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[Soumitra]

Pak intelligence agencies in touch with UP riot victims, Rahul Gandhi says

INDORE/LUCKNOW: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhitriggered a spat with both the BJP and SP on Thursday claiming intelligence agencies in Pakistan were in touch with riot victims in Muzaffarnagar to ensnare them into terrorism during an election rally in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

"A couple of days ago, an intelligence officer walked into my office and told me that people from Pakistan are talking to the relatives of Muslims killed in Muzaffarnagar. The officer told me that he has been trying to convince victims not to get swayed by Pakistani propaganda," said Rahul.

"Who will douse the fires of communalism? The saffron brigade is creating hatred between Hindus and Muslims. And it's the Congress which has to douse it," he said. BJP's approach will impact on the security and integrity of India, he said.

But UP minister and ruling SP's Muslim face Azam Khan, taking a dim view of Rahul's comment, said, "A leader like Rahul must not take a statement of any junior level intelligence officer so seriously as to make a comment at a rally. If he'd come to know about any such thing he should have communicated it to the UP government and the concerned ministry at the Centre."

BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Husain told agencies in New Delhi, "Rahul Gandhi has tried to point the needle of suspicion at Muslims by his remarks. He has raised questions about the patriotism of Indian Muslims by saying they were approached by ISI. This is unfortunate. He should apologise for his remarks."

Playing the family's martyrdom card, Rahul said his father was his idol and asked the crowd, "Don't you all love your father as I do?"

Earlier, speaking in Rahatgarh, Rahul told his party's faction-ridden MP unit to unite and uproot the BJP from power. "The Congress will remain united and candidates will not be a particular leader's man, but a representative of the party," he said in this dusty village in Bundelkhand. "If Congress remains united, nobody can defeat us," he said.

Recalling his 2008 visit to Bundelkhand when the region was hit by a drought, he said, "I came here and visited UP and MP, spent nights and got bitten by mosquitoes, drank village water and suffered a bad stomach. I made that effort because your leaders should know the life you lead in rural areas.

"Congress wants that one day the poor farmer's son should be in that car travelling on smooth roads and flying in aircraft. The Opposition says they constructed roads. But we constructed more roads than NDA government. We also built more airports,'' he said.

But even as Rahul spoke of a united fight against the BJP government, his party failed to reach a definite figure on the Centre's Bundelkhand package. While Rahul claimed the Centre had granted Rs 3,000 crore for Bundelkhand's development, state Congress chief Kantilal Bhuria said the amount was Rs 4,500 crore. Jyotiraditya Scindia quoted Rs 4,750 while another leader, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, said BJP had failed to utilise even 30% of the package.

Meanwhile, the UP police denied having any information about Pakistani intelligence agencies being in touch with Muslim youths in Muzaffarnagar. "We have no such information. He (Rahul) might have got the information from somewhere. We will also get it verified", said additional director general, law and order, Mukul Goel in Lucknow.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ms-Rahul-Gandhi-says/articleshow/24680906.cms

 

[Soumitra]

Pappu poora pagal ho gaya hai

 

[Soumitra]

Baffled, intelligence officials slam Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi's reference to his briefing by an "intelligence official" on the ISIhaving "contacted" 10-15 youth whose kin were killed in the Muzaffarnagar riots, for potential recruitment, has puzzled both retired and serving bureaucrats.

They are questioning how an intelligence official could brief the vice-president of a political party, who is not bound by the oath of secrecy. They also criticized the Gandhi scion for going public with information that should have ideally prompted a secret intelligence operation to identify the youth contacted and neutralize the ISI agents carrying out sabotage and subversion in the hinterland.

"A potential prime minister of the country should have had more sense of national security. ISI is a hostile foreign agency recruiting people in the hinterland for sabotage and subversion. Rahul's response should have been more robust and decisive. He should have asked the intelligence official to go back to the Muslim boys contacted by ISI, lay a trap for these Pakistani agents and neutralize them," said former Intelligence Bureau chief Ajit Kumar Doval.

A former home secretary, who did not wish to be identified, agreed that Rahul's act of going public with the alleged intelligence input had compromised national security and only reflected his "immaturity".

A serving officer of the intelligence establishment pointed out that the IB official who "briefed" the Congress vice-president had clearly exceeded his brief as an intelligence input could only be shared with a government functionary bound by the oath of secrecy.

Another ex-bureaucrat said the ideal response should have been to round up the youths supposedly contacted by the ISI, question them and launch a manhunt for the ISI agents involved. "Instead, he seems to be using this input to score with the minority community and target his political rivals," he said.

"Going public with the crucial input, that should have ideally led to a major intelligence operation to neutralize the ISI networks working to recruit more such youth across the country, is a gross act of irresponsibility," said Doval.

Rahul's utterances on an IB officer briefing him about how victims of Muzaffarnagar riots were willing to go to Pakistan has created considerable curiosity in the agency itself. A senior intelligence officer told TOI that it may have to be found out which officer had met him and whether it was a casual interaction. "There can be no official briefing to Rahul Gandhi as he is not part of the government or the security establishment," said the officer.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ls-slam-Rahul-Gandhi/articleshow/24681016.cms

 

[Mujraparty]

LOL

 

[Manvantaratruti]

LOL

AWESOME. ........

 

[Manvantaratruti]

I was bitten by mosquitoes, got stomach bug, Rahul Gandhi recalls

Wow...looks like Pappu went through something no one else had to go through in the past! How does it feel pappu? 'cause ordinary Indians are not used to this at all

Pappu getting bitten by mosquitoes and getting the $hits also make it to National news. .......LOL...... Thank you congress. We all wanted to know this.

Coming next the color of Rahul's diarrhea and the size of his hemorrhoids.

 

[Soumitra]

Rahul Gandhi still has to prove mettle: Sharad Pawar

NEW DELHI: Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday said Congress vice-presidentRahul Gandhi has to prove his mettle before taking up a bigger role after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"One has to prove his mettle in administration. Rahul Gandhi should have joined theManmohan Singh government. He did not join," the NCP chief told a TV channel. "I would have preferred if he had joined the Manmohan Singh government... definitely it would have been beneficial for him," he added.

However, Pawar refused to elaborate on the issue saying he was not opposed to Rahul's candidature for the post of prime minister.

When asked whether he would be uncomfortable in working under Rahul, Pawar said, "Here, there is no question of working together. There is a generation gap."

The NCP boss maintained that the two major political parties -- Congress and BJP -- may be short of the magic number to form government. "BJP might get some more seats. Congress might lose some. But the numbers may not add up," he said.

Reiterating his support for the Congress irrespective of election results, the Maratha strongman argued that that UPA had a better prospect of getting support of regional allies. "I am with Congress. My association will be with Congress. Tomorrow, if situation comes, I will stand with Congress and UPA and will help to get like-minded forces to form the government," he said, adding that Congress must work with allies.

Pawar clarified that he was not going to contest in the next Lok Sabha elections, dismissing rumours that he was in the race for the post of prime minister.

He rejected the view that there was a Narendra Modi wave in some parts of the country. Reacting to a question on Modi, Pawar said, "I have contested 14 elections so far. In my experience of electioneering, those who begin much earlier will be disappointed."

Though he admitted that traders were taking advantage, Pawar maintained that his ministry was not responsible for the onion crisis, arguing that the ministry of food and consumer affairs handled the matter.

Pawar said farmers made no money in the soaring onion prices while middlemen got rich.

Rejecting the blame on his ministry for the crisis, Pawar said, "There should be some knowledge of ground realities. To increase the production from agriculture is my job. The production of onion is on higher side this year."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-mettle-Sharad-Pawar/articleshow/24681108.cms

 

[Soumitra]

Sensex's Mount 21K scaled: FIIs rush in as market sees a Narendra Modi bull run

MUMBAI: Indian stocks are surging as foreign investors return to emerging markets with an enthusiasm that mirrors their exodus after being seized by taper panic in May. Now, with elections around the corner, some are even calling the latest Indian advance a political leap of faith, with market participants betting in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

"It seems like a NaMo bull run," said Ramesh Damani, a BSE broker. "Otherwise, there is no good reason for such a strong run-up."

The 30-share Sensex crossed the 21,000 mark for the first time in January 2008, the year of the financial crisis that sparked a run on markets globally.

Analysts have Made up Mind

On Thursday, the benchmark index hit 21,078 in intra-day trade before closing at 20,873. The broader index CNX Nifty of theNational Stock Exchange touched 6,252, its highest in three years. Seven months are left for general elections, but analysts said investors appear to have made up their mind about the result. This comes after ET's Heartland Poll, published on October 17, showed support building for BJP in the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

China's third-quarter GDP growth and prospects of a delay in tapering by the US Fed are propelling world markets into expectations that dollar liquidity will be sustained. India, however, is struggling to recover from an economic slump, a crisis of business confidence and restrictive rules on investment. Rising inflation, high interest rates and fears of a burgeoning subsidy burden add to concerns, experts said.

"Clearly, markets are discounting that BJP would form the next government," said Saurabh Mukherjea, CEO (institutional equities), Ambit Capital. "FIIs (foreign institutional investors) only want to talk about Modi and what stocks they should bet on if he leads the next government."

Overseas investors have bought Indian equities worth $15 billion thus far this year. More than $3 billion came after September 13, the day Modi was named as prime ministerial candidate. Adani EnterprisesBSE -1.16 %, the flagship company of Gujarat-based Gautam Adani who's perceived to be close to the Modi camp, has risen 52% since September 12

"The Indian stock market's greatest hope in this respect (amid the economic slump) is the emergence of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as BJP's prime ministerial candidate,"Christopher Wood, chief equity strategist, CLSA Asia Pacific Markets, had told ET in September. Mukherjea said some of his clients have even sought a Modi portfolio, orstocks of companies that are likely to benefit from his victory. "We may look to do that after state elections," he said.

A Times NOW-C Voter national opinion poll earlier this month projected BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would get 186Lok Sabha seats with a 35% vote share while United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was estimated to get about 117 seats with a 27% share. In 2009, Congress-led United Progressive Alliance had secured 259 seats.

"BJP's lead in polls is the key reason for market rally," said Manish Sonthalia, senior vice-president and fund manager, Motilal Oswal. "The Nifty could touch 7,000 if BJP fares well in upcoming state elections." Voting takes place for assemblies in states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Chhattisgarh between November and December. Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are ruled by BJP and the other two by Congress, which is fighting to avert an anti-incumbency wave.

"The polls set the stage for a market rally and if they come true the worries will be bygones for markets," said Deven Choksey, managing director of KR Choksey Shares and Securities. However, given that there are still several months before the general elections and that food prices are likely to ease following a good monsoon, experts said predicting outcome of the vote this far ahead would be difficult.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...odi-bull-run/articleshow/24680114.cms?curpg=2

 

[JanjaWeed]

Narendra Modi not a political untouchable for Muslims: prominent Muslim cleric.

Lucknow:

A prominent Muslim cleric has said Narendra Modi is not a political untouchable for the minority community, and can get their votes if he shows that he cares about them.

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, one of the country's tallest Shia clerics, praised Mr Modi for "good development" in Gujarat and said, "People should be given a chance to correct their mistakes. Modi should make changes in his policies and programmes to convey that he is concerned about the welfare of Muslims. If he does that, Muslims can consider voting for him."

This endorsement of the BJP's presumptive prime minister coincides with a huge controversy over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's comment at rally on Thursday that Pakistani intelligence "contacted riot-affected Muslim youth in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh."


The Maulana's comment marks a big boost for the Gujarat Chief Minister who spent years as a political pariah over the 2002 communal clashes in which hundreds of Muslims were killed in his state.

As Mr Modi, 63, campaigns extensively for the November-December polls in five states and the national elections due by May, his party has launched a drive to showcase his 'secular' appeal by pulling in more Muslims for rallies and public events.

Muslims constitute 14 per cent India's population.

A section of Muslims in Gujarat have openly supported Mr Modi for his development mantra and insisted that the community must move on from the past and focus on their own progress. But their voice is not seen as a reflection on the larger community.

Maulana Sadiq, who is the vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and a noted scholar, is widely respected for his progressive views, and his word could cause a stir in the community.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/n...minent-cleric-437204?pfrom=home-lateststories

First it was Maulana Madani.. & now Maulana Sadiq. It's good to see prominent Muslim leaders are publicly voicing their opinion... realization of the reality behind 'sicular' party's real motto...

 

[Jason bourne]

Rahul and his speeches are truly turning out to be an amazing campaign. For the BJP.- chetan bhagat

 

[Jason bourne]

Raja Bundela Joined BJP in Vijay Shankhnad Rally in Jhansi,UP in presence of Shree..

 

[Jason bourne]

Gand FAAD di RIP rahul ...

 

[JanjaWeed]

Muslim leaders say Rahul Gandhi's statement 'most unfortunate'

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/m...t-unfortunate-437182?pfrom=home-lateststories

''It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.'' sounds pretty apt to this moron...

 

[jha]

A tweet by Prasanna Viswanathan:

Disappointing speech by Modi.Not enough on foreign policy especially Syria.When Nehru spoke in Jhansi in 57, 80pc of his oratory was on NAM..

 

[jha]

Gand FAAD di RIP rahul ...

Saare ke saare tilmila rahe hain... Be it Congress or, SP or, BSP...