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gujarat decides 2012 It’s celebration Time: BJP workers celebrate the party’s win in the Assembly poll by bursting crackers at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad on Thursday. — PTI
‘If I’ve committed any mistake, forgive me’
India, ASEAN finalise free trade agreement in services
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Rajya Sabha clears Bill expanding definition of terror act
Coast Guard gets interceptor boat
Parties continue to field candidates with charges of crime against women: ADR
Order on framing of charges against Kalmadi today
Mamata doesn’t want to be friends with Cong or BJP
Italian marines may go home for Christmas
France using technology to address Sikh turban issue
Except Goa, no state has given adequate representation to SCs
Protection for Chandra, Goenka against arrest
SP, BJP oppose quota Bill Prithvi-II test successful
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Meticulous planning, perseverance saw Modi home
Manas Dasgupta
Ahmedabad, December 20 With the exception of the CPM in West Bengal in the past, the BJP and Modi's performance of registering a hat-trick of victories is perhaps a record not only in Gujarat, but in most states in the country. The anti-incumbency factor failed to hit the BJP and Modi even this time. The good showing by the BJP has opened a plethora of future possibilities for Modi. He can continue to hold the office of the Chief Minister for as long as he desires, or move to Delhi to jump onto the national platform. Though the party tally in the state fell short by one seat than its 2007 performance, Modi has emerged as a strong leader of the party in the state. His image seems to be improving in some other parts of the country, too. The BJP high command could try to confine him to state boundaries only at its own peril. The decision on the timing of his moving over to the national politics, if he so desired, however, is likely to be left to him. Several factors, including some "hidden ones", have contributed to Modi's victory. His ability to charm the people with his oratory to build his image as a "doer" and "performer" and his round-the-year live contact with voters were the main factors that helped him register the third straight victory in the state. Ever since 2007, end of one election always meant the beginning of the next round for Modi. And, without wasting any time, he would again embark on his image-building exercise. The bi-annual "Vibrant Gujarat Investors' Summit" has also helped him build his image as "Vikas Purush" (the man of development) in the industrial sector over the past 10 years. He also promoted "Garib Kalyan Melas", "Krishi Melas" and other such programmes. As much as possible, he would personally attend all these events to remain in live contact with the people. His strong administrative control, bordering on dictatorship, and towering personality in the party helped in expediting decision-making process that ultimately went a long way in pleasing the investors. A number of industrial houses opened their units in the state. This increased employment opportunities for the local people, thus earning more support for him. Surprisingly, it's the younger generation that is more captivated by his image of a "no-nonsense performer". Obviously, the youth strongly supported the BJP in the elections. The Congress' practice of not to naming the chief ministerial candidate in advance did not please not please the young voters. "We do not like shadow boxing. If we vote for the BJP, we know Modi will be the Chief Minister and we also know his capacity to perform. Who will be the Chief Minister, if we vote for the Congress?" said a young engineer, a first time voter. Contrary to the message he tried to spread through his "Sadbhavana Mission" fasts during the last one year, Modi's refusal to give the party ticket to any Muslim seems to have worked in his favour. He was able to keep Hindu votes in tact. The police action and high rate of convictions against the 2002 communal riot accused also helped him attract some minority votes, as is evident from the results in minority-dominated urban seats which the BJP snatched away from the Congress. Being out of power for the past 17 years, the organisational set-up of the Congress in the state stands virtually shattered. Except the state-level edifice, the party machinery in districts and down to taluka and village levels has turned hollow with the party finding it difficult to engage workers even to man polling booths in the semi-urban and rural areas during elections. Moreover, the party launched its campaign to puncture Modi's image very late. It also failed to convince voters in painting Modi administration as corrupt. The last-minute rebellion within the Congress also did not help the Congress cause.
WHAT HELPED HIM SCORE
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‘If I’ve committed any mistake, forgive me’
Ahmedabad, December 20
"If there has been a mistake somewhere. If I have erred somewhere, I seek apology from you, the six crore Gujaratis," Modi said in a victory speech in Hindi, aiming to reach out to a wider audience. Modi, who has always been under attack following the 2002 post-Godhara violence, made no mention of it in his 45-minute speech. "You have given me power. Now you also give me your blessings so that I do not commit any mistake, no one is hurt and there is no mistake by me even unknowingly. When people, who are in fact God, give their blessings, there is no possibility of a mistake," the Gujarat Chief Minister said. Analysts said Modi choosing to speak in Hindi when he has stuck to Gujarati during his entire election campaign may be signalling his national ambitions. Taking potshots at his detractors, Modi said he does not need a certificate from anyone after "people have given me the biggest medal". As the cheering crowd shouted "PM-PM" for Modi, the BJP leader credited his victory to the six crore Gujaratis and his party saying that if he is able to serve Gujarat and take the state to a magnificent level, it was due to the collective strength of people and his party. Modi said he will visit Delhi on December 27 for a day. "Gujarat is a role model for the elections. The entire election was fought here on the plank of development. Gujarat has endorsed the plank of development and has voted accordingly. This victory is not the victory of Narendra Modi but of the six crore Gujaratis and those Indians, who aspire for prosperity and development. This is a victory of all those who wish the country's good," Modi said. The 62-year-old Chief Minister, who has no dearth of detractors even within his party, was all humility on the day of victory, crediting the result to 'Team BJP'. "This is not my strength. This is BJP's strength. This is Team BJP, this is Team Gujarat which is serving you and I am just a small part of this team," he said. He stressed "party is like a mother. Whatever we are, it is because of the party. If the party is not there, we have no worth. It is the result of the hard work done by the BJP in the past 40-50 years that the party has emerged victorious". Modi urged people to take Gujarat to such a level of development that it could serve the nation. "I am serving the country through six crore Gujaratis. We have to create such a Gujarat, which will fulfil the needs of other parts of the countries as well," he said. The Gujarat Chief Minister added that if the farmers of his state produce more foodgrains, it will feed the poor in the rest of the country; if a factory is built here, it will provide employment to the people from other parts. "I want to tell every citizen of the country that they should build pressure for good governance," he said. — PTI
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India, ASEAN finalise free trade agreement in services
New Delhi, December 20 India and ASEAN also announced that they had finalised a free trade agreement (FTA) in services and investment after prolonged negotiations and elevated their relationship to a strategic level. “As maritime nations, India and ASEAN nations should intensify their engagement for maritime security and safety, for freedom of navigation and for peaceful settlement of maritime disputes in accordance with international law. We should also foster cooperation to counter piracy and respond to natural disasters,’’ Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said as he opened the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit here. Though it was billed to be a summit to highlight 20 years of India’s partnership with the major regional bloc, China, because of its stance on the South China Sea, was the big elephant in the room as Manmohan Singh and top leaders from Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines gathered here for the two-day meet. Vietnam, which has been involved in a tense stand-off with China over the disputed sea, suggested that there should be a common code of conduct for ensuring peace in the area. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung even suggested that India should intervene in the dispute and ensure that China complied with international law. However, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, addressing a press conference later, stated that India was not a party to the dispute though it favoured freedom of navigation and safety of sea lanes for communication for unfettered movement of trade. Responding to a question, Khurshid said India-China relations would be of great significance in the world of tomorrow. Negatives were far too meagre as compared to advantages for both India and China in developing relations, he added. Meanwhile, Manmohan Singh and the ASEAN leaders also released a vision statement, in which the two sides committed themselves to realising the ASEAN Community in 2015, comprising three pillars, namely the ASEAN Political Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio Cultural Community. The two sides also resolved to achieve a bilateral trade target of $ 100 billion by 2015. They reaffirmed their commitment to complete the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and its extension to Laos and Cambodia and a new highway project connecting India-Myanmar-Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia as well as developing the Mekong-India economic corridor connecting Southeast Asia to South Asia.
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Rajya Sabha clears Bill expanding definition of terror act
New Delhi, December 20 The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2012, extends the period of ban on an organisation from two years to five years for which an association involved in terrorist acts, including terror financing, would be declared unlawful. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill earlier. Amendments seek to include procurement of weapons, raising funds for terrorist activities and counterfeiting Indian currency under the definition of a “terrorist act”. The Bill also enlarges the scope of punishment for raising funds likely to be used (in full or in part) to commit a terrorist act or for the benefit of terrorists shall be punishable irrespective of whether the funds have been raised from legitimate or illegitimate sources. Attempting to quell apprehensions of members, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said the amended law would not be misused. “This Bill is against terrorism and terrorists. I assure that the Bill is religion neutral...Terrorism is not just about guns, it is also about attack on a country's economy,” he said. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said an individual, group of individuals, an association who are involved in counterfeit currency circulation would be covered under the law and was not against innocent people. The Opposition BJP had sought an amendment in the Bill to include NGOs under it so that their foreign funding also comes under scanner for its misuse in terrorist activities, which was negated by a majority 79 members out of 107 present. As many as 28 members voted in favour of the amendment. Singh said that the Bill includes offences by companies, societies or trusts and which includes NGOs. During the discussion, a number of members mainly from the JD(U), the RJD, the CPI and the CPM expressed serious apprehensions over the law granting extra powers to police and its misuse against members of a particular community, caste and trade unions. Many members also asked government not to pass the bill in haste and have a rethink and demanded that the measure be sent to the Select Committee for seeking views of members of various parties by holding wider consultations. Some members termed the law “draconian”, saying it would become another tool in the hands of police to harass innocent people.
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Coast Guard gets interceptor boat
Mumbai, December 20 Designed and constructed by the engineering giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T), this is the first of 36 such boats to be constructed for the Coast Guard. The boat was delivered and commissioned at Porbandar station of the ICG in Gujarat. The boat is capable of attaining speeds of 40 knots (74 km/hour). The boat has a full aluminium-alloy body for reduced weight and is powered by twin water-jet propulsion systems to enable quick response for vital coastal surveillance activities. Besides, these boats can also operate effectively in shallow waters which would be critical for near-shore actions, thus significantly enhancing the country's coastal security programmes. Encompassing state-of-the-art technology in designing and construction, L&T will also explore export potential for these boats. The boats are a part of the overall enhancement of the coastal security measures initiated by the central government in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. — IANS
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Parties continue to field candidates with charges of crime against women: ADR Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 20 Basing their argument on affidavits submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by politicians themselves, the ADR says six MLAs have declared charges of rape against them. These include Samajwadi Party’s Sribhagwan Sharma, Anoop Sanda and Manoj Kumar Paras in Uttar Pradesh, BSP’s Mohd Aleem Khan, also in UP, BJP’s Jethabhai G. Ahir in Gujarat and TDP’s Kandikunta Venkata Prasad in Andhra Pradesh. As many as 27 candidates contesting state-level elections in the past five years declared charges of rape against them in their affidavits to the ECI. While seven fought as Independent candidates, five were given tickets by the SP and two each by the BJP and the BSP, according to the ADR. As many as 36 other MLAs also declared charges of crime against women like outraging the modesty of a woman, assault, insulting the modesty of a woman pending against them and these included six from the Congress, five from the BJP and three from the SP. UP, says the ADR, has the maximum number of MLAs (as many as eight) who have declared charges of crime against women like cruelty and intent to outrage modesty in their affidavits, followed by Orissa and West Bengal with seven MLAs each apart from two MPs - Semmalai S of the ADMK from the Salem constituency in Tamil Nadu and Adhikari Suvendu of the AITC from the Tamluk constituency in West Bengal. The ADR says a large number of such persons were given tickets by parties to contest elections in the past five years. For example in the Lok Sabha 2009 elections, six candidates had declared charges of rape against them, including one each from Bihar’s Rashtriya Pragati Party, the Rashtrawadi Communist Party, the BSP and the JMM, apart from two Independent candidates. The ADR and NEW want the political parties to stop giving tickets to candidates with criminal backgrounds and who have been charged with crimes like murder, attempt to murder and crime against women such as rape.
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Order on framing of charges against Kalmadi today
New Delhi, December 20 Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh had on November 21 slated for tomorrow the pronouncement of order on charges in the case also involving former CWG OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot as an accused in the case. Besides Kalmadi and Bhanot, nine others have been charge-sheeted by the CBI for allegedly “illegally” awarding a contract to install Timing, Scoring and Results system for the 2010 CWG to Swiss Timing at an inflated rates causing a loss of over Rs 90 crore to the public exchequer. They have been charge-sheeted under various provisions of the IPC, including those of criminal conspiracy under section 120(B), cheating (section 420), forgery (section 468 & 471) of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI had alleged Kalmadi and others had rejected Spanish firm MSL's much lower bid of Rs 62 crore and awarded the contract to Swiss Timing Omega, causing a loss of over Rs 90 crore to the exchequer. The other nine accused in the case are OC's Director General V K Verma, Director General (Procurement) Surjit Lal, Joint Director General (Sports) A S V Prasad and Treasurer M Jayachandran. They are no more associated with the sporting body. Promoters of two construction companies -- P D Arya and A K Madan of Faridabad-based Gem International and A K Reddy of Hyderabad-based AKR Constructions -- are also accused in the case. Besides the two firms, Swiss Timing Omega, the Swiss firm which was awarded the contract allegedly at exorbitant rates, is also an accused in the case. During the arguments on charges, CBI counsel V K Sharma had argued that Kalmadi and others had decided to award the contract for installing the TSR system for the CWG to Swiss Timing even before the firm had bid for it. Sharma had also said that for TSR installation, two bids had been received -- one from Swiss Timing and other from MSL Spain -- and the same were opened on November 4, 2009 but Kalmadi and Verma had announced in a meeting on October 12, 2009 itself that the contract would be given to Swiss Timing. He had also said Kalmadi had made up his mind in advance to award the contract to the Swiss firm. Kalmadi's counsel, however, had argued that the facts given in the CBI's charge sheet were contrary to the documents which the agency had filed in the court. Kalmadi had told the court that he was only doing the work assigned to him as the OC chairman and nothing wrong was done by him in the entire process. The counsel appearing for other accused had also opposed the allegations levelled against them by the CBI. — PTI
Loss to exchequer
Besides Kalmadi and Bhanot, nine others have been charge-sheeted by the CBI for allegedly “illegally” awarding a contract to install Timing, Scoring and Results system for the 2010 CWG to Swiss Timing at an inflated rates causing a loss of over Rs 90 crore to the public exchequer.
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Mamata doesn’t want to be friends with Cong or BJP
Kolkata, December 20 The Trinamool Congress chief declared the party would not maintain any political track with any of these parties in future. Her relations with them would not change if they did not change themselves, she said while addressing a public meeting at Tehatta in Nadia district today. She alleged the CPM had destroyed Bengal during its prolonged 34 years of rule. She said she needed some more time to reverse the damage done to the state. She announced several decisions which, she claimed, would benefit the Muslims and the backward people in border areas.
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Italian marines may go home for Christmas
Kochi, December 20 The two sailors shot the fishermen, they say they mistook for pirates off the southern state of Kerala in February, sparking a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Rome. The Kerala HCsaid its decision to allow the men back home for two weeks was contingent on the government's approval. Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are out on bail in India but not allowed to leave the country. — Reuters
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France using technology to address Sikh turban issue
New Delhi, December 20 Paris has also informed New Delhi that it was engaged in a dialogue on the issue with Sikh students and their parents as well as Sikh organisations. Ambassador Roland Dubretrand, Ambassador for Religious Issues in the French Foreign Ministry, and Louis Xavier Thirode, head of the Central Bureau of Faiths in the French Interior Ministry, were here earlier this week and held meetings with Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur and senior officials of the ministry. Official sources said India utilised the opportunity to explain to the senior French officials the sensitivity of the Sikh community and its concerns in this regard. It was also pointed out to them that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders have raised the issue with top French leaders from time to time. Preneet Kaur is understood to have told them that there was nothing more important to a human being than dignity and identity. She also drew their attention to some suggestions that have been made by India in the past to address the issue. The Indian side welcomed France’s decision to use an appropriate technology such as the body scan in place of physical frisking or removing turbans.
issue of dignity
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Except Goa, no state has given adequate representation to SCs
New Delhi, December 20 For some reason, the 15 per cent quota in Central government services, which the Constitution guaranteed to SCs in 1950s, is yet to be implemented. The lack of SC representation in Central jobs has been detailed in the latest study by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes which is supporting the UPA’s decision to push the Constitution 117th Amendment Bill to provide quota in Central job promotions to SCs and STs. The government will use the study to fight the Samajwadi Party and the BJP which again blocked the discussion on the Bill in Lok Sabha today as their members stormed the well. The debate on the Bill began but it could not be passed as the session ended. The study accessed exclusively by The Tribune shows that except Goa, no other state has given adequate representation to SCs in the various groups except Group D where safai karamcharis are recruited. States are recruiting SCs in much lesser numbers to their proportion in the population and most hiring is being done at the lower levels. In higher services, SCs are literally missing. DOPT documents cited by the Commission reveal that the share of SCs in Group A services at the Centre is a meagre 12.5 per cent (11,446 SC employees as against 91,881 in Class A). In Class B, only 14.9 per cent of all 1,37,272 employees are SCs; but in Groups C and D, the representation of SCs suddenly improves to rise to 15.7 and 19.4 per cent (minus sweepers) respectively of all employees. “What is the reason for SCs being employed at lower levels alone and not in higher services? Someone must answer this question,” asks PL Punia, chairman, SC Commission, who said the government Bill only seeks to correct an anomaly which one of the SC judgments created by seeking determination of backwardness of SCs before giving them quota in promotions. “The Indra Sawhney (Mandal) judgment has treated SCs as a whole as backward. Why should there be a need then to prove backwardness again and again,” he asked.
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Protection for Chandra, Goenka against arrest New Delhi, December 20 Additional Sessions Judge Raj Rani Mitra today ordered, “You (Delhi Police) proceed with the investigation, the moment you get evidence against them (Chandra and Goenka) then you approach the court to take permission to arrest them…You will have to give them 10 days time before arresting them.” Goenka’s lawyer Geeta Luthra said, “Chandra and Goenka have been granted anticipatory bail on the condition that the police provides them a notice of 10 days before their arrest, if the police has evidence against them (in the case of the alleged extortion attempt against Jindal Steel and Power Limited by the two Zee News editors).” The defence counsel requested the court for the passports of Chandra and Goenka, which are with the police. The order on this matter will be passed tomorrow.
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SP, BJP oppose quota Bill New Delhi, December 20 Following several disruptions through the day, which saw both SP and BJP members repeatedly trooping into the well of the House to oppose the quota Bill, the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die at 5.30 pm. The Lower House lost 59 hours to ruckus during the month-long session while the Upper House lost 47 hours. Together, the two Houses lost 106 hours of business time. In the Lok Sabha, dramatic scenes were witnessed as the SP blocked the Constitution 117th Amendment Bill, which MoS V Narayanasamy introduced earlier in the day for consideration of the House. The BJP, which had supported the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, opposed it today. All day long, ministers Kamal Nath, Kumari Selja and Narayanasamy were seen trying to engage with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav asking him to rein in his MPs, but to no avail. In between adjournments, UPA chief Sonia Gandhi was seen deliberating on the blockage of the Bill with senior Congress leaders.
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Balasore (Odisha), Dec 20 The surface-to-surface missile was test fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of Integrated Test Range at about 9.21 am, defence sources said. The launch of the sophisticated missile, conducted as part of operational exercise by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the defence services, was successful, they said. “The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the total launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of practice drill,” sources said. The Prithvi-II missile, developed by the DRDO, is already inducted into the Indian Armed forces. Prithvi, the first missile developed under India's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines, uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory. The last trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on October 4. — PTI
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The outcome of the Gujarat state Assembly elections announced today has once again showed that Chief Minister Narendra Modi is still ruling supreme in the political scenario in the state. The combined opposition forces have failed to make much dent in Modi's popularity even 11 years after his remaining in the office.
