N A T I O N

Reaching out to Nitish, Centre clears Rs 4,130 cr for Bihar roads
Patna, July 6
In another instance of the Congress reaching out to Nitish Kumar, the Union Rural Development Ministry has approved Rs 4,130 crore for the construction of 5,700 km of rural roads, highest allotment for the state in 12 years.

Nitish will be taught a lesson: Modi
Patna, July 6
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today launched a ‘virtual’ election campaign in Bihar making a veiled attack against his bete noire Nitish Kumar saying those who ‘betrayed’ the BJP will be defeated by people of the state.

BJP rakes up Ram temple issue as Amit Shah visits Ayodhya
Lucknow, July 6
BJP Uttar Pradesh in-charge and Narendra Modi’s aide Amit Shah today offered prayers at the disputed make-shift Ram Temple at Ayodhya where he reportedly sought blessings for construction of a grand temple and freedom from Congress misrule.

Reaching out to Nitish, Centre clears Rs 4,130 cr for Bihar roads

Patna, July 6
In another instance of the Congress reaching out to Nitish Kumar, the Union Rural Development Ministry has approved Rs 4,130 crore for the construction of 5,700 km of rural roads, highest allotment for the state in 12 years.

"The decision to allot the amount under the Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) in the current financial year was taken by the ministry in July," Union Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here. Out of the fund allocated in all 38 districts, 2,400 rural roads and 190 bridges would be constructed, he said.

Asked if this was another instance of the Congress reaching out to Nitish Kumar after the JD(U) split from the BJP, Ramesh replied in the negative. "It is the right of the state," he said. He said he had galvanised implementation of schemes everywhere in the country after taking charge of the ministry.

Ramesh, who came to Bihar to review rural development works in the Maoist-hit West Champaran district, was talking to reporters at the state Congress headquarters Sadaqat Ashram. He later met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The minister said of the total fund, 80 per cent would be spent on road construction in 10 districts. These are Araria, Aurangabad, Darbhanga, Jamui, Kaimur, Madhubani, Nawada Sitamarhi, Rohtas and West Champaran, majority of which are affected by Naxalism. — PTI 

Nitish will be taught a lesson: Modi

Patna, July 6
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today launched a ‘virtual’ election campaign in Bihar making a veiled attack against his bete noire Nitish Kumar saying those who ‘betrayed’ the BJP will be defeated by people of the state.

"There is a 1974-like anti-Congress wave prevailing in the country now. The mandate of the people of Bihar was for the NDA.

“Like then (in 1974), those who betrayed the people’s mandate in Bihar will be taught a lesson," Modi told party leaders without taking the name of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The Bihar Chief Minister, who has been opposed to Modi's style of politics, dumped BJP after his elevation as election campaign chief in his party last month.

Modi talked to leaders of the BJP in Bihar over their mobile phone through audio bridge technology. A total of 1,500 leaders across the state were chosen and they were divided into three groups. He talked to five leaders of each group.

Among those Modi talked to were former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, former Ashwani Chaube, who was stranded in Uttarakhand for some time, state BJP vice- president Sanjay Mayuk, MLAs Nitin Narain and Vijay Singh.

Bihar BJP president Mangal Pande told Modi that everyone was talking about the possibility of his becoming Prime Minister.

The Chief Minister laughed away the suggestion and said price rise was now emerging as a major issue and BJP workers should work hard to fight the Congress-led Central government on this and other issues.

When he talked to party leaders in Arrah, Aurangabad and Baata, Modi appeared to show some geographical knowledge of the areas when he mentioned some of the places. — PTI

There is a 1974-like anti-Congress wave prevailing in the country now. The mandate of the people of Bihar was for the NDA. Like then (in 1974), those who betrayed the people’s mandate in Bihar will be taught a lesson.
—Narendra Modi, Gujarat cm

BJP rakes up Ram temple issue as Amit Shah visits Ayodhya
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, July 6
BJP Uttar Pradesh in-charge and Narendra Modi’s aide Amit Shah today offered prayers at the disputed make-shift Ram Temple at Ayodhya where he reportedly sought blessings for construction of a grand temple and freedom from Congress misrule.

Speaking to the media after visiting the make-shift temple Shah said, “Crores of Hindus in the country want to see a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya. We will all work for construction of a massive temple as early as possible. I have also prayed to God for ending the Congress misrule and replacing it with good governance."

Making an attempt to polarise votes by reviving the controversial mandir issue, which had remained on the back burner during the NDA rule, Shah today launched his UP 2014 mission with a visit to Ayodhya where besides offering prayers he held a meeting of the BJP’s Awadh Prant (zone).

Political parties were quick to criticise BJP’s attempt to revive the mandir issue.

Pandey to be named accused in Sadiq case
Manas Dasgupta

Ahmedabad, July 6
The additional Gujarat Director General of police P P Pandey, declared absconder by the special court in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, is almost certain to be named as an accused in the Sadiq Jamal Mehtar encounter also.

Pandey, who was joint police commissioner in Ahmedabad crime branch during the fake encounters about a decade ago, was declared an absconder by a special CBI court in Ahmedabad last week after he failed to respond to three summons from the investigating agency for questioning in the Ishrat fake encounter case.

The CBI has named Pandey as one of the principal accused in the Ishrat fake encounter case along with seven other state police officials, including the former deputy inspector-general of police D G Vanzara. But the CBI investigation has revealed that Pandey was as much involved in the Sadiq Jamal fake encounter as he was in Ishrat Jahan case.