Will contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats, says BJP in Bihar, snubbing Nitish

Patna: Bihar's BJP chief has said that his party will contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state, putting it in direct competition with its ally in the state, the Janata Dal (United). The BJP is the junior partner with the JD(U) in the state, with Nitish Kumar as the chief minister. 

This was confirmed by Bihar BJP president C.P. Thakur, who made a detailed presentation to the top leadership of the party at the Surajkund meeting last week. He said this was done in view of growing uneasiness with alliance with the JD(U). "As a political party it's imperative to be ready to contest all the 40 seats," Mr Thakur said in Patna today. 

Though Mr Kumar has successfully led the alliance government quite smoothly, in recent times there have been several rough patches. The most critical flashpoint is the possibility of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi being projected as a possible prime ministerial candidate in the next election. Mr Kumar has clearly said that the JD(U) will not accept this, since he is targetting the Muslim vote to keep his party in power.

Mr Kumar has himself been projected as a possible PM candidate, not just by his own party, but also by Sushil Modi, Bihar's deputy chief minister, who is from the BJP. 

He had also said last month that he was willing to support anyone who will give Bihar special financial aid. This was interpreted as Mr Kumar's willingness to partner with a non-BJP party so long as the aid was promised to his state.

In another sign of the growing distance between the two parties, a BJP MLA on Sunday organised a rally of his own to highlight what he called corruption at the grassroots level in Bihar. 
Though the MLA, Uday Singh from Purnea, will be cautioned by the BJP, Mr Thakur said, it does point to differences within the alliance. 

Analysts say that the BJP's announcement of contesting all the Lok Sabha seats will not only widen the differences, but also confuse party workers on both sides, since the alliance at the state level is continuing.

Arvind Kejriwal set to enter politics; to announce his party, vision today

New Delhi: Activist Arvind Kejriwal is all set to make his his much-anticipated foray into active politics. He is expected to launch his political party on Tuesday. He will also outline the vision of his party, its constitution, the selection of candidates and a party manifesto, for which he will seek feedback from the general public.

Kejriwal chose Gandhi Jayanti to make his big announcement as he takes his fight against corruption to the next level. An internal Lokpal will also be appointed by the party to probe cases of impropriety. The name of internal Lokpal, a retired judge, will also be announced on Tuesday.

On Monday, Kejriwal met Anna Hazare, who said that he supported the IAC activist but not his party. The two had parted ways on political differences. But on Monday, Anna Hazare 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.

PTI Photo

"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.

Kejriwal also assured Anna 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.

Kejriwal had earlier said they were not entering politics to acquire power as politics is yet another tool for strengthening of the anti-graft movement. The proposed party is likely to first test its strength in Delhi Assembly polls next year, skipping this year's Assembly elections in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

Earlier, the Kejriwal-led group had decided to form a preparatory committee consisting of 80-100 members, including some retired judges, to chalk out the details of formation of the party. It was also decided that an internal Lokpal, having retired judges as its members, will be constituted to ensure internal discipline within the party. The preparatory committee, however, was not formed despite the plan of having its first meeting on August 26.

(With additional information from PTI)

Modi's conditional apology may prove a trap for the Congress

New Delhi: Hours after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi waved copies of a bunch of papers carrying an RTI report on Congress President Sonia Gandhi's foreign tours and the alleged expenditure on her treatment abroad, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongman has been forced to climb down after the RTI applicant himself denied the Rs 1880 crore figure that Modi alleged Sonia had spent on her tours.

"If Modi is referring to my RTI, neither have I received any such information nor have I leaked it to the media or any politician," said Ramesh Verma. Verma's reply gave the Congress a chance to hit back at Modi, promptly calling him a liar. "Time and again, he has attacked Congress leaders based on untruths and falsehood. You can't expect a man with that mindset to apologise," said Union minister Kapil Sibal.

But the Congress itself is in a trap now. Modi said that he was ready to apologise if his charges were proved wrong. This means that pressure will now be on Congress to reveal the cost of their party president's travels.

The Congress, however, has so far refused to answer any RTI query on Sonia. Modi, on the other hand, is unwilling to let go. He has, over the past week, made the Gujarat elections a national issue. He has repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia and her son and Congress General Secretary Rahul.

Sonia is expected to visit Rajkot on October 3. She will be meeting the farmers to counter Modi's allegations. However, Modi's latest allegations have put both the BJP and the Congress in a tight spot.

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)