CAG is not a 'munimji', can look into efficient use of resources: SC

New Delhi: The new Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir has come out in support of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), saying that the body is not just a "munimji" (accountant). "The CAG shouldn't be just preparing balancesheet of government accounts. It is the duty of the CAG to look into efficient use of resources," said CJI Kabir during the hearing of a public interest litigation challenging the CAG audit related to coal blocks allocation.

The apex court said that if the CAG has exceeded its brief then it's for Parliament to take a call. The comments by Justice Kabir, who took over as the CJI on Saturday after Justice SH Kapadia relinquished office, assumes significance as the CAG has been instrumental in bringing out the massive corruption in coal blocks allocation and 2G spectrum.

Job ‘clamour’: BJP for 2-yr break for retired judges

There is a “clamour” for post-retirement jobs among judges of high courts and the Supreme Court, the BJP said on Sunday, suggesting that judges have a two-year cooling-off period after retirement to become eligible for appointments to commissions or tribunals.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley went to the extent of saying that as law minister in the NDA government he would be uncomfortable meeting retiring judges for fear of getting a job request.

“This clamour for post-retirement jobs is adversely affecting the impartiality of the judiciary... When I was a minister, I would be wary of meeting retiring judges for the fear that he would hand me his bio-data,” Jaitley said, speaking at a conference organised by the BJP legal cell.

Party president Nitin Gadkari suggested a two-year cooling-off period. “...even before they retire, it is decided for them as to which commission they will go to... There should be a gap of two years after retirement because otherwise the government can directly or indirectly influence the courts,” Gadkari said.

“I have seen some judgments recently that when tribunals are formed, retired judges should be sent there. Now through judicial verdicts post-retirement jobs are being created... We are the only country in the world where judges appoint judges. I saw a recent judgment that said that only judges should be appointed in Central Information Commission and the law should be changed. It is indirectly a direction to Parliament,” Jaitley said.

“Courts can’t frame laws, courts can’t administer the state, courts can’t fight terrorism... The tendency of the judges to follow the ballot box, the tendency of the judges to get carried away with the times, has to be avoided,” he said, adding that he wasn’t against longer tenure for judges.

As reported by this newspaper, of the 21 judges who have retired from the Supreme Court since January 2008, 18 have joined various commissions and tribunals.

With PTI

Kejriwal meets Anna, says will support him in all his movements

New Delhi: It is the second day of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare's visit to Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal met Anna Hazare along with Manish Sisodia and assured that he'll support Anna in all his movements. This was the first meeting between Kejriwal and Anna after they parted ways.

Kejriwal also said that their destination was ultimately the same. "We came here to assure him our support in all his movements. Our roads are different but the destination is the same. We will keep meeting and supporting each other. There is no fight," Kejriwal said after the meeting.

Anna wants to chalk out a strategy to fight corruption and a long term political option. "If I had to enter elections I would have done it much earlier. I have not even fought Panchayat elections. When I talk about alternative, I am not talking about political alternative," he said on Sunday.

Asked if Kejriwal had fooled Team Anna with his political ambitions, Hazare said, "no, it is not a question of being cheated." "Politics is not the right direction. If politics would have given us a bright future, then why India once called a golden bird had to mortgage gold. This country will not get the right future from politics," he said.

This is in stark contrast to what Anna had said at Jantar Mantar earlier. He had spoken about the need for a political alternative and to send good, clean candidates to Parliament. Anna will meet retired IAS and IPS officers on Monday.

(With additional information from PTI)

Cauvery dispute: Trains hit amidst protests, Karnataka deploys RAF

Bangalore: The farmer protests in Karnataka against the release of water from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu have not died down. On Monday, farmer groups blocked the Bangalore-Mysore national highway in protest against the Supreme Court order to release 9,000 cusecs of water from the river to the neighbouring state daily till October 15. Several trains connecting Bangalore and Mysore were also hit.

To ensure security, the government deployed three Rapid Action Force (RAF) companies in Bangalore. On Sunday, as Karnataka released 9,000 cusecs of water, protests erupted across the state, especially in Mandya district. As the water release began, the farmers blocked the Bangalore-Mysore highway near Gejjalagere and more than 50 people including JD(S) MLA, CS Puttaraju were arrested.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) suspended bus services apprehending violence. Police stepped up tight security in various parts of the district, that is the epicentre of protests against release of water.

On Friday, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Karnataka Government for failing to comply with the PM-headed Cauvery River Authority's (CRA) directive to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu from September 20 to October 15 and warned that it would have to pass appropriate orders if Karnataka did not fall in line.

Mamata reopens 20-yr-old case involving rival Dasmunsi

A 20-year-old case has returned to haunt Congress MP Deepa Dasmunsi. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday ordered the resumption of a CID probe into the disappearance of Biman Bhattacharjee, a well-known theatre artiste and musician. His family blames Dasmunsi, then Deepa Ghosh, for his disappearance.

Biman, a member of the theatre group Bohurupee, went missing on June 14, 1992, from Beniatola Lane in central Kolkata. His elder brother Bidhan Bhattacharjee and NGO All India Legal Aid Forum had approached Mamata, demanding that the case be reopened.

In a written complaint, Bidhan had blamed Deepa for his brother’s disappearance. He had stated that Biman and Deepa lived together for three years at her house on Panditya Road in south Kolkata, and that Biman was abducted with prior planning and later murdered. An FIR was lodged with the Gariahat police station and Deepa was questioned by the police.

The Raiganj MP and wife of former Union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Deepa said that while Biman was known to her and used to visit her house, “there was no relationship with him”. “Biman was a musician involved with theatre. His home was located outside Kolkata.

At that time a lot of friends from the world of culture used to visit our house. Often they stayed in my guestroom on the ground floor. Biman too stayed in the guestroom for three months,” she told The Indian Express.

Questioning the timing of the probe, Deepa added: “Why was everyone silent on his disappearance for so long? Now his family is saying a lot of things. Are they really concerned about Biman? I don’t know about the All India Legal Aid Forum. The matter has been highlighted after a long time with political motive in mind.”

According to Bidhan, both Biman and Deepa were involved with theatre and became close in the 1980s. At that time, she regularly visited their home at Konnagar. Later, they allegedly started to stay together at Panditiya Road at Deepa’s residence. While Biman was 29 years old at the time, she was 31, Bidhan said. Gradually, Bidhan claimed, the relationship soured, taking a turn for the worse in 1992 after Deepa and Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi became close.

On the day of his disappearance — June 14, 1992 — Biman was at a play rehearsal at Beniatola Lane when he had an altercation with Deepa, Bidhan said. He alleged that some youths were waiting outside the premises in a car, and that Biman was abducted from there.

While they had approached former chief ministers Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee too, Bidhan said the police had failed to locate Biman and put the case on the backburner. General secretary of the All India Legal Aid Forum Joydeep Mukherjee said investigations will hopefully resolve the mystery.

Incidentally Deepa and Mamata have a long history of political rivalry in the state, with the MP a known opponent of the Congress alliance with the Trinamool Congress.

Mamata takes fight against FDI to Delhi, to protest at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest rally in New Delhi against FDI in retail. This will be her first rally in the capital since exiting the UPA-II. FDI was one of the reasons for Mamata parting ways with the Congress.

All 19 TMC MPs are expected to be present at Jantar Mantar. "There is a protest rally on Monday. Only MPs are here, none from Bengal has been called in. The protest will start from around 12 noon," Mamata said on Sunday.

The Trinamool Congress is also looking at expanding its reach beyond West Bengal. "People are coming from all parts of North India to Jantar Mantar to listen to Mamata Banerjee's speech. Even while being a part of the government, we did oppose FDI in retail sector. When fuel prices were hiked we expressed our disagreement. The TMC has MLAs in Assam, Manipur and UP. It will spread its wings in other states too, very soon. It's Mamata Banerjee who has raised people's issues so powerfully," TMC leader Sultan Ahmed said.

PTI Photo

"It is an unprecedented decision by Banerjee to hold a rally at Jantar Mantar in the national capital to press the Centre to review its decisions on FDI in retail, cap on subsidised LPG and diesel price hike," Trinamool Congress MP KD Singh said on Sunday. He said the demonstration was part of the party's resolve to show solidarity with the 'aam admi' who has been hurt the most by such decisions. "Withdrawing from the UPA was the first step. A series of protests have been planned in the coming days till the decisions are withdrawn," he said.

When asked whether Trinamool Congress would support a resolution in Parliament against FDI if it is brought by BJP, former Railway Minister Mukul Roy evaded a direct reply. "Who brings what is not the issue. The actual issue is the decision of the government which is anti-people...the then Finance Minister (Pranab Mukherjee) had assured Parliament that any decision on FDI will be taken after consulting all stakeholders and after evolving a consensus. That has not happened," he rued.

Mamata, who has always opposed reforms as anti-people says the Centre must review its decisions on FDI in multi-brand retail, the diesel price hike and the subsidy cap on LPG. In her explosive interview to CNN-IBN last week, Mamata had hit out at Congress saying it has lost the credentials to govern the country.

(With additional information from PTI)

Bihar: Trouble for Nitish from his own camp, BJP leader holds rally against him

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is facing more embarrassment. After public protests against him, now his party JD(U)'s own ally, the BJP, is also protesting against his government in Bihar. The brother of Nitish's close confidante NK Singh, BJP leader Pappu Singh, has targeted the CM over corruption and inept bureaucracy.

While the elder brother is a key advisor to Nitish on bringing private investment to Bihar, the younger one is targeting him for rampant corruption. "Nothing happens here without money. The government here is run by corrupt bureaucrats," Pappu Singh said.

Even BJP's own Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi hasn't been spared. Understandably the ruling party, JD(U) is upset. But the Opposition in the state is euphoric. "BJP is now saying what we have been saying for many days," RJD MP Ram Kripal Yadav said.

Pappu Singh organised a rally against his own BJP-JD(U) government, bringing more trouble for Nitish Kumar, who is already peeved at public protests that he has been facing across the state on his Adhikar Yatra. The man who is having the last laugh is indeed Lalu Prasad Yadav, whose job of criticising the Nitish government has been taken over by Nitish's men.

Don't resort to cheap gimmicks, Narendra Modi tells Kapil Sibal

Taking another swipe at Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal over Aakash tablets, Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked him not to indulge in “cheap gimmicks” and instead make honest efforts to deliver the promised device to the youths.

The comments came after Sibal shot off a letter and two tablets to Modi who had criticised the “delay” in delivery of the device to the students.

“Instead of cheap gimmicks, the minister (Sibal) should first inform the nation on his promise to provide Aakash tablet to 10 lakh youths in 2011!” tweeted Modi. “In future, Mr Sibal should make honest effort to ensure delivery of good quality computing & access device to our youth,” he added.

Reacting to Modi’s earlier criticism over “delay” in delivery of Aakash, Sibal had said, “We have sent the devices to the chief minister (Modi). He lives in netherworld, I have shown him on land that Aakash is in your hand.”

Sibal had sent a letter and two Aakash tablets to Modi saying “...Your statement has disappointed me. Education is a collaborative venture beyond the pale of politics and we need to work together in the best interest of the children...”

Mamata Banerjee slams UPA, says loot is on in the name of reforms and aam admi

Kolkata: Ahead of her party's demonstration in Delhi on Monday to protest against the UPA government's decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has hit out against the Centre saying that "looting is on in the name of aam admi and reforms".

Ms Banerjee, who reached Delhi on Saturday evening to attend her party's demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 1, said in her post in Facebook: "Reforms are meant to usher development for the people. Now-a-days, the trend is whenever any anti-people decision is taken, it is taken in the name of reforms."

Her comments came shortly after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indicated that the Centre may continue with the reforms process and expressed willingness to discuss issues with the allies. "We will do what is good for the country... reforms are not one-off process," he said in Delhi. (Read: PM says reforms to continue)

Six Trinamool Congress ministers had submitted their resignations on September 21 to the Prime Minister in protest against allowing FDI in retail, diesel price hike and the cap on subsidised cooking gas cylinders. The party had also submitted a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee formally withdrawing Trinamool's support to the UPA II government.

Senior party leader and former union minister of state for Urban Development Saugata Roy told PTI that all the party MPs are supposed to take part at the dharna at Jantar Mantar on Monday.

Referring to the Finance Ministry's decision to levy service tax on air conditioned passenger coaches and freight services fares in Railways from October 1, he said it would further burden the people after the decisions on hiking price of diesel, restriction on subsidised LPG cylinders, increase in fertiliser prices and permission to FDI in retail.

Andhra BJP chief gets 'death threat from Pak national' on Facebook

Andhra Pradesh BJP unit chief G Kishan Reddy on Saturday lodged a police complaint after he allegedly received death threat from a Pakistani national on a social networking site, police said.

In a complaint registered at the Cyber Crime Department, Reddy stated that he had received a threatening message on the Facebook, posted by one Ikram Shah, a Pakistani national.

According to police, the youth had asked Reddy to desist from making statements against the Muslim community, who were staging protests against an American film, or else he would be eliminated.

Requesting a thorough probe into the case, Reddy also urged the state government to find out whether Ikram had any local links.

The BJP leader also requested the state government to review his security.

Don't touch anyone's feet: Nitin Gadkari to BJP workers

Don't touch any colleague's feet in order to go up the party ladder, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.

Concerned over a culture of patronage, Gadkari at the party's National Council meeting:declared, "There will be no protocol in the party... I am ordering it."

Citing his own example, Gadkari said if an ordinary worker like him could become the party president, others too had hope of moving up the ranks.

"If you deserve it, you will get it.. Work hard and add to your weight," he told the meeting, including leaders and some 1,200 delegates.

He asked party colleagues not to "touch anybody's feet" in the party in future.

Concerned over infighting in various state units and at nationally, Gadkari urged party workers to come together.

He said that the BJP had been out of power since 2004 and there was need to change the image of the party so that it could move from being "a party of opposition to a party of good governance".

Expressing hope that the BJP would form the next Indian government, Gadkari said the party would unveil its India Vision 2025 document for the long term development of the country by the year end.

He said BJP was not opposed to economic reforms but would not allow FDI in multi-brand retail.

"We will not let FDI in multi-brand retail. It is against farmers and small traders."

Barfi!, India's Oscars entry, draws copycat flak

India's entry for best foreign language film at next year's Oscars has become the latest Bollywood movie to draw flak for allegedly plagiarising foreign hits in a 'mash-up' of ripped-off scenes.

Barfi! has won over critics and cinema-goers for its portrayal of a love triangle between a deaf man named Barfi and two women, one of whom is autistic -- not typical subject matter in the prolific Hindi-language film industry.

But since its release two weeks ago, several videos have spread through YouTube and social media sites highlighting a number of scenes that appear to draw heavily from international classics.

Film buffs spotted stark resemblances with clips from Gene Kelly's hit Singin' in the Rain (1952), Jackie Chan's Project A (1983), Buster Keaton's Cops (1922) and The Notebook (2004) starring Ryan Gosling among others.

The plot has been likened to Benny & Joon, the 1993 film starring Johnny Depp, while the soundtrack has drawn further comparisons with the musical score from Amelie, the 2001 hit starring Audrey Tautou.

One of the clearest sources of inspiration is Charlie Chaplin: one scene shows Barfi dodging a policeman through a sliding door, just as the king of silent film did in 1917's The Adventurer.

Barfi! director Anurag Basu has hit back at critics, saying the film is intentionally paying homage to Chaplin in a similar way to The Artist, the black-and-white silent film that won Best Picture at this year's Oscars.

"If I would have changed the shot, twisted things around and made it my own it would have been stealing," Basu told the TV show Headlines Today.

"I did shot-to-shot because they are famous iconic shots and scenes from famous masterpieces, every filmmaker knows them." Bollywood has come under fire before for remaking Hollywood flicks in the Hindi language, but Barfi! is under particular scrutiny because the movie-mad country is yet to win an Oscar in the foreign film category.

"So why would an Oscar jury pick a movie that reminds them of the very many movies they've seen before -- and which include films that are now Hollywood legend?" asked online magazine Firstpost.

In one of several earlier Bollywood copycat rows, US studio 20th Century Fox submitted a $1.4-million claim in 2009 against BR Films over Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai, alleging it was an illegal remake of My Cousin Vinny. The case was settled out of court.

Image consultant Dilip Cherian worried that entering Barfi! into the Oscars could cause embarrassment for India in the long-run.

"The fact is that critics will start wondering at which stage does plagiarism end in Indian movies and at what stage is it inspiration," he told Headlines Today.

Only three Indians films have been shortlisted in the foreign film category at the Oscars: Mother India in 1958, Salaam Bombay! in 1989, and Lagaan in 2002.

Manju Borah, who chairs India's selection committee, defended the latest choice.

"We selected Barfi! because of its treatment and freshness," she told the Hindustan Times. "In any case, every filmmaker is inspired by some cinema."

Film critic and curator Meenakshi Shedde said an "affectionate tribute" to world cinema, such asBarfi!, was not the same as stealing someone's ideas -- but she doubted for other reasons whether the film was the best selection.

"The criteria the Oscars look for is something uniquely Indian. Something that offers insights into the culture or society," Ms Shedde told AFP.

Now, ban imposed on LPG connections

State-run oil marketing companies are imposing an indefinite countrywide ban on issuing fresh cooking gas connections following the UPA government’s decision to cap the supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to six per household per year.

While Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has already issued an internal circular instructing that fresh LPG connections should be stopped until a “de-duplication” survey is completed, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are expected to follow soon, sources said. To avoid alarm, IOC has instructed that registrations for new customers be kept open, they said.

However, IOC chairman R S Butola claimed the advisory did not bar applications but said new customers should not be registered without proper identification.

The “de-duplication” exercise under the Know Your Customer scheme is being conducted to verify genuine customers by seeking their latest identity and address proof so as to weed out households with multiple connections under different names but the same address. Only consumers with verified connections will get LPG cylinders.

“It (the ban) will continue until all existing consumers are verified. We expect this to take three-four months,” said an IOC official. The new ceiling imposed earlier this month has resulted in consumers seeking extra connections.

BJP amends constitution to make Nitin Gadkari party chief for second term

Haryana: The decks have been cleared for Nitin Gadkari to continue as the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party has passed a resolution enabling a provision for a second term for one person.

Former party Presidents Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu proposed and seconded another term for Gadkari. The BJP's national council met to amend the party's constitution on Friday, which till now did not permit a second consecutive term for a sitting President in the party. Gadkari became BJP's youngest ever national President in 2009.

The BJP's three-day conclave in Surajkund, Haryana, will end on Friday. On Thursday, the BJP defended its stand on the ruling United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) reforms push, saying it was not anti-reforms but was opposed to foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and fuel price hikes as they were anti-people.

Releasing a 2002 letter by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which he had opposed FDI in retail, the BJP pointed out that there were several hurdles in the implementation of the UPA's decision on FDI in multi-brand retail, as India was a signatory to bilateral agreements with 82 countries where it could not stop foreign multinationals from entering certain states if it allowed domestic companies to set up shop.

World T20: Will India's five-bowler plan work against Australia?

Having topped Group A, MS Dhoni’s India need to pull up their socks and plug in the loopholes when they take on Australia in their first ICC World Twenty20 Super Eights match at the Premadasa in Colombo on Friday.

On the eve of the match in a press conference, Dhoni hinted that he would go in with five bowlers. That means that one batsman has to be dropped, and though Dhoni did not reveal who the unlucky player would be, he admitted it would be his toughest decision.

Just who those five bowlers India pick is already a problem of plenty for India. In all probability it will be a three-prong spin attack with one fast bowler and Irfan Pathan as the allrounder. Harbhajan Singh made a strong comeback in the last match against England and is sure to play with two left-handers in the form of David Warner and Michael Hussey in the Australian team. Irfan’s bowling form and ability to open the innings mean he is a first-choice pick, leaving Zaheer Khan and L Balaji to fill the pace bowler’s slot. R Ashwin, who was rested in the England match, should return as the third spinner alongside Harbhajan and Piyush Chawla – the pair that spun a web around England.

India have hassles with their batting too, namely the form of their openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. For five bowlers to play one batsman has to sit out, and rumors are rife that that man is Sehwag, who is going through a lean patch. In that scenario one of Irfan, Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma could be promoted to partner Gambhir, who himself needs runs to boost his confidence. Kohli is in unbelievable touch and Rohit – after a horror run of late – has hit form with three solid innings in Sri Lanka. Down the order, Dhoni and Suresh Raina provide the much needed firepower, but the Indian batsmen can be tested by the Australian bowlers with the short stuff. Pat Cummins has already stated Australia’s intent of bouncing out Raina, a batsman with short-ball woes, and though his half-century against England would have given Rohit some needed confidence, he will have his task cut out against Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Shane Watson. Yuvraj Singh’s patchy form since returning from cancer is also a worry for India.

For George Bailey’s team, it has been a one-man show from Shane Watson who is presently in a destructive mode in the World Twenty20 and well supported by Warner and Hussey. The only concern for Australia would be that of their middle order, which is yet to be tested.

This match puts forward an interesting contest of India’s spinners and Australia’s pacers, as the batsmen on both sides have to put their best foot forward, which in itself throws a challenge to both the sides in a format that allows little time to settle down.

Probable XIs:

India: 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Irfan Pathan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Rohit Sharma, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 Suresh Raina, 7 MS Dhoni (capt/wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 R Ashwin, 11 Zaheer Khan/L Balaji

Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Michael Hussey, 4 Cameron White, 5 George Bailey (capt), 6 Matthew Wade (wk), 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Glenn Maxwell, 9 Brad Hogg, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Pat Cummins

TMC, BJP tear into UPA's defence of fuel price hike, LPG cap and FDI

New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress and the Opposition are using the CNN-IBN poll to target the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and its recent economic decision to claim that these are not in the interest of the country. The poll shows that a majority of urban India has slammed the recent hike in diesel prices, the subsidy cap on LPG and three out four urban Indians don't support FDI in retail either.

While Trinamool leaders have pointed out that the poll vindicates party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's stand and decision to exit the UPA over diesel price hike, cap on subsidised LPG cylinders and foreign direct investment in multi-brand-retail; the Opposition has used it to take on the UPA leadership and claims that the poll is a complete rejection of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's leadership.

"Mamata Banerjee has come out with shining colours. And here you are not talking about the rural India, which would even given a bigger thumbs up to Mamata's decision. People are saying she was absolutely right," TMC leader Amit Mitra.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudheendra Kulkarni questioned the authority of the Prime Minister to continue in office, saying that his recent reforms measures have failed to impress the common man. "I was just looking at all the responses on various questions. It is complete a rejection of UPA's policies, performance and especially the Prime Minister's leadership," said Kulkarni.

However, the Congress believes that the reforms will help the government move from survival to revival. "Survival is not something that is really at stake, I think that is something that is quite confirmed. I think revival is something that is beginning," Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said.

Feeling the pinch of the fuel price hike, the urban middle class has dealt a severe blow to the Manmohan Singh Government, giving the Prime Minister's push for reforms a big thumbs down. The aam admi, Congress' target group, feels the government has not just lost credibility in the face of corruption charges, but also that its policies are burning a hole in their pockets.

A CNN-IBN survey conducted across six urban cities shows that 57 per cent feel UPA 2 has failed its battle against inflation. The other big let down is corruption with 32 per cent of the respondents claiming it’s a matter of concern.

After Mamata's exit, UPA 2 is struggling with numbers but adding to the nightmare are DMK and NCP who're now demanding a rollback of reforms. The Congress may try to appease its allies with sweet deals but the aam admi is gunning for its head.

When asked if the government's decision to hike diesel prices is justified, 87 per cent said no and that's a figure the government needs to worry about, and revamp its game-plan for 2014.

The decision to reduce the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders to 6 is hurting every kitchen as had been predicted by the Left and other opposition parties.

The government stands isolated with 93 per cent of Indians saying the move is unjust. In capital Delhi 99 per cent of the respondent have voted against the government's move.

So what should the limit on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders in a year be? The people of India say a realistic one cylinder per month is an essential requirement.

Battling negative public perception here's another shocker for the government. Dr Manmohan Singh's push for FDI in retail, a move clearly aimed at winning the support of the urban middle class has backfired at well.

A vehement no coming from 76 per cent of the respondents when asked if they think FDI in retail is a correct decision.

Kapil Sibal gifts Akash tablet to Narendra Modi after taunt

New Delhi: There seems to be an interesting face-off between Union Telecom Minister and Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Sibal, among the most vocal critics of the BJP, has gifted Akash tablets to the Gujarat leader.

Gifting Modi the Akash tablets, Sibal said, "Woh toh Paataal mein rahte hain, humne unke haath mein Akash (Tablet) de diya hai" (He stays in netherworld, I have given Akash in his hand).

Sibal's gift follows Modi's taunts directed at him over the Akash tablet. Modi, in his Teachers Day speech, had ridiculed Sibal for failing to launch the Akash tablet, saying the UPA's publicised tablet Akash hasn't taken off the ground.

"I want to tell students that 11 months ago a Minister of the Congress-led UPA government, Kapil Sibal, had organised a big event at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, and launched Aakash tablet in the presence of country's top most media," Modi had told a gathering on the occasion of Teachers Day.

"He (Sibal) had stated that the world's cheapest low-cost PC would be made available to students at Rs 3,000. Mind you, it was not for free, you had to pay for it," he had said, adding that even after paying, no tablet PC had been delivered since its launch.

"Eleven months have passed by, but no Aakash tablet has come down on Earth...Now I realise why this gizmo is named 'Aakash' (pun intended - sky)," Modi had quipped.

Following these comments, Sibal had said that he would present the version-2 of Akash tablet to Narendra Modi. "After receiving the tablet, Modi may think about taking back his statement," Sibal had said.

Akash, the world's cheapest tablet, is planned to be distributed among students across the country.

(With additional information from PTI)

Urban India rejects UPA's fuel price hike, LPG cap, FDI, even PM: Survey

Feeling the pinch of the fuel price hike, the urban middle class has dealt a severe blow to the Manmohan Singh Government, giving the Prime Minister's push for reforms a big thumbs down. The aam admi, Congress' target group, feels the government has not just lost credibility in the face of corruption charges, but also that its policies are burning a hole in their pockets.

A CNN-IBN survey conducted across six urban cities shows that 57 per cent feel UPA 2 has failed its battle against inflation. The other big let down is corruption with 32 per cent of the respondents claiming it’s a matter of concern.

After Mamata's exit, UPA 2 is struggling with numbers but adding to the nightmare are DMK and NCP who're now demanding a rollback of reforms. The Congress may try to appease its allies with sweet deals but the aam admi is gunning for its head.

When asked if the government's decision to hike diesel prices is justified, 87 per cent said no and that's a figure the government needs to worry about, and revamp its game-plan for 2014.

The decision to reduce the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders to 6 is hurting every kitchen as had been predicted by the Left and other opposition parties.

The government stands isolated with 93 per cent of Indians saying the move is unjust. In capital Delhi 99 per cent of the respondent have voted against the government's move.

So what should the limit on the number of subsidised LPG cylinders in a year be? The people of India say a realistic one cylinder per month is an essential requirement.

Battling negative public perception here's another shocker for the government. Dr Manmohan Singh's push for FDI in retail, a move clearly aimed at winning the support of the urban middle class has backfired at well.

A vehement no coming from 76 per cent of the respondents when asked if they think FDI in retail is a correct decision.

We asked – what will be the impact of FDI in retail?

Fifty-three per cent think neighbourhood shops will be out of business and 23 per cent say the consumer will be the biggest gainer because of competitive pricing. Remember trade unions are a major votebank for political parties and the UPA cannot afford to get on their wrong side.

Under attack from the opposition, isolated by its close ally the TMC, desperately trying to hold on to the DMK and NCP as they too demand a rollback will UPA 2 be able to complete its full term?

Almost 41 per cent say no and 14 per cent claim there could be snap polls this year itself.

The government is clearly losing the people's trust and the Prime Minister is leading the nose dive. Labelled Underachiever by Time Magazine Dr Manmohan Singh seems to inspire no confidence among Indians either.

A vast majority - 67 per cent - say they have no faith in their Prime Minister and do not think he's capable of bailing the country out of the current economic crisis.

But even as the Prime Minister's popularity hits a new low, Mamata seems to have gained immensely by walking out of the UPA. Riding her pro-people and pro-poor agenda Mamata's strong stance is being hailed by the common man. Sixty-seven per cent support her decision to withdraw support and 64 per cent feel she's shown strong political will.

But UPA's loss is not NDA's gain. The lead opposition cannot expect to ride the anti-incumbency wave in 2012. As far as political alternatives go it's a toss between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal.

Fifty-two per cent feel Anna made the right choice by not launching a political party but 40 per cent are in favour of Arvind Kejriwal's decision.

Interestingly a majority across metros claim they will support a candidate put up by the India Against Corruption group.

Congress plays down Mamata Banerjee's remark on anti-FDI resolution

Congress on Thursday downplayed TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's statement that her party was ready to support a resolution moved by any party in Parliament against FDI in retail.

"The functioning of Parliament is as per rules. If anyone wants a discussion on any issue in Parliament, we welcome it", party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters, sidestepping questions as to how the Congress viewed the move by Banerjee whose party has just walked out of UPA.

His remarks came close on the heels of Banerjee saying that "I am ready to support a Mulayam Singh-sponsored resolution against FDI in retail in Parliament."

Banerjee's offer is aimed at forcing parties like Samajwadi Party, who are supporting UPa from outside, to make clear their political preference at the Centre.

Although Yadav has been taking an anti-FDI line, he has ruled out withdrawing support to the Centre.

On several charges made by Banerjee against the UPA dispensation including that the CBI and Income tax is being misused by the government to armtwist political parties and that the UPA regime is "of the corrupt, by the corrupt and for the corrupt", alvi only remionded her that that "till a few days back, she was with us."

On her remarks that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not a mass leader, he said "while there is no definition of a mass leader, Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister of the country who is respected all over the world".

Concluding day of BJP meeting today: LK Advani, Narendra Modi to take centrestage

Surajkund (Haryana): It's the third and final day of the BJP national executive meeting at Surajkund in Haryana. And the party is expected to sharpen its attack on the UPA government.

A political resolution against the UPA government's policies and the recent corruption scandals will be passed today. Senior leader LK Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi are expected to take centrestage as they address the gathering along with a host of other BJP chief ministers.

The BJP, on the second day of its national executive meeting on Thursday, resurrected a 2002 letter written by Manmohan Singh that the party says suggests, the Prime Minister was against the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail when he sat in the opposition.

In the letter - which has been used by the BJP before and even by Mamata Banerjee recently to bolster their argument against FDI in retail - Dr Singh, who was then the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, wrote to the chairman of a Mumbai-based trade body on December 21, 2002, saying that the issue of FDI in retail had been raised in the Upper House two days before and that "The finance minister gave an assurance that the government had no proposal to invite FDI in retail trade." The BJP-led NDA ruled at the Centre then.

The decision to allow foreign mega-stores to come into the retail sector in India was part of a number of key decisions the government made earlier this month; it has defended them as necessary to reinvigorate a flagging economy.

The BJP brandishes this 2002 letter to contend that the Congress' stand then endorsed the BJP's line on the matter and has since changed. The party has also dug up another letter - this one written by the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra to Dr Singh in December 2004, by which time he was PM. In this letter, the Federation reminded the PM that he had categorically told a delegation of traders that "we should not permit FDI in retail trade... India does not require the kind of reforms which would, rather than creating employment, destroy employment".

But despite the fresh FDI offensive, the party signalled a change in strategy to a more positive campaign after Mr Advani's advice that the shrill campaign is not benefitting the BJP. Mr Advani reportedly stepped in with valuable advice that the party's two-year long anti-corruption campaign might have hurt the Congress, but has not benefited the BJP as the shrill build-up has turned negative.

And the shift was visible. Party president Nitin Gadkari, in his speech yesterday, shifted gears as he told party workers, "Let's not be known as the party of opposition. Let us be known as a party of good governance."

He added, "Our state governments of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and others are doing well despite global slowdown, despite a central government which ignores opposition-ruled states. Let every worker spread the word about that."

Mr Gadkari went on to enlist how workers need to be trained and function - 'ignore ambition, shun protocol' and also proposed a "vision document 2025".

But this is not the only nudge Mr Advani provided to the BJP's strategy. The party has been opposing FDI in retail unleashed by the UPA. But it had ignored Mr Advani's suggestion of demanding a special session of Parliament to corner the UPA. On Thursday, the pro-reform right wing party took a left turn and spelt out its intent to make it an anti-aam aadmi issue. Leading the charge, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said, "We are not against reforms but every change cannot be called a reform."

The Congress-led UPA's move to allow FDI in retail has driven Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress out of the UPA. Congress' allies - the Samajwadi Party and the DMK - have protested on the streets against it.

Non-UPA parties like the Left Front, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the AIADMK have opposed it heavily. The BJP has aligned its stand with theirs. The idea, according to sources, is to take this coming together to the Winter Session of Parliament where a united opposition along with parties who are saying no to FDI on retail can build a sense of the house against the government move. 

The BJP wants to push the government to withdraw FDI in retail which is being termed as Manmohan Singh's return on the reform road and end of policy paralysis of the Centre. The party hopes that a coming together of parties who are with the Congress and those who are ideologically opposed to it will end the long isolation of the party, indicated best when Mamata Banerjee walked out of the UPA but the Samajwadi refused to dump the Congress as it would benefit the BJP.

The BJP is pressing for the withdrawal of the FDI move as once implemented it would be difficult for the saffron party to scrap it or support it, if post the 2014 polls the NDA forms the government, say sources.

In resignation, Ajit Pawar's gamble for the big league

Mumbai: A simmering rift over succession in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) now threatens to split the party. It's a face-off between a young and ambitious nephew Ajit Pawar versus the party patriarch and veteran politician Sharad Pawar.

The evidence is in the escalation of the political drama being played out after Ajit Pawar's resignation.

Just minutes after Ajit Pawar stepped down as Maharashtra's deputy chief minister over allegations of corruption in the 72,000 crore irrigation scam, party chief Sharad Pawar said, "No one else will resign and democratic front government in the state won't be destabilized."

But within hours, 19 NCP legislators sent their resignations to the state party chief, in support of Ajit Pawar, catching the coalition partner Congress off guard.

On Wednesday, party leader Praful Patel tried to downplay the crisis and said that "no meeting of NCP MLAs will be held since a senior leader has passed away."

But in Mumbai the NCP had a legislative party meet at the Vidhan Bhavan. Ajit Pawar drove into the building amidst massive cheer from his supporters. At the meeting, the NCP leaders urged Mr Pawar to reconsider his resignation and even passed a resolution to the effect.

Earlier in the day, 13 Independents - who support the NCP - said they would reconsider their decision unless Ajit Pawar remained deputy chief minister.  All this indicating a growing support within and outside the party for the young turk, who has his eyes set on Maharashtra assembly elections in 2014. It is seen as one of the biggest reasons why the junior Pawar decided to gamble away his position as the second most important person in the state govt.

That Ajit Pawar is ambitious is well known among political circles. Rahul Narvekar, the spokesperson of Shiv Sena's youth wing, says, "It's no secret he wants to be the chief minister. He has made his political ambitions very clear."

To realize this ambition Ajit Pawar knows that the NCP needs to fight elections on more seats. But with Congress as the dominant ally, it has not been able to do so in the 15 years they have been in the coalition.
 
Political insiders say Ajit Pawar thinks this is the only logical way for the party to grow, and he has the support amongst many of the younger MLA's within the NCP.

But Sharad Pawar is reluctant to break off the coalition that has served the NCP so well by keeping it in power in the state for the last decade and a half. This has been the cause for friction between the uncle and the nephew. 

Ajit Pawar had insisted that he be made the deputy chief minister if he could not be the chief minister. In fact, immediately after 2009 state elections it was reported that he had sulked for days at not being made the deputy chief minister. 

Then in 2010 he prevailed upon his uncle to remove Chaggan Bhujbal and lodged himself instead. At that time too, there were clear signs of support for him. 50 out of the 60 odd NCP legislators voted for him over Sharad Pawar-loyalist Chaggan Bhujbal.

Long considered as Sharad Pawar's political heir, he feared of getting sidelined by the rise of the party chief's daughter Supriya Sule. However Ms Sule made her preference clear. When asked in Nasik whether she would consider going to state politics if given a chance, she said, "No. I work at the Centre. I work in Delhi."

Ajit Pawar's muscle-flexing, many say, may be part of a pre-scripted NCP game-plan to keep the Congress guessing. But it has also shown the top leadership of NCP itself, that Ajit Pawar is a power centre in his own right and ready for the big leap. It's now upto Sharad Pawar, the master strategist, to ensure that the NCP does not go the Shiv Sena way, and that his nephew's political ambitions don't split his party right down the middle.