SAD to seek seats in Delhi, Rajasthan from BJP: Badal

PATIALA: NDA alley Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will hold seat-sharing talks with BJP to get its share of seats in the assembly elections in New Delh
i and Rajasthan, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Friday.

"The SAD will seek its share of seats in Delhi and Rajasthan and will hold discussions with BJP," Badal told at Khanuri in Sangrur district.

Party President Sukhbir Singh Badal and Secretary General Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa will hold consultations with BJP high command in this regard, he added.

With regard to BJP's demand for four Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, he said "there was no such demand and if came to fore we will resolve it

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Congress denies rift in Goa coalition, Naik skips meeting

PANAJI: Goa's ruling Congress has denied any rift in the ranks, but tensions were evident with its home minister conspicuous by his absence at a m
eeting to resolve differences following a minister's son being charged with the rape of a German teenager.

On Thursday night, home minister Ravi Naik stayed away from a meeting of legislators also attended by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Goa B Hariprasad who denied that the party's central leadership had sent him to the state to seal the rift in the cabinet.

"I was only called to discuss some problems faced by the legislators in their constituencies," Hariprasad told reporters.

But the divisions were apparent in the coalition led by the Congress and including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).

Earlier Thursday, Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao had said categorically: "There is a split in the cabinet."

Education Minister Atanasio Monseratte, the lone UGDP legislator, whose son Rohit has been charged with raping a 14-year-old German girl, has claimed that he was being targeted by Naik. He also accused Naik, whose son Roy has been linked to the murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, of double standards.

The clash between the Congress minister and the UGDP minister has precipitated a crisis in the Goa government. A group of more than a dozen legislators has asked the Congress high command for a change in leadership.

Trying to cool down tensions, Hariprasad said there was no tussle between Naik and Monseratte.

"The law must take its own course," he replied, when asked about the rape complaint against Monseratte's son.

On Wednesday, Monseratte had told reporters: "The home minister is orchestrating the police, who are after us."

Monseratte said Chief Minister Digamber Kamat should take note of the developments. "Today it is me. Tomorrow it could be some other MLA (legislator)," he warned.

A group of legislators, including Alemao, Aleixo Reginald, Chandrakant Kavlekar, Babu Azgaonkar, Agenlo Fernandes and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member Jose Philip Dsouza, had met Wednesday night at Monserratte's home and decided to demand Kamat's ouster.

However, after Thursday's meeting of the Congress party, Kamat said: "I have survived (as chief minister) only because I carry all sections together with me."

He added that he had assured Monseratte that no injustice would be done to him.

In the 39-member assembly, the Congress has 17 legislators, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 14, NCP three, UGDP one, MGP two and there are two independents.


Source : Times Of India

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All parties hail TDP’s pro-Telangana stand

HYDERABAD: All the political parties, including the ruling Congress, today welcomed the Opposition Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) pro-Telangana stand.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief D Srinivas described the TDP’s decision as good augury. He, however, was skeptical of the TDP taking a decision just before elections. The TDP had taken the decision now, only for the sake of elections, the PCC chief said and added that the TDP could have taken the decision three years back.

TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao said Vijaya Dasami Day had brought victory to Telangana forces.Welcoming the TDP’s decision, he said now the Congress State leadership had to bring pressure on its high command for a separate Telangana.

BJP senior leader Ch Vidyasagar Rao too welcomed the decision. He said it was now time for all the pro- Telangana parties to unite to defeat the Congress. He wished that a Bill be introduced in the present Parliament to realise separate Telangana before 2009.

Senior Congress leader Palvai Govardhan Reddy termed the TDP’s decision as sheer opportunism. The TDP’s decision was only to bag some seats and garner votes in the next elections, he said.

TDP leader K Srihari termed the decision as ‘historic’ and said separate Telangana was now very much possible. Though some leaders in the party had opposed the decision initially, later, they decided to respect the party’s policy, he added.

CPI State secretary K Narayana too welcomed the TDP’s decision. He said the CPI had already taken a similar stand long back. He, however, evaded a direct reply whether his party would work with the TDP in the next elections.

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Chiranjeevi sets the poll wheel rolling

Elections in Andhra Pradesh are six months away. And the new political entrant Chiranjeevi has decided to show his strength to his political rivals.

He will set the rath rolling for his maiden political yatra from the north coastal Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

The star politician's first public meeting at Tirupati in August was a huge hit with over 7 lakh people attending it and he hopes he could weave magic during his yatra too.

"I want to know the pulse of the people of Andhra Pradesh, their problems. It will help me design my manifesto and on top of everything, it gives me josh and motivation to be with people," he said.

His yatra Chiranjeevi's managers say, will be grand on a scale like never seen before. Nearly 800 private security men have been hired to accompany him throughout the tour and handle crowds.

The yatra is expected to silence Chiranjeevi's critics and political rivals who have been accusing the actor-turned-politician of not being clear in his stand on issues like Telangana statehood and the Naxal issue.

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Let's divide AP, Telangana a historic necessity: Naidu

Hyderabad, October 9: In a major shift from its policy, the Telugu Desam Party on Thursday for the first time took a pro-Telangana stand and said it was in favour of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

"In deference to the sentiments of the people of the region, the Telugu Desam supports the demand for a separate statehood to Telangana," the party Politburo said in its one-page resolution.

Announcing the decision at the party headquarters in Hyderabad, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu said Telangana was a ‘historic necessity’ and ‘our party has taken the right decision in this regard.’

The TDP, which was founded by late N T Rama Rao in 1982 to safeguard the ‘Telugu pride’ and ‘self respect’, would continue to uphold these ideals and ‘we shall re-dedicate ourselves to the Telugu people,’ Naidu said.

The TDP's pro-Telangana stand was not taken for any political aims, he asserted, adding that the party had conducted an elaborate exercise for over two-and-a-half years on the ‘sensitive’ issue.

"We do not take certain decisions only for political gains. We go by the people's wishes and respect them," Naidu said.

The TDP will do whatever required ‘legally, constitutionally and politically’ for the creation of Telangana state, he added.

Source : Internet

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Divided UPA can't decide on Bajrang Dal ban

Sources have informed NDTV that no decision as yet been taken by the Union Government to ban Bajrang Dal.

They say that Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Wednesday presented a report to the Cabinet on the role of Bajrang Dal, while a discussion on the recent violence in Orissa was underway.

Differences within UPA on imposing article 356 in Orissa emerged even as feasibility and practicality of imposing a ban on Bajrang Dal was questioned.

The Home Ministry now will provide further input on Bajrang Dal in the next Cabinet meeting.

Source : NDTV

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Modi slams Jamia VC for aiding terror suspects

The politics over the Delhi encounter in Jamia Nagar is intensifying. In an exclusive interview to NDTV India, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has attacked HRD Minister Arjun Singh and Jamia University Vice Chancellor Mushirul Hassan for giving legal aid to two terror suspects from the university.

Modi says the vice chancellor's decision shows he is working against his own government. The Gujarat Chief Minister's comments came on the Vice Chancellor's recent statement on legal aid for the two students who are in jail as terror suspects in the Jamia encounter.

The Gujarat Chief Minister said: "A university which runs on government funds says it will provide legal aid to terror suspects. It proves that the Jamia Milia Islamia University Vice Chancellor does not believe in the Constitution of India. Legal aid is provided in our country. The university need not interfere. They have basically shown lack of faith in the government. And on top of that the HRD minister fails to understand that the VC is working against his government. He is advocating mistrust of his own government."


Source : NDTV

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SP may withdraw from UPA if Jamia students innocent

PANAJI: Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Tuesday indicated that his party could withdraw support to the UPA government if the two students of
Jamia Millia Islamia arrested in connection with the Delhi serial blasts were proved to be innocent.

"Shoot them if they are terrorists. But if they are innocent, then they should be given justice," Singh said addressing reporters here, and added, "If a judicial probe says they are innocent, then we can think of withdrawing support to the UPA government."

Singh made the statement while talking on the issue of deceased Delhi Police (Special Cell) Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma's family rejecting his Rs 10 lakh offer.

"I feel sad that his family has reacted in this manner," he said.

Renewing his demand for a judicial probe into the Batla House encounter in which Inspector Sharma was killed, Singh said senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani has agreed to take up the case of the two students following his request.

Further, the SP leader said he will pay the legal expenses for the students after speaking to authorities of the Jamia Millia University.

Citing media reports, Singh said doubts have been raised about the Batla House encounter and the subsequent arrest of the students.

"A judicial probe is necessary to clear all confusions," he said.

He, however, said his statement did not mean to support any terrorist "but at the same time innocents should not be harassed".

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Bajrang Dal is a terror group, ban likely: Union Minister of State for Home

PATNA: The Bajrang Dal is a terrorist outfit and the central government will not hesitate to ban it like it outlawed the Students Islamic Movement
of India (SIMI), says Union Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmad.

"There is little doubt that the Bajrang Dal is a terrorist outfit involved in creating terror. The central government may ban it as it has banned SIMI," Ahmad said over telephone from his Bihar constituency Madhubani.

"The centre will ban Bajrang Dal if four to five state governments send reports making it clear that Bajrang Dal activities led to terror."

He said there was enough evidence to suggest that the activities of the radical Hindu group were leading to terror and that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would not hestitate to ban it.

"If the activities of any outfit create terror, it is regarded as a terrorist outfit," the minister, who is also spokesperson of the Congress, added.

The spotlight is back on the Bajrang Dal after a spate of violence targeting Christians and churches in the country, particularly Orissa and Karnataka.

Source : Times Of India

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BJP for anti-conversion laws in Orissa, Karnataka

NEW DELHI: In the wake of continuing attacks on Christians, the BJP on Monday called for passing of an anti-conversion law in states like Karnata
ka and Orissa to check the communal violence there.

Stating the communal violence in the two states had its roots in socio-political and economic reasons, the saffron party accused the Congress-led UPA government of "selective condemnation".

Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu also demanded a comprehensive debate on the issue, while invoking Mahatma Gandhi's stand against conversions.

Quoting Gandhi, Naidu said, "If I had the power and could legislate, I should stop all proselytising". He said there was need for an anti-conversion law and called for a full-fledge debate on the issue.

When it was pointed out that five states, including Orissa, already had an anti-conversion law but this had not prevented communal violence there, Naidu said the reasons were more deep-rooted and there was a need for a dialogue between the two communities.

"Unless the core issues of land alienation and organised conversions are not addressed in its totality, the situation in Orissa cannot be expected to improve...the government should take steps to release large tracts of land that are being grabbed by fraudulent means," Naidu said.

Those forging caste certificates to get the benefits of reservation should also be dealt with severely by the government, he added.

Source : Times Of India

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