Lt Gen KS Brar, who led Op Blue Star, attacked in London

New Delhi/London: Lt General KS Brar, who led Operation Blue Star against Sikh terrorists holed up inside the Golden Temple, has reportedly been attacked and injured in London.

Sources said that four men assaulted Gen Brar, who was with his wife, outside a hotel and stabbed him.

The 78-year-old, who remains on the hit-list of Sikh militant groups, is believed to be in critical condition in a local hospital after surgery. Gen Brar's wife was not hurt, sources said.

Lt General Brar usually lives in a high-security cantonment area in South Mumbai.

BJP chief Nitin Gadkari visits Delhi court to sue Congress leader Digvijaya Singh

New Delhi: BJP president Nitin Gadkari visited a Delhi court today to formally sue Digvijaya Singh for defamation.

Mr Singh, who is a senior Congress leader, had alleged in a series of interviews last month that Ajay Sancheti, a Rajya Sabha MP and an entrepreneur from Nagpur, is Mr Gadkari's business partner.

The Congress says that Mr Sancheti was given a sweetheart deal for a coal mine in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP is in power, on account of his close links to the party's chief.

Both the BJP and Mr Sancheti have denied the charges.

In a legal notice sent to Mr Singh a few weeks ago,  the BJP chief said the remarks against him  were  "completely concocted, defamatory, scandalous and un-parliamentary." (Read notice here)

When asked if he would apologise, Mr Singh had said "Main kabhi maafi nahin maangta (I never say I am sorry)." 

The government and the BJP have been trading charges over a coal policy that allegedly helped private players get windfall benefits of upto Rs. 1.86 lakh crores, according to the national auditor or CAG.

The Congress says it implemented the policies that were followed by the preceding BJP-led NDA government.

The BJP, however, uses the CAG report to accuse the government of crony capitalism by giving coal fields at a fraction of their market value to businessmen who were close to the Congress.

Modi attacks Sonia, says she spent Rs 1880 cr on foreign trips

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a fresh attack on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of wasting the public money over her foreign trips. Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Modi demanded an explanation on the medical bills of Sonia Gandhi.

He said, "A large amount of money has been spent in the short span of three years. An amount of Rs 1880 crore, almost Rs 2000 crore, were spent. And I am not quoting media reports here. This has been revealed by an RTI plea."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader further explained that even as he was in favour of development, he was strongly opposed to foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail. Modi asserted that according to him, sacrificing the small traders of India would not improve the economy of the country.

Relating his stand to that of US President Barack Obama, Modi said, "People consider America and Obama forward looking. And yet, Obama has tweeted asking Americans to support small businesses and avoid malls."

Continuing his attack on the UPA government, the BJP leader accused it of misusing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) when in trouble. Modi said, "Whenever the Centre is in trouble, the CBI is misused and political parties are targeted to garner votes," pointing that even the Supreme Court had also passed harsh strictures against the investigating agency.

When asked about his prime ministerial ambitions and a vocal opposition to it from Bihar Chief Minister and NDA ally Nitish Kumar, Modi claimed that he was concerned only about Gujarat and its future. While skirting the question on his position after the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 if his party had the numbers, Modi said that his focus would continue to remain on Gujarat.

"I am only concerned about Gujarat and its future. In the Assembly elections, my focus will continue to remain on Gujarat," said the BJP strongman.

Later, answering a question on whether his former home minister Amit Shah, an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case who has returned to Gujarat following relief from a court, would get a ticket in the Assembly elections, Modi remained evasive it was not his call.

"I do not decide who contests elections. This decision is taken by the BJP central parliamentary board and they have not discussed anything with us yet," said the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Mamata warns UPA over FDI, threatens trust vote, issues a clarion call to CMs

New Delhi: Using the twin issues of foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail and diesel price hike to target the Congress-led UPA Government, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday exhorted chief ministers of all the states to join her in her battle. Targeting the Centre over FDI and fuel price hike, the West Bengal Chief Minister warned of a new front to take on the Congress while blaming it of not paying any attention to the miseries of the common man.

Talking about her future course of action, Mamata said she would hold a rally against the government across the country. Seeking the support of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, Mamata outlined her roadmap which included rallies in Patna and Lucknow over the next few weeks.

Attacking the Congress for claiming that her support base was limited to West Bengal, the feisty leader alleged that since anti-people policies were being framed in Delhi so her battle against the UPA would also being from the national capital.

Addressing an anti-FDI rally at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the Trinamool Congress chief threatened a no-confidence motion against the government in the next session of Parliament if Mulayam was willing to support it, saying the UPA government was selling the country in the name of FDI in retail.

In a bid to strike a chord with the common man, the Trinamool Chief also crooned ‘Aye Mere Watan ke Logon" while sharing the stage with Sharad Yadav, who said that he had come as a common man and not as a representative of any political front. She also claimed that attempts had been made to disrupt her rally while asking the security personnel to throw out a man, who she said was trying to create disturbance.

Mamata's party is now slated to hold another dharna on November 19 and 20 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Speaking at the rally, Mamata further said, "We will also hold a rally on November 17 in Lucknow where we will invite Mulayam Singh, Akhilesh Yadav and Sharad Yadav."

Mamata said that she had "heard" that the general elections could be advanced and held in March next year. "We also don't want this government. If need be, we are ready for bringing a no-confidence motion against this government," the West Bengal Chief Minister said while launching an all-out attack on the Congress-led UPA government. Trinamool Congress, which has withdrawn support to the government, has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha.

Mamata, whose party organised the protest against FDI in retail, diesel price hike and LPG cap, said she could also bring a resolution against these decisions.

"I have heard that elections will happen in March. I am ready for a resolution," she said. She also appealed to other political parties not to support the government and asked them to support her party's resolution against the recent decisions on FDI and other issues.

"I am ready to work with other parties to bring a resolution against the government in the next session of Parliament...I would request other political parties not to support this government," she said.

NDA convenor Sharad Yadav, while addressing the rally, showered praises on the West Bengal Chief Minister calling her a Tigress.

He said, "She is the Tiger of Bengal. What she has done no one has ever and can do. I congratulate her, I salute you. I am not representing any party. Mamata asked me to come and I came to support her."

However, the government tried to downplay the threats by Mamata claiming that she did not have much presence beyond West Bengal.

When asked about Mamata bringing her fight against FDI to Delhi, Congress leader and Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said, "I don't think Mamata has a presence beyond Bengal. It is not easy…even Modi has not managed to spread himself, and he belongs to a pan-India party.

(With Additional Inputs from PTI)

DMK will support resolution against FDI in Parliament, says Karunanidhi

Chennai: The Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday made it clear that the party would support any resolution against foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail in Parliament. At the DMK executive meeting in Chennai the party supremo and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi said that even though FDI won't be a sticky point in the ties with Congress, he asked the Central Government to reconsider the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail.

At the executive meeting, DMK leaders also discussed the arrest of some of its cadre by the J Jayalalithaa government and the party's alliance with the Congress. Earlier, Karunanidhi had support the Opposition-sponsored Bharat Bandh on September 20 against FDI in retail. He had claimed that FDI in retail would be ruinous for farmers and small traders.

Meanwhile, the DMK also slammed the Jayalalithaa government claiming that ever since she stormed to power in May 2011, several DMK leaders and former ministers, besides sitting MLAs, have been facing the heat with land grab and disproportionate assets cases filed against them.

DMK has maintained that many cases were foisted ones. Cases were recently slapped against former Minsters K Ponmudy and KN Nehru. Karunanidhi's grandson Dayanidhi Alagiri is also in the dock over alleged illegal granite mining scam in Madurai. The party had earlier conducted a series of protests on the issue.

The meeting, chaired by Karunanidhi, was attended among others by his sons Union minister MK Alagiri and MK Stalin. Karunanidhi had on Sunday sought to scotch speculation that the Executive would also discuss a possible cabinet reshuffle with its quota of two portfolios remaining vacant, saying it would not nominate anyone.

(With additional information from PTI)

No rift with Arvind Kejriwal, our goal is same: Anna Hazare

New Delhi: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Monday said that he will support Arvind Kejriwal if the latter stands for elections, while denying that they had any differences. The 75-year-old activist said that he will campaign for Kejriwal if he stands against Union Minister Kapil Sibal and added that his movement is different from Kejriwal but their goal is same.

"Ours is a democratic country. If Arvind selects a good candidate, I will support him. We will not fight against each other as our goal is same," he said at a press conference.

He, later, clarified that his support is only for Kejriwal and not for any other candidate. "I will only support Arvind Kejriwal if he stands for election, will not support any other candidate selected by Arvind Kejriwal," Hazare said.

Hazare announced that he will begin his country-wide tour against corruption in November. Attacking the UPA Government, he said that those in power were not interested in tackling corruption and the time has come for them to quit.

"The Prime Minister had given us a written agreement on the Jan Lokpal Bill but nothing has been done till today. We will tour the nation for next one-and-a- half-year to spread awareness about our movement. This government will have to either get the Jan Lokpal Bill or will have to go," he said.

Hazare said that many retired bureaucrats and Army officers had shown willingness to join his movement for a corruption-free country. "Our meeting is on for the last two days. Today we met few retired civil servants, who want to join the movement. We will check their background before they start working with us," he told the reporters.

When asked about reports of his meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's political secretary Pawan Khera, Hazare said he has no idea who he was.

Talking about his future plans, he said, "We are going to build national-level coordination committee for our movement." Hazare insisted that no individual decisions will be taken and that the movement will run on "democratic values".

On the second day of his visit to New Delhi on Monday, Kejriwal met Hazare along with Manish Sisodia and assured that he'll support the anti-corruption crusader in all his movements. This was the first meeting between Kejriwal and Hazare after they parted ways.

"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.

Amit Shah falsely implicated: Narendra Modi

Coming out in support of former state minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi termed his arrest as "unfortunate" and claimed that he was falsely implicated in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

"Judiciary is not under the government and is independent. Therefore, the state government need not comment on it. It is unfortunate he (Shah) was falsely implicated in the case and sent to jail, which is most unfortunate," Modi told TV channels in Gujarat during his month-long yatra.

Attacking the UPA government at the Centre, he said it was using CBI as a tool to harass political rivals.

"To remain in power, Congress government in Delhi has CBI as the only tool. CBI is being misused in Gujarat. Innocent citizens are being harassed. It is my serious charge that CBI would be used with all might during the Gujarat Assembly elections," he said.

Earlier in the day, BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley also attacked the CBI.

"One of our Rajasthan ministers was tormented and sent to jail, Amit Shah has been regularly implicated in false cases. Police officers who fought terrorism are facing cases," Gadkari said here.

Like his party chief, Jaitley also attacked the functioning of the CBI. "The situation of CBI is such that whichever party is in government, (it works) to serve that party and preserve it. I say it without hesitation that the UPA would not have been in power if CBI was not its biggest ally," he said.