New twists to Kunduli gangrape episode
Even as the Kunduli gangrape incident has pushed the ruling BJD back to the wall, some new developments have come to the fore as part of the party’s new strategy to wriggle out of the situation. Before the victim’s suicide, BJD spokespersons used to say that opposition was working on a concocted story targeting the Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio. The new strategy is the fallout of a continued attack on the Government. National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) Justice Murugusen has directed the State ADG, NHRC to go for an on-the-spot investigation and submit a report within 15 days. The incident has taken another twist as the seized materials have been sent for reexamination at the Central Forensic Science laboratory. The preliminary report of the State Forensic laboratory had stated about semen stains of two persons in the victim’s undergarments. The report despite being preliminary in nature went to media which helped the opposition immensely. The opposition’s demand for a CBI probe continues. The Government has, meanwhile, widened the domain of the judicial inquiry set up earlier. All said and done, will the Government go unscathedIJ And if that happens, it will be a miraculous escape for Naveen Patnaik.
Bijepur battle is a BJD-BJP affair
Congress and BJP candidates for the Bijepur by-election having been finalised after the BJD’s, electioneering in all the three blocks, Barpali, Gaisilet and Bijepur including Barpali NAC, has gained momentum. According to political observers, Gaisilet block which holds the key can make a difference in the outcome. The Congress candidate helped by the legacy of late Subal Sahu may prove the game changer with a neck-and-neck contest between the Congress and the BJD. A factor which may go against the BJD in this block is the maligned face of Niranjan Pujari, Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Industries, who has been given the charge of Gaisilet. Pujari as head of the Bargarh District Planning Board, managed the MP lAD fund to the tune of Rs 1 crore and is allegedly involved in the streetlight scam. He is alleged to have shown favour to a specific company that has supplied low-quality materials to execute the work. In other blocks, the BJP and the BJD are almost on the same footing with the former marginally ahead at the moment. The firing incident in Bijepur and suppression of the Kunduli rape and rape incidents may fuel anti-incumbency factor. In an overall analysis, the ‘local’ factor will swing a certain percentage of votes against the BJD. However, in the week ahead, a clear picture will emerge on the outcome of this prestigious election. Regardless of any change in the poll scenario, the fight will be between the BJP and the BJD. Contrary to public perception that the Bijepur battle will turn out to be a trendsetter for the next general elections, it is a misnomer because the political scenario of the entire State seems to be waiting for a dramatic change before the mega fight of 2019.
Rourkela BJP no longer in Dilip’s control
In the recent Rourkela Steel Plant trade union elections, BJP MlA Dilip Ray’s supporters backed the Rourkela Shramik Sangha (RSS). This is under close scrutiny of the BJP after the INTUC-supported RSS finished second in the crucial battle. These elections are held once in two years; and the winner gets the tag of the RSP’s recognised union with power to sign bipartite agreements in the employees’ interest. Now the RIKS having won the elections with support of MP Jual Oram, Dilip who was staying away from Rourkela and directing his supporters to campaign for the RSS with a remote control is afraid of losing his base among the steel city voters. Not only that, he is also responsible for a likely split in the district unit of the BJP as heads of party functionaries have started rolling. Dilip and Jual are now at poles apart after this election; and Dharmendra and Jual shaking hands, the Dilip camp is in jittery over the development. Axe is likely to fall on Dilip’s close followers Jagabandhu Behera, Nihar Ray, Hari Routray et al and a few others. Behera as district president is targeting Ray’s camp in a bid to get closer to Jual. Dilip is keeping himself non-attached to the BJP State leadership. And having been cornered by the party’s central leaders-in-charge of Odisha, he will have a tough time ahead. Denied entry into the BJD by Naveen Patnaik, there is no alternative for Dilip but to prove his hold on the BJP in the next urban body elections where the RMC will get its first Mayor.
Rourkela admn clueless to nab mafia dons
Despite rampant black-marketing of subsidised rice to BPl card holders of Rourkela, the district administration has no clue to take action against the black-marketers and the antisocial elements who are fearlessly moving, maybe with police protection. Besides the subsidised rice, truckloads of normal rice, dal and edible oils which come to Rourkela go unchecked hoodwinking large amounts of sales tax. All norms of public distribution system have been thrown to the winds and the mafias rule the roost. The kingpin behind is one Naresh Agrawal whose tin-loads of oil truck was seized in 2016 and a case was registered at the Plant Site police station. Subsequently, he had gone underground for a few months before getting anticipatory bail. The oil allegedly contained poisonous substance and the test report later confirmed this. A Government official is caught red-handed while taking bribe or his house is raided to assess if he has properties disproportionate to his known sources of income. But what about the private individuals who make crores overnight or within a short span of their businessIJ These elements survive because the enforcement authorities do not raid their business establishments. They run with the hare and hunt with the hound, sometimes with consummate finesse, and take sides with the mafias to grant them a clean chit. Germane materials are hushed up and all help to nab them ends in vain. A glaring victim of the system for example is one Santosh Kedia, a hotel owner of Rourkela, who was recently given life threatening calls by this gang simply because he denied room to a member of the gang who came with a call girl. He is running from pillar to post to get justice for him and his family, but the mafia gang is moving scot-free and is hell-bent to finish him and his business establishment by taking advantage of a family feud. On the complaints received, the district administration did inquire into the affairs of one mafia gang but could not lay its hand on any tangible material to book them. Santosh is gradually losing confidence on the system of governance, especially the law enforcement authorities and its style of functioning.