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Race A resigning race has started among the Bihar MPs of the various parties over the MNS row. Five Janata Dal (United) MPs resigned from the Lok Sabha against Centre government’s lackluster approach towards the issues of MNS activists’ attacks on north Indians in the Congress-ruled state-Maharashtra. Bihar had witnessed widespread protests after the MNS activists’ alleged attacks on the north Indians. Bihar plays a major role in the formation of the centre government as it sends largest number of MPs to Lok Sabha. All the political parties want to exploit the public emotions by projecting themselves the true champions of the cause. Bihar MPs have been ‘inspired’ by south Indian leader Karunanidhi who had threatened to take his party’s support back from the UPA government. It must be learnt that India is providing its full support to the Sri Lankan government in its offensive against the LTTE. But south Indian people are sympathetic towards the Terrorist Outfit and Karunanidhi wanted the exploit the public emotions.

Bihar Leaders Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in six states in the months of November and December. And Lok Sabha elections will be held early next year. So resigning at this time is being considered a ‘safe game’. Thus all the parties can turn the public emotions into their favor with an eye on the forthcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections and at the same time they can take lead over their rivals. A few days ago RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had called an all-party meeting and appealed all the Bihar MPs to resign from their Parliamentary membership in protest against Congress led Maharashtra government’s half-hearted efforts to thwart MSN’s attacks on the north Indians. He had also appealed the Nitish Kumar led NDA government of Bihar to resign to put pressure on the centre government but CM had ruled out any such possibility by saying that it will bring President’s rule the state, what Lalu wants.

Bihar Leaders Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in six states in the months of November and December. And Lok Sabha elections will be held early next year. So resigning at this time is being considered a ‘safe game’. Thus all the parties can turn the public emotions into their favor with an eye on the forthcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections and at the same time they can take lead over their rivals. A few days ago RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had called an all-party meeting and appealed all the Bihar MPs to resign from their Parliamentary membership in protest against Congress led Maharashtra government’s half-hearted efforts to thwart MSN’s attacks on the north Indians. He had also appealed the Nitish Kumar led NDA government of Bihar to resign to put pressure on the centre government but CM had ruled out any such possibility by saying that it will bring President’s rule the state, what Lalu wants.

Valley Shops, businesses and schools remained closed for second consecutive day on Friday across the Kashmir valley after the government had put strict curfew like restrictions into force to thwart separatist joint coordination committee’s proposed march to Jamia Mosque where it was to announce its anti-election programs. Earlier they had called for a grand march on Thursday but security forces had thwarted their effort by imposing section 144 and by keeping some prominent Hurriyat leaders under house arrest. Hurriyat already have announced its poll boycott program. The elections in the state are scheduled to be held in seven phases between 17 November and 24 December.

Communal Coordination Committee had called for ‘Jamia Chalo’ march to pay homage to the Muslims who had been killed in the communal riots in Jammu in 1947. It is for the first time that Hurriyat had called such a march in the 60 years history of Kashmir. Though Hurriyat projects itself as a leader of all the communities of the Kashmir region but its ‘Jamia Chalo’ call has exposed its communal face. It must be learnt that thousands of Hindus had been killed by the Hurriyat supported militants during the year of 1989 in the valley. Lacks of Kashmiri Hindus had to flee from the valley for safety and they are still living in government aided refugee camps.

Disruption Relations between India and Pakistan are improving and both the nations have taken some confidence building measure. Both the nations have started bus service across the border and recently have resumed cross-LoC trade after the gap of 60 years. Both the countries had declared cease fire on the LoC which is still in force and because of it militancy has declined in the state. It must be learnt that Hurriyat always have supported the militant who used to get arms training in the Pak-occupied Kashmir and infiltrate into the Indian territory under the cover fire from the Pakistan military. But the recent developments have decreased the power of militants. It is the fact that infiltration used to increase at the election time in the state. Motive behind the increased infiltration used to be the disruption in the elections. But this time ceasefire on the LoC curbed the infiltration of the militants. But the anti-India elements want to disrupt the elections in the state. So now Hurriyat have taken the charge of disrupting the elections.

Orissa Riots Situation has not normalized yet in the riot-hit Kandhamal district of the state of Orissa and killing of another RSS leader have increased the problems of the state government and the police department. According to the state government’s official reports, August riots had left at least 38 persons dead and thousands homeless. But according to some unofficial reports these figures are just a tip of the iceberg. One official on condition of anonymity had told a private data collecting agency that he had collected and cremated 200 dead bodies of the riot victims from the forests of the Kandhamal district. He said that the death toll could be more than five hundred. It must be learnt that anti-Christian riots had erupted in the state after the alleged murder of VHP leader Laxmananda in which hundreds of people had been killed on the first night of the violence. Though Maoists have taken the responsibility of the murder of the VHP leader but the Hindus of the area had held the Christians responsible for the act.

Murder Normalcy was returning slowly and steadily in the district and the people had started to return to their native places after living for weeks in relief camps but killing of another VHP leader have renewed tensions in the state. On Wednesday some suspected Maoists had shot dead a Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist Dhanu Pradhani of Kumbharigaon village of Kandhamal district. State police have denied the chanced of any link between his killing and the communal violence. But the brother of the deceased had alleged that some local members of the Christian community have played an active rile in his killing.

State Authorities State police have suspected the hand of Maoists behind his killing as he had been on their hit list. But Saffron brigade is taking it as another attack on their religion. His killing has sent shock waves across the state and has put a question mark on the return of more than 10,000 Christians to their homes. Authorities have issued prohibitory orders for gathering of more than five persons and have also deployed hundreds of policemen in the sensitive areas. Had government and the authorities shown activeness and taken similar steps during riots then the catastrophe could have averted.