South Bihar In Turmoil: Governor Governor

Bihar Governor S S Bhandari, in his report to the Centre recommending the dismissal of the Rabri Devi government, has painted a grim picture of the situation in the industrial areas of south Bihar, over the issue of creating a separate Vananchal-Jharkhand state, suggesting the build-up of a virtual civil war.

Bhandari reportedly anticipated large scale clashes as people hailing from north Bihar but working in the southern part of the state become potential targets of the ire of pro-Jharkhand groups who are angry with the government's opposition to the formation of a new state.

He cited the growing "hostility" between the pro-Jharkhand/Vananchal groups against people hailing from north Bihar.

People from north Bihar are reportedly being identified as opponents of Jharkhand/Vananchal after the Rabri Devi government opposed the Vananchal bill when it was discussed in the state Assembly last week.

In the event, the bill sent by President K R Narayanan was rejected by the state Assembly.

Bhandari has reported in great detail the threat to life of several VIPs and judges of the Patna high court, including senior Janata Dal leader Ram Vilas Paswan and leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Sushil Modi.

Apart from the threat to judiciary, he has also reported threats to officials working in Central agencies like Income Tax and Central Bureau of Investigation, making the normal functioning of these departments impossible.

The Rabri Devi government has also been accused of implementing several pieces of legislation before getting the Governor's assent.

These, reportedly, include a bill providing for creation of a specialpolice force to protect VIPs.

After its passage, the bill is under consideration of the Governor, but the state government is reported to have gone ahead with raising the protection force.

Among the grounds for the government's dismissal mentioned by Bhandari, is the reported failure of the police and the administration in the state to prevent extortion and collection of `rangdari tax' by anti-socials, allegedly enjoying the patronage of the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

There has practically been no routine interaction between the Chief Minister and the Governor in recent months, the report said.

The report said that on several occasions, the courts had to pass strictures against the administration for allegedly failing to comply with its orders and directions.

There are as many 1,200 contempt cases pending in courts against the state government, the report said. The report also dwells in great detail on how Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav was allegedly ruling by proxy.