Kejriwal defends Bharti, says Delhi Police should be under state govt

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refused to believe that the state's Law Minister Somnath Bharti was in any manner wrong in dealing with the Delhi Police and a few women foreign nationals recently over an alleged drug and prostitution racket in a South Delhi locality.

The Delhi chief minister rather chose to blame the police for inaction and demanded strongly that the force should be within the jurisdiction of the state government rather than the Union home ministry.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost

"We want Delhi Police to come under Delhi government, the Bill is pending in Parliament since 2004," Kejriwal told CNN-IBN, Editor-in-Chief, Rajdeep Sardesai.

The chief minister expressed dismay that efforts are on to protect the police alleging that these illegal activities are going on right under the nose of the cops.

"When sex and drug rackets run in you locality then you will realise, this runs with police backing. Why are we defending the SHO? Instead of punishing the police, who are not doing their job, these people are defending them. Suspend four officers and Delhi Police will fall in line," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi chief minister also did not spare his former colleague Kiran Bedi for her recent pro-Narendra Modi remark. "She is promoting Narendra Modi's agenda. There is nothing wrong in that," he said.

Kejriwal however made it clear that despite the external support extended by the Congress he would go after the alleged misdeeds by the earlier Sheila Dikshit government.

"This support is unique in itself. They are supporting us on their own. We never asked for it. The support will not prevent us from ordering a probe into the role of the earlier Delhi government in the Commonweath Games scam," he said.

The Delhi chief minister said that he may have to fight Lok Sabha polls if his party wants him to despite being opposed to the idea personally.

"My ambition is not to become the prime minister. My ambition is that I want to remain an aam aadmi and go to see a movie with my family during weekend," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi chief minister did not agree that there would be a fiscal imbalance because of the large subsidies that his government recently announced.

"Lakhs have benefitted from free water. If I have given Rs 200 crore subsidy to public that too only for four months what is the harm," Kejriwal told CNN-IBN.

The chief minister also made his unhappiness with rebel MLA Vinod Kumar Binny open.

"If Binny is unhappy, he is free to quit," Kejriwal said.

Aiyar’s office in TN attacked over Modi jibe

Chennai: A day after senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar made controversial 'tea vendor' remarks against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narenda Modi, the former Union minister's office in his home town in Tamil Nadu was attacked by miscreants while the BJP staged protests against him.

Unidentified miscreants pelted stones at Aiyar's office in Mayiladuthurai, damaging some window panes, police said, adding security had been stepped up at the office.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar. Image courtesy ibnlive

Aiyar, presently a Rajya Sabha member, had earlier been elected to the Lok Sabha from Mayiladuthurai constituency.

At the AICC meet in New Delhi yesterday, Aiyar had said, "I promise you in 21st Century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country... But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him," an apparent reference to his childhood days when he sold tea.

Aiyar's jibe instantly drew flak from various quarters including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Around 50 BJP workers staged a 'tea-selling' demonstration outside TNCC headquarters Sathyamurthy Bhavan here, protesting against Aiyar's remarks. They were later detained by police.

At Kumbakonam, BJP members held a demonstration near Head Post Office and condemned the remarks made by the Rajya Sabha MP.

PTI

BJP blames UPA policy for Devyani issue, border violations

New Delhi: The BJP today slammed the Congress-led UPA government for what it said was its weak foreign policy, which the party alleged had led to situations like the one involving the diplomat Devyani Khobragade in the US and failed to prevent repeated violations along the borders with Pakistan and China.

Addressing the gathering at the BJP National Council in New Delhi, party president Rajnath Singh stressed that while his party favours cordial and friendly relations with other countries, it could not be at the expense of India's self-esteem.

BJP president Rajnath Singh. PTI

The BJP chief said that relations with the US have hit a low which was not seen even after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime.

"However much we condemn the undue harassment meted out to our diplomat (Khobragade) on American soil, it would not be enough.

"The US view of this incident is completely unreasonable and condemnable," Singh said.

The BJP also demanded that India hold back the granting of Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan in the wake of recent incidents at the border.

India has made several attempts to improve relations with Pakistan, but those have ended in failure as Islamabad has not followed up its pronouncements with action, Singh said.

"While UPA government claims it has no dialogue with Pakistan, prime ministers of the two countries, lawmakers and officials have been holding regular meetings.

"A meeting between foreign ministers of India and Pakistan commences today," Singh said, adding that the UPA government was allegedly trying to fool the people by claiming it was not a dialogue.

Singh said Pakistani forces have not only killed Indian soldiers but also beheaded them and displayed the head as a trophy in front of cameras.

Expressing concern over intrusions by Chinese soldiers into Indian territory, Singh said it was even more worrisome that the neighbouring country was trying to create an anti-India atmosphere in the region.

"Today, China's global trade has surpassed four trillion dollars, which is two times the size of the Indian economy.

"China's growing economic clout is providing an impetus to its geopolitical ambitions," Singh said.

He made the point that relations between New Delhi and Beijing would improve only when there is a decisive government at the Centre.

The BJP called for improving relations with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the light of new geopolitical developments in India's neighbourhood.

Maintaining his attack on Congress, Singh said that while BJP wants the next government at the Centre to be a strong one, Congress and some foreign powers want a weak dispensation to replace UPA.

Although he did not elaborate as to who these foreign powers were, Singh said that Congress did not want a stable government at the Centre as that would affect its chances of coming back to power.

PTI

Nitish, Lalu share dias, jibes at each other

Patna: Bihar political rivals Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad shared the dais after a long time and embroiled themselves in a war of words instead of pleasantries.

The two leaders were together on the occasion of the launching of the Patna edition of Dainik Bhaskar and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde sat between them.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. PTI

Launching an attack on the chief minister, Prasad without naming him said the state government was 'controlling' the media in an attempt to 'black out' news of rivals like him.

"A few persons in an attempt to create history are hogging all the space in the newspapers on the basis of lure of advertisements ... The newsmen are dishing out news that suits the government like parrots," he said.

Even Press Council chairman Markandey Katju has questioned the freedom of press in Bihar, he said to drive home his point.

Kumar did not miss any opportunity to take potshots at his bete noire when his turn to speak came.

Taking a jibe at Prasad for opening an account on Twitter, he said, "Some people of the old generation are also becoming victim of latest fads of social media."

"One can understand that it is a fashion among younger generation but its unimaginable that people of older generation have also started practising it ... One should draw a line somewhere," said Kumar, who has only a blog account.

Pouring criticism, he said the dictionary meaning of twitter is sweet chirping of birds in the morning hours but people by trying to monopolise it were trying to transform it into a jarring sound.

"People forget the time when they used to decide which photograph and which news will appear on which page of the newspapers," Kumar said referring to the erstwhile RJD rule in the state.

While Kumar was speaking Prasad was heard muttering no newspaper in Bihar can run without dishing news about him.

To this Kumar suggested newspapers to print photographs and news of Prasad only.

Shinde and the gathering were seen to be bursting out in laughter at the exchange.

PTI

Tarar-Tharoor: Emails suggest no love affair

Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor's shocking death came on the heels of a bizarre and bitter Twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar, who she accused of "stalking" her husband, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor. Upon her sudden demise, speculations have been rife wildly trying to link the tragedy to the "alleged" love-triangle.

However, a private email exchange between the minister and the journalist on 28 July 2013, exclusively gathered by India Today claims that there was no love affair but instead a good friendship between Tharoor and Tarar, which was however a source of jealousy for Sunanda.

Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor and Union Minister Shashi Tharoor. PTI

In her email to Tharoor, Tarar writes (Read the email in its entirety here):

"About me being the reason you have problems with your wife...main kya kahun. I don't even want to think what it would do to my very young kid. So I guess I was right all my life. Friendship between a man and a woman will always be labelled incorrectly. And even the woman who's the love of your life will doubt your word against very circumstantial evidence."

Tharoor in his reply to the Pakistani journalist expresses anguish over the misunderstanding, but also expresses his deep love for his wife, who he says has asked him not to stay in touch with Tarar anymore. "Getting her well and reducing stress on her is my major priority right now and I hope you will understand and forgive me if I stop our phone and email exchanges," he writes.

It isn't clear how India Today obtained these emails, or who gave it to them. They are also seven months old, and give no indication of events that may have occurred more recently. In her tweets, Sunanda claimed that Tarar continued to pursue Tharoor, releasing what she claimed were BBM and DM messages from the journalist.

You can read both emails on the India Today website.

Will AAP fizzle? It may have misunderstood its mandate

By Siddharth Shekhar Singh

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is at a critical juncture. The media is gushing at their sincerity. After all, they have fulfilled some key promises in record time. They have proven that they are different from other parties, and stand for the common citizen. AAP is proudly proclaiming that they will prove their detractors wrong once again by demonstrating that they can govern effectively.

At first glance, everything seems to be on track for AAP to become a successful national party. So, what is the problem? The party has to make a choice now that will define whether it will fizzle out or become a major force in Indian politics. And it seems to be making the wrong one. It seems that either  AAP has misunderstood its mandate or its mandate is being hijacked by vested interests.

AAP member Arvind Kejriwal. Firstpost

AAP was formed on the basis of the anti-corruption movement led by Anna. It started as a one-trick pony that caught the imagination of the people. The Delhi elections happened soon, and AAP rode the tide to near-victory. Normally, a new political formation would be critically examined by one and all. People would then decide their support.

However, our context is anything but normal. In the excitement for quick change and fresh faces, propelled by the immense dissatisfaction with the Congress, AAP was not examined critically. Issues other than corruption were largely ignored. This suited AAP since they needed the support of multiple segments of people. This could also explain their initial reluctance to form the government in Delhi. Too much scrutiny before the national elections could complicate matters for them.

The problems of AAP

Many people who supported AAP assumed that it is a simple party of common people that is against corruption and for better governance. This meant progressive and growth-oriented policies without corruption. This meant creating opportunities and helping the underprivileged in our society. However, this is not what AAP has done so far. Their actions have raised two issues - one about their ideology and the other about their honesty.

The way the first two decisions about water and power were made AAP has raised serious issues about its ideology and politics. AAP has done what the time tested communist and socialist parties would do. They have simply taken money from one set of people and distributed it among others. Anyone can do that. The traditional political parties are masters of such populist measures.  Why is AAP different? If corruption is the only issue, why have many others who are yet untainted by corruption failed to generate the same level of enthusiasm as AAP? Clearly, there is more to the underlying expectations of voters than corruption. Good governance through sound policies is equally important, if not more.

Let us visit the issue of honesty. In their quest to go national and win elections, AAP quickly and partially fulfilled some of their promises in letter, but not in spirit. They resorted to populism with a vague promise to do more in the future. Had they been truly different, they would have started the process of evaluating water and power supply in Delhi in a transparent and time-bound manner before making any decision. They would have justified their decision based on sound economics and public welfare. However, they succumbed to populism for winning elections. Isn't this what all other parties do? Many voters in Delhi would be feeling cheated now. They did not vote for a left-leaning populist tax-and-spend government in the guise of AAP.

Many people voted for AAP because they want real change. They do not want one more name in our ever-changing list of socialist parties. Honesty does not give anyone the birth-right to rule. In the case of AAP, it has provided a window of opportunity for the party to show that it has a vision for India and prove its capability to achieve that vision through good governance. AAP is riding on the shoulders of our new middle class. This class does not want a clone of the left, as already proven in scores of elections. The popularity of Narendra Modi across the country even among AAP voters underscores this point.

What can AAP do?

AAP must first sort out their internal ideological confusion quickly and speak in one voice. It does not help the party when Yogendra Yadav conveys a message of pragmatism while Prashant Bhushan actively pursues fringe elements with a specific agenda. They must not confuse the strong desire of the people for corruption-free government as a desire against good economics and growth. AAP can either choose to be on the far left or it can occupy the space that the Congress is fast losing.

India needs a strong, principled, progressive, growth-oriented, truly secular, and slightly left-of-centre political party. AAP can be this party with an aim to meet the aspirations of mainstream India. Or it can jostle for a part of the staunch left-leaning votes. If it chooses to be the former, it can be a strong player in Indian politics. If it chooses to be on the far left, it will fizzle out because most of the new middle class that supported AAP so enthusiastically would not support it. So far, it seems to be making the wrong choice.

Dr Siddharth Shekhar Singh is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Director of the Fellow Programme in Management at the Indian School of Business. He can be reached at Siddharth_singh@isb.edu.

Pushkar-Tharoor: Emails suggest no love affair

Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor's shocking death came on the heels of a bizarre and bitter Twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar, who she accused of "stalking" her husband, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor. Upon her sudden demise, speculations have been rife wildly trying to link the tragedy to the "alleged" love-triangle.

However, a private email exchange between the minister and the journalist on 28 July 2013, exclusively gathered by India Today claims that there was no love affair but instead a good friendship between Tharoor and Tarar, which was however a source of jealousy for Sunanda.

Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor and Union Minister Shashi Tharoor. PTI

In her email to Tharoor, Tarar writes (Read the email in its entirety here):

"About me being the reason you have problems with your wife...main kya kahun. I don't even want to think what it would do to my very young kid. So I guess I was right all my life. Friendship between a man and a woman will always be labelled incorrectly. And even the woman who's the love of your life will doubt your word against very circumstantial evidence."

Tharoor in his reply to the Pakistani journalist expresses anguish over the misunderstanding, but also expresses his deep love for his wife, who he says has asked him not to stay in touch with Tarar anymore. "Getting her well and reducing stress on her is my major priority right now and I hope you will understand and forgive me if I stop our phone and email exchanges," he writes.

It isn't clear how India Today obtained these emails, or who gave it to them. They are also seven months old, and give no indication of events that may have occurred more recently. In her tweets, Sunanda claimed that Tarar continued to pursue Tharoor, releasing what she claimed were BBM and DM messages from the journalist.

You can read both emails on the India Today website.

Rahul’s AICC speech: Not a match for Modi, Kejriwal yet

Rahul Gandhi's speech at the AICC session on Friday has been hailed by many as his coming-of-age-address. He finally managed to talk on issues other than the Gandhi family's personal tragedies and even took digs at Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal, without naming them.

It was evident the AICC session was convened with the primary objective of portraying Rahul Gandhi as the future beacon of the Congress party and hint that Sonia has handed the baton over to him. The meet also meant to send out a message that the grand olf party has not vanquished yet and the Congress is ready for the battle ahead.

With yesterday's address, Rahul has possibly managed to buoy the party cadres' spirit and proved that even he can compete with Modi in the lung power department.

Rahul Gandhi at the AICC meet. AFP.

He was also not off mark when he said, "This is not just another turn in the history of India, another election to be fought, won or lost. This is a turning point in our nation's journey. Nobody is in the mood to accept less than their full and complete right. No-one is willing to compromise anymore. They want individual choice. They want participation. They want a fair deal and they deserve it."

However, his problems stem from exactly those assertions. Given the fact that he cannot completely distance himself from the now 10-year-old incumbent government, it will be very hard for him to make people take him at face value. There have many several allegations of corruption, price rise consequent depletion of popular support that the Congress has faced.

He was also being almost prophetic when he said, "Either we wake up to their aspirations, or we have no business to claim that we represent them. The change that is taking place around us is unstoppable." His adversaries, Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal, too have made similar pitches and AAP's win in Delhi, BJP's win the state polls show that the winds of change are indeed blowing over the country.

However, like the political rhetoric of most other parties, Rahul's claims of revolutionary changes in India rung partially hollow for several reasons. The meet attended by 3,000 Congress workers hardly threw up too many new ideas of governance and policy making. The ones that Gandhi came up with were demanding the cap on subsidized LPG gas cylinders be raised, women chief ministers in half the Congress-ruled states, 50 percent women delegates in AICC conventions. Finance Minister P Cidambaram wanted nominations for young leaders (below 35 years of age) for 50 percent of the 272 seats the party plans to contest from. Now if the other Congress quota demands are taken into consideration - like 30 percent reservation for women, reservations for SC/STs - it's not too hyperbolic to say that Chidambaram should feel very luck if he manages to land a ticket.

However, there was one interesting idea that Rahul mooted. He hinted at something modelled on the American primary in 15 parliamentary seats. This would be a pilot project to select the most popular candidate in the constituency. It is indeed an interesting idea and if implemented it could also become successful. However, by floating such an idea, did Rahul indicate that he doesn't agree with the way candidates had been chosen by the party for the past so many years? The party, after all, was being led by his mother!

However, what is more important is finding out which constituencies Rahul chooses to test waters. Will it be an A grade seat or some seat that can be easily won by the Congress? In that situation, what will happen to the likes of Vijay Bahuguna who was made the Uttarakhand Congress CM despite objections from several ranks of the party.

In fact, in the AICC meet in Jaipur, Gandhi had promised set of rules and regulations that have to be followed by the Congress. The status of that initiative is not known still. Obviously, there's a definite breach between what is preached and what is practiced.

And above all, Rahul Gandhi has to tell the world who he really is? He is so many persons at the same time - from the reluctant prince to the rebel leader, from a party leader criticising the government formed by his own party to an anti corruption messiah, Rahul has donned several avatars. He has to come across as consistent and a person with a single set of plans.

Despite his pitches, it is difficult for Rahul to strike a chord with the youth like Modi and Kejriwal. His development pitch doesn't have Modi's strength and his anti-corruption stance doesn't ring as true as Kejriwal's.

Now we need to wait for what Modi has to say in response to Rahul in is Sunday address.

What Rahul baba learnt from Dedh Ishqiya before his big speech

Rahul baba was getting ready to make the big speech.

Along with his mother and a speech writer, an executive from the recently hired advertising agency to spruce up his image, was also present in the war room.

"I am so proud of you beta," said the mother. "You are finally behaving like a grown up. Taking the bull by its horns."

"Bull?" asked Rahul baba. "I thought we called him the feku."

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi during AICC meeting in New Delhi on Friday. PTI

"Feku is the old term for him sir," said the executive from the advertising agency. "These days we are calling him the chaiwallah in all our internal communication."

"Yeah, how does an upstart like him, a chaiwallah's son, dare to challenge you Rahul baba," said the speech writer, who was an old family hand.

"India's next leader has to be you. In fact, we should ask feku to run a tea stall at our conclave."

"Okay, okay, that is enough," replied a slightly irritated Rahul. "Have you got the speech ready?"

"Yes sir," said the speech writer, handing over a few sheets to Rahul.

Rahul went through the pages very quickly and had a slightly miffed look on his face.

"Arre this is the same speech I made last month!" exclaimed Rahul.

"No sir. This is a totally new speech. I just wrote this just today morning," replied the speech writer. "I stopped copy pasting after what happened to Shah Rukh Khan."

"But then why does it read the same?"

"What to do," said the speech writer. "All speeches written for Congress leaders sound the same since the 1960s. It's all about roti, kapda aur makan. How many different speeches can one write on the same theme?"

"Oh that's fine," interjected the advertising executive. "You can fool some of the people all the time. Also, these kind of speeches go well with the brand positioning of the Congress. But we need to add some points about the economic growth to it as well."

"Economic growth?" asked the speech writer.

"Yes. Now its about roti, kapda, makan aur economic growth."

"Arre par what happened to garibi hatao then?" asked the confused speech writer.

"Oh, we have removed garibi already through our flagship schemes like food security and NREGA," said Rahul.

"When did that happen?" wondered the speech writer. "What will I do now?"

"Shut up," said Rahul. "So Ma when do I get to make this speech?"

"Oh, right at the end of the conclave."

"At the end?" asked Rahul. "Why Ma?"

"You are the show stopper beta."

"I don't like this. It sounds like the Hindi films of the sixties and the seventies, wherein the actor Pran's name used to come right at the end of the casting. It always used to be And Pran."

"So?" asked the perplexed mother.

"I am not a villain Ma."

"No no beta. You are the show stopper like in the fashion shows. The biggest star always comes at the end. You are the hero. With your speech being scheduled right at the end the workers will wait to listen to you and that way we will have a stadium full of people. Other leaders can also have an audience while they speak."

"No Ma. Sheila aunty got me to speak right at the end and people started to leave as soon as I started to speak."

"Oh that was the general public Sir," the advertising executive interrupted. "These are members of your party. Rest assured they won't leave. And I will ensure that the doors are locked from the outside till your speech is over."

"Haan that sounds like a plan," said Rahul. "Good we hired you guys."

"Always at your service sir," replied the advertising executive.

"You know I was thinking of using some Urdu poetry that I have been reading lately," said Rahul. "Ah, like mauni baba," said the speech writer.

"So how is this?"

"Wah Wah,"said the advertising executive.

"Arre first let me complete the couplet," said Rahul.

"Oh, but what is that we have to say when someone starts reciting a couplet?" asked the advertising executive, who happened to be a Bengali.

"Irshad, irshad, Rahul baba," the speech writer chipped in.

"Ke arz kiya hai," started Rahul.

"Bolo beta," said the mother.

"Galat bazar ki janib chale aaye hain hum shayad,
chalo Sansad main chalte hain wahan bhi sale lagti hai.
Koi bhi androoni gandagi bahar nahi hoti,
humme to is hukumat ki bhi kidney fail lagti hai."

(janib = towards. Sansad = Parliament. androoni = inside. Gandagi = dirt. hukumat = rule)

"Wah wah beta," said the excited mother. "I didn't know there was a poet inside you."

"Oh, I didn't write it Ma. This is by a poet called Munnawar Rana," replied Rahul.

"Sir, there two problems with this couplet," said the advertising executive.

"Two?" asked Rahul.

"Actually three. As a politician when you quote an Urdu couplet it has to be from Ghalib because he is the only Urdu poet we Indians have heard of."

"Oh."

"You are going against your own government with this couplet."

"That I do all the time. Mauni baba does not mind. And that's my style."

"Yes. But that is not correct. The party and the government should be seen to be saying the same things," explained the advertising executive. "This is a fundamental rule of communication."

"And what is the third thing?"

"Oh, Dedh Ishqiya, a fantastic film which was high on Urdu, did not do as well as it was expected to."

"So?" asked Rahul.

"I think you should stick to English and Hindi."

"Hmmm," said Rahul. "I so wanted to speak some Urdu. People sound so intelligent when they speak in Urdu."

"What else have you thought of?" asked the speech writer.

"You know I have been reading this management book Fen Zu and the Art of War. And inspired by that I have written something."

"I am so proud of you beta," said the beaming mother.

"We will go into this battle as warriors with our heads held high. We will not look back. We will go into this battle knowing who we are and what we stand for. We will fight with all that we have within us. We will not rest. We will not lose courage. And we will not stop till the battle is won," said Rahul.

"Now that sounds like a speech," said the advertising executive.

"Absolutely kick-ass. You are The Last Action Hero."

"And I will have to look for a job," said the speech writer.

"Now only if you had got me a bahu," said the mother.

And Rahul wondered "Agar Joker chala gaya to Batman kya karega? (If the Joker goes what will Batman do?)"

(Vivek Kaul is a writer. He tweets @kaul_vivek)

Disclosure: The last line of the piece, "Agar Joker chala gaya to Batman kya karega!," has been borrowed from a similar line from the recently released Dedh Ishqiya

Sunanda Pushkar’s death leaves Bollywood in shock

Mumbai: Union Minister Shashi Tharoor's wife Sunanda Pushkar's sudden death has left Bollywood celebrities like Shabana Azmi and Sridevi shocked. Sunanda, who was upset over an alleged extra-marital affair between her minister husband Shashi Tharoor and a Pakistani journalist, was found dead in a five-star hotel room.

"Shocked to hear news about Sunanda. Condolences to Shri. Shashi Tharoor & family of Sunanda Pushkar," singer Asha Bhonsle tweeted. Condoling the tragic passing of the entrepreneur, actress Shabana Azmi said, "Deeply saddened by Sunanda's tragic passing away. She was warm, lively and very affectionate.

Sunanda Pushkar with Shashi Tharoor. AFP.

Heartfelt condolences to the family. "Actress Sridevi grieved Sunanda's death and remembered her as an affectionate and vibrant personality. "Saddened by the unfortunate demise of a warm, affectionate, vibrant and good soul. RIP Sunanda Pushkar," the 'English Vinglish' star said. "Shocked to hear about Sunanda Pushkar... Seems like yesterday she was with us at all Kolkata Knight Riders matches in Kolkata. Cheering and cheerful," said actress-entrepreneur Juhi Chawla.

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli said, "It's disturbing what social media can lead through... We have to see what is going on in our society and where social media is taking us to." Actor-producer Anupam Kher said he is stunned to know about Sunanda Pushkar's sudden death. "She was bright, forthright, loving & full of life. Really sad and tragic. Sunanda Pushkar lived life on her terms. She was larger than life. Had a great sense of humour. Shocking. Feel bad for her family and her son," Kher said.

Lyricist Javed Akhtar said, "It is shocking that some one like Sunanda, full of zest for life, full of joy and happiness is no more. Deepest condolence to Shashiji." Author Shobhaa De, "I refuse to call her Sunanda Tharoor. Free at last! God bless her free spirited , beautiful soul."

PTI

If there’s a communal party, it’s Congress: Rajnath

New Delhi: Hitting back at UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for calling BJP communal, party chief Rajnath Singh today accused the Congress of practising politics by dividing people along religious lines. Singh also criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his remarks that it would be "disastrous" if Narendra Modi became the PM, and said that it was his tenure which had been a disaster while Gujarat had become a model state under Modi.

"I want to remind Sonia Gandhi that it was Manmohan Singh who had said that Muslims have the first right on India's resources. If there is any party which takes decisions based on religious considerations, it is Congress. If there is any communal party, it is Congress," Singh said while speaking at
the National Council meet of the BJP.

Rajnath Singh and Narendra Modi. AFP.

He further added that it was Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, from her government, who spoke about "Hindu terror". Gandhi had in her speech at AICC meet yesterday said that opposition BJP's ideology is divisive and communal. Addressing party members here, Singh said that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was trying to appropriate credit for passage of Lokpal Bill though the legislation owed its existence to the efforts of social activist Anna Hazare and BJP leaders had also put pressure on the government.

The BJP president said that the Congress-led UPA government had failed to live-up to people's expectations and the economy is in shambles. He said Congress would want that a weak government comes to power at the Centre as a strong government under Modi could endanger its future.

The governments provided by Narendra Modi in Gujarat, Shivraj Singh Chauhan in Madhya Pradesh and Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh have put a question mark over the Congress' future in these states. The Congress fears that a strong government under Modi could do the same at the national level," he said.

Singh said Modi had been a victim of propaganda to label him "communal" despite clean chit from courts and investigation agencies.

1984 riots: Congress seeks dismissal of human rights violation suit in US

New York: India's ruling Congress party is seeking dismissal of a human rights violation lawsuit filed against it in the US by a Sikh rights group in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Indian-American Attorney Ravi Batra, who represents the Congress party in the US, filed a motion in a Manhattan federal court yesterday saying that the political party will on March 12 seek an order from District Judge Robert Sweet for dismissal of the complaint filed by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

The party is seeking the dismissal of the complaint citing lack of subject-matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

SFJ has time till February 17 to respond to the Congress party's motion and Batra will then have to file his response by March 10.

Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. AFP

Batra said SFJ claims that it is pursuing relief on behalf of third-parties for whom they have not established a legal ability to act.

"SFJ's sole claim to representative authority is their unadorned claim to have been 'formed to seek justice and compensation for those Sikhs who were injured or whose family members were killed and whose property was destroyed' during the 1984 riots.

"Nowhere does SFJ even claim to have authority from any person to bring claims on their behalf, nor does it allege having been appointed the 'legal representative' of anyone by a Court of competent jurisdiction," he said.

Batra argued that nearly three decades have passed since the 1984 riots in India and nearly two decades have elapsed since the statute of limitations expired in November, 1994.

"If the standard applicable in a Court of law for legal sufficiency of a complaint or for subject matter jurisdiction was moral, and not legal, then everyone who felt distressed could sue anyone and sympathy would paint every assessment - and, surely, the events of 1984, from the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to even a single collateral injury of an innocent Indian citizen, Sikh or otherwise, is ripe for moral sympathy," Batra said.

"Importantly, however, the federal courts do not look at these Alien Tort Statute (ATS) cases from a moral perspective, but from a legal one," he added.

SFJ's legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the group is driven by its resolve to seek justice for the victims of the 1984-riots since justice has been denied to them for the last 30 years and political leaders have turned a "blind eye" to the plight of the victims.

In March 2011, a US Court had issued summons against the Congress party in the class action law suit filed under Alien Tort Statute (ATS) and Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) for allegedly conspiring and abetting the attacks on Sikhs in 1984 following the assassination of Gandhi.

PTI

Sunanda Pushkar: A morality tale of celebrity death

The news, when it arrived, pinging on a friend's phone, was shocking, more accurately: unbelievable. Of the many conclusions to the bizarre melodrama that unraveled over the past few days on Twitter and television channels, this was the most unimaginable.

But more unexpected than Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor's death was the sharp sadness. She was not a beloved leader or actress. What we knew about her was mostly the stuff of tabloid headlines. In a word association game, her name would evoke mostly unflattering phrases in public memory, like "sweat equity" or "50 crore girlfriend." We didn't really know Sunanda Pushkar to mourn her.

Perhaps then the sense of tragedy comes from guilt. The guilt of playing idle witness to her unraveling, of sneering at her misspelled tweets, snickering as she slurred and rambled her incoherent way in a phone conversation with a television anchor. A cross-border romantic triangle involving attractive celebrities -- each with a colourful romantic history -- was irresistible fodder for crass jokes. Mehr ki aasha, ha, ha, ha!

It was all delicious schadenfreude-laced fun until suddenly it was not.

Shashi Tharoor with Sunanda Pushkar. Reuters.

Her death confirmed what we secretly suspected but preferred not to acknowledge: that she was in great pain, mental and as it turns out physical. Pushkar's uncharacteristic public meltdown could have been a symptom of something seriously awry, a toxic combination of medication and suffering. Her demise is a rude reminder of the flesh-and-blood human being behind that bold-faced name. Also, of our tendency to dehumanise public figures, to pretend their misery is not really real, and therefore okay to consume as entertainment.

Not that it will prevent us from treating her death in much the same way. We the media will strain to uncover every sordid detail from her room service orders to text messages, doling them out to an avidly curious audience - even as we call for respect for the dead. Much like Barkha Dutt, who can't see the irony of asking us to "keep compassion alive" right after tweeting, "Puzzling: When she called me on Wednesday eve Sunanda P said she'd moved into Leela alone. Yet Tharoor secretary said rooms taken Thursday?"

And then there is the matter of assigning responsibility, our need to pin this on someone - and given that Tharoor is a politician, preferably someone who suits our political persuasion. While Tharoor himself is the easiest and most popular target, Madhu Kishwar has been hinting at more elaborate conspiracy theories. Never mind that we don't even know the cause of death as yet. There is nothing new in any of this. It is the usual unseemly way we process - or rather deny  the rude reality of human mortality. So much easier to play the blame game than linger in that first moment of genuine grief.

At the height of the IPL scandal, the then single Sunanda Pushkar said, "So even now, though this is my worst fall, I am not asking why all of this has happened to me. I am sure there is a larger lesson to be learnt and I am sure I am going to grow from this. And mark my words, I will grow, I will come out of this a bigger and better person. I can feel it in my bones."

We don't know if she grew from it. Neither have we grown. The piranhas are already circling, smuggling spy-cams into the hotel, spouting venom on Twitter, and they will not rest until every shred of flesh has been ripped off.

Congress-led Haryana govt orders CBI probe against Ashok Khemka

The Haryana government has ordered a CBI probe into a Rs 8 crore contract that IAS officer Ashok Khemka had awarded to a Gujarat firm during his stint as the managing director of State Warehouse Corporation in 2009.

Ashok Khemka. PTI.

Ashok Khemka had been at loggerheads with the Haryana government for a while now. He had expose huge lands scams where Congress President Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra is allegedly involved.

According to a report on CNN IBN, "Khemka claims that he is being hounded by the Congress for exposing them. Khemka has rejected the allegations. Two months ago, he had sent a detailed letter to Haryana chief secretary dismissing the charges against him."

Narendra Modi is ‘America’s Other India Problem’: Time magazine

Washington: After the "nasty spat" between India and US over an Indian diplomat, the emergence of Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate, may cause even more tension between them, according to Time magazine.

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, whom US authorities charged with visa fraud involving her maid, has returned to India after being granted diplomatic immunity, the influential magazine noted in its upcoming Jan 27 issue.

Narendra Modi. AFP.

"But don't expect the relationship to rebound quickly," Michael Crowley wrote suggesting "In fact, the atmosphere could soon become even more tense - over a far more prominent Indian also embroiled in a visa controversy."

Suggesting that BJP "holds the edge" in the upcoming general election by May, he said that "If the BJP prevails, Modi will be India's next Prime Minister.

"Yet he is persona non grata in the US," he noted "because of his alleged role in a horrific episode of sectarian violence in February 2002."

"Modi's critics say he condoned or even encouraged the violence - accusations he stoutly denies and for which no Indian court has found him responsible," Time noted.

In 2005, the State Department revoked Modi's visa under an American law that bars a foreign official who "was responsible for or directly carried out ... particularly severe violations of religious freedom," Crowley recalled

"When Modi had no national profile, the restriction was inconsequential. But can Washington blacklist the leader of India?" he asked.

US policymakers are divided, he noted. "A resolution introduced in November in the US Congress calls on the State Department to continue denying Modi entry. It has attracted 43 congressional co-sponsors, including two Muslims."

"Realists, and US business leaders wishing to capitalise on Modi's openness to foreign investment, say his character should only be a footnote to Washington's wider relations with New Delhi," Crowley wrote.

"Should Modi win, the Obama Administration will be pressured by many at home and abroad to condemn his past and prevent him from visiting the US. But (President Barack) Obama has tended to subordinate principle to the national interest," he suggested.

Noting that "Over the years, the US has done business with plenty of unsavoury leaders, in countries far less friendly than India," Time said, "By revoking Modi's visa, the US government has made clear its view of him and the Gujarat rampage."

"But Washington's ties with New Delhi are too important to be confined through that prism if Modi becomes PM," it said, suggesting "Both countries need to step forward and not allow Modi's past to push them back."

IANS

If Rahul means what he says, here’s what he must do: abdicate

Given the change in the tone and tenor of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's speech at yesterday's All India Congress Committee session in Delhi at least one thing can be said: the Gandhi scion seems to be making a serious personal effort to reinvent himself and his party.

We need to ask how real this effort is, but let us first discuss the positives in his speech therapy for demoralised party workers.

His belligerent and loud address showed that he wants to measure up to Narendra Modi's natural aggression in politics. His attempt to speak about the party rather than the family (at least yesterday) showed that he understood that the dynasty isn't the answer to the nation's problems. His harkback to the grand vision of the Congress party as a big tent under which all Indians could live in harmony underlined the fact that ultimately political parties have to have a larger purpose beyond just grabbing power. And he signalled a small shift towards inner party democracy when he talked about allowing local party organisations in 15 constituencies to elect their own candidates instead of their being imposed from above.

The logical conclusion from his speech and reasoning is this: the dynasty must start taking a back seat in order to make the Congress more democratic. And since a Congress brought up on sycophancy and dynasty worship cannot do that itself, the only way to ensure inner party democracy is for the dynasty and abdicate – i.e. move out of positions of power in both party and government.

Rahul at the AICC meet. AFP.

In fact, he gave the lie to all his holy democratic assertions when he demanded – and got - three additional subsidised LPG cylinders for households. "There is another thing which the entire country, especially women are concerned, that is nine (gas) cylinders aren't enough, we need 12 cylinders," The Financial Express quotes him as saying.

This one episode in an orchestrated Congress show punctured Rahul's entire effort to reinvent himself and the party. It defeated every intent of his speech by pointing out that change can only come from the top – not below.

Let us microanalyse the implications of this 12-cylinder charge of Rahul. Firstpost reported two weeks ago that the number of subsidised cylinders may be raised to 12 and discussions were on between the finance and oil ministries on this. But when Rahul Gandhi orchestrates a demand in front of TV cameras, the discussion ends and the demand is instantly conceded.

Rahul said: "I appeal to the Prime Minister to raise the bar of LPG usage from nine cylinders to 12 cylinders." But does the PM say he will consider it? No, it is Moily who jumps in to respond: "Yes, the cap will be increased." The PM is obviously a cipher when it comes to cabinet decisions. The cabinet itself is a cipher sometimes – as was evident when Rahul made his "nonsense" comment on the cabinet decision to issue an ordinance to protect convicted politicians from disqualification.

This cylinder subsidy decision, which flies in the face of long-term economic sense, shows that Rahul cares two hoots about economics. It also speaks much for the party's government that it meekly accepts any decision coming from the high command. Neither Manmohan Singh nor P Chidambaram, both alleged reformer, has a say in this anymore. From six in 2012, the cylinder cap went up to nine and now will go up the 12 just because Rahul wants it.

It is also worth questioning some of Rahul's other grandstanding statements.

Talking about the recent defeat of his party, Rahul said: "(What) does it mean for us as a political party? It means responding to the immense demand for political and governmental reform in the revolutionary and dynamic way that only the Congress party is capable of doing…We do not respond by proposing over simplified non-solutions. We do not respond by subverting democratic institutions and blocking parliament sessions year after year, day after day. We do not respond by turning people against one another. We do not respond by lighting the fires of communal hatred. We do not respond by proposing either that the structures of democracy be handed over to one man or that they be viciously destroyed."

High rhetoric this. But does even one Congressman believe this statement to be true? Not dividing people – what is frequent talk about minority quotas all about? As for subverting democratic institutions, has he forgotten that his own gramdma suspended civil liberties in 1975 under her internal emergency? As for turning people against one another, are the Assam riots of 2012 not a reminder of communal killings presided over by his own party?

Consider the irony of Rahul damning the BJP's alleged efforts to hand "over power to one man" – a man who anyway rose from the ranks - and Rahul's position as topdog in his party purely by reason of his birth. Is handing over power to one man – assuming the charge is true – any better than handing it over to one family for 67 years?

Rahul's critique of AAP as a party that proposes over-simplified solutions is apt, but AAP is still wet behind the ears whereas the Congress has reached the age of wisdom – if not senility. Has the Congress offered anything other than simplified solutions to the idea of removing joblessness and poverty and hunger? It's all about increasing government spending – never mind that the bulk of the money goes to the corrupt. "The revolutionary and dynamic way that only the Congress party is capable of" is nowhere visible in the party's actions.

In another dig at Modi, he said: "We live in a world where packaging and selling politics seems to replace the essence of real issues and real people."

The counter-point is this: what else has the Congress been doing but packaging itself as the only solution to poverty all these years, from Indira Gandhi's "garibi  hatao" years to Sonia Gandhi's "aam aadmi" tenure? More important, is packaging unimportant? If democracy is about selling good ideas to the people, this calls for packaging and marketing in order to nudge people towards change. Does he realise that 23 years after economic liberalisation – which is what enabled India to grow fast and create the surpluses needed for his welfare giveaways - there is still no constituency for reform? How is packaging and marketing unimportant in a democracy?

"Their marketing is very good. Chamak hai, gaana hai, naach hai, sub kuch hai (there is glitter, song, dance and everything). They are such people who will sell combs to the bald. More new people have come…ab naye log aaye hain, inhone haircut shuru kar di (new people have started haircuts on the bald). Don't get misled by the talk of these people."

This statement shows that the Congress Veep has learnt to include a sense of humour in his speeches, but twitter buzz got the last word on this: while BJP sells combs to the bald and AAP sells hair-cuts to those who don't need them, the Congress offers "Right to No-Hair Loss Act".

Implicit in this statement – and Rahul's own observations about selling combs to the bald – is the reality that India's politicians are selling solutions to problems that may not need solving. Rahul would do well to redirect his party's efforts to figuring out which problems to solve and which ones to leave alone. His only solution to all of our problems is spending taxpayers' money on subsidies.

Perhaps most important was his effort to pretend that more laws are the solution to problems. Strong anti-terror laws have not ended terror, strong SC/ST laws have not ended discrimination, strong domestic and anti-dowry laws have not eliminated these social scourges, and the Right to Education Act has only made the quality of education worse (read here). So he thinks every problem can be solved with a law.

Despite the fact that his government has been regarded as the most corrupt in history – we hardly need to repeat 2G, CWG and Coalgate to emphasise this – he made no references to them and indirectly dismissed them as unimportant. "Congress party passed the Lokpal Bill for the people of this country, others just made a hue and cry," he said.

Laws are only one part of the solution to issues, Mr Gandhi. We need sound implementation to make even good laws work. As for bad laws, they ought to be removed from the statute book.

And yes, a democratic Congress party is as vital to democracy secularism is to a BJP. But it would help if you walk the talk. For a start solve this paradox: can a family that reserves ultimate power in its hands, how will talent flower without the family itself abdicating its rights to that power?

We will believe you when you abdicate.

(Acknowledgement: Many of the quotes attributed to Rahul Gandhi, unless otherwise stated, have been taken from reportage in The Economic Times and The Indian Express)

 

Modi will never be PM, but he can sell tea: Mani Shankar Aiyar

New Delhi: In remarks that are likely to stoke a controversy, Congress leader Manishankar Aiyar today mocked Narendra Modi's Prime Ministerial ambitions and said a place will be identified for the Gujarat Chief Minister to distribute tea here.

"I promise you in 21st Century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. ...But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him," Aiyar said at the venue of the AICC meeting here.

Narendra Modi. AFP image

Aiyar's remarks comes against the backdrop of Modi's reference to his own socio-economic background and humble origins at rallies while targeting the Gandhi-Nehru family.

Modi has said that people who are ruling at the Centre "don't know what poverty is all about, but I know it." The Gujarat Chief Minister has said that he was born in a poor family, and have seen and lived in poverty.

"I have sold tea at the railway station and in running trains ...those selling tea in trains know more about railways than the minister," Modi had said at a rally in Patna.

When he was six years old, Modi helped his father sell tea to passengers whenever an odd train came into the small
Vadnagar station in Gujarat, according to a book titled "The anatomy of Narendra Modi--the man and his politics" authored by Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Earlier Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal had also made similar remarks against Modi, saying that a person who
used to sell tea cannot have a national perspective.

"Narendra Modi wants to become a PM. Someone rising from a tea shop can never have a national perspective. Like, if you make a 'sipahi' (constable) as 'kaptan' (Superintendent of Police), he can never have SP's approach but will have that of a constable," Agarwal had said in Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh.

PTI

Kapil Sibal to Lalit Modi, celebrities mourn Sunanda’s death on Twitter

New Delhi: Political leaders and celebrities, including Union Minister Kapil Sibal, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and filmmaker Karan Johar, on Friday condoled the death of Sunanda Pushkar whose body was found at a five-star hotel in New Delhi.

File photo of Sunanda Pushkar. PTI

"Terrible terrible news coming in about Sunanda Tharoor," Omar tweeted while Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said "deeply shocked to hear about Sunanda. My heartfelt condolences to my friend and colleague Shashi Tharoor and their family."

His cabinet colleague Milind Deora aid it was "shocking". "Very, very shocking & sad. My heartfelt condolences to her family & loved ones," he tweeted.

Entrepreneur Raj Kundra, wife of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, said he was saddened by the "untimely death" of Sunanda. "She was a good lady and didn't deserve to go like this. God bless her soul," he tweeted.

Karan Johar expressed described Sunanda's death as "tragic".

Actor Dia Mirza said she was deeply shocked and saddened. "Such a lively, friendly and warm person. Heartfelt condolences @ShashiTharoor," she tweeted.

Industrialists Naveen Jindal and Vijay Mallya also expressed their condolence.

While Jindal said "extending our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor. Hard to accept she is no more with us #RIP," Vijay Mallya said, "Shocked. Just met her over new year's. Vibrant as always. RIP Sunanda Tharoor."

Founder of the Indian Premier League and Champions League T20 Lalit Modi said it was "shocking and extremely sad news about Sunanda".

BJD leader Baijayant Jay Panda tweeted "shocked to hear of Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor's untimely death! May God rest her soul in peace "

"I was completely shocked and could not believe it," said actor Anil Kapoor.

Singer Sonu Nigam said it was unbelievable that a person like her has left like this and actor Anupam Kher said "...she is not a person, who will kill herself."

Film producer Kunal Kohli said "it's disturbing what social media can lead through... We have to see what is going on in our society and where social media is taking us to."

Ishaan, one of the twin sons of Shashi Tharoor and a journalist with the Time magazine, asked for privacy.

He tweeted, "I would request that everyone please respect our family's privacy at this moment."

His brother Kaniskh retweeted Ishaan's tweet.

Congress MP Priya Dutt tweeted "cant believe she is no more. Sunanda was vivacious and her positivity was infectious. May her soul rest in peace. Strength to shashi."

Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi assembly and senior BJP leader Harsh Vardhan offered his condolences to the family. He tweeted, "Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor dead. Sad news. Myheartfelt condolences to her son and Mr ShashiTharoor.May her soul rest in peace."

Writer Taslima Nasreen tweeted, "Whoever is the culprit, it is always the woman who dies at the end. #Sunanda"

PTI

Did Rahul’s speech at AICC have any takeaways for party workers?

Rahul Gandhi outdid himself today, but he still failed to measure up. The party workers and functionaries, particularly the demoralized lot at the grassroots level, were desperate for a shot of adrenaline before the big election a few months away, what Rahul served them was a dampener in the form of a Congress vision statement. The morale booster they were looking for was largely missing in his speech at Talkatora stadium. If they were looking for quick fixes for the short term, he, like most of his speeches earlier, spoke in the long term.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. PTI

It was not a bad performance at all and the content of his 45-minute speech was appreciable, yet it certainly wasn't what the doctor would have prescribed for party workers overwhelmed by defeatism. Why? Well, the talk of deepening of democracy, of the expanding scope of citizen's rights and of turning access to information into a weapon against corruption etc, is all good. Such subjects would be highly appreciated in seminar circles and elitist forums of similar nature, but how does an ordinary party worker explain these to the voters in rural and tribal areas?

The voters are not stupid, but one cannot expect people trapped in everyday miseries and looking for clear assurances from their leaders on these to be respectful to abstract concepts. The Congress think-tank has made no effort so far to simplify its achievements in the areas of RTI and legislations creating rights for people to the party worker down the rungs. Rahul's speeches reflect the lack of understanding in the party to reduce big concepts into messages which are uncomplicated, consumable and deliverable. If many of the participants left the AICC session with heads a bit heavy and confused, the party has no reason to blame them.

One of the biggest talking points for the Congress should be the NREGA. It has transformed the economy in the rural areas in interesting ways by bringing more money into poor households and proving to be a potent weapon against vagaries of nature and uncertainties on the job front. The party has been slammed in the elite circles for being populist and the scheme has been called a crude vote-buying proposition often enough, yet we have not seen it defending itself with much enthusiasm. None of the Congress leaders has explained it to the masses as a safety network mechanism, aimed at protecting the poor and the jobless.

It has also failed magnificently in countering the well-orchestrated attack on its economic policies. It does not matter much now whether these are good or bad, but the party could easily provide a moral spin to its policies by emphasising on fair distribution of wealth and talk of economic conscience. It would certainly appeal to a wide section of the masses which does not see any great virtue in the trickle-down economics. The Congress has made simple for its workers neither its welfare policies nor its other economic measures. How do they carry these to the voters? None of the speeches offered by senior leaders today addressed this problem. The disconnect between the top and the bottom rungs of the party was never this distinct.

Rahul's speeches – the language, ideas and tone aspects of these in particular - come straight out of the book of civil society activists. While there's nothing wrong in it, these serve little purpose if the party workers are left with no clarity in the end. Modi, by contrast, knows the pulse of his audience. He makes matters lucid, simple and digestible for them. That he can be crude and offensive is an added advantage. He, put in Rahul's words, may be selling combs to bald people, but to his credit he knows how to do it. If the Congress is not able to explain the virtues of a comb to its people, then it needs to introspect hard.

Rahul, who would be leading the Congress campaign in the general election, must rethink his speeches. He needs to bring these down to the level of the common man if he wants to make any impact. And yes, he must remember talking long term does not work with voters at all.

Sunanda Pushkar found dead in Delhi, post mortem likely today

New Delhi: Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, was found dead in a five-star hotel room which police suspect may be a case of suicide.

Sunanda Pushkar and Shashi Tharoor. AFP

The body of 52-year-old Pushkar, a woman entrepreneur who married Tharoor in August 2010, was found in the luxury Leela Palace hotel in South Delhi, top police sources said.

The Minister's private secretary Abhinav Kumar is said to have telephoned the police control room around 2100 hours after which personnel from Sarojini Nagar police station rushed to the hotel in a posh area of South Delhi.

Police sources speaking on condition of anonymity said they suspect it could be a case of suicide.

Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said inquest proceedings have been initiated by the sub-divisional magistrate of the area. Any death within seven years of marriage is legally required to be investigated by the sub-divisional magistrate.

Kumar told reporters at the hotel that Tharoor and Pushkar were staying in a suite since Thursday as some painting work was on at home. The Minister was away throughout the day at the AICC meet, he said.

When he came back around 8:30 pm, he found the door of her room inside the suite locked from the inside. She seemed to be sleeping in a normal way but later it was found she was dead.

Kumar said there was no sign of foul play but whether it was natural death or not cannot be said now.

"The cause of death and the time of death, we cannot say now," he said.

The minister was in the hotel late in the night when the police sealed suite no.345 on the third floor and police were making arrangements to take the body to AIIMS for a post mortem.

Forensic experts along with police were at the spot to examine the scene of occurrence.

Kumar said Pushkar was a little unwell on Thursday morning.

Pushkar and Tharoor were at the centre of a raging controversy in the last two days when reports emerged that she was upset over reported text and tweet messages between her husband and Mehr Tarar, a Pakistani journalist.

Late Thursday night, Pushkar had tweeted that the Pakistani journalist was "lying".

Tharoor was present at the day-long AICC session which ended around 5 pm.

This was the third marriage for both of them. She had a 21-year-old son, Shiv Menon, from her second marriage.

The couple, who were always in some sort of controversy or the other, reportedly fought over the alleged affair which came to light when Tharoor claimed his twitter handle was hacked.

He made the declaration after purported controversial tweets were posted from his accounts and were believed to be addressed to the Pakistan-based journalist.

Pushkar had told couple of newspapers that she was considering divorce from Tharoor in the wake of the alleged extra-marital affair. On her part, Mehr denied Pushkar's allegations of her stalking Tharoor or having an affair with him.

However, after the media carried the war of words Twitter following which the couple issued a statement on Thursday, claiming they were happily married.

Asked about the cause of death, Rajan Bhagat said there is no apparent sign which can reveal that.

On when the post mortem would be conducted, he said a decision on it will be taken under the supervision of the SDM doing the inquest proceedings.

Late in the night Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Tharoor and condoled Pushkar's death.

"I am deeply saddened at your loss. May God give you strength in this hour of grief", he told Tharoor.

Tarar, who has been at the centre of thecontroversy involving the Union Minister, today said she was "absolutely shocked" over Pushkar's death.

"I just woke up and read this. I'm absolutely shocked. This is too awful for words. So tragic I don't know what to say. Rest in peace, Sunanda," she tweeted.

PTI

Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor found dead in Delhi’s Hotel Leela

Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor, wife of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, was found dead at a five star hotel room in New Delhi around 9 pm today.

Pushkar was staying at Hotel Leela in the national capital and initial reports suggest she committed suicide.

Sketchy details emerging from Delhi Police say that her body was lying on the bed of Room No.- 345 and there was no visible external injury to it.

Sunanda Pushkar and Shashi Tharoor. AFP

A scandal erupted on Wednesday after controversial tweets were posted on the verified account of the Tharoor, the minister of state for human resource development, which got twitterati all abuzz due to the very personal nature of the posts.

The tweets on Tharoor's timeline were purportedly those he received from Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar. Some of them, which have been since deleted but are still on twitter, read: "@mehrtarar I love you, Shashi Tharoor. And I go while in love with you, irrevocably, irreversibly, hamesha. Bleeding, but always your Mehr."

However, the minister and his wife issued a joint statement saying they are distressed by an "unseemly controversy" over some "unauthorised tweets" posted from their Twitter accounts and that both are "happily married and intend to remain that way".

In a statement, they said that "distorted accounts" of comments "allegedly made by Sunanda" have appeared in the press. "It appears that some personal and private comments responding to these unauthorised tweets—comments that were not intended for publication—have been misrepresented and led to some erroneous conclusions."

With inputs from IANS