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Deccan Herald » Sunday Spotlight » Detailed Story
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Bihar cleans up after Laloo
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J P Yadav
in Patna
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It’s a purge, well almost, in post-Laloo Bihar.
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How is Bihar doing under President’s rule, especially now, after Laloo? This question is on everyone’s lips. In the 15 years of Laloo-Rabri rule, the state has attracted much attention of the unwelcome kind. Today, everyone’s talking about a change of guard in the state. Expectations are high. The people are hoping for a turnaround.
Though it would be naive to expect anything magical in a state where almost everything has been topsy-turvy, change is in the air. Under President’s rule, the citizen is happy at least on one point – the end of the hegemony, of the political tribe, the “khadiwalas” as they are popularly called. People have begun to believe that the state police is really cracking down on criminals. The psychological relief is almost palpable. The people are beginning to feel safe again.
Inspired by the Patna High Court, the state police recently achieved something unimaginable. In just two weeks it has arrested more than 12,000 absconders and forced thousands of others to surrender in court. At least 500 were feared gangsters who had terrorised people. They were behind murders, dacoities and kidnappings in many areas. The High Court has stepped in now and directed the government to withdraw police guards provided to people with criminal records.
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Even the Patna High Court, which had for many years pulled up the police for inaction has lauded the move. Bihar’s DGP Narain Mishra, who is a happy man today, pointed out the difference. “Now criminals know that nobody can save them. Under President’s rule they have lost their patrons.” Without political patronage the police now have the upper hand.
In Patna at least, the police action has begun to have an impact. There has been a substantial drop in cases of petty crime like looting and chain-snatching. There’s been a downward trend in the kidnappings which had become so commonplace in this state. No major case of kidnapping has been reported so far – it’s been less than a month of President’s rule. “The situation has improved a lot. Earlier we used to receive ransom calls regularly. Now they have stopped.” said Amit Kumar, a jewellery shop owner in Patna. School children feel safe too. Not so long ago, just before the elections, they had taken to the streets to protest against the spate of kidnappings.
Doctors on the hit-list of criminals who kidnapped professionals for ransom have heaved a sigh of relief. Just before the elections a well-known doctor of Patna was murdered for not having paid a huge ransom. Medical practitioners across the state went on strike. Many doctors had wanted to even leave the state. Now they want to wait and watch the situation.
There are other changes too. Recently a motorbike major offered to take over a closed scooter factory in Fatuha. This is good news for a state which has not seen much investment in the last 15 years. Further, steps have been taken to revive 15 sugar factories of the state with the help of the World Bank. A similar plan is also being worked out for closed jute factories and sick PSUs in the state. “This is a good sign, but a lot more needs to be done to improve the industrial and investment potential,” Bihar’s Industries Association President S K Mehrotra, said.
“I have spoken about my priorities to officials. They need not worry about funds,” Governor Buta Singh said recently. State Chief Secretary K A H Subramanian, who is also an advisor to the governor, said all the pending files relating to development works were being cleared on a priority basis. “Apart from improving the law and order situation our priority is to launch the state on the path of development”, he said. Most of the old files had gathered dust during the tenure of the RJD government. The happiest are the employees of the state government. In one stroke Governor Buta Singh has accepted all their demands.
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Sunday, April 3, 2005
