<p>The BJP in poll-bound Gujarat today asked <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/want-clarity-on-patidar-reservation-issue-by-nov-7-hardik-patel-23167" target="_blank">Patidar leader Hardik Patel</a> and the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-meet-gujarat-dalit-leader-mevani-congress-leader-23461" target="_blank">Congress</a> to clarify their positions after senior Congress leader Mohansinh Rathwa said it is not possible to carve out a quota for the Patidar community in the existing 49 per cent reservations.</p>

<p>Rathwa, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, made the statement at a rally before party vice president Rahul Gandhi&#39;s arrival at the tribal-dominated Nana Pondha village in Valsad district yesterday.</p>

<p>&quot;Patidars will be given reservation without interfering with the current quota of 49 per cent. There will not be any change in the current quota. If we give reservation, it has to be outside that quota,&quot; said Rathwa, a tribal leader and the senior-most Congress MLA in the state.</p>

<p>BJP leader and Union minister Parshottam Rupala today said Rathwa&#39;s remarks put both Hardik Patel and the Congress in the dock.</p>

<p>&quot;Rathwa spoke his mind. Now both Hardik and Congress need to clarify their stands, as Hardik only wanted reservation under the OBC quota, not under EBC (economically backward classes) category which was offered by the Congress. But opposition leaders are mum about granting the OBC status to Patels,&quot; Rupala said, speaking to reporters here.</p>

<p>&quot;As soon as Hardik slid towards Congress, some Congress leaders began suspecting whether there was any secret deal (to include Patels in the OBC category). After Rathwa&#39;s remarks, the Congress should clarify how it would grant reservation to Patidars under the existing OBC quota,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Earlier this week, members of Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and the Congress held a meeting and announced that an agreement has been reached on four main demands of the community. But there wasn&#39;t a final agreement on the key demand of the reservation yet, they said.</p>

<p>PAAS leaders said they will hold another round of discussions with the Congress by November 7.</p>

<p>Earlier, the Gujarat Congress had promised a 20 per cent reservation under the EBC quota to non-reserved communities including Patels if the party came to power.</p>

<p>&quot;The fact is, the Congress never said anything about OBC reservations. They only talk about EBC quota. The Gujarat government has already given a 10 per cent quota in EBC. It is now quite clear that the Congress is trying to mislead Patidars with such vague promises,&quot; said Rupala.&nbsp;</p>


The BJP in poll-bound Gujarat today asked Patidar leader Hardik Patel and the Congress to clarify their positions after senior Congress leader Mohansinh Rathwa said it is not possible to carve out a quota for the Patidar community in the existing 49 per cent reservations

The BJP in poll-bound Gujarat today asked Patidar leader Hardik Patel and the Congress to clarify their positions after senior Congress leader Mohansinh Rathwa said it is not possible to carve out a quota for the Patidar community in the existing 49 per cent reservations. Rathwa, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, made the statement at a rally before party vice president Rahul Gandhi's arrival at the tribal-dominated Nana Pondha village in Valsad district yesterday. "Patidars will be given reservation without interfering with the current quota of 49 per cent. There will not be any change in the current quota. If we give reservation, it has to be outside that quota," said Rathwa, a tribal leader and the senior-most Congress MLA in the state. BJP leader and Union minister Parshottam Rupala today said Rathwa's remarks put both Hardik Patel and the Congress in the dock. "Rathwa spoke his mind. Now both Hardik and Congress need to clarify their stands, as Hardik only wanted reservation under the OBC quota, not under EBC (economically backward classes) category which was offered by the Congress. But opposition leaders are mum about granting the OBC status to Patels," Rupala said, speaking to reporters here. "As soon as Hardik slid towards Congress, some Congress leaders began suspecting whether there was any secret deal (to include Patels in the OBC category). After Rathwa's remarks, the Congress should clarify how it would grant reservation to Patidars under the existing OBC quota," he said. Earlier this week, members of Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and the Congress held a meeting and announced that an agreement has been reached on four main demands of the community. But there wasn't a final agreement on the key demand of the reservation yet, they said. PAAS leaders said they will hold another round of discussions with the Congress by November 7. Earlier, the Gujarat Congress had promised a 20 per cent reservation under the EBC quota to non-reserved communities including Patels if the party came to power. "The fact is, the Congress never said anything about OBC reservations. They only talk about EBC quota. The Gujarat government has already given a 10 per cent quota in EBC. It is now quite clear that the Congress is trying to mislead Patidars with such vague promises," said Rupala.

BJP questions Congress's quota promise to Patidars

<p>The Shiv Sena has launched another attack at ally Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) by distributing to its members a booklet titled &quot;Ghotalebaaz Bhajap&quot; (Scamster BJP) that chronicles the scams involving BJP leaders.</p>

<p>The 56-page booklet was distributed during an organisational meeting at the Sena Bhavan on Wednesday.</p>

<p>The cover of the booklet features four BJP leaders, along with a mention of the scam alleged against them.</p>

<p>A picture of Eknath Kahdse features with the mention of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) land scam, Education Minister Vinod Tawde is featured for the irregularities in supply of fire extinguishers to zilla parishad schools without inviting tenders, Food and Civil Supplies Minister of Maharashtra Girish Bapat is featured for his alleged involvement in the<em> tur dal </em>scam, and lastly, Dilip Gandhi for the loan waiver scam.</p>

<p>In addition, several senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National President Amit Shah also get a mention in the booklet.</p>

<p>Since forming the government in Maharashtra, in alliance with the BJP, the Sena has been fairly vocal about its grievances with the party.</p>

<p>Through its mouthpiece, &#39;Saamna&#39;, the party has been continually castigating the Centre as well as the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government.&nbsp;</p>


Shiv Sena has launched another attack by calling BJP 'Ghotalebaaz'

The Shiv Sena has launched another attack at ally Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) by distributing to its members a booklet titled "Ghotalebaaz Bhajap" (Scamster BJP) that chronicles the scams involving BJP leaders. The 56-page booklet was distributed during an organisational meeting at the Sena Bhavan on Wednesday. The cover of the booklet features four BJP leaders, along with a mention of the scam alleged against them. A picture of Eknath Kahdse features with the mention of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) land scam, Education Minister Vinod Tawde is featured for the irregularities in supply of fire extinguishers to zilla parishad schools without inviting tenders, Food and Civil Supplies Minister of Maharashtra Girish Bapat is featured for his alleged involvement in the tur dal scam, and lastly, Dilip Gandhi for the loan waiver scam. In addition, several senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National President Amit Shah also get a mention in the booklet. Since forming the government in Maharashtra, in alliance with the BJP, the Sena has been fairly vocal about its grievances with the party. Through its mouthpiece, 'Saamna', the party has been continually castigating the Centre as well as the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government.

Shiv Sena attacks BJP again, hands out 'Ghotalebaaz Bhajap' booklet to members

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that the statement of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on India&#39;s business ranking seemed to be coming from Pakistan.</p>

<p>Rahul on Wednesday said, &#39;&#39;India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution after India became the first ever country to record the highest jump in World&#39;s Bank&#39;s ease of doing business ranking.&#39;&#39;</p>

<p>BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, &quot;When you hear statements of Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party about India doing well in the economy, and making it big into the world economy, the statement appears as if they are coming from Pakistan.&quot;</p>

<p>He further said that the Congress vice-president and his party feel pitiable when India is praised all over the world.</p>

<p>&quot;The whole world accepts that India is progressing but Pakistan can never accept the fact that India is doing well, more or less &nbsp;Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party are in the same position,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>During a roadshow in the poll-bound Gujarat on Wednesday, Rahul also mocked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that he is living in an illusion to believe in foreign certification for India&#39;s growth.</p>

<p>&quot;Arun Jaitley ji is working on the basis of some foreign institution. India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution. Jaitley ji said ease of doing business has seen improvement in India. Is he living in a real or a dream world?&quot; Rahul said.</p>

<p>Rahul further downplayed the World Bank report and said, &quot;India needs a certificate from the people of the country, and the people are saying Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley have failed.&quot;</p>

<p>In accordance with the World Bank&#39;s &#39;Ease of Doing Business index&#39;, India had risen as much as 30 positions to rank 100th amongst 190 countries on Tuesday.</p>

<p>As per the 2018 version of the Ease of Doing Business index issued by the World Bank, India has been amongst the world&#39;s top ten improvers worldwide and a leading regional reformer.</p>


BJP on Thursday said Rahul Gandhi on India's business ranking seemed to be coming from Pakistan.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that the statement of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on India's business ranking seemed to be coming from Pakistan. Rahul on Wednesday said, ''India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution after India became the first ever country to record the highest jump in World's Bank's ease of doing business ranking.'' BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, "When you hear statements of Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party about India doing well in the economy, and making it big into the world economy, the statement appears as if they are coming from Pakistan." He further said that the Congress vice-president and his party feel pitiable when India is praised all over the world. "The whole world accepts that India is progressing but Pakistan can never accept the fact that India is doing well, more or less Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party are in the same position," he added. During a roadshow in the poll-bound Gujarat on Wednesday, Rahul also mocked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that he is living in an illusion to believe in foreign certification for India's growth. "Arun Jaitley ji is working on the basis of some foreign institution. India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution. Jaitley ji said ease of doing business has seen improvement in India. Is he living in a real or a dream world?" Rahul said. Rahul further downplayed the World Bank report and said, "India needs a certificate from the people of the country, and the people are saying Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley have failed." In accordance with the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business index', India had risen as much as 30 positions to rank 100th amongst 190 countries on Tuesday. As per the 2018 version of the Ease of Doing Business index issued by the World Bank, India has been amongst the world's top ten improvers worldwide and a leading regional reformer.

BJP likens Rahul Gandhi, Congress to Pakistan

<p>October 31, 2017, is the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Unlike the past, political parties of all orientations particularly BJP and Congress are into competitive contest to appropriate Sardar Patel. Undoubtedly, it is a welcome sign. As a mark of respect, all the leaders who served immensely in shaping India as a modern united country deserve special tribute.</p>

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<h5>Sardar Patel&rsquo;s contributions are immense and thus he deserves special remembrance by the State, groups and individuals.</h5>
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<p>It does not mean that political regimes should prefer one leader over another or exaggerate the contributions of one while hiding the others to suit their ideological temperament. It has happened in the past and it is happening now. For many of us, both are wrong. And two wrongs cannot make right.</p>

<p>Sardar Patel&rsquo;s contributions are immense and thus he deserves special remembrance by the State, groups and individuals. His personality was multifaceted. He was known for a strong sense of determination, quick decision-making, straightforwardness in discussions, firmness in action, believe in unity in diversity and deep sense of patriotic pride. Alas! These characteristics are visibly lacking in the present leadership.</p>

<p>In the past, Congress has named many policies, monuments, places, roads, institutions after Sardar Patel. But comparing the people belonging to Nehru dynasty, the name of other stalwarts did not figure much in its governance model of commemoration. It is because of this gap, BJP is able to gain the strategic edge in appropriating them.</p>

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<p>Sardar Patel is now an easy co-opt for the BJP. &nbsp;October 31 is declared as the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) in 2014. The much-hyped World&rsquo;s tallest statue of Sardar Patel referred as Statue of Unity (SOU) with a projected cost of more than two-thousand crores is already in circulation. Interestingly, public sector companies like ONGC, HPCL, IOCL and OIL have decided to contribute over hundreds of crore towards the construction of this statue as a part of their corporate social responsibility. These are extravaganza but often justified because similar things had been done in the past too.</p>

<p>Ministries of the Centre and States are giving special focus to observe &ldquo;Nation Salutes Sardar Vallabbhai Patel&rdquo; on October 31, 2017. Cultural, literary and sports programmes including essay competitions and &lsquo;Unity Run&rsquo; are organised across India. Despite all these, the renewed and unprecedented interest of the BJP in Sardar Patel is more strategic than its love for the ideas and actions of Sardar Patel. It can be seen in overuse of these exercises in the electoral campaigns beginning with 2014. Sardar Patel hardly gained the present prominence in the framework of Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat for one and half decade.</p>

<p>One may agree or disagree on the methods and approaches of Sardar Patel, but his commitment to preserving India&rsquo;s unity cannot be doubted. He is rightly credited along with V.P. Menon to save the country from balkanisation by putting up the representatives of more than 500 states on one platform and transforming them into 14 administrative units and later shaping them into uniform administrative, financial and judicial mechanism of India. At many instances, his impersonal and hard actions were the outcome of the then expediency than conscious choice. Despite achieving this herculean task, Sardar Patel had neither tried to adopt the narcissistic politics nor indulged in populist and ideological actions.</p>

<p>Though he has a dominant presence in the organisational wing of Congress from the late 1930s until his death in 1950, he has neither used principally untoward means to achieve personal gains nor side-lined his political opponents within the party. It can be seen in his acceptance of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as the President of the Congress and later stepping aside to allow Jawaharlal Nehru to become Prime Minister despite being the choice of the majority of the political leaders in the provinces. However, the death of Patel in 1950 was a great loss for the Congress but a gain for the Nehru family as the absence of his unique leadership clearly drifted the party towards dynastic ambitions that finally culminated in the virtual decay of the Congress in today&rsquo;s time.</p>

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<h5>Sardar Patel appreciated the service role of RSS and later critiqued it for its supposed role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and banned the organisation for a year.</h5>
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<p>Sardar Patel&rsquo;s biographer Narhari Parikh has highlighted that Patel was always willing to fight for what he considered right. He always took a procedural route to express his anguish while respecting the party hierarchy. At the same time, he accommodated dissent and a great variety of opinions. For instance, his opposition to socialist politics was paternalistic as can be seen in his offer to Purshottam Trikamdas, a renowned socialist to form the government in the State of Bombay to prove the promises of a clean and efficient government. Similarly, despite being loyal to Congress, Sardar Patel appreciated the service role of RSS and later critiqued it for its supposed role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and banned the organisation for a year.</p>

<p>Ironically, BJP has emerged as the ardent admirer of Sardar Patel but without subscribing to his leadership quality, understanding his idea of patriotism and treatment to secular ethos. The uniqueness of Patel&rsquo;s leadership lies in its judicious character that treated everyone with the same yardstick. Sardar Patel has certainly believed in strong and united India but his patriotism was rarely rooted in extreme nationalism, in general, or Hindu nationalism. He was a secularist to the core but with a difference of Nehru and Gandhi. Nehru&rsquo;s secularism was religious neutral while Patel&rsquo;s notion of secularism was rooted in his religious and cultural socialisation. Similarly, Gandhi&rsquo;s approach towards secularism was to grant dignified concessions to Muslims while Patel wanted to treat everyone as a citizen without creating minority-majority dyad.</p>

<p>There has always been made an attempt to vitiate the communal atmosphere of the country by looking at things through the polarised spectacles. Contrary to the wishes of Patel, communal harmony has become a unrealised goal. Much against the belief of Patel, he is being glorified as the champion of anti-Muslim tirade. Selective reading and un-contextual quotes of his speeches are cited to support the proposition. In fact, after Independence, it was Patel who asked the people of India in plain-speaking terms, &ldquo;to forget the past, because it is a manly virtue to do so... in India, every Muslim should feel that he is an Indian citizen and has equal rights as an Indian citizen&rdquo;.</p>

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<h5>His dream was to lay the foundation of strong and united India without obliterating the socio-cultural diversities of the country.</h5>
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<p>At the same time, he frankly told Muslims that for &ldquo;a community to think that its interests are different from that of the country in which it lives is a great mistake.&rdquo; He, therefore, advised them that &ldquo;the future of a minority-any minority-is to trust the majority&rdquo;; that they should &ldquo;make friends with others and create a change in the atmosphere.&rdquo; His advice to Muslims is very much in tune with the advices of Dr M.A. Ansari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and all other patriotic citizens. One can have a detailed understanding of Patel and Muslim relationship while reading the timely book Sardar Patel and Indian Muslims by Rafiq Zakaria published in 1995.</p>

<p>Be that as it may, Sardar Patel&rsquo;s tone and approach may be harsh and at time suspicious, but he never aimed at creating hatred between minorities and majority. Let the country know on his 142nd birth anniversary that Sardar Patel&rsquo;s sense of unity was not sharpened on the artificial disunity between religious and cultural communities. Like many others, his dream was to lay the foundation of strong and united India without obliterating the socio-cultural diversities of the country.</p>


Sardar Patel?s sense of unity was not sharpened on the artificial disunity between religious and cultural communities

October 31, 2017, is the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Unlike the past, political parties of all orientations particularly BJP and Congress are into competitive contest to appropriate Sardar Patel. Undoubtedly, it is a welcome sign. As a mark of respect, all the leaders who served immensely in shaping India as a modern united country deserve special tribute. Sardar Patel’s contributions are immense and thus he deserves special remembrance by the State, groups and individuals. × It does not mean that political regimes should prefer one leader over another or exaggerate the contributions of one while hiding the others to suit their ideological temperament. It has happened in the past and it is happening now. For many of us, both are wrong. And two wrongs cannot make right. Sardar Patel’s contributions are immense and thus he deserves special remembrance by the State, groups and individuals. His personality was multifaceted. He was known for a strong sense of determination, quick decision-making, straightforwardness in discussions, firmness in action, believe in unity in diversity and deep sense of patriotic pride. Alas! These characteristics are visibly lacking in the present leadership. In the past, Congress has named many policies, monuments, places, roads, institutions after Sardar Patel. But comparing the people belonging to Nehru dynasty, the name of other stalwarts did not figure much in its governance model of commemoration. It is because of this gap, BJP is able to gain the strategic edge in appropriating them. The much-hyped World’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel referred as Statue of Unity (SOU) with a projected cost of more than two-thousand crores is already in circulation. × Sardar Patel is now an easy co-opt for the BJP. October 31 is declared as the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) in 2014. The much-hyped World’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel referred as Statue of Unity (SOU) with a projected cost of more than two-thousand crores is already in circulation. Interestingly, public sector companies like ONGC, HPCL, IOCL and OIL have decided to contribute over hundreds of crore towards the construction of this statue as a part of their corporate social responsibility. These are extravaganza but often justified because similar things had been done in the past too. Ministries of the Centre and States are giving special focus to observe “Nation Salutes Sardar Vallabbhai Patel” on October 31, 2017. Cultural, literary and sports programmes including essay competitions and ‘Unity Run’ are organised across India. Despite all these, the renewed and unprecedented interest of the BJP in Sardar Patel is more strategic than its love for the ideas and actions of Sardar Patel. It can be seen in overuse of these exercises in the electoral campaigns beginning with 2014. Sardar Patel hardly gained the present prominence in the framework of Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat for one and half decade. One may agree or disagree on the methods and approaches of Sardar Patel, but his commitment to preserving India’s unity cannot be doubted. He is rightly credited along with V.P. Menon to save the country from balkanisation by putting up the representatives of more than 500 states on one platform and transforming them into 14 administrative units and later shaping them into uniform administrative, financial and judicial mechanism of India. At many instances, his impersonal and hard actions were the outcome of the then expediency than conscious choice. Despite achieving this herculean task, Sardar Patel had neither tried to adopt the narcissistic politics nor indulged in populist and ideological actions. Though he has a dominant presence in the organisational wing of Congress from the late 1930s until his death in 1950, he has neither used principally untoward means to achieve personal gains nor side-lined his political opponents within the party. It can be seen in his acceptance of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as the President of the Congress and later stepping aside to allow Jawaharlal Nehru to become Prime Minister despite being the choice of the majority of the political leaders in the provinces. However, the death of Patel in 1950 was a great loss for the Congress but a gain for the Nehru family as the absence of his unique leadership clearly drifted the party towards dynastic ambitions that finally culminated in the virtual decay of the Congress in today’s time. Sardar Patel appreciated the service role of RSS and later critiqued it for its supposed role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and banned the organisation for a year. × Sardar Patel’s biographer Narhari Parikh has highlighted that Patel was always willing to fight for what he considered right. He always took a procedural route to express his anguish while respecting the party hierarchy. At the same time, he accommodated dissent and a great variety of opinions. For instance, his opposition to socialist politics was paternalistic as can be seen in his offer to Purshottam Trikamdas, a renowned socialist to form the government in the State of Bombay to prove the promises of a clean and efficient government. Similarly, despite being loyal to Congress, Sardar Patel appreciated the service role of RSS and later critiqued it for its supposed role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and banned the organisation for a year. Ironically, BJP has emerged as the ardent admirer of Sardar Patel but without subscribing to his leadership quality, understanding his idea of patriotism and treatment to secular ethos. The uniqueness of Patel’s leadership lies in its judicious character that treated everyone with the same yardstick. Sardar Patel has certainly believed in strong and united India but his patriotism was rarely rooted in extreme nationalism, in general, or Hindu nationalism. He was a secularist to the core but with a difference of Nehru and Gandhi. Nehru’s secularism was religious neutral while Patel’s notion of secularism was rooted in his religious and cultural socialisation. Similarly, Gandhi’s approach towards secularism was to grant dignified concessions to Muslims while Patel wanted to treat everyone as a citizen without creating minority-majority dyad. There has always been made an attempt to vitiate the communal atmosphere of the country by looking at things through the polarised spectacles. Contrary to the wishes of Patel, communal harmony has become a unrealised goal. Much against the belief of Patel, he is being glorified as the champion of anti-Muslim tirade. Selective reading and un-contextual quotes of his speeches are cited to support the proposition. In fact, after Independence, it was Patel who asked the people of India in plain-speaking terms, “to forget the past, because it is a manly virtue to do so... in India, every Muslim should feel that he is an Indian citizen and has equal rights as an Indian citizen”. His dream was to lay the foundation of strong and united India without obliterating the socio-cultural diversities of the country. × At the same time, he frankly told Muslims that for “a community to think that its interests are different from that of the country in which it lives is a great mistake.” He, therefore, advised them that “the future of a minority-any minority-is to trust the majority”; that they should “make friends with others and create a change in the atmosphere.” His advice to Muslims is very much in tune with the advices of Dr M.A. Ansari, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and all other patriotic citizens. One can have a detailed understanding of Patel and Muslim relationship while reading the timely book Sardar Patel and Indian Muslims by Rafiq Zakaria published in 1995. Be that as it may, Sardar Patel’s tone and approach may be harsh and at time suspicious, but he never aimed at creating hatred between minorities and majority. Let the country know on his 142nd birth anniversary that Sardar Patel’s sense of unity was not sharpened on the artificial disunity between religious and cultural communities. Like many others, his dream was to lay the foundation of strong and united India without obliterating the socio-cultural diversities of the country.

Sardar Patel never wanted hatred between religious communities

<p>Several Congress leaders paid homage to former prime minister Indira Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indira Gandhi, the first and to date the only woman prime minister of India was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by her own bodyguards.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi paid floral tribute to Indira Gandhi&#39;s memorial site &quot;Shakti Sthal&quot;.</p>

<p>The day marks the 33rd death anniversary of Ms.Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The then PM&#39;s assassination was the result of an outrage over &quot;Operation Blue Star&quot; where she had ordered the storming of troops at Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.</p>

<p>Over a thousand&nbsp;people died in the anti-Sikh riots aftermath of Gandhi&#39;s death.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">&quot;Every drop of my blood will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic&quot; - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/eDzlLtZCN5">pic.twitter.com/eDzlLtZCN5</a></p>
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/925189791502581760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I pay my humble tributes to former PM Smt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a> on her Punyatithi. She contributed immensely towards national unity and<br />
integrity.. <a href="https://t.co/bt6NHULOak">pic.twitter.com/bt6NHULOak</a></p>
&mdash; Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashokgehlot51/status/925207459484065792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My tribute to Iron Lady <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a> ji, the most powerful, respected and charismatic Prime Minister ever, on her 33rd death anniversary?? <a href="https://t.co/WBx7HR7TUQ">pic.twitter.com/WBx7HR7TUQ</a></p>
&mdash; Kuldeep Bishnoi (@bishnoikuldeep) <a href="https://twitter.com/bishnoikuldeep/status/925190864325951488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a pic! (Raghu Rai) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indira100?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indira100</a> <a href="https://t.co/JKXYuJObhl">pic.twitter.com/JKXYuJObhl</a></p>
&mdash; Rachit Seth (@rachitseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachitseth/status/925060794907213825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Proud Nation remembers 2 great patriots today<br />
Sardar Patel &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiraGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiraGandhi</a><br />
<br />
Common thread was<br />
a)Congress Party<br />
b)Both fought communal forces <a href="https://t.co/LzmYxOmgM9">pic.twitter.com/LzmYxOmgM9</a></p>
&mdash; Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajaymaken/status/925208867633446913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/runforunity-people-tried-to-ensure-that-sardar-vallabhbhais-contribution-is-ignored-pm-modi-23176" target="_blank">People tried to ensure contribution of Sardar Patel is forgotten: PM Modi</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Indira Gandhi, the first and to date the only woman prime minister of India was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by her own bodyguards

Several Congress leaders paid homage to former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi, the first and to date the only woman prime minister of India was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by her own bodyguards. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi paid floral tribute to Indira Gandhi's memorial site "Shakti Sthal". The day marks the 33rd death anniversary of Ms.Gandhi. The then PM's assassination was the result of an outrage over "Operation Blue Star" where she had ordered the storming of troops at Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Over a thousand people died in the anti-Sikh riots aftermath of Gandhi's death. "Every drop of my blood will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic" - #IndiraGandhi pic.twitter.com/eDzlLtZCN5 — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 31, 2017 × I pay my humble tributes to former PM Smt #IndiraGandhi on her Punyatithi. She contributed immensely towards national unity and integrity.. pic.twitter.com/bt6NHULOak — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) October 31, 2017 × My tribute to Iron Lady #IndiraGandhi ji, the most powerful, respected and charismatic Prime Minister ever, on her 33rd death anniversary?? pic.twitter.com/WBx7HR7TUQ — Kuldeep Bishnoi (@bishnoikuldeep) October 31, 2017 × What a pic! (Raghu Rai) #IndiraGandhi #Indira100 pic.twitter.com/JKXYuJObhl — Rachit Seth (@rachitseth) October 30, 2017 × Proud Nation remembers 2 great patriots today Sardar Patel & #IndiraGandhi Common thread was a)Congress Party b)Both fought communal forces pic.twitter.com/LzmYxOmgM9 — Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) October 31, 2017 × Also read: People tried to ensure contribution of Sardar Patel is forgotten: PM Modi

Congress leaders pay homage to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary

<p>The BJP has taken a jibe at Rahul Gandhi for his attempt to silence critics <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/whos-been-tweeting-for-rahul-gandhi-he-finally-answers-sort-of-23104">who raise questions on his tweets</a>.</p>

<p>BJP&rsquo;s IT-cell in-charge Amit Malviya has tweeted a modified poster of Akshay Kumar&rsquo;s upcoming movie &#39;Padman&#39; which shows Gandhi with his pet dog Pidi. Gandhi had hit back at his critics by tweeting a video of Pidi,&nbsp;&quot;Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I&rsquo;m coming clean..it&rsquo;s me..Pidi..I&rsquo;m way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat!&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I&#39;m coming clean..it&#39;s me..Pidi..I&#39;m way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat! <a href="https://t.co/fkQwye94a5">pic.twitter.com/fkQwye94a5</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/924531438661148673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Malviya&rsquo;s tweet says,&nbsp;&ldquo;Pidiman &ndash; the story of a dog who is smarter than his master&rdquo;. It further said, &ldquo;written &amp; directed by Congress&hellip;released today on Twitter&rdquo;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und">Pidi ???, Congress ????.. <a href="https://t.co/A677QSIvah">pic.twitter.com/A677QSIvah</a></p>
&mdash; Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) <a href="https://twitter.com/malviyamit/status/924618205959741440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also attacked Gandhi for his tweet saying</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sir <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a>,who knows him better than me.Still remember you busy feeding biscuits 2 him while We wanted to discuss urgent Assam&#39;s issues <a href="https://t.co/Eiu7VsuvL1">https://t.co/Eiu7VsuvL1</a></p>
&mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/924556587225645056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Rahul Gandhi&#39;s Twitter handle &#39;OfficeofRG&#39; has been in news recently due to a rise in retweets as evidence of a resurgence of his interaction on social media. However, a cursory glance at the Twitter handles retweeting the Congress Vice President&#39;s tweets does throw up some questions...are these <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bots-behind-rise-in-rahul-gandhis-twitter-popularity-22692">automated &#39;bots&#39; mass retweeting Rahul Gandhi&#39;s tweets</a>?</p>

<p>On October 15th, &#39;OfficeofRG&#39; retweeted US President Donald Trump&#39;s tweet praising American-Pakistani relations with a caption &#39;Modi ji quick, looks like President Trump needs another hug&#39;. The tweet quickly reached 20,000 retweets and currently has touched 30,000.</p>

<p>A close analysis of this tweet showed that these alleged &#39;bots&#39; with a Russian, Kazakh or Indonesian characteristic was routinely RT-ing the Congress VP&#39;s tweets. Further scrutiny of these Twitter accounts showed that the follower list was usually under 10 users and retweets comprised of random topics from across the world and those of Rahul Gandhi. Moreover, the content of these twitter timelines comprised merely of retweets and a lack of tweets which could be categorised as an original thought.</p>


The BJP has taken a jibe at Rahul Gandhi for his attempt to silence critics who raise questions on his tweets.

The BJP has taken a jibe at Rahul Gandhi for his attempt to silence critics who raise questions on his tweets. BJP’s IT-cell in-charge Amit Malviya has tweeted a modified poster of Akshay Kumar’s upcoming movie 'Padman' which shows Gandhi with his pet dog Pidi. Gandhi had hit back at his critics by tweeting a video of Pidi, "Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I’m coming clean..it’s me..Pidi..I’m way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat!" Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I'm coming clean..it's me..Pidi..I'm way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat! pic.twitter.com/fkQwye94a5 — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 29, 2017 × Malviya’s tweet says, “Pidiman – the story of a dog who is smarter than his master”. It further said, “written & directed by Congress…released today on Twitter”. Pidi ???, Congress ????.. pic.twitter.com/A677QSIvah — Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) October 29, 2017 × Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also attacked Gandhi for his tweet saying Sir @OfficeOfRG,who knows him better than me.Still remember you busy feeding biscuits 2 him while We wanted to discuss urgent Assam's issues https://t.co/Eiu7VsuvL1 — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 29, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi's Twitter handle 'OfficeofRG' has been in news recently due to a rise in retweets as evidence of a resurgence of his interaction on social media. However, a cursory glance at the Twitter handles retweeting the Congress Vice President's tweets does throw up some questions...are these automated 'bots' mass retweeting Rahul Gandhi's tweets? On October 15th, 'OfficeofRG' retweeted US President Donald Trump's tweet praising American-Pakistani relations with a caption 'Modi ji quick, looks like President Trump needs another hug'. The tweet quickly reached 20,000 retweets and currently has touched 30,000. A close analysis of this tweet showed that these alleged 'bots' with a Russian, Kazakh or Indonesian characteristic was routinely RT-ing the Congress VP's tweets. Further scrutiny of these Twitter accounts showed that the follower list was usually under 10 users and retweets comprised of random topics from across the world and those of Rahul Gandhi. Moreover, the content of these twitter timelines comprised merely of retweets and a lack of tweets which could be categorised as an original thought.

'Pidi can save Congress': BJP's jibe at Rahul Gandhi

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will observe &quot;anti-black money day&quot; on November 8 to counter the Oppostion&#39;s&nbsp;&quot;Black Day&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;November 8 will complete one year of demonetisation. The party has decided to celebrate the day as anti-black money day,&quot; Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, while addressing the media on Wednesday.</p>

<p>Jaitley further said that people who deposited money disproportionate to their income &quot;are now being forced to pay taxes.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Not the confiscation of money, but squeezing the quantum of cash was the objective of demonetisation,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>The finance minister also said that post the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a new transition phase had been heralded in&nbsp;which would make cash generation difficult.</p>

<p>He added that the Congress had adequate opportunity while being in power, but he &quot;can`t recollect a single step that they took against black money.&quot;</p>

<p>The Opposition parties had earlier decided to observe November 8 - the first anniversary of demonetisation - as &quot;Black Day&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media here, &quot;Possibly, this is the first time that a decision announced by the Prime Minister had to be changed 135 times. It just shows how ill-conceived it was.&quot;</p>

<p>Azad was speaking in the presence of Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O&#39;Brien, besides others.</p>

<p>He claimed that 18 parties would be protesting in their own respective ways in all states.</p>

<p>O`Brien described demonetisation as a &quot;big scam&quot; and added that TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the first leader to point this out.</p>

<p>On Monday, the opposition formed a coordination committee and met for the first time in Parliament.</p>

<p>The meeting was attended by Azad, O&#39;Brien, Yadav, CPI MP D. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and BSP MP Satish Mishra.On November 8, 2016, the Centre announced to demonetise 500- and 1000-rupee banknotes.The government also introduced new Rs.200, Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 notes.The government had then said that the action would curtail the shadow economy and crack down on the use of illicit and counterfeit cash to fund illegal activity and terrorism.&nbsp;</p>


November 8 is the first anniversary of demonetisation

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will observe "anti-black money day" on November 8 to counter the Oppostion's "Black Day". "November 8 will complete one year of demonetisation. The party has decided to celebrate the day as anti-black money day," Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, while addressing the media on Wednesday. Jaitley further said that people who deposited money disproportionate to their income "are now being forced to pay taxes." "Not the confiscation of money, but squeezing the quantum of cash was the objective of demonetisation," he added. The finance minister also said that post the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), a new transition phase had been heralded in which would make cash generation difficult. He added that the Congress had adequate opportunity while being in power, but he "can`t recollect a single step that they took against black money." The Opposition parties had earlier decided to observe November 8 - the first anniversary of demonetisation - as "Black Day". Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told the media here, "Possibly, this is the first time that a decision announced by the Prime Minister had to be changed 135 times. It just shows how ill-conceived it was." Azad was speaking in the presence of Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien, besides others. He claimed that 18 parties would be protesting in their own respective ways in all states. O`Brien described demonetisation as a "big scam" and added that TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the first leader to point this out. On Monday, the opposition formed a coordination committee and met for the first time in Parliament. The meeting was attended by Azad, O'Brien, Yadav, CPI MP D. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and BSP MP Satish Mishra.On November 8, 2016, the Centre announced to demonetise 500- and 1000-rupee banknotes.The government also introduced new Rs.200, Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 notes.The government had then said that the action would curtail the shadow economy and crack down on the use of illicit and counterfeit cash to fund illegal activity and terrorism.

Nov 8: Opposition to observe 'Black Day', BJP 'anti-black money day'

<p>I had been worried about the pathos I would find in the piece and so had put off reading it for a few days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I was familiar with Chidanand Rajghatta&#39;s work, having worked with the Times of India. Chidanand is the Times&#39; Washington DC correspondent, and his work is always competent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sure enough, when I finally sat down to reading the piece one quiet evening over dinner, it left me watery-eyed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>How could it not have?&nbsp;</p>

<p>A woman had been shot at the doorstep of her home in cold blood by people who can only be described as cowardly (terrorists?), and her ex-husband was writing about her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But it also left me appalled, and not because of anything that Chidanand had written.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gauri and Chidanand had met in school, had courted for five years, and then been married for another five before going their separate ways.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They remained friends, with each other and their in-laws.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chidanand says they reached out to hold hands before the judge hearing their divorce petition and their lawyers hissed that they should disengage should they wish to disengage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After their divorce, they went to lunch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his piece, I thought Chidanand hit a high &ndash; which reminded me of Naipaul &ndash; and a low.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his first book on India, An Area of Darkness, Naipaul describes his friendship with a Sardarji he meets in south India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Like the average north Indian, the Sardarji salivates over his &ldquo;Aryan&rdquo; heritage, looks down upon what he sees as the darker south Indians &ndash; &ldquo;monkeys&rdquo; he calls them &ndash; thinks they stare at him, and finally commits an act of violence against what he thinks is a south Indian man gawking at him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lying on his back, the &ldquo;south Indian&rdquo; man tells the Sardarji that he is just like him &ndash; a north Indian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I had had to double back to the passage &ndash; the incident is recounted with such a deft touch &ndash; asking myself: &ldquo;Did the Sardarji really slap that man?&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is a similar exchange over cigarette smoking in Chidanand&#39;s piece.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gauri is visiting him in Washington and wishes to smoke.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chidanand insists that she go outside to do so, that she not smoke inside the house.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gauri tells him it&#39;s cold outside, and that she started smoking because of him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tough luck, he says.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You&#39;re becoming too American, she says.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It&#39;s got nothing to do with being American, he says. It&#39;s about being healthy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Bollocks,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;I&#39;ll outlive you.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Liar&rdquo;, Chidanand writes in his piece.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And leaves it at that.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He hits his low when he refers to the maid that Gauri had sent his way as her &ldquo;gift to us&rdquo;, writing that she is still with him. (It is incorrect to refer to a human being as a gift, even in India where we often treat our domestic help as if they might be.)&nbsp;</p>

<p>But all of this seemed to elude most of Chidanand&#39;s readers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After having read his piece, I looked at the comments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The &ldquo;top comment&rdquo; said, &ldquo;Press ti tutes and award wapsi brigades are big time bstds.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A second said, &ldquo;Gouri khan was a chain smoker and a drunkard woman.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A third said &ldquo;The writer is a bad journalist at worst.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A fourth educated Chidanand on how one could smoke inside a house in the US &ndash; &ldquo;smoke at the chimney... smoke into the exhaust fan in the kitchen... smoke in the bathroom&rdquo;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A fifth said, &ldquo;whosoever has eliminated the ultra leftist has done a splendid job. you live and prosper on this land.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>And it went on and on and on... (Perhaps I am being too unfair. There were also a few sensible, sensitive comments but they were far outnumbered by the other kind).&nbsp;</p>

<p>How did we become a people like this &ndash; full of sound and fury signifying nothing?&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are stray answers here and there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That the anonymity afforded by the internet reins in the better angels of our nature. That now that everybody is able to broadcast his or her opinion via social media, nobody is interested in anybody else&#39;s. That our younger generations are not familiar with the idea of reading a book, and therefore struggle with complex ideas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whatever the reason(s) might be, the state of affairs worries me.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They say the biggest problem facing India today is the lack of jobs. But even if we were able to create them &ndash; what jobs would we give these people?&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Follow Parakram on Twitter @parakramrautela</em></p>


I knew I would find pathos in the piece but it also left me appalled ? and not because of anything that Chidanand Rajghatta had written

I had been worried about the pathos I would find in the piece and so had put off reading it for a few days. I was familiar with Chidanand Rajghatta's work, having worked with the Times of India. Chidanand is the Times' Washington DC correspondent, and his work is always competent. Sure enough, when I finally sat down to reading the piece one quiet evening over dinner, it left me watery-eyed. How could it not have? A woman had been shot at the doorstep of her home in cold blood by people who can only be described as cowardly (terrorists?), and her ex-husband was writing about her. But it also left me appalled, and not because of anything that Chidanand had written. Gauri and Chidanand had met in school, had courted for five years, and then been married for another five before going their separate ways. They remained friends, with each other and their in-laws. Chidanand says they reached out to hold hands before the judge hearing their divorce petition and their lawyers hissed that they should disengage should they wish to disengage. After their divorce, they went to lunch. In his piece, I thought Chidanand hit a high – which reminded me of Naipaul – and a low. In his first book on India, An Area of Darkness, Naipaul describes his friendship with a Sardarji he meets in south India. Like the average north Indian, the Sardarji salivates over his “Aryan” heritage, looks down upon what he sees as the darker south Indians – “monkeys” he calls them – thinks they stare at him, and finally commits an act of violence against what he thinks is a south Indian man gawking at him. Lying on his back, the “south Indian” man tells the Sardarji that he is just like him – a north Indian. I had had to double back to the passage – the incident is recounted with such a deft touch – asking myself: “Did the Sardarji really slap that man?” There is a similar exchange over cigarette smoking in Chidanand's piece. Gauri is visiting him in Washington and wishes to smoke. Chidanand insists that she go outside to do so, that she not smoke inside the house. Gauri tells him it's cold outside, and that she started smoking because of him. Tough luck, he says. You're becoming too American, she says. It's got nothing to do with being American, he says. It's about being healthy. “Bollocks,” she says. “I'll outlive you.” “Liar”, Chidanand writes in his piece. And leaves it at that. He hits his low when he refers to the maid that Gauri had sent his way as her “gift to us”, writing that she is still with him. (It is incorrect to refer to a human being as a gift, even in India where we often treat our domestic help as if they might be.) But all of this seemed to elude most of Chidanand's readers. After having read his piece, I looked at the comments. The “top comment” said, “Press ti tutes and award wapsi brigades are big time bstds.” A second said, “Gouri khan was a chain smoker and a drunkard woman.” A third said “The writer is a bad journalist at worst.” A fourth educated Chidanand on how one could smoke inside a house in the US – “smoke at the chimney... smoke into the exhaust fan in the kitchen... smoke in the bathroom”. A fifth said, “whosoever has eliminated the ultra leftist has done a splendid job. you live and prosper on this land.” And it went on and on and on... (Perhaps I am being too unfair. There were also a few sensible, sensitive comments but they were far outnumbered by the other kind). How did we become a people like this – full of sound and fury signifying nothing? There are stray answers here and there. That the anonymity afforded by the internet reins in the better angels of our nature. That now that everybody is able to broadcast his or her opinion via social media, nobody is interested in anybody else's. That our younger generations are not familiar with the idea of reading a book, and therefore struggle with complex ideas. Whatever the reason(s) might be, the state of affairs worries me. They say the biggest problem facing India today is the lack of jobs. But even if we were able to create them – what jobs would we give these people? Follow Parakram on Twitter @parakramrautela

Gauri Lankesh, and that piece by her ex-husband

<p>As many as 275 candidates, including former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal,&nbsp;filed their nomination for&nbsp;Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls on Monday, the last day to file nominations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With this, the total number of nominations filed for the polls went up to 479.</p>

<p>The date of polling in Himachal Pradesh is November 9,&nbsp;and the counting will be held on&nbsp;December 18.&nbsp;The date before which election shall be completed would be December 20, the Election Commission had announced earlier.</p>

<p>In all, 119 candidates filed nomination for 15 seats in Kangra, 74 candidates for 10 seats in Mandi, 64 for eight seats in Shimla, 41 for five seats in Hamirpur, 28 for five seats in Chamba, 29 for five seats in Solan.</p>

<p>Twenty seven candidates filed their nomination for five seats in Sirmaur, 47 for five seats in Una, 17 for four seats in Bilaspur, 23 for four seats in Kullu, five each for one seat in Lahaul and Spiti, and Kinnaur constituencies.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Congress leader Deepak Rathore had filed his nomination from Theog seat, but the party later announced that veteran leader, Irrigation and Public Health Minister&nbsp;Vidya Stokes&nbsp;would be the official candidate -&nbsp;who filed her nomiation from Theog in Shimla district.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stokes had left the seat for Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who&nbsp;shifted to Arki and she was&nbsp;asked by the party high command to contest from Theog, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu said.</p>

<p>Stokes has contested assembly polls ten times since 1974 and lost twice in 1977 and 1993.</p>

<p>Dhumal filed his nomination from Sujanpur; Sukku entered the fray from Nadaun, while Vikramaditya Singh filed his papers from Shimla (Rural) constituency, vacated by his father Virbhadra Singh.</p>

<p>Former minister Anil Sharma, son of former Union communication minister Sukh Ram who recently joined the BJP, also filed his nomination from Mandi (Sadar) and&nbsp;deputy speaker Jagat Singh Negi from Kinnaur.</p>

<p>Over two dozen rebel leaders of the Congress and the BJP who were denied tickets also joined the fray as independents.</p>


Nominations filed for the polls went up to 479

As many as 275 candidates, including former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, filed their nomination for Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls on Monday, the last day to file nominations. With this, the total number of nominations filed for the polls went up to 479. The date of polling in Himachal Pradesh is November 9, and the counting will be held on December 18. The date before which election shall be completed would be December 20, the Election Commission had announced earlier. In all, 119 candidates filed nomination for 15 seats in Kangra, 74 candidates for 10 seats in Mandi, 64 for eight seats in Shimla, 41 for five seats in Hamirpur, 28 for five seats in Chamba, 29 for five seats in Solan. Twenty seven candidates filed their nomination for five seats in Sirmaur, 47 for five seats in Una, 17 for four seats in Bilaspur, 23 for four seats in Kullu, five each for one seat in Lahaul and Spiti, and Kinnaur constituencies. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Deepak Rathore had filed his nomination from Theog seat, but the party later announced that veteran leader, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes would be the official candidate - who filed her nomiation from Theog in Shimla district. Stokes had left the seat for Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who shifted to Arki and she was asked by the party high command to contest from Theog, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu said. Stokes has contested assembly polls ten times since 1974 and lost twice in 1977 and 1993. Dhumal filed his nomination from Sujanpur; Sukku entered the fray from Nadaun, while Vikramaditya Singh filed his papers from Shimla (Rural) constituency, vacated by his father Virbhadra Singh. Former minister Anil Sharma, son of former Union communication minister Sukh Ram who recently joined the BJP, also filed his nomination from Mandi (Sadar) and deputy speaker Jagat Singh Negi from Kinnaur. Over two dozen rebel leaders of the Congress and the BJP who were denied tickets also joined the fray as independents.

Himachal polls: 275 nominations filed on last day

<p>The Central government of India&#39;s decision to appoint Dineshwar Sharma, former IB Director, for holding talks with Kashmir may have come as a surprise to many but not for Kashmir watchers. The reality was written on the wall. It had to happen.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Despite tough measures taken by the Centre against foreign funds, bumping-off of high-value terrorists, the valley remained unsettled and out of control. Despite the complete support of the Centre to the Army, the message from the ground to the government was clear that New Delhi cannot escape dialogue. It was aired by the Army and bureaucracy.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
So, the announcement should be welcomed because it is a good and a moral step. Dineshwar Sharma will enjoy the status of a Cabinet Secretary and will have the mandate to speak to all in the valley. It will open up a possibility for the government to engage those who have already been painted anti-national by a rancid discourse where nationalism was being used as a bat to hit anyone who felt otherwise in Kashmir.</p>

<p>The appointment of an interlocutor also confirms that Kashmir will be granted some exceptions, and the acknowledgment of the exceptionalism may pave the route for a normal valley. Though every problem in Kashmir cannot be heaped on the foot of PDP-BJP&rsquo;s door, the fact remains that the strong national discourse along pro-Indian and anti-Indian lines had snatched political elbow room from BJP. The strength of the party had become its biggest disability. Despite the fact that it wanted to reach out,&nbsp;it could not because of the community voters BJP has ended up cultivating post-2014. It is in this context this appointment must be seen.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Even if we leave aside Hurriyat which has been flirting with Pakistan and fueling unrest, the strong approach has marginalised the mainstream parties like the PDP and the NC. The sustained dialogue will create a window of opportunity for mainstream and democratic setups like PDP and NC, helping them to buffer themselves from the violence which civil society has heaped on its doorsteps.</p>

<p>It is not without reason that PDP workers are being killed regularly. This will also give a face-saving window to Mufti who has been battling Kashmir alone. It is also not without significance that this announcement has come within 48 hours of Mufti&rsquo;s absence at an official function last minute. Nonetheless, the process will allow restive rural areas to have an ordinary schedule. It is this restiveness and violence at every nook and corner which has been BJP&rsquo;s headache.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Many in the government would argue that BJP was already committed to the talks but the truth is that it couldn&rsquo;t have been seen speaking to those who have already been branded anti-state. Dineshwar Sharma will have to escape this binary. Kashmir cannot become a casualty of liberal vs nationalist debate. He will have to walk a tightrope. The injustice done to the Kashmiri Pandits cannot be pushed under the carpet. Pandits also need a closure; they feel tightly glued to the current narrative. The valley needs to come to a normal.</p>

<p>Kashmir has a unique place in the Indian constitution and history has to be accepted by all. Kashmir resents any change to its status. They don&rsquo;t see it as an integration but an intrusion. It is a fact and people from other parts need to understand it. India is not only an amalgamation of boundaries. It is an amalgamation of ideas and people. Kashmir stands as an example of it. The only hope is that unlike previous dispensations, the Centre doesn&rsquo;t sit on the recommendations. The talks must have a fruitful end as talks without purpose only fuel even more vicious cycle of violence. Kashmir will always remain part of India and not an inch would be ceded but at the end, Kashmiris are also Indians. This message needs to be loud and clear.</p>

<p>Now, the time has come for the various Kashmiri political and social organisations to respond to this overture.</p>


The talks must have a fruitful end as talks without purpose only fuel even more vicious cycle of violence.

The Central government of India's decision to appoint Dineshwar Sharma, former IB Director, for holding talks with Kashmir may have come as a surprise to many but not for Kashmir watchers. The reality was written on the wall. It had to happen. Despite tough measures taken by the Centre against foreign funds, bumping-off of high-value terrorists, the valley remained unsettled and out of control. Despite the complete support of the Centre to the Army, the message from the ground to the government was clear that New Delhi cannot escape dialogue. It was aired by the Army and bureaucracy. So, the announcement should be welcomed because it is a good and a moral step. Dineshwar Sharma will enjoy the status of a Cabinet Secretary and will have the mandate to speak to all in the valley. It will open up a possibility for the government to engage those who have already been painted anti-national by a rancid discourse where nationalism was being used as a bat to hit anyone who felt otherwise in Kashmir. The appointment of an interlocutor also confirms that Kashmir will be granted some exceptions, and the acknowledgment of the exceptionalism may pave the route for a normal valley. Though every problem in Kashmir cannot be heaped on the foot of PDP-BJP’s door, the fact remains that the strong national discourse along pro-Indian and anti-Indian lines had snatched political elbow room from BJP. The strength of the party had become its biggest disability. Despite the fact that it wanted to reach out, it could not because of the community voters BJP has ended up cultivating post-2014. It is in this context this appointment must be seen. Even if we leave aside Hurriyat which has been flirting with Pakistan and fueling unrest, the strong approach has marginalised the mainstream parties like the PDP and the NC. The sustained dialogue will create a window of opportunity for mainstream and democratic setups like PDP and NC, helping them to buffer themselves from the violence which civil society has heaped on its doorsteps. It is not without reason that PDP workers are being killed regularly. This will also give a face-saving window to Mufti who has been battling Kashmir alone. It is also not without significance that this announcement has come within 48 hours of Mufti’s absence at an official function last minute. Nonetheless, the process will allow restive rural areas to have an ordinary schedule. It is this restiveness and violence at every nook and corner which has been BJP’s headache. Many in the government would argue that BJP was already committed to the talks but the truth is that it couldn’t have been seen speaking to those who have already been branded anti-state. Dineshwar Sharma will have to escape this binary. Kashmir cannot become a casualty of liberal vs nationalist debate. He will have to walk a tightrope. The injustice done to the Kashmiri Pandits cannot be pushed under the carpet. Pandits also need a closure; they feel tightly glued to the current narrative. The valley needs to come to a normal. Kashmir has a unique place in the Indian constitution and history has to be accepted by all. Kashmir resents any change to its status. They don’t see it as an integration but an intrusion. It is a fact and people from other parts need to understand it. India is not only an amalgamation of boundaries. It is an amalgamation of ideas and people. Kashmir stands as an example of it. The only hope is that unlike previous dispensations, the Centre doesn’t sit on the recommendations. The talks must have a fruitful end as talks without purpose only fuel even more vicious cycle of violence. Kashmir will always remain part of India and not an inch would be ceded but at the end, Kashmiris are also Indians. This message needs to be loud and clear. Now, the time has come for the various Kashmiri political and social organisations to respond to this overture.

Reality bites: Centre appoints an interlocutor for Kashmir talks

<p>The national general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saroj Pandey today raked up a controversy by making a comment that if the killing of her party workers continued in Kerala, &quot;eyes of the attackers will be gouged out&quot;.<br />
<br />
Her comment drew strong criticism from the main opposition Congress.<br />
<br />
Pandey was speaking to media on the sidelines of a programme in Kumhari area of Chhattisgarh&#39;s Durg district.<br />
<br />
&quot;Our national president has taken out a march (referring to Jan-Suraksha Yatra in Kerala) because in future, if they (attackers) continue to show eyes to our workers, we will gouge them out (humare rashtriya adhyaksh ne march ki shuruwaat isliye ki hai ki aane vale samay me agar hamare karyakarta ke sath isi prakar se aankh dikhane ki sthiti hogi to hum ghar me ghuskar aankh nikla lenge ye tay baat hai),&quot; Pandey said.<br />
<br />
She further said her party has a strength of about 11 crore workers across the world and the killing of people related to RSS and BJP in the coastal state is not acceptable in a democracy.<br />
<br />
&quot;Our party has a strength of 11 crore members across the world more than 300 workers in Kerala who were 20, 22 and 25 years of age were murdered. Everybody has right to present their thoughts. But as far as the politics is concerned, I believe politics should not be done like this,&quot; she said.<br />
<br />
&quot;We have government (at the Centre) and based on our numbers (in Lok Sabha), we can dismiss such (state) governments.<br />
<br />
&quot;But we believe in democracy and the party ruling in Kerala and West Bengal should also respect democracy and should not be based on these issues,&quot; she said.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, talking to PTI, condemned the statement made by BJP general secretary.<br />
<br />
&quot;A senior woman politician should not make such kind of comment. It has exposed the real face of her party and its mindset. Any kind of violence is not justified in a democracy,&quot; Baghel said.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Saroj Pandey was speaking to reporters in Chhattisgarh's Durg district at the time

The national general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saroj Pandey today raked up a controversy by making a comment that if the killing of her party workers continued in Kerala, "eyes of the attackers will be gouged out". Her comment drew strong criticism from the main opposition Congress. Pandey was speaking to media on the sidelines of a programme in Kumhari area of Chhattisgarh's Durg district. "Our national president has taken out a march (referring to Jan-Suraksha Yatra in Kerala) because in future, if they (attackers) continue to show eyes to our workers, we will gouge them out (humare rashtriya adhyaksh ne march ki shuruwaat isliye ki hai ki aane vale samay me agar hamare karyakarta ke sath isi prakar se aankh dikhane ki sthiti hogi to hum ghar me ghuskar aankh nikla lenge ye tay baat hai)," Pandey said. She further said her party has a strength of about 11 crore workers across the world and the killing of people related to RSS and BJP in the coastal state is not acceptable in a democracy. "Our party has a strength of 11 crore members across the world more than 300 workers in Kerala who were 20, 22 and 25 years of age were murdered. Everybody has right to present their thoughts. But as far as the politics is concerned, I believe politics should not be done like this," she said. "We have government (at the Centre) and based on our numbers (in Lok Sabha), we can dismiss such (state) governments. "But we believe in democracy and the party ruling in Kerala and West Bengal should also respect democracy and should not be based on these issues," she said. Meanwhile, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, talking to PTI, condemned the statement made by BJP general secretary. "A senior woman politician should not make such kind of comment. It has exposed the real face of her party and its mindset. Any kind of violence is not justified in a democracy," Baghel said.

Eyes of attackers will be gouged out: BJP gen secy on killing of party workers in Kerala

<p>The filing of nominations for the November 9 Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to begin on Monday, but both the major political parties,&nbsp;the Congress and the BJP, are yet to announce their candidates.<br />
<br />
The last date for filing nominations is October 23, scrutiny of papers is scheduled to be taken up on October 24, the last day for withdrawal of nominations is October 26, while polling will be held on November 9.<br />
<br />
Of the 7,521 polling booths in the state, 136 (two each in the 68 constituencies) would only have women officials, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pushpender Rajput said.</p>

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<h5>The elections will be held on November 9</h5>
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<p>He added that the counting of votes would be taken up on December 18 and the Model Code of Conduct would remain in force till December 20.<br />
<br />
Of the 68 Assembly segments in the state, 17 were reserved for the scheduled castes and three for scheduled tribes, Rajput said.<br />
<br />
The total number of registered voters in the state was 49,13,888, he said, adding that the figure was likely to go up once the pending cases for registration of voters were disposed of.<br />
<br />
The CEO said electronic voting machines (EVMs), connected to voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, would be used in all the 7,521 polling booths.<br />
<br />
VVPAT machines would be used for the first time in the Himachal Assembly polls and they would enable a voter to see the name and election symbol of the candidate he has voted for for seven seconds, he added.</p>


Both the major parties, the Congress and the BJP, are yet to announce their candidates

The filing of nominations for the November 9 Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to begin on Monday, but both the major political parties, the Congress and the BJP, are yet to announce their candidates. The last date for filing nominations is October 23, scrutiny of papers is scheduled to be taken up on October 24, the last day for withdrawal of nominations is October 26, while polling will be held on November 9. Of the 7,521 polling booths in the state, 136 (two each in the 68 constituencies) would only have women officials, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pushpender Rajput said. The elections will be held on November 9 × He added that the counting of votes would be taken up on December 18 and the Model Code of Conduct would remain in force till December 20. Of the 68 Assembly segments in the state, 17 were reserved for the scheduled castes and three for scheduled tribes, Rajput said. The total number of registered voters in the state was 49,13,888, he said, adding that the figure was likely to go up once the pending cases for registration of voters were disposed of. The CEO said electronic voting machines (EVMs), connected to voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, would be used in all the 7,521 polling booths. VVPAT machines would be used for the first time in the Himachal Assembly polls and they would enable a voter to see the name and election symbol of the candidate he has voted for for seven seconds, he added.

Himachal polls: Filing of nominations to start today

<p>The Congress party&nbsp;on Monday&nbsp;downplayed Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley`s assertion that world is praising India for demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) and said they are living in delusion.</p>

<p>Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Ranjeet Ranjan said, &quot;Jaitley ji is saying that world is praising India for demonetisation and GST. On that note, we should also not forget about the statements made by their own party leader Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie&quot;.</p>

<p>She added &quot;they are in a delusion that the world is impressed with India`s structural reforms. On what basis he is saying that all the countries across the world are praising India for these reforms? They are not even able to provide employment. Jaitley ji is senior advocate but not a Finance Minister.</p>

<p>&quot;The Union Finance Minister&nbsp;on Saturday&nbsp;said that countries across the world are lauding India for having the guts to bring in major structural reforms like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST).</p>

<p>In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Finance Minister, who was in the US to attend the annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank, said that the comments made by the experts worldwide on India`s structural reforms underline the country`s confident image.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif" /></p>


'They are in a delusion that the world is impressed with India`s structural reforms. On what basis he is saying that all the countries across the world are praising India for these reforms? They are not even able to provide employment', said the Congress leader

The Congress party on Monday downplayed Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley`s assertion that world is praising India for demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST) and said they are living in delusion. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Ranjeet Ranjan said, "Jaitley ji is saying that world is praising India for demonetisation and GST. On that note, we should also not forget about the statements made by their own party leader Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie". She added "they are in a delusion that the world is impressed with India`s structural reforms. On what basis he is saying that all the countries across the world are praising India for these reforms? They are not even able to provide employment. Jaitley ji is senior advocate but not a Finance Minister. "The Union Finance Minister on Saturday said that countries across the world are lauding India for having the guts to bring in major structural reforms like demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST). In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Finance Minister, who was in the US to attend the annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank, said that the comments made by the experts worldwide on India`s structural reforms underline the country`s confident image.

BJP living in delusion: Congress on Jaitley's remark on GST, demonetisation

<p>The Congress&#39;s Sunil Jakhar has won the Gurdaspur bypoll by close to two lakh votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP came in second, and the AAP third.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Punjab: Congress&#39;s Sunil Jakhar wins <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll</a> by 1,93,219 votes <a href="https://t.co/rZMlF9qTvX">pic.twitter.com/rZMlF9qTvX</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919461034070380544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Punjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Punjab</a> Congress: 4,99,752, BJP 3,06,533, AAP 23,579 votes.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919472565852049408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Counting began this morning. The bypoll -- necessitated by the death of the BJP&#39;s Vinod Khanna -- took place on October 11.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Punjab: Congress workers and leaders celebrate as party leads by more than 1 lakh votes in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll</a> <a href="https://t.co/gYlPec5EKG">pic.twitter.com/gYlPec5EKG</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919444598396559360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Gurdaspur bypoll is being seen as a referendum on Punjab&#39;s six-month-old Congress government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jakhar himself had billed the bypoll as a referendum on the Narendra&nbsp;Modi-led government at the Centre and its policies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;People of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modiji-led Centre,&quot; ANI reported Jakhar as saying.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ppl of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modi Ji led Centre: Sunil Jakhar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GurdaspurByPoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GurdaspurByPoll</a> <a href="https://t.co/6JMxqdHK0k">pic.twitter.com/6JMxqdHK0k</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/919440515371696134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;This is a beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon, for our would-be party president Rahul Gandhi,&quot; ANI reported Navjot Sidhu, who recently joined the Congress from the BJP, as saying.&nbsp;</p>


The Congress's Sunil Jakhar has won the Gurdaspur bypoll by close to two lakh votes. The BJP came in second, and the AAP third. Punjab: Congress's Sunil Jakhar wins #GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll by 1,93,219 votes pic.twitter.com/rZMlF9qTvX — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × #Punjab Congress: 4,99,752, BJP 3,06,533, AAP 23,579 votes.#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × Counting began this morning. The bypoll -- necessitated by the death of the BJP's Vinod Khanna -- took place on October 11. Punjab: Congress workers and leaders celebrate as party leads by more than 1 lakh votes in #GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll pic.twitter.com/gYlPec5EKG — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × The Gurdaspur bypoll is being seen as a referendum on Punjab's six-month-old Congress government. Jakhar himself had billed the bypoll as a referendum on the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and its policies. "People of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modiji-led Centre," ANI reported Jakhar as saying. Ppl of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modi Ji led Centre: Sunil Jakhar #GurdaspurByPoll pic.twitter.com/6JMxqdHK0k — ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 × "This is a beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon, for our would-be party president Rahul Gandhi," ANI reported Navjot Sidhu, who recently joined the Congress from the BJP, as saying.

Gurdaspur bypoll: Congress's Sunil Jakhar wins, says voters have rejected PM Modi's policies

<p>Mukul Roy has resigned&nbsp;as Trinamool Congress(TMC)&nbsp;MP and given up his Rajya Sabha membership, reports said.</p>

<p>&quot;Today I am resigning from Rajya Sabha membership elected as a member of TMC, also resigning from all posts of TMC as a primary member,&quot;&nbsp;Mukul Roy said.</p>

<p>Last month, Trinamool Congress had suspended Mukul Roy for six years after the senior party leader had announced his decision to quit the party amid reports that he was planning to join the BJP.</p>

<p>&quot;The day CBI went after him, he realised that other than BJP he has no respite,&quot; TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said on Mukul Roy&#39;s resignation.</p>

<p>The former TMC heavyweight had met senior BJP leaders fuelling speculation that he was getting close to the party.</p>

<p>Talking to reporters later, Mukul Roy had said TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the BJP at the national level in its initial years.</p>

<p>&quot;Back then, no one called it (BJP) a communal party. Then how come, all of a sudden, you (TMC) change your stand?&quot; Roy had told reporters.</p>

<p>&quot;It was the alliance with the BJP which helped the TMC to taste success in its initial years, be it the 1998 or 1999 Lok Sabha polls,&quot; he asserted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: Mukul Roy submits his resignation from Rajya Sabha as TMC MP, to Vice President and RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu <a href="https://t.co/qZ9GwA6pDv">pic.twitter.com/qZ9GwA6pDv</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/918061037873594368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Mukul Roy&#39;s Rajya Sabha resignation letter. (Others)</p>
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Mukul Roy had said TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the BJP at the national level in its initial years.

Mukul Roy has resigned as Trinamool Congress(TMC) MP and given up his Rajya Sabha membership, reports said. "Today I am resigning from Rajya Sabha membership elected as a member of TMC, also resigning from all posts of TMC as a primary member," Mukul Roy said. Last month, Trinamool Congress had suspended Mukul Roy for six years after the senior party leader had announced his decision to quit the party amid reports that he was planning to join the BJP. "The day CBI went after him, he realised that other than BJP he has no respite," TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said on Mukul Roy's resignation. The former TMC heavyweight had met senior BJP leaders fuelling speculation that he was getting close to the party. Talking to reporters later, Mukul Roy had said TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the BJP at the national level in its initial years. "Back then, no one called it (BJP) a communal party. Then how come, all of a sudden, you (TMC) change your stand?" Roy had told reporters. "It was the alliance with the BJP which helped the TMC to taste success in its initial years, be it the 1998 or 1999 Lok Sabha polls," he asserted. #Delhi: Mukul Roy submits his resignation from Rajya Sabha as TMC MP, to Vice President and RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu pic.twitter.com/qZ9GwA6pDv — ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2017 × Mukul Roy's Rajya Sabha resignation letter. (Others) ×

Mukul Roy resigns as TMC MP, gives up Rajya Sabha membership

<p>Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel has hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that RSS and BJP do not give importance to women in their rank and file.</p>

<p>&quot;Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?&quot; Gandhi said at a gathering of students in Vadodara on the second day of his election campaign in Gujarat.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I want to ask Rahul and Congress: Is this why you look at a woman? To see what she is wearing?&rdquo; Anandiben Patel lashed out. &ldquo;All the women in Gujarat have been insulted by Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s comments. He should apologise, otherwise all the women together will ensure that Congress loses whatever handful of seats they have in the state.&rdquo;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel demands Congress&#39; apology for Rahul Gandhi&#39;s statement &quot;Ever saw women in shorts at RSS shakhas&quot;? <a href="https://t.co/HDMXJoJBIy">pic.twitter.com/HDMXJoJBIy</a></p>
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<p>Saying that Congress party has demeaned and insulted the women of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel asked, &ldquo;Do Rahul&rsquo;s mother and his sister find his comments acceptable?&rdquo;</p>

<p>Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said at the gathering in Vadodara, &quot;The BJP&#39;s thinking is that till women are silent they are good, when they start speaking up they try to shut them (women) up.&quot;</p>

<p>He said in contrast, women work at every level in the Congress.</p>

<p>Gandhi also said that if his party&#39;s government comes to power in Gujarat, it will give importance to women and try to resolve their issues.</p>

<p>The Congress leader began his second day of &#39;Navsarjan Yatra&#39; in central Gujarat region from Vadodara by addressing the students.</p>

<p>He addressed 10 meetings on Monday and offered prayers at the famous Santram Temple in Nadiad.</p>

<p>In the first leg of the Navsarjan Yatra last month, Gandhi had travelled in the Saurashtra.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from news agency PTI)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel has hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that RSS and BJP do not give importance to women in their rank and file.

Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel has hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that RSS and BJP do not give importance to women in their rank and file. "Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?" Gandhi said at a gathering of students in Vadodara on the second day of his election campaign in Gujarat. “I want to ask Rahul and Congress: Is this why you look at a woman? To see what she is wearing?” Anandiben Patel lashed out. “All the women in Gujarat have been insulted by Rahul Gandhi’s comments. He should apologise, otherwise all the women together will ensure that Congress loses whatever handful of seats they have in the state.” #WATCH: Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel demands Congress' apology for Rahul Gandhi's statement "Ever saw women in shorts at RSS shakhas"? pic.twitter.com/HDMXJoJBIy — ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2017 × Saying that Congress party has demeaned and insulted the women of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel asked, “Do Rahul’s mother and his sister find his comments acceptable?” Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said at the gathering in Vadodara, "The BJP's thinking is that till women are silent they are good, when they start speaking up they try to shut them (women) up." He said in contrast, women work at every level in the Congress. Gandhi also said that if his party's government comes to power in Gujarat, it will give importance to women and try to resolve their issues. The Congress leader began his second day of 'Navsarjan Yatra' in central Gujarat region from Vadodara by addressing the students. He addressed 10 meetings on Monday and offered prayers at the famous Santram Temple in Nadiad. In the first leg of the Navsarjan Yatra last month, Gandhi had travelled in the Saurashtra. (With inputs from news agency PTI)

Anandiben Patel attacks Rahul for 'ever seen women in shorts at RSS?' remark

<p>India is still not able to do away with its caste politics as demonstrated by recent attacks on members of lower caste in the south-western state of Gujarat during a festival.</p>

<p>Yet Narendra Modi&rsquo;s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a dramatic effort to woo such lower castes. Three of these are especially important: reviewing social justice schemes, revisiting job reservations, and the sub-categorisation of lower castes.</p>

<p>These measures will eventually deepen India&rsquo;s caste politics and strengthen&nbsp;the caste system &ndash; the world&rsquo;s oldest surviving social hierarchy.</p>

<p>In India, society is divided among higher castes, lower castes (known as Other Backward Castes or OBCs, among the socially and &ldquo;educationally backwards&rdquo; sections of Indian society), Scheduled Castes (known as Dalits, formerly &ldquo;Untouchables&rdquo;), and Scheduled Tribes (known as Adivasis).</p>

<p>Today, the BJP is strategically working to win the heart and the vote of millions of lower castes, who make up 41% of the Indian population. However, the BJP&rsquo;s outreach initiatives are not born out of a concern for social justice; they are part of an electoral agenda.</p>

<p><strong>Changing the BJP&rsquo;s image</strong></p>

<p>The BJP&rsquo;s defeat in the 2009 general election proved a turning point for its engagement with lower castes. While still playing the Hindu nationalism card with dominant upper castes, the BJP is now deploying multiple strategies to win over lower castes too.</p>

<p>For example, Amit Shah, now the party&rsquo;s president, first highlighted Modi&rsquo;s own lower-caste background in the 2014 election in Uttar Pradesh. Later on, as prime minister, Modi was projected as the champion of lower caste groups. The party&rsquo;s support for a Dalit presidential candidate&nbsp;was internationally hyped. Similarly, a recent cabinet reshuffle brought in more lower-caste leaders to appropriate the &ldquo;numerical demographic&rdquo; of OBCs for political gain.</p>

<p>The BJP is also making lower caste-friendly gestures in assembly elections campaigns in Gujarat and Karnataka. It highlights its commitment to provide constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), a statutory body that works for the welfare of lower castes.</p>

<p>Interestingly, the BJP is also pushing the idea of revisiting the existing system of reservation, which allocates 27% of government jobs and seats in educational institutions to lower castes. This the party proposes to do by setting up a committee to sub-categorise these groups into &ldquo;backwards&rdquo;, &ldquo;extremely backward&rdquo; and &ldquo;most backward&rdquo; classes.</p>

<p><strong>Lower caste identity through history</strong></p>

<p>These are big developments. For decades, most political parties &ndash; including the Jana Sangh, which morphed into the BJP in 1980 &ndash; played their politics in the usual framework, excluding the lower-caste categories from the power structure of the state.</p>

<p>The notion of &ldquo;affirmative action through reservation&rdquo; only appeared in the mid-1970s when socialist parties led by politicians Ram Manohar Lohia and Chaudhary Charan Singh started using it to mobilise and consolidate the lower castes as a separate political identity.</p>

<p>The identity of lower castes only began to coalesce in 1955, when the first Backward Classes Commission under Kaka Kalelkar recommended various reservation quotas in technical, professional and government institutions.</p>

<p>Then in 1990, lower-caste mobilisation was galvanised when the Second Backward Classes Commission &ndash; popularly known as the Mandal Commission &ndash; recommended that 27% of positions in educational institutions and public employment be reserved for OBCs.</p>

<p>This was violently opposed by non-political bodies, including conservative student organisations. Many of these were close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an ultra-nationalist ideological group that supports the BJP. In 2006, these student wings fiercely opposed the Congress-led government&rsquo;s decision to implement 27% lower caste job reservations in premier higher educational institutions.</p>

<p><strong>Towards a universal Hindu identity</strong></p>

<p>But now, India&rsquo;s right-wing organisations have made peace with lower-caste aspirations. This has proved electorally rewarding, with the BJP successfully winning a greater share of the OBC vote. A third of the OBCs shifted to the BJP in the 2014 election, and in subsequent state elections.</p>

<p>Strategically, the BJP has focused on dismantling the caste-based parties&rsquo; monopoly over lower-caste votes. The tactic of painting other parties as corrupt bastions of single-caste politics worked wonders, as did an effort to compress the existing 2,479 lower castes into a smaller unit of individualised caste identity to diminish their collective heft.</p>

<p>The BJP also supported the aspirations of lower castes&rsquo; leaders through either finance or political alliance, accommodating OBC leaders in the party or ministerial portfolios at local, state and national level.</p>

<p>At the same time, the party is building a network of lower castes cadres in both rural and urban areas, as well as among young people and women. To penetrate the lower castes&rsquo; social base, the BJP formed an OBC Morcha or &ldquo;special wing&rdquo; in July 2015.</p>

<p>On the one hand, right-wing Hindu organisations are engaged in the radical Hinduisation of lower castes and Dalits through programmes such as &ldquo;Ghar Wapsi&rdquo; or &ldquo;Home Coming&rdquo;, rituals of conversion to Hinduism, and running religious, spiritual and service programmes in lower caste areas.</p>

<p>On the other hand, the BJP&rsquo;s core clientele of higher castes is satisfied thanks to the works of its right-wing support organisations. They continue spreading messages they want to hear, such as tactically portraying Muslims as a common enemy.</p>

<p>With many of its much-acclaimed policies failing to deliver, the BJP knows it has to sustain the charisma of Narendra Modi long enough to fight the 2019 legislative elections.</p>

<p>The party&rsquo;s central challenge is to retain its support base while simultaneously supplementing it enough to ensure electoral victories. To do this, it must mobilise the emerging middle-class OBC vote &ndash; and it&rsquo;s clearly prepared to do almost whatever it takes.</p>

<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" nofollow="" rel="">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-caste-politics-curse-that-india-just-cant-shake-off-84216" nofollow="" rel="">original article</a>.</p>


BJP concentrates on lower caste to change its political image

India is still not able to do away with its caste politics as demonstrated by recent attacks on members of lower caste in the south-western state of Gujarat during a festival. Yet Narendra Modi’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a dramatic effort to woo such lower castes. Three of these are especially important: reviewing social justice schemes, revisiting job reservations, and the sub-categorisation of lower castes. These measures will eventually deepen India’s caste politics and strengthen the caste system – the world’s oldest surviving social hierarchy. In India, society is divided among higher castes, lower castes (known as Other Backward Castes or OBCs, among the socially and “educationally backwards” sections of Indian society), Scheduled Castes (known as Dalits, formerly “Untouchables”), and Scheduled Tribes (known as Adivasis). Today, the BJP is strategically working to win the heart and the vote of millions of lower castes, who make up 41% of the Indian population. However, the BJP’s outreach initiatives are not born out of a concern for social justice; they are part of an electoral agenda. Changing the BJP’s image The BJP’s defeat in the 2009 general election proved a turning point for its engagement with lower castes. While still playing the Hindu nationalism card with dominant upper castes, the BJP is now deploying multiple strategies to win over lower castes too. For example, Amit Shah, now the party’s president, first highlighted Modi’s own lower-caste background in the 2014 election in Uttar Pradesh. Later on, as prime minister, Modi was projected as the champion of lower caste groups. The party’s support for a Dalit presidential candidate was internationally hyped. Similarly, a recent cabinet reshuffle brought in more lower-caste leaders to appropriate the “numerical demographic” of OBCs for political gain. The BJP is also making lower caste-friendly gestures in assembly elections campaigns in Gujarat and Karnataka. It highlights its commitment to provide constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), a statutory body that works for the welfare of lower castes. Interestingly, the BJP is also pushing the idea of revisiting the existing system of reservation, which allocates 27% of government jobs and seats in educational institutions to lower castes. This the party proposes to do by setting up a committee to sub-categorise these groups into “backwards”, “extremely backward” and “most backward” classes. Lower caste identity through history These are big developments. For decades, most political parties – including the Jana Sangh, which morphed into the BJP in 1980 – played their politics in the usual framework, excluding the lower-caste categories from the power structure of the state. The notion of “affirmative action through reservation” only appeared in the mid-1970s when socialist parties led by politicians Ram Manohar Lohia and Chaudhary Charan Singh started using it to mobilise and consolidate the lower castes as a separate political identity. The identity of lower castes only began to coalesce in 1955, when the first Backward Classes Commission under Kaka Kalelkar recommended various reservation quotas in technical, professional and government institutions. Then in 1990, lower-caste mobilisation was galvanised when the Second Backward Classes Commission – popularly known as the Mandal Commission – recommended that 27% of positions in educational institutions and public employment be reserved for OBCs. This was violently opposed by non-political bodies, including conservative student organisations. Many of these were close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an ultra-nationalist ideological group that supports the BJP. In 2006, these student wings fiercely opposed the Congress-led government’s decision to implement 27% lower caste job reservations in premier higher educational institutions. Towards a universal Hindu identity But now, India’s right-wing organisations have made peace with lower-caste aspirations. This has proved electorally rewarding, with the BJP successfully winning a greater share of the OBC vote. A third of the OBCs shifted to the BJP in the 2014 election, and in subsequent state elections. Strategically, the BJP has focused on dismantling the caste-based parties’ monopoly over lower-caste votes. The tactic of painting other parties as corrupt bastions of single-caste politics worked wonders, as did an effort to compress the existing 2,479 lower castes into a smaller unit of individualised caste identity to diminish their collective heft. The BJP also supported the aspirations of lower castes’ leaders through either finance or political alliance, accommodating OBC leaders in the party or ministerial portfolios at local, state and national level. At the same time, the party is building a network of lower castes cadres in both rural and urban areas, as well as among young people and women. To penetrate the lower castes’ social base, the BJP formed an OBC Morcha or “special wing” in July 2015. On the one hand, right-wing Hindu organisations are engaged in the radical Hinduisation of lower castes and Dalits through programmes such as “Ghar Wapsi” or “Home Coming”, rituals of conversion to Hinduism, and running religious, spiritual and service programmes in lower caste areas. On the other hand, the BJP’s core clientele of higher castes is satisfied thanks to the works of its right-wing support organisations. They continue spreading messages they want to hear, such as tactically portraying Muslims as a common enemy. With many of its much-acclaimed policies failing to deliver, the BJP knows it has to sustain the charisma of Narendra Modi long enough to fight the 2019 legislative elections. The party’s central challenge is to retain its support base while simultaneously supplementing it enough to ensure electoral victories. To do this, it must mobilise the emerging middle-class OBC vote – and it’s clearly prepared to do almost whatever it takes. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The caste politics curse that India just can't shake off

<p>It will be a tough election for BJP in Gujarat. The state is feeling Narendra Modi&rsquo;s absence acutely as it has failed to manage agitations launched by Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor.</p>

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<h5>Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against Narendra Modi.</h5>
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<p>The situation gets further complicated for BJP because of dwindling economy as Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi continues to pillory the PM on the issue of jobs in Gujarat.</p>

<p>The question is that despite everything in place, is Congress walking the right path?</p>

<p>In my opinion, Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against the Indian Prime Minister in his home state Gujarat. The believers can dismiss it as Goliath vs David adventure but assembly elections in the past have shown that investing Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s political equity in state elections is an exercise in futility. Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated it twice. Once Rahul Gandhi went alone and the second time, he went into a tie-up with the Samajwadi Party.</p>

<p>Even in 2004, when the Congress campaign was lethargic, it ended getting 12 seats out of 26 seats. The campaign was not focused on Modi and it attended to local issues. Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat has symbolically reaffirmed that neither he is an atheist not averse to participation in the religious ceremony but he has chosen to attack Narendra Modi directly.</p>

<p>After Ahmed Patel&rsquo;s re-election to Rajya Sabha, the confidence of the Congress Party has gone up but it neither has big faces nor a viable leadership in Gujarat which atrophied in the last 15 years. It is in this context, Congress must revaluate whether high pitched anti-Modi campaigns serves well in Gujarat or a more low-key campaign, using the faces of state faces which avoids polarisation on the basis of personality.</p>

<p>Many in the Congress would believe that time has come to turn the tide as GST has caused a massive economic problem to the traders and in&nbsp;organised sectors. However, it would be foolhardy to believe that it has impacted Narendra Modi&rsquo;s credibility.</p>

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<p>It is not a 1987 moment where Rajiv Gandhi was accused of taking a bribe and led to a split in the&nbsp;Congress. Amit Shah is not Narendra Modi nor Rajiv&#39;s son-in-law Robert Vadra whose public profile added fuel to the fire when reports on him started coming out. Gujarat is a golden opportunity for the Congress to beef up its support base. Even during 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress got 33.5 per cent of the vote, a down from 38.9 that it got in the Assembly election of 2012.</p>

<p>BJP&rsquo;s vote share has increased to 60 per cent in 2014 but it will not get this vote in the assembly. The electorate will reach an equilibrium. The only chance BJP has of reaching the numbers is if the electoral show can only reach if it doesn&rsquo;t become Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi. Congress can make gains if it avoids polarisation around Narendra Modi&rsquo;s personality.</p>

<p>Even if the issue is economic, it is impinging on the prime minister. Many would argue that politics cannot be done without taking a risk. In my opinion, it is not a calculated political risk. It seems party wants to go out for a kill. It is hubris. If Congress continues to make elections a fight between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, it might end up in the same space where it found itself in 2012</p>


Rahul Gandhi's strategy of going against Modi won't work out for coming elections

It will be a tough election for BJP in Gujarat. The state is feeling Narendra Modi’s absence acutely as it has failed to manage agitations launched by Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor. Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against Narendra Modi. × The situation gets further complicated for BJP because of dwindling economy as Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi continues to pillory the PM on the issue of jobs in Gujarat. The question is that despite everything in place, is Congress walking the right path? In my opinion, Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against the Indian Prime Minister in his home state Gujarat. The believers can dismiss it as Goliath vs David adventure but assembly elections in the past have shown that investing Rahul Gandhi’s political equity in state elections is an exercise in futility. Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated it twice. Once Rahul Gandhi went alone and the second time, he went into a tie-up with the Samajwadi Party. Even in 2004, when the Congress campaign was lethargic, it ended getting 12 seats out of 26 seats. The campaign was not focused on Modi and it attended to local issues. Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat has symbolically reaffirmed that neither he is an atheist not averse to participation in the religious ceremony but he has chosen to attack Narendra Modi directly. After Ahmed Patel’s re-election to Rajya Sabha, the confidence of the Congress Party has gone up but it neither has big faces nor a viable leadership in Gujarat which atrophied in the last 15 years. It is in this context, Congress must revaluate whether high pitched anti-Modi campaigns serves well in Gujarat or a more low-key campaign, using the faces of state faces which avoids polarisation on the basis of personality. Many in the Congress would believe that time has come to turn the tide as GST has caused a massive economic problem to the traders and in organised sectors. However, it would be foolhardy to believe that it has impacted Narendra Modi’s credibility. The electorate will reach an equilibrium and it can only reach if it doesn’t become Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi. × It is not a 1987 moment where Rajiv Gandhi was accused of taking a bribe and led to a split in the Congress. Amit Shah is not Narendra Modi nor Rajiv's son-in-law Robert Vadra whose public profile added fuel to the fire when reports on him started coming out. Gujarat is a golden opportunity for the Congress to beef up its support base. Even during 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress got 33.5 per cent of the vote, a down from 38.9 that it got in the Assembly election of 2012. BJP’s vote share has increased to 60 per cent in 2014 but it will not get this vote in the assembly. The electorate will reach an equilibrium. The only chance BJP has of reaching the numbers is if the electoral show can only reach if it doesn’t become Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi. Congress can make gains if it avoids polarisation around Narendra Modi’s personality. Even if the issue is economic, it is impinging on the prime minister. Many would argue that politics cannot be done without taking a risk. In my opinion, it is not a calculated political risk. It seems party wants to go out for a kill. It is hubris. If Congress continues to make elections a fight between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, it might end up in the same space where it found itself in 2012

Modi vs Rahul Gandhi: Political harakiri for Congress in Gujarat election

<p>Spurred by the spate of recent electoral victories, the Bharatiya Janata Party has become audaciously ambitious. It has begun to not just enter enemy territory with new-found confidence and aggression but also march into enemy strongholds within that forbidden territory.</p>

<p>On October 3, party president Amit Shah launched the Jan Raksha Yatra (March for People&rsquo;s Protection) in the Marxist bastion of Kerala &mdash; and from Kannur district which has been the centre of political violence. If the BJP&rsquo;s opponents thought this was another symbolic show to remind the people of the party&rsquo;s presence in this southern state, and no more, they were soon disabused of the notion when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived on wednesday to participate in the high-profile event.</p>

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<p>The message is clear. The BJP will play every card to enhance its footprint in Kerala. If the politics of polarisation needs to be resorted to, so be it. But polarisation does not happen in a vacuum; a context is necessary. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) rule has created a fertile ground for deep disaffection among large sections of the populace in the state and the BJP (along with the RSS which has had a strong presence for years) is set to exploit the situation.</p>

<p>Amit Shah claimed that more than 84 BJP-RSS workers had been killed in Kannur alone since 2001 by Left-supported individuals and organisations. One can quibble over the figure or the counter-claim that right-wing activists too have participated in political violence. But there cannot be a denial of the ground reality that the major victims have been the Rightists.</p>

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<p>The BJP believes that by ratcheting up public sentiment against such killings and other forms of violence, it can eventually create a conducive electoral environment in its favour. That is to be seen; for now, State Assembly elections are far away. But the Lok Sabha poll will be held in less than two years and the party hopes to harvest some advantage from its counter-aggression. To that end, the Jan Raksha Yatra is, arguably, the BJP&rsquo;s most determined effort so far in Kerala.</p>

<p>The Marxists have been dismissive of their opponent&rsquo;s drive, and they have been especially critical of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister&rsquo;s presence, advising him to mend governance in his home state before condemning the Left rule in Kerala. But there is no doubt that the Left is worried.</p>

<p>Unlike the BJP which is ruling most parts of the country either on its own or with the help of allies, the Left Front, and especially the CPI (M), is facing an existential crisis. It has been driven out from its one-time stronghold, West Bengal, by Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s Trinamool Congress. This was bad enough, but worse has followed. For all practical purposes, it&rsquo;s not even the main opposition there; the BJP has occupied that spot. Given that it has been marginalised in a state which it once ruled for three uninterrupted decades, the CPI (M)&rsquo;s salvation lies in Kerala where, in any case, it cannot presume invincibility since the Congress has been breathing down its neck. But the Congress is a friendly opposition when compared to the BJP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP&rsquo;s game plan is simple enough. Exploit the anger among the people over political violence against its people and the larger Sangh family, attribute such violence to the Marxists&rsquo; ideology of intolerance, link the incidents to minority appeasement politics of the Left, and arouse passions in the name of majority-victimhood. The more it can do this the more it would push the Left into the anti-majority-community trap. Yogi Adityanath is a perfect candidate to further this strategy in the deep south. He is charismatic and a crowd-puller. It helps that he is also considered a &lsquo;Hindu mascot&rsquo;.</p>

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<h5>If the BJP manages to enhance its presence in Kerala, it will be as much due to its perseverance as it will be on account of the Marxists&rsquo; obstinacy to change with the times.&nbsp;</h5>
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<p>There is something to be said in favour of striking when the iron is hot. Not only is the CPI (M) battling for political relevance, but it has also been facing embarrassment from within. A gentleman named Ritabrata Banerjee has been doing his bit in this regard. Once the blue-eyed boy of the Marxists and a Rajya Sabha MP, the highly visible Banerjee was expelled from the CPI (M) last month for &ldquo;grave anti-party activities&rdquo;. He claimed to have fallen foul with the senior leadership after he began to speak out in party forums against the &lsquo;Kannur cabal&rsquo; comprising among others, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.</p>

<p>In interviews to television channels, Banerjee gleefully tore into the Marxists, saying that he had been targeted by the party leaders for, among other things, saying &ldquo;Bharat Mata ki Jai&rdquo;. He added that certain party leaders whose wish prevailed had problems with his lifestyle &mdash; including the apple watch he wore and the foreign trips he undertook!</p>

<p>There is of course little need to make a martyr out of him or take all that he has said as unadulterated truth. Nonetheless, he seems to have underlined the basic problems the Marxists are confronted with, and are increasingly failing to effectively address: That the CPI (M) has lost its connection with the aspirations and demands of the new voter who not just abhors retributive politics but also frowns at dated ideological positions and defers with the party on issues of &lsquo;nationalism&rsquo;. If the BJP manages to enhance its presence in Kerala, it will be as much due to its perseverance as it will be on account of the Marxists&rsquo; obstinacy to change with the times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are two primary reasons for the BJP&rsquo;s focus on Kerala. The first is simply that it&rsquo;s a hard nut to crack &mdash; and Amit Shah enjoys nothing better than meeting such challenges head-on &mdash; even if it entails the use of techniques in the book and outside of it. In southern India, the party has a fighting chance in Karnataka where the Assembly election is due next year. It rules in alliance in Andhra Pradesh, and is contemplating various combinations to unlock Tamil Nadu. But whereas it&rsquo;s at the mercy of regional allies, both current and potential, to be relevant elsewhere in the south, in Kerala it hopes to be a dominant player, even if it stitches deals with regional outfits.</p>

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<p>The second reason stems from its own electoral performance in the past few years. In the 2016 Assembly election, the BJP-led NDA received over 14 per cent of the votes; it won one seat; and finished second in six others. Compare these to the five per cent vote-share in 2001, under five per cent in 2006, six per cent in 2011 &mdash; and a little less than 11 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, and the cause for the BJP&rsquo;s optimism becomes obvious. A CSDS-Lokniti survey done for a leading national daily soon after the last Assembly poll informed that the BJP had cut into the support base of both the Left and the Congress. Interestingly, the party also managed to win over a small segment of the Christian votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While these should cheer, and have cheered, the Rightist party and its supporters, the BJP may yet have a long road to traverse in Kerala. The moot question is: Will the party resort to dangerous social divisions to succeed electorally or moderate its stance and bank on inclusivity?</p>


Amit Shah comes up with a master plan to enhance BJP's dominance in Kerala

Spurred by the spate of recent electoral victories, the Bharatiya Janata Party has become audaciously ambitious. It has begun to not just enter enemy territory with new-found confidence and aggression but also march into enemy strongholds within that forbidden territory. On October 3, party president Amit Shah launched the Jan Raksha Yatra (March for People’s Protection) in the Marxist bastion of Kerala — and from Kannur district which has been the centre of political violence. If the BJP’s opponents thought this was another symbolic show to remind the people of the party’s presence in this southern state, and no more, they were soon disabused of the notion when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived on wednesday to participate in the high-profile event. Amit Shah claimed that more than 84 BJP-RSS workers had been killed in Kannur alone since 2001 by Left-supported individuals and organisations. × The message is clear. The BJP will play every card to enhance its footprint in Kerala. If the politics of polarisation needs to be resorted to, so be it. But polarisation does not happen in a vacuum; a context is necessary. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) rule has created a fertile ground for deep disaffection among large sections of the populace in the state and the BJP (along with the RSS which has had a strong presence for years) is set to exploit the situation. Amit Shah claimed that more than 84 BJP-RSS workers had been killed in Kannur alone since 2001 by Left-supported individuals and organisations. One can quibble over the figure or the counter-claim that right-wing activists too have participated in political violence. But there cannot be a denial of the ground reality that the major victims have been the Rightists. The Jan Raksha Yatra is arguably the BJP’s most determined effort so far in Kerala. × The BJP believes that by ratcheting up public sentiment against such killings and other forms of violence, it can eventually create a conducive electoral environment in its favour. That is to be seen; for now, State Assembly elections are far away. But the Lok Sabha poll will be held in less than two years and the party hopes to harvest some advantage from its counter-aggression. To that end, the Jan Raksha Yatra is, arguably, the BJP’s most determined effort so far in Kerala. The Marxists have been dismissive of their opponent’s drive, and they have been especially critical of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s presence, advising him to mend governance in his home state before condemning the Left rule in Kerala. But there is no doubt that the Left is worried. Unlike the BJP which is ruling most parts of the country either on its own or with the help of allies, the Left Front, and especially the CPI (M), is facing an existential crisis. It has been driven out from its one-time stronghold, West Bengal, by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. This was bad enough, but worse has followed. For all practical purposes, it’s not even the main opposition there; the BJP has occupied that spot. Given that it has been marginalised in a state which it once ruled for three uninterrupted decades, the CPI (M)’s salvation lies in Kerala where, in any case, it cannot presume invincibility since the Congress has been breathing down its neck. But the Congress is a friendly opposition when compared to the BJP. The BJP’s game plan is simple enough. Exploit the anger among the people over political violence against its people and the larger Sangh family, attribute such violence to the Marxists’ ideology of intolerance, link the incidents to minority appeasement politics of the Left, and arouse passions in the name of majority-victimhood. The more it can do this the more it would push the Left into the anti-majority-community trap. Yogi Adityanath is a perfect candidate to further this strategy in the deep south. He is charismatic and a crowd-puller. It helps that he is also considered a ‘Hindu mascot’. If the BJP manages to enhance its presence in Kerala, it will be as much due to its perseverance as it will be on account of the Marxists’ obstinacy to change with the times. × There is something to be said in favour of striking when the iron is hot. Not only is the CPI (M) battling for political relevance, but it has also been facing embarrassment from within. A gentleman named Ritabrata Banerjee has been doing his bit in this regard. Once the blue-eyed boy of the Marxists and a Rajya Sabha MP, the highly visible Banerjee was expelled from the CPI (M) last month for “grave anti-party activities”. He claimed to have fallen foul with the senior leadership after he began to speak out in party forums against the ‘Kannur cabal’ comprising among others, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. In interviews to television channels, Banerjee gleefully tore into the Marxists, saying that he had been targeted by the party leaders for, among other things, saying “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. He added that certain party leaders whose wish prevailed had problems with his lifestyle — including the apple watch he wore and the foreign trips he undertook! There is of course little need to make a martyr out of him or take all that he has said as unadulterated truth. Nonetheless, he seems to have underlined the basic problems the Marxists are confronted with, and are increasingly failing to effectively address: That the CPI (M) has lost its connection with the aspirations and demands of the new voter who not just abhors retributive politics but also frowns at dated ideological positions and defers with the party on issues of ‘nationalism’. If the BJP manages to enhance its presence in Kerala, it will be as much due to its perseverance as it will be on account of the Marxists’ obstinacy to change with the times. There are two primary reasons for the BJP’s focus on Kerala. The first is simply that it’s a hard nut to crack — and Amit Shah enjoys nothing better than meeting such challenges head-on — even if it entails the use of techniques in the book and outside of it. In southern India, the party has a fighting chance in Karnataka where the Assembly election is due next year. It rules in alliance in Andhra Pradesh, and is contemplating various combinations to unlock Tamil Nadu. But whereas it’s at the mercy of regional allies, both current and potential, to be relevant elsewhere in the south, in Kerala it hopes to be a dominant player, even if it stitches deals with regional outfits. BJP may yet have a long road to traverse in Kerala. × The second reason stems from its own electoral performance in the past few years. In the 2016 Assembly election, the BJP-led NDA received over 14 per cent of the votes; it won one seat; and finished second in six others. Compare these to the five per cent vote-share in 2001, under five per cent in 2006, six per cent in 2011 — and a little less than 11 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, and the cause for the BJP’s optimism becomes obvious. A CSDS-Lokniti survey done for a leading national daily soon after the last Assembly poll informed that the BJP had cut into the support base of both the Left and the Congress. Interestingly, the party also managed to win over a small segment of the Christian votes. While these should cheer, and have cheered, the Rightist party and its supporters, the BJP may yet have a long road to traverse in Kerala. The moot question is: Will the party resort to dangerous social divisions to succeed electorally or moderate its stance and bank on inclusivity?

BJP ambitious to gain majority in CPIM's Kerala

<p>An aggressive campaign by BJP in Kerala against the killing of its workers is not an exercise in isolation. It is a campaign for 2019 which BJP is taking through states in which it had no historic presence. In every state, slogans have differed but the aim has been the same and that being expansion of the organisational structure of the party. The political aggression is high but it isn&rsquo;t new as the exercise started immediately after Lok Sabha elections in 2014.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
BJP after its massive win in general elections started to disrupt existing political equations in the states. Instead of having an alliance with a local party in Haryana, BJP chose to go alone and formed the government. This story was repeated in states, such as Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal. In states like Assam, BJP tasted success and in West Bengal, it was able to expand it voters base but electorally it got trounced.</p>

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<h5>How BJP expects to gain where more than 50 percent of the population is Christian and Muslim.</h5>
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<p>In both situations, BJP did get away by gaining something. Similarly, BJP wants to push the final frontier in Kerala as it did in JK and Assam, the two states where it was thought impossible for BJP to gain a foothold. BJP broke regional leaders and tapped into anxieties which cut across caste in the states. The exception being Kashmir valley where BJP despite its best effort could not open an account but instead swept Jammu.</p>

<p>The question then arises is how BJP expects to gain where more than 50 percent of the population is Christian and Muslim. BJP has been able to evolve a working relationship with the church in Goa but it still has a substantial Hindu population to bank upon. Kerala is a laboratory and a test case for BJP. In Kerala, not only BJP will have to reset and alignment between Congress and CPM, but will have to push the communist party to the margin. In this case, it is directly competing with CPM for the affections of the Ezheva community.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The killings are not new. Kannur has been known as the killing field of Kerala. The activism for it at the national level is new. BJP has decided to lend national heft for regional gains. This has happened because BJP feels that Hindutva blended with OBC and Dalit politics will yield electoral results in the state.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
It can also be explained in the context of &lsquo;Sanskritisation&rsquo; which OBCs have undergone throughout India and have come to represent the core Hindutva politics in the North and the West. Most of these communities in 1960, 70s and 80s consolidated under socialist parties under the banner of &lsquo;Kisan&rsquo; politics, directly pitching itself against the Congress Party.</p>

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<h5>Even if campaigns in West Bengal or Kerala don&rsquo;t yield electoral numbers, BJP, at least, gets to dominate the political discourse and expand the party.</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;<br />
By end of the 1990s, the consolidated socialist front, however,&nbsp;fragmented into caste-based parties throughout India. BJP today dominates this political landscape. This development coupled with the fragmentation of Dalit votes has benefitted BJP immensely. Even in Kerala, under the rubric of Hindutva, BJP is actively pursuing backward and Dalit sections despite the antagonistic relationship it shared with these communities both at the social level and cultural level.</p>

<p>It is for this reason, Yogi Adityanath was the first person from north India to grace the yatra started by BJP President Amit Shah.</p>

<p>Similar, disruptions will continue in other states as well. BJP has already occupied the Opposition&rsquo;s space in Orissa. In Telangana, it doesn&rsquo;t want to move fast lest TRS allies with the Opposition. It is for this reason that despite political upheaval in Tamil Nadu, BJP is trying its best to stabilise the government.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The North Indian states are already saturated. BJP intends to come to power by using the states which rejected them during 2014. It is for this very reason states like West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have become very important. BJP knows that in 2019 the road to Delhi will need to be paved in from South and East India and not North.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
For the Opposition, the job has become tougher. BJP has the movers advantage. They never expected BJP to continue into the election mode even after the Lok Sabha elections. BJP is making every election count. It tasted royal defeats in Bihar and Delhi. It realises that it takes very little to diffuse political momentum in a country like India. So even if campaigns in West Bengal or Kerala don&rsquo;t yield electoral numbers, BJP, at least, gets to dominate the political discourse and expand the party.</p>

<p>This is what BJP intends to do in Kerala. It is making every state election count to become the dominant party in the country, replacing Congress as the biggest and largest party with completely different ideological underpinning.</p>


BJP intends to come back to power in 2019 by using the states, such as Kerala which rejected them during 2014.

An aggressive campaign by BJP in Kerala against the killing of its workers is not an exercise in isolation. It is a campaign for 2019 which BJP is taking through states in which it had no historic presence. In every state, slogans have differed but the aim has been the same and that being expansion of the organisational structure of the party. The political aggression is high but it isn’t new as the exercise started immediately after Lok Sabha elections in 2014. BJP after its massive win in general elections started to disrupt existing political equations in the states. Instead of having an alliance with a local party in Haryana, BJP chose to go alone and formed the government. This story was repeated in states, such as Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal. In states like Assam, BJP tasted success and in West Bengal, it was able to expand it voters base but electorally it got trounced. How BJP expects to gain where more than 50 percent of the population is Christian and Muslim. × In both situations, BJP did get away by gaining something. Similarly, BJP wants to push the final frontier in Kerala as it did in JK and Assam, the two states where it was thought impossible for BJP to gain a foothold. BJP broke regional leaders and tapped into anxieties which cut across caste in the states. The exception being Kashmir valley where BJP despite its best effort could not open an account but instead swept Jammu. The question then arises is how BJP expects to gain where more than 50 percent of the population is Christian and Muslim. BJP has been able to evolve a working relationship with the church in Goa but it still has a substantial Hindu population to bank upon. Kerala is a laboratory and a test case for BJP. In Kerala, not only BJP will have to reset and alignment between Congress and CPM, but will have to push the communist party to the margin. In this case, it is directly competing with CPM for the affections of the Ezheva community. The killings are not new. Kannur has been known as the killing field of Kerala. The activism for it at the national level is new. BJP has decided to lend national heft for regional gains. This has happened because BJP feels that Hindutva blended with OBC and Dalit politics will yield electoral results in the state. It can also be explained in the context of ‘Sanskritisation’ which OBCs have undergone throughout India and have come to represent the core Hindutva politics in the North and the West. Most of these communities in 1960, 70s and 80s consolidated under socialist parties under the banner of ‘Kisan’ politics, directly pitching itself against the Congress Party. Even if campaigns in West Bengal or Kerala don’t yield electoral numbers, BJP, at least, gets to dominate the political discourse and expand the party. × By end of the 1990s, the consolidated socialist front, however, fragmented into caste-based parties throughout India. BJP today dominates this political landscape. This development coupled with the fragmentation of Dalit votes has benefitted BJP immensely. Even in Kerala, under the rubric of Hindutva, BJP is actively pursuing backward and Dalit sections despite the antagonistic relationship it shared with these communities both at the social level and cultural level. It is for this reason, Yogi Adityanath was the first person from north India to grace the yatra started by BJP President Amit Shah. Similar, disruptions will continue in other states as well. BJP has already occupied the Opposition’s space in Orissa. In Telangana, it doesn’t want to move fast lest TRS allies with the Opposition. It is for this reason that despite political upheaval in Tamil Nadu, BJP is trying its best to stabilise the government. The North Indian states are already saturated. BJP intends to come to power by using the states which rejected them during 2014. It is for this very reason states like West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have become very important. BJP knows that in 2019 the road to Delhi will need to be paved in from South and East India and not North. For the Opposition, the job has become tougher. BJP has the movers advantage. They never expected BJP to continue into the election mode even after the Lok Sabha elections. BJP is making every election count. It tasted royal defeats in Bihar and Delhi. It realises that it takes very little to diffuse political momentum in a country like India. So even if campaigns in West Bengal or Kerala don’t yield electoral numbers, BJP, at least, gets to dominate the political discourse and expand the party. This is what BJP intends to do in Kerala. It is making every state election count to become the dominant party in the country, replacing Congress as the biggest and largest party with completely different ideological underpinning.

Kerala violence is the pretext; 2019 election is BJP's  goal

<p>&quot;The entire cycle of violence has been generated by the RSS,&quot; CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Wednesday in response to BJP President Amit Shah&#39;s Jan Raksha Yatra through Kerala.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black,&quot; Yechury added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The entire cycle of violence has been generated by the RSS: Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) <a href="https://t.co/kN22wiZWC7">pic.twitter.com/kN22wiZWC7</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/915537220362149888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black: CPM&#39;s Sitaram Yechury on BJP&#39;s Jan Raksha Yatra <a href="https://t.co/WACHQqTC6O">pic.twitter.com/WACHQqTC6O</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/915538210171772928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Jan Raksha Yatra is a 15-day march through Kerala.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The yatra began on Tuesday at Payyanur -- chief minister Pinari Vijayan&#39;s hometown -- and will travel through Kerala before&nbsp;ending in Thiruvananthapuram on October 17.</p>

<p>The theme of the march is &quot;All have to live! Against Jihadi-Red Terror&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The march is meant to protest against the ruling CPM&#39;s alleged use of violence against BJP workers in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CPM and the BJP have waged a long battle in Kerala, with both sides losing a number of party workers to violence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The yatra was on Wednesday joined by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-uttar-pradesh-cm-adityanath-joins-amit-shah-in-kerala-yatra-20982" target="_blank">WATCH: CM Adityanath hits out at Kerala govt over &#39;political killings&#39; during Amit Shah&#39;s yatra</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


BJP President Amit Shah's 15-day Jan Raksha Yatra is meant to protest against the ruling CPM's alleged use of violence against BJP workers in the state

"The entire cycle of violence has been generated by the RSS," CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Wednesday in response to BJP President Amit Shah's Jan Raksha Yatra through Kerala. "It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black," Yechury added. The entire cycle of violence has been generated by the RSS: Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) pic.twitter.com/kN22wiZWC7 — ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2017 × It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black: CPM's Sitaram Yechury on BJP's Jan Raksha Yatra pic.twitter.com/WACHQqTC6O — ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2017 × The Jan Raksha Yatra is a 15-day march through Kerala. The yatra began on Tuesday at Payyanur -- chief minister Pinari Vijayan's hometown -- and will travel through Kerala before ending in Thiruvananthapuram on October 17. The theme of the march is "All have to live! Against Jihadi-Red Terror". The march is meant to protest against the ruling CPM's alleged use of violence against BJP workers in the state. The CPM and the BJP have waged a long battle in Kerala, with both sides losing a number of party workers to violence. The yatra was on Wednesday joined by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. WATCH: CM Adityanath hits out at Kerala govt over 'political killings' during Amit Shah's yatra

Kerala: As Amit Shah marches, Yechury blames 'entire cycle of violence' on RSS

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 28 accused its senior leader Yashwant Sinha of sympathising with &quot;jobless&quot; Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram and said his criticism on the way the economy had been handled was based on his &quot;personal frustration.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;The ten years of the UPA Government at the Centre was one of the most corrupt ever. The reality is that Rahul Gandhi, Chidambaram and many others are finding themselves jobless and those who sympathise with such jobless leaders are also making an unfair criticism not based on facts, but based on one&#39;s personal frustration,&quot;&nbsp;BJP spokesman GVL&nbsp;Narasimha Rao told ANI.</p>

<p>The BJP also dismissed the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-power-admit-the-truth-chidambaram-on-yashwant-sinhas-attack-on-arun-jaitleys-economic-mess-20728"> Congress&#39; claims of economic mismanagement </a>and said that, at present, the government was doing very fine and finance minister Arun Jaitley had defended Yashwant Sinha&#39;s criticism against him by talking about economic issues rather than targeting any individual.</p>

<p>&quot;Jaitley categorically explained all the economic issues which are at present in debate like how the policies have worked fine in regards to demonetisation, in regard to implementation with the GST. How the Government is pro-active in solving the problems of people; how the Government is tackling the NPA problems; how much expenditure Government is taking into infrastructure?&quot; the party&#39;s national spokesperson, economic&nbsp;affairs, Gopal Krishna Agarwal said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
On September 27, former finance minister&nbsp;&nbsp;Yashwant Sinha criticised Arun Jaitley for&nbsp;making a mess of Indian economy with measures such as demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He found support in former finance minister P Chidambaram who asked the government to admit the truth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Will Power now admit the Truth that economy is sinking?&quot; the former finance minister wrote in one tweet.<br />
<br />
Defending the government&#39;s economic policies, and referring to Chidambaram and Yashwant Sinha&#39;s attacks on him,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-slowdown-visualised-by-some-has-not-even-impacted-says-arun-jaitley-20804"> Arun Jaitley said yesterday that he did&nbsp;not have the luxury of being a former finance minister or a former finance minister who has turned a columnist.</a>&nbsp;Without taking names, he described Yashwant Sinha, 84, as a &quot;job applicant at 80&quot;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&quot;I must confess that I do not have the luxury as yet of being a former finance Minister nor do I have the luxury of being a former finance minister who has turned a columnist. Therefore, I can conveniently forget a policy paralysis, four billion reserves left in 1991 and I can switch over and change a narrative. Speaking on persons and then bypassing the issues is something which is very easily done.&quot;</p>

<p>Backing the demonetisation,&nbsp;Jaitley said that the government intended to expose the black money market and track down those operating in it.</p>

<p>&quot;Demonetisation was not synonymous with confiscation of money. We gave an opportunity to people to come clean about their accounts held abroad. The prime minister had a very strong agenda on creating a new normal as far as the shadow economy in India was concerned,&quot; he said at a book launch.</p>

<p>The finance minister said he was being criticised for bringing out reforms too quickly.&quot;I am being criticised for doing incremental changes. Post GST, the biggest criticism was that why I implemented it so quickly after demonetisation,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Arun Jaitley also downplayed&nbsp;remarks that the economy was&nbsp;on a downward spiral.</p>

<p>&quot;The Direct tax figures are 15.7 per cent over and above last year`s figure, so this so-called slowdown visualised by some, hasn&#39;t even impacted,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Yashwant Sinha responded to Jaitley&#39;s job applicant remark by stating that had he been a job applicant, Jaitley would not have been finance minister in the first place.</p>

<p>In a rejoinder to his father, Yashwant Sinha&#39;s son and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said yesterday that demonetisation and the introduction of the GST were structural reforms that were necessary for transforming the economy in the long term and that GDP growth of one or two quarters was insufficient to ascertain the long-term impact of these measures.</p>

<p>He also rejected contentions that he wrote the opinion piece at anyone&#39;s bidding, insisting it was &quot;absolutely out of his own conscience&quot;.</p>

<p>He also said his difference of opinion with his father was &quot;very serious discussion&quot; and that it should not be seen &quot;in a personal way&quot;.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The BJP accused Yashwant Sinha of sympathising with "jobless" Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 28 accused its senior leader Yashwant Sinha of sympathising with "jobless" Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram and said his criticism on the way the economy had been handled was based on his "personal frustration." "The ten years of the UPA Government at the Centre was one of the most corrupt ever. The reality is that Rahul Gandhi, Chidambaram and many others are finding themselves jobless and those who sympathise with such jobless leaders are also making an unfair criticism not based on facts, but based on one's personal frustration," BJP spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao told ANI. The BJP also dismissed the Congress' claims of economic mismanagement and said that, at present, the government was doing very fine and finance minister Arun Jaitley had defended Yashwant Sinha's criticism against him by talking about economic issues rather than targeting any individual. "Jaitley categorically explained all the economic issues which are at present in debate like how the policies have worked fine in regards to demonetisation, in regard to implementation with the GST. How the Government is pro-active in solving the problems of people; how the Government is tackling the NPA problems; how much expenditure Government is taking into infrastructure?" the party's national spokesperson, economic affairs, Gopal Krishna Agarwal said. On September 27, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha criticised Arun Jaitley for making a mess of Indian economy with measures such as demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He found support in former finance minister P Chidambaram who asked the government to admit the truth. "Will Power now admit the Truth that economy is sinking?" the former finance minister wrote in one tweet. Defending the government's economic policies, and referring to Chidambaram and Yashwant Sinha's attacks on him, Arun Jaitley said yesterday that he did not have the luxury of being a former finance minister or a former finance minister who has turned a columnist. Without taking names, he described Yashwant Sinha, 84, as a "job applicant at 80". "I must confess that I do not have the luxury as yet of being a former finance Minister nor do I have the luxury of being a former finance minister who has turned a columnist. Therefore, I can conveniently forget a policy paralysis, four billion reserves left in 1991 and I can switch over and change a narrative. Speaking on persons and then bypassing the issues is something which is very easily done." Backing the demonetisation, Jaitley said that the government intended to expose the black money market and track down those operating in it. "Demonetisation was not synonymous with confiscation of money. We gave an opportunity to people to come clean about their accounts held abroad. The prime minister had a very strong agenda on creating a new normal as far as the shadow economy in India was concerned," he said at a book launch. The finance minister said he was being criticised for bringing out reforms too quickly."I am being criticised for doing incremental changes. Post GST, the biggest criticism was that why I implemented it so quickly after demonetisation," he said. Arun Jaitley also downplayed remarks that the economy was on a downward spiral. "The Direct tax figures are 15.7 per cent over and above last year`s figure, so this so-called slowdown visualised by some, hasn't even impacted," he said. Yashwant Sinha responded to Jaitley's job applicant remark by stating that had he been a job applicant, Jaitley would not have been finance minister in the first place. In a rejoinder to his father, Yashwant Sinha's son and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said yesterday that demonetisation and the introduction of the GST were structural reforms that were necessary for transforming the economy in the long term and that GDP growth of one or two quarters was insufficient to ascertain the long-term impact of these measures. He also rejected contentions that he wrote the opinion piece at anyone's bidding, insisting it was "absolutely out of his own conscience". He also said his difference of opinion with his father was "very serious discussion" and that it should not be seen "in a personal way".

Yashwant Sinha's criticism of economy based on 'personal frustration': BJP

<p>In his inaugural address to the BJP Executive Meeting, &nbsp;BJP President Amit Shah slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that the BJP believes in the politics of performance while Congress follows &quot;politics of appeasement and dynasty&quot;.</p>

<p>During a speech at the University of California at Berkeley Rahul Gandhi defended dynastic politics. He said &ldquo;Dynastic politics is a problem in all political parties. Akhilesh Yadav, Stalin and even actor Abhishek Bachchan are dynasts... So don&rsquo;t go just after me.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Citing the examples of the current president, vice president and prime minister, the BJP chief said that they have reached to their position due of their work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amit Shah also&nbsp;claimed that the economy is flourishing well under the present government than compared to how it was under the UPA government. He presented figures to substantiate his claims.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The party president also appreciated the government&#39;s response to the handling of Naxalism and terrorism. He said&nbsp;more terrorists were killed during the last three years than any other spell of three years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He attacked the TMC government in West Bengal and the Left in Kerala for the&nbsp;alleged political violence on BJP workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;event was followed by Union Minister Piyush Goyal&#39;s address in which he said his party was relentlessly working&nbsp;in the interest of the people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Referring to the latest verbal attacks by Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Goyal said that Gandhi has been undermining the country for which he has received a befitting reply from the Amit Shah.&nbsp;He said he was confident that BJP will register a &quot;historic win&quot;&nbsp;in the upcoming Gujarat polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that the party leader Amit Shah will hold a <em>padyatra</em>&nbsp;(journey by road) &nbsp;in Kerala from October 3-17, to connect with the people.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash">#Visuals</a> from BJP National Executive Meet in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/slrL5L15gZ">pic.twitter.com/slrL5L15gZ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912182725737455616">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Govt is relentlessly working in the interests of the poor: Union Minister Piyush Goyal during BJP National Executive meet <a href="https://t.co/x4xENKwQIx">pic.twitter.com/x4xENKwQIx</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912207510890672128">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Amit Shah ji said that from October 3-17 BJP workers will do a &#39;padyatra&#39; in Kerala and connect with the people: Piyush Goyal</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912207725957832704">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahul Gandhi ji has been undermining India these days, Amit Shah ji gave a befitting reply with facts: Piyush Goyal on BJP Natl Exec meet <a href="https://t.co/VEuFUtNKLh">pic.twitter.com/VEuFUtNKLh</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912208440197496833">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Amit Shah ji ne kaha vanshvaad Congress ki sanskriti hai: Piyush Goyal</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912209871734312960">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP will register a historic win in upcoming Gujarat polls: Union Minister Piyush Goyal <a href="https://t.co/uW6GdfLoPL">pic.twitter.com/uW6GdfLoPL</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/912213671798960128">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
The two-day BJP National Executive meet in New Delhi, which will conclude&nbsp;today after PM Modi&#39;s address, is being attended by an estimated 2000 party leaders including&nbsp;1400 Members of Legislative Assembly, 337 Members of Parliament, and all Members of Legislative Council.</p>

<p>The meet will trace the political and economic development of the&nbsp;government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It&nbsp;coincides with the 100th birth centenary of independence leader Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Amit Shah said the BJP believes in the politics of performance while Congress follows 'politics of appeasement and dynasty'

In his inaugural address to the BJP Executive Meeting, BJP President Amit Shah slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on dynastic politics. He said that the BJP believes in the politics of performance while Congress follows "politics of appeasement and dynasty". During a speech at the University of California at Berkeley Rahul Gandhi defended dynastic politics. He said “Dynastic politics is a problem in all political parties. Akhilesh Yadav, Stalin and even actor Abhishek Bachchan are dynasts... So don’t go just after me.” Citing the examples of the current president, vice president and prime minister, the BJP chief said that they have reached to their position due of their work. Amit Shah also claimed that the economy is flourishing well under the present government than compared to how it was under the UPA government. He presented figures to substantiate his claims. The party president also appreciated the government's response to the handling of Naxalism and terrorism. He said more terrorists were killed during the last three years than any other spell of three years. He attacked the TMC government in West Bengal and the Left in Kerala for the alleged political violence on BJP workers. The event was followed by Union Minister Piyush Goyal's address in which he said his party was relentlessly working in the interest of the people. Referring to the latest verbal attacks by Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Goyal said that Gandhi has been undermining the country for which he has received a befitting reply from the Amit Shah. He said he was confident that BJP will register a "historic win" in the upcoming Gujarat polls. He added that the party leader Amit Shah will hold a padyatra (journey by road) in Kerala from October 3-17, to connect with the people. #Visuals from BJP National Executive Meet in Delhi pic.twitter.com/slrL5L15gZ — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × The Govt is relentlessly working in the interests of the poor: Union Minister Piyush Goyal during BJP National Executive meet pic.twitter.com/x4xENKwQIx — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × Amit Shah ji said that from October 3-17 BJP workers will do a 'padyatra' in Kerala and connect with the people: Piyush Goyal — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi ji has been undermining India these days, Amit Shah ji gave a befitting reply with facts: Piyush Goyal on BJP Natl Exec meet pic.twitter.com/VEuFUtNKLh — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × Amit Shah ji ne kaha vanshvaad Congress ki sanskriti hai: Piyush Goyal — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × BJP will register a historic win in upcoming Gujarat polls: Union Minister Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/uW6GdfLoPL — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2017 × The two-day BJP National Executive meet in New Delhi, which will conclude today after PM Modi's address, is being attended by an estimated 2000 party leaders including 1400 Members of Legislative Assembly, 337 Members of Parliament, and all Members of Legislative Council. The meet will trace the political and economic development of the government. It coincides with the 100th birth centenary of independence leader Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

At BJP's executive meet, Amit Shah takes potshots at Rahul Gandhi for defending dynasty politics

<p>Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday criticised his son Akhilesh Yadav, also taking took potshots at the ruling Uttar Pradesh and central government on issues such as petrol prices, BHU molestation case and farmer loan waivers.</p>

<p>He&nbsp;expressed disapproval of the decisions taken by his son and current Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh.</p>

<p>Asked about Akhilesh&rsquo;s comment that he has the blessings of his father, Mulayam said, &ldquo;Yes as my son he has my blessings, but I do not agree with the decisions taken by him. What are those decisions is something I will talk about in the coming days.&quot;</p>

<p>Mulayam Singh also urged the opposition to unite against the BJP.</p>

<p>He criticised the chief minister Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh saying, &ldquo;All the promises made by Yogi government on the power situation have failed.&quot;</p>

<p>Ahead of the conference, there were speculations that Mulayam will announce his own party. However, he clearly refused any such claims and declared that he will not be forming his own party anytime&nbsp;soon but will make other important announcements in the near future.</p>

<p>&quot;The situation of farmers has only gotten worse. Farmers have been sufferers under the Yogi government in the state as well as the Modi government at the Centre,&rdquo; Mulayam Singh said.</p>

<p>He also mentioned that crime rates have risen and girls are not safe in Banaras Hindu University.</p>

<p>He also appealed to the government to list petrol under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to reduce the fuel prices in the country.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Samajwadi Party patriarch also urged the opposition to unite against the BJP

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday criticised his son Akhilesh Yadav, also taking took potshots at the ruling Uttar Pradesh and central government on issues such as petrol prices, BHU molestation case and farmer loan waivers. He expressed disapproval of the decisions taken by his son and current Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh. Asked about Akhilesh’s comment that he has the blessings of his father, Mulayam said, “Yes as my son he has my blessings, but I do not agree with the decisions taken by him. What are those decisions is something I will talk about in the coming days." Mulayam Singh also urged the opposition to unite against the BJP. He criticised the chief minister Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh saying, “All the promises made by Yogi government on the power situation have failed." Ahead of the conference, there were speculations that Mulayam will announce his own party. However, he clearly refused any such claims and declared that he will not be forming his own party anytime soon but will make other important announcements in the near future. "The situation of farmers has only gotten worse. Farmers have been sufferers under the Yogi government in the state as well as the Modi government at the Centre,” Mulayam Singh said. He also mentioned that crime rates have risen and girls are not safe in Banaras Hindu University. He also appealed to the government to list petrol under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to reduce the fuel prices in the country.

SP leader Mulayam Singh denies plans of forming own party

<p>Arun Jaitley today in BJP national execution meet&nbsp;said that the main point of the PM&#39;s speech was that we should take BJP beyond elections and make it an instrument of mass participation.</p>

<p>He further said that PM has said that for Opposition -- Power is the means of enjoyment. However, power is not for enjoyment, it is for serving people (<em>PM </em><em>ne</em><em> </em><em>kaha</em><em> ki </em><em>vipaksh</em><em> </em><em>ke</em><em> </em><em>liye</em><em> </em><em>satta</em><em> </em><em>ek</em><em> </em><em>upbhog</em><em> ka </em><em>saadhan</em><em> hai. Satta </em><em>sukh</em><em> </em><em>ke</em><em> </em><em>liye</em><em> </em><em>nahi</em><em>,</em><em>sewa</em><em> </em><em>ke</em><em> </em><em>liye</em><em> </em><em>hoti</em><em> hai</em>).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaitley further said that the PM said sometimes the Opposition uses harsh words when there is no specific allegation, harsh language cannot be a substitute for a substantive charge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi today at 6.30 pm will make an announcement of an important scheme for the poor, said the finance minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jaitley said that it was never on UPA&#39;s agenda to step against black money and corruption, so if the BJP&nbsp;takes any step against it, they will be uneasy about it. &quot;Modi&#39;s battle against corruption is un-compromised, whoever gets caught will not be let off easily, and to emphasise this he (PM) has said &#39;I have no relatives&#39;,&quot;&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch the full speech by Arun Jaitley:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Addressing media at the BJP National Executive Meet, New Delhi, September 25, 2017 <a href="https://t.co/IYHDgoyPA2">https://t.co/IYHDgoyPA2</a></p>
&mdash; Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) <a href="https://twitter.com/arunjaitley/status/912298389211045888">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Harsh language of Opposition can never be substitute for change, Jaitley cited the PM

Arun Jaitley today in BJP national execution meet said that the main point of the PM's speech was that we should take BJP beyond elections and make it an instrument of mass participation. He further said that PM has said that for Opposition -- Power is the means of enjoyment. However, power is not for enjoyment, it is for serving people (PM ne kaha ki vipaksh ke liye satta ek upbhog ka saadhan hai. Satta sukh ke liye nahi,sewa ke liye hoti hai). Jaitley further said that the PM said sometimes the Opposition uses harsh words when there is no specific allegation, harsh language cannot be a substitute for a substantive charge. PM Modi today at 6.30 pm will make an announcement of an important scheme for the poor, said the finance minister. Jaitley said that it was never on UPA's agenda to step against black money and corruption, so if the BJP takes any step against it, they will be uneasy about it. "Modi's battle against corruption is un-compromised, whoever gets caught will not be let off easily, and to emphasise this he (PM) has said 'I have no relatives'," he said. Watch the full speech by Arun Jaitley: Addressing media at the BJP National Executive Meet, New Delhi, September 25, 2017 https://t.co/IYHDgoyPA2 — Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) September 25, 2017 ×

Arun Jaitley at BJP meet: UPA uneasy as corruption was never on agenda

<p>The biggest questions asked about India outside India today are what happened to tolerance, what happened to harmony, said Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was speaking to non-resident Indians in New York.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Biggest questions raised outside India now are what happened to tolerance that used to prevail? What happened to the harmony?: Rahul Gandhi</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910664587640311809">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There are forces in our country that are dividing India &amp; its is very dangerous, it ruins our reputation abroad: Rahul Gandhi in NY <a href="https://t.co/S3s5W98Slo">pic.twitter.com/S3s5W98Slo</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910688595928690688">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">For thousands of years, India has had a reputation of peace &amp; harmony, this is being challenged: Rahul Gandhi in New York <a href="https://t.co/wvHQinkPdm">pic.twitter.com/wvHQinkPdm</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910688177051992064">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">India simply can&#39;t give its youngsters a vision if it is unable to give them a job. Congress has vision to solve this problem-RG in New York <a href="https://t.co/Miw3Rc14L4">pic.twitter.com/Miw3Rc14L4</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/910686800921772032">September 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;India has people of many religions, languages living happily together,&quot; said Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Reason they have been able to do so are the ideas of Congress,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi repeated what he had said a day earlier at Princeton University -- that the central question facing India is how it will create jobs for the millions of young people entering the job market every year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Every day 30,000 new people enter the job market in India but only 450 are getting employed,&quot; said Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Everywhere you look there is an Indian working for US &amp; India, building both countries. You are our backbone,&quot; Gandhi also said to his NRI audience.&nbsp;</p>


The biggest questions asked about India outside India today are what happened to tolerance, what happened to harmony, said Rahul Gandhi. He was speaking to non-resident Indians in New York. Biggest questions raised outside India now are what happened to tolerance that used to prevail? What happened to the harmony?: Rahul Gandhi — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × There are forces in our country that are dividing India & its is very dangerous, it ruins our reputation abroad: Rahul Gandhi in NY pic.twitter.com/S3s5W98Slo — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × For thousands of years, India has had a reputation of peace & harmony, this is being challenged: Rahul Gandhi in New York pic.twitter.com/wvHQinkPdm — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × India simply can't give its youngsters a vision if it is unable to give them a job. Congress has vision to solve this problem-RG in New York pic.twitter.com/Miw3Rc14L4 — ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2017 × "India has people of many religions, languages living happily together," said Gandhi. "Reason they have been able to do so are the ideas of Congress," he added. Gandhi repeated what he had said a day earlier at Princeton University -- that the central question facing India is how it will create jobs for the millions of young people entering the job market every year. "Every day 30,000 new people enter the job market in India but only 450 are getting employed," said Gandhi. "Everywhere you look there is an Indian working for US & India, building both countries. You are our backbone," Gandhi also said to his NRI audience.

What happened to tolerance, harmony in India? Rahul Gandhi in US

<p>The Special Investigation Team formed to investigate the killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh has asked the public for help.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lankesh was murdered in her Bengaluru home by two&nbsp;motorcycle-borne on Tuesday evening.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Bengaluru Police put out a phone number and email on Friday, asking the general public for any information they might have on the killing. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">General public is requested , any information on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> killers. Public can call or email @ 09480800202, sit.glankesh@ksp.gov.in <a href="https://t.co/O7HLcGgzgp">pic.twitter.com/O7HLcGgzgp</a></p>
&mdash; BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlrCityPolice/status/905817102925185025">September 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The 21-member SIT headed by an IG of police started investigating Lankesh&#39;s murder on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The first thing they did was pore over CCTV footgate from the scene of the murder.</p>

<p>Lankesh&#39;s brother Indrajit had told the police that the murder had been captured on CCTV, and had asked police to view the CCTV footage in front of him and their mother.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News reports said Public TV, a private Bengaluru-based, was reporting that CCTV footage had revealed the facial features of Gauri&#39;s executioner.</p>

<p>The footage was captured by a CCTV camera&nbsp;near a park, which the killer had crossed after killing Gauri. &nbsp;</p>

<p>News reports had said the murderer was wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the killing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But reports quoting Public TV said the killer had removed his helmet near the park.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The killer had been moving towards his motorcycle at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the reports said the motorcycle&#39;s number plate was not clear in the CCTV footage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lankesh used to edit the anti-establishment Gauri Lankesh Patrike.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The general consensus is that she was murdered for her views.&nbsp;</p>


The Bengaluru Police put out a phone number and email on Friday, asking the general public for any information they might have on the killing

The Special Investigation Team formed to investigate the killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh has asked the public for help. Lankesh was murdered in her Bengaluru home by two motorcycle-borne on Tuesday evening. The Bengaluru Police put out a phone number and email on Friday, asking the general public for any information they might have on the killing. General public is requested , any information on #GauriLankesh killers. Public can call or email @ 09480800202, sit.glankesh@ksp.gov.in pic.twitter.com/O7HLcGgzgp — BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) September 7, 2017 × The 21-member SIT headed by an IG of police started investigating Lankesh's murder on Thursday. The first thing they did was pore over CCTV footgate from the scene of the murder. Lankesh's brother Indrajit had told the police that the murder had been captured on CCTV, and had asked police to view the CCTV footage in front of him and their mother. News reports said Public TV, a private Bengaluru-based, was reporting that CCTV footage had revealed the facial features of Gauri's executioner. The footage was captured by a CCTV camera near a park, which the killer had crossed after killing Gauri. News reports had said the murderer was wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the killing. But reports quoting Public TV said the killer had removed his helmet near the park. The killer had been moving towards his motorcycle at the time. But the reports said the motorcycle's number plate was not clear in the CCTV footage. Lankesh used to edit the anti-establishment Gauri Lankesh Patrike. The general consensus is that she was murdered for her views.

Gauri Lankesh killing: SIT asks public for help

<p>The murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh at her home in Bengaluru Tuesday evening has shocked the nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News reports said protests had broken out in Bengaluru, and across Karnataka and the country.</p>

<p>Even as the protests raged, Lankesh was laid to rest.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Bengaluru: Mortal remains of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> brought to Ravindra Kala Kshethra <a href="https://t.co/qnyYglKuqb">pic.twitter.com/qnyYglKuqb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905333537670275073">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bengaluru: Family members &amp; friends gather as mortal remains of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> were brought to Ravindra Kala Kshethra. <a href="https://t.co/WYzFJKIXvv">pic.twitter.com/WYzFJKIXvv</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905339822235049984">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pays tribute to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> in Bengaluru&#39;s Chamrajpet <a href="https://t.co/ZjWeZV52jR">pic.twitter.com/ZjWeZV52jR</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905385672906743809">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">I condemn the killing of journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GaurilLankesh?src=hash">#GaurilLankesh</a>: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata <a href="https://t.co/2dbhNbwOTi">pic.twitter.com/2dbhNbwOTi</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905344721278558210">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Karnataka: Protest at Town Hall in Bengaluru against killing of senior journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/MrE0POZvBw">pic.twitter.com/MrE0POZvBw</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905302308711534592">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Social media too was flooded with commiseration over her death.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Protest meeting at Press Club of India, Delhi,3pm today against killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Do join- PCI,IWPC,Editors Guild</p>
&mdash; Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) <a href="https://twitter.com/suhasinih/status/905298319714516992">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">At the protest meeting for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankeshMurder?src=hash">#GauriLankeshMurder</a> in Delhi. let us stand as one. Silence is complicty. <a href="https://t.co/LwRaxE1xWj">pic.twitter.com/LwRaxE1xWj</a></p>
&mdash; barkha dutt (@BDUTT) <a href="https://twitter.com/BDUTT/status/905368107593723904">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>And what it might mean for the nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gauri Lankesh edited the anti-establishment Lankesh Patrike.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The general consensus seems to be that she was murdered for her views.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gauri?src=hash">#Gauri</a> Lankesh shot dead outside her home.Shocking Devastating. Dabholkar Pansare Kalburgi Culprits must be punished</p>
&mdash; Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzmiShabana/status/905110881469480961">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">No point saying go to Pakistan to anyone anymore, They&#39;ll get the experience here itself... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankeshMurder?src=hash">#GauriLankeshMurder</a></p>
&mdash; Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) <a href="https://twitter.com/kunalkamra88/status/905304859792072704">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You are not dead. We are not afraid. This strengthens our resolve to fight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> was a strong supporter of students&#39; movement.</p>
&mdash; Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shehla_Rashid/status/905125907097985026">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In India we bow to frauds like Ram Rahim and kill men and women of reason &amp; inquiry like Pansare, Dabholkar, Kalburgi &amp; now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gaurilankesh?src=hash">#gaurilankesh</a></p>
&mdash; barkha dutt (@BDUTT) <a href="https://twitter.com/BDUTT/status/905117808576606212">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Editors&#39; Guild of India put out a statement condemning the killing. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Editors Guild on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankeshMurder?src=hash">#GauriLankeshMurder</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/htTweets">@htTweets</a> <a href="https://t.co/2k1Alxgfwq">pic.twitter.com/2k1Alxgfwq</a></p>
&mdash; Smriti Kak (@smritikak) <a href="https://twitter.com/smritikak/status/905304031765172224">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Her killing is an ominous portent for dissent in democracy&amp; brutal assault on freedom of the press: Editor&#39;s Guild of India <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905315850185351168">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Let the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankeshMurder?src=hash">#GauriLankeshMurder</a> be a reminder that all of us need to intensify our fight against fascism; that we will NOT be silenced.</p>
&mdash; Prerna Bakshi (@bprerna) <a href="https://twitter.com/bprerna/status/905375809422082049">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>But as always on social media, there were people on the other side of the divide too.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Why everyone is talking abt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankeshMurder?src=hash">#GauriLankeshMurder</a><br />
Here is list of RSS/BJP Activist who got murderd in Karnataka &amp; no one tweeted a single word <a href="https://t.co/XGvcJ4k1ZJ">pic.twitter.com/XGvcJ4k1ZJ</a></p>
&mdash; Republic Of India (@RepubIicofIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepubIicofIndia/status/905306282399322116">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sanghi troll justifies <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankeshMurder?src=hash">#GauriLankeshMurder</a>; calls for killing Arundhati, <a href="https://twitter.com/sagarikaghose">@sagarikaghose</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kavita_krishnan">@kavita_krishnan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UmarKhalidJNU">@UmarKhalidJNU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kanhaiyajnusu">@kanhaiyajnusu</a> &amp; me <a href="https://t.co/iucFcCLlJd">pic.twitter.com/iucFcCLlJd</a></p>
&mdash; Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shehla_Rashid/status/905229398151905281">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Right wing user posts hitlist online, calls for serial assassinations, calls Gauri Lankesh murder a warning to &#39;anti nationals&#39; <a href="https://t.co/60NKlKwxkr">pic.twitter.com/60NKlKwxkr</a></p>
&mdash; Hindutva Watch (@SaffronWatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaffronWatch/status/905275019512750081">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said the authorities were questioning the people who had posted against Lankesh. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">2 people posted something on Facebook (against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a>) and we are questioning them: Karnataka CM</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905325090950098944">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lankesh was murdered in her Bengaluru home on Tuesday evening

The murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh at her home in Bengaluru Tuesday evening has shocked the nation. News reports said protests had broken out in Bengaluru, and across Karnataka and the country. Even as the protests raged, Lankesh was laid to rest. Bengaluru: Mortal remains of #GauriLankesh brought to Ravindra Kala Kshethra pic.twitter.com/qnyYglKuqb — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × Bengaluru: Family members & friends gather as mortal remains of #GauriLankesh were brought to Ravindra Kala Kshethra. pic.twitter.com/WYzFJKIXvv — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pays tribute to #GauriLankesh in Bengaluru's Chamrajpet pic.twitter.com/ZjWeZV52jR — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × I condemn the killing of journalist #GaurilLankesh: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/2dbhNbwOTi — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × Karnataka: Protest at Town Hall in Bengaluru against killing of senior journalist #GauriLankesh pic.twitter.com/MrE0POZvBw — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × Social media too was flooded with commiseration over her death. Protest meeting at Press Club of India, Delhi,3pm today against killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Do join- PCI,IWPC,Editors Guild — Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) September 6, 2017 × At the protest meeting for #GauriLankeshMurder in Delhi. let us stand as one. Silence is complicty. pic.twitter.com/LwRaxE1xWj — barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 6, 2017 × And what it might mean for the nation. Gauri Lankesh edited the anti-establishment Lankesh Patrike. The general consensus seems to be that she was murdered for her views. #Gauri Lankesh shot dead outside her home.Shocking Devastating. Dabholkar Pansare Kalburgi Culprits must be punished — Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) September 5, 2017 × No point saying go to Pakistan to anyone anymore, They'll get the experience here itself... #GauriLankeshMurder — Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) September 6, 2017 × You are not dead. We are not afraid. This strengthens our resolve to fight. #GauriLankesh was a strong supporter of students' movement. — Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) September 5, 2017 × In India we bow to frauds like Ram Rahim and kill men and women of reason & inquiry like Pansare, Dabholkar, Kalburgi & now #gaurilankesh — barkha dutt (@BDUTT) September 5, 2017 × The Editors' Guild of India put out a statement condemning the killing. Editors Guild on #GauriLankeshMurder @htTweets pic.twitter.com/2k1Alxgfwq — Smriti Kak (@smritikak) September 6, 2017 × Her killing is an ominous portent for dissent in democracy& brutal assault on freedom of the press: Editor's Guild of India #GauriLankesh — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × Let the #GauriLankeshMurder be a reminder that all of us need to intensify our fight against fascism; that we will NOT be silenced. — Prerna Bakshi (@bprerna) September 6, 2017 × But as always on social media, there were people on the other side of the divide too. Why everyone is talking abt #GauriLankeshMurder Here is list of RSS/BJP Activist who got murderd in Karnataka & no one tweeted a single word pic.twitter.com/XGvcJ4k1ZJ — Republic Of India (@RepubIicofIndia) September 6, 2017 × Sanghi troll justifies #GauriLankeshMurder; calls for killing Arundhati, @sagarikaghose @kavita_krishnan @UmarKhalidJNU @kanhaiyajnusu & me pic.twitter.com/iucFcCLlJd — Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) September 6, 2017 × Right wing user posts hitlist online, calls for serial assassinations, calls Gauri Lankesh murder a warning to 'anti nationals' pic.twitter.com/60NKlKwxkr — Hindutva Watch (@SaffronWatch) September 6, 2017 × Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said the authorities were questioning the people who had posted against Lankesh. 2 people posted something on Facebook (against #GauriLankesh) and we are questioning them: Karnataka CM — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 ×

Protests, rage across country as Gauri Lankesh is laid to rest

<p>Gauri Lankesh was shot in the chest, her brother has said.</p>

<p>Indrajit Lankesh added that the shooting was captured on CCTV.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that he had requested police to view the the CCTV&nbsp;footage in front of him and his mother.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And that the family wanted a CBI probe into the killing of Gauri Lankesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Karnataka Police meanwhile have formed a SIT (special investigation team) to look into the murder.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">She was shot in her chest. CCTV captured everything. Requested Police to open it in front of me &amp; my mother-Indrajit <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a>&#39;s brother</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905303412744572933">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">She was an activist, she was doing her job, there were no threats as of now as far as we know: Indrajit Lankesh, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a>&#39;s brother <a href="https://t.co/zZa8h8mZBT">pic.twitter.com/zZa8h8mZBT</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905303158485811201">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He added that there were no threats to Gauri&#39;s life.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/protests-rage-across-country-as-gauri-lankesh-is-laid-to-rest-19932" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Protests, rage across country as Gauri Lankesh is laid to rest</a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Request CBI probe. We&#39;ve seen Kalburgi issue that state investigated &amp; with sadness I say they&#39;ve not done anything: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a>&#39;s brother <a href="https://t.co/YaVVFzREZb">pic.twitter.com/YaVVFzREZb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905305580536922112">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Karnataka chief minister Siddaramiah said he had left the decision on whether there would be a CBI probe or not to the Karnataka police chief.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Left it to DGP who will speak to Home Minister and decide on it: Karnataka CM on question of handing over case to CBI <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/WpGaSod7iE">pic.twitter.com/WpGaSod7iE</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905324050897027073">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He added that he had instructed police that activists propagating progressive thoughts should be given police protection.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Instructed Police that activists propagating progressive thoughts should be given Police protection: Karnataka CM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/bphWl8KecQ">pic.twitter.com/bphWl8KecQ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905323679143182336">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He said Gauri had met him recently but had not mentioned any threats to her. &nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that similar weapons had been used in the Kalburgi, Pansare, and Dabholkar killings, but that it was too soon to link Gauri&#39;s murder to theirs.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Similar weapons used in Kalburgi, Pansare &amp; Dabholkar killings, in this case we don&#39;t know yet so can&#39;t draw link-Karnataka CM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905323432409042944">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He said he had instructed police that the &quot;case must be taken seriously&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Instructed case must be taken seriously &amp; be investigated by special team. Constituted SIT headed by senior officer: K&#39;taka CM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/of5lVBKg4e">pic.twitter.com/of5lVBKg4e</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905328940050288640">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bengaluru: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah chairs meeting with top Police officials of the state to discuss <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GauriLankesh?src=hash">#GauriLankesh</a> murder case. <a href="https://t.co/LneImCgCFB">pic.twitter.com/LneImCgCFB</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905333027751870465">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Indrajit Lankesh said he had requested police to view the CCTV footage in front of him and his mother

Gauri Lankesh was shot in the chest, her brother has said. Indrajit Lankesh added that the shooting was captured on CCTV. He added that he had requested police to view the the CCTV footage in front of him and his mother. And that the family wanted a CBI probe into the killing of Gauri Lankesh. The Karnataka Police meanwhile have formed a SIT (special investigation team) to look into the murder. She was shot in her chest. CCTV captured everything. Requested Police to open it in front of me & my mother-Indrajit #GauriLankesh's brother — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × She was an activist, she was doing her job, there were no threats as of now as far as we know: Indrajit Lankesh, #GauriLankesh's brother pic.twitter.com/zZa8h8mZBT — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × He added that there were no threats to Gauri's life. Also read: Protests, rage across country as Gauri Lankesh is laid to rest Request CBI probe. We've seen Kalburgi issue that state investigated & with sadness I say they've not done anything: #GauriLankesh's brother pic.twitter.com/YaVVFzREZb — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × Karnataka chief minister Siddaramiah said he had left the decision on whether there would be a CBI probe or not to the Karnataka police chief. Left it to DGP who will speak to Home Minister and decide on it: Karnataka CM on question of handing over case to CBI #GauriLankesh pic.twitter.com/WpGaSod7iE — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × He added that he had instructed police that activists propagating progressive thoughts should be given police protection. Instructed Police that activists propagating progressive thoughts should be given Police protection: Karnataka CM #GauriLankesh pic.twitter.com/bphWl8KecQ — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × He said Gauri had met him recently but had not mentioned any threats to her. He added that similar weapons had been used in the Kalburgi, Pansare, and Dabholkar killings, but that it was too soon to link Gauri's murder to theirs. Similar weapons used in Kalburgi, Pansare & Dabholkar killings, in this case we don't know yet so can't draw link-Karnataka CM #GauriLankesh — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × He said he had instructed police that the "case must be taken seriously". Instructed case must be taken seriously & be investigated by special team. Constituted SIT headed by senior officer: K'taka CM #GauriLankesh pic.twitter.com/of5lVBKg4e — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 × Bengaluru: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah chairs meeting with top Police officials of the state to discuss #GauriLankesh murder case. pic.twitter.com/LneImCgCFB — ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017 ×

Gauri Lankesh was shot in the chest, CCTV captured everything: Brother

<p>The JDU&#39;s RCP Singh and SK Jha met vice president Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to him requesting the cancellation of Sharad Yadav&#39;s Rajya Sabha membership.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">JDU&#39;s RCP Singh and SK Jha meet Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, submit memorandum requesting to cancel Sharad Yadav&#39;s Rajya Sabha membership</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/905035536015831040">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sharad Yadav has already been removed as JDU party leader in the Rajya Sabha.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sharad Yadav and JDU chief Nitish Kumar have not seen eye-to-eye ever since Kumar allied with the BJP in Bihar to form the new government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The JDU has also joined the NDA government.&nbsp;</p>


Yadav has already been removed as JDU party leader in the Rajya Sabha

The JDU's RCP Singh and SK Jha met vice president Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to him requesting the cancellation of Sharad Yadav's Rajya Sabha membership. JDU's RCP Singh and SK Jha meet Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, submit memorandum requesting to cancel Sharad Yadav's Rajya Sabha membership — ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2017 × Sharad Yadav has already been removed as JDU party leader in the Rajya Sabha. Sharad Yadav and JDU chief Nitish Kumar have not seen eye-to-eye ever since Kumar allied with the BJP in Bihar to form the new government. The JDU has also joined the NDA government.

JDU requests cancellation of Sharad Yadav's Rajya Sabha membership

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP party chief Amit Shah will take the final call on which minister will be a part of the reshuffled council of ministers and who will be moved out on the basis of an excel sheet which rates their performance.</p>

<p>A reshuffle&nbsp;is expected on Sunday morning before PM Modi leaves for the BRICS summit in China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The performance sheet, created by a senior BJP leader, rates the performance of every minister who is currently a part of the government, top government sources told Zee Media.</p>

<p>The column marked &#39;P and N&#39; in the excel sheet - placed in front of every minister&#39;s name - will be the deciding factor. &nbsp;&quot;P&quot; stands for &quot;Positive&quot; and &quot;N&quot; for &quot;Negative&quot;.</p>

<p>The ground level performance of ministers will be given weightage. Social media has not been included in the parameters, the sources told Zee Media.</p>

<p>The excel sheet has already been presented to PM Modi and Amit Shah, who has held several high-level meetings over the past few weeks over it, the report added.</p>

<p>Transport minister Nitin Gadkari may take over the Defence portfolio from Arun Jaitley.</p>

<p>Human Resource Development minister Prakash Javadekar is also likely to get a bigger portfolio or additional charges.</p>

<p>Eight ministers have quit before the Cabinet reshuffle and were reportedly asked to resign by Amit Shah.</p>

<p>Four junior ministers - Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjiv Kumar Balyan, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahendra Nath Pandey - have resigned ahead of the rejig.</p>

<p>Two Cabinet ministers, Uma Bharti and Kalraj Mishra, have also offered to resign,&nbsp;BJP sources told PTI.&nbsp;</p>


The performance sheet, created by a senior BJP leader, rates the performance of every minister who is currently part of the government, top government sources said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP party chief Amit Shah will take the final call on which minister will be a part of the reshuffled council of ministers and who will be moved out on the basis of an excel sheet which rates their performance. A reshuffle is expected on Sunday morning before PM Modi leaves for the BRICS summit in China. The performance sheet, created by a senior BJP leader, rates the performance of every minister who is currently a part of the government, top government sources told Zee Media. The column marked 'P and N' in the excel sheet - placed in front of every minister's name - will be the deciding factor. "P" stands for "Positive" and "N" for "Negative". The ground level performance of ministers will be given weightage. Social media has not been included in the parameters, the sources told Zee Media. The excel sheet has already been presented to PM Modi and Amit Shah, who has held several high-level meetings over the past few weeks over it, the report added. Transport minister Nitin Gadkari may take over the Defence portfolio from Arun Jaitley. Human Resource Development minister Prakash Javadekar is also likely to get a bigger portfolio or additional charges. Eight ministers have quit before the Cabinet reshuffle and were reportedly asked to resign by Amit Shah. Four junior ministers - Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Sanjiv Kumar Balyan, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahendra Nath Pandey - have resigned ahead of the rejig. Two Cabinet ministers, Uma Bharti and Kalraj Mishra, have also offered to resign, BJP sources told PTI.

How will PM Modi choose new council of ministers? An excel sheet

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