India Abroad - December 30, 2011

Gujjar reservation row
Rajasthan tourism received a setback at the
beginning of the year due to a two week-long
road and rail blockade by the Gujjar communi-
ty demanding 5 percent reservation in govern-
ment jobs and educational institutions.
Deadly stampedes
The year saw two major stampedes. One
hundred and two people were killed and over
50 injured in a stampede when a jeep crashed
into pilgrims returning from the Sabrimala
shrine in Kerala.
In Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh, 20 people were
killed and 50 injured in a stampede during the
100th birth anniversary celebrations of the
founder of a Hindu sect.
2G scam
The 2G row fire engulfed several politicians
and business honchos. Former telecommuni-
cations minister Andimuthu Raja was the first
to land in New Delhi’s Tihar jail in the $33.44
billion scam for his role in allocating illegal
licenses for the 2G spectrum. Five corporate
honchos from the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai
Ambani Group and Unitech followed suit, but
were released on bail later. Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam lawmaker Kanimozhi also spent
over six months in jail for her role in the scam.
She was granted bail November 28.
Activist Binayak Sen gets bail
India’s supreme court April 15 granted bail to
activist Binayak Sen, convicted and sentenced
to life imprisonment by a Chhattisgarh court
for sedition and support to Maoist guerrillas.
The navies of India and the United States staged their annual Malabar training drill, April 9. Malabar 2011 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises conducted to advance multinational maritime relationships and mutual security issues.
MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIS T 2ND CLASS AARON M PINEDA/US NAVY

U TTAM GHOSH

Anti nuclear protests
The year saw major demonstrations
against nuclear power plants in the coun-
try. Protests against the proposed Jaitapur
power project in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri
district escalated in April after one man
was killed and eight injured in police fir-
ing. Similar agitations took place in Tamil
Nadu where thousands of fishermen fasted
and blocked entry to the Koodankulam
nuclear power project, fearing a repeat of
the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
30 percent Indians ruled by women
With Mamata Banerjee and J Jayalalithaa coming to
power in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively, in the
May assembly elections, the number of women chief min-
isters in the country went up to four. The other two being
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Mayawati.
Banerjee’s victory marked the fall of the Left bastion in
West Bengal after 34 years. The Left did not fare well in
Kerala either, where the Congress party-led United
Democratic Front won. Meanwhile, Tarun Gogoi had a hat
trick as chief minister after the Congress party retained
power for a record third straight term in Assam.
India’s ‘most wanted’ error
embarrassment
The Indian government was left red-faced after an incor-
rect list of India’s most wanted fugitives was handed over to
Pakistan. The list included names of Abdul Rashid and
Wazhul Khan who were present in Mumbai. India later
handed over a fresh list to Pakistan.
Journalist shot dead in broad daylight
Gang rivalries raised their ugly head with the sensational
shooting of Jyotirmoy Dey, an investigative reporter with a
newspaper in Mumbai, by fugitive gangster Chotta Rajan’s
gang members June 10. Rajan reportedly ordered the
killing fearing Dey’s proximity to his rival, fugitive gangster,
Dawood Ibrahim. Mumbai journalist Jigna Vora was later
arrested in connection with the murder.

Rahul Gandhi versus Mayawati
The usually reticent Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi,
being billed as a strong prime ministerial contender for the
2014 general election, left no stone unturned to consolidate
his party’s position in Uttar Pradesh. He joined the farmers’
protest in Noida against UP Chief Minister Mayawati’s
land acquisition policy. During his five-day election cam-
paign in the state, in November, Gandhi accused
Mayawati’s government of being corrupt. In her defense
the chief minister issued a report on the functioning of her
government.
Hillary and Hina’s date with India
Dalai Lama steps down as political
head of Tibet

The Dalai Lama stepped down as the political head of
the Tibetan government in exile. Lobsang Sangay was
sworn in as Tibet’s first elected prime minister in August.
Tibet remained in the news throughout the year, whether
it was for the seizure of foreign and Indian currency
worth $1.5 million from the 17th Karmapa Lama abode in
Dharamsala or the self-immolation of Tibetan nuns
protesting against the atrocities on Tibetans in China.
A Tibetan woman checks her ballot paper during
elections for a new prime minister for Tibet’s
government-in-exile, in Dharamsala, Himachal
Pradesh March 20.

FAYAZ KABLI/ REUTERS

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and India’s External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna chaired the second US
India Strategic Dialog in New Delhi July 19. Pakistan
Foreign Minister Hina D Rabbani Khar’s visit to the
country was also a highlight of the year as the world
watched how she handled her first major diplomatic
outing and navigated the troubled waters between India
and Pakistan.
First Indian president to declare assets
Breaking new ground, President Pratibha Patil
became the first Indian president to declare her assets
July 21.

About this publication

fullscreen

fullscreen

subscribe

article text for page

< previous story | next story >

add comment | read comments

Share this page with a friend
Save to “My Stuff”
Subscribe to this magazine
Search
Help