Friday, December 24 2004 16:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: It was return to 'sanyas' for fiery Uma Bharti who lost her 'raj' in 2004 but a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Government in Madhya Pradesh seemed to have failed to bring smile on the face of the common man, continued to be hit hard by power cuts, bad roads and water crisis, the party's planks to get rid of Congress rule.

As the New Year knocks at the door with signals of power tariff hike, 2004 may be dubbed as a year of transfers, postings, gang rapes, dacoit strikes and drought as people saw two Chief Ministers. Babulal Gaur succeeded the temperamental Bharti, who resigned facing arrest in a decade-old rioting case in Karnataka. Continuing saffron wave helped BJP score one-sided victories in Lok Sabha and civic polls repeating its spectacular show in the Assembly elections with three-fourths majority under the command of Bharti, recently suspended from BJP for throwing tantrums at a party meeting in New Delhi.

Soon after her suspension, the firebrand Sadhvi was described as a "sinking boat" by Gaur who apparently spent anxious moments with frequent talks of Bharti's possible return. The Chief Minister also warned her loyalists against boarding her "boat" unless one wanted to invite similar action.

Elections:The year was one of despair for the dispirited Congress cadres as the main Opposition party was made to bite the dust in Lok Sabha as well as civic polls with its workers and leaders left demoralised and shattered after the humiliating defeat at the hands of BJP in the Assembly elections.

People were caught between Uma Bharti's melodrama and rhetoric amidst launching of a host of schemes like Panch-J, Gokul Gam, Ayodhya Basti, Village Secretariat, Deendayal Samarth Yojana, Antyodaya upchar Yojana and Deendayal Rozgar Yojana to benefit all.

Power, Road problems: However, power and road problems - two of the major planks on which BJP stormed back to power dislodging Congress remained unresolved while the State accused the Centre of slashing its power share.

Though Gaur promised to pump in more than Rs 15,000 crore of private investment in areas like IT and Electronics for rapid industrialisation, the power scenario worsened with receding water levels in reservoirs slashing hydel generation.

Unable to bridge the widening gap between demand and supply of electricity, the Government has enforced 2 to 6 hours daily power cuts right from the divisional headquarters. Farmers are up in arms alleging unscheduled power cuts despite promises to ensure six-hour three-phase supply for irrigation.

Peasants: The plight of the peasants, who faced crop loss due to inadequate rainfall and pest attack, worsened due to erratic power availability in rural areas. What added to their woes was alleged supply of spurious pesticides and fertilisers.

On the road front, work is on at a snail's pace. Around 1200-km road has been constructed during the past year and another 800 km is planned to be added by June, 2005.

Crime: If the year began with communal violence and burning of churches in tribal dominated Jhabua district in January, dacoit menace continued to haunt people in Chambal ravines as dreaded Rambabu Gadaria gang massacred 13 villagers at Bhanwarpura near Gwalior on October 29.

While abductions for ransom continued unabated with dacoits taking a large number of people hostage from villages, particularly in Chambal-Gwalior belt, crime scenario looked grim amidst frequent reports of gang rapes and assault of minors from Seoni, Damoh and other areas.

The State police force was virtually on its toes to combat communal and dacoity problems as the State capital of Bhopal also witnessed tension recently following a violent clash.

Though naxalism did not raise its head of late, the State demanded that the Centre declare Sidhi district as "naxalite affected" and provide necessary assistance to the State in view of recent incidents of gun snatching and killing in the area.

Events: Though the mega religious event of Simhastha in the temple city of Ujjain in April is cited as a major achievement of the Government, allegations of corruption in construction of roads for the mela were levelled. Under attack from different quarters, the Government ordered an inquiry into the matter.

The Government drew flak for frequent transfers of bureaucrats who had to spend sleepless nights facing frequent shifts. Opposition also alleged corruption in transfers and postings.

Strict austerity measures were initiated by Gaur Government with a ban on foreign trips by ministers and officials, restrictions on use of State aircraft and helicopters as also on use of telephones.

As the Chief Minister puts it, the Government saved Rs 100 crore by cutting down such expenses.