India News Online » News Analysis » Indian Politics » 

Political Notes

	January 21, 2008

Goa crisis resolved : Kamat to continue as Chief Minister



The crisis-ridden Congress-led coalition government in Goa was saved from the brink with dissident legislators pledging unconditional support to the Digambar Kamat government.



In a formula that has been evolved, the Cabinet will be reshuffled to accommodate the dissidents and their grievances will be addressed. Kamat will continue as Chief Minister.



The breakthrough came after an agreement was reached on the portfolios to be allocated. There was a tussle over who should be dropped and who should be inducted in the government. The dissidents expressed a grouse against the functioning of state Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar of the Congress.



“The Goa crisis has been resolved,” said Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel, emerging from the meeting with the rebels. “All NCP MLAs, MGP MLAs, Independent Vishwajit Rane and the Save Goa Front member have decided to support the Kamat government.”



Patel was accompanied by AICC general secretary in charge of Goa B.K. Hari Prasad, PCC chief Francisco Sardinha, NCP leader Mickky Pacheco and Rane. Earlier, the four rebel MLAs arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, Jan. 19.



NCP president Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, warned of “extreme action” against the three party rebel legislators. He instructed Patel, who rushed to the State, to keep in readiness a letter to be delivered to the Speaker seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection provisions.



The political crisis for the Congress-NCP coalition government began when two NCP leaders - Tourism Minister Francisco Pacheco and Revenue Minister Jose Philip - submitted their resignation and withdrew support to the Kamat dispensation. Health Minister and Independent MLA Vishwajit Rane along with United Goans Democratic Party’s unattached legislator Babush Monserrate also threatened to withdraw support, thereby reducing Goa government to a minority in the 40-member Assembly. Congress MLA Shyam Satardekar (Curchorem) also put in his papers, resigning from the Assembly.



The drama was then played out in the Assembly, which was adjourned by Speaker Pratapsinh Rane on Wednesday, Jan. 16, when members supporting Congress in Goa went missing before the crucial vote on the Finance Bill for supplementary demands.





CBI not to close anti-Sikh riots case against Tytler



The Central Bureau of Investigation has assured the Delhi High Court that it would not close the anti-Sikh riots case against former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler till the petition pending before it seeking recording of the evidence of Jasbir Singh through video-conferencing or in a US court is disposed of.

Jasbir Singh claims to be an eye-witness in the case. He has sought quashing of a notice issued to him by the CBI for recording of his evidence in the case.



Appearing for the investigating agency, Additional Solicitor-General P. P. Malhotra gave the assurance to the Court when counsel for Jasbir Singh expressed his apprehension that the CBI might file a second closure report exonerating Tytler. The Court took the assurance on record and issued a notice to the CBI seeking its reply by February 27.





Congress MP Govinda to quit politics



Actor-turned-politician and Congress Member of Parliament, Govinda has announced his decision to quit politics. The decision comes in the wake of strong public criticism that he is rarely seen in his constituency, Mumbai (North), which he represented in the Lok Sabha.



Posters had appeared in several parts of Mumbai (North), asking voters whether they have seen their member of Parliament since he was elected to the Lok Sabha from this constituency about four years ago.



Anyone who can trace the hon’ble MP, Govinda Ahuja, can take away a reward of Rs 1 crore, mock the posters, trying to shame the actor for his neglect of his constituents.



The Maharashtra Minority Front clarified that it just wants to see the MP in person, even if he does no work for his constituency. Complaints against Govinda have been sent to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Prabha Rau.



The present Lok Sabha has had 239 sittings till May 2007. Govinda barely attended 36. He has never spoken about Mumbai and its problems, though as an MP, he enjoys all the perks and privileges available to him as ex-officio.



Govinda’s decision to quit politics has shocked Congress activists in his constituency.



Mumbai Congress chief and MP Gurudas Kamat said, “Govinda’s decision, if true, is unfortunate. We will persuade him to rescind his decision.”



Many Congress workers, however, feel that it was wrong to give a ticket to a political novice like Govinda in the first place.



“He had nothing to do with our party, but still our leaders overlooked the claim of loyal workers and gave him the ticket,” said a former MLA.



A Congress office-bearer said Govinda was fielded only to defeat senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ram Naik. Not only was Naik getting repeatedly elected from Mumbai north, he was also making the constituency BJP’s bastion. Congress had virtually no presence. It was only because a popular actor like Govinda was fielded that Congress could wrest the seat from Naik, he said.



Govinda watchers said they are not surprised by the actor’s decision. He has realised that he was fielded only to defeat Naik. Once it was done, Congress lost interest in him, they said. A Govinda supporter said, “There is no point in blaming the actor. He has no clue about politics and the party should have guided him suitably.”



Meanwhile, BJP is happy at the turn of events. It is making preparations to recapture the seat in the next polls. There are a large number of Gujarati voters in this constituency.





Twelve convicted in Bilkis Bano rape case



Twelve persons, including a police official, were convicted by a special court in Mumbai on Friday, Jan. 18, in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case related to the post-Godhra communal violence in Gujarat.



Seven other accused were acquitted by the court. One accused died during the course of the trial, which was shifted to Mumbai from Gujarat. The quantum of sentence is likely to be pronounced today (Jan. 21).



Bilkis, who was six months pregnant, was gang-raped during the communal violence that erupted in Gujarat after a coach of the Sabarmati Express carrying Ramsevaks from Ayodhya was set on fire on February 27, 2002. Bilkis was also a prime witness to the murder and rape of members of her family and community during the riots.



Husain paintings : Hindu militants attack Ahmedabad NDTV office



The Ahmedabad office of NDTV was attacked on Saturdayn, Jan. 19 by a handful of Hindu militants calling themselves the “saviours” of Hindu culture.



They were venting their anger against the channel for including painter M.F. Husain in its ongoing SMS poll for the choice for Bharat Ratna.



Armed with hockey sticks and lathis, about 20 people, who claimed themselves to be volunteers of the self-styled “Hindu Samrajya Sena,” entered the NDTV office in the Memnagar locality and damaged furniture, air-conditioners, television sets and other equipment.



Office peon Salim, the lone occupant at the time, was attacked with lathis and sticks and he had to be hospitalised.



NDTV filed a police complaint against the Sena leader Ashok Sharma and 20 others.



Condemning the incident, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah said the hooligans were identified and they would be behind bars soon.



Both the national parties, the Congress and the BJP have condemned the incident.



Deploring the “climate of intolerance,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said: “If you cannot air your views with freedom, then it is a very sorry phase you have come to. Ultimately this is what fascism is all about. This is what intolerance is all about.”



Disapproving of the attack on the NDTV office, BJP president Rajnath Singh said: “Media is the fourth pillar of democracy. Such things should not happen.”



About eight years ago, the “Doshi-Husain Gufa” on the Gujarat University campus, named after architect Balkrishna Doshi and Husain, was vandalised by the Sena activists. They were protesting against alleged painting by Husain of Hindu goddesses in the nude.