SIMI operatives’
Arrest of SIMI activists at Rourkela in mid February and its aftermath has unfolded a plethora of secret deals before the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch which has taken them on remand for 13 days. That, Odisha had the new address of SIMI activists in Rourkela could be revealed only after police teams from Telangana, MP and Maharastra arrived at this incumbent Smart City. They came, stayed in a rented house in the criminal den of the city, moved freely in the name of selling plastic wares before giving final shape to a series of terrorist acts are not only matters of serious concern but also a challenge to the local law and order authority. Odisha police, particularly its intelligence wing, had no information about their stay in a rented house of Nala Road, which puts a question mark on the capability of the police intelligence network. Even when a common man of Rourkela is aware of the vulnerability of Nala Road which could be a safe haven for terrorists, failure of the police puts a bigger question mark on the modus operandi of its intelligence wing. Given the status of a municipal corporation and included in the list of 100 probable smart cities of the country, Rourkela should be given the second Police Commissionerate of the State, sooner than later. Already known as a Mao-infested area where Maoists of the nearby Jharkhand State are playing havoc, the new found terror links with Bangladesh amply justify empowering the police outfit of Rourkela under a new cover, before it turns into a terrorists hubIJ The trend is dangerous and infectious.
Croropati DFO
Detection of `6 crore assets from one Sudhanshu Mishra, DFO posted at Athagarh is a fresh case of disproportionate assets nabbed by the Vigilance wing. But there are several such cases of income from unknown sources which can be established if people are vigilant and the department of vigilance walks the talk. Sudhanshu Mishra failed in his attempt to escape the Vigilance net. When unknown source weighs heavy on the known source of income, one can become a millionaire. Why millionaire, even a billionaire! A State cadre excise official becoming a millionaire through his known source of income, by all means, defeats the truth. In Odisha, barring a few exceptions, excise officials are counted above the creamy layer of the society, not because of their known source of income but due to the easy money that flows automatically to their oversized pockets. A monthly quota called ‘Bhati Allowance’ comes to their pockets which are not refused even by a top excise official posted at Sundargarh. Goddess laxmi has been so kind on this person of doubtful puritan traits that his house on the main roadside of Sundargarh town is itself a laxmi Nivas, no less than a palatial building. The exclusive demeanor he exudes can even influence hardcore devil to touch his feet. In other words he can teach ‘Bhagwat’ even to a devil. So, one cannot help it if in the guise of a ‘Sadhubaba’ he goes on executing as many underhand deals as he can. It is therefore when the issue of total ban on liquor in the State is raised, these very people who have almost legalized corruption all across the State, either frown upon the philanthropists or cunningly avoid, as their headmaster Dr Rout (Excise Minister) does.
Acche Din fizzling out
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of ‘better days’ is fast losing its steam and is gradually turning into ‘bitter days’. Known for his gift of the gab, his speech at Bargarh can be best commented as ‘one of his worst’ after becoming the Prime Minister. He could neither judge the mood of the crowd nor did his deputies Dharmendra Pradhan or Jual Oram. It was a flop show to the bewilderment of many and finally, BJP could not make hay when the sun was shining. Does he not know his promised ‘Achhe Din’ depends largely on takeaways in the quid pro quo political situationIJ In the absence of it how can the saffron brigade have a favourable windIJ Next only to Uttar Pradesh, Odisha is rich in water resources and therefore has the potential to become No.1 in the agrarian sector of the country, he said and advised the farmers to shift their focus from traditional farming to pisciculture, poultry, bee-keeping, animal husbandry et al so that they double their income by 2022, three years after the next general election. Might have been a farmers’ rally, there was no need for Modi to restrict his speech to farmers’ welfare alone. There were issues like Kosli language waiting constitutional sanction and still bigger sentimental issue was of separate State. He was even silent on the mineral based industries of western Odisha which are marginalized by the BJD Government. The eastern part of the country will develop at par with the western States and the 2nd green revolution of the country will start from the east, did not fit into his style of playing to the gallery. Rather a compensation package for the farmers’ families who have committed suicide would have made a difference. Slipped downward in the popularity graph within 22 months, will Modi stage a comeback in 2019 and continue till 2022 to see his dream of a green revolution come trueIJ
Sambalpuri designs
It’s all about handloom and its tie and dye technique applied to weaving of Sambalpuri saree which is always high on demand. One such saree has been sold for `1.65 lakh in the National handloom exhibition at unit-3 exhibition ground, Bhubaneswar. Six weavers are said to have taken six months to complete the work. Western Odisha has a strong presence of weavers. In Bargarh alone, their number will be more than one lakh. But this community, despite a rich heritage, is suffering because of an unhealthy competition which has come their way as a hurdle. Even Padmasri Chaturbhuja Meher could not become a messiah for his community even after experimenting with new designs for variety of cloths and sarees which had a cascading effect on the handloom industry as a whole. But that could not sustain long because of the use of imported fabrics from China and engaging weavers of Tamil Nadu. The attempt was genuine in view of cutting down on the cost. But the product became cheap at the cost of a compromise on quality. Famous for tie art and textile design, Ramkrushna Meher of Bargarh while presenting a Sambalpuri wall hanging to the Prime Minister is believed to have handed over a memorandum demanding patent for Sambalpuri designs. Bargarh Kisan rally was the appropriate platform where the exact cause of the weavers’ plight has been brought to the Prime Minister’s notice. Modi in his considerate self will treat the weavers of western Odisha at par with their counterpart in Banaras, to usher in an era of revolution in the textile sector in the eastern part of India. After all, a Prime Minister is supposed to profess a Pan-India outlook, isn’t itIJ
(The writer, a public relations expert, is a functional editor of English weekly Kosal Horizon, email : baidyanathmishra123@rediffmail.com Cell: 94370 83025)
