New Delhi, November 25
L.K. Advani was chosen as the BJP prime ministerial nominee because of a lack of talent in the party, says former BJP general secretary K.N. Govindacharya. He says Advani is not the “natural leader” of the Hindutva movement and blamed former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the “economic mess” today.

“The choice of Advani is the best available for the party, but not necessarily for the country. The reservoir from which to pick up is so poor that he emerges as the best,” Govindacharya, once a blue-eyed boy of Advani, said during the course of an interview.

He had quit the BJP in 2000 to go on study leave and recently re-entered politics by accepting to become the ‘sarvesarva’ (overall in charge) of Uma Bharati’s Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) party on the eve of the Madhya Pradesh elections.

Advani was “not the natural leader of the Hindutva movement”, said Govindacharya, adding: “He became the wrong leader of the right movement.His convictions and moorings are different. ‘Bharat’ for him starts with the Constituent Assembly debates. He was influenced by the concept of nation states of Europe and the West, and not by the concept of geo-culture.” The biggest dilemma of the BJP today, Govindacharya elaborated, was that Advani wanted to move in one direction, adopt a different line and cut away from the past, but was not able to do so because he needed the Sangh Parivar.

“If he had the courage, he could have split the party and stuck to his line, come what may. At the time of the Jinnah controversy, I had sent him a message - have the courage to follow your convictions and take the issue to the people,” said Govindacharya referring to Advani’s controversial endorsement of the secularism of Mohammed Ali Jinnah during his 2005 visit to Pakistan.

Announcing his return to active politics last week, Govindacharya had said he intended to forge a new political platform which is “pro-Bharat” and “pro-poor” and try to bring ideology and idealism back into political functioning.

Govindacharya hit out at the Gen-X leaders in the BJP and said that “pragmatism and careerism” characterised them.

“As far as ideology and idealism are concerned, these will not just be put on the backburner (by them), they will be nowhere. (Under them), it will not be politics of conviction but of convenience. And it will be a no-holds-barred battle between them, each using their unique weapon to fight.” He described Vajpayee as “irrelevant” today.

“He did what he could to retain power at any cost. Barring Pokhran, what more can be attributed to him? In that (Pokhran) he picked up courage; otherwise be it Kargil or any other thing, he did not act. He opened the floodgates for foreign investment. He is equally responsible for the economic mess we see today - the rise of unemployment, disparities and a consumerist culture,” Govindacharya said, without mincing words.

He continues to be a swayamsevak (worker) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Asked if he had the Sangh’s blessings in what he was doing, Govindacharya replied: “I don’t know. I havent asked. But I have always kept them informed about what I am doing.” Govindacharya said he saw no difference between the Congress and the BJP. “I call the Congress the ‘tiranga’ party and the BJP ‘doranga’ Congress. That is why they favour bipolar polity, so that they can rule by turn.” When it came to power in 1998, the BJP had aroused hopes that it could deliver, he said. But it had traversed the same road as the Congress. This has led to “a deep sense of disappointment” in the country and to “failing systems and a failing state”. If the situation was not addressed, “we will see anarchy grow”.

“That, I feel, is the BJP’s biggest negative contribution which it does not understand. It is not just about the internal damage to the party.”

He did not see the BJP coming to power in 2009. “Today the Congress and the BJP between them have 282 seats (in the Lok Sabha). It will come down to 250. The government (in 2009) will be more unstable, opportunistic and corrupt. We will see a difference between the pre-poll alliances and the post- poll alliances, with bids being made by parties and individuals.”

“A white crow or a black swan - this itself is contradictory. The issue is entirely different. As a society, it (the Hindus) acts in self-defence. The total society is pitted against an intolerant faith, and it does not know how to tackle it. That is the crisis today. The state does not come to its rescue, it is into petty politics. The proselytising religions are a danger to the (Hindu) cultural identity...minorityism... will never result in the uplifting of minorities. For that a more sincere effort is needed.” 
He said. — IANS

New Delhi, November 25
Even as the BJP is busy with the Assembly elections in four states, hoping that these results would lead to a wave in favour of the BJP in the next general elections, slated early next year, it is facing serious problem contending with inner party contradictions in Uttar Pradesh.

Leader of Opposition L.K Advani and other senior leaders of the party have stated time and again that Uttar Pradesh with 80 Lok Sabha seats is important for them to bid seriously for power in Delhi.

The present 14th Lok Sabha has only eight BJP MPs from Uttar Pradesh, including the then sitting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and at least two very senior star leaders Kalyan Singh and Maneka Gandhi.

During the last state Assembly elections the party’s electoral fortunes saw a further downward trend. Keeping this in view Advani has been keen on revival of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He has been urging his Uttar Pradesh leaders to drown all personal differences and plan in advance for the Lok Sabha polls.

To keep abreast of times the BJP has already declared 11 important candidates from the state. This includes party president Rajnath Singh from Ghaziabad, vice president Kalyan Singh from Etah, Maneka Gandhi from Aonla and her son Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit. Ashok Pradhan, who won from Khurja last elections, has been shifted to Bulandshahr because this seat is now reserved for Kalyan Singh who won the seat last elections has been shifted to Etah, in the heart of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s area of influence.

But this does not seem to have pleased Kalyan Singh. Initially he was upset with the party for trying to tie-up with Ajit Singh’s RLD. To bring him round and also to keep the doors open for an alliance with Ajit Singh the BJP has got Kalyan’s confidant Kusum Rai elected to the RS from UP the sole RS seat in BJP’s kitty.

New Delhi, November 25
The Congress today accused BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L.K Advani of interfering into investigation of Malegoan blasts, thereby posing a threat to internal security of the country. The party also charged controversial Hindutva right wing organisation Abhinav Bharat with outsourcing terror across the nation’s borders.

Going all out against Advani and Abhinav Bharat, party spokesman M. Veerapa Moily said internal security of the country was threatened by two ‘As’-Advani and Abhinav Bharat.

Alleging that “tentacles of Abhinav Bharat were now panning across nation’s borders”, he said the Congress was much concerned as about internal security of the country.

“It has come to light that its (Abhinav Bharat) members met Bangladeshi nationals in Kolkatta in February 2008. The outsourcing of terror seems to have become the new cult with some outfits of the BJP,” he added.

Moily also said Leader of Opposition had shown “insensitivity and disregard” for the rule of law by questioning the functioning of Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

“The ATS and the CBI are highly professional organisations. After the arrest of those accused of Malegaon blast, Advani has been giving comments in support of the accused which shows his insensitivity. This is travesty of justice,” he added.

Calling the ATS and the CBI as highly professional bodies, he said allegations levelled by the Opposition against the ATS were intended to cover up acts of terrorism and an attempt by “Advani and his colleagues to bring a wedge between the Army and the police”.

He claimed that the saffron party appeared to have been inspired by Adolf Hitler as could be seen from the way it was trying to derail investigations into the Malegaon blast. “Hitler inspires the BJP and its ideology in a sustained manner. They want to impose POTA when the members of the minority community are arrested on the charges of terrorism while they speak in support of those accused of the Malegaon blast because they are part of the Sangh Parivar,” he said, rebutting allegations that investigations into the Malegaon blast are politically motivated.

He said no politician in Maharashtra had interfered in the ATS investigations and that a senior officer of the Indian Army had accompanied Col Purohit throughout the interrogations since his arrest. “However, by raising this allegation, the BJP leaders are trying to scuttle the investigations,” he said.

New Delhi, November 25
The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to file a status report in four weeks on the proposed Rs 5.6 lakh crore river inter-linking project, aimed at meeting the water shortage and dealing with the problem of floods in various parts of the country.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan issued the order after the 17th hearing on a 2002 PIL, which has sought expeditious implementation of the river networking project, envisaged by the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The UPA government has assured the court it is committed to pursuing the ambitious endeavour that will also considerably raise the net sown area and help generate an additional 30,000 MW of power.

The Bench, which included Justices P. Sathasivam and J.M. Panchal, also issued notices to the Centre, Kerala and Karnataka on an affidavit filed by Tamil Nadu, complaining that the two neighbouring states were backing out from their commitments on the issue.

Amicus curaie Ranjit Kumar told the apex court that Maharashtra and Gujarat had not yet signed an MoU for networking Tapti, Narmada, Pir Panjal and Daman Ganga rivers, though they had reached an understanding long ago.

Besides this project, the Centre’s status report would cover four other proposed river networks. The second project is the 300-km Ken-Betwa river link involving Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on which work is likely to be completed next year.

The third involves Parbati, Kalisindh and Chamba rivers and the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The MoU for the project has been signed and the detailed project report (DPR) is in progress.

The Godavari-Krishna link would benefit Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherri.

The fifth project that would be covered by the status report is the Pamba-Achankoli-Vaippar link that involves Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The cost (Rs 5.6 lakh crore or about 25 per cent of the GDP) of the national project was estimated in 2002 and at current prices it may require more funds for its completion by 2016. The project has been split into two broad components -- the Himalayan part with 14 river links and the peninsular component with 17 river links. These links stretch from the Sutlej in the north to the Vaippar in the south and from the Brahmaputra in the east to the Mahi in the west.

New Delhi, November 25
Free from the claws of death, the captain of MV Stolt Valor, Prabhat Goyal, today endorsed the demand for a “hot pursuit” to neutralise pirates in the Gulf of Aden area.

Goyal, who along with 10 other crew members landed in the National Capital, said the Indian Navy and other navies of the world should undertake a “hot pursuit” against the sea brigands to sanitise the busy maritime corridor.

There was no guarantee of safety of ships moving in the waters near Somalia. “There is no law there. Nothing works. We are on our own,” Goyal said. A hot pursuit is the word that only our navy can do,” Goyal told reporters here.

The captain said on behalf of the mariners he wanted that the Navy should sanitise the area. “Prevention is better than cure”, said Goyal as he was elated after the reunion with his family.

Recounting the near death experience undergone by the crew of the vessel during the over two-month captivity, he said he feared they would never return alive as the pirates had once opened fire on them. However, he said, “I am ready to sail again”.

Goyal said all reports of alleged inactivity on the part of the Indian government in working for the release of Stolt Valor crew were wrong.

When told that his wife Seema Goyal had accused the Indian government of not doing enough, Goyal said, “She maybe having her personal opinion. I did not have access to what the government was doing. But our government has done its bit. It takes time.” Goyal said he and other members of the hijacked crew were not aware of what was happening in the world during the two-month captivity. “The satellite antennas were damaged. There was only one mobile with one of the hijackers and the signal was weak. I had to manoeuvre the vessel to get the signal,” Goyal said.

Goyal said: “The pirates have been active in the area since October 2007. There are 18 districts in Somalia and each is controlled by a local chieftain. There is no government there.” He said most of the 52 hijackers appeared to have got some basic weapons training.

New Delhi, November 25
Changing needs in the battlefield has meant that the process to find pilots and further allocate them to various types of aircrafts in the Indian Air Force will undergo a change. The selection of the jawans, keeping in mind the future needs of hi-tech gadgetry, will also be now a mixture of brains and the brawn.

Chief Controller (R&D), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr M. Selvamurthy, told mediapersons while giving out the work done by the life sciences laboratories of the DRDO. A conference on ‘In Service of the Soldiers: Life Sciences Perspective’ started here last evening and the DRDO gave out a preview of what work was being done.

Explaining the new aptitude test for pilots Dr Selvamurthy said the existing Pilot Aptitude Battery Test for recruiting pilots was originally formatted in 1960’s when the emphasis was on eye, hand and leg co-ordination, however, in the modern aircraft the information is available in the displays. The pilot needs to take fast and quick decision in aircraft like Jaguars and Sukhoi’s. The new aptitude test will now focus on cognitive processing ability. A small error can be very expensive. The flying challenges in the three streams - fighters, transports and choppers - are totally different from each other. The cadets at the Hyderabad academy will be given the test to segregate them in three streams of flying on very objective basis. At present the allocation in the three streams is on the basis of performance in the academy. These tests will be introduced in 2009 and the IAF was creating infrastructure for the same.

In case of the Jawans, the focus is to test his personality and also the aptitude in view of the future needs of the Army that will include a soldier who will be carrying all information of battlefield in real time. Dr Selvamurthy said about 400 scientist and 500 technical people were working in the eight life sciences laboratories located across the country.

One of the laboratories has developed a bio-toilet that is being used by the Railways. The technology has been transferred to the IRCON. 

New Delhi, November 25
Key species of medicinal plants in India are under threat because of over-collection for supply to domestic and foreign markets, the latest report on medicinal plants by conservation groups, IUCN and TRAFFIC, suggests.

The research, focusing on seven species of medicinal plants found in Asia, shows that India is emerging a major destination for five plant species, including Elephants Foot, Jatamansi Kutki, Red Sanders and Snakeroot 

Guwahati, November 25
Even as the police identified a former militant of the now disbanded Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), Sanjib Basumatary, as the prime suspect in the November 22 killing of journalist Jagjit Saikia in Kokrajhar town, journalists of the state today sought intervention of the President of India in facilitating their safety in the state.

The Journalist Action Committee (JAC) of Assam, a state-level body of working journalists in the state, today dashed a memorandum to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, seeking her intervention to facilitate safety of journalists working in the state in the wake of killing of the 30-year-old correspondent of a leading Assamese daily, 'Amar Asom'.

“We also like to inform you that 20 journalists were killed in the state in the past 17 years. And surprisingly, not a single perpetrator of these heinous crimes could be booked under the law so far by the investigating agencies,” the JAC memorandum to the President said. The journalist body demanded CBI investigation into the latest killing of the scribe at Kokrajhar.

Meanwhile, Kokrajhar district police recovered 57 rounds of AK47 ammunition, 11 live cartridges of 9 mm pistol, four magazines, splinter jacket and duplicate seal of Assam police inspector general (special branch), during a raid conducted at the rented house of the prime suspect, Sanjib Basumatary, a former BLT militant who was stated to be absconding.

The protest meeting of the JAC, held at the Guwahati Press Club here today, expressed serious doubt about the state police’s ability or sincerity to arrest the culprits behind the killing of journalist Jagjit Saikia. 

Whenever Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan contested any election, whether of Lok Sabha or Assembly, he always found one face standing against him: Abdul Jabbar.

A 45-year-old 'kabbadi wala', Jabbar has come from Vidisha to challenge Chouhan in the assembly poll here. "My dream is to see Chouhan defeated," says Jabbar. As an independent, Jabbar is nowhere in the contest, but he says, "I wanted to continue my tradition of contesting against Chouhan." You ask him why, he says smiling, "It is just a matter of heart."

Jabbar has so far contested five Lok Sabha and four assembly polls, all against Chouhan, who has for long represented the Vidisha parliamentary constituency also. Budhni is an assembly segment of the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat but it falls in Sehore district.

For Chouhan, the assembly contest is a cakewalk. So far, he has not visited Budhni for his campaigning. About 75 km away from Bhopal, Budhni is located near the Narmada river. The CM has left the campaigning job to his "better half", Sadhna Singh, who is popularly known here as "bhabhiji."

As her husband's star campaigner, she comes here daily from Bhopal around 10 am and goes back late at night. "I have to be back home as I have two school-going sons, and they need attention to prepare for the next day," says Sadhna Singh, projecting herself as a simple housewife.

Calling herself a "ghareloo mahila,' Sadhna Singh tells everyone, especially women voters, during door-to-door canvassing, that "I am doing all this for my husband and for the people of this constituency."

While presenting a calendar to people, carrying the chief minister's photograph, Sadhna Singh lists out the developmental works that he has done for the constituency. "Three-four factories have come up here, which have generated jobs for local people. The roads are now in a better shape."

If you tell her that the Congress has been making serious charges of corruption against the Chief Minister and his cabinet team, Sadhna Singh says, "Corruption is no issue in Budhni and anywhere else."

Chouhan has also been telling in his rallies that "corruption is no issue in these elections." The Congress recently issued a 100-page charge sheet against the CM and his ministers, making serious allegations of corruption against them.

"The Congress has no issue — the 'panja' people need something to shout about to keep themselves busy," Sadhna Singh points out.

And when told that former Congress chief minister Digvijay Singh is claiming that "Shivraj is taking credit for the work I started," Sadhna Singh says, "Tell me what I should say, ?the Congress walle can take credit for anything." The Congress has fielded a very 'lightweight' candidate, Mahesh Singh Rajput, a businessman. He is a former Janpad Panchayat chairman, and cousin of former BJP MLA Rajendra Singh Rajput, who had quit the seat for Chouhan.

The Chief Minister faces virtually no opposition. Here, Chouhan has earned a reputation of being a low-profile man with his feet firmly on the ground. While he has not concentrated in his home constituency, Chouhan has, however, become the face of the BJP all over the state.

People in Budhni say, "We have no grievances" and they are demanding nothing from Chouhan's campaign manager — Sadhna Singh.

Fiery Uma Bharti is hell-bent on seeing BJP's defeat in the assembly polls this time. "If BJP returns to power," she has declared, "I will quit politics for good and go to the Kedarnath mountains for meditation."

While Uma Bharti has become a 'nuisance' for the BJP all over the state, she herself is not having it easy in her Tikamgarh constituency.

True to her reputation for unpredictability, Uma Bharti had filed her nominations from her home turf on the last day of submitting nominations. And, not more than 36 hours before she had announced that she would not be contesting.

Uma Bharti's utterance on the eve of polls that "I will quit politics if the BJP wins again" shows her temperamental nature. About a fortnight ago, she slapped her own party leader in public view, and the TV channels beamed the episode all over the country.

"Uma can be temperamental but her integrity can't be questioned,'' says former RSS ideologue and her 'best friend' K. N. Govindacharya. She recently roped in Govindacharya, making him 'in charge' of her Bhartiya Janshakti (BJS) party's election campaign.

One can understand the fire of revenge that is raging in the heart of saffron-clad Uma Bharti. For long, Uma Bharti has been craving for revenge for the 'humiliation' that she faced on being hounded out of the BJP years ago.

Morena, November 25
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today accused the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh of not fulfilling promises it had made to the people of the state five years ago.

Attacking the BJP, the Congress general secretary said the BJP always made promises and later on forgot them.

Rahul said the party had earlier promised to build the Ram Temple at Ayodhya and now it was promising to end terrorism.

Addressing an election meeting at the Police Parade Ground here, he said if one was in politics, one must be trusted by the people and whatever was promised should be delivered.

Rahul, an MP from Amethi constituency, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had promised if they formed a government in New Delhi, it would be for the “aam aadmi” (common man).

It was because of this that the government had launched a number of schemes for the people and had waived off loans worth more than Rs 60,000 crore, he added. 
— PTI

Melriat, November 25
Campaigning for the prestigious Aizawl South III constituency, considered as the orange bowl of Mizoram, has been a low-key affair following the Mizo Peoples' Forum's (MPF) diktat, which the candidates have religiously followed.

Adhering to the diktats of the forum, the contestants decided not to have lots of colourful posters, banners and door-to-door campaign.

Despite low campaigning, the constituency is all set to witness an interesting tussle between State Home Minister Tawnluia and Congress nominee K S Thanga who is number two in the cabinet, during the December two Assembly polls.

Tawnluia, former Mizo National Front (MNF) army chief, has made his presence felt through the few posters which MPF allowed him to put on display in this tiny constituency, covering 28 villages and hamlets, bordering the capital town of Aizawl.

However, Thanga, the Congress nominee and a former student leader, hopes to be lucky third time as his earlier efforts to find a place in the state assembly were unsuccessful.

The Congress nominee said that at the nearby village Kelsih, which has about 140 households, the battle will be evenly poised between his party and the MNF. — PTI 

Morena: At the time of assembly elections, what are the Chambal dacoits doing, you may like to know.

Well, they are very much in 'business' --- not indulging in much looting and kidnapping but busy carrying out election campaign for whosoever has hired them.

Recently, the police foiled an attempt by dacoits of the notorious Jagan Gurjar gang to enter Madhya Pradesh from Rajasthan and seized two vehicles loaded with election material and party flags of Congress candidate Ramniwas Rawat contesting from Vijaypur seat in the neighbouring Sheopur district. Rawat, however, denied he had hired dacoits.

The gang was attempting to enter this state after crossing the Chambal river near Singhpur. After exchange of fire, the dacoits retreated. Jagan Gurjar carries a total Rs 11 lakh reward on his head in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Besides the Congress publicity material, the police found some cosmetic items like lipsticks and eyebrow colouring pencils from the rear seat of a jeep. The police believe that Jagan's girl friend, Komesh, was also in one of the vehicles.

Can your visualise the scene --- most wanted dacoit's girlfriend sitting over bundles of Congress flags and publicity material. It is suspected that she was injured in the police firing.