What is Madhya Pradesh's new chief minister Kamal Nath up to? Given his reputation as an astute politician, not so much a grassroots leader as a backroom strategist, one would not dismiss his latest statement favouring jobs for local citizens of his state by structuring state incentives and his reference to migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh taking away jobs as a goofy, foot-in-the-mouth outpouring.&nbsp;

There is a likely political strategy behind this and for this, we need to take stock of what is happening within the Indian National Congress.

It is quite clear that Nath's claim to fame despite being elected from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency several times is that he is essentially where he is because he has built for himself the reputation as a doer on the back of his proximity to the Nehru-Gandhi political family that goes back to his days in Doon School as a chum of the late Sanjay Gandhi.

But he needs all the popular support he can muster in order to keep his place in a state where the rival BJP is extremely strong and power struggles within his own party can be even stronger - given that we have Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvijaya Singh and even Ajay Singh, the son of late Arjun Singh, among formidable politicians with strong local support in varying degrees.

Nath's moment of glory has been in his signing a paper to waive off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh as part of his party's election promise. What better occasion than this photo opportunity for him to buy himself a future populist card sitting on a big chair? It must be remembered that the Congress is not what it used to be and Nath needs something beyond the blessings of 10, Janpath, the residence of Ms Sonia Gandhi, to stay ahead in the party and in the public eye. A populist gesture will also help him boost his image as a grassroots leader. Knowing him, the statement he made could not have been off-the-cuff at all.

Sadly, however, his statement in more than one sense reminds of two other historic figures associated with Madhya Pradesh, each with a story that resembles his. They are the famous poet Kalidasa and the celebrated singer Kishore Kumar.&nbsp;

What Kamal Nath is doing now may be for his party something resembling what the poet Kalidasa is supposed to have done as a youth when he started cutting the very branch of a tree he was sitting on, before he was coaxed out of his ignorant ways to become the most celebrated dramatist of India's leading classical language, Sanskrit.&nbsp;

Kamal Nath was born in UP, and it is said Kalidas, though associated with Ujjain in MP, may have migrated from Kashmir. Kishore Kumar, though a Bengali speaker, was born in Khandwa which is part of Madhya Pradesh. These illustrious sons would not have made Madhya Pradesh proud without the region following a welcome policy for outside workers. Nath himself is an outsider to MP. For him to talk of nativism based on domicile status is a case of irony wrapped in contradictions.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi's diplomatic evasion of comment on the nativist issue is understandable but he has to speak up sooner than later. The Nehru-Gandhi family traces its own origins to Delhi and Kashmir and not Uttar Pradesh where its political base lies.

Moreover, it is the Congress that led the move to frame India's Republican Constitution that promises fundamental rights, two of which are challenged by the kind of words Kamal Nath has used and a third implicitly so. The right to equality that is against discrimination including one based on place of birth and the right to freedom including one that allows freedom of movement and practice of a profession are two vital rights in Kamal Nath hit list. To this, we may add the idea of 'right to work' enshrined among the directive principles of the Constitution.&nbsp;

In effect, Kamal Nath, in a seemingly shrewd political move, may be cutting the branch of his Congress tree - or worse, the tree's very trunk. Parties like Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) and K Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) are known to play on nativism with a focus on domicile status. For Congress to do this would be naive at best and suicidal at worst.

The BJP's supporters and sympathisers frequently invoke Sonia Gandhi's Italian origins to call her a 'foreigner' despite all the hard work she has put in, including a level of fluency in Hindi that BJP's south Indian leaders cannot boast of. All that will come to nought if Kamal Nath is not pulled up for what he said. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on Zeenews. Read the <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/blogs/kamal-naths-migrant-comment-could-be-a-foot-in-the-congress-mouth-2164331.html">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

What is Madhya Pradesh's new chief minister Kamal Nath up to? Given his reputation as an astute politician, not so much a grassroots leader as a backroom strategist, one would not dismiss his latest statement favouring jobs for local citizens of his state by structuring state incentives and his reference to migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh taking away jobs as a goofy, foot-in-the-mouth outpouring.

What is Madhya Pradesh's new chief minister Kamal Nath up to? Given his reputation as an astute politician, not so much a grassroots leader as a backroom strategist, one would not dismiss his latest statement favouring jobs for local citizens of his state by structuring state incentives and his reference to migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh taking away jobs as a goofy, foot-in-the-mouth outpouring. There is a likely political strategy behind this and for this, we need to take stock of what is happening within the Indian National Congress. It is quite clear that Nath's claim to fame despite being elected from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency several times is that he is essentially where he is because he has built for himself the reputation as a doer on the back of his proximity to the Nehru-Gandhi political family that goes back to his days in Doon School as a chum of the late Sanjay Gandhi. But he needs all the popular support he can muster in order to keep his place in a state where the rival BJP is extremely strong and power struggles within his own party can be even stronger - given that we have Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvijaya Singh and even Ajay Singh, the son of late Arjun Singh, among formidable politicians with strong local support in varying degrees. Nath's moment of glory has been in his signing a paper to waive off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh as part of his party's election promise. What better occasion than this photo opportunity for him to buy himself a future populist card sitting on a big chair? It must be remembered that the Congress is not what it used to be and Nath needs something beyond the blessings of 10, Janpath, the residence of Ms Sonia Gandhi, to stay ahead in the party and in the public eye. A populist gesture will also help him boost his image as a grassroots leader. Knowing him, the statement he made could not have been off-the-cuff at all. Sadly, however, his statement in more than one sense reminds of two other historic figures associated with Madhya Pradesh, each with a story that resembles his. They are the famous poet Kalidasa and the celebrated singer Kishore Kumar. What Kamal Nath is doing now may be for his party something resembling what the poet Kalidasa is supposed to have done as a youth when he started cutting the very branch of a tree he was sitting on, before he was coaxed out of his ignorant ways to become the most celebrated dramatist of India's leading classical language, Sanskrit. Kamal Nath was born in UP, and it is said Kalidas, though associated with Ujjain in MP, may have migrated from Kashmir. Kishore Kumar, though a Bengali speaker, was born in Khandwa which is part of Madhya Pradesh. These illustrious sons would not have made Madhya Pradesh proud without the region following a welcome policy for outside workers. Nath himself is an outsider to MP. For him to talk of nativism based on domicile status is a case of irony wrapped in contradictions. Congress president Rahul Gandhi's diplomatic evasion of comment on the nativist issue is understandable but he has to speak up sooner than later. The Nehru-Gandhi family traces its own origins to Delhi and Kashmir and not Uttar Pradesh where its political base lies. Moreover, it is the Congress that led the move to frame India's Republican Constitution that promises fundamental rights, two of which are challenged by the kind of words Kamal Nath has used and a third implicitly so. The right to equality that is against discrimination including one based on place of birth and the right to freedom including one that allows freedom of movement and practice of a profession are two vital rights in Kamal Nath hit list. To this, we may add the idea of 'right to work' enshrined among the directive principles of the Constitution. In effect, Kamal Nath, in a seemingly shrewd political move, may be cutting the branch of his Congress tree - or worse, the tree's very trunk. Parties like Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) and K Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) are known to play on nativism with a focus on domicile status. For Congress to do this would be naive at best and suicidal at worst. The BJP's supporters and sympathisers frequently invoke Sonia Gandhi's Italian origins to call her a 'foreigner' despite all the hard work she has put in, including a level of fluency in Hindi that BJP's south Indian leaders cannot boast of. All that will come to nought if Kamal Nath is not pulled up for what he said. (This article was originally published on Zeenews. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Kamal Nath's migrant comment could be a foot in the Congress mouth

Assembly election results in five states reflect the anger of the farmers who have waited for four-and-a-half years for the government to fulfil their poll promise of loan waiver and minimum support price (MSP) for the crops in accordance with the Swaminathan report.&nbsp;

These two demands are the centre point of the countrywide struggle by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), an umbrella of 209 farming organisations.&nbsp;

Sensing the mood of the farmers’ movement, the Congress along with 20 other political parties has signed a resolution to support the two bills, namely Freedom From Debt and Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Prices.&nbsp;

Instead of one-time complete loan waiver, the Congress party in its manifesto mentioned a waiver of Rs 2 lakh. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, immediately after being sworn in, has written off loans up to Rs 2 lakh, with cutoff date mentioned as March 31, 2018.&nbsp;

There is no clarification as yet whether all those who took loans as on March 31, 2018, would be entitled to this benefit or only defaulters would be entitled to the declaration. It should not be like the last waiver by the Congress government at the Centre in 2008-09, which waived loans only of defaulters.&nbsp;

This would not only end up in large-scale manipulations by bank officers but also dissuade those who have returned the loans in adverse circumstances, by either borrowing or raising money by accumulating further debt.

The farmer usually gets crop loans for six months and it is likely that many of them would have renewed the same in September 2018. These days, the banks have evolved a technique to renew loans. On one hand, loan entry is reversed from the suspense account or any other account at 2 per cent additional cost and on the other, the limit of the farmer is increased, whereby he gets some money for his subsistence.&nbsp;

In these circumstances, if the farmer has repaid the debt taken by him on March 31, 2018, it would be very unfortunate to exclude him from the loan waiver scheme and would be against the spirit of the agenda to empower the farmers. The only way would be to credit a maximum of Rs 2 lakh in the account of every farmer who had taken the loan as on March 31, 2018.

Loan waiver without increasing the MSP or without a guarantee to ensure that the farmers get the MSP will only accumulate loans in the future. These two demands are closely connected – if the issue of remunerative prices alone is tackled without providing relief from indebtedness, the increased returns will only go to pay back increasing loans.&nbsp;

On the other hand, if only loan waivers are provided without addressing the issue of remunerative prices, farmers will again be pushed back into the debt trap. Therefore, AIKSCC seeks to secure these two as legal rights for all farmers, through the enactment of two Central legislation.&nbsp;

The bills were submitted as private member bills by Raju Shetti in the Lok Sabha and KK Ragesh in the Rajya Sabha. They may have been submitted as private member bills, but they have the mandate of all the country’s farmers.

The first bill clearly mentions that it is a one-time loan waiver and would be benefitting all the farmers who have paid the loan or who have defaulted with their payment. The second bill ensures that the MSP is fixed as per the Swaminathan report, i.e, one-and-a-half times the production cost.&nbsp;

The production cost must be a comprehensive one (C2) wherein apart from input cost (A2), cost of family labour (FL), the interest on capital, rent of land and depreciation of machinery is also taken into account.&nbsp;

The bill also guarantees that no person can purchase the produce below the MSP and if anyone buys below the MSP, then he would be imprisoned and will also have to pay double the difference of the amount paid and the MSP as a penalty to the farmer.&nbsp;

This is the only way to get farming back on track. The next generation is not interested in continuing with farming, as agriculture is a losing proposition.

The only way out to discuss and pass the bills, which has the consent of 21 political parties, is by calling for a special session of the Parliament. This is the solution to discuss the agrarian crisis in the present scenario. In the last session the No Confidence motion was not allowed to be taken up due to disorder in the house and no business has been transacted in this session so far.&nbsp;

If the country can have a midnight special session for GST, don’t the farmers of the country who have been sacrificing their lives to feed the nation, deserve the passing of these bills in the hope of a better living. These bills will ensure that once the debt is over and done with, there is no further debt once the farmer gets one-and-a-half times his production cost, i.e C2.&nbsp;

All this will go a long way in providing livelihood to the next generation, who in the absence of job availability and agriculture being a losing preposition, are disillusioned and are getting into depression or into drugs. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-wretched-of-the-earth-2697728">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Assembly election results in five states reflect the anger of the farmers who have waited for four-and-a-half years for the government to fulfil their poll promise of loan waiver and minimum support price (MSP) for the crops in accordance with the Swaminathan report.

Assembly election results in five states reflect the anger of the farmers who have waited for four-and-a-half years for the government to fulfil their poll promise of loan waiver and minimum support price (MSP) for the crops in accordance with the Swaminathan report. These two demands are the centre point of the countrywide struggle by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), an umbrella of 209 farming organisations. Sensing the mood of the farmers’ movement, the Congress along with 20 other political parties has signed a resolution to support the two bills, namely Freedom From Debt and Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Prices. Instead of one-time complete loan waiver, the Congress party in its manifesto mentioned a waiver of Rs 2 lakh. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, immediately after being sworn in, has written off loans up to Rs 2 lakh, with cutoff date mentioned as March 31, 2018. There is no clarification as yet whether all those who took loans as on March 31, 2018, would be entitled to this benefit or only defaulters would be entitled to the declaration. It should not be like the last waiver by the Congress government at the Centre in 2008-09, which waived loans only of defaulters. This would not only end up in large-scale manipulations by bank officers but also dissuade those who have returned the loans in adverse circumstances, by either borrowing or raising money by accumulating further debt. The farmer usually gets crop loans for six months and it is likely that many of them would have renewed the same in September 2018. These days, the banks have evolved a technique to renew loans. On one hand, loan entry is reversed from the suspense account or any other account at 2 per cent additional cost and on the other, the limit of the farmer is increased, whereby he gets some money for his subsistence. In these circumstances, if the farmer has repaid the debt taken by him on March 31, 2018, it would be very unfortunate to exclude him from the loan waiver scheme and would be against the spirit of the agenda to empower the farmers. The only way would be to credit a maximum of Rs 2 lakh in the account of every farmer who had taken the loan as on March 31, 2018. Loan waiver without increasing the MSP or without a guarantee to ensure that the farmers get the MSP will only accumulate loans in the future. These two demands are closely connected – if the issue of remunerative prices alone is tackled without providing relief from indebtedness, the increased returns will only go to pay back increasing loans. On the other hand, if only loan waivers are provided without addressing the issue of remunerative prices, farmers will again be pushed back into the debt trap. Therefore, AIKSCC seeks to secure these two as legal rights for all farmers, through the enactment of two Central legislation. The bills were submitted as private member bills by Raju Shetti in the Lok Sabha and KK Ragesh in the Rajya Sabha. They may have been submitted as private member bills, but they have the mandate of all the country’s farmers. The first bill clearly mentions that it is a one-time loan waiver and would be benefitting all the farmers who have paid the loan or who have defaulted with their payment. The second bill ensures that the MSP is fixed as per the Swaminathan report, i.e, one-and-a-half times the production cost. The production cost must be a comprehensive one (C2) wherein apart from input cost (A2), cost of family labour (FL), the interest on capital, rent of land and depreciation of machinery is also taken into account. The bill also guarantees that no person can purchase the produce below the MSP and if anyone buys below the MSP, then he would be imprisoned and will also have to pay double the difference of the amount paid and the MSP as a penalty to the farmer. This is the only way to get farming back on track. The next generation is not interested in continuing with farming, as agriculture is a losing proposition. The only way out to discuss and pass the bills, which has the consent of 21 political parties, is by calling for a special session of the Parliament. This is the solution to discuss the agrarian crisis in the present scenario. In the last session the No Confidence motion was not allowed to be taken up due to disorder in the house and no business has been transacted in this session so far. If the country can have a midnight special session for GST, don’t the farmers of the country who have been sacrificing their lives to feed the nation, deserve the passing of these bills in the hope of a better living. These bills will ensure that once the debt is over and done with, there is no further debt once the farmer gets one-and-a-half times his production cost, i.e C2. All this will go a long way in providing livelihood to the next generation, who in the absence of job availability and agriculture being a losing preposition, are disillusioned and are getting into depression or into drugs. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Farmers' woes: Without MSP hike, loan waivers won't end agrarian crisis

Taking a jibe at the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wont-let-pm-modi-sleep-until-all-farms-loans-waived-rahul-gandhi-184997">Congress </a>Prime Minister Modi said on Wednesday that the party has humiliated every important institution of the democracy.

While interacting with BJP karyakartas&nbsp;of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, PM&nbsp;Modi said,&nbsp;"the Congress has&nbsp;humiliated the army, CAG and every important institution of the democracy".

Referring to the Rafale verdict, PM Modi further said&nbsp;"recently they <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-urges-sc-to-recall-rafale-judgment-issue-contempt-of-court-notice-to-govt-184555">questioned a Supreme&nbsp;Court verdict</a> just because they could not threaten the court into doing what they wanted. They tried to impeach the CJI also."

PM Modi also targetted the Congress over their frequent&nbsp;accusations of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-files-petition-in-chhattisgarh-high-court-over-evm-security-182070">EVM tempering</a>.

"Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM", he said.

"The Congress party has become more cunning since the days of Emergency," he said.

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PM: They've humiliated the Army, CAG &amp; every institution imp to our democracy. Recently they questioned an SC verdict just because they didn't like the decision. Earlier, just because they couldn't threaten the court into doing what they wanted they tried to even impeach the CJI. <a href="https://t.co/lH9TSdTzcB">pic.twitter.com/lH9TSdTzcB</a>
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PM in interaction with BJP Karyakartas of Tamil Nadu&amp;Puducherry: Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM. <a href="https://t.co/QH1Abm8WLj">pic.twitter.com/QH1Abm8WLj</a>
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The prime minister was interacting with booth level workers of Vellore, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram and south Chennai districts of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, through video conferencing from New Delhi.

PM Modi asked party workers to increase their outreach by creating awareness about his government's welfare schemes.

"From housing to health care, from sanitation to skills, there are schemes for every section of society," he said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Taking a jibe at the Congress Prime Minister Modi said on Wednesday that the party has humiliated every important institution of the democracy. While interacting with BJP karyakartas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, PM Modi said, "the Congress has humiliated the army, CAG and every important institution of the democracy".

Taking a jibe at the Congress Prime Minister Modi said on Wednesday that the party has humiliated every important institution of the democracy. While interacting with BJP karyakartas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, PM Modi said, "the Congress has humiliated the army, CAG and every important institution of the democracy". Referring to the Rafale verdict, PM Modi further said "recently they questioned a Supreme Court verdict just because they could not threaten the court into doing what they wanted. They tried to impeach the CJI also." PM Modi also targetted the Congress over their frequent accusations of EVM tempering. "Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM", he said. "The Congress party has become more cunning since the days of Emergency," he said. PM: They've humiliated the Army, CAG & every institution imp to our democracy. Recently they questioned an SC verdict just because they didn't like the decision. Earlier, just because they couldn't threaten the court into doing what they wanted they tried to even impeach the CJI. pic.twitter.com/lH9TSdTzcB — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2018 × PM in interaction with BJP Karyakartas of Tamil Nadu&Puducherry: Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM. pic.twitter.com/QH1Abm8WLj — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2018 × The prime minister was interacting with booth level workers of Vellore, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram and south Chennai districts of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, through video conferencing from New Delhi. PM Modi asked party workers to increase their outreach by creating awareness about his government's welfare schemes. "From housing to health care, from sanitation to skills, there are schemes for every section of society," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress has humiliated every important institution of democracy: PM Modi

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has written to party president Rahul Gandhi submitting his resignation from the primary membership of the party, sources in the party said on Tuesday.

On Monday, the Delhi High Court convicted Kumar for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and sentenced him to imprisonment for life.

"I tender my resignation with immediate effect from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress in the wake of the judgement of the honourable high court of Delhi against me," he said in the letter to Gandhi.

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has written to party president Rahul Gandhi submitting his resignation from the primary membership of the party, sources in the party said on Tuesday.

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has written to party president Rahul Gandhi submitting his resignation from the primary membership of the party, sources in the party said on Tuesday. On Monday, the Delhi High Court convicted Kumar for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and sentenced him to imprisonment for life. "I tender my resignation with immediate effect from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress in the wake of the judgement of the honourable high court of Delhi against me," he said in the letter to Gandhi.

Sajjan Kumar resigns from Congress primary membership, writes to Rahul Gandhi

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that he was not only an 'accidental prime minister' of India but also the country's accidental 'finance minister.'

"I have been termed as an accident prime minister of the country, but I think that I was also an accidental finance minister," he said after the launch of his book 'Changing India' in Delhi on Tuesday.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh speaks of the time he was appointed as the Finance Minister in the govt led by PV Narasimha Rao, says "People say I was accidental Prime Minister, I was also accidental Finance Minister". <a href="https://t.co/HVJyOoAZEa">pic.twitter.com/HVJyOoAZEa</a>
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Former Prime Minister Singh went on to add that while he was criticised for being a "silent" prime minister, he never shied away from speaking to the press.

"People say I was a silent prime minister, but I think these volumes (his book) speak for themselves. I was not the prime minister who was afraid of talking to the press. I met the press regularly. In every foreign tour, I had press conferences in the plane or after landing," he noted.

Singh further noted that when he was India's Finance Minister in 1991, he was successful in helping turn a crisis into a "great opportunity."

"Life has been a great adventure and an enterprise, which I relish. I have no regrets. I will never be able to return what my country gave me. Some part of life has been smooth sailing and there were some hiccups," he noted.

Singh, who has been very critical of the BJP-led Central government for destroying the economy through the implementation of Goods and Services Tax and&nbsp;demonetisation, said that despite all the hiccups and hurdles, India will rise to be a superpower.

"This country is destined to be a major power. The thrust of India's economic policy has not changed for the last 25 years," he added.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that he was not only an 'accidental prime minister' of India but also the country's accidental 'finance minister.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that he was not only an 'accidental prime minister' of India but also the country's accidental 'finance minister.' "I have been termed as an accident prime minister of the country, but I think that I was also an accidental finance minister," he said after the launch of his book 'Changing India' in Delhi on Tuesday. #WATCH: Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh speaks of the time he was appointed as the Finance Minister in the govt led by PV Narasimha Rao, says "People say I was accidental Prime Minister, I was also accidental Finance Minister". pic.twitter.com/HVJyOoAZEa — ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2018 × Former Prime Minister Singh went on to add that while he was criticised for being a "silent" prime minister, he never shied away from speaking to the press. "People say I was a silent prime minister, but I think these volumes (his book) speak for themselves. I was not the prime minister who was afraid of talking to the press. I met the press regularly. In every foreign tour, I had press conferences in the plane or after landing," he noted. Singh further noted that when he was India's Finance Minister in 1991, he was successful in helping turn a crisis into a "great opportunity." "Life has been a great adventure and an enterprise, which I relish. I have no regrets. I will never be able to return what my country gave me. Some part of life has been smooth sailing and there were some hiccups," he noted. Singh, who has been very critical of the BJP-led Central government for destroying the economy through the implementation of Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation, said that despite all the hiccups and hurdles, India will rise to be a superpower. "This country is destined to be a major power. The thrust of India's economic policy has not changed for the last 25 years," he added.

Not just PM, I was also accidental finance minister: Manmohan Singh 

Congress announces farm loan waivers in three states

Kisan politics is back in India with a bang. Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced in Delhi that in case Prime Minister Narendra Modi fails to announce farm loan waiver for the farmers, the Congress would do so if it comes to power in 2019. He also said that Congress would mount pressure on BJP to announce farm loan waivers where they are required.

Rahul's claim came with a taunt that he would not allow the PM to sleep until this demand is met.

This statement comes in the wake of the announcement of farm loan waivers in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan which were wrested away from BJP by Congress in Assembly elections.

Such has been the renewed focus on farm loans that Assam government also announced a loan waiver on Tuesday, and Gujarat waived off rural power bill to the tune of Rs 650 crore on the same day. 
&nbsp; 
Kisan politics dominated Indian politics from Independence till the 1980s when caste-based reservation, economic reforms and Babri Masjid demolition overtook agrarian issues. 
 
Unfortunately, Kisan politics evolved into&nbsp;the caste-based idea of social justice.&nbsp;Traditionally, Kisan movements were led by the OBC leaders who by 1990s were either firmly entrenched in social justice politics or had become mascots of BJP’s Hindutva stance. The example, in this case, is Kalyan Singh.

Loan waivers make for good politics. In 2008, Congress announced a loan waiver and they swept back to power with 200+ seats in Lok Sabha. The state governments who have announced loan waiver post-2014 have all been returned to power in India.

However, the waivers do not benefit all borrowers equally&nbsp;and rich farmers benefit from borrowing more. Moreover, waiver impacts credit culture and makes access to more credit difficult for the farmers.

The loan waivers also put state finances on razor’s edge. The waiver increases fiscal deficit without addressing the core issue. But with Lok &nbsp;Sabha election around the corner, Congress has decided to focus on the agrarian sector. The problem of farm sector is real in India. It is unprofitable and more people are employed than needed. It is this labour which needs to be re-directed to industry from the farming sector for employment. Loans are a short-term relief and do not solve the basic problem of the farming sector.

Ironically, the politics of loan waiver also breaks consensus between BJP and Congress on economic issues which emerged post-1991 when late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao liberalised the economy. It was done under the aegis of Manmohan Singh who then functioned as country’s finance minister. Liberal economic policies continued till Vajpayee’s tenure but were strongly peppered with social schemes during UPA 1 and 2 when Sonia Gandhi’s writ ran large.

Now it has become farm politics versus industry. This binary can harm India tremendously. One result of such focus is that religious polarisation done by BJP today can only be matched by popular agrarian politics by the Opposition.&nbsp;

Under Rahul Gandhi, the strong left turn in politics and economy has become strong. He cannot be blamed for it. Indian politics over the years has become competitive and partisan. It lacks political consensus on crucial issues. But farm politics under Rahul Gandhi is back as the main agenda of the Congress.&nbsp;

Rahul's Bhatta Parsaul campaign in Uttar Pradesh in 2011 did not work but loan waiver&nbsp;as a political campaign has clicked. 
 
How much will it work for the Congress as a national issue is a tough question to answer but Kisan politics as political debate point is here to stay till 2019. And that is a long shift from an anti-corruption campaign which BJP capitalised during 2014.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

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Kisan politics is back in India with a bang. Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced in Delhi that in case Prime Minister Narendra Modi fails to announce farm loan waiver for the farmers, the Congress would do so if it comes to power in 2019.

Kisan politics is back in India with a bang. Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced in Delhi that in case Prime Minister Narendra Modi fails to announce farm loan waiver for the farmers, the Congress would do so if it comes to power in 2019. He also said that Congress would mount pressure on BJP to announce farm loan waivers where they are required. Rahul's claim came with a taunt that he would not allow the PM to sleep until this demand is met. This statement comes in the wake of the announcement of farm loan waivers in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan which were wrested away from BJP by Congress in Assembly elections. Such has been the renewed focus on farm loans that Assam government also announced a loan waiver on Tuesday, and Gujarat waived off rural power bill to the tune of Rs 650 crore on the same day. Kisan politics dominated Indian politics from Independence till the 1980s when caste-based reservation, economic reforms and Babri Masjid demolition overtook agrarian issues. Unfortunately, Kisan politics evolved into the caste-based idea of social justice. Traditionally, Kisan movements were led by the OBC leaders who by 1990s were either firmly entrenched in social justice politics or had become mascots of BJP’s Hindutva stance. The example, in this case, is Kalyan Singh. Loan waivers make for good politics. In 2008, Congress announced a loan waiver and they swept back to power with 200+ seats in Lok Sabha. The state governments who have announced loan waiver post-2014 have all been returned to power in India. However, the waivers do not benefit all borrowers equally and rich farmers benefit from borrowing more. Moreover, waiver impacts credit culture and makes access to more credit difficult for the farmers. The loan waivers also put state finances on razor’s edge. The waiver increases fiscal deficit without addressing the core issue. But with Lok Sabha election around the corner, Congress has decided to focus on the agrarian sector. The problem of farm sector is real in India. It is unprofitable and more people are employed than needed. It is this labour which needs to be re-directed to industry from the farming sector for employment. Loans are a short-term relief and do not solve the basic problem of the farming sector. Ironically, the politics of loan waiver also breaks consensus between BJP and Congress on economic issues which emerged post-1991 when late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao liberalised the economy. It was done under the aegis of Manmohan Singh who then functioned as country’s finance minister. Liberal economic policies continued till Vajpayee’s tenure but were strongly peppered with social schemes during UPA 1 and 2 when Sonia Gandhi’s writ ran large. Now it has become farm politics versus industry. This binary can harm India tremendously. One result of such focus is that religious polarisation done by BJP today can only be matched by popular agrarian politics by the Opposition. Under Rahul Gandhi, the strong left turn in politics and economy has become strong. He cannot be blamed for it. Indian politics over the years has become competitive and partisan. It lacks political consensus on crucial issues. But farm politics under Rahul Gandhi is back as the main agenda of the Congress. Rahul's Bhatta Parsaul campaign in Uttar Pradesh in 2011 did not work but loan waiver as a political campaign has clicked. How much will it work for the Congress as a national issue is a tough question to answer but Kisan politics as political debate point is here to stay till 2019. And that is a long shift from an anti-corruption campaign which BJP capitalised during 2014. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Raining farm loan waivers: Kisan politics is back with bang

Congressman Sajjan Kumar’s conviction in 1984 riots is a welcome development. Finally, justice has been done for a few. It is also a grim reminder of India’s slow justice delivery system. Thousands of Sikhs were massacred in Delhi. They were openly hunted and burnt to death by mobs led by people associated with the ruling dispensation.&nbsp;

Despite widespread news of rioting and looting the then Home Minister PV Narasimha Rao failed to act on time. He also failed to act when Babri Masjid was brought down but that is&nbsp;a different story. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 said 'Jab bada ped girta hai, dharti hilti hai (when a big tree falls, the earth shakes),&nbsp;in a way, either by neglect or by play of words, the violence on ground got legitimised.

The sub-continent has been witnessing violence on religious lines since partition. Some cases were local and remained regional, but some caught the national attention and remained part of the larger political discourse because of the savagery involved. In this, the biggest two were 1984 and 2002 violence.

What was common in all the cases of violence was open connivance of the state whereby it did not remain neutral and allowed one section of the society to plunder, rape and loot the other. The consequence or natural corollary of this attitude of the state functionaries leads to denial of time-bound justice which is the bedrock of democratic liberal societies. The act of violence undermines the liberal principles enshrined the Constitution. It legitimises the use of violence to intimidate minorities and also enforces an inferior status of minorities in the country. The failure to act compromises Constitution based nationalism.

The delay in justice also reinforces the view that powerful people can never be brought to the book. In India, the judicial process has received impetus only after major public outrage. Even one looks at the scale of 1984 violence and justice given, it is less than little. More than 2500 Sikhs were brutally killed by mobs post-assassination of Indira Gandhi who was gunned down by her Sikh bodyguard.

The main commission absolved the complicity of the powerful people and kept the faces of violence anonymous or at a low level. The Congress leaders involved in the violence remained outside the purview of law for decades. Some of them went on to become ministers and members of the upper house in India. Their political career flourished. Both Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler again got elected to the Upper House in 2004. Again, it was because of the public outcry that they were denied ticket. It was a shoe thrown by an agitated Sikh journalist at then Home Minister P Chidambaram that both were denied Lok Sabha tickets in 2009. Even then a political accommodation took place and Sajjan Kumar’s brother was fielded from his constituency.

Now the judgement is out, the delay of justice and abject violence is being politically utilised to hit at each other. 1984 violence is only about Congress members abetting rioters and the state failing to protect the Sikhs as the political top gave into the systemic bias against the Sikhs in the backdrop of insurgency taking place in Punjab.

For Congress, the defence shield is horrible Gujarat riots which took place in 2002 right under the nose of the then chief minister Narendra Modi. In both the cases, people have not got justice. It reflects the true weakness of the Indian state. It shows that political parties have corroded the autonomy of institutions who instead of mercilessly looking into the cases of violence ended up protecting the perpetrators. It is the failure of the Indian state that it fails repeatedly to bring to justice the high and mighty in politics and business.

It is for this reason justice gets delayed in India. Since violence in routine is being politically appropriated it slows down the justice process. The 1984 riots is one such example. Imagine thousands of riots like Hashimpura, Meerut and Bhagalpur where justice got inordinately delayed. It is this India needs to fight if it wants to keep democracy in robust shape. In any country where victims of violence fail to get justice in time, the democracy suffers and state either disintegrates or becomes dysfunctional and totalitarian. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

Congressman Sajjan Kumar’s conviction in 1984 riots is a welcome development. Finally, justice has been done for a few. It is also a grim reminder of India’s slow justice delivery system.

Congressman Sajjan Kumar’s conviction in 1984 riots is a welcome development. Finally, justice has been done for a few. It is also a grim reminder of India’s slow justice delivery system. Thousands of Sikhs were massacred in Delhi. They were openly hunted and burnt to death by mobs led by people associated with the ruling dispensation. Despite widespread news of rioting and looting the then Home Minister PV Narasimha Rao failed to act on time. He also failed to act when Babri Masjid was brought down but that is a different story. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 said 'Jab bada ped girta hai, dharti hilti hai (when a big tree falls, the earth shakes), in a way, either by neglect or by play of words, the violence on ground got legitimised. The sub-continent has been witnessing violence on religious lines since partition. Some cases were local and remained regional, but some caught the national attention and remained part of the larger political discourse because of the savagery involved. In this, the biggest two were 1984 and 2002 violence. What was common in all the cases of violence was open connivance of the state whereby it did not remain neutral and allowed one section of the society to plunder, rape and loot the other. The consequence or natural corollary of this attitude of the state functionaries leads to denial of time-bound justice which is the bedrock of democratic liberal societies. The act of violence undermines the liberal principles enshrined the Constitution. It legitimises the use of violence to intimidate minorities and also enforces an inferior status of minorities in the country. The failure to act compromises Constitution based nationalism. The delay in justice also reinforces the view that powerful people can never be brought to the book. In India, the judicial process has received impetus only after major public outrage. Even one looks at the scale of 1984 violence and justice given, it is less than little. More than 2500 Sikhs were brutally killed by mobs post-assassination of Indira Gandhi who was gunned down by her Sikh bodyguard. The main commission absolved the complicity of the powerful people and kept the faces of violence anonymous or at a low level. The Congress leaders involved in the violence remained outside the purview of law for decades. Some of them went on to become ministers and members of the upper house in India. Their political career flourished. Both Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler again got elected to the Upper House in 2004. Again, it was because of the public outcry that they were denied ticket. It was a shoe thrown by an agitated Sikh journalist at then Home Minister P Chidambaram that both were denied Lok Sabha tickets in 2009. Even then a political accommodation took place and Sajjan Kumar’s brother was fielded from his constituency. Now the judgement is out, the delay of justice and abject violence is being politically utilised to hit at each other. 1984 violence is only about Congress members abetting rioters and the state failing to protect the Sikhs as the political top gave into the systemic bias against the Sikhs in the backdrop of insurgency taking place in Punjab. For Congress, the defence shield is horrible Gujarat riots which took place in 2002 right under the nose of the then chief minister Narendra Modi. In both the cases, people have not got justice. It reflects the true weakness of the Indian state. It shows that political parties have corroded the autonomy of institutions who instead of mercilessly looking into the cases of violence ended up protecting the perpetrators. It is the failure of the Indian state that it fails repeatedly to bring to justice the high and mighty in politics and business. It is for this reason justice gets delayed in India. Since violence in routine is being politically appropriated it slows down the justice process. The 1984 riots is one such example. Imagine thousands of riots like Hashimpura, Meerut and Bhagalpur where justice got inordinately delayed. It is this India needs to fight if it wants to keep democracy in robust shape. In any country where victims of violence fail to get justice in time, the democracy suffers and state either disintegrates or becomes dysfunctional and totalitarian. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

1984 riots: Justice delayed is justice denied

The Congress Sunday urged the Supreme Court to recall its Rafale judgment and issue notices to the central government for contempt of court and perjury, alleging the Centre had provided false information to the apex court.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma alleged that the government was guilty of committing breach of privilege of both houses of Parliament by claiming that the CAG report on Rafale aircraft pricing had been presented to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.

The Congress leader also took a broad swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, saying "they should seek penance and take a dip in the holy Ganges instead".

"We demand that the Supreme Court immediately recall that judgment which is void. It would be in the interest of the dignity of the Supreme Court to do so because this entire episode has dented the dignity of the highest court which cannot be allowed," he told reporters, adding that what has happened is unacceptable.

"It is important that the Supreme Court issues a notice of perjury to the government and the concerned officials and the law officers. The Supreme Court must also issue contempt notice to the government," he said.

The Supreme Court Friday dismissed the pleas, saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision-making process" warranting setting aside of the defence contract for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

In its judgment, the court has made a reference to a CAG report on the aircraft deal. It has said the CAG report was examined by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.

But the Congress has insisted that the government presented "wrong facts" before the court during the hearing of pleas challenging the aircraft deal with France, which gave the government relief in the cases.

On Saturday, the Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking correction in the judgment, saying "misinterpretation" of its note has "resulted in a controversy in the public domain".

The Centre made it clear that it did not say the CAG report was examined by the PAC or a redacted portion was placed before Parliament. It clarified the note had said the government "has already shared" the price details with CAG, written in past tense and "is factually correct".

On Sunday, Sharma said there is no ground for the apex court to even consider the government's petition seeking to correct the judgment. He said the government's conduct and its credentials are certainly "under dark shadow" as it has in the process of "misleading" the court committed "a grave act of the breach of privilege of the Parliament which is Sovereign".

"The Government, therefore, is guilty of breaching the privileges of all the members of Parliament by having claimed that the CAG has examined and given its report which has been further scrutinized by the PAC, which it has given...All of this is false," he said.

The Congress leader said two processes must follow now and "we have urged the Supreme Court that it has become imperative without any delay to recall and issue the notices to the government. The Parliament is in session and the government surely is in the dock for having committed a grave breach of privilege of not only the PAC but both the houses of the Indian Parliament."

He said the Congress has been of this consistent view that the Supreme Court is not the right forum to investigate the issues related to the Rafale deal, to probe, which it has not done and the court itself has said so.

"The Supreme Court judgment is not only self-contradictory, but we are shocked to find factual inaccuracies and the aversions which were made, submissions of the government were false," he said.

Sharma said the judgment is based on the premise that the government had shared the pricing details with the CAG, which submitted the report through the Public Accounts Committee and portions of that have been shared with Parliament and thus in public domain.

"There has been no CAG report," he said, adding Congress leaders had met the CAG a few months ago demanding a "forensic audit" of the global tender for the Rafale aircraft deal.

The former union minister said it is mandatory for the CAG to give the report to Parliament, but no such report has been received by Parliament.

He said what has happened is "unprecedented" and the government's curative petition filed on Saturday "adds insult to the injury caused".&nbsp;

The Congress Sunday urged the Supreme Court to recall its Rafale judgment and issue notices to the central government for contempt of court and perjury, alleging the Centre had provided false information to the apex court.

The Congress Sunday urged the Supreme Court to recall its Rafale judgment and issue notices to the central government for contempt of court and perjury, alleging the Centre had provided false information to the apex court. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma alleged that the government was guilty of committing breach of privilege of both houses of Parliament by claiming that the CAG report on Rafale aircraft pricing had been presented to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. The Congress leader also took a broad swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, saying "they should seek penance and take a dip in the holy Ganges instead". "We demand that the Supreme Court immediately recall that judgment which is void. It would be in the interest of the dignity of the Supreme Court to do so because this entire episode has dented the dignity of the highest court which cannot be allowed," he told reporters, adding that what has happened is unacceptable. "It is important that the Supreme Court issues a notice of perjury to the government and the concerned officials and the law officers. The Supreme Court must also issue contempt notice to the government," he said. The Supreme Court Friday dismissed the pleas, saying there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision-making process" warranting setting aside of the defence contract for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets. In its judgment, the court has made a reference to a CAG report on the aircraft deal. It has said the CAG report was examined by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. But the Congress has insisted that the government presented "wrong facts" before the court during the hearing of pleas challenging the aircraft deal with France, which gave the government relief in the cases. On Saturday, the Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking correction in the judgment, saying "misinterpretation" of its note has "resulted in a controversy in the public domain". The Centre made it clear that it did not say the CAG report was examined by the PAC or a redacted portion was placed before Parliament. It clarified the note had said the government "has already shared" the price details with CAG, written in past tense and "is factually correct". On Sunday, Sharma said there is no ground for the apex court to even consider the government's petition seeking to correct the judgment. He said the government's conduct and its credentials are certainly "under dark shadow" as it has in the process of "misleading" the court committed "a grave act of the breach of privilege of the Parliament which is Sovereign". "The Government, therefore, is guilty of breaching the privileges of all the members of Parliament by having claimed that the CAG has examined and given its report which has been further scrutinized by the PAC, which it has given...All of this is false," he said. The Congress leader said two processes must follow now and "we have urged the Supreme Court that it has become imperative without any delay to recall and issue the notices to the government. The Parliament is in session and the government surely is in the dock for having committed a grave breach of privilege of not only the PAC but both the houses of the Indian Parliament." He said the Congress has been of this consistent view that the Supreme Court is not the right forum to investigate the issues related to the Rafale deal, to probe, which it has not done and the court itself has said so. "The Supreme Court judgment is not only self-contradictory, but we are shocked to find factual inaccuracies and the aversions which were made, submissions of the government were false," he said. Sharma said the judgment is based on the premise that the government had shared the pricing details with the CAG, which submitted the report through the Public Accounts Committee and portions of that have been shared with Parliament and thus in public domain. "There has been no CAG report," he said, adding Congress leaders had met the CAG a few months ago demanding a "forensic audit" of the global tender for the Rafale aircraft deal. The former union minister said it is mandatory for the CAG to give the report to Parliament, but no such report has been received by Parliament. He said what has happened is "unprecedented" and the government's curative petition filed on Saturday "adds insult to the injury caused".

Congress urges Supreme Court to recall Rafale judgment

The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and committed contempt of court and perjury.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the multi-billion dollar deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets.

It said there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making the process" warranting setting aside of the contract.

Speaking to media persons here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the basis of the court ruling was a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which has not been seen by anyone, nor has it been shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The apex court said it was ill-equipped to conduct judicial review of issues related to pricing, and this has been the Congress' stand. Hence, the party is demanding a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), he said.

"The BJP has hoodwinked the nation and cheated the people. Now it has the guts to do the same to mislead the apex court. There is a serious misrepresentation of vital, significant facts to the apex court. This amounts to contempt (of court), (breach of) privilege as well as perjury," he claimed.

'Modi' now stands for 'Misleading Of Democratic Institutions', he quipped. 
The government has now moved an application before the SC, seeking correction of reference to CAG report, the Congress leader said.

"If this is true, it means a clear admission by the government that what is reported in para 25 of the judgement is a misrepresentation of facts...The government is saving its skin. How can the SC imagine a CAG report and its vetting by the Public Accounts Committee on its own?" Singhvi asked.

He also contested a mention in the SC judgement that relations between Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale, and Reliance dated back to 2012.

"Reliance Defence was set up on March 28, 2015, and Reliance Aerostructure on April 24, 2015. It is during this time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France on April 10, 2015," he said.

On Finance Minister Arun Jaitley terming the JPC as a divided political body, Singhvi said the BJP, when in opposition, had demanded a JPC probe many times, including in Bofors, 2G and VVIP helicopter scams.

"This is the worst kind of hypocrisy," he said.

The SC judgement said the material placed before it showed that the Centre disclosed pricing details of the jets to the CAG, and the CAG report was examined by the PAC.

However, PAC chairman and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge have said he never received any such report.

The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and committed contempt of court and perjury.

The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and committed contempt of court and perjury. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the multi-billion dollar deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets. It said there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making the process" warranting setting aside of the contract. Speaking to media persons here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the basis of the court ruling was a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which has not been seen by anyone, nor has it been shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The apex court said it was ill-equipped to conduct judicial review of issues related to pricing, and this has been the Congress' stand. Hence, the party is demanding a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), he said. "The BJP has hoodwinked the nation and cheated the people. Now it has the guts to do the same to mislead the apex court. There is a serious misrepresentation of vital, significant facts to the apex court. This amounts to contempt (of court), (breach of) privilege as well as perjury," he claimed. 'Modi' now stands for 'Misleading Of Democratic Institutions', he quipped. The government has now moved an application before the SC, seeking correction of reference to CAG report, the Congress leader said. "If this is true, it means a clear admission by the government that what is reported in para 25 of the judgement is a misrepresentation of facts...The government is saving its skin. How can the SC imagine a CAG report and its vetting by the Public Accounts Committee on its own?" Singhvi asked. He also contested a mention in the SC judgement that relations between Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale, and Reliance dated back to 2012. "Reliance Defence was set up on March 28, 2015, and Reliance Aerostructure on April 24, 2015. It is during this time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France on April 10, 2015," he said. On Finance Minister Arun Jaitley terming the JPC as a divided political body, Singhvi said the BJP, when in opposition, had demanded a JPC probe many times, including in Bofors, 2G and VVIP helicopter scams. "This is the worst kind of hypocrisy," he said. The SC judgement said the material placed before it showed that the Centre disclosed pricing details of the jets to the CAG, and the CAG report was examined by the PAC. However, PAC chairman and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge have said he never received any such report.

Government lied to Supreme Court on Rafale; committed contempt of court, perjury: Congress

The Bhartiya Janata party will hold press conferences at 70 locations across the country on December 17 to "expose Congress".

The conferences have been called following the Supreme Court's ruling where the top court dismissed all petitions pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal.

The apex court on Friday said that detailed scrutiny of the Rafale fighter jet deal was not required and ruled out the probe&nbsp;into the pricing details of the deal.

The BJP in a statement after the verdict demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi for levying false allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold Press Conferences at 70 locations across the nation on Monday, December 17, to "expose Congress' for plotting conspiracy against Central government and messing with country's defence". <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rafale?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rafale</a> <a href="https://t.co/gGdxvq7PwC">pic.twitter.com/gGdxvq7PwC</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1073957455405740032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.

The Bhartiya Janata party will hold press conferences at 70 locations across the country on December 17 to "expose Congress". The conferences have been called following the Supreme Court's ruling where the top court dismissed all petitions pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal.

The Bhartiya Janata party will hold press conferences at 70 locations across the country on December 17 to "expose Congress". The conferences have been called following the Supreme Court's ruling where the top court dismissed all petitions pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal. The apex court on Friday said that detailed scrutiny of the Rafale fighter jet deal was not required and ruled out the probe into the pricing details of the deal. The BJP in a statement after the verdict demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi for levying false allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold Press Conferences at 70 locations across the nation on Monday, December 17, to "expose Congress' for plotting conspiracy against Central government and messing with country's defence". #Rafale pic.twitter.com/gGdxvq7PwC — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 × India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.

BJP to hold 70 press conferences across country to 'expose Congress'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it.

For Congress, national security and defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names and mocked surgical strikes, Modi said.

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PM Modi in interaction with BJP booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu: to Bofors in the 80s to the Augusta scam &amp; the submarine scam, among many others. All they see are ways to make money, even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Thankfully those days are gone. 2/2 <a href="https://t.co/Suye8EtGU7">pic.twitter.com/Suye8EtGU7</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1073939169284517888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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''The Congress looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to the Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others,'' he added.

The Prime Minister was interacting with the booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu earlier today.

"All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished," Modi said.

"We are proud of our forces and have faith in them," the Prime Minister said.

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PM Modi: Sadly, for Congress, national security &amp; defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names &amp; mocked surgical strikes. On the other, they looted the defence sector, from the jeep scam back in the 40s &amp; 50s, (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/4K2NxnW5sj">pic.twitter.com/4K2NxnW5sj</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1073939166356955136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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''Our government had the honour to fulfil the demand of One Rank One Pension that was lying unattended for 40 years. Previous government after much persuasion left mere Rs 500 crore aside for OROP which was nothing short of a cruel joke,'' Modi said.&nbsp;

His jibe at the Congress came after Gandhi accused him of shaping the Army's surgical strike across the LoC into a "political asset" and being "unsuccessful" in creating job opportunities for the youth.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it. For Congress, national security and defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names and mocked surgical strikes, Modi said. PM Modi in interaction with BJP booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu: to Bofors in the 80s to the Augusta scam & the submarine scam, among many others. All they see are ways to make money, even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished. Thankfully those days are gone. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/Suye8EtGU7 — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 × ''The Congress looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to the Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others,'' he added. The Prime Minister was interacting with the booth-level workers from Tamil Nadu earlier today. "All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished," Modi said. "We are proud of our forces and have faith in them," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi: Sadly, for Congress, national security & defence sector is either a punching bag or a funding source. On one hand, the leaders called Army chief names & mocked surgical strikes. On the other, they looted the defence sector, from the jeep scam back in the 40s & 50s, (1/2) pic.twitter.com/4K2NxnW5sj — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 × ''Our government had the honour to fulfil the demand of One Rank One Pension that was lying unattended for 40 years. Previous government after much persuasion left mere Rs 500 crore aside for OROP which was nothing short of a cruel joke,'' Modi said. His jibe at the Congress came after Gandhi accused him of shaping the Army's surgical strike across the LoC into a "political asset" and being "unsuccessful" in creating job opportunities for the youth.

National security is a punching bag for Congress, says PM Modi

Newly-appointed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trs-heads-towards-decisive-victory-in-telangana-183095">TRS </a>Working President K T Rama Rao Saturday claimed that neither the Congress nor BJP would be able to get a majority after the general elections next year and said Telangana can get its interests safeguarded if his party wins 16 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

BJP would not be able to get more than 150-160 seats and Congress, even if the 44 seats it won in last Lok Sabha polls doubles, would not secure more than 80-90 seats in 2019, he maintained.

Even their combined tally would not cross 270, he claimed adding in such a situation every MP seat becomes important in the election.

"If TRS wins 16 seats with people's blessings, it would be dictating to the government in Delhi (Centre) with those 16 seats," he said indicating a crucial role for the party.

Telangana was not able to realise the assurances given to it in the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act like setting up a steel plant in the state with the NDA government at the Centre having a comfortable majority on its own, he said.

TRS would play a decisive role if a non-Congress, non-BJP government assumes office at the Centre, he said.

The total number of Lok Sabha seats in Telangana is 17. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, an ally of TRS, traditionally wins from the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency.

Rama Rao said his appointment as working president should not lead to speculation that something more was in store for him.

On the party's stand that it would not hesitate to play a role in Andhra Pradesh politics, he said people of the neighbouring state would decide what was good for them.

Rama Rao was speaking at a 'Meet the Press' programme organised at the Press Club of Hyderabad.

He would formally take over as working president of TRS on Monday, party sources said.&nbsp;

Newly-appointed TRS Working President K T Rama Rao Saturday claimed that neither the Congress nor BJP would be able to get a majority after the general elections next year and said Telangana can get its interests safeguarded if his party wins 16 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Newly-appointed TRS Working President K T Rama Rao Saturday claimed that neither the Congress nor BJP would be able to get a majority after the general elections next year and said Telangana can get its interests safeguarded if his party wins 16 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state. BJP would not be able to get more than 150-160 seats and Congress, even if the 44 seats it won in last Lok Sabha polls doubles, would not secure more than 80-90 seats in 2019, he maintained. Even their combined tally would not cross 270, he claimed adding in such a situation every MP seat becomes important in the election. "If TRS wins 16 seats with people's blessings, it would be dictating to the government in Delhi (Centre) with those 16 seats," he said indicating a crucial role for the party. Telangana was not able to realise the assurances given to it in the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act like setting up a steel plant in the state with the NDA government at the Centre having a comfortable majority on its own, he said. TRS would play a decisive role if a non-Congress, non-BJP government assumes office at the Centre, he said. The total number of Lok Sabha seats in Telangana is 17. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, an ally of TRS, traditionally wins from the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency. Rama Rao said his appointment as working president should not lead to speculation that something more was in store for him. On the party's stand that it would not hesitate to play a role in Andhra Pradesh politics, he said people of the neighbouring state would decide what was good for them. Rama Rao was speaking at a 'Meet the Press' programme organised at the Press Club of Hyderabad. He would formally take over as working president of TRS on Monday, party sources said.

Congress, BJP will not be able to get majority in Lok Sabha polls, claims TRS leader Rama Rao

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/punjab-house-passes-resolution-on-kartarpur-corridor-suggests-land-swap-with-pak-184124">Punjab Legislative Assembly</a> unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to enact Women's Reservation Bill to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in both Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies by voice vote on Friday after the resolution was moved by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

While moving the resolution during the winter session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Singh pointed to the previous Congress government's decision to reserve 50 per cent seats for women in Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat Raj Institutions and urged the Centre to hasten the enactment of this bill.

"The Bill would ensure greater equity and balanced representation for both men and women in the national electoral process and decision making. This would fulfil a legitimate and long pending demand of women to ensure their empowerment," he said.

Underlining the fact that then Congress president Sonia Gandhi had initiated the process towards ensuring substantial women representation in Parliament and the Vidhan Sabhas, Singh said the Congress government had ensured passage of the earlier Bill in the Upper House but it had lapsed in the Lok Sabha due to the indifferent attitude of the opposition.

Once passed, the Bill would ensure reservation of 181 seats out of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats, besides earmarking 1370 assembly seats out of the total 4109 assembly seats across the nation.

The Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to enact Women's Reservation Bill to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in both Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies by voice vote on Friday after the resolution was moved by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

The Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to enact Women's Reservation Bill to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in both Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies by voice vote on Friday after the resolution was moved by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. While moving the resolution during the winter session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Singh pointed to the previous Congress government's decision to reserve 50 per cent seats for women in Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat Raj Institutions and urged the Centre to hasten the enactment of this bill. "The Bill would ensure greater equity and balanced representation for both men and women in the national electoral process and decision making. This would fulfil a legitimate and long pending demand of women to ensure their empowerment," he said. Underlining the fact that then Congress president Sonia Gandhi had initiated the process towards ensuring substantial women representation in Parliament and the Vidhan Sabhas, Singh said the Congress government had ensured passage of the earlier Bill in the Upper House but it had lapsed in the Lok Sabha due to the indifferent attitude of the opposition. Once passed, the Bill would ensure reservation of 181 seats out of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats, besides earmarking 1370 assembly seats out of the total 4109 assembly seats across the nation.

Punjab Assembly passes resolution on 33% reservation for women

Those following the outcome of the recently concluded assembly elections in five states cannot help feeling somewhat concerned, if not cautious, when it comes to projecting the BJP’s prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Were these state elections a “semi-final,” showing how the country will vote in next year’s “finals”? If so, does BJP’s keenly contested defeat in three central Indian states in the Hindi heartland presage a similar fate at the Centre in the months ahead? Does it foretell a drastic seat reduction, with the NDA managing to hold onto power by thin and precarious margin, placing it at the mercy of chancy or greedy electoral allies? Or will Modi stage a historic comeback, defying the odds and disproving the cassandras?

Such questions are making the rounds not only in the corridors of power in India’s capital, but also echoing in the remotest corners of the land. The fact is that there is tremendous goodwill among the masses, not to speak of the classes, for India’s success story driven by a Prime Minister who is seen as committed and charismatic. Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, the BJP has delivered not just on many of their development goals and promises, but shown a vision of a different, much more confident, and empowered India. The economy has done well, corruption is down, and India’s stature on the global stage has improved.

Yet, few will deny that a certain fatigue has also set in. The Modi magic does not seem to work as well as it used to. The BJP’s usual slogans and strategies are also so well-known that they lack the novelty factor. They don’t enthuse the voters as much as they used to. In addition, we have been jolted by institutional destabilisation, whether it comes to nation’s premier investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or, even more parlous in the world’s eyes, our hallowed Reserve Bank of India itself. There is renewed trouble on our western border, with continuing infiltration and destabilisation. Finally, alarming agricultural distress, with the economically disastrous consequences of having to write off lakhs of crores of loans. There is thus a restlessness in the air. Are the Indian masses itching for a change? Are they looking for better reasons to keep BJP in power for another five years?&nbsp;

On the other side, the Congress, having beaten the BJP in straight fights, is set to govern the destiny of some 20 per cent of India’s population. This has sent shivers of fear, dismay, revulsion, even anger down the spines of those who detest all that this once-great party stands for today. Single-family rule, sycophancy, corruption, ideological skulduggery, perilous populism, communalism masquerading as secularism, socially divisive policies, rampant and calamitous minoritarianism, insecurity at the borders— to its critics, these are only a few flashpoints of the Congress’s loathsome legacy. Add the arrogance of entitled elites, jeering dismissal of new political formations, and keeping the underprivileged natives permanently outside the echelons of power and privilege — these and similar nightmares disturb those who have high hopes for a new India under Modi’s visionary leadership. To put it plainly, will the promise of India’s second renaissance be belied once again? Will we return to being inglorious second-raters and second-class citizens of the world?

Undoubtedly, what I have tried to sketch with broad brush strokes is the nation’s mood in the present moment. It is bound to change, once the dust over the recent election results settles. The BJP will try to come up with new initiatives and tactics to bring itself back into the good books of the masses. There is, of course, the looming virtual shadow of the as yet unbuilt but long-pending Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. But this issue is rather fraught and complicated, capable of hurting as well as helping the ruling party. On the other hand, back in power in three key states, the Congress itself may make mistakes, disenchanting some who voted it back to power.

What is amply clear despite the changeability and capriciousness of Indian politics is that the opposition will need more than merely Modi-hate to carry its winning momentum forward. Dread and dislike for a common foe is, at best, temporary glue, as we have seen over and over again; once the antagonist is removed, the patch-work of opportunistic allies lies in tatters. The BJP also needs more than Modi to return it to power, especially if tepidity and weariness of state elections carries over to the national hustings. There is, of course, the possibility that India’s principal political pugilist will recover from this slugfest to emerge victorious one more time. That would indeed seal his place in history as India’s yugapurush, epochal trailblazer.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-after-state-elections-nation-s-mood-and-road-ahead-for-bjp-2696107">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Those following the outcome of the recently concluded assembly elections in five states cannot help feeling somewhat concerned, if not cautious, when it comes to projecting the BJP’s prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Those following the outcome of the recently concluded assembly elections in five states cannot help feeling somewhat concerned, if not cautious, when it comes to projecting the BJP’s prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Were these state elections a “semi-final,” showing how the country will vote in next year’s “finals”? If so, does BJP’s keenly contested defeat in three central Indian states in the Hindi heartland presage a similar fate at the Centre in the months ahead? Does it foretell a drastic seat reduction, with the NDA managing to hold onto power by thin and precarious margin, placing it at the mercy of chancy or greedy electoral allies? Or will Modi stage a historic comeback, defying the odds and disproving the cassandras? Such questions are making the rounds not only in the corridors of power in India’s capital, but also echoing in the remotest corners of the land. The fact is that there is tremendous goodwill among the masses, not to speak of the classes, for India’s success story driven by a Prime Minister who is seen as committed and charismatic. Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, the BJP has delivered not just on many of their development goals and promises, but shown a vision of a different, much more confident, and empowered India. The economy has done well, corruption is down, and India’s stature on the global stage has improved. Yet, few will deny that a certain fatigue has also set in. The Modi magic does not seem to work as well as it used to. The BJP’s usual slogans and strategies are also so well-known that they lack the novelty factor. They don’t enthuse the voters as much as they used to. In addition, we have been jolted by institutional destabilisation, whether it comes to nation’s premier investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or, even more parlous in the world’s eyes, our hallowed Reserve Bank of India itself. There is renewed trouble on our western border, with continuing infiltration and destabilisation. Finally, alarming agricultural distress, with the economically disastrous consequences of having to write off lakhs of crores of loans. There is thus a restlessness in the air. Are the Indian masses itching for a change? Are they looking for better reasons to keep BJP in power for another five years? On the other side, the Congress, having beaten the BJP in straight fights, is set to govern the destiny of some 20 per cent of India’s population. This has sent shivers of fear, dismay, revulsion, even anger down the spines of those who detest all that this once-great party stands for today. Single-family rule, sycophancy, corruption, ideological skulduggery, perilous populism, communalism masquerading as secularism, socially divisive policies, rampant and calamitous minoritarianism, insecurity at the borders— to its critics, these are only a few flashpoints of the Congress’s loathsome legacy. Add the arrogance of entitled elites, jeering dismissal of new political formations, and keeping the underprivileged natives permanently outside the echelons of power and privilege — these and similar nightmares disturb those who have high hopes for a new India under Modi’s visionary leadership. To put it plainly, will the promise of India’s second renaissance be belied once again? Will we return to being inglorious second-raters and second-class citizens of the world? Undoubtedly, what I have tried to sketch with broad brush strokes is the nation’s mood in the present moment. It is bound to change, once the dust over the recent election results settles. The BJP will try to come up with new initiatives and tactics to bring itself back into the good books of the masses. There is, of course, the looming virtual shadow of the as yet unbuilt but long-pending Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. But this issue is rather fraught and complicated, capable of hurting as well as helping the ruling party. On the other hand, back in power in three key states, the Congress itself may make mistakes, disenchanting some who voted it back to power. What is amply clear despite the changeability and capriciousness of Indian politics is that the opposition will need more than merely Modi-hate to carry its winning momentum forward. Dread and dislike for a common foe is, at best, temporary glue, as we have seen over and over again; once the antagonist is removed, the patch-work of opportunistic allies lies in tatters. The BJP also needs more than Modi to return it to power, especially if tepidity and weariness of state elections carries over to the national hustings. There is, of course, the possibility that India’s principal political pugilist will recover from this slugfest to emerge victorious one more time. That would indeed seal his place in history as India’s yugapurush, epochal trailblazer. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

After state elections: Nation’s mood and road ahead for BJP

The Congress party late Thursday announced Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Kamal Nath as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-two-most-powerful-warriors-are-patience-and-time-tweets-rahul-as-suspense-over-cms-continues-183835">chief minister</a> of the state.&nbsp;

Nath will lead the newly-elected Congress government in the state, the party said.

''An era of change is upon MP with him (Kamal Nath) at the helm,'' a tweet from the official Congress party handle said.

There will be no deputy chief minister post, according to the report.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Our best wishes to Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfKNath?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfKNath</a> for being elected CM of Madhya Pradesh. An era of change is upon MP with him at the helm. <a href="https://t.co/iHJe43AB9v">pic.twitter.com/iHJe43AB9v</a>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1073272462987722752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The announcement comes following a prolonged delay in announcing the CM candidate after the Congress dethroned BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

With 114 Congress candidates elected, the party fell two short of simple majority. &nbsp;However, after roping in BSP (2) and SP (1) and four independent candidates, the party crossed the half-way mark required to form the government.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Kamal Nath to be the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. There will not be a Deputy Chief Minister in MP. <a href="https://t.co/XtdRyc7eXF">pic.twitter.com/XtdRyc7eXF</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1073267069632856064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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72-year-old Nath will assume the post of chief minister for the first time in his illustrious political career spanning over four decades.&nbsp;

The Congress party late Thursday announced Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Kamal Nath as chief minister of the state. Nath will lead the newly-elected Congress government in the state, the party said.

The Congress party late Thursday announced Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Kamal Nath as chief minister of the state. Nath will lead the newly-elected Congress government in the state, the party said. ''An era of change is upon MP with him (Kamal Nath) at the helm,'' a tweet from the official Congress party handle said. There will be no deputy chief minister post, according to the report. Our best wishes to Shri @OfficeOfKNath for being elected CM of Madhya Pradesh. An era of change is upon MP with him at the helm. pic.twitter.com/iHJe43AB9v — Congress (@INCIndia) December 13, 2018 × The announcement comes following a prolonged delay in announcing the CM candidate after the Congress dethroned BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan. With 114 Congress candidates elected, the party fell two short of simple majority. However, after roping in BSP (2) and SP (1) and four independent candidates, the party crossed the half-way mark required to form the government. Kamal Nath to be the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. There will not be a Deputy Chief Minister in MP. pic.twitter.com/XtdRyc7eXF — ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2018 × 72-year-old Nath will assume the post of chief minister for the first time in his illustrious political career spanning over four decades.

Suspense ends, Kamal Nath is the new Madhya Pradesh CM

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/matter-was-crystal-clear-from-the-beginning-rajnath-singh-on-rafale-jets-deal-verdict-183966">BJP</a> Friday demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi for levying allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale fighter jet deal, in which the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-probe-needed-in-rafale-fighter-jet-deal-rules-supreme-court-183957">Supreme Court has given the government a clean chit</a>.

The apex court dismissed all the petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and said there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the multi-billion dollar defense deal.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-judgement-totally-wrong-says-petitioner-prashant-bhushan-on-rafale-verdict-183979">Our campaign certainly won't drop, says petitioner Prashant Bhushan on Rafale verdict</a>

Welcoming the judgement, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "Every deal is not Bofors deal."&nbsp;

"It is the culture and tradition of Congress and its top leadership to mint money from such deals on the cost of country's national security," he said.

Rahul Gandhi and the Congress should apologise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making false allegations against him and questioning his credibility, he added.&nbsp;

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said there is a necessity for fighter aircraft and the country cannot remain without the jets.

The CJI, who read out the judgement for the three-judge bench, said no reasons were found to interfere in the procurement process for the fighter jets.

The verdict was pronounced on a batch of pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into deal.

The BJP Friday demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi for levying allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale fighter jet deal, in which the Supreme Court has given the government a clean chit.

The BJP Friday demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi for levying allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale fighter jet deal, in which the Supreme Court has given the government a clean chit. The apex court dismissed all the petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and said there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the multi-billion dollar defense deal. Also read: Our campaign certainly won't drop, says petitioner Prashant Bhushan on Rafale verdict Welcoming the judgement, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "Every deal is not Bofors deal." "It is the culture and tradition of Congress and its top leadership to mint money from such deals on the cost of country's national security," he said. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress should apologise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making false allegations against him and questioning his credibility, he added. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said there is a necessity for fighter aircraft and the country cannot remain without the jets. The CJI, who read out the judgement for the three-judge bench, said no reasons were found to interfere in the procurement process for the fighter jets. The verdict was pronounced on a batch of pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into deal.

Rafale deal verdict: BJP demands apology to PM Modi from Congress and Rahul Gandhi

Senior Congress leader and Rajasthan observer KC Venugopal, who met Congress party president Rahul Gandhi late on Thursday evening, said that there would be a final decision on who would assume the office of chief minister in Rajasthan on Friday morning.

"Rahul Gandhi needs some more time for deliberations and a final decision. No meeting (has been scheduled) for tomorrow. In the morning there will be a decision," Venugopal told reporters in the national capital after meeting the Congress chief yesterday.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-two-most-powerful-warriors-are-patience-and-time-tweets-rahul-as-suspense-over-cms-continues-183835">As suspense over CMs builds, Rahul tweets: 'The two most powerful warriors are...'</a>

In addition to Venugopal, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-meets-with-rajasthan-cm-hopefuls-its-advantage-gehlot-183738">Ashok Gehlot </a>and Sachin Pilot, who are considered as the front-runners for the post of chief minister, and Congress leader Avinash Pandey, were also present in the meeting.

Earlier on Thursday, supporters of Pilot, who is perceived to be the one who slogged in the trenches for five years to elevate the Congress from a 21-seat winning party in 2013 to 99 this time around, demonstrated in Rajasthan's Karauli district, blocking traffic and raising slogans for Pilot's appointment as the chief minister.

In the recently-concluded Assembly elections in Rajasthan, the Congress bagged 99 seats out of 199, while their key opponent- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- managed to secure 73.

Among the remaining seats, six went to Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) while 21 went to independent candidates.&nbsp;

Senior Congress leader and Rajasthan observer KC Venugopal, who met Congress party president Rahul Gandhi late on Thursday evening, said that there would be a final decision on who would assume the office of chief minister in Rajasthan on Friday morning.

Senior Congress leader and Rajasthan observer KC Venugopal, who met Congress party president Rahul Gandhi late on Thursday evening, said that there would be a final decision on who would assume the office of chief minister in Rajasthan on Friday morning. "Rahul Gandhi needs some more time for deliberations and a final decision. No meeting (has been scheduled) for tomorrow. In the morning there will be a decision," Venugopal told reporters in the national capital after meeting the Congress chief yesterday. Also read: As suspense over CMs builds, Rahul tweets: 'The two most powerful warriors are...' In addition to Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, who are considered as the front-runners for the post of chief minister, and Congress leader Avinash Pandey, were also present in the meeting. Earlier on Thursday, supporters of Pilot, who is perceived to be the one who slogged in the trenches for five years to elevate the Congress from a 21-seat winning party in 2013 to 99 this time around, demonstrated in Rajasthan's Karauli district, blocking traffic and raising slogans for Pilot's appointment as the chief minister. In the recently-concluded Assembly elections in Rajasthan, the Congress bagged 99 seats out of 199, while their key opponent- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- managed to secure 73. Among the remaining seats, six went to Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) while 21 went to independent candidates.

Congress leader Venugopal to announce final decision on Rajasthan CM today

The Rafale verdict by the Supreme Court of India is a big blow to the Opposition and the Congress Party. The Supreme Court’s decision to throw off the petitions has taken the sting of the Rafale campaign which was kicked off by the Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

He was able to cast a seed of doubt in the electorate’s mind on the issue of purchase. Though Rafale was never an issue in the Hindi heartland elections where Congress won but it did put Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his entire Cabinet on the edge. It made BJP defensive and the party was seen defending every jibe thrown by the Congress. BJP which made the anti-corruption campaign as its political shield for the first time became politically vulnerable.&nbsp;

It made it difficult for them to attack Congress in the same breath. Congress felt a Bofors moment in the case until the matter went to the court where hara-kiri was committed.

Today, Congress is adamant that it wants a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into the issue and the court’s decision to not to intervene in the matter does not mean that corruption has not taken place.&nbsp;

The decision to not to evaluate a case on a key ground is not akin to corruption not taking place, will be very difficult for the entire Opposition to explain to the voters.

It will have no political resonance. The fact that the matter went to the judiciary for political resolution was the biggest undoing of an issue whose ultimate intention was to check Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha campaign. The demand of the Congress will be met by skepticism and BJP will never agree for a JPC; it will treat the Supreme Court’s verdict as a clean chit.

SC’s decision has finished the doubt which got entrenched in the political discourse. In fact, the heat would be on Rahul Gandhi who will have to come out with a cogent explanation. It is, for this reason, Rafale will never become a solid and credible electoral issue for Congress again. On top of it, Congress may come across as insincere when it comes to defence and national interest. Chowkidar Chor Hai may remain a catchy line but would lack the punch which came with it.

It also tells us the peril of running to the court again and again on political issues. In politics, issues have to be fought on the ground. When courts become means to an end&nbsp;for a swift political resolution to affect public opinion, political parties walk into traps.&nbsp;

A judgment comes with its own wisdom. The Rafale issue is one such example of it.

Even Bofors died a death in the court of law only after it was milked politically by former Prime Minister VP Singh. It could never become an electoral issue again. The same is the case with Babri Masjid. It helped BJP one time but did not give the party a second chance to consolidated Hindu vote till Narendra Modi milked anti-corruption campaign to BJP’s advantage.

It also puts Congress in a bind. It can neither disown the charge nor afford to waste further time on it. They will have to carry the Rafale issue like a dud weapon in its political armour. It is a great respite to BJP after disastrous Assembly election results. It gives Prime Minister Modi enough political elbow room to attack Congress much more ferociously.&nbsp;

Nothing is certain and permanent in politics but today’s decision creates a new challenge for the Congress Party to corner Narendra Modi. Sticking to small business, agrarian distress and farmers issue may serve Congress party much better in Lok Sabha elections. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

The Rafale verdict by the Supreme Court of India is a big blow to the Opposition and the Congress Party. The Supreme Court’s decision to throw off the petitions has taken the sting of the Rafale campaign which was kicked off by the Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The Rafale verdict by the Supreme Court of India is a big blow to the Opposition and the Congress Party. The Supreme Court’s decision to throw off the petitions has taken the sting of the Rafale campaign which was kicked off by the Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He was able to cast a seed of doubt in the electorate’s mind on the issue of purchase. Though Rafale was never an issue in the Hindi heartland elections where Congress won but it did put Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his entire Cabinet on the edge. It made BJP defensive and the party was seen defending every jibe thrown by the Congress. BJP which made the anti-corruption campaign as its political shield for the first time became politically vulnerable. It made it difficult for them to attack Congress in the same breath. Congress felt a Bofors moment in the case until the matter went to the court where hara-kiri was committed. Today, Congress is adamant that it wants a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into the issue and the court’s decision to not to intervene in the matter does not mean that corruption has not taken place. The decision to not to evaluate a case on a key ground is not akin to corruption not taking place, will be very difficult for the entire Opposition to explain to the voters. It will have no political resonance. The fact that the matter went to the judiciary for political resolution was the biggest undoing of an issue whose ultimate intention was to check Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha campaign. The demand of the Congress will be met by skepticism and BJP will never agree for a JPC; it will treat the Supreme Court’s verdict as a clean chit. SC’s decision has finished the doubt which got entrenched in the political discourse. In fact, the heat would be on Rahul Gandhi who will have to come out with a cogent explanation. It is, for this reason, Rafale will never become a solid and credible electoral issue for Congress again. On top of it, Congress may come across as insincere when it comes to defence and national interest. Chowkidar Chor Hai may remain a catchy line but would lack the punch which came with it. It also tells us the peril of running to the court again and again on political issues. In politics, issues have to be fought on the ground. When courts become means to an end for a swift political resolution to affect public opinion, political parties walk into traps. A judgment comes with its own wisdom. The Rafale issue is one such example of it. Even Bofors died a death in the court of law only after it was milked politically by former Prime Minister VP Singh. It could never become an electoral issue again. The same is the case with Babri Masjid. It helped BJP one time but did not give the party a second chance to consolidated Hindu vote till Narendra Modi milked anti-corruption campaign to BJP’s advantage. It also puts Congress in a bind. It can neither disown the charge nor afford to waste further time on it. They will have to carry the Rafale issue like a dud weapon in its political armour. It is a great respite to BJP after disastrous Assembly election results. It gives Prime Minister Modi enough political elbow room to attack Congress much more ferociously. Nothing is certain and permanent in politics but today’s decision creates a new challenge for the Congress Party to corner Narendra Modi. Sticking to small business, agrarian distress and farmers issue may serve Congress party much better in Lok Sabha elections. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Rafale is a dud bomb now

The Congress Friday said the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-probe-needed-in-rafale-fighter-jet-deal-rules-supreme-court-183957">Supreme Court</a> has vindicated its stand that "corruption" in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/matter-was-crystal-clear-from-the-beginning-rajnath-singh-on-rafale-jets-deal-verdict-183966">Rafale fighter jet deal</a> cannot be decided by it and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the deal.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress had stated earlier that the Rafale issue cannot be decided by the Supreme Court, and the alleged corruption in the defence contract can only be brought out by a JPC after examining the files and notings in the contract.

"The verdict of the Supreme Court is a validation of what the Congress party stated months ago that the Supreme Court is not the forum to decide such sensitive defence contracts," he told reporters.

Surjewala said the only forum that can probe the corruption in the Rafale contract after examining the pricing process and sovereign guarantee is the JPC.

"If they have nothing to hide, I challenge Modi ji and his government to submit to a JPC probe which will question and go into the corruption in the defence deal," he said.

"We again challenge the prime minister for a JPC probe to unveil every layer of corruption in the deal," he said, alleging that corruption has been "guided by the highest echelons of power".

The Congress leader also alleged that the government gave a "one-sided half-baked information to the Supreme Court which has not been scrutinised by anyone".

Surjewala said the Congress has maintained from day-one that it wants a JPC probe and the government should agree to it if it has nothing to hide.&nbsp;

The Congress Friday said the Supreme Court has vindicated its stand that "corruption" in the Rafale fighter jet deal cannot be decided by it and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the deal.

The Congress Friday said the Supreme Court has vindicated its stand that "corruption" in the Rafale fighter jet deal cannot be decided by it and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the deal. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress had stated earlier that the Rafale issue cannot be decided by the Supreme Court, and the alleged corruption in the defence contract can only be brought out by a JPC after examining the files and notings in the contract. "The verdict of the Supreme Court is a validation of what the Congress party stated months ago that the Supreme Court is not the forum to decide such sensitive defence contracts," he told reporters. Surjewala said the only forum that can probe the corruption in the Rafale contract after examining the pricing process and sovereign guarantee is the JPC. "If they have nothing to hide, I challenge Modi ji and his government to submit to a JPC probe which will question and go into the corruption in the defence deal," he said. "We again challenge the prime minister for a JPC probe to unveil every layer of corruption in the deal," he said, alleging that corruption has been "guided by the highest echelons of power". The Congress leader also alleged that the government gave a "one-sided half-baked information to the Supreme Court which has not been scrutinised by anyone". Surjewala said the Congress has maintained from day-one that it wants a JPC probe and the government should agree to it if it has nothing to hide.

Congress challenges Modi government for JPC probe into Rafale jet deal: Surjewala

Watch: WION Gravitas, 12th December, 2018

PM Modi hits out at Congress over AgustaWestland scam

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have voted and their results will be known on December 11 along with those of Telangana and Rajasthan where polling will take place on December 7.

While it is impossible to predict the results for MP and Chhattisgarh, conversations with voters from various regions in both these states reveal one thing in common- the quest for Badlav or Change. If this feeling, which was shared by millions of voters in the two states, was actually acted upon then the BJP should be bracing for a big setback. In Rajasthan, which has not deviated from the pattern of voting in a new government every five years, the scramble for Congress tickets among MLA aspirants itself shows that the grand old party is in pole position.&nbsp;

From Jaisalmer to Jaipur people are displaying an inclination towards the Congress. They say that while BJP might have taken some good macroeconomic measures it has not done much work on the ground. Large parts of rural Rajasthan are especially antagonistic towards the BJP for failing to keep its promises on providing higher pension, medical services and benefits for farmers. The youth, however, is still in awe of Prime Minister Modi who remains a vote-puller among this section.

For the young Hindu voters in Rajasthan, BJP rule has not meant any harm even though they are forced to concede that Demonetisation has tanked job growth in the state. For the young, Modi’s charisma works because of his thrust on digitalisation as a panacea for several problems that affect the country. Many young voters admit that the present going might be a bit difficult but the future would be better and the suffering caused by the poor implementation of GST and Demonetisation is only temporary.

In Telangana, going to polls for the first time since its formation in 2013, KCR’s Telangana Rashtra Samiti looks confident of returning to power. But in the last few weeks, TRS supremo KCR has betrayed signs of shakiness. The Prajakutami or the grand alliance between the Congress, TDP, TJS, and CPI has thrown up a considerable spanner in TRS’s plans.

Interestingly, both the Opposition and TRS are banking heavily on the loyalty of Muslim voters. AIMIM has not revealed its cards but is widely believed to be in the truck with the TRS which itself is said to share a secret understanding with the BJP. &nbsp;Congress president Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly accused both TRS and AIMIM of aiding the BJP. Speaking at a rally recently in speaking at a rally in the state he lambasted the TRS &nbsp;saying, "TRS is not Telangana Rashtra Samiti, it's Telangana Rashtriya Sangh Parivar. It’s a B team of the BJP and RSS."

Congress and the other opposition parties are desperate to score victories in the five states of Mizoram, Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh ahead of the 2019 general elections. Touted as the semi-final, the outcome of these elections is going to have a massive impact on the morale of&nbsp;the Congress which is fighting for its political survival.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have voted and their results will be known on December 11 along with those of Telangana and Rajasthan where polling will take place on December 7.

Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have voted and their results will be known on December 11 along with those of Telangana and Rajasthan where polling will take place on December 7. While it is impossible to predict the results for MP and Chhattisgarh, conversations with voters from various regions in both these states reveal one thing in common- the quest for Badlav or Change. If this feeling, which was shared by millions of voters in the two states, was actually acted upon then the BJP should be bracing for a big setback. In Rajasthan, which has not deviated from the pattern of voting in a new government every five years, the scramble for Congress tickets among MLA aspirants itself shows that the grand old party is in pole position. From Jaisalmer to Jaipur people are displaying an inclination towards the Congress. They say that while BJP might have taken some good macroeconomic measures it has not done much work on the ground. Large parts of rural Rajasthan are especially antagonistic towards the BJP for failing to keep its promises on providing higher pension, medical services and benefits for farmers. The youth, however, is still in awe of Prime Minister Modi who remains a vote-puller among this section. For the young Hindu voters in Rajasthan, BJP rule has not meant any harm even though they are forced to concede that Demonetisation has tanked job growth in the state. For the young, Modi’s charisma works because of his thrust on digitalisation as a panacea for several problems that affect the country. Many young voters admit that the present going might be a bit difficult but the future would be better and the suffering caused by the poor implementation of GST and Demonetisation is only temporary. In Telangana, going to polls for the first time since its formation in 2013, KCR’s Telangana Rashtra Samiti looks confident of returning to power. But in the last few weeks, TRS supremo KCR has betrayed signs of shakiness. The Prajakutami or the grand alliance between the Congress, TDP, TJS, and CPI has thrown up a considerable spanner in TRS’s plans. Interestingly, both the Opposition and TRS are banking heavily on the loyalty of Muslim voters. AIMIM has not revealed its cards but is widely believed to be in the truck with the TRS which itself is said to share a secret understanding with the BJP. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly accused both TRS and AIMIM of aiding the BJP. Speaking at a rally recently in speaking at a rally in the state he lambasted the TRS saying, "TRS is not Telangana Rashtra Samiti, it's Telangana Rashtriya Sangh Parivar. It’s a B team of the BJP and RSS." Congress and the other opposition parties are desperate to score victories in the five states of Mizoram, Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh ahead of the 2019 general elections. Touted as the semi-final, the outcome of these elections is going to have a massive impact on the morale of the Congress which is fighting for its political survival. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Assembly elections 2018: It's all up in the air

The BJP Friday accused the Congress and other opposition parties of misleading farmers on the issue of agrarian distress, asserting that people no longer support those who have had their "eyes shut for 70 years" on the problem and have now decided to side with Narendra Modi.

The BJP's reaction came after thousands of farmers, backed by Left parties and organisations, marched through the streets of Delhi for debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.

<a href="Delhi: Rahul, Kejriwal join farmers' protest at Jantar Mantar">Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal</a>, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader S Sudhakar Reddy and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah were among the political leaders who joined the farmers at Jantar Mantar.

Hitting out at opposition parties, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked why their leaders did not take measures to reduce the problem of farmers in the past 70 years when they governed India.

On Kejriwal and Gandhi sharing a stage during the rally at Jantar Mantar, Patra said it was like "drama and confusion together on the dais".

"Remember, if drama and confusion are together, there is only destruction and devastation for democracy. The country rejects drama, corruption and confusion and has done so in 2014. Their coming together through photo-ops will not help, as the country has left their hands and has held the hands of Narendra Modi and BJP," he said.

He said the opposition parties have been exposed before the people for indulging in corruption and "politics of deception".

"They are today talking about farmers. They need to answer why the Congress was sitting with eyes shut for 70 years. Why the Congress did not worry about farmers all this time," he told reporters.

He said it was "unfortunate" that leaders of the Congress and other opposition parties were lowering the level of political discourse in the country. His comments came after following reports that CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury used inappropriate words to describe Prime Minister Modi.

"This shows the frustration of Congress and others. It shows their frustration," Patra said. 
Training his guns on Gandhi, Patra alleged that the Congress chief has one tape-recorder and only has one script. "He does not even prepare his speeches," Patra said.

"He does politics of falsehood and deception... All these parties were in power for so many years, but they did not implement the Swaminathan Committee report, because they were deep in corruption" he alleged.

The final volume of the Swaminathan Committee report on agrarian distress and recommendations was tabled in Parliament in 2016 and is yet to be discussed in the House.

Patra claimed farm loan has been waived twice so far in Rajasthan's history and on both occasions it has been done under BJP rule.

The Congress-ruled Rajasthan for nearly 50 years but did not waived farm loans and now they are doing politics here, Patra alleged.

"You have seen how Mr Rahul Gandhi have misled farmers and people of this country. You have seen how Mr Robert Vadra's (Gandhi's brother-in-law) company took loans which were unaccounted, not secured and not paid in the name of farmers and how they were misused for commercial purposes.

"You have seen how this was totally a commercial venture in the name of farming. This is Rahul Gandhi's way and Prime Minister Modi has rightly said that he does not know anything about farming," Patra alleged.

The BJP leader was referring to a newspaper report published Friday. The report said a firm got a big tax relief after it gave loan to a company that bought land owned by Skylight Hospitality, which is allegedly linked to Vadra.

"He (Gandhi) added to country's NPAs by giving loans through banks to such people, from whom they have benefitted themselves. Rahul Gandhi and Congress party indulged in commercial ventures and corruption ventures from which the country lost," he alleged.

The BJP Friday accused the Congress and other opposition parties of misleading farmers on the issue of agrarian distress, asserting that people no longer support those who have had their "eyes shut for 70 years" on the problem and have now decided to side with Narendra Modi.

The BJP Friday accused the Congress and other opposition parties of misleading farmers on the issue of agrarian distress, asserting that people no longer support those who have had their "eyes shut for 70 years" on the problem and have now decided to side with Narendra Modi. The BJP's reaction came after thousands of farmers, backed by Left parties and organisations, marched through the streets of Delhi for debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader S Sudhakar Reddy and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah were among the political leaders who joined the farmers at Jantar Mantar. Hitting out at opposition parties, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked why their leaders did not take measures to reduce the problem of farmers in the past 70 years when they governed India. On Kejriwal and Gandhi sharing a stage during the rally at Jantar Mantar, Patra said it was like "drama and confusion together on the dais". "Remember, if drama and confusion are together, there is only destruction and devastation for democracy. The country rejects drama, corruption and confusion and has done so in 2014. Their coming together through photo-ops will not help, as the country has left their hands and has held the hands of Narendra Modi and BJP," he said. He said the opposition parties have been exposed before the people for indulging in corruption and "politics of deception". "They are today talking about farmers. They need to answer why the Congress was sitting with eyes shut for 70 years. Why the Congress did not worry about farmers all this time," he told reporters. He said it was "unfortunate" that leaders of the Congress and other opposition parties were lowering the level of political discourse in the country. His comments came after following reports that CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury used inappropriate words to describe Prime Minister Modi. "This shows the frustration of Congress and others. It shows their frustration," Patra said. Training his guns on Gandhi, Patra alleged that the Congress chief has one tape-recorder and only has one script. "He does not even prepare his speeches," Patra said. "He does politics of falsehood and deception... All these parties were in power for so many years, but they did not implement the Swaminathan Committee report, because they were deep in corruption" he alleged. The final volume of the Swaminathan Committee report on agrarian distress and recommendations was tabled in Parliament in 2016 and is yet to be discussed in the House. Patra claimed farm loan has been waived twice so far in Rajasthan's history and on both occasions it has been done under BJP rule. The Congress-ruled Rajasthan for nearly 50 years but did not waived farm loans and now they are doing politics here, Patra alleged. "You have seen how Mr Rahul Gandhi have misled farmers and people of this country. You have seen how Mr Robert Vadra's (Gandhi's brother-in-law) company took loans which were unaccounted, not secured and not paid in the name of farmers and how they were misused for commercial purposes. "You have seen how this was totally a commercial venture in the name of farming. This is Rahul Gandhi's way and Prime Minister Modi has rightly said that he does not know anything about farming," Patra alleged. The BJP leader was referring to a newspaper report published Friday. The report said a firm got a big tax relief after it gave loan to a company that bought land owned by Skylight Hospitality, which is allegedly linked to Vadra. "He (Gandhi) added to country's NPAs by giving loans through banks to such people, from whom they have benefitted themselves. Rahul Gandhi and Congress party indulged in commercial ventures and corruption ventures from which the country lost," he alleged.

People don't trust Congress, other Opposition parties on agrarian distress issue: BJP

Amid the criticism over Pakistan visit,&nbsp;Punjab Cabinet Minister, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/today-72-years-of-wait-is-turning-into-reality-sidhu-on-kartarpur-corridor-180241">Navjot Singh Sidhu</a> said that he went&nbsp;for the Kartapur Corridor inauguration ceremony with the consent of his party's central leadership.

"At least 20 Congress leaders asked me to go, Central leadership asked me to go. The Central leadership of the party asked me to go. Punjab Cabinet Minister is like my father, I told him that I had already promised them (Pakistan) that I will go," Sidhu told news agency ANI. 
&nbsp; 
Sidhu also slammed people criticising his visit saying that the critics mocked and made fun of him are "now licking their own spit and taking U-turns."

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sidhu-was-hugging-the-general-who-is-killing-our-men-union-minister-harsimrat-kaur-badal-180210"> 'Sidhu was hugging the General who is killing our men,' says, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal</a>

"When I first went to Pakistan and talked about them promising Kartarpur Corridor, the critics mocked and made fun of me, now the same people are licking their own spit and taking U-turns; ANI reported," ANI quoted him as saying.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district.

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sindhu was one of the invitees, who went to Pakistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on November 28.

The leader became a subject of controversy after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ten-thousand-pictures-were-clicked-daily-among-them-who-was-chawla-or-cheema-i-dont-know-sidhu-on-pic-with-khalistan-leader-180274">photograph of him with a pro-Khalistani leader </a>went viral.&nbsp;

In August, Sidhu had gone to Islamabad for the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. That visit also racked up a controversy after Sidhu claimed that Pakistan as opening the Kartarpir Corridor.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which will facilitate the visa-free travel of Sikh pilgrims on both sides, is expected to be completed within six months.

Amid the criticism over Pakistan visit, Punjab Cabinet Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he went for the Kartapur Corridor inauguration ceremony with the consent of his party's central leadership.

Amid the criticism over Pakistan visit, Punjab Cabinet Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he went for the Kartapur Corridor inauguration ceremony with the consent of his party's central leadership. "At least 20 Congress leaders asked me to go, Central leadership asked me to go. The Central leadership of the party asked me to go. Punjab Cabinet Minister is like my father, I told him that I had already promised them (Pakistan) that I will go," Sidhu told news agency ANI. Sidhu also slammed people criticising his visit saying that the critics mocked and made fun of him are "now licking their own spit and taking U-turns." Also read: 'Sidhu was hugging the General who is killing our men,' says, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal "When I first went to Pakistan and talked about them promising Kartarpur Corridor, the critics mocked and made fun of me, now the same people are licking their own spit and taking U-turns; ANI reported," ANI quoted him as saying. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. Congress leader Navjot Singh Sindhu was one of the invitees, who went to Pakistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on November 28. The leader became a subject of controversy after a photograph of him with a pro-Khalistani leader went viral. In August, Sidhu had gone to Islamabad for the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. That visit also racked up a controversy after Sidhu claimed that Pakistan as opening the Kartarpir Corridor. The Kartarpur Corridor, which will facilitate the visa-free travel of Sikh pilgrims on both sides, is expected to be completed within six months.

Congress central leadership asked me to go to Kartarpur: Sidhu

The Congress on Thursday announced farm loan waiver, allowance to educated unemployed youths, and Accountability Bill among a slew of promises in its manifesto to win the Rajasthan assembly polls, scheduled for December 7.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot released the manifesto in the presence of other party leaders.

"Our manifesto is not just a document, but a commitment," said Pilot.

With a view to empowering girls in a holistic manner, the Congress leader said, "Our government, if formed, will bear the entire education expenses of girls.

We will finance their entire education," he added.

Pilot said that unemployed educated youths would get Rs 3,500 as monthly allowance.

"We will also give jobs to them and easy loans so that they set up their own businesses too," he said.

Moreover, students will get free travel facilities to appear in the examination, he added.

"The Congress will waive off farmers` loan once the party forms the government in the state. Farm equipment will be freed from the Goods and Services Tax (GST)," he said, adding that old farmers would get pension.

He also promised to set up the `Gauchar Bhumi Board` which will ensure that cows are provided with adequate fodder.

"If the Congress is voted to power, we will make college and university curriculum industry-friendly. We will also form a board for the workers of unorganised sector so that they are taken care of in a better manner," he said.

Pilot also said the Congress, if voted to power, will bring the Accountability Bill within 30 days of coming to power.

The former union minister also said it was the people`s thought which was embodied in the manifesto, and not that of the Congress.

"The BJP should apologise to the people of the state for not fulfilling its promises. The BJP, which kept the people jobless for five years, is now talking about allowance to them. We ascertained the views and suggestions of 2 lakh people on different digital platforms (to create the manifesto)," he added.

The Congress on Thursday announced farm loan waiver, allowance to educated unemployed youths, and Accountability Bill among a slew of promises in its manifesto to win the Rajasthan assembly polls, scheduled for December 7.

The Congress on Thursday announced farm loan waiver, allowance to educated unemployed youths, and Accountability Bill among a slew of promises in its manifesto to win the Rajasthan assembly polls, scheduled for December 7. Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot released the manifesto in the presence of other party leaders. "Our manifesto is not just a document, but a commitment," said Pilot. With a view to empowering girls in a holistic manner, the Congress leader said, "Our government, if formed, will bear the entire education expenses of girls. We will finance their entire education," he added. Pilot said that unemployed educated youths would get Rs 3,500 as monthly allowance. "We will also give jobs to them and easy loans so that they set up their own businesses too," he said. Moreover, students will get free travel facilities to appear in the examination, he added. "The Congress will waive off farmers` loan once the party forms the government in the state. Farm equipment will be freed from the Goods and Services Tax (GST)," he said, adding that old farmers would get pension. He also promised to set up the `Gauchar Bhumi Board` which will ensure that cows are provided with adequate fodder. "If the Congress is voted to power, we will make college and university curriculum industry-friendly. We will also form a board for the workers of unorganised sector so that they are taken care of in a better manner," he said. Pilot also said the Congress, if voted to power, will bring the Accountability Bill within 30 days of coming to power. The former union minister also said it was the people`s thought which was embodied in the manifesto, and not that of the Congress. "The BJP should apologise to the people of the state for not fulfilling its promises. The BJP, which kept the people jobless for five years, is now talking about allowance to them. We ascertained the views and suggestions of 2 lakh people on different digital platforms (to create the manifesto)," he added.

Congress promises farm loan waiver, unemployment allowance to youths in Rajasthan

The Congress Wednesday accused the Modi government of "manipulating" GDP data of previous years and said it reflects a desperate attempt to undermine India's growth story over the last 15 years.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala termed the step a "classic" case where "the operation is successful but the patient is dead".

"The entire GDP back series data released today reflects the desperate attempt of a defeatist Modi Government to undermine India's growth story over last 15 years. Modi Government and its puppet Niti Aayog want the people to believe that 2+2=8. Such is the gimmickry, jugglery, trickery and chicanery being sold as 'back series data'," he said in a statement.&nbsp;

There was no immediate reaction from the BJP on the Congress's claims and allegations.

The Congress leader said the economic mismanagement under the Modi government has led to economic anarchy and jugglery of GDP figures.

"Manipulated" back series data' will not change Modi government's "exit date'. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji's new definition of GDP is 'Gimmickry Data Product'," he said.

Surjewala alleged a failed "Modinomics plus a Pakoda economic vision" has put India's economy in complete turmoil, and the prime minister and his finance minister have caused economic "mayhem" by the "ill-conceived" decisions of demonetisation, a "flawed" GST coupled with "tax terrorism".

"Faced with utter and complete rejection of the 'voodoo economics' of the Modi-Jaitley duo, they are resorting to malicious and fraudulent jugglery of GDP figures to hide the enormous body blow caused by them to India's economy," he said.&nbsp;

Surjewala alleged that since the advent of the NDA government in May 2014, there has been a determined effort to run down the record of the two UPA governments under Manmohan Singh during 2004-2009 and 2009-2014.&nbsp;

A lot of confusion was sown and the Modi government added to the confusion by changing the base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12, he said.&nbsp;

The Congress leader said his party has repeatedly pointed out that when the base year was changed, the government should follow the healthy international practice and revise the numbers for the previous years.&nbsp;

"We had demanded that the back series data of GVA and GDP should be calculated and released so that meaningful comparisons can be made," he said, adding that the back series data as released by National Statistical Commission (NSC) in August 2018 is available in public domain and numbers prove that the truth cannot be suppressed.&nbsp;

The opposition leader claimed that UPA-1 and UPA-2 delivered the highest decadal growth of 8.13 per cent at factor cost since Independence and during this period 140 million people were lifted out of poverty.&nbsp;

When the UPA demitted office, economic growth had recovered to 6.39 per cent at market prices in 2013-14. Besides, the fiscal deficit had been reduced to 4.48 per cent and the current account deficit contained at 1.7 per cent, he claimed.

"The revised New Series' computed today by the Ministry of Statistics and Niti Aayog has completely undermined the NSC (National Statistical Commission), the autonomous body for deciding data transparently and in accordance with global standards of calculating GDP as per Market Price Linked Methodology.&nbsp;

"Today, the Modi government deceived the country by surreptitiously changing the methodology in order to manipulate GDP data. This is called 'Excel Sheet Management' in deciding the result first and filling the marks later. The new methodology is GVA based, which does not take into account tax+ subsidies and consequently is extremely flawed to subserve the myopic interests of the Modi government," he said.&nbsp;

Surjewala alleged that under this government, there has been complete stagnation in investment and the Gross Fixed Capital Formation in the last three years has remained constant at 28.5 per cent. "At that level of investment (GFCF), it is not possible to achieve higher growth rates," he said.

The government Wednesday lowered the country's economic growth rate during the previous Congress-led UPA regime, shaving off over one percentage point from the only year when India posted double-digit GDP growth post liberalisation and from each of the three years with 9-plus per cent expansion.

Recalibrating data of past years using 2011-12 as the base year instead of 2004-05, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) estimated that India's GDP grew by 8.5 per cent in the financial year 2010-11 (April 2010 to March 2011) and not at 10.3 per cent as previously estimated.

Similarly, 9.3 per cent growth rate each in 2005-06 and 2006-07 was lowered to 7.9 per cent and 8.1 per cent respectively, while 7.7 per cent rate was now estimated for 2007-08 instead of 9.8 per cent.

The revised growth numbers have been released ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The Congress Wednesday accused the Modi government of "manipulating" GDP data of previous years and said it reflects a desperate attempt to undermine India's growth story over the last 15 years.

The Congress Wednesday accused the Modi government of "manipulating" GDP data of previous years and said it reflects a desperate attempt to undermine India's growth story over the last 15 years. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala termed the step a "classic" case where "the operation is successful but the patient is dead". "The entire GDP back series data released today reflects the desperate attempt of a defeatist Modi Government to undermine India's growth story over last 15 years. Modi Government and its puppet Niti Aayog want the people to believe that 2+2=8. Such is the gimmickry, jugglery, trickery and chicanery being sold as 'back series data'," he said in a statement. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP on the Congress's claims and allegations. The Congress leader said the economic mismanagement under the Modi government has led to economic anarchy and jugglery of GDP figures. "Manipulated" back series data' will not change Modi government's "exit date'. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji's new definition of GDP is 'Gimmickry Data Product'," he said. Surjewala alleged a failed "Modinomics plus a Pakoda economic vision" has put India's economy in complete turmoil, and the prime minister and his finance minister have caused economic "mayhem" by the "ill-conceived" decisions of demonetisation, a "flawed" GST coupled with "tax terrorism". "Faced with utter and complete rejection of the 'voodoo economics' of the Modi-Jaitley duo, they are resorting to malicious and fraudulent jugglery of GDP figures to hide the enormous body blow caused by them to India's economy," he said. Surjewala alleged that since the advent of the NDA government in May 2014, there has been a determined effort to run down the record of the two UPA governments under Manmohan Singh during 2004-2009 and 2009-2014. A lot of confusion was sown and the Modi government added to the confusion by changing the base year from 2004-05 to 2011-12, he said. The Congress leader said his party has repeatedly pointed out that when the base year was changed, the government should follow the healthy international practice and revise the numbers for the previous years. "We had demanded that the back series data of GVA and GDP should be calculated and released so that meaningful comparisons can be made," he said, adding that the back series data as released by National Statistical Commission (NSC) in August 2018 is available in public domain and numbers prove that the truth cannot be suppressed. The opposition leader claimed that UPA-1 and UPA-2 delivered the highest decadal growth of 8.13 per cent at factor cost since Independence and during this period 140 million people were lifted out of poverty. When the UPA demitted office, economic growth had recovered to 6.39 per cent at market prices in 2013-14. Besides, the fiscal deficit had been reduced to 4.48 per cent and the current account deficit contained at 1.7 per cent, he claimed. "The revised New Series' computed today by the Ministry of Statistics and Niti Aayog has completely undermined the NSC (National Statistical Commission), the autonomous body for deciding data transparently and in accordance with global standards of calculating GDP as per Market Price Linked Methodology. "Today, the Modi government deceived the country by surreptitiously changing the methodology in order to manipulate GDP data. This is called 'Excel Sheet Management' in deciding the result first and filling the marks later. The new methodology is GVA based, which does not take into account tax+ subsidies and consequently is extremely flawed to subserve the myopic interests of the Modi government," he said. Surjewala alleged that under this government, there has been complete stagnation in investment and the Gross Fixed Capital Formation in the last three years has remained constant at 28.5 per cent. "At that level of investment (GFCF), it is not possible to achieve higher growth rates," he said. The government Wednesday lowered the country's economic growth rate during the previous Congress-led UPA regime, shaving off over one percentage point from the only year when India posted double-digit GDP growth post liberalisation and from each of the three years with 9-plus per cent expansion. Recalibrating data of past years using 2011-12 as the base year instead of 2004-05, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) estimated that India's GDP grew by 8.5 per cent in the financial year 2010-11 (April 2010 to March 2011) and not at 10.3 per cent as previously estimated. Similarly, 9.3 per cent growth rate each in 2005-06 and 2006-07 was lowered to 7.9 per cent and 8.1 per cent respectively, while 7.7 per cent rate was now estimated for 2007-08 instead of 9.8 per cent. The revised growth numbers have been released ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Modi government manipulating GDP data of previous years: Congress

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of "diluting the Tribal Rights Act to the detriment of forest dwellers.

Addressing an election meeting at Bhoopalpally in the tribal belt of Telangana, he promised reservations in government jobs and admissions to state-run educational institutions for Scheduled Tribe candidates proportionate to their population in the state.

"Prime Minister Modi weakened Adivasi Bill (Tribal Bill) at the centre and KCR diluted it at the state. As soon as we form our government in Telangana we will ensure that you (tribals) get back your land. We have mentioned this in our manifesto also.

"We will give reservations too that will be proportionate to your population," Gandhi told the rally.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed in 2006 when the UPA was in power. It is variously referred to as Forest Rights Act, Tribal Rights Act, Tribal Bill, and Tribal Land Act. The law concerns the rights of forest-dwelling communities.

The opposition has been alleging that the Modi dispensation diluted various provisions of the law including the condition of "free informed consent" from gram sabhas for any government plans to remove tribals from forests and for resettlement or rehabilitation packages. It is alleged that the law was diluted to favour mining companies and industrialists.

Gandhi said the previous UPA government brought the law which gave immense benefits to tribals.

The Telangana government has been accused of diluting the Act by outlawing traditional methods of forest land cultivation.

The Congress president said tribals could not reap full benefit of the law in Telangana because of dilution of its provisions.

Gandhi assured that contract workers of Singareni Collieries would be regularised if the Congress-led alliance came to power in Telangana and the cases of employees who lost their jobs for various reasons would be sympathetically examined.

He also slammed the prime minister for his "habit" of privatising public sector undertakings.

Punning on chief minister KCR's initials, Gandhi called him "Khao Commission Rao" who promised that he would "redesign" the state but instead redesigned irrigation projects, which resulted in cost escalation and burdened the people, only to benefit members of his family and contractors.

Taking a jibe at the TRS chief's comment that he will go home and take rest if he loses the polls, Gandhi said, "KCR will definitely take rest in a Rs 300 crore palatial bungalow after the elections. You take rest and the Congress party will fulfil the aspirations and dreams of Telangana with the help of its people."

Addressing another rally at Armoor, he said, if the Congress came to power at the Centre, it would simplify the GST and sympathetically examine taxes on the beedi industry.

He also promised that a corpus fund of Rs 500 crore would be raised to help migrant workers in the Persian Gulf.

Targeting the prime minister over his signature mass outreach programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on All India Radio, Gandhi said, "Modi ji tells you his 'Mann ki Baat' (speaks his mind) every month. But we will listen to your (people's) Mann Ki Baat and run Telangana according to your wishes."

The Congress president said while Modi and KCR always kept the doors of banks open for the rich, the Congress-led government in Telangana will waive agricultural loans of farmers up to Rs 2 lakh and raise the Minimum Support Price for as many as 17 varieties of farm produce.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of "diluting the Tribal Rights Act to the detriment of forest dwellers.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of "diluting the Tribal Rights Act to the detriment of forest dwellers. Addressing an election meeting at Bhoopalpally in the tribal belt of Telangana, he promised reservations in government jobs and admissions to state-run educational institutions for Scheduled Tribe candidates proportionate to their population in the state. "Prime Minister Modi weakened Adivasi Bill (Tribal Bill) at the centre and KCR diluted it at the state. As soon as we form our government in Telangana we will ensure that you (tribals) get back your land. We have mentioned this in our manifesto also. "We will give reservations too that will be proportionate to your population," Gandhi told the rally. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed in 2006 when the UPA was in power. It is variously referred to as Forest Rights Act, Tribal Rights Act, Tribal Bill, and Tribal Land Act. The law concerns the rights of forest-dwelling communities. The opposition has been alleging that the Modi dispensation diluted various provisions of the law including the condition of "free informed consent" from gram sabhas for any government plans to remove tribals from forests and for resettlement or rehabilitation packages. It is alleged that the law was diluted to favour mining companies and industrialists. Gandhi said the previous UPA government brought the law which gave immense benefits to tribals. The Telangana government has been accused of diluting the Act by outlawing traditional methods of forest land cultivation. The Congress president said tribals could not reap full benefit of the law in Telangana because of dilution of its provisions. Gandhi assured that contract workers of Singareni Collieries would be regularised if the Congress-led alliance came to power in Telangana and the cases of employees who lost their jobs for various reasons would be sympathetically examined. He also slammed the prime minister for his "habit" of privatising public sector undertakings. Punning on chief minister KCR's initials, Gandhi called him "Khao Commission Rao" who promised that he would "redesign" the state but instead redesigned irrigation projects, which resulted in cost escalation and burdened the people, only to benefit members of his family and contractors. Taking a jibe at the TRS chief's comment that he will go home and take rest if he loses the polls, Gandhi said, "KCR will definitely take rest in a Rs 300 crore palatial bungalow after the elections. You take rest and the Congress party will fulfil the aspirations and dreams of Telangana with the help of its people." Addressing another rally at Armoor, he said, if the Congress came to power at the Centre, it would simplify the GST and sympathetically examine taxes on the beedi industry. He also promised that a corpus fund of Rs 500 crore would be raised to help migrant workers in the Persian Gulf. Targeting the prime minister over his signature mass outreach programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on All India Radio, Gandhi said, "Modi ji tells you his 'Mann ki Baat' (speaks his mind) every month. But we will listen to your (people's) Mann Ki Baat and run Telangana according to your wishes." The Congress president said while Modi and KCR always kept the doors of banks open for the rich, the Congress-led government in Telangana will waive agricultural loans of farmers up to Rs 2 lakh and raise the Minimum Support Price for as many as 17 varieties of farm produce.

Modi, KCR diluted tribal rights law: Rahul Gandhi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday alleged that the Congress was the mother of “anarchy” and development was not in its DNA.

The Congress is a hurdle in the path of development, good governance and nationalism, whereas BJP governments are establishing “Ram Rajya” by providing electricity, homes, LPG connections, better health care services and toilets, he said at an election rally in Rajasthan where polls will be held on December 7.

The chief minister also alleged that the opposition party gave riots, terrorism, Naxalism to the country and birth to corruption.

“The Congress is the mother of anarchy. Development is not in its DNA. It is least bothered about the honour and pride of the country,” Adityanath said.

Reiterating that the Congress had served “biryani” to terrorists and treated them as their vote bank, he alleged that the party finds and connects with terrorists as well as hold events to honour them.

It was during BJP’s rule that everyday terrorists were gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said.

One of the BJP’s stars campaigners for the polls, Adityanath was electioneering for the party in the Amer Assembly constituency here.

He alleged that the Congress insults the martyrdom of army jawans and praises Naxalites and Maoists by calling them, revolutionaries.

The Congress is doing divisive and caste-based politics. It pushed several Hindi-speaking states, including Rajasthan, into the BIMARU category in its 55 years of rule, the BJP leader said.

Mocking Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he claimed that even his party leaders do not trust him and they believe that the party cannot form a government under his leadership.

The chief minister said Gandhi should show some mercy on the country considering his failure in past elections.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday alleged that the Congress was the mother of “anarchy” and development was not in its DNA. The Congress is a hurdle in the path of development, good governance and nationalism, whereas BJP governments are establishing “Ram Rajya” by providing electricity, homes, LPG connections, better health care services and toilets, he said at an election rally in Rajasthan where polls will be held on December 7.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday alleged that the Congress was the mother of “anarchy” and development was not in its DNA. The Congress is a hurdle in the path of development, good governance and nationalism, whereas BJP governments are establishing “Ram Rajya” by providing electricity, homes, LPG connections, better health care services and toilets, he said at an election rally in Rajasthan where polls will be held on December 7. The chief minister also alleged that the opposition party gave riots, terrorism, Naxalism to the country and birth to corruption. “The Congress is the mother of anarchy. Development is not in its DNA. It is least bothered about the honour and pride of the country,” Adityanath said. Reiterating that the Congress had served “biryani” to terrorists and treated them as their vote bank, he alleged that the party finds and connects with terrorists as well as hold events to honour them. It was during BJP’s rule that everyday terrorists were gunned down in Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said. One of the BJP’s stars campaigners for the polls, Adityanath was electioneering for the party in the Amer Assembly constituency here. He alleged that the Congress insults the martyrdom of army jawans and praises Naxalites and Maoists by calling them, revolutionaries. The Congress is doing divisive and caste-based politics. It pushed several Hindi-speaking states, including Rajasthan, into the BIMARU category in its 55 years of rule, the BJP leader said. Mocking Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he claimed that even his party leaders do not trust him and they believe that the party cannot form a government under his leadership. The chief minister said Gandhi should show some mercy on the country considering his failure in past elections.

Congress ‘mother of anarchy’, development not in its DNA: Yogi Adityanath

A senior Chinese diplomat on Monday said that some Chinese citizens have donated money for the families of two Pakistani policemen killed in the terror attack on China's consulate in Karachi.

At a ceremony in Islamabad alongside Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Lijian Zhao, said the Chinese citizens had donated money on their own.

Three heavily-armed suicide bombers on Friday stormed the Chinese consulate in Pakistan's largest city, killing four people, including two policemen, before being shot dead by security forces. The attack was claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

Lijian said one Chinese citizen had donated a month's salary to support the families of the slain policemen.

He said the donors believed that the Pakistan-China friendship was not simply empty words but "rooted in the hearts of the people of the two countries".

"We want to give a message to the terrorists that their efforts at sabotaging Pak-China friendship will never succeed," he said.

Earlier Lijian tweeted that the donations by the Chinese showed the depth of bilateral relations between the two nations.

"Chinese donations for Pakistan police have shown that China-Pakistan friendship is higher than mountains and deeper than the seas. The friendship has never been empty talks, but deeply imprinted in hearts of Chinese and Pakistani people," he said.

A senior Chinese diplomat on Monday said that some Chinese citizens have donated money for the families of two Pakistani policemen killed in the terror attack on China's consulate in Karachi.

A senior Chinese diplomat on Monday said that some Chinese citizens have donated money for the families of two Pakistani policemen killed in the terror attack on China's consulate in Karachi. At a ceremony in Islamabad alongside Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Lijian Zhao, said the Chinese citizens had donated money on their own. Three heavily-armed suicide bombers on Friday stormed the Chinese consulate in Pakistan's largest city, killing four people, including two policemen, before being shot dead by security forces. The attack was claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Lijian said one Chinese citizen had donated a month's salary to support the families of the slain policemen. He said the donors believed that the Pakistan-China friendship was not simply empty words but "rooted in the hearts of the people of the two countries". "We want to give a message to the terrorists that their efforts at sabotaging Pak-China friendship will never succeed," he said. Earlier Lijian tweeted that the donations by the Chinese showed the depth of bilateral relations between the two nations. "Chinese donations for Pakistan police have shown that China-Pakistan friendship is higher than mountains and deeper than the seas. The friendship has never been empty talks, but deeply imprinted in hearts of Chinese and Pakistani people," he said.

Chinese citizens donate money for families of Pakistan cops killed in terror attack on Karachi consulate

Prime Minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-have-replied-to-terrorists-naxals-in-their-own-language-pm-modi-at-rajasthan-poll-rally-179564">Narendra Modi </a>Monday accused the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/from-strong-to-sticky-wicket-why-retaining-power-in-telangana-wont-be-a-cakewalk-for-kcr-179734">TRS </a>and Congress of perpetuating family rule and said the two parties were playing a "friendly match" in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/chandrababu-naidu-oppositions-trump-card-to-unite-anti-bjp-forces-179678">Telangana elections</a>.

Reaffirming the BJP's commitment to inclusive growth, Modi, addressing his first election rally in the state, said vote bank politics has harmed development like "termites".

"The chief minister of Telangana and his family think they can get away with doing no work like the Congress.... They have adopted the style of the Congress which ruled for 50-52 years without doing anything. But that cannot happen now," he told an election rally in Nizamabad, as he took the poll battle to caretaker CM K Chandrasekhar Rao's turf.

Nizamabad is represented by Rao's daughter K Kavitha in the Lok Sabha.

Recalling that Rao had served as a minister in the UPA government, Modi said the TRS chief did his "apprenticeship" under the Congress.

"Congress and TRS are two faces of the same coin. Both parties are competing against each other on who tells more lies.

"TRS and Congress are family-ruled parties playing a friendly match in Telangana polls," he said, adding it was a "big joke" that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi assailed the TRS for being a "family party" at an election rally last week.

The prime minister said Rao's decision to go for early elections could give people an opportunity to "get rid of him before time".

He said Rao did not join Ayushman Bharat scheme under which the Centre would bear medical expenses of the poor to the extent of Rs five lakh a year because of his feeling of insecurity.

"This chief minister feels so insecure...He trusts astrologers, does puja, ties nimbu-mirchi (to ward of evil). So when we introduced Ayushman Bharat Yojana, he decided not to join it. He feared people will reject him if Modicare comes into force. He did injustice to the poor people of the state," Modi said.

Amid reports that the Congress was preparing a manifesto that would envisage separate schools and hospitals for Muslims, Modi said the only Mantra that the BJP followed was "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" and was against vote bank politics.

"BJP has just one Mantra- Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We believe in inclusive growth. Vote bank politics has damaged development like a termite," he said.

Development, he said, was a casualty wherever vote bank politics and politics of casteism, communalism and nepotism have flourished. 
He said those who believe in development, building new India and new Telangana trust BJP most.

Accusing the TRS government of not keeping its promises made to youth, farmers, Dalits, tribals and backward classes, Modi asked the voters to teach the party a lesson.

Modi said the chief minister had once asserted he would transform Nizamabad into a smart city like London but the place was still grappling with shortage of water, electricity and proper roads.

"The CM once said he would reach water of the Godavari river to each household or else will not seek votes. Has it happened? The man who cannot provide people with even water doesn't deserve to be given power," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday accused the TRS and Congress of perpetuating family rule and said the two parties were playing a "friendly match" in Telangana elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday accused the TRS and Congress of perpetuating family rule and said the two parties were playing a "friendly match" in Telangana elections. Reaffirming the BJP's commitment to inclusive growth, Modi, addressing his first election rally in the state, said vote bank politics has harmed development like "termites". "The chief minister of Telangana and his family think they can get away with doing no work like the Congress.... They have adopted the style of the Congress which ruled for 50-52 years without doing anything. But that cannot happen now," he told an election rally in Nizamabad, as he took the poll battle to caretaker CM K Chandrasekhar Rao's turf. Nizamabad is represented by Rao's daughter K Kavitha in the Lok Sabha. Recalling that Rao had served as a minister in the UPA government, Modi said the TRS chief did his "apprenticeship" under the Congress. "Congress and TRS are two faces of the same coin. Both parties are competing against each other on who tells more lies. "TRS and Congress are family-ruled parties playing a friendly match in Telangana polls," he said, adding it was a "big joke" that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi assailed the TRS for being a "family party" at an election rally last week. The prime minister said Rao's decision to go for early elections could give people an opportunity to "get rid of him before time". He said Rao did not join Ayushman Bharat scheme under which the Centre would bear medical expenses of the poor to the extent of Rs five lakh a year because of his feeling of insecurity. "This chief minister feels so insecure...He trusts astrologers, does puja, ties nimbu-mirchi (to ward of evil). So when we introduced Ayushman Bharat Yojana, he decided not to join it. He feared people will reject him if Modicare comes into force. He did injustice to the poor people of the state," Modi said. Amid reports that the Congress was preparing a manifesto that would envisage separate schools and hospitals for Muslims, Modi said the only Mantra that the BJP followed was "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" and was against vote bank politics. "BJP has just one Mantra- Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We believe in inclusive growth. Vote bank politics has damaged development like a termite," he said. Development, he said, was a casualty wherever vote bank politics and politics of casteism, communalism and nepotism have flourished. He said those who believe in development, building new India and new Telangana trust BJP most. Accusing the TRS government of not keeping its promises made to youth, farmers, Dalits, tribals and backward classes, Modi asked the voters to teach the party a lesson. Modi said the chief minister had once asserted he would transform Nizamabad into a smart city like London but the place was still grappling with shortage of water, electricity and proper roads. "The CM once said he would reach water of the Godavari river to each household or else will not seek votes. Has it happened? The man who cannot provide people with even water doesn't deserve to be given power," he said.

TRS, Congress two sides of same coin, are family-ruled parties: PM Modi at Telangana rally

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