a left-leaning United Front coalition. In 1998, the BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance with smaller regional parties, and became the first non-INC and coalition government to complete a full five-year term. The 2004 Indian elections saw the INC winning the largest number of seats to form a government leading the United Progressive Alliance, and supported by left-parties and those opposed to the BJP.

On 22 May 2004, Manmohan Singh was appointed the Prime Minister of India following the victory of the INC & the left front in the 2004 Lok Sabha election. The UPA now rules India without the support of the left front. Previously, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had taken office in October 1999 after a general election in which a BJP-led coalition of 13 parties called the National Democratic Alliance emerged with a majority.

Formation of coalition governments reflects the transition in Indian politics away from the national parties toward smaller, more narrowly-based regional parties. Some regional parties, especially in South India, are deeply aligned to the ideologies of the region unlike the national parties and thus the relationship between the central government and the state government in various states has not always been free of rancor. Disparity between the ideologies of the political parties ruling the centre and the state leads to severely skewed allocation of resources between the states.

[edit] Political issues

Main article: Socio-economic issues in India

See also: Corruption in India

[edit] Social issues

The lack of homogeneity in the Indian population causes division between different sections of the people based on religion, region, language, caste and race. This has led to the rise of political parties with agendas catering to one or a mix of these groups.

Some parties openly profess their focus on a particular group, for example, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's focus on the dravid population, and the Shiv Sena's pro-Marathi agenda. Some other parties claim to be universal in nature, but tend to draw support from particular sections of the population, for example, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (translated as National People's Party) has a vote bank among the Yadav and Muslim population of Bihar and the All India Trinamool Congress does not have any significant support outside West Bengal. The Bharatiya Janata Party, the party with the second largest number of MPs in the 15th Lok Sabha, has an image of being pro-Hindu, and anti-Muslim and anti-Christian. Such support from particular sections of the population affects the agenda and policies of such parties, and refute their claims of being universal representatives. The Congress may be viewed as the most secular party with a national agenda, however it also practices votebank politics to gain the support of minorities, especially Muslims, through appeasement and pseudo-secularist strategies.

The narrow focus and votebank politics of most parties, even in the central government and central legislature, sidelines national issues such as economic welfare and national security. Moreover, internal security is also threatened as incidences of political parties instigating and leading violence between two opposing groups of people is a frequent occurrence.

[edit] Economic issues

Economic issues like poverty, unemployment, development are main issues that influence politics. Garibi hatao (eradicate poverty) has been a slogan of the Indian National Congress for long. The well known Bharatiya Janata Party is looked upon with grace as a political party that is indeed encouraging to free market economy, businesses and others. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) vehemently supports left-wing politics and has strongly opposed to socio-economic policies such as globalization, capitalism, foreign investments and privatization. The economic policies of most other parties do not go much further than providing populist subsidies and reservations. As a noteworthy case, the manifesto of the Samajwadi Party, the third largest party in the 15th Lok Sabha, for the 2009 general elections promised to reduce the use of computers upon being elected.

[edit] Law and order

Just to name a few,terrorism , Naxalism, Religious violence and caste-related violence are important issues that affect the political environment of the Indian nation. Stringent anti-terror legislations like TADA, POTA and MCOCA have received much political attention, both in favour as well as criticism.

Law and order issues such as action against organized crime are not issues that affect the outcomes of elections. On the other hand, there is a criminal-politician nexus. Many elected legislators have criminal cases against them. In July 2008 Washington Times reported that nearly a fourth of the 540 Indian Parliament members faced criminal charges, "including human trafficking, immigration rackets, embezzlement, rape and even murder".[9]

[edit] See also

*	India portal

• Government of India
• Law of India
• Indian political scandals

[edit] Further reading

• W. Phillips Shively. 2008. Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science—Chapter 14 Example: Parliamentary Government in India" McGraw Hill Higher Education. ISBN 978-0-07-340391-5
• Leftism in India, 1917-1947; Satyabrata Rai Chowdhuri, Palgrave, U.K., 2007.
• Subrata K. Mitra and V.B. Singh. 1999. Democracy and Social Change in India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Electorate. New Delhi: Sage Publications. ISBN 81-7036-809-X (India HB) ISBN 0-7619-9344-4 (U.S. HB).

[edit] References

1. ^ a b "Country profile: India". BBC. 9 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/country_profiles/1154019.stm. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
2. ^ a b "World's Largest Democracy to Reach One Billion Persons on Independence Day". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. United Nations: Population Division. http://www.un.org/esa/population/pubsarchive/india/ind1bil.htm. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
3. ^ "Country Profile: India" (PDF). Library of Congress - Federal Research Division. December 2004. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/India.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
4. ^ Bhambhri, Chandra Prakash (1992). Politics in India 1991-92. Shipra Publications. pp. 118, 143. ISBN 978-8185402178.
5. ^ "Narasimha Rao passes away". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/24/stories/2004122408870100.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
6. ^ Patrick Dunleavy, Rekha Diwakar, Christopher Dunleavy. "The effective space of party competition" (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science. http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/government/PSPE/pdf/PSPE_WP5_07.pdf. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
7. ^ Hermann, Kulke; Dietmar Rothermund (2004). A History of India. Routledge. p. 384. ISBN 978-0415329194.
8. ^ a b A special report on India: The democracy tax is rising: Indian politics is becoming ever more labyrinthine December 11th 2008 The Economist
9. ^ Wax, Emily (24 July 2008). "With Indian Politics, the Bad Gets Worse". Washington Times. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/23/AR2008072303390.html. Retrieved 22 May 2010.

[edit] External links

*	Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Politics of India

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"We've still got a long way to go," Obama told workers at a Ford assembly plant in Chicago. "Our economy is not back to where it needs to be."

Raja orders action against unsolicited tele calls

An unsolicited telemarketing call to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is what it took Telecom Minister A Raja to swing into action for prohibiting immediately such intruding calls. ( Watch )

Within hours of reports that Mukherjee himself was at the receiving end of such calls, Raja activated his ministry to take steps against such calls that "encroach" into the privacy of telecom consumers, an issue that has been haunting every single consumer despite the regulator TRAI's attempts to ban such a nuisance.

Raja has asked Telecom Secretary P J Thomas to convene a meeting and steps be taken to prohibit unsolicited calls immediately.

"A wide range of products and services are now a days offered through tele-marketing which result in inconvenience and disturbance to telecom consumers," Raja said in a note to the secretary.

During an interaction with political leaders to resolve the logjam on price rise debate in Parliament, Mukherjee on Monday got a call with loan offers from some company evoking a strong reaction from him.

Those present at the meeting said Mukherjee asked his aides to hand him the mobile, thinking it must be an important call.

However, he (Mukherjee) told the caller, "No, no. Not now. I am in a meeting."

Visibly angry, he handed over his mobile to Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayansamy.

When others asked who had called, an embarrassed Mukherjee said it was one of the finance companies, which had called to offer him a home loan.

He then said he gets four-five such calls everyday.

Spy Game: India readies cyber army to hack into hostile nations' computer systems

5 Aug 2010, 0016 hrs IST,Harsimran Singh & Joji Thomas Philip,ET Bureau

Topics:

• shiv shankar menon
• pakistan
• nsa
• national testing centre
• national security advisor
• intelligence bureau
• india
• defence intelligence agency
• china

India's top 10 BPOs The rise of multinational IT in India Key facts on India's IT industry Top acquisitions in BPO space

NEW DELHI: Borrowing a page from China's art of cyber war, the government is giving shape to an IT infrastructure setup manned by a small army of software professionals to spy on the classified data of hostile nations by hacking into their computer systems.

IT workers and ethical hackers who sign up for the ambitious project will be protected by law, says the proposal being discussed by senior government administrators. The expertise of these professionals will be used to go on the offensive or preempt strikes by breaching the security walls of enemy systems.

The strategy of taking the fight to hackers was drafted at a high-level security meet on July 29 chaired by National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon. The meeting was attended by the director of Intelligence Bureau as well as senior officials of the telecom department, IT ministry and security agencies, documents seen by ET show. Departments whose officials were present at the meeting did not respond to ET emails.

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The government is worried about spying and sabotage from neighbouring countries, particularly China and Pakistan, after a spate of assaults on its computer systems in recent times. The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto said in April that a clique of hackers based in China had conducted extensive spying operations in India, pilfering confidential documents from the defence ministry.

Though Beijing strongly denied any role in the attacks, the investigation pointed to the Chinese government's tacit approval of the spying operations. The technical reconnaissance bureau of the People's Liberation Army that is responsible for signals intelligence collection is headquartered in Chengdu, where the hackers had set up base.

According to the government proposal, the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) along with Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) will be responsible for creating cyber-offensive capabilities. NTRO is a key government agency that gathers technical intelligence while DIA is tasked with collating inputs from the Navy, Army and Air Force.

The NTRO will also suggest measures to ensure legal protection to recruits, a move that is expected to coax software professionals into joining the government group because under the Indian IT Act, hacking is punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or carries a fine up to `2 lakh, or both.

"Even if the offense is done on a computer on foreign soil, it is punishable under Indian laws," says cyber lawyer Pavan Duggal, adding that the IT Act will have to be changed for "patriotic stealth operations".

Mr Duggal welcomed the efforts to establish a hacker group, pointing to the explosive growth in assaults on Indian systems recently. Last year, 600 computers belonging to the external affairs ministry were hacked, allegedly by Chinese groups. The hackers also managed to steal crucial documents from the computers of the defence establishment then.

Vikas Desai, lead technical lead of network security firm RSA, said the government's efforts can be classified as ethical hacking. "Many countries and organisations in the world already have this kind of infrastructure," he said.

Games scam gets messier, Kalmadi aide Darbari sacked

5 Aug 2010, 1833 hrs IST,TNN

NEW DELHI: A week after TV reports of a murky deal with London-based AM firm, IOA probe panel sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee joint director T S Darbari, a close aide of OC chief Suresh Kalmadi. The Left and BJP have, meanwhile, sought the ouster of Kalmadi. Earlier in the day, OC treasurer Anil Khanna resigned from the post in the wake of allegations that his son's firm had secured a contract for laying synthetic courts at a tennis stadium. A K Mattoo has been appointed the new treasurer. Khanna's resignation came hours before the OC's all-powerful executive board's emergency meeting convened to discuss the corruption scandal that has rocked the October 3-14 Games.

Corporate Exclusive: Who will succeed Ratan Tata? Duration: 02:22 Posted: 5 Aug, 2010, 2249 hrs IST Exclusive: British Airways bets big on India Duration: 02:36 Posted: 5 Aug, 2010, 2200 hrs IST Advertising rates to go up 10-15 per cent Duration: 01:52 Posted: 5 Aug, 2010, 1930 hrs IST Exclusive: Mukesh Ambani, Subrata Roy eye Liverpool Duration: 02:10 Posted: 5 Aug, 2010, 1850 hrs IST More corporate videos > CWG: Only games, no sport 5 Aug 2010, 0554 hrs IST,SUMIT GULATI,ET Bureau The Holy Lord, a last-minute miraculous falling in place of things, a big stick, generous money flow and the rare coming together of the 'world famous in India' babudom will probably scrape us through the Commonwealth Games (CWG). The tragic, 'unHindi' movie ending to the tale is that India is unlikely to emerge the undisputed winner even if she successfully manages to wave off the last athlete into the final departing flight of an A-380 from the hopefully still swanky T3 terminal. But why then would India still be a loser ? The answer will be clear to those who saw the organisation of CWG in the country as the opportunity to start transforming the way India works. CWG presented India the great opportunity to overhaul its urban work processes and the way its big cities live and grow. This was the big takeaway from the Games. More flyovers, stadiums, wider roads and better pavements are the body, not the soul. By now, we know that many big athletes will be skipping the meet. But then, they were just an excuse to begin with. The idea was to use the event to transform the Capital into a modern, organised city that announces to the world that it is prepared to receive, assimilate and make fruitful use of the influences and investment that a fast-growing country like India will attract. The lessons of Delhi could then have been applied to other big and emerging cities. The way Delhi has gone about it shows how we have, once more, failed to catch the proverbial bus. Hopelessly-delayed construction projects show how the city has failed to adopt modern project management practices and technology that monitor and ensure timely execution of projects. It is absolutely clear that local bodies will continue to face delays in project execution even in works they undertake after the Games are over. So, did the city become efficient? Certainly not. This was also a golden opportunity for the Delhi government to reorganise, revitalise and rework its arms — get various urban municipal bodies in sync with each other's plans and projects. CWG was the just the perfect excuse to make our municipal bodies self-sustaining, citizen-friendly urban development centres. Without that, post-CWG, one arm of the Delhi government will continue to cut up a new road built by another arm to implement a project local people will find little use of. And, all of them will continue to beg the government for money for salaries even in 2011 and thereafter. Did we create a sustainable, mutually-beneficial municipal ecosystem ? Doesn't seem so. The software industry has given the country the image of an efficient, low-cost executioner of hi-tech projects. The Nano, on the other hand, has surprised the world with extraordinary innovation at a low cost. But Delhi has failed to imbibe the spirit. Ballooning Games bill is only indicative of how inefficiently money has been spent on projects with low RoI. Have we ensured that future projects in the city will balance development needs with aesthetics, environment friendliness and with cost? You know the answer. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/comments--analysis/Commonwealth-Games-2010-Only-games-no-sport/articleshow/6259217.cms Silent Bengal tops teen mother list OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT New Delhi, Aug. 4: Bengal has the largest proportion of teenage mothers in the country, according to a data sheet prepared by the family planning division of the Union health ministry. The grim statistics emerged on a day the Lok Sabha discussed ways to control population and some MPs found merit in Sanjay Gandhi's iron-fist policy. But Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad hastened to say "once bitten, twice shy" to make clear forcible measures would not be adopted. The data sheet, prepared ahead of the debate on population stabilisation in the Lok Sabha, said 14 per cent of births in Bengal were to women aged between 15 and 19. It said 41 per cent of girls in Bengal were married below the age of 18 years, placing the state, along with Rajasthan, second from the top in illegal marriages. Only Bihar has a higher proportion of 46 per cent girls marrying before 18. The data also came a day after crime figures revealed that Bengal had become more unsafe for women in 2008 compared to 2000. Non-government population control activists believe that early marriages and births reflect lack of awareness and a failure of campaigns to reach areas where population control is most needed. "In parts of the state, any discussion of sexual and reproductive health services is still a taboo among adolescents," said Sahana Bhowmick, the branch manager with the Family Planning Association of India, Calcutta. "Educational campaigns about the risks of early pregnancy and options to space births have not reached grassroots — and people don't talk about it," Bhowmick told The Telegraph. The health ministry data, based on district-level surveys in 2008, showed that Bihar had the lowest average age of marriage for girls — 17.6 years, followed by Rajasthan with 17.7 years. In Bengal, the average age of marriage was 18.5 years. The data suggested that Bengal has the highest participation of males in sterilisation with 14 per cent of men undergoing vasectomies, followed by Punjab where 13.4 per cent men underwent the procedure. But one non-government official involved in delivering population control services in Bengal said the state's 14 per cent vasectomy figure was "difficult to believe". In a clinic that the non-government agency operates, the official said, the vasectomy figure was less than 2 per cent. Yet, Bengal is among eight states that appear to be on the threshold of achieving a total fertility ratio (TFR) of about 2.1 — a so-called replacement level of fertility in which women have just enough babies to replace themselves. Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Haryana have achieved TFRs below 2.1. The poorest-performing states are Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh where TFR is 2.7 or higher. Bhowmick said most women pregnant below 19 years of age usually visited state hospitals that are overcrowded with little infrastructure for reproductive health counselling. Doctors probably did the best they could to handle the pregnancy, she said, and had little time or the expertise to counsel the women about the disadvantages of early pregnancies. But early births aren't confined to eastern and northern India. Karnataka had the second highest proportion (11 per cent) of births to women below 19 years, while Andhra Pradesh had 10 per cent births to women below 19. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100805/jsp/frontpage/story_12774063.jsp Campus cry: No politics, please Presidency College. A Telegraph picture Buddha's panel that will select the vice-chancellor of Presidency University — Amiya Bagchi, Sankar Pal and P.N. Ghosh — has evoked mixed reactions. Here's the buzz at ground zero. Where do you stand? Tell ttmetro@abpmail.com Sohail Abdi first year (history) The college appears impressive from outside but all's not well within Presidency. Politics is intrinsically linked to every aspect of the institution's functioning, hampering education. From what I have heard, the entire (search) team is Red-backed. They will possibly select someone with Left connections. Then where is the autonomy? We want someone who is devoid of political connections so that the mechanism of the university remains unhindered. Mohona Maitra first year (history) I am happy that Presidencians are dealing with the selection of the VC. Also, it is very important that we have an Presidencian as the head of the university. But what is even more important is that after Presidency becomes a university, teachers should be carefully selected. There are a large number of qualified Presidencians who can be brought in as teachers. There should be no political influence in the selection of teachers. Only then can quality of education be ensured at the new university. Urbi Patra second year (botany) I am happy with the selection committee and am confident that the members will appoint a deserving candidate as VC of Presidency University. We hope that the VC will ensure the induction of quality teachers, irrespective of whether they are ex-students of the college or not. We also hope that the VC will not change the basic nature of the institution. Souparno Adhikary third year (zoology) I am very pleased with the search committee. Each of them is successful in his field and brings to the panel the right mix of qualities — an administrator, an academician and another who is a mix of both. These are the qualities we want in a VC and the trio will be the right people to judge who is suitable. Also, the selected candidate must be a Presidencian. If the head is someone who knows the uniqueness of the institution, it will make a lot of difference to how the place is run. Tanmay Nattaburman PG-I (botany) We need a VC who knows the college inside out. Presidency has a lot of complications and I feel only a person who has been associated with the institution for a long time can sort things out. A former principal of the college would be a good choice as VC as he would know the pulse of the institution. Once the university starts functioning, students would be greatly benefited if the post-graduate courses being conducted off campus are taught on the College Street campus. We would also request the university administration to reserve seats for home students in PG courses. Kaushik Roy second year (Bengali) Those who have been given the task to select a VC are qualified people who have been undertaking both administrative and academic tasks for a long time. I am sure they will select someone who will ensure that the institution continues to listen to students' demands and needs. Bibaswan Basu third year (physiology) The students of Presidency College had been asking for autonomy for a very long time but our pleas fell on deaf ears. Now suddenly we are becoming a university. The decision made us suspicious and now our fears have been confirmed. Even students know that two of the members of the search committee are closely associated with the CPM. They will recruit for the party, defeating the very cause of autonomy. As a student, I want a pure academician as VC who will work for the institution and not toe any party line. Atanu Sinha Roy second year (English) All the three people in the search committee have political connections with the Left. The VC selection process should be completely apolitical. He or she should be purely an academician, not influenced either by Alimuddin Street or Kalighat. For that, if the Presidencian criterion has to be sacrificed then so be it. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100805/jsp/frontpage/story_12773772.jsp Hot potato hugs Mamata's rally with gusto Lalgarh group marshals crowd OUR BUREAU The Lalgarh school on whose grounds the Trinamul meeting will be organised. (Samir Mondal) Midnapore/Calcutta, Aug. 4: The spearheads of the Lalgarh movement today said they would attend Mamata Banerjee's rally there on Monday, gifting the CPM a chance to renew its allegation that the "Trinamul Congress is hand in glove with the Maoists and their allies". Trinamul leaders, however, denied any links with the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities and alleged that the CPM was "behind the game to malign" the party. Making use of Mamata's move to term the event "apolitical", People's Committee chief Manoj Mahato said: "Our people will attend the rally. We want to hear what she has to say about the people of Jungle Mahal." Local committee leaders have also "ordered" villagers in Lalgarh and Salboni to attend the meeting. The leaders are going from house to house in Salboni's Kalshibhanga, Kalaimuri, Hatilote, Majurkata and Pidrakuli, and Lalgarh's Bonishol, Lakshmanpur, Amla and Kantapahari, telling villagers they "won't take no for an answer". Farmer Aditya Mahato (name changed) of Kalshibhanga village said committee members had come to his house yesterday. "They told me at least two members of my family would have to attend the rally. They would not take no for an answer. We have no other alternative but to attend." Chintamoni Tudu (name changed), 22, of Lakshmanpur said committee leaders had come to her house yesterday and asked her and her husband to be present at the Lalgarh rally. "They ordered us not to go to the field to work and attend the rally instead. We will lose a day's wages," she said. A committee leader in Lalgarh said the outfit would attend as Mamata and social activists such as Medha Patkar and Swami Aginivesh would address the meeting. "They have demanded that the joint forces be withdrawn from Jungle Mahal," he said. The committee's interest in the rally is tricky for Mamata on two counts. First, several of the committee's activists have been arrested in the recent past in connection with acts of violence, including the Jnaneswari Express sabotage. What is rubbing salt into the party's wound is the fact that many of the arrested persons have told police how the Maoists had "helped" Trinamul during the Nandigram land war. Mamata had recently declared that the August 9 rally would be "apolitical". Sources in the party have said it will not be possible for her to get enough people to attend the meeting as she is yet to gain a foothold in Lalgarh. A West Midnapore Trinamul secretary had said yesterday that it was not possible to bring truckloads of people from outside and also that committee members could feel at ease joining an apolitical event. The police said the Maoists had instructed the committee members not on the cops' "wanted" list to attend the rally. "The Maoists have asked People's Committee leaders to force villagers to attend the event," said Manoj Verma, the West Midnapore superintendent of police. Trinamul had earlier supported the agitation in Lalgarh led by the committee. Last year, Mamata and party leader Partha Chatterjee had held meetings in Lalgarh with committee leaders such as Chhatradhar Mahato and Lalmonhan Tudu. However, of late, the party has been trying to distance itself from the outfit "because of its close links with the Maoists". "We doubt if the People's Committee is at all asking villagers to attend our rally. It may be a calculated ploy by the CPM to embarrass us and give a bad name to our party," Chatterjee, the leader of the Opposition, said. However, Trinamul sources said some of the party's leaders in West Midnapore were "in touch" with the committee because of its "considerable clout" in Lalgarh and Salboni. The CPM said it was not surprised at the committee's announcement. "The People's Committee is hand in glove with Trinamul. It is quite normal that they would attend the rally and also ask villagers to attend it," a CPM state committee member said in Calcutta. The state government has sought permission from the Centre to deploy the CRPF at the rally. Rebel attack Maoists yesterday killed one of the founders of a tribal outfit formed in Purulia on the lines of the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities. Tapan Das, 30, of Ghatbera, had been expelled from the Adivasi Mulbasi Janasadharaner Committee last year. The police said the Maoists suspected that he was passing on information to the CPM. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100805/jsp/bengal/story_12773979.jsp PCPA lies low after resistance NARESH JANA People hoick their cycles over a portion of a road dug up by People's Committee activists in Lalgarh on July 19 Midnapore, Aug.4: The hotbed is turning too hot for the Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities to handle. So it has decided to lie low. People's Committee activists have not dug up roads or blocked them by placing tree trunks in the past week despite the organisation calling an indefinite blockade from July 19 to demand the withdrawal of the joint forces. Praveen Tripathi, the superintendent of Jhargram police (district), said that after July 22, no incidents of sabotage and explosions had taken place. "The People's Committee is maintaining a low profile in Jungle Mahal. They have not taken out any procession since the Radhanagar incident," Tripathi said. He said the rebels were afraid that the villagers would inform the police about their whereabouts if they were forced to take part in rallies. Between July 19 and 22, Maoists and People's Committee activists had dug up and blocked roads in at least 25 places at villages in Jhargram, Binpur, Kotowali, Lalgarh and Jamboni. But over the past week, emboldened by the resistance to the Maoists, district transport operators such as owners of trekkers and trucks have plied their vehicles normally. Only bus operators have kept their vehicles off the roads. "At least 40 trekkers have been plying each day between Jhargram and Jamboni, Gidhni and Feko since July 23. Earlier, we did not dare bring out our vehicles during Maoist blockades. They had burnt at least 10 trekkers in the past year for defying blockades," said Jhargram's Satya Shau, who owns a trekker. However, no vehicles plied in West Midnapore during the 48-hour bandh called by the Maoists on Monday. Bangshi Singh, a grocer in Jhargram, said: "During earlier rebel blockades, we used to keep our shops open but as there was no supply of goods from Calcutta, Kharagpur and Midnapore town, there was little business. But since July 23, we have got a steady supply of provisions despite the People's Committee blockade." http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100805/jsp/bengal/story_12773797.jsp CPI(M) for sending all-party delegation to Kashmir The Hindu - ‎6 hours ago‎ PTI Terming the situation in Kashmir as "very grim", the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday asked the government to send an all-party delegation ... CPI-M extended central committee meet from Aug 7 Sify - ‎Aug 4, 2010‎ The extended central committee meeting of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will be held in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh Aug 7-10 to discuss the ... CPI-M's youth, student wings protest CWG corruption Sify - ‎1 hour ago‎ Activists of the youth and students wings of Tripura's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday began a week-long protest here against ... Abducted CPI-M supporter escapes from Maoist captivity Sify - ‎7 hours ago‎ A Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporter, abducted by Maoists guerrillas in West Bengal's West Midnapore district, managed to flee from ... * Sri Lanka Marxist MP questions government on detained LTTE arms dealer Colombo Page - ‎5 hours ago‎ Aug 05, Colombo: Sri Lanka Democratic National Alliance (DNA) parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake today queried the government on the senior LTTE ... Yechury questions huge spending on renovation The Hindu - ‎Aug 3, 2010‎ The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday said the government should make its position clear on the controversy surrounding the Commonwealth Games, ... GEORGE SOROS' MONEY FUNDS MANY MARXIST GROUPS Liberty News On Line - ‎5 hours ago‎ A New American Foundation fellow is Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia Law School and the chairman of Free Press, a George-Soros-funded, Marxist-founded ... AFP Venezuelans Criticize US's Ambassador-Designate Wall Street Journal - Dan Molinski - ‎21 hours ago‎ Colombia's battle-hardened military has been fighting the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, for more than 40 years, ... Chavez Regime's Drug Trafficking Back in Spotlight The New American Mutual dependence MiamiHerald.com Venezuela cannot run on rhetoric Financial Times all 181 news articles » Email this story UML rouses fringe backing to scrap runoff Himalayan Times - ‎3 hours ago‎ KATHMANDU: A meeting between Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and fringe parties on Thursday urged the prime ministerial ... Bharat Chronicle Mamata will be provided proper security: Pranab Times of India - ‎Aug 1, 2010‎ KOLKATA: Proper security arrangements would be made for railway minister Mamata Banerjee following her charges that the Communist Party of India-Marxist ... Lalgarh meeting under apolitical banner: Mamata Hindustan Times CPI-M setting up suicide squad to eliminate me: Mamata Sify Pranab assures security for Mamata indiablooms Asian Tribune all 182 news articles » Email this story Create an email alert for Marxist Chhattisgarh police arrest 16 Maoists Hindustan Times - ‎2 hours ago‎ At least 16 members of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist were arrested on Thursday from Chhattisgarh's restive Bastar region, police said. ... Video: Clash breaks out between Maoists and security forces NewsX Video:  Clash breaks out between Maoists and security forces NewsX India probes 'false alarm' Maoist rebel attack Financial Times Police escape Maoist ambush in Dantewada The Hindu AFP - BBC News all 235 news articles » हिंदी में Email this story India Talkies India tells Nepal Maoists it won't interfere Hindustan Times - ‎54 minutes ago‎ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy to Nepal Shyam Saran on Thursday assured the Maoist leadership that India was not interfering in formation of ... Saran holds talks with Nepalese leaders to help end pol crisis IBNLive.com Nepal's Instability May Pose Terrorist Threat to India: US Outlook PM's Special Envoy meets Nepalese leaders to end political impasse Sify Indian Express - Nepalnews.com all 74 news articles » Email this story Oneindia BJP leader, labourer killed by Maoists in Ranchi Hindustan Times - ‎5 hours ago‎ Maoists shot dead a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a Uranium Corp of India Ltd (UCIL) worker in Jharkhand, police on Thursday said. ... BJP leader shot dead by Maoists Oneindia all 27 news articles » हिंदी में Email this story Two Maoists arrested in Orissa Sify - ‎5 hours ago‎ Two rebels of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were arrested Thursday in Orissa's Keonjhar district, police said. ... Indian Express Maoists might filter into Mamata's rally: Police Hindustan Times - ‎12 minutes ago‎ In 1942, the Quit India Movement started on this day and the atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki in Japan three years later. Trinamool sources said more than ... Video: Trinamool rally in Lalgarh NewsX Video:  Trinamool rally in Lalgarh NewsX Maoists mobilising people for Trinamool rally at Lalgarh: CPM Hindustan Times all 39 news articles » हिंदी में Email this story Oneindia Maoists destroy trucks carrying bauxite in Jharkhand Sify - ‎Aug 4, 2010‎ "The supporters of the MCC (Maoist Communist Centre of India) burnt the trucks carrying bauxite mineral, which were plying on roads on the day when shutdown ... Video: Five killed in a landmine blast in Jharkhand Asian News International (ANI) Video:  Five killed in a landmine blast in Jharkhand Asian News International (ANI) all 66 news articles » हिंदी में Email this story Two Maoist rebels surrender in Jharkhand Hindustan Times - ‎5 hours ago‎ They surrendered with one Marshal Tuti was area commander of the banned outlawed group Communist Party of India- Maoist (CPI-Maoist) while Suresh Munda was ... Reuters India India clamps down on Maoists to woo mining investors Economic Times - ‎Aug 2, 2010‎ NEW DELHI: India's growing Maoist violence is worrying investors, forcing authorities to fight back aggressively in hopes of luring up to $7 billion in ... India digs deep to outflank Maoists Asia Times Online FACTBOX-What it takes to mine in India's Maoist lands Reuters Africa India offers Maoist rebels cash for weapons National Reuters India all 32 news articles » Email this story Top Maoist leader among four arrested in Jharkhand Sify - ‎13 hours ago‎ Rajesh alias Udayji, who is Jharkhand-Bihar Special Area Committee member of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was arrested from ... Oneindia Dantewada: Victory over Maoists; policemen safe Oneindia - ‎15 hours ago‎ On receiving a tip-off about the presence of a unit headed by Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) commander Ganesh Uike, a contingent of the ... Create an email alert for maoist India Add a custom section for maoist India to Google News Add a news gadget for maoist India to your Google homepage PCPA is Not a Banned Organisation: Congress Outlook - ‎1 hour ago‎ The Congress today saw no harm in the Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) joining the rally at Lalgarh on August 9 called by ... Video: Trinamool rally in Lalgarh NewsX Video:  Trinamool rally in Lalgarh NewsX PCPA wants to join Didi's Lalgarh rally Times of India Maoists mobilising people for Trinamool rally at Lalgarh: CPM Hindustan Times Sify all 39 news articles » हिंदी में Email this story Oneindia PCPA member arrested for killing teacher Times of India - ‎Aug 2, 2010‎ After initial investigation, police claimed that Maoists and their frontal organisation, PCPA, were involved in the murder though Maoists have not yet taken ... One arrested for killing headmaster Expressindia.com Gyaneshwari mishap: Maoist backed suspect arrested Oneindia CBI arrests key suspect Lakhan Mahato in Gyaneshwari express derailment case India Today indiablooms - Hindustan Times all 55 news articles » Email this story Reactionary forces have ''ganged up'' against Leftists: WB CM IBNLive.com - ‎2 hours ago‎ Bhattacharjee's comment came in the backdrop of Maoist- backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) deciding to join the proposed Lalgarh ... PCPA names Sidhu Soren's successor Times of India - ‎Jul 31, 2010‎ JHARGRAM: People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) the Maoist-backed tribal outfit in Jangalmahal has declared the name of the new commander in ... Calcutta Telegraph PCPA, police face villagers' wrath Times of India - ‎Jul 25, 2010‎ JHARGRAM: Within two days after the villagers of Radhanagar "turned hostile", members of Maoist led People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) once ... Villagers beat back Maoist, PCPA gang Times of India Maoists losing grip over local units and people Times of India Bengal: Maoists kill headmaster in west Midnapore NDTV.com indiablooms - IBNLive.com all 53 news articles » Email this story Calcutta Telegraph PCPA militia vows to avenge Soren's death Economic Times - ‎Jul 27, 2010‎ 27 Jul 2010, 2058 hrs IST, PTI KOLKATA: The PCPA and its armed militia today called a 48-hour bandh in West Bengal next month to mourn the death of its top ... PCPA militia leader, 5 others killed in Lalgarh shootout Times of India Family refuses to accept body of Maoist leader Sidhu Soren Oneindia all 31 news articles » Email this story PCPA will protest against Mamata's rally at Jhargram Times of India - ‎Jul 25, 2010‎ KOLKATA: Maoist-backed PCPA will protest against Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's proposed rally at Lalgarh next month to express sympathy for ... Red rebels attack villagers Times of India - ‎Jul 30, 2010‎ Locals at Radhanagar said around 35 villagers were guarding the village at night to prevent any attack by PCPA activists and Maoists. One of the villagers, ... Mamata eyes grand Lalgarh alliance Times of India - ‎Aug 1, 2010‎ Carrying on with her tirade against CPM, Banerjee accused Bengal's ruling party of using the PCPA banner to serve its interest. "Most of the PCPA leaders ... Eighth arrest in Jnaneswari sabotage case Times of India - ‎Aug 1, 2010‎ Regarding the link between the Maoists and the PCPA, the West Midnapore SP said, "After the encounter at Metala forest, in which Sidhu Soren and five others ... Maoists preparing to retaliate: Centre Times of India all 4 news articles » Email this story Create an email alert for PCPA Add a custom section for PCPA to Google News Add a news gadget for PCPA to your Google homepage Kishenji extends support to Mamata's rally at Lalgarh Times of India - ‎2 hours ago‎ KOLKATA: Maoists will extend support to the proposed Lalgarh rally called by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, top Naxal leader Kishenji said today. ... Video: Trinamool rally in Lalgarh NewsX Video:  Trinamool rally in Lalgarh NewsX No Restriction on Mamata's Rally in Lalgarh: WB Outlook Maoists might filter into Mamata's rally: Police Hindustan Times Daily News & Analysis - Deccan Chronicle all 39 news articles » हिंदी में Email this story Bharat Chronicle CPI(M) ridicules Mamata Banerjee's allegation of plot to kill her Daily News & Analysis - ‎Aug 2, 2010‎ Place: Kolkata | Agency: PTI Rubbishing Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's allegation that there was a conspiracy to eliminate her, the CPI(M) today ... Mamata will not accept conditions on Lalgarh trip Times of India Trinamool Congress not to accept conditions for Lalgarh rally Hindustan Times Standard security measures for Mamata''s Lalgarh rally: WB IBNLive.com Indian Express - Calcutta Telegraph all 182 news articles » Email this story In LS, members clamour to show support for Urdu Hindustan Times - ‎13 minutes ago‎ The leaders clamoured to speak for promoting the language, which ended with Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee making a pitch for quota for minorities. ... MPs for Efforts to Promote Urdu Outlook all 10 news articles » Email this story Mamata Banerjee accuses Left Front of spreading misinformation Oneindia - ‎Jul 22, 2010‎ Kolkata, July 22 (ANI): Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has alleged that the ruling Left Front Government in West Bengal is ... Video: Mamta busy with Trinamool Rally in Kolkata NewsX Video:  Mamta busy with Trinamool Rally in Kolkata NewsX Opposition bays for railway minister Mamata Banerjee's blood Daily News & Analysis Congress stands behind Mamata Banerjee Hindustan Times The Hindu - Hindustan Times all 645 news articles » Email this story A number of Rly stations identified as sensitive Central Chronicle - ‎1 hour ago‎ Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a written reply that this is being done based on the report of a seven- member committee nominated by the Ministry ... Eight political parties send views on caste in census IBNLive.com - ‎2 hours ago‎ ... Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran. ... Left Front govt committed mistakes for three decades: Buddha IBNLive.com - ‎2 hours ago‎ ... Jnaneshwari Express," he said referring to the August 9 rally at Lalgarh called by Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee which has been supported by the Maoists. Weekly super fast train between Pune and Jaipur Indian Express - ‎22 hours ago‎ But during this year's railway budget, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced to start the Pune-Jaipur train, which started on Wednesday," said ... Zee News Mamata Banerjee: The wail mantri Times of India - Arati R Jerath - ‎Jul 23, 2010‎ How do you solve a problem like Mamata Banerjee? As her star rises in West Bengal, the enfant terrible of UPA II couldn't care less about Delhi and its ... Mamata: How regional leaders misuse national roles Sify Train tragedies: Mamata on the backfoot Zee News P Chidambaram-SM Krishna bonhomie lights up cabinet meet Daily News & Analysis Calcutta Telegraph all 37 news articles » BOM:530979 Email this story Calcutta Telegraph In Didi's name, a trick in Tiruchy Calcutta Telegraph - G.C. Shekhar - ‎Aug 3, 2010‎ 3: Mamata Banerjee, look what's been happening in the south while you were stuck in the east. There, all it requires is a table and a chair under a tree, ... Create an email alert for Mamata banerjee Add a custom section for Mamata banerjee to Google News Add a news gadget for Mamata banerjee to your Google homepage Operation Lalgarh From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Operation Lalgarh is an ongoing operation in India against the Maoists who have been active in organising a tribal movement alongside a group called the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA). The operation is organised by the police and security forces in Lalgarh, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal to restore law and order in the area and flush out the Maoists.[1][2] The area of operation is said to be expanded to 18 police stations in the three Maoist affected districts of Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia.[3] Contents [hide] 1 Background 1.1 The movement 1.1.1 The beginning 1.1.2 The blockade 1.1.3 Solidarity 1.1.4 Grass root democracy 1.1.5 Village committees 1.1.6 Participation of women 1.1.7 The demands 1.1.8 Traditional leadership 1.2 Maoist connection 1.3 Ruled by fear 2 Extortion and attacks 3 Operation - First phase 3.1 Day 1 3.2 Day 2 3.3 Day 3 3.4 Day 4 3.5 Day 5 4 Second phase operation 4.1 Day 9 4.2 Day 10 4.3 Day 11 4.4 Day 12 5 References 6 External links [edit] Background The road to Largarh from Medinipur and Jhargram had been blocked at several places with large felled trees.[4] The incident has its root in an incident on November 2, 2008. On the way back from laying the foundation stone of Jindal steel plant at Shalboni, the convoy of the chief minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and then central ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada came under a landmine attack by the Maoists.[5] Though the ministers were unharmed, it hit a police jeep in the convoy and six policemen were grievously injured. The CPI(Maoist) in a press release accepted the responsibility of the explosion and stated clearly that they were opposed to the steel plant on tribal land and that the target of the explosion was Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, the West Bengal Police carried out raids across the Lalgarh area. Fighting between police and Maoist supporters broke out during the raids; several people were injured. Backed by the Maoists, Trinamool Congress leader Chhatradar Mahato — the brother of the principal accused in the November 2 bombing — set up the Police Santras Birodhi Janaganer Committee (PSBJC), or People's Committee Against Police Atrocities. The PSBJC activists blocked roads, shut off police access to the area, and attacked CPI(M) workers. Prior to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the Maoists even initiated protests insisting that the police not enter the villages of Boro Pelia, Chhoto Pelia, Dalilpur Chowk and Khas Jungle — all areas where they had a substantial armed presence. Had the PSBJC represented widespread resentment against the CPI(M), it ought to have showed up in this year's Lok Sabha elections. But Jhargram constituency swam against the anti-CPI(M) tide. The CPI(M) candidate, Pulin Bihar Baske, polled 5,45,231 votes, giving him a respectable lead over the 2,52,886 claimed by the Congress' Amrit Hansda. Mr. Baske even won in the Binpur Assembly segment, of which Lalgarh is a part.[6] The leaflet printed and put up by The People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, West Midnapore, West Bengal. The locals allege that Lalgarh police station has long been torturing and detaining adivasis at the smallest pretext on basis of speculation. On 4 November 2008 evening, three boys all studying in high school between standards 8 and 10, were going to their homes in Bashber Village on foot. They were returning from Katapahari, where a program of Baul Song was going on. On the way they were picked up by Lalgarh police for being suspected Maoists[7] The villagers were enraged in the incident and surrounded the Lalgarh police station and blockades were made on several roads by felling trees and digging the roads. Later they formed a committee named Police Santras Birodhi Janosadharan Committee (People's Committee against Police Atrocities) which demanded on thirteen issues and put up posters to publicise the same. The major demands include the Superintendent of Police of Paschim Medinipur district has to hold his ears and ask for forgiveness and he has to say 'Form now onwards I will stop illegally arresting the people and especially women' and release of those illegally arrested and cases has to be dropped against them. Some of the demands of the committee were met and cases against those children arrested were dropped. In turn the Committee removed some of the blockades, though police were not allowed to patrol the area. The Maoists congratulated the people of Lalgarh for their protest, but stopped short if claiming the movement to be under their control.[8] The people of Lalgarh however continually maintained that their movement was peaceful and for demand of basic democratic rights. [edit] The movement [edit] The beginning The police quickly understood the extent of mobilization that the adivasis have made and started making false promises about the imminent release of those arrested including the 3 school students. The police thought of buying some time with these lies, hoping that the mass will disperse with time[citation needed]. But the adivasi crowd around the Police Station only got thicker. Support and solidarity from surrounding and far off adivasi villages started pouring in. The otherwise omnipresent leaders of political parties were not allowed to negotiate. The adivais were rather happy about this as in the past the interference of these leaders in any mass protests have always resulted in confusion and withdrawing of the protests with unknown negotiations behind closed door meetings[citation needed]. This time the adivasis chose their representatives from amongst themselves who were communicators rather than leaders and took no decision on behalf of the mass but only communicated them. Soon the police understood that the adivasis were in no mood to return without a result and they disclosed that nothing was in their hands because the ones arrested had already been transferred to Midnapore jail the previous day. [edit] The blockade The road to Largarh from Medinipur and Jhargram had been blocked at several places with large felled trees.[9] The repeated lies[citation needed]by the Lalgarh police infuriated the mass who decided not to depend on the police for any results and to build up a movement to force the release of those illegally detained. They decided to prevent the deployment of reinforcement of police and paramilitary as previously many adivasi movements have been brutally crushed using paramilitary force. Thus roads were dug up[10] and blocked at several places by felled trees. This has uncanny resemblance to the Nandigram movement remained at the headlines throughout 2007 March to December. The Lalgarh village is connected with Jhargram and Medinipur towns by roads which are bordered on both sides by sparse to moderate forests. the roads have been dug up or blocked by trees at least in 25 places. [edit] Solidarity The road blockade was not just in and around Lalgarh but villages all around took initiative to do the same as they joined in the movement. Adivasi people all around West Bengal felt oneness with the movement as most have faced torture at the hands of police for suspected of being Maoists or their sympathizers. People from villages across West and East Midnapore, Bankura, Birbhum, Puruliya quickly joined in the movement.[11] [edit] Grass root democracy The movement had no conventional leadership and often entire village population sat together and discussed for hours as to the steps to be taken in the movement[citation needed]. Men, women, youth, students all took part in these grand meetings. The traditional leaders were not stripped of the respect that they usually received but were given no more weight than anyone else at the meetings[citation needed]. A forum was thus launched which had no conventional political color and which united the entire adivasi society for a common cause after a long time. It gained immense popularity and most mainstream parties and their mass bases vanished altogether. [edit] Village committees Each Village formed a committee of 10 representatives who would with committees of other villages to communicate the decision of the masses of one village to another. Each committee further had two persons who had to be available at all times in case of urgent meetings at short notices[citation needed]. [edit] Participation of women The adivasi women of Lalgarh attending a meeting. Adivasi women have come forward in a big way to carry forth this movement. Each 10 persons committee has 5 women members. This involvement of women came naturally to the adivasis who have a more equal society when it comes to gender. The participation of women in meetings and rallies are also remarkable. The atrocities over the women of Lalgarh have been excessive, and the women since then never attend rallies unarmed. They bring along whatever is at hand. Bows, arrows, knives, swords, scythes, axes, sticks, brooms and so on. The attack on the dawn of 5 November has been most brutal on the women[8] with one of them losing her sight, as the butt of a police rifle landed on it. Another woman of Lalghar was manhandled and left unconscious in broad daylight as she tried preventing the police who dragged away her husband who happens to be a local Jharkhand Party leader while they were buying medicines. All this adding to the severe torture and repression of women have led to the present consolidation of the adivasi women, or so they claim. [edit] The demands The leaflet printed and put up by The People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, West Midnapore, West Bengal. The adivasis of Lalgarh sat together to decide upon eleven demands to be met by the government in order that the blockades be removed and police activity normalized. Press statement were given, leaflets distributed and posters in Bengali put up all around, stating the demands. The English translation of the demands would be: 1) The SP has to hold his ears and ask for forgiveness. He has to say 'Form now onwards I will stop illegally arresting the people and especially women.' 2) The police who were involved in the 5/11/2008 incident where women were beaten up have to rub their noses on the ground as punishment, from Dalailpur Chawk to Choto Pelia. 3) The women of Choto Pelia who were injured by the police torture have to be compensated with 2 lakh rupees each. 4) All suspects arrested or detained in relation to the Shalboni incident have to be released unconditionally. 5) All people arrested or accused in suspicion of being Maoist in West Midnapore since 1998 have to be cleared of all charges and should not be compelled to attend court sessions or police station enquiries regularly. 6) Arresting locals from anywhere, anytime without warrant have to be ended. 7) All paramilitary camps like those in Dharampur, Kalaimudi, Ramgarhhave to be removed immediately. 8) That Sasadhar Mahato planned the Shalboni explosion sitting in Bashber village - this allegation has to be withdrawn. 9) The practice of harassing clubs and organizations of independent people all over Bengal must be put to an end. 10) Police patrolling in villages from 5 in the evening to 6 in the dawn have to be stopped. 11) Schools, hospitals, panchayet offices cannot be used as police camps, the existing ones have to be removed. Later two more demands were added in face of violent attacks by CPI(M) cadres on the adivasi people involved with the movement. [edit] Traditional leadership The traditional tribal leaders have been mostly disowned by the tribals of Lalgarh. The Majhi Baba or village elders had since November 10, 2008 proactively engaged in negotiations with the government authority. On 13 November 2008 they declared that most of their demands have been agreed upon and thus they were withdrawing the blockade. Some blockades were removed as well, but the adivasis sat together to decide otherwise and decided to boycott the Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa group. Their youth wing leader was even beaten up and made to apologise for removing a blockade.[8] [edit] Maoist connection The government and the ruling party CPI(M) have throughout maintained that the movement of Lalgarh was instigated and somewhat led by Maoist agents, many of whom have come from Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. The police from the beginning blamed the Maoists for the Shalboni blast and raided the villages and detained people for having suspected Maoist Links. The police alleged that Sasadhar Mahato and other Maoist action squad members planned the Shalboni blast while in Bashber village,Lalgarh. The Maoists soon accepted responsibility of the blast and congratulated the people of Lalgarh for their protest, but stopped short if claiming the movement to be under their control.[8] The people of Lalgarh however continually maintained that their movement was peaceful and for demand of basic democratic rights. [edit] Ruled by fear [12] Back in 1977, after the first Left Front government took power in West Bengal, entire villages were freed from the control of jotdars, or landlords, by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers. Data from West Bengal's Department of Land and Land reforms shows that till 2002-03, land measuring 16,280 hectares was redistributed to peasants in the blocks of Jhargram, Binpur and Salboni — the areas now under Maoist assault. "In the Jhargram block village where I conduct research", says Aparajita Bakshi, Senior Research Fellow at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, "75 per cent of all households are land reform beneficiaries. Of Scheduled Tribe households, no less than 70 per cent gained agricultural land and 90 per cent gained homestead land as a result of land reform." Income poverty and deprivation continue to exist throughout the region — but land reform has given adivasis a level of freedom and security their counterparts in the rest of India do not enjoy. Marketed as the liberation of Lalgarh, Maoist rule, in fact, made the life of most adivasis worse. Income from forest produce, on which most local residents are dependent, dried up. Government programmes intended to mitigate hardship collapsed altogether. "In November," says Bhumidhansola resident Manek Singh, "the Maoists forbade us to enter the forests to cut wood. The Forest Department used to pay us Rs.70 a day for this work. Now, no one even enters this area to purchase the leaf-plates we make. We have been left with nothing." How, then, have the Maoists gained so much influence in Lalgarh? Jharkhand Party candidate Chunibala Hansda had this simple answer for one journalist reporting on the Lok Sabha elections: "People are scared of them". Last year, even as the PSBJC was mobilising people against the West Bengal government, the Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa — an organisation of traditional adivasi community leaders, which is opposed to the CPI(M) — organised a rally to protest Maoist violence. More than 10,000 adivasis gathered in Bhulabheda area of Belpahari on December 9. Sudhir Mandal, the adivasi leader who organised the rally, was shot dead less than 48 hours later. [edit] Extortion and attacks Faced with extortion and attacks by Maoists, government staff also fled the area. Lalgarh residents told The Hindu that the Integrated Child Development Scheme workers were ordered to pay Rs.1,000 each month; school teachers and staff at the Block Development Office said they were compelled to part with twice as much to local Maoists. Following the assassination of government doctor Honiran Murmu and staff nurse Bharati Majhi in October, the Lalgarh area has had almost no access to health care. The 2009 Loksabha election saw a change of power from the Left Wing to the Trinamool Congress- Indian National Congress coalitions in West Bengal, with the coalition winning a total of 25 seats out of 42 seats. Most parts of West Bengal witness post-election political clash and mostly in the Midnapore and Hooghly districts.[13] In Lalgarh area, the CPIM party offices and houses of leaders were ransacked by the people who allege to be getting support from the Maoists.[14] The attacks were increased as the arms and ammunitions were recovered from those party offices.[15][16] Many of the CPIM supporters have either joined the Committee or have left the area in fear of attacks. The people socially boycotted the police, and stopped them from buying foods and other essentials, which forced the police to leave their camps in the Lalgarh area making it a virtual free zone.[2][17] [edit] Operation - First phase The Government of West Bengal asked assistance from the Central Government to assist the West Bengal Police in the operations against the Maoists in Lalgarh.[18][19] Five companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two companies of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) forces who are specially trained to combat with the Maoist arrived at Midnapore on 17 June 2009.[2] In a special meeting between District Officials, Deputy General of Police (West Bengal) and home Secretary Ardhendu Sen the decision to launch the operation was decided. The final order to start the operation was given by Chief Minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharya.[20] [edit] Day 1 On 18 June morning at about 8:00 (IST), the CRPF along with State Riot Police and Commandos proceeded toward Pirakata enroute to Lalgarh.[20] Further meetings were conducted during the day between Police and district officials on the method of the operation. It was decided that the security forces would march towards Lalgarh as the roads were dug up and trees has been placed as blockades on the roads. The forces started out for the operations at around 16:00 (IST) from Pirakata.[20] The forces faced the first resistance from the villagers at Malida village which is around two kilometres from Pirakata, where around 2000 villagers had gathered acting as "human shields". After warning by the additional Superintendent of Police to leave the place, tear gas shells were fired and subsequent lathi charge was made to disperse the mob.[20] The police raided some houses and detained some villagers in search of Maoists.[2] The police were also successful to disperse and remove three more blockades during the day including one at Tirlakhali, and proceeded further 2 kilometres to Bhimpur village at 18:30 IST.[20] The forces decided to push back 2 km and halt for the night by the roadside at Koima. Some of them retreated another 1 km to Tirlakhali. During setting up of the camp, some gun shots were fired at the police forces from the paddy fields at short intervals and the police force return fired in the direction without resulting any casualties.[20] The police force scanned the area through nigh vision binocular. The CRPF men who took part in the action were replaced at night by those kept in reserve at the Pirakata camp while the district riot police have been replaced by the state armed police.[21] [edit] Day 2 On 19 June 2009 morning several leaflets in Bengali and Ol Chiki were distributed from the Indian Air Force helicopters by the government to stay away from the Maoists and refrain from becoming human shields.[22][23] The security forces tried to advance towards Lalgarh from four different ways; from Sarenga in Bankura district in the north, from Goaltore in the east, from Jhargram-Dahijuri route in the west and the mainly through Midnapur- Pirakata route in the south of Lalgarh.[24][25] Three companies of Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed in the operation. Three more companies of BSF has been sent to Lalgarh.[26] This is the first time the BSF has been deployed in anti-Naxal operations.[27] The helicopters were used during the day mainly over the Lalgarh - Dharampur area for air surveillance.[26] The squads had started operation in one of the most infamous place known as Jhitkha Jungle, which is considered to be Maoist's den keeping in front the COBRA force dividing in two different groups of about 200 soldiers.[22] The sanitization operation to flush out the Maoists in Jhitkha Jungle by the COBRA forces who arrived at Bhimpur at around 13:00 IST, turned out to be an inspection operation along 2 km stretch of the road that passes through the jungle.[28] Another squad of police have surrounded the area around Sarenga in adjacent Bankura district to seal the escape routes of the Maoists.[22] The police force consisting of a company of CRPF personnels coming from the Sarenga route stopped at Kargil More as the approach road to the bridge was cut, and they had to retreat back to Sarenga.[29] They also broke a demonstration stage and lathi charged the PCAPA members in Sarenga who were present in the demonstration, where 15 members were arrested.[29] The team who were approaching by the Jharagram route, though able to reach Dahijuri, they returned back to Jhargram due to suspect of landmine on the road and roads being dug by PCAPA members.[25] Another team of security forces started moving from Goaltore, which is around 25 km from Lalgarh. The forces had to stop at different places to clear the trees and bypassing the dug roads.[29] Around 500 forces from the Eastern Frontier Rifle and State Armed Forces took part in the operation in this route.[29] They had to face severe resistance from the PCAPA members at Tinboni village, where around 3000 villagers blocked the roads and shot arrows against the police force. However, at around 17:00 IST the police was able to break the barricade and moved forward. Around 10 persons have been detained in this operation and some houses were raided by the police force in search of the alleged Maoists.[29] The security forces which have proceeded to Bhimpur on 18 June by clearing road from Pirakata left the stretch unguarded.[28] Taking the opportunity, the villagers and the Maoists again put up barricade at five different places between Malida and Tirlakhali.[28][30] They were confronted by the Maoists who gun fired at several places including, Pirrakhuli, Pinbani and between Pirakata and Bhimpur.[26][30] Police were also forced to stop at various places due to suspect of landmine on the road or as the bridges were destroyed.[3][24] Out of the six kidnapped CPIM members, dead bodies of four were found, taking the tally of death of CPIM party members in the post-election violence in Lalgarh area to 10.[31] At about 19:45 IST, there has been a report of landmine blast near Pirakata Bazaar on SDPO's car in which two police personnel has been grievously injured.[28] The state government has asked for more 6 companies of CRPF from the Central Government to assist the state police in the operation. At around 21:00 IST there was cross fire between the police and Maoists at Lalgarh Police Station.[28] The Jharkhand border near Ghatshila was sealed to stop the Maoists escaping into Jharkhand.[32] [edit] Day 3 Maoist Polit Bureau member Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji told over phone to the media that they are ready for negotiations only if the police forces are withdrawn from the area and apologize.[33] The combing operation started around 7:30 IST on 20 June 2009 by the forces in search of Maoists through the Jhitka Jungle with mine protected vehicles. Jhitka was considered to be the most difficult part till now and the police were anticipating serious Maoist attack or landmines.[34][35] The first group of the forces was able to reach Lalgarh Police Station, which was inaccessible to the forces since November 2008 at around 11:30 without facing any kind of resistance, where they have decided to setup a base camp and proceed to further interior areas.[33][36] Houses of two CPIM party members have been torched by the PCPA members in Baita near Jhargram., where the police force arrived and dispersed the attacking mob.[37] An attack by the Maoists took place in Kadashole on the Eastern Frontier Rifles jawans, on the way from Goaltore to Lalgarh at around 16:15 IST.[37] The ill trained police force was attacked with arrows and later with guns. The sudden attack left the police force stunned and they fled the area running for cover. In this confusion and panic, a landmine triggered off leaving 4 police injured in the whole incident.[37] Later, the police returned with a larger force around 17:30 IST and put a strong gun battle for about an hour.[37] [edit] Day 4 There was no such operation, as the police wanted to fix the next strategy, four people were arrested near Khayer Pahari, while they were planting landmine on the road from Sarenga to Lalgarh. Some social activists and artists like Aparna Sen, Saoli Mitra went to Lalgarh to overlook the real situation and talked with PCAPA secretary Chhatradhar Mahato, and appealed to both the state and the Maoists to shun arms and opt for a ceasefire till July 14.[38] Around 35,000 villagers in the Lalgarh area fled to other places for safety.[39] Many villagers who have fled to several relief camps like in Pirakata complained of being beaten up by the police and sexual harassment to the woman.[40] Trinamool Congress MP and Union ministers of state Sisir Adhikari and Mukul Roy went to Lalgrah to provide shelter to the villagers driven out of their homes by the security forces along the stretch from Pirakata to Bhimpur.[41] They were surrounded by the CPM supporters complaining that why they did not come to their rescue when the Maoist-backed PCPA drove them out of the villages and not allowed to progress further.[41] [edit] Day 5 The Maoists called for a two long bandh starting from today in five states of India, including Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa and Chattisgarh to protest the re capturing of Lalgarh in West Bengal by security forces.[42] The security has been increased in these states and particularly in the three Maoist hit districts of West Bengal. Normal life was affected in the Midnapore district with a few buses plying on the road and most of the shops remained closed.[43] In Purulia district, train services remained suspended on the Purulia – Chandil section since 2:00 as a landmine was found planted on the tracks near Birandi station.[42][43] Moreover, an anti-mine vehicle was affected in a landmine blast near Boramora jungle of East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand when the vehicle was on its way to Ghatshila which is bordering West Bengal.[42][44] The forces have decided to make a secured circle around Lalgarh and then proceed to the villages situated within that circle.[45] The security forces advanced from the Sarenga route, securing the route towards Pingboni, near Goaltore. More CRPF forces, COBRA units joined the existing teams at Goaltore.[45] A chekpost has been created at Ratanpur, near Pingboni by the PCAPA members to prevent the entry by the forces with bows and arrows and guns.[45] The police force continued to patrol the already secured road from Pirakata to Lalgarh.[46] The Central government declared CPI (Maoist) as a banned militant group in India keeping in mind the growing unlawful activities by the group, while Government of West Bengal said earlier in the day that it was against banning the CPI (Maoist) and will counter such outfits politically.[47][48] [edit] Second phase operation The second phase of the operation started on June 26, 2009 from Goaltore route towards Lalgarh.[49][50] [edit] Day 9 The forces are expected to cover the stretch up to Ramgarh in the first leg. The COBRA forces moved ahead of the forces at night to sanitise the area of the operation, armed with Sniper guns and night vision telescopes.[51] They were able to reach up to Kadasole village facing tough resistance from the Maoists on the way.[52] The forces were attacked by the Maoists with .22 country-made guns which kept firing at the security forces as they fled from the area.[52] The forces including the six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, two companies of the State police and two companies of the Indian Reserve Battalion counter attacked the Maoists with mortars, light machine guns and AK-47s.[49][52] Helicopters were used for air survellience and feeding the ground troops with the information about the Maoists.[53] Satellite images from RISAT - I was also used to track the movements of the Maoists.[54] The Maoists also blasted some landmines, some of the landmines and an IED were defused safely by the bomb disposal squad.[52] There have been no report of any casualties from either side.[52] [edit] Day 10 The forces started the operation from Kadasole towards Ramgarh. They had to face resistance from the Maoists near Mahultol village on the way, an area surrounded by forests.[55] The Maoists fired at the forces and blasted landmines, the forces counter fired at the Maoists with mortars.[56] The progress of the forces stalled for some time due to rain and as landmines were found on the way which were detonated later. The forces were able to capture Ramgarh at around 15:00 IST, where they would establish another base camp.[57][58] An office of the Leftist trade union AITUC was burned down by the Moists when they were refused shelter in the building just before the security forces entered Ramgarh.[58] They were greeted by the people who stood on the side of the road with smiling faces and offered drinking water to the forces.[57][59] Another group of the force started moving from Lalgarh towards Barapelia village, where the PCPA leader Chhatrodhar Mahato lives, on the way to Ramgarh.[55] However, the forces faced tough resistance near Aamdanga village, and had to return to Lalgarh.[57] [edit] Day 11 The forces patrolled the already claimed area in Lalgarh and discovered several IEDs and landmines.[60] Two persons were arrested from Sarenga in adjoining Bankura district when planting land mines between Belepole and Kargil More.[61] Explosives, detonators and firearms were recovered from them.[60] Maoists also fired at around 01:30 IST from the jungles behind the police camp housed in Ramgarh High School taking advantage of the power cut in the area.[62] However, the force switched on their search lights and fired back, making the Maoists to retreat back.[62] [edit] Day 12 The forces started a two pronged operation from Lalgarh and Kadasole towards Kantapahari. 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Retrieved 2009-06-29.  [edit] External links Report on Lalgarh by Praveen Swami, an award winning journalist Lalgarh, Our Stand A documentary film on the Lalgarh movement [show] v • d • e Paschim Medinipur topics General Bargi • Chhoto Angaria massacre • Dharmathakur • Gajan • Hijli Detention Camp • Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur • Nehru Museum of Science and Technology • Operation Lalgarh • Partition of Midnapore • Vidyasagar University Locations Lalgarh Territories Dandabhukti • Dhalbhum  • Hijli Kingdom • Jungle Mahals • Mallabhum • Midnapore district People Bengali people • Bhumij • Lodha • Mahali • Mahisya • Munda • Santal Subdivisions Ghatal • Jhargram • Kharagpur  • Medinipur Sadar Rivers Dwarakeswar • Kangsabati • Keleghai • Rasulpur • Rupnarayan • Shilabati • Subarnarekha Transport NH 6 • NH 60  • South Eastern Railway • Kolkata Suburban Railway Lok Sabha constituencies Ghatal • Jhargram • Medinipur • Panskura - now defunct See also Cities and towns in Paschim Medinipur district • People from Pascim Medinipur district • Community Development Blocks in Paschim Medinipur district • Damodar Valley Other districts Bankura • Bardhaman • Birbhum • Cooch Behar • Dakshin Dinajpur • Darjeeling • Hooghly · Howrah • Jalpaiguri • Kolkata • Malda • Murshidabad • Nadia • North 24 Parganas • Purba Medinipur • Purulia • South 24 Parganas • Uttar Dinajpur Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Lalgarh" Categories: Conflicts in 2009 | West Bengal | 2009 in India | Naxalite-Maoist insurgency