Delhi cops reveal IM threat to Kejriwal, ask him to accept Z security

Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen is planning to abduct Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in exchange for the release of its key member Yaseen Bhatkal who was arrested along the Indo-Nepal border on 27 August last year, police sources claimed today.

PTI

A team from the security wing of Delhi Police has briefed Kejriwal about this threat and requested him to take 'Z' category security cover, the top sources said.

However, the response of the Delhi Chief Minister in this regard was not immediately clear. Senior Police officials said that they had received an input in this regard from intelligence agencies.

Kejriwal has been declining to take security cover in keeping up with his Aam Aadmi Party's policy to end VIP culture in politics.

A special NIA court on Friday allowed the plea by Karnataka Police to interrogate Bhatkal in connection with the blasts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in April, 2010.

Bhatkal, who hails from Bhatkal village in the Udupi district of north Karnataka, was allegedly involved in a string of terror attacks in Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad, the NIA had said.

He was earlier associated with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and is alleged to have hatched a conspiracy with others to wage a war against India.

PTI

Modi spells out national vision for a post Congress 2014

New Delhi: Narendra Modi seemed to have decided to make this speech a special one.

It was after all his first speech to the BJP national council after being anointed as the BJP Prime Ministerial Candidate. Over 3,000 party leaders assembled from across the country had waited since yesterday to hear him and true to expectation he completely enthused them with a mix of political punch and an outlining of his vision for governing the nation beyond 2014, if he were to be elected Prime Minister.

He had done his homework well. He had cleaelt listened to the tapes of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's speeches at the AICC convention and come prepared to rebut every single point that they had made, not just in relation to the charges that they made against the BJP, but also on various other issues. He particularly trashed the Congress argument that they were following "a Congress convention"  in not naming Rahul the party's prime ministerial candidate.

Modi at the BJP national council: PTI

He tore the top Congress leaders arguments to pieces, pointing out that traditionally the party had showed scant respect for democratic process.

"Why was the parliamentary party endorsement to make Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel India's first Prime Minister not honoured? what were the circumstances and forces which handed over the reigns of the country chose Jawaharlal Nehru?" he asked, adding that in the immediate aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984, Rajiv Gandhi took over as Prime Minister without holding any parliamentary party meeting, and that again in 2004, the party never chose Manmohan Singh to be Prime Minister, asking Sonia Gandhi to occupy the position instead.

"And then you are giving us lessons of parliamentary party tradition. The actual reasons are different and are related with human emotions. When defeat is so imminent why would a mother (Sonia) sacrifice her son (Rahul) on the altar of politics. Save my son is her present motto", he said.

At the AICC convention the Congress was trying to save their party from an existential crisis, while we are here brain storming to save the nation.

He also used Rahul's method of comparing the Congress and BJP, to rebut him and went much beyond that to come out with an emotive pitch : The low caste tea vendor's son versus Gandhi family royalty. He played his OBC (Backward Caste) credentials to the hilt.

Modi is acutely aware that the post mandal empowerment of the OBC has changed social and political dynamics of the country and went at length to send this message home to those concerned. A caste netutral Chaiwala social constituency, aaj desh me chaiwala seena chauda kar ke ghoom raha hai, plus a numerically preponderant OBC, with a mix of middle class and aspirational youth support could sail him home in the coming elections.

Besides heightening the rhetorical political pitch, Modi spoke more in terms of unveiling his prime ministerial vision and how he would like to "build the nation" by listing out his priorities, tackling inflation, unemployment, new economy, agriculture produce enhancement, setting up a Bullet trains railway and so on.

But most importantly through his ideas of governance he sought to build up, or at least lure in a new political alignment with leading parties in various states where the BJP was not in power or was not a major political force – the backward states like West Bengal, (Trinamool Congress) Odisha (Biju Janata Dal), Jharkhand (he also listed Bihar in this category to counter Nitish) would be paid special attention -- and potentially developed states like Tamil Nadu (AIADMK), Andhra Pradesh (TDP and YSR Cong) where he knew that the federal structure was under assault by Congress' big brother attitude.

Feel for the backward states and care for federal structures may be a good idea to send early issue based feelers to the potential allies, post poll perhaps.

Then to counter arrogant charge against him, Modi for once pitched himself not as ruler but as public servant, "Shashak nahi Sewak.. you have given them (Congress) 60 years to rule, give me 60 months to set the things right."

Newly elected Rajasthan assembly to first meet on 21 January

The first session of the newly elected Rajasthan Assembly will begin in Jaipur on 21 January.

Speaker Pradhyuman Singh will administer oaths to 200 new members, Parliamentary Minister RS Rathore told PTI today.

The BJP led by Raje, has won 163 seats in the assembly: Reuters

The election of the new Speaker will take place on 22 January.

Governor Margret Alva will address the first sitting of the House on January 23.

In the 200-member House,the BJP has 163 members and main opposition Congress 21 seats.

The Congress Legislature Party had recently passed a unanimous resolution authorizing party president Sonia Gandhi to select their leader ahead of the session but no announcement has been made so far.

PTI

Narendra Modi spells out national vision for a post Congress 2014

New Delhi: Narendra Modi seemed to have decided to make this speech a special one.

It was after all his first speech to the BJP national council after being anointed as the BJP Prime Ministerial Candidate. Over 3,000 party leaders assembled from across the country had waited since yesterday to hear him and true to expectation he completely enthused them with a mix of political punch and an outlining of his vision for governing the nation beyond 2014, if he were to be elected Prime Minister.

He had done his homework well. He had cleaelt listened to the tapes of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's speeches at the AICC convention and come prepared to rebut every single point that they had made, not just in relation to the charges that they made against the BJP, but also on various other issues. He particularly trashed the Congress argument that they were following "a Congress convention"  in not naming Rahul the party's prime ministerial candidate.

Modi at the BJP national council: PTI

He tore the top Congress leaders arguments to pieces, pointing out that traditionally the party had showed scant respect for democratic process.

"Why was the parliamentary party endorsement to make Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel India's first Prime Minister not honoured? what were the circumstances and forces which handed over the reigns of the country chose Jawaharlal Nehru?" he asked, adding that in the immediate aftermath of Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984, Rajiv Gandhi took over as Prime Minister without holding any parliamentary party meeting, and that again in 2004, the party never chose Manmohan Singh to be Prime Minister, asking Sonia Gandhi to occupy the position instead.

"And then you are giving us lessons of parliamentary party tradition. The actual reasons are different and are related with human emotions. When defeat is so imminent why would a mother (Sonia) sacrifice her son (Rahul) on the altar of politics. Save my son is her present motto", he said.

At the AICC convention the Congress was trying to save their party from an existential crisis, while we are here brain storming to save the nation.

He also used Rahul's method of comparing the Congress and BJP, to rebut him and went much beyond that to come out with an emotive pitch : The low caste tea vendor's son versus Gandhi family royalty. He played his OBC (Backward Caste) credentials to the hilt.

Modi is acutely aware that the post mandal empowerment of the OBC has changed social and political dynamics of the country and went at length to send this message home to those concerned. A caste netutral Chaiwala social constituency, aaj desh me chaiwala seena chauda kar ke ghoom raha hai, plus a numerically preponderant OBC, with a mix of middle class and aspirational youth support could sail him home in the coming elections.

Besides heightening the rhetorical political pitch, Modi spoke more in terms of unveiling his prime ministerial vision and how he would like to "build the nation" by listing out his priorities, tackling inflation, unemployment, new economy, agriculture produce enhancement, setting up a Bullet trains railway and so on.

But most importantly through his ideas of governance he sought to build up, or at least lure in a new political alignment with leading parties in various states where the BJP was not in power or was not a major political force – the backward states like West Bengal, (Trinamool Congress) Odisha (Biju Janata Dal), Jharkhand (he also listed Bihar in this category to counter Nitish) would be paid special attention -- and potentially developed states like Tamil Nadu (AIADMK), Andhra Pradesh (TDP and YSR Cong) where he knew that the federal structure was under assault by Congress' big brother attitude.

Feel for the backward states and care for federal structures may be a good idea to send early issue based feelers to the potential allies, post poll perhaps.

Then to counter arrogant charge against him, Modi for once pitched himself not as ruler but as public servant, "Shashak nahi Sewak.. you have given them (Congress) 60 years to rule, give me 60 months to set the things right."

Rahul, Congress, national agenda, 5T formula: 7 points from Modi’s speech

It may have been a party national council meet but the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi used the opportunity to not only attack the Congress but to list his vision for the country.

Here are 7 important topics the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate touched upon during his speech that lasted over an hour:

Modi on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi

Speaking a couple of days after the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Modi began his speech by going after the opposition's poll campaign chief.

Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he said, " In Congress national conference it was all about saving party, here it is all about saving the nation...They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG."

Modi at the BJP's national council meet. AFP

He questioned the democratic principles of the Congress party that Rahul Gandhi had spoken of and questioned why Sardar Vallabhai Patel had not been the first Prime Minister of the nation. He also questioned why Rajiv Gandhi was made Prime Minister on Indira Gandhi's assassination without any transparency.

"In 2004, the Congress Parliamentary committee hadn't picked Manmohan Singh to be PM, but Madam Sonia Gandhi," Modi said.

He claimed the decision behind making Manmohan Singh had also been taken by the Congress President and the Congress couldn't claim to be democratic. However, he said he had a better explanation for why the Congress didn't pick a Prime Ministerial candidate

"I see a human reason for the Congress decision. When defeat is imminent, will any other mother sacrifice her son?"

"This is a mother's statement: Nahin, nahin. Mere bete ko bachao (No, no, save my son)"

Modi's policy plans

For perhaps the first time the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate made assurances about real policy plans that he had in the event that he was victorious.

"There is no real time data on anything. Our first step will be to have real time mechanism to know crop output," he said.

"We should have real time data to know when to import and when to export," Modi said.

The Prime Ministerial candidate said there needs to be a price stabilisation fund to ensure the poor could afford food. He spoke of focussed skill development institutes, that were dynamic in their courses and based on industry needs, to fight unemployment.

He also promised to bring back black money stored in accounts abroad.

"Every paisa stored in a foreign account illegally will be brought back and used to benefit the poor," Modi said.

He spoke of developing a national gas grid to end fights over LPG cylinders and also said the Indian Railways could be modernised in order to have a bullet train network across the country.

Modi spoke of ensuring urbanisation across the country in order to boost growth and said the country needed to ensure more twin cities and satellite towns to encourage it.

The BJP would ensure the empowerment of the poor, ensuring the creation of institutes of higher learning in every state, reforming healthcare, developing the dairy industry, and ensuring power supply across the country.

Modi on Mani Shankar Aiyar's chaiwallah barb

"These days there is a lot of talk about chai-wallahs, who are all walking around proudly," he said, to laughter from his audience.

"They are naamdaar but I am a kaamdaar," he said, adding that his focus would remain of delivering on his promises.

"They think they are part of a family that has always been respected and we have to take on someone from a backward caste? A man whose mother used to work in others houses cleaning utensils? A man who once sold tea on trains? How can we stoop to this battle, they think"

On improving the federal structure

Claiming that this was not like any election but one of "hope and aspiration", Modi said there was a disparity in how the nation had developed and promised to ensure inclusive and complete development across the nation.

"We want to move ahead with a vision of inclusivity. We should not consider regional aspirations a problem. They were earlier viewed as a burden but regional aspirations can also be viewed as an opportunity," he said.

He said that having been the chief minister of a state he understood the importance of the federal structure of the nation.

"I can understand troubles of every state and chief minister. BJP will empower the federal structure of nation," he said.

He said he wanted to form teams where the PM along with Chief Ministers, bureaucrats in states and Centre worked together to ensure the entire nation developed individually and collectively.

Modi's seven point agenda

The BJP's Prime ministerial candidate said there were seven things that policy cater to: Preserving family structure and values, growth of agriculture, empowering women, preserving forests and land, protecting the youth and developing it, strengthening democratic institutions and developing institutions of knowledge.

Modi on women

The BJP's prime ministerial candidate, like his counterpart in the Congress, spoke of empowering women and ensuring that they went from being homemakers to 'nation builders'.

"What is happening with our mothers and sisters in the country leaves us shame faced. Dignity of women should be a commitment," he said.

"We should have a 'beti bachao, beti padhao' campaign. There isn't anything worse than female infanticide in this era," Modi said.

Modi's 5T plan

Modi also unveiled his 5T formula for developing the nation: Talent, Tourism, technology, Tradition and Trade.

BJP accuses Somnath Bharti of racism, says AAP better off on streets than secretariat

New Delhi: BJP today accused Delhi's Law Minister Somnath Bharti of "racism" and wondered if the dharna planned by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to demand suspension of some police officials is a ploy for "a way out of the government and get back to the streets".

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said Aam Admi Party (AAP) is obviously more comfortable doing a dharna than working in the secretariat, noting that the past three weeks have shown that the party gets into a "self-destructive mode" at the secretariat.

"Is the planned dharna for one day a ploy to fracture its non-transparent arrangement with Congress? Is the AAP looking for a way out of the government and get back to the streets? Or is it exploiting the non-preparedness of Congress and the Home Minister into yielding to its demand," he said in a statement.

Jaitley was reacting on Kejriwal's decision to stage a dharna outside Home Ministry on Monday demanding action against policemen who refused to "cooperate" with Bharti in cracking down on an alleged drug and prostitution ring involving some Ugandan nationals in South Delhi. Jaitley said Bharti has created serious problems for Africans staying in the capital.

BJP accuses Somnath Bharti of racism, says AAP better off on streets than secretariat AFP

"His approach appears to be a racist one. The party within days has become victim of its own unconventional style. Mobs can't take decisions. They can at best be populist," the leader said. Bharti is at the centre of a raging row as he tried to raid an alleged drug and prostitution ring involving foreign nationals but the police refused to do his bidding citing lack of warrant.

Kejriwal has defended Bharti, saying he acted on the complaint of people, and instead accused police of not acting on the minister's complaint. Jaitley said AAP used the government formation in Delhi to create enthusiasm among its supporters across the country but its performance is becoming "embarrassing by the day".

"The party comprises of ideologists, activists, the self-opinionated and the self-righteous. Some of the supporters have joined the party or voted for it with a sense of idealism. Forming a party and running a government is very different from leading an agitation," he said.

PTI

Modi Live: ‘India will support the chaiwallah on the battlefield’

2.19 pm: Advani takes the stage after Modi

2.00 pm: Modi unveils 5 T's for Brand India: Talent, tourism, technology, tradition and trade

And we are back to the national agenda. Again, may we reiterate, this speech is clearly meant to be a national Prime Ministerial candidates speech, and not just an address directed towards party workers. This may well have been a BJP ploy to highlight it preparedness for the upcoming elections, unlike the Congress

He touches on poverty, agriculture, price rise, inflation and unemployment.

And to wind up, he talks at length about 'my idea of India'. "A new terminology is coming- My Idea of India. This is not the property of any one person or family", he says.

This vision for the BJP seems to comprise 5 Ts for brand India: Talent, tourism, technology, tradition and trade.

"My idea of India is Satyameva Jayate", he adds.

Modi ended by having the crowd chant what is likely to be the BJP battle cry - 'vote for India'.

"When there is a chaiwallah on the battlefield the nation will willingly fill our coffers", he said.

1.50 pm: Cong may be an idea, but its out of ideas, says Modi

Rahul's speech is next on the Modi agenda.

"In Congress meet it was said that it was an idea. But Congress is out of ideas", he said.

Not stopping there, he went on to attack some of Rahul's other speeches and public gaffes.

"He said India is a beehive, but we believe India is our mother. He says until we talk of the poor there is no fun. We don't sleep well thinking of the plight of the poor", he said.

Manmohan Singh was also not spared the attack. "They believe money doesn't go on trees. We believe it grows in farms and is the result of labour", he said in a reference to the Prime Minister's address to the nation before introducing FDI in retail into India.

"They want to divide and rule, we want to unite and progress. They think of how to save party, we want to save nation. They think only those with Congress in heart will win, we think only those with Bharatmata in their heart will get a ticket".

1.40 pm: Modi vows to save the youth

After the usual references to backward castes, women and farmers, Modi turns on to the youth - his key voter base for the upcoming elections.

"The most important aspect is the strength of our youth. We are blessed in this respect.If we had the right policies our youth would not only improve the nation but could improve the world. We should protect the youth of our nation from narcotics. We should have a zero tolerance policy on this".

This is more than the Congress slug fest we were expecting. Modi is essentially delivering a national speech.

The flipside of this however, is that he seems to be losing the crowd, which is essentially made up of party workers.

1.30 pm: Modi promises to lead a truly federal India

The next item on the Modi agenda is federal India. "We are a federal nation and it cannot be just adhered to as something constitutional. We need to respect it in letter and spirit", he says.

This is an interesting statement given that it has largely been Modi together with his Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa, who have been fighting the centre in various matters including the setting up of the NCTC, a mechanism to share information and resources with regard to combatting terror.

"As a CM I completely understand the importance of the federal structure of the nation. I can understand troubles of every state and chief minister. BJP will empower the federal structure of nation"

He said that to truly empower states, 'relief packages' and 'doles' were not the answer.

"I want the PM and CMs to be a team that takes the nation forward. If we can form united structures then we can take the nation forward by combining our strengths"

1.18 pm: Modi talks 'regional aspirations', is he reaching out to Mamata? 

Having gone after the Congress, Modi starts expounding on his other favourite topic - namely that of good governance and inclusive development.

"We have heard a lot about concern for poor and progress. What was wrong in our policies that there is progress taking place in west India but entire east is in disarray? I want to promise that when you vote us to power this year that we will ensure the progress of the region that is lagging behind", he said.

He also deals with the topic of regional 'aspiration'. And though this statement was couched in the language of development, is it really a hint to potential alliance partners in a post poll scenario? " We want to move ahead with a vision of inclusivity. We should not consider regional aspirations a problem. They were earlier viewed as a burden but regional aspirations can also be viewed as an opportunity",he tells the assembled workers.

Given the emphasis on the east and the 'opportunity' of regional aspirations, is this his way of reaching out to Mamata Banerjee? The West Bengal Chief Minister has so far expressed her support for a non-Congress, non-BJP third front alliance. The question is, will she bite?

1.07 pm: "They are naamdar, but I am kaamdar", says Modi to workers

Modi has the crowd gripped. His precise, well timed jabs at the Congress would win him many points in any boxing arena. After informing the sniggering crowd of party workers that Sonia Gandhi had said, "Nahin, nahin. Mere bete ko bachao" (save my son) in refusing to field him as the PM candidate, he predictably moves on to Mani Shankar Aiyar's now infamous tea vendor statement.

Low hanging fruit. Modi has always played the outsider in politics, and this frankly classist statement gives him enough ammunition to play the victim. How he, a man of the people, is deemed an 'unacceptable choice' by the Congress, because they cannot bear to see a man of humble origins rise to the echelons of power.

"These days there is a lot of talk about chai-wallahs, who are all walking around proudly. They are naamdaar but I am a kaamdaar. They think they are part of a family that has always been respected and we have to take on someone from a backward caste? A man whose mother used to clean people's utensils? A man who once sold tea on trains? How can we stoop to this battle, they think", he said.

He is not even shouting, at times almost whispering into the mic. But the crowd is hooked. There is almost pin drop silence in the crowded stadium, despite scattered applause and cheers at a particularly well directed snipe at Congress.

12.56 pm: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

That didn't take long. The Congress jibes have already started and the first one is a doozy. Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he says, "They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG".

Zing.

And he also has a theory on as to why this happened. "I see a human reason for the Congress decision. When defeat is imminent, will any other mother sacrifice her son?"

He added that while the Congress national conference was all about saving the party, the BJP council was really all about saving the nation.

He also pointed out that it was quite ironic for a party that claimed to be the upholder of democracy, it never followed democratic principles itself.

"When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Rajiv Gandhi rushed to hospital and in moments he was declared PM. At independence when the first PM was chosen what happened to democratic principles?"

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Live: India will support the chaiwallah on the battlefield, says Modi

2.00 pm: Modi unveils 5 T's for Brand India: Talent, tourism, technology, tradition and trade

And we are back to the national agenda. Again, may we reiterate, this speech is clearly meant to be a national Prime Ministerial candidates speech, and not just an address directed towards party workers.

He touches on poverty, agriculture, price rise, inflation and unemployment.

And to wind up, he talks at length about 'my idea of India'. "A new terminology is coming- My Idea of India. This is not the property of any one person or family", he says.

This vision for the BJP seems to comprise 5 Ts for brand India: Talent, tourism, technology, tradition and trade.

"My idea of India is Satyameva Jayate"

1.50 pm: Cong may be an idea, but its out of ideas, says Modi

Rahul's speech is next on the Modi agenda.

"In Congress meet it was said that it was an idea. But Congress is out of ideas", he said.

Not stopping there, he went on to attack some of Rahul's other speeches and public gaffes.

"He said India is a beehive, but we believe India is our mother. He says until we talk of the poor there is no fun. We don't sleep well thinking of the plight of the poor", he said.

Manmohan Singh was also not spared the attack. "They believe money doesn't go on trees. We believe it grows in farms and is the result of labour", he said in a reference to the Prime Minister's address to the nation before introducing FDI in retail into India.

"They want to divide and rule, we want to unite and progress. They think of how to save party, we want to save nation. They think only those with Congress in heart will win, we think only those with Bharatmata in their heart will get a ticket".

1.40 pm: Modi vows to save the youth

After the usual references to backward castes, women and farmers, Modi turns on to the youth - his key voter base for the upcoming elections.

"The most important aspect is the strength of our youth. We are blessed in this respect.If we had the right policies our youth would not only improve the nation but could improve the world. We should protect the youth of our nation from narcotics. We should have a zero tolerance policy on this".

This is more than the Congress slug fest we were expecting. Modi is essentially delivering a national speech.

The flipside of this however, is that he seems to be losing the crowd, which is essentially made up of party workers.

1.30 pm: Modi promises to lead a truly federal India

The next item on the Modi agenda is federal India. "We are a federal nation and it cannot be just adhered to as something constitutional. We need to respect it in letter and spirit", he says.

This is an interesting statement given that it has largely been Modi together with his Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa, who have been fighting the centre in various matters including the setting up of the NCTC, a mechanism to share information and resources with regard to combatting terror.

"As a CM I completely understand the importance of the federal structure of the nation. I can understand troubles of every state and chief minister. BJP will empower the federal structure of nation"

He said that to truly empower states, 'relief packages' and 'doles' were not the answer.

"I want the PM and CMs to be a team that takes the nation forward. If we can form united structures then we can take the nation forward by combining our strengths"

1.18 pm: Modi talks 'regional aspirations', is he reaching out to Mamata? 

Having gone after the Congress, Modi starts expounding on his other favourite topic - namely that of good governance and inclusive development.

"We have heard a lot about concern for poor and progress. What was wrong in our policies that there is progress taking place in west India but entire east is in disarray? I want to promise that when you vote us to power this year that we will ensure the progress of the region that is lagging behind", he said.

He also deals with the topic of regional 'aspiration'. And though this statement was couched in the language of development, is it really a hint to potential alliance partners in a post poll scenario? " We want to move ahead with a vision of inclusivity. We should not consider regional aspirations a problem. They were earlier viewed as a burden but regional aspirations can also be viewed as an opportunity",he tells the assembled workers.

Given the emphasis on the east and the 'opportunity' of regional aspirations, is this his way of reaching out to Mamata Banerjee? The West Bengal Chief Minister has so far expressed her support for a non-Congress, non-BJP third front alliance. The question is, will she bite?

1.07 pm: "They are naamdar, but I am kaamdar", says Modi to workers

Modi has the crowd gripped. His precise, well timed jabs at the Congress would win him many points in any boxing arena. After informing the sniggering crowd of party workers that Sonia Gandhi had said, "Nahin, nahin. Mere bete ko bachao" (save my son) in refusing to field him as the PM candidate, he predictably moves on to Mani Shankar Aiyar's now infamous tea vendor statement.

Low hanging fruit. Modi has always played the outsider in politics, and this frankly classist statement gives him enough ammunition to play the victim. How he, a man of the people, is deemed an 'unacceptable choice' by the Congress, because they cannot bear to see a man of humble origins rise to the echelons of power.

"These days there is a lot of talk about chai-wallahs, who are all walking around proudly. They are naamdaar but I am a kaamdaar. They think they are part of a family that has always been respected and we have to take on someone from a backward caste? A man whose mother used to clean people's utensils? A man who once sold tea on trains? How can we stoop to this battle, they think", he said.

He is not even shouting, at times almost whispering into the mic. But the crowd is hooked. There is almost pin drop silence in the crowded stadium, despite scattered applause and cheers at a particularly well directed snipe at Congress.

12.56 pm: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

That didn't take long. The Congress jibes have already started and the first one is a doozy. Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he says, "They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG".

Zing.

And he also has a theory on as to why this happened. "I see a human reason for the Congress decision. When defeat is imminent, will any other mother sacrifice her son?"

He added that while the Congress national conference was all about saving the party, the BJP council was really all about saving the nation.

He also pointed out that it was quite ironic for a party that claimed to be the upholder of democracy, it never followed democratic principles itself.

"When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Rajiv Gandhi rushed to hospital and in moments he was declared PM. At independence when the first PM was chosen what happened to democratic principles?"

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Live: Congress may be an idea, but it’s out of ideas, says Modi

1.50 pm: Cong may be an idea, but its out of ideas, says Modi

Rahul's speech is next on the Modi agenda.

"In Congress meet it was said that it was an idea. But Congress is out of ideas", he said.

Not stopping there, he went on to attack some of Rahul's other speeches and public gaffes.

"He said India is a beehive, but we believe India is our mother. He says until we talk of the poor there is no fun. We don't sleep well thinking of the plight of the poor", he said.

Manmohan Singh was also not spared the attack. "They believe money doesn't go on trees. We believe it grows in farms and is the result of labour", he said in a reference to the Prime Minister's address to the nation before introducing FDI in retail into India.

"They want to divide and rule, we want to unite and progress. They think of how to save party, we want to save nation. They think only those with Congress in heart will win, we think only those with Bharatmata in their heart will get a ticket".

1.40 pm: Modi vows to save the youth

After the usual references to backward castes, women and farmers, Modi turns on to the youth - his key voter base for the upcoming elections.

"The most important aspect is the strength of our youth. We are blessed in this respect.If we had the right policies our youth would not only improve the nation but could improve the world. We should protect the youth of our nation from narcotics. We should have a zero tolerance policy on this".

This is more than the Congress slug fest we were expecting. Modi is essentially delivering a national speech.

The flipside of this however, is that he seems to be losing the crowd, which is essentially made up of party workers.

1.30 pm: Modi promises to lead a truly federal India

The next item on the Modi agenda is federal India. "We are a federal nation and it cannot be just adhered to as something constitutional. We need to respect it in letter and spirit", he says.

This is an interesting statement given that it has largely been Modi together with his Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa, who have been fighting the centre in various matters including the setting up of the NCTC, a mechanism to share information and resources with regard to combatting terror.

"As a CM I completely understand the importance of the federal structure of the nation. I can understand troubles of every state and chief minister. BJP will empower the federal structure of nation"

He said that to truly empower states, 'relief packages' and 'doles' were not the answer.

"I want the PM and CMs to be a team that takes the nation forward. If we can form united structures then we can take the nation forward by combining our strengths"

1.18 pm: Modi talks 'regional aspirations', is he reaching out to Mamata? 

Having gone after the Congress, Modi starts expounding on his other favourite topic - namely that of good governance and inclusive development.

"We have heard a lot about concern for poor and progress. What was wrong in our policies that there is progress taking place in west India but entire east is in disarray? I want to promise that when you vote us to power this year that we will ensure the progress of the region that is lagging behind", he said.

He also deals with the topic of regional 'aspiration'. And though this statement was couched in the language of development, is it really a hint to potential alliance partners in a post poll scenario? " We want to move ahead with a vision of inclusivity. We should not consider regional aspirations a problem. They were earlier viewed as a burden but regional aspirations can also be viewed as an opportunity",he tells the assembled workers.

Given the emphasis on the east and the 'opportunity' of regional aspirations, is this his way of reaching out to Mamata Banerjee? The West Bengal Chief Minister has so far expressed her support for a non-Congress, non-BJP third front alliance. The question is, will she bite?

1.07 pm: "They are naamdar, but I am kaamdar", says Modi to workers

Modi has the crowd gripped. His precise, well timed jabs at the Congress would win him many points in any boxing arena. After informing the sniggering crowd of party workers that Sonia Gandhi had said, "Nahin, nahin. Mere bete ko bachao" (save my son) in refusing to field him as the PM candidate, he predictably moves on to Mani Shankar Aiyar's now infamous tea vendor statement.

Low hanging fruit. Modi has always played the outsider in politics, and this frankly classist statement gives him enough ammunition to play the victim. How he, a man of the people, is deemed an 'unacceptable choice' by the Congress, because they cannot bear to see a man of humble origins rise to the echelons of power.

"These days there is a lot of talk about chai-wallahs, who are all walking around proudly. They are naamdaar but I am a kaamdaar. They think they are part of a family that has always been respected and we have to take on someone from a backward caste? A man whose mother used to clean people's utensils? A man who once sold tea on trains? How can we stoop to this battle, they think", he said.

He is not even shouting, at times almost whispering into the mic. But the crowd is hooked. There is almost pin drop silence in the crowded stadium, despite scattered applause and cheers at a particularly well directed snipe at Congress.

12.56 pm: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

That didn't take long. The Congress jibes have already started and the first one is a doozy. Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he says, "They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG".

Zing.

And he also has a theory on as to why this happened. "I see a human reason for the Congress decision. When defeat is imminent, will any other mother sacrifice her son?"

He added that while the Congress national conference was all about saving the party, the BJP council was really all about saving the nation.

He also pointed out that it was quite ironic for a party that claimed to be the upholder of democracy, it never followed democratic principles itself.

"When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Rajiv Gandhi rushed to hospital and in moments he was declared PM. At independence when the first PM was chosen what happened to democratic principles?"

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Live: Modi slams Congress, makes overtures to Mamata

1.40 pm: Modi vows to save the youth

After the usual references to backward castes, women and farmers, Modi turns on to the youth - his key voter base for the upcoming elections.

"The most important aspect is the strength of our youth. We are blessed in this respect.If we had the right policies our youth would not only improve the nation but could improve the world. We should protect the youth of our nation from narcotics. We should have a zero tolerance policy on this".

This is more than the Congress slug fest we were expecting. Modi is essentially delivering a national speech.

The flipside of this however, is that he seems to be losing the crowd.

1.30 pm: Modi promises to lead a truly federal India

The next item on the Modi agenda is federal India. "We are a federal nation and it cannot be just adhered to as something constitutional. We need to respect it in letter and spirit", he says.

This is an interesting statement given that it has largely been Modi together with his Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa, who have been fighting the centre in various matters including the setting up of the NCTC, a mechanism to share information and resources with regard to combatting terror.

"As a CM I completely understand the importance of the federal structure of the nation. I can understand troubles of every state and chief minister. BJP will empower the federal structure of nation"

He said that to truly empower states, 'relief packages' and 'doles' were not the answer.

"I want the PM and CMs to be a team that takes the nation forward. If we can form united structures then we can take the nation forward by combining our strengths"

1.18 pm: Modi talks 'regional aspirations', is he reaching out to Mamata? 

Having gone after the Congress, Modi starts expounding on his other favourite topic - namely that of good governance and inclusive development.

"We have heard a lot about concern for poor and progress. What was wrong in our policies that there is progress taking place in west India but entire east is in disarray? I want to promise that when you vote us to power this year that we will ensure the progress of the region that is lagging behind", he said.

He also deals with the topic of regional 'aspiration'. And though this statement was couched in the language of development, is it really a hint to potential alliance partners in a post poll scenario? " We want to move ahead with a vision of inclusivity. We should not consider regional aspirations a problem. They were earlier viewed as a burden but regional aspirations can also be viewed as an opportunity",he tells the assembled workers.

Given the emphasis on the east and the 'opportunity' of regional aspirations, is this his way of reaching out to Mamata Banerjee? The West Bengal Chief Minister has so far expressed her support for a non-Congress, non-BJP third front alliance. The question is, will she bite?

1.07 pm: "They are naamdar, but I am kaamdar", says Modi to workers

Modi has the crowd gripped. His precise, well timed jabs at the Congress would win him many points in any boxing arena. After informing the sniggering crowd of party workers that Sonia Gandhi had said, "Nahin, nahin. Mere bete ko bachao" (save my son) in refusing to field him as the PM candidate, he predictably moves on to Mani Shankar Aiyar's now infamous tea vendor statement.

Low hanging fruit. Modi has always played the outsider in politics, and this frankly classist statement gives him enough ammunition to play the victim. How he, a man of the people, is deemed an 'unacceptable choice' by the Congress, because they cannot bear to see a man of humble origins rise to the echelons of power.

"These days there is a lot of talk about chai-wallahs, who are all walking around proudly. They are naamdaar but I am a kaamdaar. They think they are part of a family that has always been respected and we have to take on someone from a backward caste? A man whose mother used to clean people's utensils? A man who once sold tea on trains? How can we stoop to this battle, they think", he said.

He is not even shouting, at times almost whispering into the mic. But the crowd is hooked. There is almost pin drop silence in the crowded stadium, despite scattered applause and cheers at a particularly well directed snipe at Congress.

12.56 pm: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

That didn't take long. The Congress jibes have already started and the first one is a doozy. Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he says, "They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG".

Zing.

And he also has a theory on as to why this happened. "I see a human reason for the Congress decision. When defeat is imminent, will any other mother sacrifice her son?"

He added that while the Congress national conference was all about saving the party, the BJP council was really all about saving the nation.

He also pointed out that it was quite ironic for a party that claimed to be the upholder of democracy, it never followed democratic principles itself.

"When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Rajiv Gandhi rushed to hospital and in moments he was declared PM. At independence when the first PM was chosen what happened to democratic principles?"

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Live: Cong can’t stand competing with tea vendors son, jeers Modi

1.07 pm: "They are naamdar, but I am kaamdar", says Modi to workers

Modi has the crowd gripped. His precise, well timed jabs at the Congress would win him many points in any boxing arena. After informing the sniggering crowd of party workers that Sonia Gandhi had said, "Nahin, nahin. Mere bete ko bachao" (save my son) in refusing to field him as the PM candidate, he predictably moves on to Mani Shankar Aiyar's now infamous tea vendor statement.

Low hanging fruit. Modi has always played the outsider in politics, and this frankly classist statement gives him enough ammunition to play the victim. How he, a man of the people, is deemed an 'unacceptable choice' by the Congress, because they cannot bear to see a man of humble origins rise to the echelons of power.

 

"These days there is a lot of talk about chai-wallahs, who are all walking around proudly. They are naamdaar but I am a kaamdaar. They think they are part of a family that has always been respected and we have to take on someone from a backward caste? A man whose mother used to clean people's utensils? A man who once sold tea on trains? How can we stoop to this battle, they think", he said.

12.56 pm: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

That didn't take long. The Congress jibes have already started and the first one is a doozy. Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he says, "They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG".

Zing.

And he also has a theory on as to why this happened. "I see a human reason for the Congress decision. When defeat is imminent, will any other mother sacrifice her son?"

He added that while the Congress national conference was all about saving the party, the BJP council was really all about saving the nation.

He also pointed out that it was quite ironic for a party that claimed to be the upholder of democracy, it never followed democratic principles itself.

"When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Rajiv Gandhi rushed to hospital and in moments he was declared PM. At independence when the first PM was chosen what happened to democratic principles?"

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Modi Live: ‘Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead’

12.56 pm: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

That didn't take long. The Congress jibes have already started and the first one is a doozy. Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he says, "They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG".

Zing.

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Live: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

12.56 pm: Cong hoped for a PM candidate, got LPG instead, says Modi

That didn't take long. The Congress jibes have already started and the first one is a doozy. Expressing his sympathy for the Congress workers who assembled for the party assembly he says, "They came hoping for a Prime Ministerial candidate and went away with three cylinders of LPG".

Zing.

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Live: BJP party workers give Modi a rock star welcome

12.50 pm: Crowd goes mad as Modi takes the stage

A largely lacklustre crowd is cheering loudly as Modi finally takes the stage, almost an hour behind schedule.

Modi is starting off soberly. He is thanking his fellow party leaders and all the party workers who have assembled at the Ram Leela maidan from across the country.

But this is the tried and tested Modi method to drive crowds to deliriums of delight. He starts off soberly, and steadily builds the assembled crowds into a fever pitch of delight.

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Live: Sushma slams cowardly Congress, Modi to go further?

12.28 pm: Modi scheduled to take stage any time now

Modi's speech is slightly behind schedule, but he is expected to take the stage anytime now. Sushma Swaraj, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Venkiah Naidu have all addressed the gathering, who have been patiently waiting for their favourite.

Speaking earlier,  Sushma Swaraj said that the Congress did not name a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election.

10.45 am: Modi to speak at BJP national council, Rahul, Aiyar on hit list

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address the BJP's national council at the Ram leela Maidan today, where he is expected to launch a scathing attack on the Congress party. He will also have plenty of ammunition with which to do so.

Firstly there is Rahul Gandhi's 'inspiring' speech to party workers on 17 January, where he attacked Modi, saying that those dreaming about a Congress-free India would themselves be destroyed.

PTI

Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his 'Congress-free India' campaign, he said Congress is a "thought" which cannot be erased. "Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed".

Today will be Modi's opportunity to hit back. He has already told party workers to concentrate on running a grounded election campaign focusing on booths and households as he said polls are not won through rallies and TV debates.

Striking a note of sarcasm, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, "We cannot beat Congress in their way of running a campaign. We do not have the ability to spend such money, misuse state machinery or resort to any dirty tricks. The power we have is the power of organisation." His speech today will most likely expand on that.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's infamous 'tea vendor' comment is also expected to figure prominently in Modi's speech.

"There is no way he can be Prime Minister in the 21st century... but if he wants to come and distribute tea here we can make some room for him", Aiyar said, in comments that the party has since distanced itself from.

But the BJP machinery has already swung into action.

There are already plans for Modi to visit a tea stall in Gandhinagar in Gujarat that will be beamed live in 1,000 locations across the country.

And on Saturday, BJP President Rajnath Singh said that the Congress had been trying to defame Modi by making personal attacks against him.

So expect a scathing, (read entertaining) speech from the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate!

Fear of losing is why Congress did not declare PM candidate, says Swaraj

New Delhi: The Congress has not named a prime ministerial candidate because it fears losing the coming Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Sunday.

"We have declared that we will be fighting the election under the leadership of (Narendra) Modiji as he is our PM candidate but the Congress is avoiding naming their candidate because it fears losing the election," party leader Sushma Swaraj told the party's national council meet.

AFP

The Congress has said that vice president Rahul Gandhi won't be the prime ministerial candidate but lead the party's election campaign in the Lok Sabha election.

Sushma Swaraj wanted to know why did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh say it would be good if Rahul Gandhi leads the nation if the Congress does not believe in naming a prime ministerial candidate.

IANS

Taliban attack Pakistani army convoy, 22 killed

Islamabad/Peshawar: At least 22 security personnel were killed and 38 others injured when the Pakistani Taliban attacked a military convoy in the country's restive northwest today.

The convoy, heading to North Waziristan, was attacked by a remote-controlled bomb in the cantonment area near Aamandi Chowk, Razmak Gate on Bannu-Miranshah Road in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu.

The blast is suspected to have occurred in a rented car, part of private vehicles hired to transport the soldiers. It was not immediately clear if it was a suicide attack.

The Taliban have claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Representational image. AFP

Security forces have cordoned off the area while rescue and relief operations continued.

Sources said the death toll might increase. Geo TV, quoting hospital sources, reported that 22 security men were killed while 38 have been injured.

The injured, including Frontier Corps and army personnel, were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital. Ten of the injured are in critical condition.

Bannu, which stands at the gateway to the semi-autonomous Waziristan tribal region, is 150 kilometres southwest of Peshawar.

The town has witnessed a number of attacks and was the scene of a massive jail break in April 2012 during which 384 prisoners escaped from its central prison.

President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the blast that resulted into loss of precious lives.

Such cowardly attacks can never weaken the resolve of law-enforcing authorities and the nation to continue pursuing their struggle against the scourge of militancy and terrorism, the President said in his message.

PTI