The shootout in Delhi which saw the senior inspector NC Sharma’s martyrdom fighting the terrorists not only hit the headlines but also struck a chord among the masses.
Terror strikes and torrential rains became the talking point of the major Marathi newspapers across Maharashtra. The overcast sky with sun playing hide-and-seek also saw the commercial capital reeling from wet climate trying hard to lend an extra helping hand to flood-ravaged Nashik striving to restore the normal life. Whether national, international or local the news was predominantly people driven. The politics had taken a back seat.
The shootout in Delhi which saw the senior inspector NC Sharma’s martyrdom fighting the terrorists not only hit the headlines but also struck a chord among the masses. The incident saw the Mumbaikars bridging the distance with Delhi to make common the cause with senior police officer’s sacrifice on terror.
Whether it was terrorists strike at Delhi as bomb blasts at Hotel Marriot at Islamabad Mumbai was put on high alert. The developments triggered another debate on internal security.
The union home minister Shivraj Patil’s administrative failure saw almost prominent papers from Lok Satta, Maharashtra Times, Lokmat Times, Sakal devoting columns and editorials on “Chakurkar” (district Latur) in Maharashtra. The newspaper regaled with sarcasm and witty comments on his dress code which became a national topic.
The ongoing negotiations within the US Congress over the nuclear deal were mentioned in passing in the local papers. The international newspaper which dominated the papers a fortnight ago gave way to local developments.
Top on the agenda was the state government decision to allow referendum in 22 villages in Raigad districts to decide the fate of Mukesh Ambani owned Special Economic Zones (SEZ). Despite rising tempers and tensions, the day of referendum passed off peacefully with almost 6,000 villagers voicing their protest against the project at the cost of surrendering their cultivable land.
The September rains, which enveloped entire Maharashtra, brought respite to the drought prone districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha. Although the rains resolved the drinking water crisis it did not help in agriculture sector much as it was delayed.
The annual cabinet meeting at Aurangabad ended on an optimistic note with chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh extending Rs2,000 crore package for the development of Marathawada which still falls in the backward region category.
After lying low for almost four years senior Shiv Sena (MP) Suresh Prabha has locked horns with revenue minister Narayan Rane on declaring Sindhudurg (Konkan) as eco-sensitive zone. Sena has the support of chief minister Deshmukh who has suddently become environment friendly. Rane is terribly upset as he feels the decision will thwart the development of the region. Well, this is just the beginning of the long drawn battle between Sena and Rane ahead of the state elections.
k_shubhangi@dnaindia.net
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