Summary: Report # 106

National Summary:
Rahul Gandhi asked his supporters to oppose Shiv Sena’s violent politics through peaceful means of mobilizing masses against Sena policies and activities. The Bharatiya Janata Party has welcomed the judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court invalidating State legislation on reservation for minorities. BJP considers it contradictory to Indian constitution to reserved quota for religious minorities.
The Left Front government in West Bengal has announced the implementation of the Ranganath Mishra Commission’s recommendations by deciding to reserve 10 per cent of government jobs for the economically, educationally and socially backward sections among Muslims. The Andhra Pradesh High Court nullifies the four per cent reservation provided by the State government to selected sections of Muslims in education and public employment. High Court Declared the A.P. Reservation in favour of Socially Educationally Backward Classes of Muslims Act, 2007 “unsustainable,” the five judges said the Act “is religion-specific and potentially encourages religious conversions. Muslims want 10 per cent reservation in public recruitment and education, as recommended by the Ranganath Misra-headed National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities.
Jharkhand government does not consider the use of force to counter Maoist insurgents the only and effective option instead it believes that government can restore peace and security only by empowering the deprived sections of the society and providing them the basic needs of life. Maoists blasted railway tracks and train in Orissa and Bihar.
Despite of government claims that India stayed least effected in global economic crisis findings show poverty has increased in India. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs' (UNDESA) data estimates that the number of India's poor was 33.6 million higher in 2009 than would have been the case if the growth rates of the years from 2004 to 2007 had been maintained. If inequality grew in India in 2009, the number of poor would be even higher than these projections. The UNDESA report attributes this increase in poverty to a combination of reduced household incomes, rising unemployment and pressure on public services. Job losses in India were primarily in export-oriented industries like textiles while employment levels in Indian firms catering to the domestic market were largely unaffected, the report says.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is hopeful that country would be able to achieve growth rate of 7.2 percent in 2010.
India has successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile, with a range of more than 3,000 km from the Orissa coast on Sunday. Pakistan has accepted India’s proposal for negotiations without any preconditions. Pakistan clarifies that talks should be productive and all major issues e.g. Kashmir and water issue will be on agenda.
BSF has accepted that its personnel had killed the Kashmiri youth that erupted protest in the valley.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) report India figures among the four countries that have seen a marked increase in systematic attacks on schools, students and teachers between 2006 and 2009. In India, nearly 300 schools were reportedly blown up by Maoists between 2006 and 2009. Naxalites/Maoists recruit children of 6 to 12 years age. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand are the most effected states.
Regional Summary:
Orissa government had refused to accept any financial assistance from the European Union for rehabilitation of victims of Kandhamal riot.
TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao condemned the terms of references (ToR) of the committee set up by the Centre on Telangana as a “betrayal” and asked all party MPs, MLAs and MLCs to resign in protest.