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Resentment against hike in bus fare mounting in Bhopal

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NK SINGH Though a Govt. directive has frustrated the earlier efforts of the MPSRTC to increase the city bus fares by as much as 300 per cent, the public resent even the 25 per cent hike. It is "totally unjust, uncalled for and arbitrary", this is the consensus that has emerged from an opinion conducted by "Commoner" among a cross-section of politicians, public men, trade union leaders, and last but not least, the common bus travelling public. However, a section of the people held, that an average passenger would not grudge a slight pinche in his pocket provided the MPSRTC toned up its services. But far from being satisfactory, the MPSRTC-run city bus service in the capital is an endless tale of woe. Hours of long waiting, over-crowding people clinging to window panes frequent breakdowns, age-old fleet of buses, unimaginative routes and the attitude of passengers one can be patient only when he is sure to get into the next bus are some of the ills plaguing the city b...
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Bihar: Whirligig of Ministry-Making

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Ramanand Tiwari

NK SINGH

Bihar is in the cesspool of instability. It has seen six ministries in three years.

The first non-Congress United Front Government headed by Mahamaya Prasad Sinha fell due to defection. A Shoshit Dal ministry was formed under the leadership of Satish Sinha for four days only – just to induct the Mandal Government in through the backdoor.

 The fourth ministry came to power under the leadership of Bhola Paswan Shastri as a result of floor-crossing by some important Congressmen. Shastri resigned on June 26, 1968 following difference with the Raja of Ramgarh, Kamakhya Narain Singh.

President’s rule was imposed on June 20, 1968, which ended on February 25, 1969 after the mid-term poll. But the results were neither in favour of the Congress nor non-Congress parties. The Congress-led coalition of Swatantra, the Janata Party, the Shoshit Dal and the Jharkhand party fell like a house of cards on June 20, 1969.

Then Shastri of Lok Tantrik Congress managed to form a Samyukta Vidhayak Dal (SVD) which was joined by Jharkhand, Shoshit, a group of BKD etc. The SSP, the PSP, the Jana Sangh and the CPI supported it from outside. But that government too fell and President’s rule was imposed.

Three parties – the Indira Congress, the Syndicate Congress and the SSP – have started flexing their muscles and approached the Governor claiming that only they can provide a stable government.

A four party SVD has been forged, consisting of the Syndicate, the Jana Sangh, the Swatantra and the SSP. As a bonus for joining the rightist alliance, Ramanand Tiwari of SSP was gifted the leadership of the SVD.

Excerpts from Now 13 February 1970

Ramanand Tiwari headed Samyukta Vidhayak Dal in Bihar, consisting of SSP, Jana Sangh, Swantantra Party and Congress (Orgnisation), in 1970. NK Singh's article on Bihar politics, "Whirligig of Ministry Making", published in Now 13 February 1970. P1

Ramanand Tiwari headed Samyukta Vidhayak Dal in Bihar, consisting of SSP, Jana Sangh, Swantantra Party and Congress (Orgnisation), in 1970. NK Singh's article on Bihar politics, "Whirligig of Ministry Making", published in Now 13 February 1970. P2







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