PENALISE PARTIES MAKING FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS: HARSIMRAT BADAL TO EC

Chandigarh April 19 – The SAD-BJP Bathinda candidate Ms. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today asked the Election Commission of India to fix stringent norms for punishing political parties and candidates who indulged in making false, fabricated and fantastic complaints against their opponent merely to gain cheap media publicity.
In her letter to the EC, Ms. Badal also called for specific time frame for deciding such complaints and definite penalties for complaints found to be frivolous. She said that the tendency among some political parties and candidates to deflect attention from their own weaknesses by leveling false allegations or raising a hue and cry about issues that had no relation to reality was on the rise and needed to be checked.
In her letter, the SAD-BJP candidate specifically expressed surprise over one of her rivals, Raninder Singh of the Congress, lodging a complaint with the EC on her alleged remarks that villages that did not vote for the ruling alliance in Bathinda would be denied government grants for development works. Raninder’s complaint, she said, was clearly the result of the Congress realization that almost all the Panchayats in the region had openly expressed their admiration for development works undertaken by the SAD-BJP government. “I can understand my brother Raninder’s desperation and I even sympathise with him but I would also like to advise him that a resort to lies or to a stray misleading media report is hardly going to bail him out of his difficulties. I am sure that if he were not contesting this election, even he would agree that the development undertaken by the Parkash Singh Badal-led government in Punjab has been phenomenal and without a precedent in the history of the state,” said Ms. Badal.

Congress seeks ban on Asthana’s entry into Patiala

CHANDIGARH, April 19
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee has sought ban on the entry of DIG AK Asthana into Patiala as he was indulging in political activities and threatening and intimidating voters there despite having been transferred out.

In a representation to the Chief Election Commissioner of India, the coordinator of the campaign committee Lt Col CD Singh Kamboj pointed out, Asthana’s continuous stay in Patiala was with the obvious intent of helping the ruling Akali-BJP alliance in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

The complaint said, Asthana was defying the Election Commission orders by virtue of which he had been transferred out of Patiala. Although he has been transferred from Patiala, he continues to remain stationed there telling his subordinates and people that he was to rejoin after elections, with the obvious hint that they should do his bidding in the elections.

The Congress has already brought to the notice of the political activities of Asthana in clear violations of his service conduct as also the Election Commission of India guidelines. The complaint urged the commission to ensure that Asthana’s entry into Patiala till the time of election is banned. Otherwise the purpose of his transfer from Patiala would get defeated as he remains stationed there, enjoying full powers of a serving police officer.

The complaint said, he has defied the orders of the Commission with impunity, thus making the orders of the Commission “totally infructuous” with open support from the Punjab government.

The committee also complained against Satinder Singh, who has recently been posted as S.P. City, Amritsar by the Punjab Government. The complaint alleged, his name was deliberately recommended and sent to Election Commission of India for posting at Amritsar as he has sizable number of relatives in the city and near by village which fall under Amritsar parliamentary constituency. “The Akali-BJP alliance can use his influence on his relatives for their own favour, in the coming elections”, it observed, while urging the commission to get him transferred immediately out of Amritsar in the interest of free and fair elections.

Akalis have double standards; are too ungrateful - Raninder

BATHINDA, April 19
The Congress candidate from Bathinda Parliamentary Constituency, Raninder Singh today said, the Akalis had double standards and were ungrateful to the highest degree. He pointed out, while the Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal has no qualms in going begging to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for every big and small issue in Delhi, here in Punjab he and his party keep on telling people that he (Dr Manmohan Singh) had done nothing for Punjab.
Addressing a series of public meetings in different villages in the Sardulgarh Assembly segment, Raninder Singh pointed out, every now and then the Chief Minister is in New Delhi seeking appointments with Dr Singh for various aids and concessions for the state using all the pleas of a Punjabi and a Sikh Prime Minister with him, but when he comes back home, Badal and other Akalis try to make out as if Dr Singh had done nothing for Punjab.
S Raninder Singh pointed out, not only each and every Punjabi, but every Indian is proud of Dr Manmohan Singh. “Dr Manmohan Singh is an economist of repute, who is consulted by policy makers from the US and Europe and it is an honour to have him as our Prime Minister”. He further added “it was the duty of each and every Punjabi to ensure that the son of the soil is returned as the Prime Minister”.
While appealing to the people to strengthen the hands of Dr Manmohan Singh, he pointed out, Dr Singh had enhanced the pride of Sikhs. “Dr. Singh is a man of integrity, eminent economist, gentleman, humble and soft-spoken…nobody can point an accusing finger towards him”, he said, while adding, “his contribution towards the development of Punjab can not be ignored”.

Listing his contribution towards Punjab he pointed out, “beside releasing liberal funds for strengthening the infrastructure at Amritsar Airport, a new International Airport has been sanctioned for Punjab at Mohali-Chandigarh, two Central Universities (at Amritsar and Bathinda) and one IIT at Ropar have been allocated to Punjab, Guru Gobind Singh Marg has been sanctioned from Talwandi Sabo in Punjab to Nanded (Maharashtra) passing through five other states”.
“These are just few examples and the list is too long”, S Raninder Singh said, while asking Akalis to, “at least be honest and fair to the man who has always given you due respect and honour despite your disrespect and ingratitude towards him by voting against his Prime Ministerhsip in the Parliament”.

Rahul attacks BJP on terrorism front

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Sunday termed as "dismal" the previous NDA govt's record in handling terrorism and charged that its "weakness was exposed" during the Kandahar episode when "the terrorists responsible for the recent Mumbai attacks were let off".

"The people who are talking about terrorism themselves bowed before terrorists and released two of their associates, who were later responsible for the terror attacks in Mumbai," Rahul said, addressing an election rally in the temple town.

In contrast, UPA government acted decisively in tackling the Mumbai attacks and exerted intense diplomatic pressure on Pakistan putting onus on that country for the terror mechanism operating from its soil, he claimed.

The Congress leader, who was in Pandharpur to canvass votes for Union Power Minister and party's candidate from Solapur Lok Sabha constituency Sushil Kumar Shinde, wondered as to why the Opposition was raking the issue of black money in Swiss banks now and had maintained silence over the issue in the last five years.

Communalism, Naxalism great threat to country: PM

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said communalism and Naxalism are great threats to the country and the Congress is committed to fight the divisive forces.

Dr. Singh also said that the current global economic crisis is a result of mishandling of resources by developed nations.

He said the UPA government has taken a number of measures to ameliorate the hardships on account of this economic slowdown.

Refutes Lalu's allegation over Babri Masjid demolition

Dr Singh also refuted RJD chief Lalu Prasad's allegation that Congress was also to be blamed for the demolition of Babri Masjid.

"Congress believed the affidavit filed by then UP chief minister Kalyan Singh in the Supreme Court (promising to protect the mosque), that was the only fault of the party," said the Prime Minister.

Mr. Singh expressed confidence that the Congress and its allies will be able to form "a credible government" at the Centre after the polls.

Promises "new India" and a "prosperous" Assam

Promising to work for a "new India" and a "prosperous" Assam, the Prime Minister said, "it's the demand of time that Congress should get five more years to govern the country."

Listing out the central government's flagship programmes like NREGA and NRHM, the PM said that the work is still incomplete and efforts have to be made to rid India of poverty.

New ministry for minority affair

The PM also mentioned the steps taken by the UPA government for the welfare of minorities like formation of a new ministry for minority affair, PM's 15-point programme and identification of minority concentrated districts for carrying out special development works.

He also expressed concern over "certain parties doing politics by dividing people on caste and community lines" and felt such politics obstructs the country's progress.

To queries if Assam United Democratic Front would be a threat to the Congress, he said, "AUDF can only divide the secular votes and play a disruptive role".

Dr Singh expressed the hope that there will not be any violence during the elections. "Hope violence is given no place in body politic.

All right thinking people ensure violence is given no place in body politic," said Dr Singh.

He said activities of insurgency groups were a matter of concern for the governments of Assam and India. The home minister was here. There is need to renew efforts to control insurgency in Assam and the NE as a whole.

The prime minister also assured the people of the state of renewed attention to the recurring flood problem in Assam and protection of the Majuli Island.

"Seventy five projects have been taken up by the state government with the help of central government to tackle floods on a high priority basis," Dr Singh said.

"Unfortunately the N-E Water Resource Development Agency has not yet been formed. So this time we will make a determined effort," he said.

He was addressing a press-conference in Aamingaon near Guwahati.

The second phase of polling in Assam will be held April 23rd.

PM to cast his vote in Assam

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who did not cast his vote in 2004 parliamentary elections and also skipped the Assembly polls two years later, would exercise his franchise in Assam on 23^rd April for the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency.

"Yes, I will be coming here for voting on April 23. My wife (Gursharan Kaur) will also vote with me," Dr Singh, who represents Assam in Rajya Sabha, told reporters in Guwahati while replying to a query.

Dr Singh has his name in the Dispur area voters' list that comes under the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency and his residential address is of Sorumataria. The constituency goes to polls on April 23 in the second phase of elections.

PM, Advani address rallies in Assam as campaigning picks up for 2nd phase

Campaign hots up for the second phase of polling scheduled on Thursday in 13 states for 141 constituencies while repoll in one polling booth in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on Sunday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh campaigned in Assam on Sunday while Congress President Sonia Gandhi addressed rallies in Lucknow, Faizabad and Allahabad.

AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is on an election tour to Maharashtra.

In West Bengal, Trinamool leader Mamta Banerjee, Congress veteran Pranab Mukharjee and state Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee are campaigning extensively.

BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Rajnath Singh also held public rallies in UP and Maharashtra.

Repoll held

The election commission had ordered re-polling in 46 polling booths spread across seven states.

Repolling in 37 polling booths took place in 29 polling stations in Andhra Pradesh, five in Assam, two in Kerala and one in Uttar Pradesh.

Repoll in one polling booth in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on Sunday.

Five polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh and three in Nagaland will go to polls again on April 20th.

On Thursday, a total of 124 constituencies spread across 15 states and two union territories went to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Girija Vyas, Maneka Gandhi, J P Agrawal file nomination

Congress leader Girija Vyas filed her nominations for the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan to be held on 7^th May. Vyas submitted her papers from Chittorgarh Lok Sabha seat. Saturday was the last day of filing nomination for the fourth phase of elections.

BJP candidate Maneka Gandhi also filed her nomination papers from Aonla parliamentary constituency. Maneka filed her papers before the Bareilly District Magistrate at the collectorate office.

Congress candidate from North East Delhi constituency J P Agrawal also submitted his nomination papers.

BSP Chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has said that her government doesn't provide shelter to any criminals. She was addressing an election rally in Balrampur.

The Communist Party of India Marxist, has said that the Mauritius route remains the largest conduit for the evasion of capital gains tax and corporate tax, and the BJP by raising the Swiss bank issue was trying to cover up the misdeeds of the NDA rule.

PM to cast his vote in Assam

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who did not cast his vote in 2004 parliamentary elections and also skipped the Assembly polls two years later, would exercise his franchise in Assam on 23rd April for the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency.

"Yes, I will be coming here for voting on April 23. My wife (Gursharan Kaur) will also vote with me," Singh, who represents Assam in Rajya Sabha, told reporters in Guwahati today while replying to a query.

Singh has his name in the Dispur area voters' list that comes under the Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency and his residential address is of Sorumataria.

The constituency goes to polls on 23rd April in the second phase of elections.

The Prime Minister has rented a flat on the premises of former chief minister Hiteswar Saikia's residence.

Singh had not caste his vote here during the 2004 polls.

Elected four times in a row to Rajya Sabha from Assam since 1991, the Prime Minister and his wife had left Assam just a day before Assembly polls in 2006.

According to election rules, the Prime Minister is not eligible for postal ballot, since the facility is only for officials on poll duty and men from the services

Congress can tackle terror: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asserted that only Congress can provide a strong government in "difficult times" when the country is facing threats like terrorism.

Addressing an election rally at Amingaon in North Guwahati, Singh voiced concern over the growing acts of terrorism which posed a threat to the country.

"The Congress party can only give you a strong government in this hour by having all the apparatus to face difficult times," he said.

Stating that "terrorism has no place in our society", the Prime Minister condemned the recent acts of violence in India and Assam in particular where the common man, women and children were the victims.

"I have my sympathy for the victims of this senseless attacks and want to assure the people that we want to stop such acts of violence," Singh said.

After the Mumbai terror strike, the UPA government had strongly dealt with the emerging situation and was in contrast to what the BJP did when similar attacks took place during their rule, he said.

"There is a difference between what they (BJP) promise and what they do. That is for you to know," Singh said.

This was the prime minister's first election rally in Guwahati parliamentary constituency of Assam after he had to cancel his poll campaign in Dibrugarh on April seven due to bad weather.

The prime minister claimed that Sonia Gandhi-led party had fulfilled its promise and worked hard to ensure that the "fruits of development" reach to the poor.

"Our job is not fully done. We have a lot to do to remove poverty. The Congress should get five more years to carry on with the process of development," he said.

The Congress, he said, had taken care of the minorities and had set up a separate ministry.

"Nine minority dominated districts in Assam have been identified where special schemes will be taken to improve their plight," the Rajya Sabha MP from Assam said.

The Prime Minister also referred to the mid-day meal scheme and said under the Rashtriya Gramin Mission, 23,000 primary health centres and 1, 46,000 sub centres would be opened.

Health insurance scheme had been launched and loans of small farmers were also waived off, he said.

The prime minister also announced that three new medical colleges and a world class university would be set up in Assam.

"I appeal you to strengthen the hands of Congress and Sonia Gandhi and help in hastening development in both urban and rural areas," he said.

Cong welcomes EC decision on Sonia

The Congress on Sunday welcomed the decision of the Election Commission, which by a majority opinion has rejected the demand for disqualification of Sonia Gandhi as a Member of Parliament for receiving a foreign award.

"We welcome the EC's decision. The EC decided to clear Sonia themselves. We were not approached (by the EC)," senior party leader Kapil Sibal said.

Earlier, the Commission by a 2-1 vote, overturned the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami's view that an enquiry was necessary to go into the complaint against Gandhi receiving the 'Order of Leopold', the second highest civilian honour in Belgium, given to her during a visit to that country in November 2006.

Election Commissioners, Navin Chawla, who will succeed N Gopalaswami on Tuesday, and S Y Quraishi overturned the incumbent CEC's view, highly placed sources said today.

The Commission's view has been sent to President Pratibha Patil for her final decision.

The controversy arose out of a petition from a Kerala advocate who had sought the disqualification of Gandhi for accepting the Belgian honour.

Under the conduct of business rules in the Election Commission, in case of difference of opinion among the three commissioners, the majority view will prevail.

In this Belgian honour case, the view of the two Election Commissioners may prevail over the CEC's view.

Cong hopes to ride on success of NREGA, forest land right

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and granting of forest land right to tribals, two flagship programmes of the UPA govt may help congress electorally in Gujarat where tribal population is around 15 per cent and can influence eight seats.

Tribals, which are spread in North-Eastern and South belt of Gujarat, are the main beneficiaries of these two schemes introduced by the Congress-led UPA government.

In the state, out of 26 Lok Sabha seats, four are tribal reserved seats-Bardoli and Valsad in South Gujarat and Dahod and Chhota Udeipur in Central Gujarat.

However, apart from reserved seats, tribals have considerable presence in Panchmahal, Bharuch, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha parliamentary constituencies.

"Our main campaign centres of NREGA, which has given work to the people in tribal areas and has had a positive impact on rural economy," said Nasvadi Congress MLA Dhirubhai Bhil.

"We also tell people that ask BJP leaders to make their stand clear regarding the employment guarantee scheme. It is important to know whether the BJP if voted to power, will continue the scheme or scrap it," he said.

Lalu-Rabri derogatory comment case over: Chawla

Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla on Saturday had said the case relating to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi making derogatory comments was over.

"If there is further violation by them or leaders of other political parties, the district authorities could initiate action against them under different sections of RPA and CrPC," he told reporters at Patna on Saturday.

"If matters related to violation of Model Code of Conduct is reported to EC, a full bench would take action against the erring leaders," Chawla said.

The election commissioner said the returning officers and police have been directed to keep a track on "dummy" candidates. If they were found canvassing for other candidates then the expenses of the official nominee would add up.

Referring to the alleged murder of a candidate whose body was found hanging from a tree at Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, Chawla said EC has taken serious note of the incident and has asked the DGP, DM and SP to take action.

Chawla said 20 people, including security forces were killed and 46 people injured in Maoist-hit states where disturbances were reported from 270 booths during first phase of elections. (DD-19.4)

Some UP govt officials under the scanner of EC: Quraishi

The Election Commission on Saturday said that some officials of the Uttar Pradesh government were under the scanner of the EC and if required action could be taken against them.

"We have received complaints against some government officials and they are on the EC's watch list. These charges would be cross checked independently and if anything wrong is found against them, the commission would not hesitate in removing them," Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi told reporters in Lucknow.

Quraishi, who was here to review poll preparedness for the second phase of the general elections, met representatives of various political parties and held a meeting with district magistrates, superintendents of police and divisional commissioners.

During the meeting certain complaints were received against some officials for allegedly indulging in discrimination against some parties, misuse of government machinery, non-partisan attitude and holding caste-based meetings, he said, adding some political parties demanded removal of the key officials.

The Election Commissioner said these complaints were discussed in detail and explanations were sought from the officials.

When asked about the criticism on the EC's failure to check naxal attacks, he said that the interpretation was totally wrong.

Lalu attacks Congress over Babri demolition

In controversial remarks, RJD chief Lalu Prasad has said the Congress too was responsible for the demolition of the Babri mosque as it did nothing to prevent it.

"Babri masjid was razed to the ground and Congress too is responsible for it as it did nothing to prevent it," he said addressing an election meeting at Manhgachi in Bihar's Darbhanga district on Friday.

"If anyone continue to talk nonsense, I will reveal more," he said, without elaborating.

Lalu, who had recently been chastised by the Election Commission for his 'crush-under-the-roller' remark against BJP candidate Varun Gandhi, described the saffron party as 'Bharat jalao party'.

"The BJP is Bharat jalao party. It wants to see that India is up in flames," he said.

Accusing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of calling up district magistrates and commissioners pressurising them to recommend cancellation of voting at polling stations in areas of influence of RJD, Lalu said, "I am least worried. The more they will try to harm me, the more votes I and my allies will get."

A wave is blowing in favour of the alliance of RJD-LJP-SP, he claimed.

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BJP GOES HIGH TECH

Harmohan Dhawan – Working Hard & Honestly

14 Apr : The grand old man of Chandigarh Politics can beat any youngster when it comes to working hard and honestly. His day starts as early as 6:30 in the morning and after having his early morning tea, he sets the pace for the daily routine. This is the best time to get hold of him as he is free for a moment as people start visiting him by 8 o’clock and then it gets very hard to get a glimpse of him as he is continuously surrounded by number of people who visit him regarding their problems.. It is worth mentioning that his personnal persona has an ever lasting effect on the people and it is evident that he has more personal votes in the city than any other candidate.



Being the most educated among all the candidates from the city he had been a Research Scholar in Botany from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He loves nature and his house has been declared as the best kept garden continuously for four years in a row.



He has been the main force behind the poor people of the city as he has always stood for their cause, whether its getting license issued for their ‘rehri’ or whether its an issue of booths getting constructed and allotted to the rehri workers. That’s not all as he has brought several major projects to the city which includes setting up of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, allotment of land to the cooperative housing socities, establishment of the Mauli complex which is India’s first Slum Rehabilitation Programme, third phase water augumentation, 4200 licenses to the ‘rehri’, ‘phari’ dewellers of the city who are now proud owners of booths in Chandigarh. It should be mentioned that he is as popular in villages, colonies and the city and commands respect in all stratas of society.



I got a chance to get up close and personal with him during this election period, being busy and always surrounded by supporters he obliged me with a broad smile on his face and told me to “keep jotting down the points in between as I am busy” and he made me understand the theory of multi-tasking.



Mr Dhawan says, “I know this city very well and it holds a special place in my heart and life and I will remain committed to work for the welfare of this city and it’s residents.”



Mr Dhawan still attends 7 to 8 public meetings in a day and can beat any youth when it comes to campaigning. There is so much going through his mind that he forgets to have his meal at times but he is least bothered by it. He says, “The basic problems remain the same as Congress and BJP have not done anything and I will leave no stone unturned for the development of the city and welfare of its residents.”



Mr Dhawan, who is a propagandist of blood donation, has donated blood 32 times and Blood Donation camps are held regularly on his birthday and in one such day 160 Kg of blood was donated which found mention in the Limca Book of Records.

BJP will cancel Setu Samudram project: Rajnath

14 Apr : The BJP has said it will cancel the Setu Samudram Shipping Channel Project taken up by the Congress-led UPA at the Centre, if it is voted back to power.Addressing an election meeting at Bhadrak in Orissa on Tuesday, BJP president Rajnath Singh said they would drop the project if party-led NDA returns to power.

"We are committed to protect the country’s heritage, including the Ram Setu," he said.The project had sparked a controversy following possible destruction of Ram Setu during laying of the channel.

Holding the Congress "responsible" for price rise of essential commodities, Singh said the poor had become poorer under the UPA rule.Attacking former ally BJD, the saffron leader said it had played the role of a "traitor" by unilaterally breaking the 11-year-old alliance.

"BJD will face the fate of JD(S) in Karnataka," he added.

"People betray us. We (BJP) never betray anyone," he said, adding the regional party would suffer defeat in the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly polls for its "act of betrayal."

Desperation and frustration clear in Congress: BJP

The BJP has said "desperation and frustration" in the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls was "clearly reflected" in its constant attack on party’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani.

"This is (statements of Congress leaders) a clear reflection of their desperation and frustration for failing to answer about their five years of misgovernance," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a party briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He was referring to the statements of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, raising questions about the leadership qualities of Advani.

He said it only proved that Congress was trying to deflect attention from the basic issues of terrorism, food economy and minority appeasement.

Speaking about the spurt in terror strikes in Assam, Prasad said, "If Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cannot ensure security in Assam from where he has been a Rajya Sabha member for 19 years, how can he be trusted to secure the entire country against terrorism and extremism."

He said Singh has not been able to answer queries on two "critical issues"– increasing unemployment and the high prices of essential commodities — "despite claims of record production of foodgrains."

To a question on Rahul’s claim that Advani either buckled under pressure or was not taken into confidence by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the release of terrorists during the Kandahar hijack episode, Prasad said the "painful decision" was taken during an all-party meet.

He said that the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, who accompanied the terrorists to Kandahar as a senior politician, was required there to take "emergency decisions" since that place had no "civilised government."

Prasad, while referring to a recent statement of Sonia Gandhi that people within the country were more dangerous than foreign terrorists, asked her to clarify whether "she was pointing at Indian Mujahideen, SIMI or the BJP."

"Such a statement at a time when we are having daily exchange of letters with Pakistan (on the Mumbai terror strikes) would only embolden terrorists and their handlers across the border," he said.

When asked about the killings of party candidates in UP and Madhya Pradesh, he said the Election Commission should take effective steps to ensure the candidates’ safety.

Lalu arrested and released on bail

14 Apr : RJD chief Lalu Prasad was arrested on Tuesday for alleged violation of the model code of conduct but was granted bail and released soon after.Prasad was arrested on the dais for an election meeting at Garwah in Jharkhand, said district superintendent of police Saket Kumar Singh.

The police had lodged an FIR against Prasad and his pilot after his helicopter landed at the venue of an election meeting on 7th April instead of the nearby helipad.

The FIR was lodged by block development officer Subhas Singh.The Election Commission had served a notice to Prasad for violating the model code.”The Election Commission issued the notice yesterday and asked him (Lalu Prasad) to reply by 4 pm tomorrow,” Assistant Chief Electoral Officer A K Sinha said.

“Mallika Sarabhai”

14 Apr , Himansha , BE final year,Bhopal : Mallika Sarabhai is the Gujarat-based activist, development worker, social entrepreneur and performer, who has tirelessly worked towards bringing to fore ideas, issues and concerns to affect change. A multi-talented creative individual, she celebrates positive reaffirmation of images of womanhood. She has used every medium—dance, theatre, television, film, writing and publishing—for her work, winning recognition in India and abroad.

She has challenged audiences to sit up and think, and to realign themselves to critical questions of gender bias, communal hatred, the environment, corruption, violence and more.

Mallika was educated as an economist and a business manager from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad and obtained a PhD from the Gujarat University for her thesis in the area of Organisational Behaviour. She is known as one of India’s best-known Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi dancers, who has taken her work and that of her company Darpana, to over ninety countries of the world and to the farthest parts of India.
She is the director of Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, a workshop for the arts in Ahmedabad, where the focus is on excellence and the use of arts for social change. In 1977 she took over the reigns of Darpana, founded by her parents Mrinalini and Vikram Sarabhai. Through Darpana, Mallika has hosted and collaborated with eminent artists, academics and development professionals in India and abroad, fostering creative interactions of people in Gujarat with such individuals and groups.
In 1982 she founded Darpana for Development to concentrate on developing performance as a language for change; and Janavak, the voice of the people, to archive, record and preserve folk and tribal culture.
Mallika was chosen to play the lead character of Draupadi in the international theatre production of The Mahabharata by world-renowned director Peter Brook. She spent five years performing the play in French and English, and playing the role in the film and TV versions, to much accolade. On her return to India in 1989 she got deeply involved in creating her own contemporary dance vocabulary beginning with her first solo theatrical work, Shakti: The Power of Women.
She is also an actor who has been in more than thirty films, some so avant garde that though they won accolades for her they never saw the light of day in theaters. In 1979 she became publisher of the country’s first design magazine, Inside Outside. This was her introduction to the production side of the written word, a world in which as a reader she had long been immersed. In 1985 she co-founded Mapin Publishing. Over the decades Mapin has become a much respected international art book publisher with over three hundred titles.
Mallika has also been a newspaper columnist, writing for Times of India (“View from the Bridge”) earlier, and now for Daily News and Analysis (“Just Speaking”) in English and for Divya Bhaskar in Gujarati.
From 2000 to 2002 she was CEO of TARA Gujarati, a TV channel dedicated to using mainstream genres of programming for activism. She co-founded Darpana Communications in 2001 to harness the potential of TV in changing attitudes and fighting social prejudice. She has produced over 2500 hours of broadcast programming in Gujarati dealing, through fiction, chat shows, music videos and other genres, with issues of gender bias, communal hatred, the environment, corruption, violence and more.
Of the many awards and recognitions received in India and abroad, she was honoured by Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Creative Dance, and awarded The Film Development Corporation of Gujarat’s Award for the Unique Contribution to Gujarati Cinema, and the Gaurav Puraskar, for Contribution to the Arts awarded by the Government of Gujarat.
Her work has received rave reviews and appreciation across the world. She was recently awarded the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, for her contribution to the arts. The French government has honoured her with the highest civilian award, the French Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. She was also nominated as one among 1000 women globally for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005.
In 2001, after the genocide against the Muslims in Gujarat, the state where she lives and works, she took up cudgels against the government and the state machinery, filing a public interest litigation against them in the Supreme Court of India, and becoming an instant target for right wing violence and continues to face active hostility.
Today, she creates and performs, gives lectures and workshops, makes films, writes and speaks, all in the hope of being able to spark something that will lead to a more just and humane world.

EC bans exit polls by media

14 Apr :With a day left for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission banned dissemination of results of opinion and exit polls by the media, the ban comes into effect from 1500 hours on Tuesday and has been brought in the wake of a Supreme Court order, the EC announced.

The EC had earlier issued guidelines which had made it clear that results of opinion and exit polls carried out any time "cannot be published, publicised or disseminated in any manner, during the period starting from 48 hours before the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in the first phase."The ban would remain in force till the conclusion of poll in the last phase of elections, the EC said. The last phase of polling is on 13th May and the counting of votes is on 16th May.

Acting on the Supreme Court order, the Commission had issued detailed guidelines on 17th February for publication and dissemination of results of opinion and exit polls.

The ban applies to electronic media including radio and television both government owned and private and covers satellite, DTH, terrestrial and cable channels.

Dissemination included publication in any newspaper, magazine or periodical or display on electronic media or circulation by means of any pamphlet, poster, placard, handbill or any other document, the guidelines said.

Thousands of footpath workers join BJP

Apr 5th, 2009 | By News Team | Category: Chandigarh, North Post | Edit

S.P.Pandey ,Chandigarh April 5, 2009 :Thousands of footpath workers today joined Bharatiya Janata Party in a function held in party office (KAMLAM), Sector 33-A in the presence of state BJP President Mrs Kamla Sharma and Mr Satya Pal Jain the party candidate for the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency. Mrs Kamla Sharma and Mr Jain welcomed these new members and presented them with colourful scarves with party emblem.

The new members raised slogans in support of BJP and Mr Satya Pal Jain. They arrived in BJP office with drummers and danced in front of the entrance. They distributed and were offered flowers.

In his brief speech on this occasion Mr Jain said that on BJP coming to power he will ensure that all the footpath workers get identity cards even while this promise made by the Congress party candidate during the last elections who is now a union minister remains unfilled even after his five year term has come to an end. He assured the new members that they will get due respect in the BJP. Among the BJP leaders who welcomed the new entrants to the party were Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, Mr Purushottam Mahajan, Mr Anil Dubey, Mr Kehar Singh Koundel, Mr Davesh Moudgil, Mr Rajiv Goel, Mr Bhim Sen Aggarwal, Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Kuldip Mehra.

Mr Ram Milan Gaur, President, Footpath Workers Ekta Samiti in his remarks thanked BJP for standing by them and promised that members of the organisation will ensure that they with their friends and family vote for the BJP in the coming election and make sure that Congress party which has not been true to its promise is roundly defeated. Other leaders of the Footpath Workers Ekta Samiti present during the function Mr Lal Krishan and Mr Ram Pal, both General Secretaries; Irfan Khan Secretary, Ramesh Chand and Ashok both Jt Secretary, and area presidents Mohammad Mohtaram, Mrs Kamla, Mrs Urmila, Mrs Shanti Devi, Mr Ram Dhani Yadav, Mr Badloo Prasad, Mr Ram Baksh, Mr Sant Lal Yadav and Mr Lekh Raj.

Rabri in trouble for using foul language against Nitish

Apr 6th, 2009 | By News Team | Category: Top Story | Edit

5 Apr :Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Sunday demanded from the Election Commission stern action against opposition leader Rabri Devi for her abusive remarks allegedly at an election meeting against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and state JD-U chief Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh.

In its complaint against Rabri Devi, the JD-U demanded that the poll panel should disallow the former chief minister to campaign.

The JD-U said her insulting remarks against Nitish Kumar and Lallan Singh were in violation of the code of conduct for elections.

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi Saturday used unparliamentary language

against the chief minister and the JD-U president reportedly at an election campaign meeting for Saran Lok Sabha seat. Her husband is the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate from Saran.

"We demanded the commission to cancel her legislature membership and that she should not be allowed to contest next assembly elections for her abusive remarks," said JD-U spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari. Tiwari was leading the party delegation to submit a memorandum to the poll panel here.

Tiwari said never before has a political leader used such foul language in public meeting. "JD-U is serious about it and will expose her and the RJD."

Unhappy over her remarks, Nitish Kumar said the JD-U will file a defamation suit against her.

Cong, Left should keep away from communal forces: Setalvad

The latest political trend, where mainstream parties were striking "questionable" alliances with communal forces for the sake of electoral benefits, would severely affect the stability of the country in the long run, noted Human Rights activist Teesta Setalvad said.

The latest political trend, where mainstream parties were striking "questionable" alliances with communal forces for the sake of electoral benefits, would severely affect the stability of the country in the long run, noted Human Rights activist Teesta Setalvad said today.

"It is astonishing to see major political parties freely joining hands with extremist groups to gain electoral mileage thereby threatening the very democratic set-up of the nation," she said at programme organised by the Calicut Press Club.

Accusing the Left parties in Kerala for aligning with "extremist" outfits like the PDP and the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Congress for accepting support of another "fundamentalist" group NDF, now rechristened as Popular Front of India, the Human Rights activist asked, "How the Marxists are now going to defend their ideologies?"

The Left democratic forces in the country were always known for initiating mass movements supporting social cause and by willing to join hands with PDP and Jamaat-e-Islami, they were degrading from their high standards of principle, she said.

"It is quite unfortunate to see LDF calling Jamaat-e-Islami a cultural organisation when the latter itself is not prepared to declare so," Setalvad said.

The "communal" BJP would benefit the most during the polls due to the "pro-communal" stand being adopted by both the Congress and the Left, she added.

UPA very much intact: Mukherjee

Rejecting claims that UPA was disintegrating, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said it "was very much intact" and did not rule out seeking Left support after the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Mukherjee said, "UPA is not a political entity and it is very much intact... it is not disintegrating". He instead claimed that the NDA was breaking apart.

"I am not an astrologer. I cannot predict what is going to happen after May 16. In the realm of politics, everything is possible," he told reporters at the AICC headquarters when asked whether Congress would seek the support of Left parties after Lok Sabha elections.

He said that UPA is not a political party but a government entity in which all constituents are present except those of the PMK like Anbumani Ramadoss and R Velu.

Taking a dig at the Third Front, he said it was a grouping of political parties in search of a Prime Minister.

Mukherjee recalled a play he had seen during his college days where the characters were ready to act but were in search of a script writer.

Likewise, "these are a number of political parties in search of a Prime Minister," he said.