Italian marines case: India succumbed to Italian pressure, says BJP

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday accused the Central government of meekly giving in to pressure from Italy in the case of its marines who killed two Indian fishermen.

"The government has meekly succumbed under pressure from Italy," said BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad said.

The comment comes as the central government Monday told the Supreme Court that it was not invoking the anti-piracy law against the two marines.

Massimilliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone. PTI

"India is finding it difficult to resist pressure from Italy. Here is a case where Indian fishermen have been killed and government is securing relief for them... This is regrettable, we demand government comes out with all facts," Prasad said.

The marines, Massimilliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone, have been held in India since February 2012 when they allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off the coast of the south Indian state of Kerala, mistaking them for pirates.

The marines were serving as security personnel on an Italian oil tanker MT Enrica Lexie crossing the Indian Ocean.

IANS

Those who fail to govern make baseless allegations: Cong on AAP

New Delhi: Stung by Arvind Kejriwal's attempts to paint it as a pawn in Mukesh Ambani's hands, Congress today hit back at AAP saying those who fail to govern, resort to making such baseless allegations.

Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also reminded Kejriwal that an important functionary of AAP had earlier worked in a news channel in which Ambani had investments.

Arvind Kejriwal. AFP

He also rejected as "puffed air and without any iota of substance" Kejriwal's contention that Rahul Gandhi was "silent" over the Reliance gas price issue and his poser as to whether Ambani was funding Congress for seeking favours in return from the government.

"Some people have got into the habit of making allegations... when they fail to govern, they try to substitute governance with allegations and counter allegations. Is allegation a substitute for governance? Why to make an allegation, which has no basis?. "Allegations without proof are nothing but puffed air," Singhvi said.

Slamming AAP as people who had repeatedly substituted negativism and followed a policy of allegations and counter allegations, Singhvi said that the new party does not know the three Rs of governance — responsibility, reason and restraint.

To a question whether Congress endorses the revision in gas prices, Singhvi said that the party does not need to have a position on an issue on which more than three weeks back Union Cabinet had taken a decision.

"There is no question of commenting or making a judgement merely because Kejriwal's party makes a statement," he said asserting that when the Union Cabinet of a Congress-led government takes a decision, they take it in public and national interest.

Singhvi's reactions came as Kejriwal, in a letter to Rahhul Gandhi dated 22 February, questioned his silence over the Reliance gas issue and also asked him whether he would give ticket to ministers who have corruption charges
against them in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

PTI

BJP dividing people as insiders and outsiders: Rahul Gandhi

Gannaur (Haryana): Rahul Gandhi today charged the BJP with playing divisive politics by dividing people as "insiders and outsiders" and asserted that in contrast no Indian is an outsider for the Congress.

Interacting with farmers to gather inputs for Congress' Lok Sabha poll manifesto in this village in Sonepat district, about 70 km from Delhi, Gandhi targeted BJP and its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, alleging they brand migrants from other states as "outsiders" as part of their divisive politics.

Rahul Gandhi. PTI

The Congress Vice President also said the BJP believes in vesting power in one person to run the country while Congress was for giving power to the people.

"BJP believes in concentrating power. They think one or two people can run the country...they think the entire knowledge rests with only one person who can do every thing. We in Congress believe in giving power to the people," Gandhi said in an apparent dig at Modi.

Raking up the migrants issue, especially of Sikh farmers in Kutch, Gandhi said Congress and BJP think differently.

"For us, everyone is an insider. Even an Indian living in the US is an insider. For them, a 'UP wallah' in Maharashtra is an outsider, a Sikh in Gujarat is an outsider, someone from Haryana in Punjab is an outsider," he said.

"In India you go to any place, for us (all citizens) you are an insider... Wherever they go, they make somebody an insider and someone else an outsider, this is their politics, this is the difference between them and us," he added.

He was referring to the decision of the administration in Gujarat to freeze land rights of Sikh farmers in Kutch region.

Gandhi said that a delegation of Sikh farmers from Gujarat had met the party. "They were crying and they asked us that are we Indians or are we outsiders. We came from Pakistan, prepared the land and today we are told you are an outsider," he said.

However, Modi had while addressing a rally in Punjab's Jagraon yesterday sought to assure the Sikh farmers settled in the Kutch region that none of them would have to leave their farms and claimed that a "misinformation campaign" was being spread that the BJP government was trying to evict the Sikh farmers who had been tilling the land for decades.

Gandhi also slammed BJP for taking credit for achievements made by Congress over the years.

He said his father late Rajiv Gandhi was sarcastically dubbed "computer boy" for his push for computerisation.

"Top leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani made fun, questioning how computers will help India. Then 15 years after he (Rajiv Gandhi) left (assassinated), Vajpayee and Pramod Mahajan said they had always talked about computerisation," he said.

He further said, "After few years, they (BJP) will claim credit for Food Security Bill, MNREGA and others... White revolution was done by Congress, BJP in Gujarat says they've done that."

PTI

LS polls: BJP leaders urge Rajnath Singh to contest from Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad: Local BJP leaders today said party president Rajnath Singh has promised to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Ghaziabad parliamentary constituency.

In a statement here, party's city general secretary Sanjeev Sharma and spokesperson Dinesh Kapoor said a group of BJP activists today met Singh at his residence in Delhi, and requested him to contest the upcoming polls from Ghaziabad.

Rajnath Singh. Reuters

"The BJP president has promised to contest the upcoming elections from the Ghaziabad parliamentary constituency," the statement reads.

Singh is the sitting MP from Ghaziabad. He defeated Surendra Prakash Goel of Congress in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections by a huge margin.

PTI

Three of Kiran Reddy’s cabinet colleagues may join TDP

Hyderabad: Giving a shocker to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, at least three of his cabinet colleagues are set to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) soon, sources said.

A fourth minister has decided to quit the Congress but has not yet made up his mind whether to join the TDP or the new party likely to be floated by Kiran.

Kiran Reddy. AFP

Ministers Erasu Pratap Reddy and T G Venkatesh, who had all along been trusted supporters of Kiran, would meet TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu here on February 27 and formally join the party.

Another minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao is also set to return to his parent party this week, TDP sources said.

TDP MPs Y S Chowdary, C M Ramesh and MP-elect Garikapati Mohan Rao conferred with Erasu, T G Venkatesh and Ganta today and discussed their political plans. It was then decided that Erasu and TG would meet Chandrababu Naidu on 27 February and formally announce their entry into the TDP.

Ganta Srinivasa Rao who is also expected to follow suit, began his political career in the TDP and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Anakapalli in 1999. He joined the erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party in 2008 and became a minister after it merged with the Congress.

TG Venkatesh also previously served as a TDP MLA, while Erasu has been a Congressman all through.

Erasu and TG Venkatesh belong to Kurnool district in Rayalaseema, while Ganta Srinivasa Rao represents Visakhapatnam district in North Coastal Andhra.

Another minister Satrucharla Vijaya Rama Raju from Vizianagaram district, has also decided to quit the Congress, but hasn't made up his mind yet about his next step.

Indications are that he may return to the TDP, in the presence of Naidu, at a public rally to be held in Vizianagaram on 26 February.

PTI

Modi tweets birthday wishes to Jayalalithaa

Despite speculations that she intends to bid for the prime minister's seat, BJP's prime ministerial candidate and possible competitor Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's on her birthday today.

BJP's Prime Ministerial Candidate took to Twitter to wish Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on her birthday today: PTI

While many had anticipated a conflict between the two after Jayalalithaa's decision to align with the Left, Modi sidestepped speculations and tweeted:

Birthday greetings to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa ji. I pray for her long life & good health.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2014

This isn't the first instance that the Gujarat chief minister was seen going easy on the AIADMK chief. Earlier this month, while addressing a rally at Vandalur near Chennai, Modi refrained from criticising the ruling AIADMK or its leaders.

Modi's rally in Chennai followed days after Jayalalithaa announced that AIADMK would align with the Left for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While Modi has ridiculed the idea of a 'Third Front' on several occasions, he had circumvented criticising Jayalalithaa and AIADMK in Chennai.

Although Jayalalithaa's prime ministerial ambitions are well known, on several instances, both leaders have indicated that they share a cordial relationship.

Last year, after Modi was named chairman of the BJP's Election Campaign Committee for the 2014, Jayalalithaa had said that both chief ministers were good friends and that she considered Modi to be an able administrator.

Complaint against Tarun Tejpal for having mobile phone in jail

Panaji: Goa jail authorities today filed a formal police complaint against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal and six others after mobile phones were found allegedly in their possession inside the Sada Sub jail.

During a surprise inspection in the jail yesterday, the authorities had found Tejpal possessing a mobile phone with a SIM card in it, Additional Inspector General of Police Gopal Parsekar told reporters here today.

The formal police complaint has been registered against Tejpal, he said.

Tarun Tejpal. AFP

Tejpal (50), charged with raping his junior woman colleague during an event here last year, is currently lodged in cell no. 14 of the high security Sada Sub jail, located about 40 kms from here.

The surprise raid was conducted by sub-divisional magistrate Gaurish Shankhwalkar yesterday wherein seven mobile phones loaded with SIM cards were found in the sub jail.

While Parsekar refused to state exactly where the mobile was allegedly hidden by Tejpal, sources said it was found under his bedding.

A senior police official said a legal opinion would be sought on which sections of Indian Penal Code could be pressed against Tejpal.

The jail authorities, however, said although the preliminary inquiry indicts Tejpal of violating the rules, a detailed inquiry would be conducted to ascertain as to who helped him to sneak in the cell phone inside the jail.

Parsekar said two-layer frisking is in place in the jail, one by personnel of India Reserve Batallion and another by jail guards.

"We don't know how the mobiles were transported in, whether it's done by prisoners, IRB or jail guards. Only a detailed inquiry would reveal the truth," he said.

Goa police had last week filed a charge sheet against Tejpal.

He had been charged under sections 354, 354-A (sexual harassment), 341 and 342 (wrongful restrain), 376 (rape), 376(2)(f) and 376 (2)(k) (takes advantage of his official position and commits rape on a woman in his custody).

PTI

RJD in trouble: 13 MLAs said to have quit, but six deny reports

Patna: Lalu Prasad's RJD in Bihar today split with 13 of the 22 legislators of the party pledging support to the Nitish Kumar government.

The 13, including five belonging to the minority community met at the residence of party MLA Samrat Chaudhary and wrote a letter to Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary withdrawing allegiance from the RJD and expressing support to the Nitish Kumar government.

AFP

RJD MLA Javed Iqbal Ansari confirmed to PTI that 13 party MLAs wrote to the Speaker withdrawing their allegiance from the RJD and expressing support to the JD(U) government of Nitish Kumar.

The RJD MLAs who walked out were Samrat Chaudhary, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Durga Prasad Singh, Lalit Yadav, Anirudh Kumar, Jeetendra Rai, Akhtar-ul-Islam Sahin, Akhtar-ul-Iman, Abdul Gafood, Faiyazz, Javed Iqbal Ansari, Ram Lakhan Ram Raman and Chandrasekhar.

Samrat Chaudhary, the son of senior RJD leader Shakuni Chaudhary, alleged that Lalu Prasad had turned his party into the 'B team' of Congress in the last three months.

"The party which send him to jail by tearing up an ordinance has become the ideal of Lalu Prasad who is losing no opportunity to pester its leaders," Chaudhary told reporters.

Chaudhary who flew with the chief minister in a helicopter to Khagaria yesterday to inaugurate a road bridge said, "It will be better for Lalu Prasad to merge the party with Congress instead of allying with it for the Lok Sabha elections."

However, CNN IBN reports that six out of thirteen MLA have refuted leaving RJD and are claiming that their signatures were forged.

With inputs from PTI

Gordhan Zadaphia back in BJP; in-house threat for Modi is over

Gordhan Zadaphia is back in the BJP. That itself is not big news. He was already a spent force in Gujarat politics and after the retirement of Keshubhai Patel from active politics he could not have survived on his own.

The Gujarat Parivartan Party, which he virtually managed on his own due to Keshubhai's declining health, had failed to make a splash in the state, more specifically it had failed dent the popularity of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the purpose for which the party was formed. Joining Modi was the only option left for Zadaphia, founder of the Mahagujarat Janata Party which merged with GPP later.

Representational image. AFP

In 2007, Zadaphia had left the party complaining against the autocratic attitude of Modi. He joined forces with Keshubhai in 2012, expecting to cash in on the anti-Modi sentiment within the BJP and the wider Sangh Parivar. However, the electoral outing in the year was a disaster. The GPP won only two seats. It even failed to make a mark in the Saurashtra region, the stronghold of Leuva Patels, the core support base of Keshubhai.

Zadaphia's homecoming and GPP's merger with the BJP mean the end of challenge for Narendra Modi from disgruntled elements within the BJP and the Parivar. It makes his position much stronger before the coming general elections on his home turf. He can aim for all 26 seats from the state without worrying about rebellion from within.

Given his earlier record of being critical of Modi, Zadaphia may not get any big role in the party anytime soon but yes, he gets politically rehabilitated.

Rahul Gandhi to address rally at Dharamsala on 8 march

Shimla: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will launch his party's campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh by addressing a rally in Dharamsala on 8 March.

State Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu today said Gandhi would also interact with party functionaries on the day, and attend a function where ex-servicemen would honour him for accepting their 'One Rank, One Pension' demand.

PTI

On selection of party's candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Sukkhu said, "Three rounds of discussions have been held and the names have been shortlisted."

Maintaining that the candidates' list would be announced shortly, he admitted that the name of Union Minister for Culture Chandresh Kumari, presently Lok Sabha member from Jodhpur, figured for ticket from the Kangra parliamentary constituency. Sukkhu said he was in favour of some person from the organisation to take on BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur.

PTI