BALANCING ACT: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, flanked by Arun Jaitley (left) and Ravi Shankar Prasad, addresses a media conference at the party headquarters, in New Delhi on Sunday.
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday invoked the provisions of the National Security Act against Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi, who is in the eye of the storm for allegedly making hate speeches in his constituency. The government’s decision was announced by Director-General of Police Vikram Singh and Principal Secretary, Home, Kunwar Fateh Bahadur at a late night press conference here.
The decision to charge Mr. Gandhi under the NSA comes on the eve of his bail plea coming up for hearing in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Pilibhit. The State police chief said Mr. Gandhi was charged with inciting communal tension through his speeches at election rallies held in Pilibhit district on March 7 and 9. Another charge levelled against Mr. Gandhi was that he incited his supporters to resort to violence outside the CJM court which remanded him to judicial custody on Saturday.
The NSA was invoked against Mr. Gandhi after approval from the District Magistrate of Pilibhit. Whether the charges against him will hold will be decided by an advisory board within six weeks.
Rumours on the possibility of the BJP candidate being charged under the NSA had been doing the rounds since Saturday, but senior police officials were tight-lipped. However, the manner in which four FIRs were lodged against Mr. Gandhi and his supporters under certain non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code clearly indicated that the NSA was not very far off.
While a case of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC was slapped on Mr. Gandhi and 13 others by the Pilibhit police administration, his supporters were charged with causing damage to government property, including official residences, in violent incidents that rocked the town on Saturday.
Kalraj Mishra, senior BJP leader who is in charge of the party’s affairs in Uttar Pradesh, was charged with violating prohibitory orders under Section 144.
Four FIRs were lodged by the Pilibhit jail and police administration in the aftermath of the violence. Around 65 people were injured in the melee. Two cases were filed by the Pilibhit district jail authorities, while two others were lodged by the police.
Vendetta politics: BJP
PTI reports from New Delhi:
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar described the Maywati government’s action as “the worst kind of vendetta politics” and asserted that Mr. Gandhi was still the party candidate from Pilibhit.
The party’s stand got the support of a Constitutional expert when Subash Kashyap said the action appeared to be “less legal than political” and that he could not be “prevented” from contesting.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Varun Gandhi booked under NSA
Lucknow/Pilibhit, Mar 29 (PTI) Varun Gandhi, BJP's latest Hindutva posterboy and its candidate from Pilibhit, plunged into deeper trouble Sunday night with the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government deciding to book him under the National Security Act(NSA) for inciting communal tensions which may result in him being under detention for upto one year.
In a possible unprecedented action of NSA being slapped for a hate speech, Gandhi, who is in the eye of a storm for his alleged anti-Muslim utterances, the Mayawati government said there were three grounds which were taken into consideration by the state government for the decision.
"An order issued by Pilibhit district magistrate Ajay Chauhan invoking NSA on the BJP nominee this evening has been served to Gandhi, who is currently lodged in the district jail," Additional Cabinet Secretary Vijay Shanker Pandey told reporters in Lucknow, capital of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer K T S Tulsi said " it seems he will have to stay in jail may be even for a year or more because the government is clearly worried about the implications that it could have in the rest of the country. PTI
In a possible unprecedented action of NSA being slapped for a hate speech, Gandhi, who is in the eye of a storm for his alleged anti-Muslim utterances, the Mayawati government said there were three grounds which were taken into consideration by the state government for the decision.
"An order issued by Pilibhit district magistrate Ajay Chauhan invoking NSA on the BJP nominee this evening has been served to Gandhi, who is currently lodged in the district jail," Additional Cabinet Secretary Vijay Shanker Pandey told reporters in Lucknow, capital of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer K T S Tulsi said " it seems he will have to stay in jail may be even for a year or more because the government is clearly worried about the implications that it could have in the rest of the country. PTI
Banners pledge support for Varun Gandhi in Raopura
29 Mar 2009
VADODARA: While the high drama surrounding Varun Gandhi's CD row and arrest is unfolding in Pilibhit, banners supporting the Hindutva's latest poster boy' have come up in the old city area since Saturday night. Although these have apparently been posted by Hindu Jagran, the banners have come up in Raopura area, which is represented by BJP MLA Yogesh Patel, known to be quite close to Maneka Gandhi and her son.
While Patel himself did not comment on the banners in Raopura, he told TOI that he was in Pilibhit to back Varun. Meanwhile, a group of local leaders also took out a small rally near Amdawadi pol area on Saturday night with slogans supporting Varun after the latter courted arrest in Pilibhit.
After Sanjay Gandhi's demise in 1980, it was in Vadodara that Maneka addressed her first public meeting in 1982. Patel had also started Sanjay Vichar Manch to propagate Sanjay's ideas after quitting the Congress. He held a series of functions under the banner before getting into electoral politics by joining other parties.
Maneka has been campaigning for Patel whether the latter contested as a Janta Dal candidate in 1990 or later as BJP candidate in 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2007. Both Maneka and Varun officially joined the BJP in February 2004.
Meanwhile, polling officials, who have to ensure that model code of conduct is followed, have not made up their mind on whether banners supporting Varun are in violation of the code.
"We will look into the matter on Monday," said deputy municipal commissioner CM Makwana, who has to monitor areas falling in Vadodara Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Opposition made Varun a poster boy: Advani
Mar 28 (PTI) BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani today came out in support of Varun Gandhi, under fire for his alleged hate speeches, and said it was the opposition which had made him a "poster boy".
He accused the Election Commission of exceeding its brief by suggesting BJP should not field him as a candidate in the election.
"We did not make Varun Gandhi a poster boy. It is the others who give publicity. Most of the time, our opponents have made him a poster boy," Advani told PTI.
Advani attacked the Election Commission's suggestion that Gandhi should not be given nomination by BJP as the poll panel had found him guilty of making inflammatory speeches in his constituency Pilibhit.
"The case of Varun Gandhi got wide publicity as the Election Commission did something unprecedented. I was surprised. I support Varun because EC has done an illegal thing as the charge against him has not been proved," Advani said.
Without naming actor Sanjay Dutt, who is set to contest from Lucknow as Samajwadi Party candidate, he said "one who has been convicted is contesting from Lucknow but the Election Commission has not said anything." Advani addressed election meetings for BJP candidates in Padrauna and Maharajganj areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Some of the locals raised slogans of "Varun Gandhi zindabad" during Advani's speech. PTI
He accused the Election Commission of exceeding its brief by suggesting BJP should not field him as a candidate in the election.
"We did not make Varun Gandhi a poster boy. It is the others who give publicity. Most of the time, our opponents have made him a poster boy," Advani told PTI.
Advani attacked the Election Commission's suggestion that Gandhi should not be given nomination by BJP as the poll panel had found him guilty of making inflammatory speeches in his constituency Pilibhit.
"The case of Varun Gandhi got wide publicity as the Election Commission did something unprecedented. I was surprised. I support Varun because EC has done an illegal thing as the charge against him has not been proved," Advani said.
Without naming actor Sanjay Dutt, who is set to contest from Lucknow as Samajwadi Party candidate, he said "one who has been convicted is contesting from Lucknow but the Election Commission has not said anything." Advani addressed election meetings for BJP candidates in Padrauna and Maharajganj areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Some of the locals raised slogans of "Varun Gandhi zindabad" during Advani's speech. PTI
No VIP treatment in jail for Varun
29 March 2009
Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Varun Gandhi, who was sent to jail here Saturday for his inflammatory speeches, did not get VIP treatment in prison but was provided homemade food for dinner, a prison official said.
"Due to security reasons, we have kept him in a separate cell but besides homemade food, no additional facilities are being provided to him," Jail Superintendent Mukesh Arora told IANS.
The permission to provide him food made outside the jail was granted Saturday by the court that sent him to judicial custody until March 30.
A BJP worker brought the food, which was given to Varun Gandhi at around 7 p.m. after the jail pharmacist and doctor examined it.
"After conducting the final checking at 7.30 p.m., we left his cell for the day," Arora said.
"His personal behaviour was very good, but his supporters created a ruckus til late (Saturday) evening outside the jail," he added.
Two armed policemen have been deployed outside his cell in Pilibhit, around 350 km from Lucknow.
A Pilibhit court sent Varun to jail until Monday for allegedly making speeches amid clashes between party workers and the police Saturday. The court ruling came shortly after the BJP candidate from Pilibhit said he was "ready to go to jail" over the reported anti-Muslim speeches that he denies having made.
Hundreds of BJP supporters followed the police vehicle in which Gandhi was taken away from the court. A few of them were seen clinging to the vehicle and climbing onto its bonnet, making it difficult for the policemen to drive.
The police then opened fire, injuring three people.
Gandhi courted controversy after his speeches, that had derogatory references to Muslims, gained media attention. Gandhi maintains that the speeches, whose recorded copies were aired repeatedly on television, were doctored.
The Election Commission came down heavily on him and suggested that he should not be fielded as a candidate in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP refused to do that and questioned the Election Commission's jurisdiction to suggest that.
On Friday, Gandhi withdrew his bail application from the Delhi High Court and decided to surrender.
The Election Commission wants criminal charges to be filed against him for his speeches.
Asked if the BJP saw Gandhi as the new Hindutva poster-boy and star campaigner, party leader Kalraj Misra said Saturday: "He (Varun) is just a party worker and our candidate from Pilibhit and he will be utilised according to his capabilities."
Around 50 BJP workers were also arrested here Saturday after they blocked roads and clashed with the police while waiting for Gandhi. They were charged with unlawful assembly.
Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Varun Gandhi, who was sent to jail here Saturday for his inflammatory speeches, did not get VIP treatment in prison but was provided homemade food for dinner, a prison official said.
"Due to security reasons, we have kept him in a separate cell but besides homemade food, no additional facilities are being provided to him," Jail Superintendent Mukesh Arora told IANS.
The permission to provide him food made outside the jail was granted Saturday by the court that sent him to judicial custody until March 30.
A BJP worker brought the food, which was given to Varun Gandhi at around 7 p.m. after the jail pharmacist and doctor examined it.
"After conducting the final checking at 7.30 p.m., we left his cell for the day," Arora said.
"His personal behaviour was very good, but his supporters created a ruckus til late (Saturday) evening outside the jail," he added.
Two armed policemen have been deployed outside his cell in Pilibhit, around 350 km from Lucknow.
A Pilibhit court sent Varun to jail until Monday for allegedly making speeches amid clashes between party workers and the police Saturday. The court ruling came shortly after the BJP candidate from Pilibhit said he was "ready to go to jail" over the reported anti-Muslim speeches that he denies having made.
Hundreds of BJP supporters followed the police vehicle in which Gandhi was taken away from the court. A few of them were seen clinging to the vehicle and climbing onto its bonnet, making it difficult for the policemen to drive.
The police then opened fire, injuring three people.
Gandhi courted controversy after his speeches, that had derogatory references to Muslims, gained media attention. Gandhi maintains that the speeches, whose recorded copies were aired repeatedly on television, were doctored.
The Election Commission came down heavily on him and suggested that he should not be fielded as a candidate in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP refused to do that and questioned the Election Commission's jurisdiction to suggest that.
On Friday, Gandhi withdrew his bail application from the Delhi High Court and decided to surrender.
The Election Commission wants criminal charges to be filed against him for his speeches.
Asked if the BJP saw Gandhi as the new Hindutva poster-boy and star campaigner, party leader Kalraj Misra said Saturday: "He (Varun) is just a party worker and our candidate from Pilibhit and he will be utilised according to his capabilities."
Around 50 BJP workers were also arrested here Saturday after they blocked roads and clashed with the police while waiting for Gandhi. They were charged with unlawful assembly.
If PM not willing, he can ask Sonia for a debate: Advani
Mar 28 (PTI) With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refusing his offer for a television debate, senior BJP leader L K Advani today said that if he was not willing, he could ask Congress President Sonia Gandhi for the same.
"I have told the PM several times that it would be so nice that like in foreign countries (US presidential debate), we should also have a debate. Instead of a BJP public meeting, the Election Commission could organise a meeting (for the debate)," Party's prime ministerial candidate Advani told an election rally here.
"If the Prime Minister is not willing (for a debate), he can ask the Congress President (Sonia Gandhi)," he said.
On the lines of US Presidential debate, Advani had earlier this week asked the Prime Minister for a TV debate to help people judge who was the better prime ministerial candidate.
Reacting to this, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said, "the BJP was too impressed with the US system".
Some of the Congress members have opposed such a debate, saying it was more suited to countries having a presidential form of government. PTI
Opposition made Varun a poster boy: Advani
Mar 28 (PTI) BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani today came out in support of Varun Gandhi, under fire for his alleged hate speeches, and said it was the opposition which had made him a "poster boy".
He accused the Election Commission of exceeding its brief by suggesting BJP should not field him as a candidate in the election.
"We did not make Varun Gandhi a poster boy. It is the others who give publicity. Most of the time, our opponents have made him a poster boy," Advani told PTI.
Advani attacked the Election Commission's suggestion that Gandhi should not be given nomination by BJP as the poll panel had found him guilty of making inflammatory speeches in his constituency Pilibhit.
"The case of Varun Gandhi got wide publicity as the Election Commission did something unprecedented. I was surprised. I support Varun because EC has done an illegal thing as the charge against him has not been proved," Advani said.
Without naming actor Sanjay Dutt, who is set to contest from Lucknow as Samajwadi Party candidate, he said "one who has been convicted is contesting from Lucknow but the Election Commission has not said anything." Advani addressed election meetings for BJP candidates in Padrauna and Maharajganj areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Some of the locals raised slogans of "Varun Gandhi zindabad" during Advani's speech. PTI
He accused the Election Commission of exceeding its brief by suggesting BJP should not field him as a candidate in the election.
"We did not make Varun Gandhi a poster boy. It is the others who give publicity. Most of the time, our opponents have made him a poster boy," Advani told PTI.
Advani attacked the Election Commission's suggestion that Gandhi should not be given nomination by BJP as the poll panel had found him guilty of making inflammatory speeches in his constituency Pilibhit.
"The case of Varun Gandhi got wide publicity as the Election Commission did something unprecedented. I was surprised. I support Varun because EC has done an illegal thing as the charge against him has not been proved," Advani said.
Without naming actor Sanjay Dutt, who is set to contest from Lucknow as Samajwadi Party candidate, he said "one who has been convicted is contesting from Lucknow but the Election Commission has not said anything." Advani addressed election meetings for BJP candidates in Padrauna and Maharajganj areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Some of the locals raised slogans of "Varun Gandhi zindabad" during Advani's speech. PTI
No VIP treatment in jail for Varun
29 March 2009
Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Varun Gandhi, who was sent to jail here Saturday for his inflammatory speeches, did not get VIP treatment in prison but was provided homemade food for dinner, a prison official said.
"Due to security reasons, we have kept him in a separate cell but besides homemade food, no additional facilities are being provided to him," Jail Superintendent Mukesh Arora told IANS.
The permission to provide him food made outside the jail was granted Saturday by the court that sent him to judicial custody until March 30.
A BJP worker brought the food, which was given to Varun Gandhi at around 7 p.m. after the jail pharmacist and doctor examined it.
"After conducting the final checking at 7.30 p.m., we left his cell for the day," Arora said.
"His personal behaviour was very good, but his supporters created a ruckus til late (Saturday) evening outside the jail," he added.
Two armed policemen have been deployed outside his cell in Pilibhit, around 350 km from Lucknow.
A Pilibhit court sent Varun to jail until Monday for allegedly making speeches amid clashes between party workers and the police Saturday. The court ruling came shortly after the BJP candidate from Pilibhit said he was "ready to go to jail" over the reported anti-Muslim speeches that he denies having made.
Hundreds of BJP supporters followed the police vehicle in which Gandhi was taken away from the court. A few of them were seen clinging to the vehicle and climbing onto its bonnet, making it difficult for the policemen to drive.
The police then opened fire, injuring three people.
Gandhi courted controversy after his speeches, that had derogatory references to Muslims, gained media attention. Gandhi maintains that the speeches, whose recorded copies were aired repeatedly on television, were doctored.
The Election Commission came down heavily on him and suggested that he should not be fielded as a candidate in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP refused to do that and questioned the Election Commission's jurisdiction to suggest that.
On Friday, Gandhi withdrew his bail application from the Delhi High Court and decided to surrender.
The Election Commission wants criminal charges to be filed against him for his speeches.
Asked if the BJP saw Gandhi as the new Hindutva poster-boy and star campaigner, party leader Kalraj Misra said Saturday: "He (Varun) is just a party worker and our candidate from Pilibhit and he will be utilised according to his capabilities."
Around 50 BJP workers were also arrested here Saturday after they blocked roads and clashed with the police while waiting for Gandhi. They were charged with unlawful assembly.
Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Varun Gandhi, who was sent to jail here Saturday for his inflammatory speeches, did not get VIP treatment in prison but was provided homemade food for dinner, a prison official said.
"Due to security reasons, we have kept him in a separate cell but besides homemade food, no additional facilities are being provided to him," Jail Superintendent Mukesh Arora told IANS.
The permission to provide him food made outside the jail was granted Saturday by the court that sent him to judicial custody until March 30.
A BJP worker brought the food, which was given to Varun Gandhi at around 7 p.m. after the jail pharmacist and doctor examined it.
"After conducting the final checking at 7.30 p.m., we left his cell for the day," Arora said.
"His personal behaviour was very good, but his supporters created a ruckus til late (Saturday) evening outside the jail," he added.
Two armed policemen have been deployed outside his cell in Pilibhit, around 350 km from Lucknow.
A Pilibhit court sent Varun to jail until Monday for allegedly making speeches amid clashes between party workers and the police Saturday. The court ruling came shortly after the BJP candidate from Pilibhit said he was "ready to go to jail" over the reported anti-Muslim speeches that he denies having made.
Hundreds of BJP supporters followed the police vehicle in which Gandhi was taken away from the court. A few of them were seen clinging to the vehicle and climbing onto its bonnet, making it difficult for the policemen to drive.
The police then opened fire, injuring three people.
Gandhi courted controversy after his speeches, that had derogatory references to Muslims, gained media attention. Gandhi maintains that the speeches, whose recorded copies were aired repeatedly on television, were doctored.
The Election Commission came down heavily on him and suggested that he should not be fielded as a candidate in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP refused to do that and questioned the Election Commission's jurisdiction to suggest that.
On Friday, Gandhi withdrew his bail application from the Delhi High Court and decided to surrender.
The Election Commission wants criminal charges to be filed against him for his speeches.
Asked if the BJP saw Gandhi as the new Hindutva poster-boy and star campaigner, party leader Kalraj Misra said Saturday: "He (Varun) is just a party worker and our candidate from Pilibhit and he will be utilised according to his capabilities."
Around 50 BJP workers were also arrested here Saturday after they blocked roads and clashed with the police while waiting for Gandhi. They were charged with unlawful assembly.
Varun charged with attempt to murder
29 March 2009
Pilibhit: BJP Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi has been charged with attempt to murder, rioting and other offences in an FIR filed in connection with violence that erupted here even as police today maintained a close vigil to maintain law and order in this district.
29-year-old Varun, along with Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Kalraj Mishra, local MLA Sukhlal and former party MLA B K Gupta, have been named in another FIR registered for violation of prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC Saturday when the BJP candidate courted arrest in a case related to his alleged anti-Muslim speeches, Kotwali police sources said.
Varun, who is in judicial custody, has been booked under sections 147, 148 and 149 (rioting and related charges), 307 (attempt to murder), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 336 (doing any act that endangers human life or the personal safety of others) and certain sections of IPC and public safety and certain state acts for the violence around the district jail here, they said.
The FIR relating to rioting and other chages has been filed by Pilibhit district jailor Mukesh Arora against Varun and his supporters after BJP activists fought a pitched battle with the police and laid a siege of the jail premises.
Meanwhile, Pilibhit District Magistrate Ashok Chauhan discounted the allegation of BJP MP and Varun's mother Maneka Gandhi that a Muslim officer had injured several of the saffron party's supporters and said he was not deployed there.
MMnews
Pilibhit: BJP Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi has been charged with attempt to murder, rioting and other offences in an FIR filed in connection with violence that erupted here even as police today maintained a close vigil to maintain law and order in this district.
29-year-old Varun, along with Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Kalraj Mishra, local MLA Sukhlal and former party MLA B K Gupta, have been named in another FIR registered for violation of prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC Saturday when the BJP candidate courted arrest in a case related to his alleged anti-Muslim speeches, Kotwali police sources said.
Varun, who is in judicial custody, has been booked under sections 147, 148 and 149 (rioting and related charges), 307 (attempt to murder), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 336 (doing any act that endangers human life or the personal safety of others) and certain sections of IPC and public safety and certain state acts for the violence around the district jail here, they said.
The FIR relating to rioting and other chages has been filed by Pilibhit district jailor Mukesh Arora against Varun and his supporters after BJP activists fought a pitched battle with the police and laid a siege of the jail premises.
Meanwhile, Pilibhit District Magistrate Ashok Chauhan discounted the allegation of BJP MP and Varun's mother Maneka Gandhi that a Muslim officer had injured several of the saffron party's supporters and said he was not deployed there.
MMnews
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Kashmiri Pandits to field candidates for LS polls
Saturday,28 March 2009
Jammu: A migrant Kashmiri Hindus' group Sunday said it would field candidates from two of the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
The Jammu Kashmir National United Front, a political party founded by and for the Kashmiri Pandits - Hindus who have always been seen as a political elite in the Muslim majority state - will field its candidates in their original home, the Kashmir Valley.
The valley has three Lok Sabha seats but the JKNUF will contest from Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies.
In the mosaic of ethnic and religious diversity in Jammu and Kashmir, some 300,000 Pandits fled the Kashmir Valley from 1989 as Muslim militancy peaked, at times targeting members of the community.
Today, most of them live in Jammu, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Mumbai. Only about 3,000 still reside in the Kashmir Valley.
Jammu: A migrant Kashmiri Hindus' group Sunday said it would field candidates from two of the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
The Jammu Kashmir National United Front, a political party founded by and for the Kashmiri Pandits - Hindus who have always been seen as a political elite in the Muslim majority state - will field its candidates in their original home, the Kashmir Valley.
The valley has three Lok Sabha seats but the JKNUF will contest from Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies.
In the mosaic of ethnic and religious diversity in Jammu and Kashmir, some 300,000 Pandits fled the Kashmir Valley from 1989 as Muslim militancy peaked, at times targeting members of the community.
Today, most of them live in Jammu, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Mumbai. Only about 3,000 still reside in the Kashmir Valley.
CBI is Congress Bureau of of Investigation: BJP
Saturday,28 March 2009
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New Delhi: Suspecting a clean chit to former central minister Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has turned into a 'Congress Bureau of Investigation'.
"The CBI has continued the Congress's political agenda by giving a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler. We have not seen such a misuse of CBI till date," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.
"If Mayawati is with them, then a clean chit to Mayawati. If Mulyaam Singh Yadav is with them, then a clean chit to him. And now a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler. The CBI is now Congress Bureau of Investigation. We reject the CBI's clean chit. Now the people will decide," Javadekar said.
The CBI Saturday submitted its report to a city court on its investigation into Tytler's alleged role in a case of inciting a mob to attack a group of Sikhs.
Asked about the reported clean chit to Tytler, a CBI spokesperson told IANS: "We have submitted the report into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in a sealed cover. Neither the court nor I know anything about what is in the report."
The CBI had earlier told the court it had examined California-based witness Jasbir Singh in the case. Initially, the agency had expressed reservations over going to the US to record his statement and issued notice to him to come to India to depose in the case.
In an affidavit before the Nanavati Commission, the witness stated that on Nov 3, 1984, he had overheard Tytler rebuking his men for 'nominal killing' of Sikhs in his constituency.
Javadekar said the clean chit to Tytler was like rubbing salt on the wounds of the 1984 riot victims.
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New Delhi: Suspecting a clean chit to former central minister Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has turned into a 'Congress Bureau of Investigation'.
"The CBI has continued the Congress's political agenda by giving a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler. We have not seen such a misuse of CBI till date," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.
"If Mayawati is with them, then a clean chit to Mayawati. If Mulyaam Singh Yadav is with them, then a clean chit to him. And now a clean chit to Jagdish Tytler. The CBI is now Congress Bureau of Investigation. We reject the CBI's clean chit. Now the people will decide," Javadekar said.
The CBI Saturday submitted its report to a city court on its investigation into Tytler's alleged role in a case of inciting a mob to attack a group of Sikhs.
Asked about the reported clean chit to Tytler, a CBI spokesperson told IANS: "We have submitted the report into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in a sealed cover. Neither the court nor I know anything about what is in the report."
The CBI had earlier told the court it had examined California-based witness Jasbir Singh in the case. Initially, the agency had expressed reservations over going to the US to record his statement and issued notice to him to come to India to depose in the case.
In an affidavit before the Nanavati Commission, the witness stated that on Nov 3, 1984, he had overheard Tytler rebuking his men for 'nominal killing' of Sikhs in his constituency.
Javadekar said the clean chit to Tytler was like rubbing salt on the wounds of the 1984 riot victims.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Bangla influx external threat: Advani
TINSUKIA, March, 26 – LK Advani, Prime Ministerial candidate and star campaigner of Bharatiya Janata Party, addressing a huge public rally at Sarvananda Singha Stadium Complex here today in support of the AGP-BJP combined candidates Sarbananda Sonowal for the Dibrugarh Constituency and Dr Arun Sarma for the Lakhimpur Constituency, said that it was a historic occasion as this was the first combined meeting of the AGP and BJP after the seat-sharing adjustment between the parties. In his speech Advani said security, good governance and development are the chief motto of NDA. He further said that development of roads in entire India was initiated by the NDA Government during period of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the task is expected to be completed by 2011. But he was surprised to note that the progress of the work in Assam is very poor, Advani added. He also appealed to the Congress Prime Ministerial candidate to get elected to the Lok Sabha either from Assam or any other constituency of the country, and not to the Rajya Sabha. He stressed that all the necessary steps should be adopted for checking erosion to save the world’s biggest river island Majuli, which he visited today itself, by the Central Government.
Praising the AGP candidate of Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur, Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Arun Sarma, respectively, Advani appealed to the people of these constituencies to elect them so that they could play vital role in forming the next NDA Government at Delhi.
Terming the infiltration of Bangladeshis as an external threat, he said that it is included in the manifesto of NDA as an important task to solve. He warned the terrorist organisations that they would be dealt with very strong hands. The rally of about seven thousand-strong gathering was also addressed by Chandra Mohan Patowary, president Asom Gana Parishad, Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Arun Sarma. BJP MLAs of Dibrugarh, Duliajan and Tingkhang, Prasant Phukan, Rameswar Teli and Anup Phukan, respectively, were also present at the rally among other office-bearers of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of both the parties. Patowari while lambasting Congress parties said that for the better future of Assam, his party has gone for seat-sharing for the parliamentary elections with the BJP.
Our Sivasagar Correspondent adds: NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani today took the otherwise sleepy Jorhat parliamentary constituency’s election scenario by a storm by addressing two election rallies – one at Majuli and the other at Sivasagar today for AGP-BJP join candidate Kamakhya Prasad Tasha.
Addressing the massive rally at Sivasagar Peoli Phukan Stadium organized by AGP-BJP district joint committee, the veteran BJP leader said that it was the Bharatiya Janata Party which freed the Indians from the clutches of Congress hegemony by introducing alliance politics and making it bi-polar. He blamed the Congress party for decades of ‘misrule ‘ both at the Centre and in the NE States and questioned the justification of its tall claims of progress when incidents of suicides among the farmers of the country are on the rise.
Advani also blamed the Congress for polluting Indian politics by fielding criminals as candidates in many constituencies. He called upon the AGP-BJP supporters to take a final decision for ousting the Congress party permanently from the NE region as, he said, it has made the region one of the most backward in the country.
The NDA leader said that his party will definitely come to power as the Congress is being deserted by its allies one after another and termed PM Dr Manmohan Sing as a puppet who has to dance to the tunes of Sonia Gandhi. He expressed his party’s commitment towards the Tea Tribe population’s development which, he said, the Congress party has totally neglected.
AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowari, in his speech, said that AGP will never sell their land and people to others and never make compromise on issues related to our nationalism like the Congress. The Congress, he said, has long been befooling the people by claiming the progress made so far to their credit, but all the important development works, like increase in State’s share in Central grants, infrastructure development, special package of Rs 7100 crore announced by Deve Gowda as PM, etc., are all done by non-Congress governments.
PTI adds: Firing another salvo in their war of words Advani today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should contest and win the Lok Sabha polls instead of taking the Rajya Sabha route after the Congress made it clear he was the party’s candidate to head a government.
“It is good that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has finally announced its prospective premier’s name setting at rest a whirlpool of speculations,” the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate told an election rally at Seppa in Arunachal Pradesh.
But, Advani sarcastically suggested Manmohan Singh would be more acceptable to the common people if he became a Lok Sabha member.
Advani’s comments came two days after Manmohan Singh made it clear that he has no intention to contest the Lok Sabha polls by pointing out that there were several Prime Ministers in the past who were from the Rajya Sabha and it was as per the Constitution.
The BJP stalwart has been pitching for a Constitution amendment that the Prime Minister should be from the Lok Sabha.
“I have just had a bypass surgery. I need time to recover. Therefore, I don’t think I can right now jump into the election fray,” Singh said in reply to another question with Gandhi by his side when the Congress manifesto was released on Tuesday.
The former Deputy Prime Minister said he was ready for a live debate with Manmohan Singh on various issues on TV channels as practised in the USA.
Dubbing Manmohan Singh as the “weakest Prime Minister the country ever had,” Advani said, “He cannot do anything without getting a green signal from 10 Janpath. A minister posted at the PMO takes the PM’s proposals to Sonia Gandhi and without her nod he cannot move.”
Advani said even former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, who was an elected representative in the Lok Sabha, had worked with more authority. Gowda had only four or five MPs of his party with him in Parliament in 1996 when he headed a coalition government.
Referring to China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, he said if that country wanted to develop good relations with India, it should stop claiming Arunachal.
Later talking to reporters, he said NCP leader Purno A Sangma was trying to unite all anti-Congress forces in the north-eastern region.
“This is a good job and I have all respect for Sangma,” Advani said.
Praising the AGP candidate of Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur, Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Arun Sarma, respectively, Advani appealed to the people of these constituencies to elect them so that they could play vital role in forming the next NDA Government at Delhi.
Terming the infiltration of Bangladeshis as an external threat, he said that it is included in the manifesto of NDA as an important task to solve. He warned the terrorist organisations that they would be dealt with very strong hands. The rally of about seven thousand-strong gathering was also addressed by Chandra Mohan Patowary, president Asom Gana Parishad, Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Arun Sarma. BJP MLAs of Dibrugarh, Duliajan and Tingkhang, Prasant Phukan, Rameswar Teli and Anup Phukan, respectively, were also present at the rally among other office-bearers of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of both the parties. Patowari while lambasting Congress parties said that for the better future of Assam, his party has gone for seat-sharing for the parliamentary elections with the BJP.
Our Sivasagar Correspondent adds: NDA’s Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani today took the otherwise sleepy Jorhat parliamentary constituency’s election scenario by a storm by addressing two election rallies – one at Majuli and the other at Sivasagar today for AGP-BJP join candidate Kamakhya Prasad Tasha.
Addressing the massive rally at Sivasagar Peoli Phukan Stadium organized by AGP-BJP district joint committee, the veteran BJP leader said that it was the Bharatiya Janata Party which freed the Indians from the clutches of Congress hegemony by introducing alliance politics and making it bi-polar. He blamed the Congress party for decades of ‘misrule ‘ both at the Centre and in the NE States and questioned the justification of its tall claims of progress when incidents of suicides among the farmers of the country are on the rise.
Advani also blamed the Congress for polluting Indian politics by fielding criminals as candidates in many constituencies. He called upon the AGP-BJP supporters to take a final decision for ousting the Congress party permanently from the NE region as, he said, it has made the region one of the most backward in the country.
The NDA leader said that his party will definitely come to power as the Congress is being deserted by its allies one after another and termed PM Dr Manmohan Sing as a puppet who has to dance to the tunes of Sonia Gandhi. He expressed his party’s commitment towards the Tea Tribe population’s development which, he said, the Congress party has totally neglected.
AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowari, in his speech, said that AGP will never sell their land and people to others and never make compromise on issues related to our nationalism like the Congress. The Congress, he said, has long been befooling the people by claiming the progress made so far to their credit, but all the important development works, like increase in State’s share in Central grants, infrastructure development, special package of Rs 7100 crore announced by Deve Gowda as PM, etc., are all done by non-Congress governments.
PTI adds: Firing another salvo in their war of words Advani today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should contest and win the Lok Sabha polls instead of taking the Rajya Sabha route after the Congress made it clear he was the party’s candidate to head a government.
“It is good that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has finally announced its prospective premier’s name setting at rest a whirlpool of speculations,” the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate told an election rally at Seppa in Arunachal Pradesh.
But, Advani sarcastically suggested Manmohan Singh would be more acceptable to the common people if he became a Lok Sabha member.
Advani’s comments came two days after Manmohan Singh made it clear that he has no intention to contest the Lok Sabha polls by pointing out that there were several Prime Ministers in the past who were from the Rajya Sabha and it was as per the Constitution.
The BJP stalwart has been pitching for a Constitution amendment that the Prime Minister should be from the Lok Sabha.
“I have just had a bypass surgery. I need time to recover. Therefore, I don’t think I can right now jump into the election fray,” Singh said in reply to another question with Gandhi by his side when the Congress manifesto was released on Tuesday.
The former Deputy Prime Minister said he was ready for a live debate with Manmohan Singh on various issues on TV channels as practised in the USA.
Dubbing Manmohan Singh as the “weakest Prime Minister the country ever had,” Advani said, “He cannot do anything without getting a green signal from 10 Janpath. A minister posted at the PMO takes the PM’s proposals to Sonia Gandhi and without her nod he cannot move.”
Advani said even former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, who was an elected representative in the Lok Sabha, had worked with more authority. Gowda had only four or five MPs of his party with him in Parliament in 1996 when he headed a coalition government.
Referring to China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, he said if that country wanted to develop good relations with India, it should stop claiming Arunachal.
Later talking to reporters, he said NCP leader Purno A Sangma was trying to unite all anti-Congress forces in the north-eastern region.
“This is a good job and I have all respect for Sangma,” Advani said.
PM must be elected from LS: Advani
Express news service
Mar 28, 2009
Asking people to choose from opportunism, dynasty and nationalism, NDA’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani repeated his attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday.
With his “Team Advani” in tow at a public meeting at Kankaria Football Ground here, Advani expressed “pity” on Manmohan Singh rather than being angry. Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, however, kept quiet over the cancellation of Mayaben Kodnani’s bail in Godhra riots cases or on objectionable remarks made by BJP’s Pilibhit candidate Varun Gandhi.
Advani told the gathering that if the BJP won, only then India would win and be counted in the world. He said the present Government — of Sonia and not Manmohan Singh — was a total failure with not a single achievement, an “all time poor record”. After projecting a bleak future as the result of the current situation, he said people should vote for a “determined leader and honest Government”.
He said it pained him that Congress allies were leaving it one by one. “Kya tamasha hai (this is all nuisance)?” he said about allies offering Congress just a few seats in states like UP and Bihar. Advani said it was good that Sonia said she would not become PM herself.
About Singh being projected as PM, he said the Prime Minister must be the one elected to the Lok Sabha and if need be, the BJP would bring a constitutional amendment to ensure this.
Advani said injustice to Gujarat on matters like coastal security or denial to bring in GUJCOC would no more be tolerated and said discrimination was the enemy of federalism. He said what the US did post-9/11, India could do post-26/11 but that needed courage.
Modi said “who could be weaker than Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister who could not even remove a senior Cabinet minister for not attending a single Cabinet meeting for one full year”. He also wondered if it was a coincidence that both at the time of Harshad Mehta scam and Satyam scam, Manmohan was holding important position in the Government at the Centre.
Modi criticised the PM for approaching the US after the Mumbai attacks last year rather that confronting Pakistan with evidence.
Mar 28, 2009
Asking people to choose from opportunism, dynasty and nationalism, NDA’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani repeated his attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday.
With his “Team Advani” in tow at a public meeting at Kankaria Football Ground here, Advani expressed “pity” on Manmohan Singh rather than being angry. Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, however, kept quiet over the cancellation of Mayaben Kodnani’s bail in Godhra riots cases or on objectionable remarks made by BJP’s Pilibhit candidate Varun Gandhi.
Advani told the gathering that if the BJP won, only then India would win and be counted in the world. He said the present Government — of Sonia and not Manmohan Singh — was a total failure with not a single achievement, an “all time poor record”. After projecting a bleak future as the result of the current situation, he said people should vote for a “determined leader and honest Government”.
He said it pained him that Congress allies were leaving it one by one. “Kya tamasha hai (this is all nuisance)?” he said about allies offering Congress just a few seats in states like UP and Bihar. Advani said it was good that Sonia said she would not become PM herself.
About Singh being projected as PM, he said the Prime Minister must be the one elected to the Lok Sabha and if need be, the BJP would bring a constitutional amendment to ensure this.
Advani said injustice to Gujarat on matters like coastal security or denial to bring in GUJCOC would no more be tolerated and said discrimination was the enemy of federalism. He said what the US did post-9/11, India could do post-26/11 but that needed courage.
Modi said “who could be weaker than Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister who could not even remove a senior Cabinet minister for not attending a single Cabinet meeting for one full year”. He also wondered if it was a coincidence that both at the time of Harshad Mehta scam and Satyam scam, Manmohan was holding important position in the Government at the Centre.
Modi criticised the PM for approaching the US after the Mumbai attacks last year rather that confronting Pakistan with evidence.
BJP intensifies attack on PM; questions his leadership
New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) Stepping up attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP today said if he could not contest the Lok Sabha elections and participate in a television debate with L K Advani due to health reasons, then how will he lead the nation.
"Manmohan Singhji is neither ready to fight the election nor ready for a TV debate with our prime ministerial candidate L K Advani. His illness is being cited as an excuse," senior BJP leader V K Malhotra said.
"If he is ill and can not even come for a TV debate then how can he become Prime Minister of the country," he told reporters.
Malhotra said Singh contested the Lok Sabha elections just once and he was defeated then.
Advani yesterday challenged Singh to a live TV debate similar to the practice in the US where rival political leaders take on each other.
Reacting to the challenge, Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan had said the BJP seems to be "obsessed" with everything in US. However, she said it was upto the prime minister to respond to the challenge.
The senior BJP leader said the Congress is in shambles after many key allies deserted the party in the last couple of days. PTI
"Manmohan Singhji is neither ready to fight the election nor ready for a TV debate with our prime ministerial candidate L K Advani. His illness is being cited as an excuse," senior BJP leader V K Malhotra said.
"If he is ill and can not even come for a TV debate then how can he become Prime Minister of the country," he told reporters.
Malhotra said Singh contested the Lok Sabha elections just once and he was defeated then.
Advani yesterday challenged Singh to a live TV debate similar to the practice in the US where rival political leaders take on each other.
Reacting to the challenge, Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan had said the BJP seems to be "obsessed" with everything in US. However, she said it was upto the prime minister to respond to the challenge.
The senior BJP leader said the Congress is in shambles after many key allies deserted the party in the last couple of days. PTI
Cong rejects Advani's charge that Manmohan is 'weak' PM
New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) Congress today rejected the charge of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani that Manmohan Singh was a "weak" Prime Minister and there were different centres of power in the UPA government.
"It is unwarranted and unfair. We do not expect the BJP to be charitable but when it was in power, there were various centres of power," Union Minister and party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here.
"When the NDA was in power, the RSS functionaries participated in important meetings and even addressed the media outside 7 Race Course Road ... Then there was the Home Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister (L K Advani) who kept rushing to Jhandewalan (RSS office)," he added.
Sharma alleged there were two power centres -- Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani -- in the NDA government and another was the RSS headquarters at Nagpur. He alleged the decisions then were taken by the RSS and it was unfortunate for the BJP to make allegations now.
"We do not have remote control functioning ... Not connected with the party or the government," the Congress leader said.
"In our government, there is a healthy working relationship between the Chairperson of the UPA (Sonia Gandhi) and the Prime Minister," Sharma said. PTI
"It is unwarranted and unfair. We do not expect the BJP to be charitable but when it was in power, there were various centres of power," Union Minister and party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here.
"When the NDA was in power, the RSS functionaries participated in important meetings and even addressed the media outside 7 Race Course Road ... Then there was the Home Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister (L K Advani) who kept rushing to Jhandewalan (RSS office)," he added.
Sharma alleged there were two power centres -- Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani -- in the NDA government and another was the RSS headquarters at Nagpur. He alleged the decisions then were taken by the RSS and it was unfortunate for the BJP to make allegations now.
"We do not have remote control functioning ... Not connected with the party or the government," the Congress leader said.
"In our government, there is a healthy working relationship between the Chairperson of the UPA (Sonia Gandhi) and the Prime Minister," Sharma said. PTI
BJP starts 'cyber war' with paid links
28 Mar 2009,
MUMBAI: The next time you key in the words `Sonia Gandhi' or `Manmohan Singh' into the Google search engine, you will find a paid link on the top right corner of the screen trying to take your attention to L K Advani and the BJP.
While the search will throw up legitimate results containing the key words searched for, the sponsored links on the right will throw up messages saying things like: `Do you know why Advaniji is a better leader, BJP a better party... If you don't, then visit lkadvani.in.'
It's a strategy devised by the infotech cell of the saffron party to lure away net surfers otherwise heading for websites of the Congress party or its leaders. Several other search words will lead to similar results. Try `Rahul Gandhi' and you might get a link with a teaser like `Do you share the dream? 21st century, India's century-Advani for PM'.
Type `Congress party' and you may see `BJP a better alternative: Learn how Advani plans to make the 21st century India's century'. Sometimes the link is a blog and the teaser is: `Bloggers for L K Advani: Get the official blogger for Advani Button Now. Show your support.'
It goes without saying that the Congress is peeved at the way the BJP is trying to "encroach'' on its cyberspace by getting sponsored links to divert surfers' attentions. Ashish Gosalia, chairman of the science and technology cell of the state Congress, said, "This is not fair. They should not hijack our opportunity to attract surfers to our party websites. There are scores of internet users who daily type in Rahul, Sonia Gandhi or Congress party into search engines to access info about our party's activities. The BJP seems to be desperate.'' It amounts to something like a cyber war, he added.
Gosalia said the Congress would not counter the move by employing similar "encroachment techniques'' in cyberspace. "We are confident of publicising the websites of our leaders and the party through banners, posters and party booklets,'' he said.
When contacted, Vinit Goenka, the IT convenor in Maharashtra for the BJP, told TOI that his party had taken sponsored links on searches which involved keywords of the Congress and its top leaders. "We want to publicise L K Advani's site to as many people as possible, including those who visit Congress sites. We are doing nothing wrong or illegal as we have not hacked into anybody's site,'' he said.
Internet expert Vijay Mukhi said such strategies have been employed by automobile companies. "It had created a controversy between two companies years ago, but it is not illegal,'' he stated.
The BJP's IT team comprises IIT engineers and one is even an IIT-IIM. It is learnt that the same team visited monster.com, naukri.com and social networking sites like Orkut to build a database of 12 lakh emails in the past six months. The party has already dispatched 40 lakh mails in the past two weeks.
MUMBAI: The next time you key in the words `Sonia Gandhi' or `Manmohan Singh' into the Google search engine, you will find a paid link on the top right corner of the screen trying to take your attention to L K Advani and the BJP.
While the search will throw up legitimate results containing the key words searched for, the sponsored links on the right will throw up messages saying things like: `Do you know why Advaniji is a better leader, BJP a better party... If you don't, then visit lkadvani.in.'
It's a strategy devised by the infotech cell of the saffron party to lure away net surfers otherwise heading for websites of the Congress party or its leaders. Several other search words will lead to similar results. Try `Rahul Gandhi' and you might get a link with a teaser like `Do you share the dream? 21st century, India's century-Advani for PM'.
Type `Congress party' and you may see `BJP a better alternative: Learn how Advani plans to make the 21st century India's century'. Sometimes the link is a blog and the teaser is: `Bloggers for L K Advani: Get the official blogger for Advani Button Now. Show your support.'
It goes without saying that the Congress is peeved at the way the BJP is trying to "encroach'' on its cyberspace by getting sponsored links to divert surfers' attentions. Ashish Gosalia, chairman of the science and technology cell of the state Congress, said, "This is not fair. They should not hijack our opportunity to attract surfers to our party websites. There are scores of internet users who daily type in Rahul, Sonia Gandhi or Congress party into search engines to access info about our party's activities. The BJP seems to be desperate.'' It amounts to something like a cyber war, he added.
Gosalia said the Congress would not counter the move by employing similar "encroachment techniques'' in cyberspace. "We are confident of publicising the websites of our leaders and the party through banners, posters and party booklets,'' he said.
When contacted, Vinit Goenka, the IT convenor in Maharashtra for the BJP, told TOI that his party had taken sponsored links on searches which involved keywords of the Congress and its top leaders. "We want to publicise L K Advani's site to as many people as possible, including those who visit Congress sites. We are doing nothing wrong or illegal as we have not hacked into anybody's site,'' he said.
Internet expert Vijay Mukhi said such strategies have been employed by automobile companies. "It had created a controversy between two companies years ago, but it is not illegal,'' he stated.
The BJP's IT team comprises IIT engineers and one is even an IIT-IIM. It is learnt that the same team visited monster.com, naukri.com and social networking sites like Orkut to build a database of 12 lakh emails in the past six months. The party has already dispatched 40 lakh mails in the past two weeks.
Junior NTR injured in road accident
Friday,27 March 2009
Hyderabad: Junior NTR, popular Telugu film actor and star campaigner of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has suffered multiple injuries after a road accident in Andhra Pradesh, police said Friday.
The accident took place late Thursday when the Tata Safari vehicle in which he was travelling turned turtle and hit a tree in Nalgonda district, 170 km east of here.
Junior NTR, grandson of legendary actor and TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, was returning to Hyderabad from Khammam district after campaigning when the accident occurred. He was driving the vehicle.
He suffered injuries on head, temple, shoulder and elbow and has been shifted to the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Secunderabad here. Doctors said he was out of danger but needed complete rest for four to six weeks.
Two people accompanying him were also injured. They have been identified as actor Rajiv Kanakala, who was sitting beside Junior NTR, and junior artist Srinivas Reddy, who was on the rear seat.
The actor's supporters and TDP leaders in other vehicles in his convoy first shifted them to a hospital in Suryapet town for first aid. They were later brought to KIMS in the state capital.
According to the police, the accident occurred at a sharp turn at Mothe village near Suryapet town.
"Apparently, he could not see the turn and suddenly applied the brakes leading to the accident," Nalgonda District Superintendent of Police B. Srinivas told reporters.
Junior NTR, who hit the campaign trail two weeks ago, was returning to Hyderabad to celebrate Ugadi (Telugu New Year day) with his family and also to hold talks with TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu for a party ticket to one of his followers.
According to informed sources, Junior NTR was unhappy with Naidu for denying an assembly ticket to his follower and the TDP chief had called him for talks.
Junior NTR's relatives other senior TDP leaders have rushed to the hospital. His father is actor N. Harikrishna.
Actor N. Balakrishna, who is also campaigning for the TDP and rushed to the hospital, said: "The blessings of his fans have saved his life".
NTR's elder son-in-law Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao, who is a legislator of the ruling Congress party, also rushed to the hospital.
The accident dealt a blow to TDP's campaign as Junior NTR was attracting huge crowds since he launched his campaign in Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra. His resemblance to his legendary grandfather and the theatrical punch in his speeches proved a big hit with people.
He covered six districtS during the last 14 days, reminding people of the popularity of his grandfather, who had created a record by coming to power within nine months of launching the TDP in 1982.
Junior NTR was originally scheduled to cover the entire state in 40 days.
Hyderabad: Junior NTR, popular Telugu film actor and star campaigner of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has suffered multiple injuries after a road accident in Andhra Pradesh, police said Friday.
The accident took place late Thursday when the Tata Safari vehicle in which he was travelling turned turtle and hit a tree in Nalgonda district, 170 km east of here.
Junior NTR, grandson of legendary actor and TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, was returning to Hyderabad from Khammam district after campaigning when the accident occurred. He was driving the vehicle.
He suffered injuries on head, temple, shoulder and elbow and has been shifted to the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Secunderabad here. Doctors said he was out of danger but needed complete rest for four to six weeks.
Two people accompanying him were also injured. They have been identified as actor Rajiv Kanakala, who was sitting beside Junior NTR, and junior artist Srinivas Reddy, who was on the rear seat.
The actor's supporters and TDP leaders in other vehicles in his convoy first shifted them to a hospital in Suryapet town for first aid. They were later brought to KIMS in the state capital.
According to the police, the accident occurred at a sharp turn at Mothe village near Suryapet town.
"Apparently, he could not see the turn and suddenly applied the brakes leading to the accident," Nalgonda District Superintendent of Police B. Srinivas told reporters.
Junior NTR, who hit the campaign trail two weeks ago, was returning to Hyderabad to celebrate Ugadi (Telugu New Year day) with his family and also to hold talks with TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu for a party ticket to one of his followers.
According to informed sources, Junior NTR was unhappy with Naidu for denying an assembly ticket to his follower and the TDP chief had called him for talks.
Junior NTR's relatives other senior TDP leaders have rushed to the hospital. His father is actor N. Harikrishna.
Actor N. Balakrishna, who is also campaigning for the TDP and rushed to the hospital, said: "The blessings of his fans have saved his life".
NTR's elder son-in-law Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao, who is a legislator of the ruling Congress party, also rushed to the hospital.
The accident dealt a blow to TDP's campaign as Junior NTR was attracting huge crowds since he launched his campaign in Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra. His resemblance to his legendary grandfather and the theatrical punch in his speeches proved a big hit with people.
He covered six districtS during the last 14 days, reminding people of the popularity of his grandfather, who had created a record by coming to power within nine months of launching the TDP in 1982.
Junior NTR was originally scheduled to cover the entire state in 40 days.
Cong works to ensure record victory margin for Sonia
Friday,27 March 2009
Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh): Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will file her nomination for the parliamentary polls on April 6, but the groundwork to ensure that she surpasses her four million victory margin has begun with her children Priyanka and Rahul energising party workers and putting systems in place.
While Priyanka visited this constituency for two days earlier this week, brother Rahul, who is general secretary of the party and represents nearby Amethi in parliament, had been doing the rounds earlier.
"Early last year, Rahul Gandhi had appointed a party worker for every 50 families in all the villages of Rae Bareli and Amethi. We were given the task of mobilising them to come to the polling booth on the day of voting," said Pawan Singh Patel, a party worker of Harchandpur block.
Priyanka, he said, stressed the same point during her visit.
"Priyanka instructed us to bring the maximum number of voters to the polling booth and ensure a record-breaking victory."
"During his frequent visits here, Rahulji always checks the register each worker has maintained (about the families) and makes sure he visits the maximum number of blocks," added Sanjay Chaudhary of Lalganj block.
While her victory seems certain, party workers are trying to ensure that she gets a record margin of victory this time - the record for the maximum winning margin is held by the Communist Party of India-Marxist's Anil Basu who won West Bengal's Arambagh seat in the 2004 elections by a margin of 592,502 votes.
In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Sonia Gandhi's winning margin was 249,765 with a vote share of of 58.75 percent.
Two years later, in the 2006 by-elections, this doubled to a victory margin of 417,858 and the vote share also went up to 80 percent.
The by-elections were held after she quit as MP over the controversy of her holding an office of profit in the National Advisory Council.
"Your main aim should to motivate each and every voter of your block to come to the polling booth. This time, you should work to help Soniaji set a record," Priyanka urged workers at a meeting here.
"Rae Bareli has over 1.2 million voters mostly comprising rural and semi-urban people. Most of the people have faith in the Congress since the time of Indira Gandhi and Firoz Gandhi," said Akhilesh Pratap Singh, spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress.
Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh): Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will file her nomination for the parliamentary polls on April 6, but the groundwork to ensure that she surpasses her four million victory margin has begun with her children Priyanka and Rahul energising party workers and putting systems in place.
While Priyanka visited this constituency for two days earlier this week, brother Rahul, who is general secretary of the party and represents nearby Amethi in parliament, had been doing the rounds earlier.
"Early last year, Rahul Gandhi had appointed a party worker for every 50 families in all the villages of Rae Bareli and Amethi. We were given the task of mobilising them to come to the polling booth on the day of voting," said Pawan Singh Patel, a party worker of Harchandpur block.
Priyanka, he said, stressed the same point during her visit.
"Priyanka instructed us to bring the maximum number of voters to the polling booth and ensure a record-breaking victory."
"During his frequent visits here, Rahulji always checks the register each worker has maintained (about the families) and makes sure he visits the maximum number of blocks," added Sanjay Chaudhary of Lalganj block.
While her victory seems certain, party workers are trying to ensure that she gets a record margin of victory this time - the record for the maximum winning margin is held by the Communist Party of India-Marxist's Anil Basu who won West Bengal's Arambagh seat in the 2004 elections by a margin of 592,502 votes.
In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Sonia Gandhi's winning margin was 249,765 with a vote share of of 58.75 percent.
Two years later, in the 2006 by-elections, this doubled to a victory margin of 417,858 and the vote share also went up to 80 percent.
The by-elections were held after she quit as MP over the controversy of her holding an office of profit in the National Advisory Council.
"Your main aim should to motivate each and every voter of your block to come to the polling booth. This time, you should work to help Soniaji set a record," Priyanka urged workers at a meeting here.
"Rae Bareli has over 1.2 million voters mostly comprising rural and semi-urban people. Most of the people have faith in the Congress since the time of Indira Gandhi and Firoz Gandhi," said Akhilesh Pratap Singh, spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress.
Ready for live TV debate with Manmohan: Advani
Seppa (Arunachal Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani Thursday challenged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a live television debate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, like in the US, and also described Manmohan Singh as the weakest political head the country has ever seen.
"Let the prime minister come for a live TV debate for which I am ready. This is the practice prevalent in the US during elections," Advani told an election rally in Sepa in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China.
The BJP's prime ministerial candidate also termed Manmohan Singh as the weakest prime minister India has ever seen.
"I have never seen a prime minister who has to take orders from the party high command to do anything for the country. Without Sonia Gandhi's approval, nothing moves in the government," Advani said at a modest gathering.
The BJP leader also challenged Manmohan Singh to contest parliamentary elections instead of taking the Rajya Sabha route. "Singh will be more acceptable to the people of India if he decides to fight the elections and go to the Lok Sabha," Advani said.
Manmohan Singh is a member of Rajya Sabha from Assam.
Earlier, Advani addressed two election rallies in Assam where he lashed out at the Congress party for what he termed its failure to tackle infiltration from Bangladesh which has posed a threat to the country's internal security.
Advani's remarks come two days after Manmohan Singh challenged the BJP leader's ability to rule India, saying his only contribution to "national welfare" was his role in the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque.
Advani had on Tuesday termed Manmohan Singh a "weak" prime minister.
"Let the prime minister come for a live TV debate for which I am ready. This is the practice prevalent in the US during elections," Advani told an election rally in Sepa in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China.
The BJP's prime ministerial candidate also termed Manmohan Singh as the weakest prime minister India has ever seen.
"I have never seen a prime minister who has to take orders from the party high command to do anything for the country. Without Sonia Gandhi's approval, nothing moves in the government," Advani said at a modest gathering.
The BJP leader also challenged Manmohan Singh to contest parliamentary elections instead of taking the Rajya Sabha route. "Singh will be more acceptable to the people of India if he decides to fight the elections and go to the Lok Sabha," Advani said.
Manmohan Singh is a member of Rajya Sabha from Assam.
Earlier, Advani addressed two election rallies in Assam where he lashed out at the Congress party for what he termed its failure to tackle infiltration from Bangladesh which has posed a threat to the country's internal security.
Advani's remarks come two days after Manmohan Singh challenged the BJP leader's ability to rule India, saying his only contribution to "national welfare" was his role in the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque.
Advani had on Tuesday termed Manmohan Singh a "weak" prime minister.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Manmohan Singh to be Congress' PM candidate: Sonia
New Delhi, March 24 (PTI) Making it clear in unmistakable terms, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said Manmohan Singh is the party's Prime Ministerial candidate and ducked questions whether her party would do business with the Third Front in the post-poll scenario.
In significant comments at the Congress manifesto release, she indicated that Rahul Gandhi could assume "leadership" when she said "wait and see. There may be a vacancy".
She was asked whether her son had any chance of leading the party if not the government in the near future.
On his part, the Prime Minister made a stinging attack on BJP's PM candidate L K Advani for his oft-repeated criticism that he was a "weak" Prime Minister.
"Whether I was weak or strong Prime Minister, the actions of our government will speak volumes.....But when I look at the record of Advani, all I can discover is the prominent role in destruction of Babri Masjid. What else he had done afterwards as a contribution to the national welfare?", he said.
Asked whether Rahul could become the Prime Minister, Gandhi, who was flanked by Singh and another senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee, took out the manifesto and pointed to Singh's image on its cover and asked "Have you not seen this?" PTI
In significant comments at the Congress manifesto release, she indicated that Rahul Gandhi could assume "leadership" when she said "wait and see. There may be a vacancy".
She was asked whether her son had any chance of leading the party if not the government in the near future.
On his part, the Prime Minister made a stinging attack on BJP's PM candidate L K Advani for his oft-repeated criticism that he was a "weak" Prime Minister.
"Whether I was weak or strong Prime Minister, the actions of our government will speak volumes.....But when I look at the record of Advani, all I can discover is the prominent role in destruction of Babri Masjid. What else he had done afterwards as a contribution to the national welfare?", he said.
Asked whether Rahul could become the Prime Minister, Gandhi, who was flanked by Singh and another senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee, took out the manifesto and pointed to Singh's image on its cover and asked "Have you not seen this?" PTI
Highlights of Congress manifesto
The Congress manifesto, released Tuesday, has many promises:
25 kg wheat or rice for Rs.3 a month
Maximum possible security to each and every citizen
Highest level of defence preparedness and also take further steps for the welfare of the defence forces and their families
Acceleration in the process of police reforms
To take the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme forward
Enactment of a National Food Security Act
Health security for all
Comprehensive social security to those at special risk
Implementation of a nation-wide skill development programme
Expand schemes for improving well-being of farmers and their families
Democratised and professionalised functioning of cooperatives
Greater impetus to the empowerment of weaker sections of society.
Elected panchayat institutions to be made financially strong
Connect all villages to a broadband network in three years time
ive special focus to the small entrepreneur and to small and medium enterprises
Maintain the path of high growth with fiscal prudence and low inflation
Introduce the goods and services tax from April 1, 2010.
A completely new look to urban governance
A new deal to our youth to participate in governance
Protection of India's natural environment and steps to rejuvenate it
A massive renewal of science and technology infrastructure
To pursue judicial reforms to cut delays in courts
To continue to be sensitive to regional aspirations
Energy security for the country
To pursue an independent, pro-India foreign policy
To intensify the involvement of overseas Indians in development
25 kg wheat or rice for Rs.3 a month
Maximum possible security to each and every citizen
Highest level of defence preparedness and also take further steps for the welfare of the defence forces and their families
Acceleration in the process of police reforms
To take the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme forward
Enactment of a National Food Security Act
Health security for all
Comprehensive social security to those at special risk
Implementation of a nation-wide skill development programme
Expand schemes for improving well-being of farmers and their families
Democratised and professionalised functioning of cooperatives
Greater impetus to the empowerment of weaker sections of society.
Elected panchayat institutions to be made financially strong
Connect all villages to a broadband network in three years time
ive special focus to the small entrepreneur and to small and medium enterprises
Maintain the path of high growth with fiscal prudence and low inflation
Introduce the goods and services tax from April 1, 2010.
A completely new look to urban governance
A new deal to our youth to participate in governance
Protection of India's natural environment and steps to rejuvenate it
A massive renewal of science and technology infrastructure
To pursue judicial reforms to cut delays in courts
To continue to be sensitive to regional aspirations
Energy security for the country
To pursue an independent, pro-India foreign policy
To intensify the involvement of overseas Indians in development
TDP using glamour to attract voters, says YSR
26 March 2009
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Thursday said Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu was holding free film shows on the streets to attract crowds because he lacked credibility amongst the people.
The chief minister, popularly known as YSR, was reacting to roadshows by popular Telugu film actors N. Balakrishna and Junior NTR for the main opposition party.
Addressing a news conference at Tandur in Ranga Reddy district on the second day of his campaign tour, the chief minister said those turning out to see the stars would not vote for the parties they were campaigning for.
"People go to cinema theatres and spend money to watch the movies; but when the film stars are coming to them to hold free shows, it is common that they gather in large numbers to see them," said YSR, who is leading the ruling Congress party's election campaign.
While Balakrishna and Junior NTR, son and grandson of TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, are campaigning for the TDP, megastar Chiranjeevi is leading the canvassing for his Praja Rajyam Party.
Chiranjeevi's brothers and popular stars Pavan Kalyan and Naga Babu are also campaigning for the party. They are all attracting huge crowds.
"Cine glamour does not fetch votes and this was admitted by Chiranjeevi himself," said the chief minister.
Lashing out at his main rival Naidu, YSR said the TDP chief had no credibility among people as he did nothing for their welfare during his nine-year rule and hence banking on glamour to attract voters.
YSR blamed the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) for the delay in carving out a separate state of Telangana and claimed his government took up many developmental works in the backward region.
Claiming that Congress alone could give separate statehood to Telangana, he exuded confidence that the party would win 80 assembly seats in the region and 150 seats in Andhra and Rayalaseema.
Simultaneous polls to the 294-member state assembly and the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state are scheduled to be held April 16 and 23.
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Thursday said Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu was holding free film shows on the streets to attract crowds because he lacked credibility amongst the people.
The chief minister, popularly known as YSR, was reacting to roadshows by popular Telugu film actors N. Balakrishna and Junior NTR for the main opposition party.
Addressing a news conference at Tandur in Ranga Reddy district on the second day of his campaign tour, the chief minister said those turning out to see the stars would not vote for the parties they were campaigning for.
"People go to cinema theatres and spend money to watch the movies; but when the film stars are coming to them to hold free shows, it is common that they gather in large numbers to see them," said YSR, who is leading the ruling Congress party's election campaign.
While Balakrishna and Junior NTR, son and grandson of TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao, are campaigning for the TDP, megastar Chiranjeevi is leading the canvassing for his Praja Rajyam Party.
Chiranjeevi's brothers and popular stars Pavan Kalyan and Naga Babu are also campaigning for the party. They are all attracting huge crowds.
"Cine glamour does not fetch votes and this was admitted by Chiranjeevi himself," said the chief minister.
Lashing out at his main rival Naidu, YSR said the TDP chief had no credibility among people as he did nothing for their welfare during his nine-year rule and hence banking on glamour to attract voters.
YSR blamed the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) for the delay in carving out a separate state of Telangana and claimed his government took up many developmental works in the backward region.
Claiming that Congress alone could give separate statehood to Telangana, he exuded confidence that the party would win 80 assembly seats in the region and 150 seats in Andhra and Rayalaseema.
Simultaneous polls to the 294-member state assembly and the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state are scheduled to be held April 16 and 23.
PMK splits from UPA to join AIADMK
26 March 2009
Chennai/New Delhi: The PMK Thursday abandoned the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for a tie-up with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu ahead of the parliamentary elections that begin next month. The Congress hit back saying it made little difference.
A meeting of the General Council voted overwhelmingly for going with the Jayalalitha-led AIADMK in the parliamentary elections. While 2,453 members voted for the alliance with the AIADMK, only 117 voted for continuing in the UPA, PMK leader central Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said.
The General Council meeting of the party, which has six seats in the Lok Sabha, was attended by all its senior leaders, including PMK founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani.
The AIADMK has reportedly offered it seven Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha seats.
"As all of you have overwhelmingly voted for aligning with the AIADMK-led political alliance, I have to agreed to your wishes," S. Ramadoss told the gathering to thunderous applause.
The voting took place after a meeting of the highest decision making body that went on for two hours.
Anbumani Ramadoss later told reporters that he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and handing over his resignation from the Congress-led central government "within the next few days".
He added that the PMK would convey to the Congress leadership its decision to sail with the AIADMK.
He declined to answer further questions, saying S. Ramadoss would meet the press Friday while releasing the PMK election manifesto.
One furious Congress leader hit out at the PMK, calling it a communal party and saying that its defection would only make a minor impact in four or five Lok Sabha segments dominated by the Vanniyar community.
"The PMK's decision to quit the alliance is not unexpected. The decision will not have any impact on UPA. The PMK is a communal party, which enjoys the support of the Vanniyar community. It will have only minor impact," said K. Jayakumar, the Congress secretary from Tamil Nadu.
As the UPA whittled away, with the PMK joining the ranks of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) that have made their displeasure with the Congress apparent, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stepped in to say that there was no UPA.
"UPA is not existing now. It should be called Congress and allies. The main constituents of the UPA have left, realising that fighting elections with the Congress will affect them badly," BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Chennai/New Delhi: The PMK Thursday abandoned the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for a tie-up with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu ahead of the parliamentary elections that begin next month. The Congress hit back saying it made little difference.
A meeting of the General Council voted overwhelmingly for going with the Jayalalitha-led AIADMK in the parliamentary elections. While 2,453 members voted for the alliance with the AIADMK, only 117 voted for continuing in the UPA, PMK leader central Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said.
The General Council meeting of the party, which has six seats in the Lok Sabha, was attended by all its senior leaders, including PMK founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani.
The AIADMK has reportedly offered it seven Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha seats.
"As all of you have overwhelmingly voted for aligning with the AIADMK-led political alliance, I have to agreed to your wishes," S. Ramadoss told the gathering to thunderous applause.
The voting took place after a meeting of the highest decision making body that went on for two hours.
Anbumani Ramadoss later told reporters that he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and handing over his resignation from the Congress-led central government "within the next few days".
He added that the PMK would convey to the Congress leadership its decision to sail with the AIADMK.
He declined to answer further questions, saying S. Ramadoss would meet the press Friday while releasing the PMK election manifesto.
One furious Congress leader hit out at the PMK, calling it a communal party and saying that its defection would only make a minor impact in four or five Lok Sabha segments dominated by the Vanniyar community.
"The PMK's decision to quit the alliance is not unexpected. The decision will not have any impact on UPA. The PMK is a communal party, which enjoys the support of the Vanniyar community. It will have only minor impact," said K. Jayakumar, the Congress secretary from Tamil Nadu.
As the UPA whittled away, with the PMK joining the ranks of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) that have made their displeasure with the Congress apparent, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stepped in to say that there was no UPA.
"UPA is not existing now. It should be called Congress and allies. The main constituents of the UPA have left, realising that fighting elections with the Congress will affect them badly," BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain said.
BSP candidate held in the killing of 10 policemen
Wednesday,25 March 2009
Patna: Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Lok Sabha candidate Arjun Ravidas was Wednesday arrested in connection with the killing of 10 policemen in Bihar's Nawada district last month.
Ravidas, the BSP's candidate in the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, was arrested when he reached the district administration office to collect nomination forms, said an official.
Three suspected Maoist rebels had been arrested in connection with the incident on Feb 9.
According to police, over 100 armed Maoists ambushed an 18-member police party in Nawada. Ten policemen were killed in the attack during which the Maoists looted 11 guns.MM News
Patna: Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Lok Sabha candidate Arjun Ravidas was Wednesday arrested in connection with the killing of 10 policemen in Bihar's Nawada district last month.
Ravidas, the BSP's candidate in the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, was arrested when he reached the district administration office to collect nomination forms, said an official.
Three suspected Maoist rebels had been arrested in connection with the incident on Feb 9.
According to police, over 100 armed Maoists ambushed an 18-member police party in Nawada. Ten policemen were killed in the attack during which the Maoists looted 11 guns.MM News
ELECTION EYE - BJP may outdo Congress on populism
Thu Mar 26, 2009
1 of 1Full SizeNEW DELHI (Reuters) - The following is a snapshot of recent developments in India's general election campaign. (Items are from own sources unless stated.)
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto will likely be even more populist than that released this week by ruling Congress party. The BJP looks set to sell rice to families below the poverty line at the hugely subsidised price of 2 rupees a kilo. That would be going one better than its main political rival, who promised to sell 25 kilos of wheat or rice per month at 3 rupees a kilo. The BJP has in the past been seen as more pro-market and less populist than the centre-left Congress party. (Economic Times, Times of India).
The chief minister of Uttar Pradhesh has blocked a major BJP election rally in Azamgarh town, seen by the Hindu right as a major recruitment hub for Jihadi militancy. Security is likely to be one of the Hindu-nationalist BJP's major campaign platforms. Party leader L.K. Advani was set to address the rally, which local officials say was blocked because of security reasons and suggested an alternative venue. Local BJP politicians said blocking the rally was evidence of bias against the BJP by the controversial chief minister Mayawati, who heads a rival party. (All newspapers)
A court in Uttar Pradesh rejected a plea by Varun Gandhi, great-grandson of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to quash police reports about a recent speech in which Gandhi is alleged to have made inflammatory comments against Muslims. Gandhi denies the charge and says video tapes of the speech have been doctored as part of a political conspiracy to tarnish his image.
1 of 1Full SizeNEW DELHI (Reuters) - The following is a snapshot of recent developments in India's general election campaign. (Items are from own sources unless stated.)
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto will likely be even more populist than that released this week by ruling Congress party. The BJP looks set to sell rice to families below the poverty line at the hugely subsidised price of 2 rupees a kilo. That would be going one better than its main political rival, who promised to sell 25 kilos of wheat or rice per month at 3 rupees a kilo. The BJP has in the past been seen as more pro-market and less populist than the centre-left Congress party. (Economic Times, Times of India).
The chief minister of Uttar Pradhesh has blocked a major BJP election rally in Azamgarh town, seen by the Hindu right as a major recruitment hub for Jihadi militancy. Security is likely to be one of the Hindu-nationalist BJP's major campaign platforms. Party leader L.K. Advani was set to address the rally, which local officials say was blocked because of security reasons and suggested an alternative venue. Local BJP politicians said blocking the rally was evidence of bias against the BJP by the controversial chief minister Mayawati, who heads a rival party. (All newspapers)
A court in Uttar Pradesh rejected a plea by Varun Gandhi, great-grandson of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to quash police reports about a recent speech in which Gandhi is alleged to have made inflammatory comments against Muslims. Gandhi denies the charge and says video tapes of the speech have been doctored as part of a political conspiracy to tarnish his image.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Cong bends to power of cheap rice
25 Mar 2009
NEW DELHI: Ration and elections lend themselves to good word play - if it is now said that voters march on their stomach, some say the way to voters' hearts is through their belly.
The institutionalised fact of Indian poll story is that cheap foodgrains have proved a sure shot winner, with Congress picking on examples of the pioneering N T Rama Rao and recent Raman Singh to promise a ‘national food law' which would give 25 kg of rice/wheat at Rs 3/kg per month to BPL families.
It is a first for a central aspirant to make such promise though it has been used to good effect in states. By this defining promise, Congress may be as eager to swat away possible charges of moving away from aam aadmi as to further underscore its loyalty to its mascot.
But the party seems as inspired by the recent Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh polls in which promises of cheap foodgrains swept out the Congress challenge against the incumbent BJP.
It may not be anything new, as Chhattisgarh is providing 35 kg of rice at Rs 3 to BPL families and is set to reduce it to Rs 2, while MP is following similar policies. But a central law ensuring 25 kg at Rs 3 to the BPL would still be a pathbreaking step.
It would be a pan-Indian law, which would ensure a certain quantity of grains to BPL while bringing down price of rice by half. At the same time, it would reverse the equation on sharing of subsidy burden, with Centre footing the differential. It would be a throwback to the early 80s when Telugu strongman NTR rode to power in AP by promising rice at Rs 2/kg. While son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu did not like it much, CMs like Raman Singh and Shivraj Singh Chauhan used it effectively.
In a reversal of roles, Congress CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in Andhra revived the Rs 2/kg rice for BPL last year to try rebuffing NTR's successor.
Now, Congress's promise for Lok Sabha polls not only takes the cheap rice story to a new scale, it is an ultimate tribute to erstwhile adversary NTR.
NEW DELHI: Ration and elections lend themselves to good word play - if it is now said that voters march on their stomach, some say the way to voters' hearts is through their belly.
The institutionalised fact of Indian poll story is that cheap foodgrains have proved a sure shot winner, with Congress picking on examples of the pioneering N T Rama Rao and recent Raman Singh to promise a ‘national food law' which would give 25 kg of rice/wheat at Rs 3/kg per month to BPL families.
It is a first for a central aspirant to make such promise though it has been used to good effect in states. By this defining promise, Congress may be as eager to swat away possible charges of moving away from aam aadmi as to further underscore its loyalty to its mascot.
But the party seems as inspired by the recent Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh polls in which promises of cheap foodgrains swept out the Congress challenge against the incumbent BJP.
It may not be anything new, as Chhattisgarh is providing 35 kg of rice at Rs 3 to BPL families and is set to reduce it to Rs 2, while MP is following similar policies. But a central law ensuring 25 kg at Rs 3 to the BPL would still be a pathbreaking step.
It would be a pan-Indian law, which would ensure a certain quantity of grains to BPL while bringing down price of rice by half. At the same time, it would reverse the equation on sharing of subsidy burden, with Centre footing the differential. It would be a throwback to the early 80s when Telugu strongman NTR rode to power in AP by promising rice at Rs 2/kg. While son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu did not like it much, CMs like Raman Singh and Shivraj Singh Chauhan used it effectively.
In a reversal of roles, Congress CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in Andhra revived the Rs 2/kg rice for BPL last year to try rebuffing NTR's successor.
Now, Congress's promise for Lok Sabha polls not only takes the cheap rice story to a new scale, it is an ultimate tribute to erstwhile adversary NTR.
Congress unleashes sop parade
25 Mar 2009
NEW DELHI: 25kg of rice at Rs 3 a kg every month for BPL families. Rs 100 a day under NREGA. Need based scholarships for all students. Free education for SC and ST kids upto university. Minority quotas in government jobs. Direct income support to farmers. One-third quota for women in central government jobs.
Throw in a promise to modernise the police and combat terrorism and a commitment to inclusive growth, Congress's manifesto for the 2009 elections suits the term "please all" in almost every way. Going all out to woo every significant sectional interest and cover all bases, the UPA lead player has laid out a sop parade.
Under the over-arching appeal spelt out by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Congress was best placed to tackle the serious security challenges in the neighbourhood and the economic slowdown -- as compared to a BJP caught up with a "hate agenda" exemplified by Varun Gandhi -- Congress offered itself as an embodiment of middle-of-way moderation.
Congress has always attacked BJP for being "divisive" and the Varun Gandhi episode has given it the opening it needs to drive the point home. The "other" Gandhi's utterances saw the PM describing BJP's "endorsement " of its nominee as "shameful" while Sonia said no "sane person" would claim such a hate-laden speech reflected Congress culture.
In his responses to media questions, the PM said BJP had no capacity or will to grapple with domestic and international issues. He described both BJP and Left has regressive parties opposed to India's widening engagement with the world.
The manifesto makes no bones about its populism. Apart from a pledge to aim for high growth with low inflation, Congress has clearly sought the first mover's advantage on aam aadmi measures. Having been at the receiving end of populist promises held out by regional parties, Congress has reinvented itself with party chief Sonia Gandhi playing the role of lady bountiful to the hilt.
The image of benign benevolence is central to the poll document as the party has something for everyone. A few lines on being committed to a path of "fiscal responsibility" are drowned out by promises for special schemes for rural women, marginal farmers, toddy tappers, weavers, plantation and construction labour, fisherfolk, mine and beedi workers. There is also, in a mandatory sort of way, a pledge to extend interest relief to all farmers who repay loans on schedule.
Despite having failed to deliver on demands like quotas in private sector and for minorities, the manifesto speaks of a special minority outreach. It claims that Congress has pioneered quotas for minorities in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on the basis of social and economic backwardness and this would be the model at the national level too. On the development front, it speaks of an emphasis for small entrepreneurs and all villages being connected with an IT broadband network.
There is also an interesting proposal of launching a voluntary national youth corps to enable those between 18-23 years to serve upto two years in constructive nation-building for "suitable compensation". Though ill-defined, the scheme could well be aimed at a youth mobilisation that will also yield a crop of Congress supporters.
Congress said it would provide two model schools in a block and launch a massive programme for skill development. It even took a leaf out of TDP's direct cash transfer promise and said farmers in ecologically vulnerable areas would be given direct income assistance. The party said it would pass the rehabilitation bill that was left as part of Parliament's unfinished business.
The PM chose to indicate Congress's priorities when he acknowledged that food prices were on the higher side but put this down to the government's bid to keep the rural economy in the pink of health by large increases in minimum support prices. He agreed that the consumer had to foot a higher bill. The reply might be politically a little incorrect given that the urban electorate can hardly be ignored, particularly after delimitation.
NEW DELHI: 25kg of rice at Rs 3 a kg every month for BPL families. Rs 100 a day under NREGA. Need based scholarships for all students. Free education for SC and ST kids upto university. Minority quotas in government jobs. Direct income support to farmers. One-third quota for women in central government jobs.
Throw in a promise to modernise the police and combat terrorism and a commitment to inclusive growth, Congress's manifesto for the 2009 elections suits the term "please all" in almost every way. Going all out to woo every significant sectional interest and cover all bases, the UPA lead player has laid out a sop parade.
Under the over-arching appeal spelt out by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Congress was best placed to tackle the serious security challenges in the neighbourhood and the economic slowdown -- as compared to a BJP caught up with a "hate agenda" exemplified by Varun Gandhi -- Congress offered itself as an embodiment of middle-of-way moderation.
Congress has always attacked BJP for being "divisive" and the Varun Gandhi episode has given it the opening it needs to drive the point home. The "other" Gandhi's utterances saw the PM describing BJP's "endorsement " of its nominee as "shameful" while Sonia said no "sane person" would claim such a hate-laden speech reflected Congress culture.
In his responses to media questions, the PM said BJP had no capacity or will to grapple with domestic and international issues. He described both BJP and Left has regressive parties opposed to India's widening engagement with the world.
The manifesto makes no bones about its populism. Apart from a pledge to aim for high growth with low inflation, Congress has clearly sought the first mover's advantage on aam aadmi measures. Having been at the receiving end of populist promises held out by regional parties, Congress has reinvented itself with party chief Sonia Gandhi playing the role of lady bountiful to the hilt.
The image of benign benevolence is central to the poll document as the party has something for everyone. A few lines on being committed to a path of "fiscal responsibility" are drowned out by promises for special schemes for rural women, marginal farmers, toddy tappers, weavers, plantation and construction labour, fisherfolk, mine and beedi workers. There is also, in a mandatory sort of way, a pledge to extend interest relief to all farmers who repay loans on schedule.
Despite having failed to deliver on demands like quotas in private sector and for minorities, the manifesto speaks of a special minority outreach. It claims that Congress has pioneered quotas for minorities in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on the basis of social and economic backwardness and this would be the model at the national level too. On the development front, it speaks of an emphasis for small entrepreneurs and all villages being connected with an IT broadband network.
There is also an interesting proposal of launching a voluntary national youth corps to enable those between 18-23 years to serve upto two years in constructive nation-building for "suitable compensation". Though ill-defined, the scheme could well be aimed at a youth mobilisation that will also yield a crop of Congress supporters.
Congress said it would provide two model schools in a block and launch a massive programme for skill development. It even took a leaf out of TDP's direct cash transfer promise and said farmers in ecologically vulnerable areas would be given direct income assistance. The party said it would pass the rehabilitation bill that was left as part of Parliament's unfinished business.
The PM chose to indicate Congress's priorities when he acknowledged that food prices were on the higher side but put this down to the government's bid to keep the rural economy in the pink of health by large increases in minimum support prices. He agreed that the consumer had to foot a higher bill. The reply might be politically a little incorrect given that the urban electorate can hardly be ignored, particularly after delimitation.
India’s Congress Party to Supply Cheap Cereal, Help Farmers
March 24
India’s ruling Congress party said it will supply cheap rice and wheat to the poor and relax interest payments for farmers, reaching out to the country’s 700 million rural population before next month’s election.
“The Indian National Congress is determined to ensure that farming becomes a profitable occupation,” the party said in its manifesto, which was released in New Delhi today. “All measures in support of this objective will be taken.”
Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, government spending on subsidies, a farm debt-waiver program and other welfare plans has seen the deficit ballooning to 6 percent of gross domestic product this financial year compared with a 2.5 percent target.
“It’s very difficult to imagine how they will implement this; it’s nothing but an election plank,” said Shashank Khade, who helps manage $300 million at Kotak Securities Ltd. in Mumbai. “If it happens, it will widen the deficit, but the next finance minister will tighten the belt by bringing unplanned expenditure under control.”
Winning rural voters is key to gaining enough seats in parliament, with about 58 percent of India’s 1.2 billion people living in villages and dependent directly or indirectly on farming. Out of India’s total population, 714 million people are eligible to vote, according to the Election Commission, which conducts polls in the country.
While 36.8 million farming families benefited from last year’s agricultural debt-waiver program, the Congress party said in the manifesto it would “extend interest relief to all farmers who repay bank loans on schedule.”
Rice, Wheat
The party said it will offer 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of rice or wheat at 3 rupees (6 U.S. cents) a kilogram to each poor family each month if returned to power. Rice costs 22 rupees a kilogram in New Delhi and wheat costs 13 rupees a kilogram, according to the food ministry.
The party also pledged to set up subsidized community kitchens in cities for the homeless and migrants.
General elections in the world’s largest democracy will be held from April 16 to May 13, with votes being counted on May 16.
Singh said at the manifesto release function that the policies of his government had boosted the rural economy and that demand from these areas will lead to a revival of economic activity in the country in the next six to seven months.
The party pledged to stick to the schedule of introducing a goods and services tax starting April 1, 2010. It also pledged the addition of 12,000 to 15,000 megawatts of power every year.
Seeking Re-Election
The Congress party, trying to win a second consecutive term, is seeking to counter the economic slowdown to a 7.1 percent pace in the current financial year. India’s elections are being held when global recession has curbed exports, cutting growth to its slowest pace since 2003.
The 124-year-old Congress party, led by Sonia Gandhi, also promised to maintain high growth with fiscal prudence and low inflation.
The party said it was committed to fiscal responsibility to ensure the government can invest in welfare programs.
“This will require that all subsidies reach only the truly needy and poor sections of our society,” it said. “The Indian National Congress will continue its efforts to create and implement a national consensus on this issue.”
The Congress party, which had pledged in the 2004 elections to revive growth to 8 percent and work toward achieving a 10 percent pace, is counting on having maintained an average economic growth rate of about 8.5 percent during its term.
Majority Stakes
The government plans to retain majority stakes in banks, insurance, telecommunications and energy companies, the manifesto said.
The Congress party rejected what it called the “blind privatization” of government assets espoused by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. The party said Indian citizens should have the right to own stakes in such companies, while the government retains a majority.
The party pledged a “relentless” fight against terrorism. The November terrorist attacks that killed 164 people in Mumbai have stalled peace talks with Pakistan, it said.
“It is now entirely up to Pakistan to break the impasse by taking credible action against those responsible for the carnage in Mumbai,” the party said. “If it does so and dismantles the terrorist networks that operate from its soil, a Congress-led government will not be found wanting in its response.”
The party is also banking on improved infrastructure in some rural and urban areas, rural job guarantee programs to improve incomes and reduce poverty and an increase in the salaries of government employees during the government’s five- year term for voter support.
The Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance, or UPA, is competing for votes with the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, or NDA.
The two are locked in a triangular contest with a grouping of communist and regional parties. Elections to the 543 parliamentary constituencies will be held in five phases.
India’s ruling Congress party said it will supply cheap rice and wheat to the poor and relax interest payments for farmers, reaching out to the country’s 700 million rural population before next month’s election.
“The Indian National Congress is determined to ensure that farming becomes a profitable occupation,” the party said in its manifesto, which was released in New Delhi today. “All measures in support of this objective will be taken.”
Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, government spending on subsidies, a farm debt-waiver program and other welfare plans has seen the deficit ballooning to 6 percent of gross domestic product this financial year compared with a 2.5 percent target.
“It’s very difficult to imagine how they will implement this; it’s nothing but an election plank,” said Shashank Khade, who helps manage $300 million at Kotak Securities Ltd. in Mumbai. “If it happens, it will widen the deficit, but the next finance minister will tighten the belt by bringing unplanned expenditure under control.”
Winning rural voters is key to gaining enough seats in parliament, with about 58 percent of India’s 1.2 billion people living in villages and dependent directly or indirectly on farming. Out of India’s total population, 714 million people are eligible to vote, according to the Election Commission, which conducts polls in the country.
While 36.8 million farming families benefited from last year’s agricultural debt-waiver program, the Congress party said in the manifesto it would “extend interest relief to all farmers who repay bank loans on schedule.”
Rice, Wheat
The party said it will offer 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of rice or wheat at 3 rupees (6 U.S. cents) a kilogram to each poor family each month if returned to power. Rice costs 22 rupees a kilogram in New Delhi and wheat costs 13 rupees a kilogram, according to the food ministry.
The party also pledged to set up subsidized community kitchens in cities for the homeless and migrants.
General elections in the world’s largest democracy will be held from April 16 to May 13, with votes being counted on May 16.
Singh said at the manifesto release function that the policies of his government had boosted the rural economy and that demand from these areas will lead to a revival of economic activity in the country in the next six to seven months.
The party pledged to stick to the schedule of introducing a goods and services tax starting April 1, 2010. It also pledged the addition of 12,000 to 15,000 megawatts of power every year.
Seeking Re-Election
The Congress party, trying to win a second consecutive term, is seeking to counter the economic slowdown to a 7.1 percent pace in the current financial year. India’s elections are being held when global recession has curbed exports, cutting growth to its slowest pace since 2003.
The 124-year-old Congress party, led by Sonia Gandhi, also promised to maintain high growth with fiscal prudence and low inflation.
The party said it was committed to fiscal responsibility to ensure the government can invest in welfare programs.
“This will require that all subsidies reach only the truly needy and poor sections of our society,” it said. “The Indian National Congress will continue its efforts to create and implement a national consensus on this issue.”
The Congress party, which had pledged in the 2004 elections to revive growth to 8 percent and work toward achieving a 10 percent pace, is counting on having maintained an average economic growth rate of about 8.5 percent during its term.
Majority Stakes
The government plans to retain majority stakes in banks, insurance, telecommunications and energy companies, the manifesto said.
The Congress party rejected what it called the “blind privatization” of government assets espoused by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. The party said Indian citizens should have the right to own stakes in such companies, while the government retains a majority.
The party pledged a “relentless” fight against terrorism. The November terrorist attacks that killed 164 people in Mumbai have stalled peace talks with Pakistan, it said.
“It is now entirely up to Pakistan to break the impasse by taking credible action against those responsible for the carnage in Mumbai,” the party said. “If it does so and dismantles the terrorist networks that operate from its soil, a Congress-led government will not be found wanting in its response.”
The party is also banking on improved infrastructure in some rural and urban areas, rural job guarantee programs to improve incomes and reduce poverty and an increase in the salaries of government employees during the government’s five- year term for voter support.
The Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance, or UPA, is competing for votes with the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, or NDA.
The two are locked in a triangular contest with a grouping of communist and regional parties. Elections to the 543 parliamentary constituencies will be held in five phases.
It's is certainly not the end of UPA'
New Delhi March 25, 2009
Releasing the Congress manifesto for the coming general elections, Sonia Gandhi not only pitched hard for Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister, but also tried to play down the differences within the United Progressive Alliance. Excerpts from her press conference:
The UPA is crumbling. In Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, major allies have left you. How do you see this situation?
We have decided to fight the elections on our own only after we could not reach an understanding with our partners over the seats. We are not fighting the election with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). But we have forged a pre-poll alliance with Mamataji (Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress). So, we have alliance with parties like the NCP, Trinamool and DMK.
The prime minister has just now termed the Left as a regressive force. After the election, will you take the help of the Left, if required?
This is not really something that I can answer right now. As of now, there is no alliance with the Left.
Will there be a change in the Congress leadership with more young people getting more responsibilities?
Why not?
Recently, we have seen that some leaders like Lalu Prasad, while distancing themselves from your party, are praising you personally. How do you feel about this?
I have not heard any such comment about my party or about me.
L K Advani has recently said that Varun Gandhi’s speech actually is a manifestation of the Congress culture.
I don’t think any sane person, any person who knows the culture of our party, can say this. What Advani has said is totally untrue.
Now that the SP and even Lalu Prasad have deserted the Congress, is this the end of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)?
It is certainly not the end of the UPA.
In 2004, there was a lot of pressure on you to become the prime minister. Even now, many Congressmen feel you should become the PM. Will you take a call this time?
I had made my position very clear in 2004 and also later. There is not going to be any change in that position.
You have formed an alliance with Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. Do you think this is the right time to ask her to come back to the party?
Currently, we are only in a pre-poll alliance with her. There is no change in that position as of now.
Last year, during the trust vote, you opted for the SP’s support instead of the Left. Do you think it was a mistake?
I don’t like to think what has happened in the past. I am looking towards the future.
When will Rahul Gandhi become the PM? After this election?
(Showing the PM’s picture on the manifesto cover) Can you see this? Tell me, can you see this?
Do you see Varun Gandhi’s comments as a blot on the Gandhi family legacy?
The PM has already answered the question. He has replied on behalf of the Congress.
Will you consider becoming the PM this time?
My position remains same. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is the Congress party’s candidate for the PM’s post.
Releasing the Congress manifesto for the coming general elections, Sonia Gandhi not only pitched hard for Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister, but also tried to play down the differences within the United Progressive Alliance. Excerpts from her press conference:
The UPA is crumbling. In Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, major allies have left you. How do you see this situation?
We have decided to fight the elections on our own only after we could not reach an understanding with our partners over the seats. We are not fighting the election with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). But we have forged a pre-poll alliance with Mamataji (Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress). So, we have alliance with parties like the NCP, Trinamool and DMK.
The prime minister has just now termed the Left as a regressive force. After the election, will you take the help of the Left, if required?
This is not really something that I can answer right now. As of now, there is no alliance with the Left.
Will there be a change in the Congress leadership with more young people getting more responsibilities?
Why not?
Recently, we have seen that some leaders like Lalu Prasad, while distancing themselves from your party, are praising you personally. How do you feel about this?
I have not heard any such comment about my party or about me.
L K Advani has recently said that Varun Gandhi’s speech actually is a manifestation of the Congress culture.
I don’t think any sane person, any person who knows the culture of our party, can say this. What Advani has said is totally untrue.
Now that the SP and even Lalu Prasad have deserted the Congress, is this the end of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)?
It is certainly not the end of the UPA.
In 2004, there was a lot of pressure on you to become the prime minister. Even now, many Congressmen feel you should become the PM. Will you take a call this time?
I had made my position very clear in 2004 and also later. There is not going to be any change in that position.
You have formed an alliance with Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. Do you think this is the right time to ask her to come back to the party?
Currently, we are only in a pre-poll alliance with her. There is no change in that position as of now.
Last year, during the trust vote, you opted for the SP’s support instead of the Left. Do you think it was a mistake?
I don’t like to think what has happened in the past. I am looking towards the future.
When will Rahul Gandhi become the PM? After this election?
(Showing the PM’s picture on the manifesto cover) Can you see this? Tell me, can you see this?
Do you see Varun Gandhi’s comments as a blot on the Gandhi family legacy?
The PM has already answered the question. He has replied on behalf of the Congress.
Will you consider becoming the PM this time?
My position remains same. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is the Congress party’s candidate for the PM’s post.
Sonia play down UPA differences, keeps Left option open
New Delhi March 25, 2009
Undeterred by the loss of major allies like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in key Hindi-belt states, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today pitched hard for the Congress, claiming it as the only party capable of tackling challenges like terrorism and global meltdown.
Releasing the Congress manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi used the platform not only to announce Manmohan Singh’s name as the party’s PM candidate, but also tried to send a political message that the Congress was not depending on allies to win the coming elections.
“This is a national election and the Congress is the only party which is present in all parts of the country. It is the only party with national outlook,” Gandhi said in a bid to wriggle out of the possible loss of regional allies.
While she kept her options open of seeking the Left support to form the next government, she also laid down the reasons why the Congress was the only party capable of facing major challenges. “We have a clear vision based on secularism, democratic principles and social justice. On the basis of this vision, we can face all challenges — be it terrorism or global economic crisis,” said Gandhi.
The Left parties, however, rejected these claims and charged the Congress with allowing the rise of communal forces in the country. “In the Left-ruled states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, the BJP will not win a single seat. But in other states, where the Congress is the main force against the BJP, what have they done to check the BJP? The Congress even joined hands with the BJP and toppled the V P Singh government. How can they say that we are dividing the secular forces?” CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said today.
While the PM tried to take on the Third Front and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, terming them as “regressive forces” in India’s development, Gandhi harped on the durability factor of a Congress-led government. “We need a government that can provide durability and continuity. Manmohan Singh’s government has provided these (qualities),” she said.
Within hours of Gandhi’s battle cry, the four Left parties issued a joint appeal for their alternative government endeavour. In their usual style, Karat along with Forward Bloc leader Debabrat Biswas, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan and RSP chief T J Chandrachoodan, claimed all the credit for insulating India from the global economic crisis.
While Karat remained relatively silent on the attack against the PM, Bardhan and Biswas slammed Singh for his remarks against the Left. “PM has expressed his own weakness by calling regressive forces,” Biswas said while Bardhan claimed that their “negative attitude” has actually rescued the country from economic debacle.
As the Congress’ internal assessment shows little chance of forming the government on its own strength, Gandhi today tried to keep the hopes of the UPA alive. “We have decided to fight the elections alone only after we couldn’t reach an understanding with our partners over the seats. But we have alliances with parties like the NCP, Trinamool Congress and DMK,” said Gandhi said
Undeterred by the loss of major allies like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in key Hindi-belt states, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today pitched hard for the Congress, claiming it as the only party capable of tackling challenges like terrorism and global meltdown.
Releasing the Congress manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi used the platform not only to announce Manmohan Singh’s name as the party’s PM candidate, but also tried to send a political message that the Congress was not depending on allies to win the coming elections.
“This is a national election and the Congress is the only party which is present in all parts of the country. It is the only party with national outlook,” Gandhi said in a bid to wriggle out of the possible loss of regional allies.
While she kept her options open of seeking the Left support to form the next government, she also laid down the reasons why the Congress was the only party capable of facing major challenges. “We have a clear vision based on secularism, democratic principles and social justice. On the basis of this vision, we can face all challenges — be it terrorism or global economic crisis,” said Gandhi.
The Left parties, however, rejected these claims and charged the Congress with allowing the rise of communal forces in the country. “In the Left-ruled states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, the BJP will not win a single seat. But in other states, where the Congress is the main force against the BJP, what have they done to check the BJP? The Congress even joined hands with the BJP and toppled the V P Singh government. How can they say that we are dividing the secular forces?” CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said today.
While the PM tried to take on the Third Front and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, terming them as “regressive forces” in India’s development, Gandhi harped on the durability factor of a Congress-led government. “We need a government that can provide durability and continuity. Manmohan Singh’s government has provided these (qualities),” she said.
Within hours of Gandhi’s battle cry, the four Left parties issued a joint appeal for their alternative government endeavour. In their usual style, Karat along with Forward Bloc leader Debabrat Biswas, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan and RSP chief T J Chandrachoodan, claimed all the credit for insulating India from the global economic crisis.
While Karat remained relatively silent on the attack against the PM, Bardhan and Biswas slammed Singh for his remarks against the Left. “PM has expressed his own weakness by calling regressive forces,” Biswas said while Bardhan claimed that their “negative attitude” has actually rescued the country from economic debacle.
As the Congress’ internal assessment shows little chance of forming the government on its own strength, Gandhi today tried to keep the hopes of the UPA alive. “We have decided to fight the elections alone only after we couldn’t reach an understanding with our partners over the seats. But we have alliances with parties like the NCP, Trinamool Congress and DMK,” said Gandhi said
Less of the same
Mar 25, 2009
There is an alternative
Hot seatIt might be fashionable to dismiss manifestos as unimportant, unreliable guides to what a political party will implement when actually faced with the trade-offs of power. There is an element of truth in that, but then there is in all exaggerations. What all can agree on, however, is that manifestos are one of the few real markers of what the policy-thinking parts of a political party are thinking about policy. And that’s why the Congress’s manifesto, released on Tuesday by Sonia Gandhi and an unusually combative Manmohan Singh, is worth a read.
Naturally, the manifesto privileges continuity: if nothing else, in its discussion of several schemes and programmes that the Congress-led UPA Government introduced. It also constantly reiterates the Congress’s claim that it is the only national party: the text reminds us that general elections are “national” elections — and here it puts “national” in bold letters. These are broad questions of claim and counter-claim, and could be endlessly dissected. But what can we learn from the proposals for future initiatives, which contain the real heart of what a party in government might have learnt in five years?
For one, compared to the CPM’s manifesto, the Congress’s claims clearly eye the strains already on the fisc. When set by the 2004 edition, there are fewer big-ticket, big-bill ideas visible. But there are some ideas, certainly. One is the proposal that university students should all have access to either scholarships or, more interestingly, educational loans. Hopefully this will clear the way for a system that relies less on subsidies and more on individual choice. Then there’s the “right to food” suggestion, which will spark useful discussion of whether the NREGA’s rights-based approach could work to streamline the public distribution system. And finally, an example of a bold move: the proposal that municipal authorities be made self-financing. That’s not something that one would hear either from state chieftains, attached as they are to the money-generating potentials for them in city governance; or from those on the left concerned about “exacerbating divides” between rural and urban India. And, now let’s wait for the BJP’s ideas, which will be even more interesting, perhaps — after all, the party in opposition is so rarely forced to be constructive.
The Indian Express
There is an alternative
Hot seatIt might be fashionable to dismiss manifestos as unimportant, unreliable guides to what a political party will implement when actually faced with the trade-offs of power. There is an element of truth in that, but then there is in all exaggerations. What all can agree on, however, is that manifestos are one of the few real markers of what the policy-thinking parts of a political party are thinking about policy. And that’s why the Congress’s manifesto, released on Tuesday by Sonia Gandhi and an unusually combative Manmohan Singh, is worth a read.
Naturally, the manifesto privileges continuity: if nothing else, in its discussion of several schemes and programmes that the Congress-led UPA Government introduced. It also constantly reiterates the Congress’s claim that it is the only national party: the text reminds us that general elections are “national” elections — and here it puts “national” in bold letters. These are broad questions of claim and counter-claim, and could be endlessly dissected. But what can we learn from the proposals for future initiatives, which contain the real heart of what a party in government might have learnt in five years?
For one, compared to the CPM’s manifesto, the Congress’s claims clearly eye the strains already on the fisc. When set by the 2004 edition, there are fewer big-ticket, big-bill ideas visible. But there are some ideas, certainly. One is the proposal that university students should all have access to either scholarships or, more interestingly, educational loans. Hopefully this will clear the way for a system that relies less on subsidies and more on individual choice. Then there’s the “right to food” suggestion, which will spark useful discussion of whether the NREGA’s rights-based approach could work to streamline the public distribution system. And finally, an example of a bold move: the proposal that municipal authorities be made self-financing. That’s not something that one would hear either from state chieftains, attached as they are to the money-generating potentials for them in city governance; or from those on the left concerned about “exacerbating divides” between rural and urban India. And, now let’s wait for the BJP’s ideas, which will be even more interesting, perhaps — after all, the party in opposition is so rarely forced to be constructive.
The Indian Express
Monday, March 23, 2009
INS, Editor's Guild condemn attack on Manorama office
22 Mar 2009
New Delhi, Mar 22 : The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) and the Editors' Guild of India have strongly condemned the attack on Kozhikode office of Manorama news channel on Saturday night allegedly for carrying a news item on the resignation of a local CPI(M) leader.
"This attack is nothing but a challenge against the freedom of the press. In case of any mistake in reporting, there are established means for correcting the same. It is foolish to try and gag media by unlawful means," INS chairman, MP Veerendra Kumar said in a press statement.
Calling upon all those who believe in democracy to protest against the incident, Kumar said, "A free media is the foundation of democracy. It cannot be justified if intolerance of political leaders turned towards it." The Editors' Guild of India said it was shocked to learn about the incident. It has demanded that Kerala Government and police authorities should provide full protection to journalists and news organisation in the state and strong action should be taken against the miscreants.
A mob of around 20 people -- allegedly belonging to the local unit of CPI (M) -- had damaged the office, a few vehicles and an OB van of the Manorama news channel, even as a journalist gave them a patient hearing, according to reports.
New Delhi, Mar 22 : The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) and the Editors' Guild of India have strongly condemned the attack on Kozhikode office of Manorama news channel on Saturday night allegedly for carrying a news item on the resignation of a local CPI(M) leader.
"This attack is nothing but a challenge against the freedom of the press. In case of any mistake in reporting, there are established means for correcting the same. It is foolish to try and gag media by unlawful means," INS chairman, MP Veerendra Kumar said in a press statement.
Calling upon all those who believe in democracy to protest against the incident, Kumar said, "A free media is the foundation of democracy. It cannot be justified if intolerance of political leaders turned towards it." The Editors' Guild of India said it was shocked to learn about the incident. It has demanded that Kerala Government and police authorities should provide full protection to journalists and news organisation in the state and strong action should be taken against the miscreants.
A mob of around 20 people -- allegedly belonging to the local unit of CPI (M) -- had damaged the office, a few vehicles and an OB van of the Manorama news channel, even as a journalist gave them a patient hearing, according to reports.
EC overstepped its brief over Varun: BJP
New Delhi: The BJP Monday charged the Election Commission with being biased in the case of Varun Gandhi, saying that it overstepped its powers.
BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj asked how the Election Commission could take up the role of an investigative agency. If Sanjay Dutt or Jagdish Tytler could contest the election, how Varun could not, he also asked Punj said the Election Commission had to be fair in its judgement but did not say whether the BJP, which had earlier distanced itself from the CDs showing Varun making inflammatory speeches in Pilibhit, would contest the observations of the Election Commission or not.
The Election Commission in an advisory note to the BJP late last night had suggested not to field Varun Gandhi, son of former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi.
"The Election Commission seems to have taken the role of a forensic laboratory," he said, adding that it had not gone into the veracity of the case.
Varun in his reply to the Commission on Friday had stated that the CDs had been doctored.
BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj asked how the Election Commission could take up the role of an investigative agency. If Sanjay Dutt or Jagdish Tytler could contest the election, how Varun could not, he also asked Punj said the Election Commission had to be fair in its judgement but did not say whether the BJP, which had earlier distanced itself from the CDs showing Varun making inflammatory speeches in Pilibhit, would contest the observations of the Election Commission or not.
The Election Commission in an advisory note to the BJP late last night had suggested not to field Varun Gandhi, son of former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi.
"The Election Commission seems to have taken the role of a forensic laboratory," he said, adding that it had not gone into the veracity of the case.
Varun in his reply to the Commission on Friday had stated that the CDs had been doctored.
YSR Reddy turns blogger to woo voters
22 March 2009
Hyderabad: Politicians in Andhra Pradesh are adopting hi-tech methods to woo voters, and leading them is Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who turned a blogger Sunday.
After sending SMS to mobile phone users during the last couple of weeks, the politicians are now using Internet to reach out to voters. Some of them have already launched special websites to seek votes.
YSR, as the chief minister is popularly known by his initials, has taken a lead by turning a blogger Sunday. He formally launched the website, votecong.com as part of the hi-tech campaign for the ruling Congress party.
In his first post on the blog, titled "Yes, We Will", the chief minister said he feels charged up as he is about to campaign in the elections because this gives him an opportunity to meet people and renew his commitment to the people.
The chief minister wrote that his chief rival and Telugu Desam Party's president Chandrababu Naidu's "trinket promises" will not carry conviction with the people because the latter "bends to every wind in the pursuit of power".
"When I promised free power to farmers in 2004, Chandrababu Naidu (then chief minister) mocked me. 'If you give power free, the whole system will collapse. Power lines will be useful only to hang your clothes to dry.' I am not sure if he has ever tried to do that. The result would have been shocking," wrote Reddy.
Apart from the chief minister's blog, the website features blogs by actors Jayasudha, Jeevitha and Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam.
The site also hosts articles and photo displays of the development and welfare programmes implemented by the YSR government in the last five years.
Hyderabad: Politicians in Andhra Pradesh are adopting hi-tech methods to woo voters, and leading them is Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who turned a blogger Sunday.
After sending SMS to mobile phone users during the last couple of weeks, the politicians are now using Internet to reach out to voters. Some of them have already launched special websites to seek votes.
YSR, as the chief minister is popularly known by his initials, has taken a lead by turning a blogger Sunday. He formally launched the website, votecong.com as part of the hi-tech campaign for the ruling Congress party.
In his first post on the blog, titled "Yes, We Will", the chief minister said he feels charged up as he is about to campaign in the elections because this gives him an opportunity to meet people and renew his commitment to the people.
The chief minister wrote that his chief rival and Telugu Desam Party's president Chandrababu Naidu's "trinket promises" will not carry conviction with the people because the latter "bends to every wind in the pursuit of power".
"When I promised free power to farmers in 2004, Chandrababu Naidu (then chief minister) mocked me. 'If you give power free, the whole system will collapse. Power lines will be useful only to hang your clothes to dry.' I am not sure if he has ever tried to do that. The result would have been shocking," wrote Reddy.
Apart from the chief minister's blog, the website features blogs by actors Jayasudha, Jeevitha and Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam.
The site also hosts articles and photo displays of the development and welfare programmes implemented by the YSR government in the last five years.
"Varun would've been jailed if I're home minister"
Sunday,22 March 2009
New Delhi: Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Sunday said that if he were the country's home minister, Varun Gandhi would have been jailed for his speeches in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit constituency.
"Had I been the home minister, I would have put Varun Gandhi behind the bars," Lalu Prasad told reporters here.
Varun Gandhi, 29, grandson of Indira Gandhi and nephew of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pilibhit constituency for the Lok Sabha poll.
He is in midst of a raging controversy over his alleged hate speech
New Delhi: Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Sunday said that if he were the country's home minister, Varun Gandhi would have been jailed for his speeches in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit constituency.
"Had I been the home minister, I would have put Varun Gandhi behind the bars," Lalu Prasad told reporters here.
Varun Gandhi, 29, grandson of Indira Gandhi and nephew of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pilibhit constituency for the Lok Sabha poll.
He is in midst of a raging controversy over his alleged hate speech
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Raj slams north Indians; calls UP 'den of terrorism'
24 Jan 2009, PTI
THANE: Ending a long break, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday night resumed his virulent campaign against North Indians describing Uttar Pradesh as a "den of terrorism" and accusing the state's Chief Minister Mayawati and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad of doing caste politics.
Defying Maharashtra government's order asking him not to make provocative speeches, Raj, addressing a rally here, spewed venom against North Indians justified his agitation against them who he said encroached on job prospects of locals in Maharashtra.
He said it would not be possible for him to abide by the government's gag order and he cannot be a "mute spectator when interests of Maharashtra are at stake".
"Let the government do whatever it wants. I will not watch things and will express my views. I cannot be a mute spectator," Raj said.
Alleging Uttar Pradesh was a den of terrorism in the country, Raj pointed to "criminals hailing from Azamgarh and Jaunpur". Several criminals from UP were arrested in Maharashtra in arms sale cases, he said.
Raj also alleged irregularities in issuance of driving licence by transport authorities.
Raj singled out those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, saying the word `north Indians' should not be loosely used as states like Punjab, Haryana and Kashmir were also part of north India.
He said there was nothing like 'Uttar Pradesh Day' even in UP and "leaders from these places use the occasion to show their strength".
THANE: Ending a long break, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday night resumed his virulent campaign against North Indians describing Uttar Pradesh as a "den of terrorism" and accusing the state's Chief Minister Mayawati and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad of doing caste politics.
Defying Maharashtra government's order asking him not to make provocative speeches, Raj, addressing a rally here, spewed venom against North Indians justified his agitation against them who he said encroached on job prospects of locals in Maharashtra.
He said it would not be possible for him to abide by the government's gag order and he cannot be a "mute spectator when interests of Maharashtra are at stake".
"Let the government do whatever it wants. I will not watch things and will express my views. I cannot be a mute spectator," Raj said.
Alleging Uttar Pradesh was a den of terrorism in the country, Raj pointed to "criminals hailing from Azamgarh and Jaunpur". Several criminals from UP were arrested in Maharashtra in arms sale cases, he said.
Raj also alleged irregularities in issuance of driving licence by transport authorities.
Raj singled out those from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, saying the word `north Indians' should not be loosely used as states like Punjab, Haryana and Kashmir were also part of north India.
He said there was nothing like 'Uttar Pradesh Day' even in UP and "leaders from these places use the occasion to show their strength".
Pinarayi(C P M) shares dias with Madhani
21 March 2009
Thiruvananthapuram: Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan Saturday shared the dias in Kerala's Malapuram district with a new-found ally: People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nasir Madhani, whom the Left considered a pariah not too long ago.
Vijayan and Maudany campaigned in Kuttipuram for the ruling Left Democratic Front supported independent candidate Hussain Randathany, who is contesting the Ponanni Lok Sabha seat.
In 1998, then chief minister E.K. Nayanar had listed as one his government's achievements the arrest of Madhani for his alleged involvement in serial bomb blasts in Coimbatore in October 1996 targeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani.
Madhani was subsequently acquitted and released from jail in 2007.
"We are looking into what his stand is today and hence there is no point in keeping people like Maudany and Raman Pillai (a former state BJP president) outside. Those who are raising this now are those who feel jittery (about the alliance)," Vijayan said Saturday.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B. Bardhan, speaking to reporters in Delhi, described Madhani's party as "communal".
Reacting to this, Madhani told a TV channel in Kerala the PDP would not withdraw support to the Left government in the state just because of the statement.
"Our credentials are not based on certificates issued by any party. Even the present CPI ministers here in Kerala have publicly said that one of the reasons for their victory in the 2006 polls was on account of the votes of my party's supporters," Maudany added.
Thiruvananthapuram: Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan Saturday shared the dias in Kerala's Malapuram district with a new-found ally: People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nasir Madhani, whom the Left considered a pariah not too long ago.
Vijayan and Maudany campaigned in Kuttipuram for the ruling Left Democratic Front supported independent candidate Hussain Randathany, who is contesting the Ponanni Lok Sabha seat.
In 1998, then chief minister E.K. Nayanar had listed as one his government's achievements the arrest of Madhani for his alleged involvement in serial bomb blasts in Coimbatore in October 1996 targeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani.
Madhani was subsequently acquitted and released from jail in 2007.
"We are looking into what his stand is today and hence there is no point in keeping people like Maudany and Raman Pillai (a former state BJP president) outside. Those who are raising this now are those who feel jittery (about the alliance)," Vijayan said Saturday.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B. Bardhan, speaking to reporters in Delhi, described Madhani's party as "communal".
Reacting to this, Madhani told a TV channel in Kerala the PDP would not withdraw support to the Left government in the state just because of the statement.
"Our credentials are not based on certificates issued by any party. Even the present CPI ministers here in Kerala have publicly said that one of the reasons for their victory in the 2006 polls was on account of the votes of my party's supporters," Maudany added.
BJP targets Madhani for alleged terror links
22 March 2009
Kochi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala General Secretary A N Radhakrishnan Sunday reiterated that the party would initiate a comprehensive probe into PDP Chairman Abdul Nazar Madhani and his family members' alleged terror links, if it came to power at the Centre.
Talking to newspersons here, Mr Radhakrishnan, who is also the Lok Sabha candidate for the Ernakulam constituency, claimed that the State police had enough evidence to implicate Madhani and his wife Sufia Madhani for their alleged links with terror outfits.
''Sufia had contact with those accused in the bus burning incident of 2005 in Kalamasery and the plot was hatched at Madhani's house'' he alleged.
He also alleged that both Madhani and his wife had close interaction with terrorist outfits operating in Kashmir.
On CPI(M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan sharing platform with Madhani in a political function in Ponnani Saturday, the BJP leader said Mr Vijayan was trying to give a clean chit to Madhani who had ''communal and terrorism'' antecedents.
The CPI(M)'s move to have an understanding with PDP on the basis of vote bank politics in the coming Parliament elections was regretable, he added.
Kochi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala General Secretary A N Radhakrishnan Sunday reiterated that the party would initiate a comprehensive probe into PDP Chairman Abdul Nazar Madhani and his family members' alleged terror links, if it came to power at the Centre.
Talking to newspersons here, Mr Radhakrishnan, who is also the Lok Sabha candidate for the Ernakulam constituency, claimed that the State police had enough evidence to implicate Madhani and his wife Sufia Madhani for their alleged links with terror outfits.
''Sufia had contact with those accused in the bus burning incident of 2005 in Kalamasery and the plot was hatched at Madhani's house'' he alleged.
He also alleged that both Madhani and his wife had close interaction with terrorist outfits operating in Kashmir.
On CPI(M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan sharing platform with Madhani in a political function in Ponnani Saturday, the BJP leader said Mr Vijayan was trying to give a clean chit to Madhani who had ''communal and terrorism'' antecedents.
The CPI(M)'s move to have an understanding with PDP on the basis of vote bank politics in the coming Parliament elections was regretable, he added.
BJP is not a temple construction company: Naqvi
21 Mar 2009, PTI
NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday underlined its commitment to the cause of building Ram Temple in Ayodhya but said the construction had to be done by the Ramjanambhoomi Trust and not the party as it is not a "construction company".
"BJP is committed that a temple should be built in Ayodhya after religious leaders of both sides reach a consensus through dialogue," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here.
"The task of building it (temple), however, has to be undertaken by the Ramjanambhoomi Trust as BJP is not a construction company," he told PTI.
Naqvi was issuing clarification after his comments to Gulf News were subjected to various interpretations by sections of the media.
In this interview to the Gulf newspaper, the Muslim face of the saffron party had said: "BJP is not a construction company to build a temple, mosque, church and gurudwara. We support the cause that there should be a Ram temple in Ayodhya, but it has to be done with consensus of the religious groups and organisations through negotiations and talks. Or according to the court's verdict."
He said some sections of the media here were interpreting his comments wrongly as they were quoting him "selectively".
Amid the controversy, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad clarified the matter while defending Naqvi.
"What he (Naqvi) has stated is essentially correct because we have never in the past said that BJP will personally construct the temple. The responsibility of constructing the temple is with the Ramjanambhoomi Trust which has undertaken it upon itself," Prasad said.
"BJP will only facilitate construction of the temple," he said.
NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday underlined its commitment to the cause of building Ram Temple in Ayodhya but said the construction had to be done by the Ramjanambhoomi Trust and not the party as it is not a "construction company".
"BJP is committed that a temple should be built in Ayodhya after religious leaders of both sides reach a consensus through dialogue," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here.
"The task of building it (temple), however, has to be undertaken by the Ramjanambhoomi Trust as BJP is not a construction company," he told PTI.
Naqvi was issuing clarification after his comments to Gulf News were subjected to various interpretations by sections of the media.
In this interview to the Gulf newspaper, the Muslim face of the saffron party had said: "BJP is not a construction company to build a temple, mosque, church and gurudwara. We support the cause that there should be a Ram temple in Ayodhya, but it has to be done with consensus of the religious groups and organisations through negotiations and talks. Or according to the court's verdict."
He said some sections of the media here were interpreting his comments wrongly as they were quoting him "selectively".
Amid the controversy, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad clarified the matter while defending Naqvi.
"What he (Naqvi) has stated is essentially correct because we have never in the past said that BJP will personally construct the temple. The responsibility of constructing the temple is with the Ramjanambhoomi Trust which has undertaken it upon itself," Prasad said.
"BJP will only facilitate construction of the temple," he said.
Advani seeks to punch holes in UPA's poll campaign
22 Mar 2009
NEW DELHI: BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani on Saturday visited the members of a family in the Capital who, driven by poverty, had attempted suicide last week in what was seen as a tactic to draw attention to the UPA government's 'Jai Ho' poll narrative.
Advani, who spent time with the younger members of the family who had entered into a suicide pact, said that he was horrified by the incident.
"I have met many families affected by spate of suicides in Vidarbha and other regions, but nothing of this kind. The scale of this tragedy is much higher. For such an incident to happen in the country's capital is shameful and shocking," said the BJP leader who took time out of his gruelling campaign schedule to visit the family recuperating at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital in Pitampura.
In all, seven members of a family, including five minor daughters, had consumed poison on Wednesday afternoon as they could not find a way out of the financial difficulties they have faced since the sole earning member, Satish Jain, was diagnosed with a heart ailment three years ago. Satish, a petty trader dealing in gunny bags, is still in a critical condition while his wife and kids are out of danger.
Advani's visit fits in with BJP's plan to make the impact of downturn one of the high themes of the campaign. Though its unexpected defeat in Delhi had raised doubts about the salience of terror as a campaign issue, party remains confident that economic dislocation, highlighted by inflation and job losses, will resonate well with the voter.
The issue which has found reference in the party's campaign on FM radio, is going to be sharpened when the party finalises its campaign, sources said.
The party's strategists feel that instances like the Rohini suicides have validated BJP's poll charge, while raising doubts about the authenticity of Congress's `Jai Ho' theme. They feel that Congress's `Jai Ho' campaign is conspicuously celebratory and can be held jarring in a political milieu marked by anxiety.
"They are committing the same mistake that we made five years ago by engaging in Shining India tom-tomming. It was praised for its confident tone before deaths in stampede at a rally where saris were being distributed to mark the birth anniversary of the then Prime Minister. All of a sudden, it was held to be at odds with the reality," said the party strategist.
Political circles found Advani's reference on Saturday morning to suicides in Vidarbha as quite significant, as saffron strategists feel that the mega loan waiver may not suffice to appease the unease in the rural areas over the tough conditions in the agriculture sector, as symbolised by the farmers suicides in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
NEW DELHI: BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani on Saturday visited the members of a family in the Capital who, driven by poverty, had attempted suicide last week in what was seen as a tactic to draw attention to the UPA government's 'Jai Ho' poll narrative.
Advani, who spent time with the younger members of the family who had entered into a suicide pact, said that he was horrified by the incident.
"I have met many families affected by spate of suicides in Vidarbha and other regions, but nothing of this kind. The scale of this tragedy is much higher. For such an incident to happen in the country's capital is shameful and shocking," said the BJP leader who took time out of his gruelling campaign schedule to visit the family recuperating at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital in Pitampura.
In all, seven members of a family, including five minor daughters, had consumed poison on Wednesday afternoon as they could not find a way out of the financial difficulties they have faced since the sole earning member, Satish Jain, was diagnosed with a heart ailment three years ago. Satish, a petty trader dealing in gunny bags, is still in a critical condition while his wife and kids are out of danger.
Advani's visit fits in with BJP's plan to make the impact of downturn one of the high themes of the campaign. Though its unexpected defeat in Delhi had raised doubts about the salience of terror as a campaign issue, party remains confident that economic dislocation, highlighted by inflation and job losses, will resonate well with the voter.
The issue which has found reference in the party's campaign on FM radio, is going to be sharpened when the party finalises its campaign, sources said.
The party's strategists feel that instances like the Rohini suicides have validated BJP's poll charge, while raising doubts about the authenticity of Congress's `Jai Ho' theme. They feel that Congress's `Jai Ho' campaign is conspicuously celebratory and can be held jarring in a political milieu marked by anxiety.
"They are committing the same mistake that we made five years ago by engaging in Shining India tom-tomming. It was praised for its confident tone before deaths in stampede at a rally where saris were being distributed to mark the birth anniversary of the then Prime Minister. All of a sudden, it was held to be at odds with the reality," said the party strategist.
Political circles found Advani's reference on Saturday morning to suicides in Vidarbha as quite significant, as saffron strategists feel that the mega loan waiver may not suffice to appease the unease in the rural areas over the tough conditions in the agriculture sector, as symbolised by the farmers suicides in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Spare us on Varun issue, BJP tells EC
20 Mar 2009,
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Election Commission to take back the notice served on it to over alleged communal remarks made by its member Varun Gandhi, saying it had distanced itself from the controversial speeches.
The BJP, however, told the poll panel late on Thursday that in view of Gandhi's assertion that he had not made the offending remarks, the Election Commission "should endeavour to obtain the original copy of the speech ... to check the veracity of the same".
Gandhi has been accused of making communally inflammatory speeches at public meetings at Pilibhit constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP said in its letter to the Election Commission that "it completely disagrees, disassociates and disapproves the contents of the alleged CD (of the speeches) as sent to us.
"Even assuming that a speech has been delivered by a member of the party, these contents do not represent the views of the party or its policies."
The BJP reiterated its commitment to the model code of conduct "in its entirety" and said it "shall endeavour to fully comply with it".
"Merely because a member of the party has expressed views contrary to what the party stands for, the party cannot be vested with any responsibility.
"In view of the categorical position taken by the BJP before the issuance of the notice (by the poll panel) and in reply to the notice, we request the Election Commission to discharge the notice."
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Election Commission to take back the notice served on it to over alleged communal remarks made by its member Varun Gandhi, saying it had distanced itself from the controversial speeches.
The BJP, however, told the poll panel late on Thursday that in view of Gandhi's assertion that he had not made the offending remarks, the Election Commission "should endeavour to obtain the original copy of the speech ... to check the veracity of the same".
Gandhi has been accused of making communally inflammatory speeches at public meetings at Pilibhit constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP said in its letter to the Election Commission that "it completely disagrees, disassociates and disapproves the contents of the alleged CD (of the speeches) as sent to us.
"Even assuming that a speech has been delivered by a member of the party, these contents do not represent the views of the party or its policies."
The BJP reiterated its commitment to the model code of conduct "in its entirety" and said it "shall endeavour to fully comply with it".
"Merely because a member of the party has expressed views contrary to what the party stands for, the party cannot be vested with any responsibility.
"In view of the categorical position taken by the BJP before the issuance of the notice (by the poll panel) and in reply to the notice, we request the Election Commission to discharge the notice."
Lalu signals breaking ties with Congress
22 Mar 2009
NEW DELHI: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Saturday broke his silence on Bihar upheaval and signalled snapping of ties with Congress marking the RJD chief Lalu Prasad addresses a press conference at his residence in New Delhi.
unravelling of the UPA in a state which it swept the last time, in what could potentially set the stage for the Congress-led combine's slide in the war of perceptions ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
A stung Lalu Prasad reacted angrily to Congress embracing his rebel brother-in-law Sadhu who met Sonia Gandhi in the morning, ridiculing its demand for more than three seats given to it as divorced from ground realities. An angry Lalu said Congress was preparing for 2014 elections.
The RJD strongman, who has another UPA ally, Ramvilas Paswan, on his side, also confirmed that he has firmed up plans for a joint campaign with Mulayam Singh Yadav which could lead to the formation of a new "secular' bloc aligned neither to Congress nor the Third Front and which could influence the post-poll sweepstakes.
The estrangement, which is a blow to Congress's chances of retaining the leadership of the next coalition at the Centre, coincided with its deepening worries over the outcome of alliance talks in Tamil Nadu, with growing indications that PMK may go with the AIADMK.
Whether the loss of the Vanniyar outfit would be compensated by the induction of actor Vijaykant's DMDK in the Congress-DMK alliance was an open question. But Congress suddenly appeared to be losing the edge it appeared to have had in the game of alliance in a manner reminiscent of the way NDA frittered away its edge five years ago.
The perception that the 2009 contest could go to the wire was reinforced by RJD's decision to field four candidates -- two more than Congress had left for it - in Jharkhand, and the dissension in the Rajasthan coalition, with Meena leader Kirorilal suddenly upping his ante.
In a serious upping of ante by RJD, Lalu on Saturday afternoon dismissed speculation that he had sought time from Sonia Gandhi to defuse the situation. In fact, he charged that Sonia was being misled by her advisors whom he derisively referred to as "munshis, managers and think-tanks".
While the former Bihar chief minister claimed he was still part of UPA and was not resigning as railways minister, there was no mistaking the all-out war between two staunch allies who have been the biggest stabilising agents in the Manmohan Singh regime. In fact, Lalu said almost as much. "We are in a war," he said as he refused to concede even one seat.
While this creates the real risk of Congress drawing a blank, the latter was on a warpath. AICC pointsperson Sushil Kumar Shinde announced that Congress would contest all but three of the 40 seats which include two from which Lalu plans to contest and one against LJP chief Paswan.
The Saturday faceoff completed the unravelling of UPA in Bihar which started with RJD and LJP apportioning 37 of 40 seats among themselves earlier this week. While it was speculated that Lalu Prasad may step up to bring about a rapprochement, his no-holds-barred press conference has queered the pitch for peace-hopefuls.
The decision to induct Sadhu Yadav, who is seen by many as symbolizing the wrongs associated with Lalu-Rabri raj, pointed to its intent. The party was clearly not concerned about the damage to its own credentials.
The Congress bravado is dictated by the calculations that both Yadav leaders are weak on their home turfs and unexpected to return figures which would make them a dominant voice in future politics of a secular formation.
While the estimate may not be too much off the mark as per indications, Congress strategists are unlikely to be comforted by the fact that bitterness among allies in UP and Bihar seems to have provided a readymade platform for `secular' parties looking for a foothold with greater bargaining space. The post-poll scenario could be volatile if Congress fails to score a big enough tally to secure its position as leader of the anti-NDA alliance.
In such a situation, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is another player whose post-poll movements are speculated to be on the anti-Congress axis while, sources said, leadership of PMK is open to siding with parties rooting for a government not led by Congress.
In fact, even the CPM, which is the author of the Third Front, has made it clear that it would not mind seeking support from Congress for forming the next government.
While debates over positioning for power in 2009 seems confined to "secular fold'', be it UPA or a ginger UPA group or the third front, the squabbles within the Congress-led bloc are sure to warm the cockles of NDA as they compromise the advantage Congress had logged over BJP in alliance-making.
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