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A for Adarsh, B for Bofors……but Modi forgets G for gas

All the three Prime ministerial candidates were busy in political campaign on Sunday, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Ludhiana. He was showing same attitude with same agenda that is to attack on Congress. Congress’s Rahul Gandhi seems to be maturing with time; he was very much focused, composed and to the point. AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal continued his campaign trail as the race to 7 RCR is gathering steam. While the Gujarat Chief Minister addressed ‘Fateh’ rally in Ludhiana, the Congress Vice President was in Dehradun. Rahul also reviewed reconstruction efforts in Uttarakhand’s flood-hit areas and met ex- servicemen. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal launched the party’s national campaign for the Lok Sabha elections at a rally in Rohtak in Haryana. This was his first rally after resigning as Delhi’s chief minister. The rise of AAP and their questioning of BJPs policies almost every day has created an impression in the minds of common people that BJP is the party preferred by corrupt corporates like Ambani. Now, some people have started saying that BJP’s rule means another 5 years of Ambani rule. This perception may hit BJP hard in the next elections. Unless BJP does a course correction, it will soon lose the support of common people of this country. BJP’s attempt of blocking the anti-corruption bills in Parliament has further dented the image of the saffron party. Remember, the India Shining campaign (development plank) (completely forgetting Hindutva Plank) which backfired. The same perception that the BJP is hand in gloves with the corporates and works only for them was prevailing at that time also. That’s why, BJP lost the elections. Don’t make the same mistake again because of which BJP had to stay away from power for 10 long years. Kejriwal is a dummy and his party is a total spoiler for others. If he wanted to be an alternative, he should have proved himself when given chance in Delhi. He will end up doing worst due to his impatience rather than doing anything good for the people of this country. Moreover, Modi started his speech A for Adarsh and B for Bofors, but he completely forgot G for gas.

AAP vs Reliance

The gas pricing controversy and Modi’s silence over Ambanis has dragged BJP in bad light. I have read somewhere that the Kejriwal has not questioned Modi, he has asked for his view. The gas was supplied by Ambani at $1 and thereafter it was increased to $4. Now government is planning to increase the gas price to $8 from April 1. Kejriwal questions on the basis of sharp increase, the rate of $1 was on the basis of marginal costing and if we don’t get from Ambani, it has to be imported at $14 from abroad. Thus, he is justified in his stand. Kejriwal’s question was, in an atmosphere of monopoly, why will someone sell on marginal cost, that too Ambani? Is there any connivance? Based on the cost of production, it was priced at $4 last year. How can there be 100 per cent increase in one year? If your logic is based on international rate of $14 then within six months Ambani may peg it at $12. This is an issue where Kejriwal is asking for Modi’s view. And Modi has not given any answer to his question. Constantly, BJP was attacking Kejriwal over various issues and as we know, he is threat to Congress as well as BJP, but they had not converted threat into voting. The mass is with AAP, and somewhere people are fed up with Congress and BJP. BJP has to realise that, it is no longer a walk over. The development plan, media support and paid trolls will never help on the ground. Just hoping that a Modi wave will hide all BJPs shortcomings. BJP has to transform itself as a party of the common man. They should learn from their previous mistakes. If BJP fails to realise then their future is doomed. Anyway, this is high time; BJP needs to change their attack style, as Modi’s monotonous style is not much appealing to common public anymore.

Modi’s ABCD

Hitting out at the Congress over the rising levels of corruption, Modi lambasted the ruling government for saying that the BJP stalled the introduction of anti-graft bills in the Parliament. “Congress leaders are blaming other parties on corruption. I am surprised. ABCD is indicative of Congress’ corruption. A for Adarsh, B for Bofors, C for Coalgate. He also attacked Congress on the issue of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme which has been approved in Parliament in its recently concluded winter session. He said that the Congress has no intentions of implementing the policy and it will be the NDA government which will eventually put the scheme to work. Speaking at his ‘Fateh’ rally, he made a pitch for improving the agriculture industry and proposed to split up the Food Corporation of India to improve efficiencies. He added that farmers, manufacturers and the workers belonging to the service sector are the three pillars to be focused on for the development of the country. Urging the people of the state to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Modi assured that he will work towards the development of the people when he comes to power.

Morale boosting Rahul

On the other side, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in Dehradun. He spoke to the point about various issues such as woman empowerment and Uttarakhand. He appealed to people, wherever you hear pain, please go there and help. In politics, there is no place for pride. One must quit pride to help others, to understand the pain of others. He put forward Congress’s vision, which is not short-sighted. He was very much poised while delivering his speech. Anyways, Gandhi family is known for connecting with people. Predicting the future of 2014 elections is bit difficult, but everyone is his best, at this moment.

AAP calls Hooda property broker, says Ambanis rule the country

AAP-in-rohatakAam Aadmi Party launched its LokSabha election campaign in Haryana on Sunday where it tore into Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and accused him of being involved in corrupt land deals with Reliance.

Addressing a rally in Rohtak, which is the home turf of Hooda, Kejriwal called him a property broker. “Hooda is not the CM but a property dealer,” he said.

Kejriwal, who had earlier taken up issues of land acquisition and Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra’s dealings in the state, accused Hooda of giving out land at cheaper rates to Reliance. “Hooda has given 8000 acres of land to Reliance for just a few lakhs,” he alleged.

Recalling that he is yet to receive a reply from BJP’s PM nominee NarendraModi on gas price hike, Kejriwal attacked BJP of being hands in glove with the Ambani brothers.

Hitting out at both Rahul Gandhi and Modi, Kejriwal quipped, “whether there is Modi or Gandhi, in reality it is the Ambanis who rule the nation.”

He questioned BJP’s silence on its attack on Reliance over gas pricing. For this he cited that the BJP was receiving monetary gains from Reliance for all their political rallies. He said, “I wrote to Modi thrice about gas pricing, about his party’s relation with Reliance and who is funding his mega rallies, he is yet to reply.”

Rahul Gandhi woos women voters, slams BJP for lack of vision in Dehradun rally

Rahul-Gandhi-PMCongress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday addressed a rally here with once again advocating for the need to empower the women in order to become a superpower and taking potshots at Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate NarendraModi. Rahul said that the Congress party understood the pain of the women and provided them with 12 cylinders. “Unless we strengthen the women and provide them with employment opportunities, India will not become a superpower,” Rahul exclaimed and reiterated that the Congress try to pass the Women’s Reservsation .

In a bid to woo the women voters, Rahul, who was recently made co-chairman Congress campaign panel, said that there should be a day when women of the country constitute half of LokSabha or state assemblies. He said, “In politics there is no place for ego, anger. Because if we have ego, we can never understand pain of other.”

Speaking the flash floods that struck Uttarakhand last year causing major damage, Rahul said that people witnessed how everyone got together to help each other, but there few who want to divide nation. Centre sent Rs 7000 crore for the redevelopment of Uttarakhand and it was Army jawans who also helped rebuild the state.

Continuing taking potshots at NarendraModi, Rahul in his speech accused the Gujarat CM for taking credit for the development work done in the state. Rahul again making an attempt to woo the women present in the rally, took example of Amul and said that it the women which helped it become a big name.

Attacking the BJP, the Gandhi scion said that the main Opposition party lacks the vision of what should be done in the country. Pointing that it was former prime minister and his late father Rajiv Gandhi who brought computers to the nation, Rahul said, “Rajiv Gandhi talked about 21st century, about computers, but the senior BJP leaders said we don’t need computers, it will create unemployment in the country. And now, they are claiming that the IT industry developed because of them.”

On the health issues in the country, Rahul promised that the Congress party will provide free healthcare for all for next five years if it comes to power again after the General Elections which are set to be held in May this year. “We (Congress) provided you with right to education, right to food and now we will provide you with the right to health,” Rahul said.

Further trying to woo the poor people of the country, he highlighted that 14 crore people were lifted out of poverty during Congress rule and added that the benefits that the rich get, will be ensured that the poor also receive the same. “We want to raise the standard of living of the poor and bring them to the middle class. We aim to bring 70 lakh people to the middle class.”

Rahul slammed the BJP on the issue of corruption and said that the Congress party brought the RTI act, which is the biggest step against corruption. He said, “Congress brought RTI act and Lokpal Bill to uproot corruption.” Rahul also accused the Opposition for not letting the anti-graft bills be passed in Parliament.

BJP-Akali alliance in Punjab an example of Hindu-Sikh unity: Modi

Addressing a joint rally with alliance partner the ShiromaniAkali Dal in Ludhiana, BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister NarendraModi called the BJP-SAD alliance an example of Hindu-Sikh unity.

“The alliance of Akali Dal and BJP is not merely for the formation of government but is a symbol of unity. The people of Punjab have put their faith in Parkash Singh Badal and voted for development,” he said.

Modi also rubbished the rumours that Sikhs were being targeted in Gujarat. “Some people are spreading rumours that I’m targeting Sikhs in Gujarat. No Sikh farmer will ever be forced to leave Gujarat. If any official targets Sikh farmers in Gujarat, they will be punished,” he said adding that every Indian has equal rights as he himself does to live in Gujarat.

Hitting out at the Congress over the rising levels of corruption, Modi lambasted the ruling government for saying that the BJP stalled the introduction of anti-graft bills in the Parliament. “Congress leaders are blaming other parties on Corruption? I am surprised. ABCD is indicative of Congress corruption. A for Adarsh, B for Bofors, C for coalgate,” he said.

He also attacked Congress on the issue of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme which has been approved in Parliament in its recently concluded winter session. He said that the Congress has no intentions of implementing the policy and it will be the NDA government which will eventually put the scheme to work.

Speaking at his ‘Fateh’ rally, he made a pitch for improving the agriculture industry and proposed to split up the Food Corporation of India to improve efficiencies. He added that farmers, manufacturing and the service sector are the three pillars which need to be focussed for the development of the country. “The Punjab CM is worried about the farmers and the Deputy CM wants to make it technically advanced. This thought process will help in the development,” he said.

Urging the people of the state to vote for the BJP in the upcoming LokSabha elections, Modi assured that he will work towards the development of the people when he if he comes to power. “If I become the PM, I will be like a guard and will never let anyone steal the wealth of the nation. The national treasure of the money of the poor which is to be used for their development.

Praising the Gujarat Chief Minister during the rally, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed the people to vote for Modi as the next prime minister for the progress of the nation. He also attacked the Congress saying that the nation has gone backwards in the last decade under the Congress’s governance.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh, too, lauded the development work done by Punjab Chief Minister in the state and said that whenever Congress government has come to power, prices have increased and corruption has prevailed.

Telangana: TRS chief’s ‘thanksgiving’ visit to Sonia Gandhi fuels speculation of merger with Congress

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao’s thanksgiving trip to Sonia Gandhi’s residence on Sunday afternoon once again raised the question: will TRS merge with the Congress ahead of the LokSabha polls?

Accompanied with family members, Mr Rao said the meeting was just a courtesy call.

“No politics was discussed and it was only a thanksgiving call. I met Soniaji to express my gratitude for the passing of Telangana Bill in Parliament. Soniaji asked me to stay in touch with Digvijaya Singh,” said Mr Rao, popularly known as KCR.

TRS sources have indicated that an immediate merger may not be on the cards but a pre-poll alliance is likely. There are 17 LokSabha seats in the Telangana region and for Congress, fighting its toughest elections in the past 10 years, every seat would be crucial.

Aware that the Congress would try to cash in the popular sentiments in Telangana, the BJP, which too made a strong pitch for India’s 29th state, is also trying to get its share of credit.

While Venkaiah Naidu addressed the press today in Hyderabad, earlier this week, when the LokSabha was passing the Telangana Bill, BJP leader SushmaSwaraj said: “Don’t remember only Sonia amma. Also, remember this chinamma (little mother).”

KCR has been at the forefront of the Telangana movement for the last 10 years. He was a TDP leader and Deputy Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly till 2001, before he quit the party and launched TRS to fight for a separate Telangana state.

TRS had joined hands with Congress for the 2004 general elections and Mr Rao was appointed the Labour Minister. The sub-regional party joined the YSR Reddy-led Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, although it quit subsequently.

Sharing power at the Centre and in the state hit Mr Rao’s credibility as the UPA government didn’t fulfill the Telangana demand despite statehood issue being part of the common minimum programme.

Mr Rao had then joined hands with TDP and become part of a “grand alliance” against Congress for the 2009 elections. But his party suffered a serious setback and won only two LokSabha seats and 10 Assembly seats in the region.

Change ‘colonial’ dress code in courts, university convocations, demands Margaret Alva

Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva has launched a campaign against dress codes in university convocations and Indian courts by calling them colonial vestiges.

According to a report published in India Today, Alva refused to wear the “heavy” hat and black gown at the convocation of Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, on Friday and criticised the dress code as “British colonial legacy” that was not suited to Indian climatic conditions and culture.

On Thursday, the governor had done the same at the convocation of VardahmanMahaveer Open University in Kota. Last month at National Law University, Jodhpur, Alva had come down heavily on the dress code in the courts and expressions like “My Lord”.

“Why do we continue with the archaic British practice of addressing judges as ‘My Lord’ or ‘Lordship’? Should we then address women judges as My Lady,” she had said.
“To make matters worse colonial vestiges, in matters of dress code in courts, continue, the Governor added.

Interestingly, Alva, a law graduate, was a professional lawyer during her initial years.

“I as chancellor have stopped wearing headgear at convocations. We should opt for something based on our traditions, suited to our climate. The bench and the bar need to do the same,” she said. She reiterated her sentiments on Friday when she decided not to wear the headgear and the gown. However, Alva maintained that being autonomous bodies, universities can’t be compelled to do anything.

Assamese woman gang-raped in Delhi

A 21-year-old Assamese woman was raped here by two men who have been arrested, police said Sunday.

One of the men was known to the woman who recently came to Delhi. Police said she was assaulted at a house in Mahipalpur in south Delhi Saturday afternoon.

As the accused escaped, the woman came out of the house and alerted a passerby before police came in. Police said the accused – Rahul and Harun – were arrested late Saturday.

TCS employee murder: Inspector suspended for dereliction of duty

There has been no headway in the murder case of the TCS employee. A 24-year-old employee’s body was found in a highly decomposed state nine days after she went missing. The body was found half a kilometre from TCS office inside government IT park SIPCOT.
Kelambakkam Police Station Inspector Subbaiah has been suspended for dereliction of duty. The officer did not file complaint, not followed up on the missing person’s case and did not provide adequate security within the SIPCOT IT Park.
The post-mortem is being conducted and report will be out later in the day.
According to the CCTV footage, the girl left alone half an hour early before her shift ends.
Kanchipuram district police have registered a case of suspicious death and are investigating the matter. The police said they do not rule out rape.
After the incident TCS issued a statement saying that her demise was a terrible shock. “Our employee’s untimely demise has been a terrible shock to all of us and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this hour of grief. With TCS since February 2013, she was well liked by her colleagues and was someone her team leader could depend on. This shocking incident is a sad reminder of the safety and security risks women face today and as an organization we are working with our employees to continuously strengthen our security measures,” said TCS spokesperson.

Plastic waste, fly ash to be used to build roads in Rajasthan

In an innovative way to save environment, Rajasthan Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Yunus Khan has approved a project to build roads by using plastic waste and fly ash in Jaipur and Dausa districts.

A total of 24 roads – 19 in Jaipur and five in Dausa – would be built using plastic waste and fly ash under the project approved by the minister yesterday, an official release said last night.

Of the 74 km-long road, plastic waste would be used in the construction of 62 km. Fly ash would be used in the foundation of roads, Khan said.

The minister said use of plastic waste and fly ash is an innovation in road construction to help save environment from pollution and bring down cost as the expenses on tar and other conventional materials would be brought down by 10 per cent.

I cannot read anymore: Judi Dench on fading vision

Judi_DenchOscar-winning actress Judi Dench says her fading vision has affected her ability to read and paint.

The 79-year-old ‘James Bond’ actress suffers from muscular degeneration which is causing severe problems in her vision, reported Daily Mirror.

“I never want to make much of it (her eyesight problems), but it is difficult, very, very difficult. I can’t read anymore. I can’t paint like I used to. I try to watch movies but it’s quite difficult,” Dench said.

However, the actress said she has no plans of retiring.