NEW DELHI: The Election Commission Wednesday urged people to "exercise their right to vote" in the coming Lok Sabha election "in an informed and ethical manner".

Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath also appealed to political parties and candidates "to uphold the democratic traditions of the nation by maintaining high standards of political discourse and fair play".

"The Election Commission," he added, "reassures the nation of its solemn resolve and deep commitment to fulfil its constitutional mandate to conduct free, fair and credible elections."

The Lok Sabha election is to be held over nine days, from April 7 to May 12. The vote count will take place nationally May 16. - IANS

AHMEDABAD: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday accused Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of being "anti-farmer" and "anti-common man" after police detained him briefly.

The former Delhi chief minister hit out at the BJP's prime ministerial candidate after his 30-minute detention at a police station in Radhanpur in north Gujarat. The incident took place just hours after he began a four-day tour of Gujarat to test Modi's claims that the state was a model of development.

"There is no development here," Kejriwal told the media and a large group of supporters even as several Modi backers waved black flags at him.

"Modi is anti-farmer, Modi is completely anti-common man," Kejriwal went on. "The only people who have benefitted in Gujarat are industrialists." 

He said Modi was making exaggerated claims of developing Gujarat while addressing election rallies across the country and was rattled because he (Kejriwal) was "exposing the tall claims".

An Aam Aadmi Party leader told IANS that Kejriwal was detained allegedly on charges of violating the model code of conduct which came into effect after the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha election schedule.

The Kejriwal aide said the AAP founder leader was on his way when police stopped the motorcade.

Kejriwal, the aide said, asked the police why he was being detained since he was not addressing any election rally -- which would need official permission -- and his car had no speaker.

"Still they took us to the police station," the aide said. "We were kept in the police station for half hour and then let off."

Kejriwal has said that he will tour Gujarat for four days in order to check the chief minister's claims about the state's all-round economic progress.

Kejriwal had said before leaving for Gujarat he would "expose" Modi if he found his claims to be fake. - IANS

LUCKNOW: Stepping in to end the deadlock over doctors' strike against attack on their colleagues, Allahabad High Court today ordered a judicial probe and directed the UP government to transfer SSP, Kanpur, Yashaswi Yadav, and other officials involved in the February 28 incident.

Taking suo motu cognisance, the Lucknow bench comprising justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and Devendra Kumar Upadhaya clarified that the order of transfer is only to resolve the situation and should not be taken as a "stigma" on the officials, while requesting the doctors to resume their duties immediately.

As the court assembled this morning, it directed that the matter be registered as a PIL and sought replies from principal secretary medical/health, SGPGI administrator and others by March 10, the next date of hearing.

It also permitted the striking doctors to intervene in the matter and appointed senior advocate Jaideep Narain Mathur as amicus curiae.

During the first half of the hearing, the court directed a probe by retired Justice V K Mathur into the matter. However as the court resumed the hearing in the second half, the state government informed it that a one man judicial commission of retired justice R.M.S Chauhan has already been set up.

Following the submission, the court kept its order in abeyance and directed the state government to file Justice Chauhan Commission's report in three weeks.

Also, the state government informed the court that with the model code of conduct coming into effect from today, police officials cannot be transferred but the court refused to consider it.

The six-day-old strike has adversely hit medical services in several parts of the state. The medicos are protesting after their colleagues at GSVC medical college were allegedly beaten up by Kanpur police and supporters of SP MLA Irfan Solanki on February 28 following an altercation with him.

The doctors have been demanding arrest of Solanki, action against SSP Yashasvi Yadav and withdrawal of charges against 24 junior doctors.- PTI 

SHIRPUR (Maharashtra): Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today said whether he becomes the Prime Minister or not is immaterial but what matters is that all Indians, including women and youth, feel it is their country.

The Congress leader was interacting with tribal youth at an engineering college here, as he began his two-day Maharashtra tour.

Responding to best wishes from a youth for becoming the Prime Minister, Rahul said, "My becoming or not becoming PM does not matter. What is most important is that everyone here, specially women and youth in country feel that this is their own country." Asking youth to enter mainstream politics, the Congress leader said there should not be even one youth who says he is afraid in his own country.

"I want to see MLAs, MLCs and MPs from amongst you in the next 10 years, maybe even a Prime Minister also," he said.

Comparing Mahatma Gandhi and Hitler, Rahul said the German dictator shouted as he lacked confidence. But did Gandhiji ever shout? That was because he was confident." "Like Mahatma Gandhi, humbleness while speaking is a sign of extreme self-confidence. Confidence should not be seen as aggression," he said.

"There is no need for saying things aggressively. You can say it with love. Many people will be with you," he said.

"If anyone, be it Rahul Gandhi or Prithviraj Chavan, says he knows better than you, he is telling a lie," he said.

"My request to you, specially tribal youth, is to join mainstream politics," Rahul said.

"My message to the country's youth is that the talent and capability the youth here have is not there anywhere else," the Congress leader said.

On the progress the country has made since Independence, Rahul pointed out that today there were several rich people in India.

"Around 50 to 70 years ago there was not even a single rich person here. The only rich were maharajas and British," he said. 

"My vision is of fearless Indian in India, that is the kind of country I want to build," Rahul said.

"India is the most talented nation in the world. Use that talent and be humble in your approach and respect each other," he said.

"Change how the world perceives you. It will start believing in you when you start believing in yourselves...You are not less than anyone, be self confident," Rahul said.

"Cultural history of India should never be forgotten, take pride in your history, it never goes out of fashion," he said.

Defending FDI in retail, he said it will prevent wastage of agricultural produce and cold storage chains will be developed.

Representation of tribals is key to their empowerment, Rahul said. "I want your voice to be heard at state and national level," the Congress leader said.

Tribal youths should join the political system, and change how the system perceives tribals, he urged.

Rahul, at whose behest Congress is selecting 16 candidates from across the country through the "primary" system, said, "People must have a say in candidate selection." In the afternoon, he will address a public rally at Aurangabad, after which he will interact with people on the Dhule-Shirpur road.

Tomorrow, the Congress leader will interact with fishermen at Versova, after which he will address a public rally at Sonale village on Bhiwandi bypass in Thane district. - PTI