India-Bangladesh Sign Accords

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Bangladesh visit had been affected the opposition to the proposed Teesta River water distribution agreement. Annoyed with it, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rejected the Feni River agreement, and has brought the very package of water distribution under question. Notwithstanding all this, the signing of 10 agreements on the very first day of Manmohan's visit is testimony that the two countries desire to come closer to each other, and want to get the water dispute resolved amicably.
Resolution of the boundary dispute between the countries is a great achievement of Dr. Singh's Dhaka visit. Under the agreement, both countries have agreed to demarcate their boundaries on the basis of give-and-take of 162 enclaves. To acquiesce Bangladesh, which was annoyed with the impasse over the Teesta agreement, India allowed the entry of 61 manufactured goods from Bangladesh into India as duty free. The Indian prime minister also announced to grant transit facilities to Bangladeshi citizens from the "Teen Bigha" corridor. The corridor would now remain open 24 hours a day for movement.
Strategic Partnership in Various Sectors
The 10 agreements signed relate to mutual cooperation, preparing a framework for development, declaring Sunderban a protected area, protecting Royal Bengal tigers, fisheries, protection of cattle, audio-visual media, cooperation between the University of Dhaka and New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, cooperation between institutes of fashion technologies in the two countries, and other areas. Common civilization and history have a significant role in mutual relations of the two countries, yet for Bangladesh it is of greater significance that at present, India is one of those developing countries, the economy of which is growing at a very fast pace, and Bangladesh can derive immense benefit from strategic partnership in various sectors, including science and technology, with India.
In Bangladesh, water is of greater significance because of the country's geographical location. That is why there were great expectations in India on the Teesta agreement prior to the prime minister's Dhaka visit. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee termed the agreement against the interests of people of her state, and objected to it. She even refused to accompany the prime minister to Dhaka. It was after that the government had to clarify that any decision on the agreement would be made only after a detailed discussion. The Teesta water agreement was, therefore, kept aside, which clearly greatly dismayed Bangladesh. It was in this backdrop that on the eve of Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit, the Bangladesh Foreign Office sent for India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh to express dismay on the issue, and demanded a clarification. Bangladesh, on the other hand, put aside the Fenni water agreement.
Expressing its annoyance, Bangladesh did not agree to permit India to use its territory for trade purposes. All this makes it clear that India's strategic and trade interests have been jeopardized. Yet, it is a matter of satisfaction that of the 10 agreements signed between the countries, the agreement on border dispute is the most significant. This makes it clear that there is desire to resolve all issues wisely and discreetly. In view of this, the prime minister's Dhaka visit assumes even greater importance.
Agreements Signed

The following agreements were signed during Manmohan Singh's Dhaka trip:
1. Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development
2. Protocol to the Agreement concerning the demarcation of the Land Boundary between India and Bangladesh and related matters
3. Addendum to the MOU between India and Bangladesh to facilitate Overland Transit Traffic between Bangladesh and Nepal
4. Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Renewable Energy
5. Memorandum of Understanding on Conservation of the Sunderban
6. Protocol on Conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sunderban
7. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Fisheries
8. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Doordarshan and Bangladesh Television
9 Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dhaka University
10 Agreement of Cooperation between National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT), India and BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT), Bangladesh

New Land Acquisition Bill

Questions were often being raised with regard to the utility in present times of the 100-year-old act for land acquisition. Several efforts were made to change it, but those efforts could not take concrete shape.
The United Progressive Alliance government ruling at the federal level has taken a strong initiative in this direction. The draft of the Land Acquisition Bill was approved in the union cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on 5 September. Four major amendments have been made in it. The compensation for land acquired in urban areas has been made twice the market rate, while the same in rural areas has been made four times the market rate, whereas the National Development Council had recommended making it six times the market rate.
New Provisions
Projects linked to railways, canals, and power has been kept out of the bill's purview. It has also been provided that cultivable and irrigated land will not be acquired, and the same amount of land of the concerned district would be developed after acquiring. One important provision is also that if the acquired land is not developed within the stipulated time limit, the land would not be returned to farmers. Such land would be given back to state land authority.
The new provisions would also be applicable to past acquired land under dispute. Pressure from politicians and industrialists has also been paid attention to while preparing the draft of the bill. The stands of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Bannerjee and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati have especially come to the fore. Mayawati had already prepared the draft of a separate bill, and she wanted it to be adopted at the national level. This did not become possible for several reasons.
Blows to State and Federal Governments
In fact, acquisition of land has become a sensitive issue. Agitations by landowners and farmers with regard to it and court verdicts have also dealt severe blows to the state and federal governments. Acquisitions were cancelled in many areas. The situation had become serious due to highhanded behavior of land mafia and state governments. Therefore, the necessity for a new law was being felt. The bill is yet to be discussed at length. We would also have to pay attention to interests of farmers and development works in it.

Assembly Election Results To Change India's Political Scenario

The assembly election results of four states and one union territory have been declared. These results can be harbingers of things to come. The results have proved to be good for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), but they can prove ominous for the Congress. From the looks of it, except for Assam, the results of other states have not proved to be very good for the party, and not very successful. If this trend continues and the results of the coming elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP) turn out to be as disappointing, then it will be very difficult for the Congress to remain a major party. The reason for this is to maintain its strength in the states and have sufficient numbers.
Prestige Issue to Congress
The results of today's elections have given a blow to the Congress. This has been especially true of Andhra Pradesh (AP). Rajashekhara Reddy's wife and son have given a nasty shock to the Congress government and have exposed its tall claims. Only until yesterday the Congress was claiming that it will win the two seats in AP hands down. It was claiming these seats as theirs, especially the Cuddappa seat had become into a prestige issue to the Congress. But today, the election results have shattered its image. Keeping in mind to win these seats, Jagan and his mother Vijai Lakshmi played many tricks. They got many candidates with similar names of Jagan and Vijai Lakshmi to stand so that the voters got confused, and the Congress took full advantage of this confusion. But Jagan's immense popularity led to a large margin victory for Jagan and his mother.
In West Bengal, where the Left Front had been ruling for over three decades, the Trinamool Congress of Mamata Bannerjee sent Left parties packing and laid the foundation of a new history. Bannerjee, winning with a comfortable majority, has assured for herself the Chief Minister seat. She made a pact with the Congress. But for 90 percent of seats, the credit goes to her. Here also, the Congress was in the fray but it could not get much success.
Change in South
There has been a change in the administration in South India also, in the state of Tamil Nadu. Here Jayalalitha, by ensuring her victory over Karunanidhi, has made sure she becomes the chief minister. Here, A. Raja of the Dravida Munnetra Kazahagam (DMK) had to pay the price of being involved in the biggest scam of independent India, the 2G scam and other scandals. Otherwise also, Tamil Nadu had a trend of changing the government every five years, and the DMK and All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam (AIADMK) take turns in running the government every five years. While in West Bengal, the Left had to face defeat because of the mistake they have made in Nandigram and Sangrur, Left leaders have acknowledged the mistakes they have made.
In Assam, the Congress put up a good show, while in Puducherry, the party's record was not very good. In Kerala, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) did not get any significant majority. In these elections, the most amazing aspect was that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been wiped out completely from these states and could not get even a single seat, except in Assam. The BJP has been wiped out clean from all these states though it proudly claims that it was the country's largest opposition party. This is a very embarrassing and shameful situation for the BJP. The biggest proof of this defeat is that people of this country have stopped thinking in communal terms in their agenda.
Constructive Opposition
Tamil Nadu took the blame for the defeat of the DMK and Karunanidhi's son, Abhigyan, resigned from the union government and has presented his resignation to DMK Chief Karunanidhi, the Left Front acknowledged its defeat and promised to work as constructive opposition.
During the elections, Mamata Bannerjee's fixation for the figure 13 was at its height. Coincidentally, this is the 13th year of the formation of the Trinamool Congress. Also 13 is the figure of Mamata's name numerological. She considers 13 to be lucky for her. Even the announcement of the election date was 13. All other predictions, except for West Bengal, turned out to be disappointing and the political scene changes. In such a situation, how all this would affect the federal government remains to be seen.

Assembly Elections 2011: Five States Vote Against Corruption, Bad Governance

The results of elections held in five states could not be unexpected; yet the results provide an opportunity to introspect to those political parties, which, once in power, disregarded people's welfare and interests. They easily forget that in a democracy, they have to be accountable of their performance to people after every five years.
The results of Assembly elections declared on 13 May signal a vote for change and a vote against corruption and poor governance. The spectacular rout of the Left in West Bengal and of the DMK in Tamil Nadu, however, overshadowed an equally spectacular vote for continuity in Assam.
Four of the five governments seeking renewed mandate in the states were tossed out by the electorate, with only the Congress government in Assam returning to power for the third consecutive term. And barring a photo-finish in Kerala, where the Congress-led United Democratic Front barely secured a majority, the voters dished out clear and decisive mandates in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry.
Of the five states where elections were held, only in Assam and Puducherry the ruling party, the Congress, secured enough seats to form government yet again. In Assam, the Congress is in better position than after the election held in 2006, and now it can form government on its own. During the last election, it had to seek the help of other groups to form government. In Puducherry, the Congress is in a position to form government yet again. It is, however, a different issue that the Congress had to lose several seats from its earlier tally. In addition to these states, people have discarded the ruling groups and dethroned them from power in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Voters, thereby, conveyed a clear and sound message that they have the power and the authority to punish those who, in a democracy, strive to do whatever they want and indulge in corruption.
West Bengal
In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Bannerjee juggernaut steamrolled the Left Front in West Bengal, dislodging the longest communist government in a democratic country after 34 long years. With her call for ‘Poribartan’ (change), Mamata (56) swept everything before her. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee became the first Chief Minister since 1967 to lose his seat in the Assembly.
Barring Tamil Nadu, the Congress has benefited in two assemblies by way of returning to power. In two other assemblies, West Bengal and Kerala, its ally the Trinamool Congress and the party itself have made the ruling clans to bite dust. In West Bengal, election results are more than expected, but even better. Mamata Bannerjee has succeeded in dismantling the strong bastion of the Left in West Bengal. The Left has lost power in the state after several decades. The way the firebrand Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Bannerjee carried her electoral campaign in the state and the huge support she received during electioneering, made even the Left to accept indirectly that it is almost difficult to retain power.
The election results make it clear that people want a change. They want that the state should come out of the grip of politics of bandhs (strikes), and implement the development agenda. They want that new industries be set up in the state, and the state economy stabilized. Going by this people's mandate, Mamata Bannerjee faces a formidable challenge. This is because despite having been vanquished, the Left is not without strength. By the percentage of votes the Left has secured, they are in a strong position to pose serious challenges to Mamata Bannerjee. Also, she would have to maintain more cordial relationship with its ally, the Congress, so that she may take the state to the path of progress and development with the full support and assistance from the central government. This would make her task easier.
Tamil Nadu
The defeat of the alliance headed by Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu is not entirely unexpected. Cash and caste also took a tumble in Tamil Nadu, where J. Jayalalithaa and AIADMK proved poll predictions of a hung house wrong. So comprehensive has been the victory of the Puratchi Thalaivi (Revolutionary Sister) that the AIADMK ended up winning as many as 151 of the 160 seats it contested. While Chief Minister M Karunanidhi won his seat, most of his cabinet ministers including son and chosen successor Stalin lost. The revelations being made almost every day in the 2G Spectrum scam makes one understand how some people indulge in plunder of national wealth. It, certainly, did cast its shadows on the results in the states. Moreover, the ever-increasing influence of members of his family in government affairs because of Karunanidhi's old age added fuel to fire in deteriorating the situation in the state. Traditionally, Tamil Nadu never returns the same ruling clan for a second term, and people handover power to the opposition every five years. The same has happened now. Almost the same, generally, takes place in Kerala. Yet, the Congress' victory this time assumes significance in that the party that was floated by Karunakaran could have played spoilsport for the Congress.
Assam
In Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reaped the rewards for a slew of populist welfare measures. The Congress government in Assam had offered computer laptops to each student who passed the class X examination in the first division. It had announced cash incentives for girls born in government hospitals and offered working capital to widows to start their own small enterprises. “Good governance” and peace initiatives aimed at reconciling insurgents seem to have helped Gogoi reap the harvest.
Though the Congress has succeeded in returning to power, the most pertinent aspect of the election outcome is the remarkable performance of the All India United Democratic Front. The Front led by Badruddin Ajmal has not increased its earlier tally of 11 seats, but in other constituencies it fought neck-to-neck with its rivals, including the Congress. In sever al constituencies, it secured the second place. This situation rings alarm bells for the Congress that Muslims in Assam are distancing themselves from the Congress, and their confidence in the party headed by Badruddin Ajmal is on the rise.
Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, another breakaway group of the Congress, the YSR Congress formed by Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, has jolted the ruling party by the enormous margins of its victory in the by-elections to the Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies. The rise of the YSR Congress threatens to destabilise the demoralised Congress regime in South India's largest State, as many YSR loyalists might see political advantage in switching sides early.
Kerala
In the closest electoral battle Kerala has seen in recent decades, the Congress-led United Democratic Front has scraped past the Left Democratic Front in the 2011 Assembly elections. In the House of 140, the UDF bagged 72 seats, four more than the LDF led by the Communist Party if India (Marxist).
The UDF had scored massive wins in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and the 2010 local body elections, but has now had to satisfy itself with a modest win.
In the nine-party UDF, the Congress has won 38 seats, the Indian Union Muslim League 20, the Kerala Congress (M) nine, the Socialist Janata (Democratic) two, and the Kerala Congress (B), the Kerala Congress (Jacob) and the RSP (Bolshevik) one each.
The CPI(M), heading the seven-party LDF, is the single largest party with 45 seats in the House. The CPI has won 13 seats, the Janata Dal (Secular) four and the RSP, the Nationalist Congress Party and LDF-backed independents two each. In the outgoing House, the LDF had 98 seats to the UDF's 42.
Setback for BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nothing to cheer about the outcome of the five Assembly elections. The only consolation for the party is the victory of its nominees in the by-election to the three Assembly segments in Karnataka and the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh.
The biggest disappointment for the party is in Assam where it had hoped to improve on its tally of 10 seats in the last Assembly poll. The party's strength in the State is down to four and the BJP attributed it to ‘disunity' in the Opposition ranks.
AssessmentOn the whole, people in three out of five states have given their verdict for a change. It is also clear that those indulging in corruption and ignoring people's interests would not be spared. It is a matter of conjecture how political parties take the message conveyed by people in their verdict.

Railway Budget 2011-12

The Railway Budget for 2011-12 presented by Railway Minister Mamata Bannerjee for the next year is different in several aspects from the earlier budgets. Mamata, perhaps, set a record for her love for Bengal. Undoubtedly, former railway ministers also had paid greater attention to their respected states and constituencies. Prior to Mamata Bannerjee, Railway Ministers including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Nitish Kumar, Madhav Rao Scindia and others, had been gifting new trains to their states and constituencies. In this light, Mamata has done nothing wrong if she follows her predecessors.

Still, Mamata's her love for Bengal appears to have burdened her mind heavily. Perhaps, it is because the state assembly elections are due there shortly. Mamata appears to have prepared herself to uproot the decades old communist government in West Bengal and become the chief minister. The things have come to such a pass that she is being accused of carrying out work relating to her ministry from Kolkata. Under the circumstances, if Mamata has showered her love on railway passengers in West Bengal, it is not a surprise and is on expected lines.

Railways Income
Like all the previous rail budgets of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), there has been no increase in passenger fare this budget, too. While presenting the budget, Mamata claimed that the railways income would surpass all previous ones. As far as her proposals for West Bengal, are concerned, she has proposed to introduce fifty more local trains for Kolkata alone. Going by her proposal, Kolkata would enjoy the pride of having the largest number of local trains. In addition to these fifty local trains, she also proposed to make Kolkata the 17th zone for Metro rail, and expand its sphere of activity.

Mamata has further proposed to set up a coach factory in Kolkata. She has also promised to set up a similar coach factory at Singur. It may be noted that it is the very same Singur where Tata had proposed to set up his Nano small car factory. Mamata had, then turned it as an issue against the Communist government and had forced the Tata group to pack up from there. To make good the loss the people of Singur have suffered, she now announced to set up a coach factory there.

In addition, she also proposed to set up industrial parks at Bongaiguon (in Assam) and Nandigram (in West Bengal), a software center at Darjeeling and a track machine industry at Uluberia (West Bengal). A lion's share of the twenty hundred thousand new jobs, she has announced to create in her budget, would naturally go to West Bengal. Sixteen other trains would also pass through West Bengal. She has also announced to introduce new train service in the name of Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore who happened to be from Bengal. She even included Bangladesh in her love for Bengal, when she announced a train up to Bangladesh. To give a fillip to the development activity in the Naxal (Maoist guerillas) infested areas, she announced to expand the rail network in these areas.

Attention to Vulnerable Sections
Despite her love for Bengal, Mamata has also paid attention to the vulnerable sections of the society in other parts of the country, the weaker sections, women folk, physically handicapped, former servicemen and their families, students and journalists and proposed numerous concessions for them. At the same time, she presented an attractive blue print to carry the railways forward. But, she is also accused of creating history by bringing the railways to the verge of bankruptcy.

Reportedly, the railways suffered a huge loss of Rs 250 billion because of her love of West Bengal. Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sita Ram Yechuri maintained that during the last 81 days, railways released 79 advertisements in West Bengal. These and her other such activities are causing loss to the railways.

In a nutshell, notwithstanding her several announcements for the rest of the country, if these proposals and announcements are compared with those for West Bengal, the balance would, naturally tilt in favor of West Bengal.