BJP stages demo before parliament over misuse of CBI by Centre

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 6 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday staged a protest before Parliament charging Union Government with misuse of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

It said the UPA Government was using the CBI in cases of disproportionate assets against several politicians.

The demonstration was staged in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the Parliament complexes.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj alleged that the CBI is being used to target opposition parties.

“We were observing for many days that the CBI was working as an agent for the ruling party instead of being a just and independent body. It worked to defend the people of the ruling party and attack the people of the opposition parties,” Swaraj said.

“It was deliberately harassing some parties to please the ruling party. The biggest example of this was seen when cut motion was brought up in Parliament. So to protest against the conspiracy of the CBI against the opposition parties, we have staged the demonstration today, “ she added.

Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance and its members of both Houses of Parliament took part in the protest.

Earlier in the week, the BJP had accused the CBI of acting at the behest of the Central Government in the Gujarat’s Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

The party also accused that the UPA Government was using the CBI to give a bad name to the democratically elected Narendra Modi Government of Gujarat.

The BJP had earlier alleged that government had misused the CBI to speed up or slow down disproportionate assets cases against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. The three parties voted with the government in the recent cut motions moved by the BJP and Left parties. (ANI)

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BJP tenders apology over ‘Gaddar’ remarks in Parliament

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 6 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday tendered an unconditional apology for alleged remarks made by its member Ananth Kumar in the Lok Sabha against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad.

On Wednesday, certain words used by Kumar during his speech on Census 2011, resulted in a heated debate between him and Lalu Prasad.

As soon as the House met for the day, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj submitted the apology.

“I unconditionally apologise for the remarks made by Ananth Kumar yesterday,” she said.

When Prasad sought to intervene, Swaraj said in a lighter vein, “I also apologise on behalf of Laluji also.”

“There is a lot of important business to be done in the House. I appeal to members to help in the smooth running of the House,” Swaraj added.

Kumar, who was present in the House, however, did not say anything on the matter.

On Wednesday, Kumar had insisted that he had not made the remarks against Prasad and would neither apologise nor withdraw them.

“I will neither apologise nor withdraw my comments,” Kumar had said.

Swaraj said Kumar has not denied using both “Gaddar ” and “rashtravirodhi” words during his speech.

However, Swaraj maintained that Kumar had not used these two words against Prasad.

She said there was a misunderstanding among the Samajwadi Party (SP), the RJD and other members.

“But one should understand the context in which Kumar mentioned them. Our notice demanding a discussion on Census was against the column ”nationality as declared” in the National Population Register (NPR) form. Gaddar word per se is unparliamentary but not in this context,” Swaraj said.

On Wednesday evening, the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice, after Kumar and Prasad had a strong exchange over Bangladeshi’s being registered as Indian citizen in the current Census.

Kumar drew the attention of the House to the alleged activities of Bangladeshi refugees and the attempt by illegal migrants to register themselves as Indian citizens.

He asked whether members of the House are with pro-Nationals or with anti nationals, and alleged that the Bangladeshi effort was not happening without the support of some politicians.

This agitated Prasad so much so that he tried to walk over to Kumar, but SP chief Mulayam Singh stopped him. (ANI)

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Census inclusion of Bangladeshis causes Lalu, Ananth spat

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): The Lok Sabha was adjourned for a second time on Wednesday evening after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ananth Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad had a strong exchange over Bangladeshi’s being registered as Indian citizen in the current Census.

Kumar drew the attention of the House to the alleged activities of Bangladeshi refugees and the attempt by illegal migrants to register themselves as Indian citizens.

Kumar demanded a statement from the Government on the issue.

He asked whether members of the House are with pro-Nationals or with anti nationals, and alleged that the Bangladeshi effort was not happening without the support of some politicians.

This agitated Lalu Prasad so much so that he tried to walk over to Kumar, but Samjwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh stopped him.

The exchange of words between the BJP and the RJD and SP members continued the Speaker to adjourn proceedings in the House.

Earlier, opposition members forced an adjournment of proceedings till 2 p.m, raising several issues, including Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay”s remarks against a CPI-M member and the controversy surrounding 2G spectrum bids.

Soon after Speaker Meira Kumar called for Question Hour, Left members rushed to the Well and started demanding an apology from Trinamool Congress member Sudip Bandopadhyay for his remarks against CPI(M) member Basudeb Acharia.

Kumar”s repeated appeals to allow Question Hour to continue went unheeded even as members from the Treasury benches waved the agenda papers demanding that the House functions properly.

AIADMK members also stormed into the Well waving copies of a newspaper that carried reports on the controversy surrounding 2G spectrum bids.

They demanded the resignation of Communications Minister and DMK leader A Raja.

DMK sources however, have ruled out the possibility of Raja resigning.

Sources said Raja has emerged as the Dalit face of the DMK and enjoys good rapport with Karunanidhi.

Though Raja is embroiled in two major allegations — the spectrum allotment — and his alleged telephone call to a Madras High Court judge for a favourable order– Karunanidhi has been defending him. (ANI)

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Mukherjee assures probe on all aspects of IPL

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 19 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday assured Parliament that all financial aspects of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be probed, and none who are found guilty, will be spared by the law.

“Some honourable members in the morning raised issues of the IPL and wanted to have a thorough probe in all its aspects. In fact, the concerned the department has already started the investigation process,” Mukherjee informed.

“I can assure the honourable members that all aspects of IPL – including its source of funding, from where the funds were routed how it has been invested-all these aspects are being looked into and the appropriate action as per law will be taken,” he added.

Mukherjee assured the House that no guilty will be spared.

“No guilty or wrong doers will be spared,” Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee’s assurance came as the Opposition members, demanding a probe into the alleged black money trail in the IPL, rocked proceedings of the Lok Sabha.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta demanded a probe into the IPL.

In the morning, interacting with media outside the Parliament, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat demanded formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the matter.

Former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor”s resignation has led to a new demand to clean up the IPL and bring its commissioner Lalit Modi to book.

The Income Tax Department has reportedly sent a notice to all IPL team owners to submit their team ownership and holding documents by this week.

A high-powered meeting called by the Finance Ministry is slated to discuss steps to be taken in the probe.

The Finance and Revenue Secretaries, top I-T and Enforcement Directorate officials are expected to attend the meeting. (ANI)

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Mukherjee assures probe on all aspects of IPL

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 19 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday assured Parliament that all financial aspects of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be probed, and none who are found guilty, will be spared by the law.

“Some honourable members in the morning raised issues of the IPL and wanted to have a thorough probe in all its aspects. In fact, the concerned the department has already started the investigation process,” Mukherjee informed.

“I can assure the honourable members that all aspects of IPL – including its source of funding, from where the funds were routed how it has been invested-all these aspects are being looked into and the appropriate action as per law will be taken,” he added.

Mukherjee assured the House that no guilty will be spared.

“No guilty or wrong doers will be spared,” Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee’s assurance came as the Opposition members, demanding a probe into the alleged black money trail in the IPL, rocked proceedings of the Lok Sabha.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta demanded a probe into the IPL.

In the morning, interacting with media outside the Parliament, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat demanded formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the matter.

Former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor”s resignation has led to a new demand to clean up the IPL and bring its commissioner Lalit Modi to book.

The Income Tax Department has reportedly sent a notice to all IPL team owners to submit their team ownership and holding documents by this week.

A high-powered meeting called by the Finance Ministry is slated to discuss steps to be taken in the probe.

The Finance and Revenue Secretaries, top I-T and Enforcement Directorate officials are expected to attend the meeting. (ANI)

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Supreme Court provides relief to Lalu Prasad in disproportionate assets case

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 1 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Government of Bihar has no authority to file an appeal against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad”s 2006 acquittal in a disproportionate assets case.

“The Bihar Government is not a competent authority to file an appeal in the case,” a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R M Lodha and B S Chauhan said.

The apex court also set aside a Patna High Court decision admitting the appeal filed by Bihar Government against the acquittal of Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi in the case.

During a final hearing on March 10, the CBI stood by Lalu in the Supreme Court and opposed the Bihar Government””s decision to challenge his acquittal in a disproportionate assets case, an off-shoot of the 1995-96 fodder scam.

The CBI had booked Lalu and Rabri Devi on charges of amassing property worth Rs 46 lakh above their legal sources of income.

Lalu was sent to the Bihar military police guest house on judicial remand in July 1997 and again in October 1998. He spent a day in the Beur Jail in the disproportionate assets case in November 2000.

Lalu and Rabri Devi, however, were acquitted of all charges by Special CBI Judge Muni Lal Paswan in December 2006.

The Bihar Government challenged their acquittal in 2007. (ANI)

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Pranab to talk with opponents of Women”s Reservation Bill

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to hold talks with those opposing the Women”s Reservation Bill before the Central Government takes a final call on it.

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khursid, however, said the government has no re-thinking on the Bill, which has got the nod of the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav are not in favour of the Bill, as they claim it does not protect the interest of minorities, Dalits and Muslims.

The Yadav trio wants a quota within this for the backward class and Muslim women.

History was created in the Rajya Sabha on March 9 when it voted by an overwhelming majority a Bill to reserve one-third of seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.

Fourteen years after the first attempt was made in the Lok Sabha and repeated failures subsequently, the Constitution Amendment Bill was adopted in the mandatory division with 186 members voting for it and one voting against.

In the 245-member House with an effective strength of 233, the bill required the backing of at least 155 members and the UPA had the clear support of 165 in the run up to the event.

The bill seeks to reserve for women 181 of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha and 1,370 out of a total of 4,109 seats in the 28 State Assemblies. (ANI)

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Rashtriya Janata Dal celebrates good show in Bihar by-polls

September 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Patna, Sept 20 (ANI): The activists of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) here celebrated the party’s good show in the by-election for 18 legislative assembly seats.

The RJD-Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) won eight seats in the by-election for 18 legislative assembly seats, a major set back to ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

The JD (U) bagged three seats while its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won two seats.

The activists burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the win at the party office.

RJD leader Lalu Prasad termed the results as referendum on the ruling government.

“It is not possible for the Bihar Government-led by Nitish Kumar to return. The RJD alliance will return to power. The people of Bihar have welcomed us with open arms,” said Yadav.

The RJD failed poorly in Lok Sabha election in April-May this year, winning just four seats out of the total 40 in Bihar. (ANI)

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Railways to probe scam during Lalu Prasad’s tenure

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 18 (ANI): Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee has said an external agency would probe allegations of graft during her predecessor’s tenure.

Lawmakers belonging to Bihar’s Janata Dal (United) had alleged that that during the tenure of former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, people were asked to cede land to the railways in exchange for jobs and contracts in the organisation.

Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) and the Railway Recruitment Committees (RRC) make recruitment to Indian Railways.

“RRB and the RRC is an organisation. They do it for this. So if severe complaints come against the RRB and RRC then it is the procedure of the department, they do it internally if internal matter is involved and if outsiders are involved then the procedure is to depute an outside agency,” Banerjee told reporters here on Thursday.

She said it would also review past land seizures, mostly from farmers. It needs land to proceed with a 5.8 billion dollars project to connect Indian regions and spur economic activity. (ANI)

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Karnataka refuses to ban Jaswant Singh’s book on Jinnah

August 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bangalore /Patna, Aug 22 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has confirmed that his government does not propose to ban Jaswant Singh’s book ‘Jinnah – India, Partition, Independence’.

Unlike Gujarat, which is also ruled by the BJP, Yediyurappa asserted that his government would not ban the book.

“I am not planning to ban that book,” he said.

The Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat blamed Jaswant’s book for denigrating the image of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister, who hails from that state and is held in high esteem by most people in India.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad in Patna has refused to comment on Singh’s expulsion from the BJP, but was criticial of the party for equating L K Advani with Sardar Patel.

“The BJP had insulted Sardal Patel on the day when they compared Advani with him and branded Advani as the ‘Iron Man’. For us, there is only one ‘Iron Man’ (Sardar Patel). This is the internal matter of the BJP and let the Congress and the BJP should decide for themselves,” he said.

In his book, Jaswant Singh observes that Jinnah, Pakistan’s founder was ideologically a secular individual, while Patel and India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru were equally responsible for the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947. (ANI)

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VHP hails Jaswant’s expulsion, RSS avoids comment

August 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug.19 (ANI): Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)on Wednesday welcomed the expulsion of senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh for eulogising Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah in his book, saying it would send the right signals to the BJP’s legislators and functionaries.

“We take this judgement as a positive sign. This expulsion will have positive effects on the lawmakers of the party and the party workers as well,” VHP President Giriraj Kishore told mediapersons in national capital.

Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), however, said it was not concerned with the controversy.

“This is not our subject,” RSS chief Mohan Madhukar Bhagwat said when asked to comment on Singh’s ouster.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), gave a cautious reactions on the expulsion.

“Jinnah is respected the same way in Pakistan as Gandhiji is respected in India. I don’t want to comment on it. It is their party’s internal matter,” said RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Newspapers quoted Jaswant Singh’s book “Jinnah – India, Partition, Independence”, as saying that Pakistan’s founder was ‘demonised in India’.(ANI)

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Lalu says Mamata suffers from complex

July 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): Accusing Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on doing nothing new in the rail budget, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Friday said that she had used his achievements in the ministry to build her case.

“Is this a budget? She has just read out what I had announced during my stint…She suffers from a complex,” he said.

Former Railway Minister Prasad also accused Banerjee of neglecting Bihar in the budget.

He said he was not bothered by the minister’s declaration of coming out with a white paper on the organisational, operational and financial situation and performance of railways in the past five years when Prasad was at the helm.

“This is not an embarrassment (that a white paper is coming out). Let her bring out white paper. I am not bothered,” he told reporters after the rail budget was presented in the Lok Sabha. (ANI)

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Liberhan report should be made public soon: Lalu

July 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 2 (ANI): RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday called upon the government to make the Liberhan Commission report on the Babri Masjid demolition public at the earliest.

“The report is already delayed. It should be tabled in the present session of the Parliament,” Lalu said outside Parliament.

The one man Commission headed by Justice M S Liberhan submitted its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.

Reacting to the fuel price hike, Lalu said, “It will adversely affect the agriculture sector in the backdrop of a delayed monsoon.”

Petrol and diesel prices rose by as much as 10 percent in India, on Wednesday, the first increase this year and one of the steepest ever.

Petrol prices rose by four rupees a litre, while diesel rates were hiked by two rupees a litre.

Prices were last raised in June last year, when the average price of India’s crude imports were 113 dollar a barrel, but they were cut in December and again in January as oil prices tumbled.

The government has not increased the price of cooking gas and kerosene to protect the poor and middle-class.

Despite price increase, oil firms say they were likely to suffer a revenue loss of 560 billion rupees on sale of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene this fiscal. (ANI)

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North Indian attacks: Raj Thackeray to surrender before court on Monday

June 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, June 28 (ANI): Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray will surrender before a Kalyan court on Monday in connection with his role in a 2008 riot case in which North Indians appearing for railway recruitment examination were assaulted.

After presenting himself before the court, Thackeray is expected to move an application saying he was surrendering, his lawyer Sayaji Nangre said.

Thackeray would then move an application for bail.

The Bombay High Court had on June 16 set aside an anticipatory bail granted to Thackeray in the same case by a lower court and asked him to surrender before the court concerned by June end.

The state government had filed an appeal in the high court challenging the grant of interim anticipatory bail to Thackeray.

Justice Rekha Sondurbaldota had then noted that custodial interrogation of Thackeray was not necessary at this stage.

Upholding the state government’s contention that Kalyan Sessions Court’s order granting anticipatory bail to the MNS chief had become infructuous as the Railway police had already arrested him, the High Court quashed the lower court order granting interim protection to Thackeray.

It maybe recalled that MNS and Shiv Sena activists attacked 17 railway board examination centres in suburban Mumbai on October 19 last year, protesting “inadequate representation” to locals and chased away candidates from north India.

Ten people were arrested then for disrupting the examination and targeting candidates. Five candidates were admitted to hospitals in Thane and Kalyan following the assault.

Condemning the attack, then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad demanded a ban on the MNS, calling Raj Thackeray a “mental case”.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told then Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to ensure the safety of students from Bihar.

He called the MNS “a divisive force” and demanded strong action against it.

Railway officials said they had received over two lakh applications for posts of Enquiry-cum-Reservation Clerk, Assistant Station Master and Goods Guards. While they did not give numbers for those who finally took the examination, officials said the turnout was low in view of the MNS threat.

Defending the attacks, MNS spokesperson Nitin Sardesai said: “It’s been happening for years now and the locals have not been getting jobs adequately in the Railways. When there are enough people, both skilled and unskilled, who could be employed, why call people from other states.”

When it was pointed out that the Shiv Sena too had carried out attacks in Navi Mumbai, he said: “When we do something, they have to copy us.” (ANI)

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Lalu says Congress leaders humiliating him

May 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad on Monday complained to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that some Congress leaders had been humiliating him and some other coalition leaders during television debates.

Lalu gave the example of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s statement that the Congress should go it alone in the Assembly elections in the state.

“It is an insult of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar,” he added.

Earlier in the meeting, Lalu and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief Ram Vilas Paswan complimented Manmohan Singh, saying he had done a good job in his five-year term as Prime Minister and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would reach its pinnacle in the coming years the way it is progressing.

“The mission of the coalition is to finish the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which it has achieved in the Lok Sabha elections,” Lalu added. (ANI)

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Congress to discuss issue of govt. formation without Lalu

May 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Monday said the Congress would discuss the issue of government formation only with its pre-poll allies, of which the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is not a part.

“Along with the Congress, we have the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the Trinamool Congress (TC), the National Conference (NC), Kerala Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). These are the allies. Pre-poll allies as Janardan Dwivedi has indicated does not include the RJD at the moment,” Digvijay Singh told reporters here.

When asked if the RJD Chief Lalu Prasad is a member of the UPA Government, Singh said the Railways Minister did not consider the Congress strong enough for a pre-poll alliance.

At the same time, Digvijay Singh praised the RJD chief for standing by the Congress when it was in the opposition and termed him as ‘a very senior and seasoned politician’.

“Lalu is the person who stood in support of Sonia Gandhi, when everybody was opposing. We cannot forget this,” Singh added. (ANI)

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Paswan says not supporting Congress was a mistake

May 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): After Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday admitted that not supporting the Congress was a big mistake.

“It was not that having an alliance with the RJD was mistake. The mistake was not to have a pre-poll alliance with the Congress,” Paswan told reporters here.

Paswan further said the government machinery was misused.

“There was no Nitish wave in Bihar. He only misused the government machinery for political gains. What results can you expect if the government machinery is misused?” he added.

Paswan, who himself lost the polls from Hajipur, said his party will meet on May 20 to analyse the poll count.

LJP, RJD and Samajwadi Party had formed the Fourth Front but it came a cropper with the trio unable to retain even half of the seats held by them in the last Lok Sabha.

SP has bagged 22 seats and RJD four while LJP has drawn a blank. The trio had won 64 seats in 2004. (ANI)

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PM wants Montek Singh Ahluwalia as Finance Minister?

May 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): As the Congress core committee brainstorms over the issues related to government formation, there are reports that Dr. Manmohan Singh wants deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia as the next Union Finance Minister.

Ahluwalia will have to enter the cabinet through the Rajya Sabha route, the same as the Dr. Singh, CNN-IBN reports.

With party leaders insisting that the UPA does not need the support of any new big allies, the Congress is also likely to keep key portfolios with it.

There is also a demand from within the party to bring Rahul Gandhi into the Cabinet especially after his successful campaigning strategies, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the sources, Rahul is likely to be included as the Rural Development Minister in the Cabinet.

Sources revealed that the new Cabinet would include several young MPs.

The other young MPs apart from Rahul who are likely to be inducted into the Cabinet include Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada, and Sandeep Dikshit.

The major UPA allies such as the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), the Trinamool Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also are expecting ministerial berths.

Reports claimed that the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has already called up Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad to attend the Cabinet meeting.

There are speculations doing rounds that the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be shifted to the Finance Ministry, which the Manmohan Singh has been handling so far.

Commerce Minister Kamal Nath is likely to be shifted to the External Affairs Ministry.

Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony are likely to continue in their posts. Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal may get the Commerce Ministry. (ANI)

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RJD will join next UPA Govt: Lalu Prasad

May 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Patna, May 17 (ANI): Hours later United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi called up Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad to attend the Cabinet meet, the Railways Minister said his party was ready to join the Congress-led Government at the Centre.

Lalu has not been attending cabinet meetings ever since he forged an alliance with the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP).

On Saturday, Lalu admitted that not contesting the elections in alliance with the Congress was a big mistake.

“Not fighting the elections with the Congress was a big mistake. It led to division of secular votes. The votes which went to the Congress in Bihar were wasted,” he said.

RJD won just four seats this time compared to 22 in the 2004. (ANI)

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Chidambaram loses in Sivaganga, seeks repoll

May 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sivaganga, May 16 (ANI): Congress leader and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has lost the elections in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga parliamentary constituency to his All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) rival Raja Kannappan.

According to sources, a repoll has been ordered in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shatrughan Sinha has won the Patna seat, beating his rival and television actor Shekhar Suman of Congress.

In Ghaziabad, BJP President Rajnath Singh has won, while Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad has managed to win only the Saran seat.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamta Banerjee has won the South Kolkata seat, beating her nearest rival Robin Deb of CPI-M.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has lost against the Janata Dal-United’s (JD-U) Ram Sundar Das in Bihar’s Hajipur parliamentary constituency.

BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has won the Amritsar seat, beating O. P. Soni of the Congress.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Jaya Prada has won the Rampur seat, while Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda beat his nearest rival Nafe Singh Rathi of INLD by over four lakh votes in the Rohtak constituency. (ANI)

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