POLITICS

Young MPs march for India’s future

New Delhi: If hunger was darkness, lighting a candle would help. This time around when a candlelight march was held, it was not for Bhopal gas victims or Narmada oustees or even Green-peace activists vying for an eco-friendly world. It was the turn of Members of Parliament, cutting across party lines, to light candles at India Gate.
In a stunning reversal of roles, they who should be accountable are instead seeking accountability — questioning their own policies and delivery systems in a symbolic admission of collective failure.
MP and NCP leader, Supriya Sule said: “We want to prove that our systems can work.”
More than 100 MPs also signed a resolve which they submitted to President Pratibha Patil, expressing their commitment to fighting hunger.
Congress MP Sachin Pilot said: “The Speaker and the President have lauded our initiative.”
The journey began a year ago, when the core group of MPs traveled to the hunger zones in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra.
In these places, they saw it all - crumbling anganwadis and daily meals for children that varied between cornpuffs and a spoonful of porridge.
It was then, upon seeing the dismal conditions that children lived in India, that these young turks of Parliament started questioning themselves — what have they achieved?
BJD MP, Jay Panda said: “Forty-seven percent of all children under the age of six are malnourished. They struggle to stay alive like candles in the wind and the sad truth is that a problem so severe needs much more than a candlelight vigil.

NDA creates human chain against price rise

Patna: The ruling NDA in Bihar on May 1 created a human chain against price rise even as its call to traders to down their shutters till 11:00 a.m. to pro-test the “unprecedented price rise” evoked partial response across the state.
While commercial establishments and shops in main markets downed their shutters till 11:00 a.m. majority of the shops including gas station remained open in most parts of the city and other parts of the state.
However, vehicular movement was unaffected in the city, official sources said adding the BJP sponsored bandh did not affect the attendance of employees in government offices, bank and other public sector undertakings. Some BJP and JD (U) activists led by state BJP presi-dent Radha Mohan and state JD (U) president Rajeev Ranjan alias Lallan Singh were seen trying to force closure of shops in some city areas in the morning.
The NDA in Bihar submitted a memorandum to Gove-rnor R. S. Gavai blaming the Center for the spiraling price of essential commodities and had demanded the dismissal of the UPA government for its failure to take any remedial measures.

Go to top