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Women’s safety, a poll issue in Himachal Pradesh

May 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Shimla, May 12 (ANI): In view of increasing crime rate against women, the safety and security of women is a poll issue in Himachal Pradesh.

The young women voters are determined to vote for a woman friendly candidate who can assure them security, safety and empowerment of the women.

“The Governments in the past were neither able to fulfill the women empowerment policies and nor take any decision about it. This time, I would like to vote for a candidate who would work for the benefit and upliftment of women,” said Raksha Rana, a college girl.

The social and human rights organizations are also coming forward to encourage voters and make them aware of human rights.

“We, with the help of other local organisations of Shimla, will spread the message regarding the protection of human rights in every household. Human rights don’t mean torturing a person after getting him arrested. Human rights include right to education, right to health and environment,” said Arvind Thakur, Chairman, Global Human Rights Council.

Himachal Pradesh goes to vote in the fifth and final phase of elections slated to be held on Wednesday.

Out of 46,00,000 voters in the hill state, nearly 50 per cent women will poll for the four parliamentary constituencies. By Hemant Chauhan (ANI)

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Monkey menace, a poll issue in Himachal Pradesh

May 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kangra, May 4 (ANI): Monkey menace has become a major poll issue for the farmers in Himachal Pradesh.

The increasing intrusion of monkeys into agricultural land is causing loss to the farmers of the Kangra district.

The monkeys have become a threat to crops, which forced farmers to leave their fields in search of new place, safe from monkeys.

The farmers are hopeful that the elected representative will rescue from the menace of the monkey attacks.

The farmers said that they would vote for the candidate who assures them of getting rid of the monkeys.

“We face a lot of problems from monkeys. It has become a big threat. No government listens to our pleas, but during elections they approach us with false promises. They have done nothing to solve the problems,” said Ravan, a voter.

Meanwhile, the opposition party blamed the ruling government for not taking any action inspite of highlighting in their manifestos.

“This is one of the manifesto items that they should try and settle the issue especially the cows and monkeys, ” said Vidya Stokes, leader of Himachal Pradesh opposition party.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised that it would solve the problems of monkeys in the next five years.

“We have given the permission to kill the monkeys. People are not ready as religious sentiment is attached with monkeys.

There is center of operation in Shimla, Hamirpur and we are going to start at Palampur district. We are hopeful in the next four years, the problems will be solved by sterilizing the monkeys,” said Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister. By Hemant Chauhan (ANI)

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Education becomes a poll issue in Sikkim

April 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Gangtok (Sikkim), Apr 25 (ANI): Political parties have made education a key poll issue in Sikkim to woo young voters.

Youth in the age group of 19-29 years form 40 percent of the total 3,00,584 voters listed in the electoral rolls here.

Many voters want education in the state to improve so that they are not compelled to leave the state to acquire better education.

They stress on improvement of primary education.

“I think where the change has to take place is the primary education because there is where everything starts. There are lots of problems at the elementary level,” said Jeewan Rai, a voter.

“Any government, which comes to power, has to address the problem of primary education. Once the issue is addressed everything will fall into place,” Rai added.

Meanwhile, the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party is trying to lure the voters with assurance that the whole education system in Sikkim would be changed and brought to the world standards.

“After the completion of their (students) 10th, 10+2, graduation and post graduation, professional course will be given. We will assist them financially for pursuing higher education in international colleges and universities. Even in India, we will help them in getting good colleges and universities. We willrevamp the education system in Sikkim and will professionalise it. When the education is at par with world standards, then only they can get world class job,” said Bhim Dahal, general secretary of the (SDF) party.

Sikkim will go to polls in the third phase of elections on April 30.

The first and second phases of polling were held on April 16 and 23, therest of the five-staged elections will be held on April 30 followed by May 7and May 13. By Tashi Pradhan(ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: age group, better education, colleges and universities, education system, elections, Electoral Rolls, Gangtok Sikkim, general secretary, higher education, International Colleges, political parties, Poll Issue, post graduation, primary education, Professional Course, Sdf, Tashi, Whole Education, World Class Job, Young Voters

Maoists try to disrupt polls

April 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Hazaribagh (Bihar)/Faizabad, Apr 23 (ANI): A large number of people from insurgency-hit states to Vizag in Andhra Pradesh began voting on Thursday in the second round of a month-long election.
In Maoist infested Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand, gun toting paramilitary troops kept a watch while the voters cast their votes.

In the remote Naxal affected areas basic amenities like power, water, schools are lacking and the residents lament the lack of infrastructure and development in the region.

“People here keep yearning for water and power, we get neither,” said Saraswati Devi, a voter.

They hope to elect a candidate who will work for their growth and progress.

A few hours before polling, Naxals struck a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp and blew up a railway station in Jharkhand.

According to police, the Naxals attacked the CRPF camp in West Singhbhum District.

The rebels also bombed the outer cabin of a railway station here. The police is unable to detect the whereabouts of the cabin man and porter since then.

The police further revealed that Naxal rebels have also blasted a road between Giridih and Dumri and cut trees to block it to prevent the people from voting.hile developmental issues concerned the voters in Hazaribagh, in Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram, construction of a Ram Temple on the site of a 16th century mosque torn down by mobs in 1992, was a major poll issue.

The seers of the town said they wanted to bring in power a government that would build the Ram Temple.

“We will vote and support the candidate who builds Ram Temple and makes laws paving the way for the construction of the Ram Temple,” said Mahant Gyan Das, head priest of the Hanuman Temple.

In Kathua region of Jammu and Kashmir, voters came out by dozens to cast their votes amid tight security.

In Vizag, old and young came alike to exercise their franchise at the polling booths. (ANI)

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Irrigation facilities, a poll issue in Doda constituency

April 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kathua, Apr 21 (ANI): Farmers living in a village in Jammu and Kashmir lamented about the lack of irrigation facilities.

70 per cent population from the Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency is dependent on agriculture and it is their only source of income.

Farmers of the hilly region are facing problems, as they are completely dependent on natural agriculture set up whereas farmers of the plains are facing roblems, as they are dependent on artificial irrigation like canals for agriculture.

The farmers are not given irrigation water for cultivation of crops simultaneously the farmers of the plains face damage of crops due to heavy rainfall.

The National Farmer Insurance Schemes has not been implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Jammu and Kashmir has neither received any insurance policy by the government, nor do they have any such policy. We just want to say that uncertain weather changes will affect our crops, so the insurance should be done,” said Jaswant Singh, a farmer.

The Kanji belt farmers are supposed to get irrigation water through the Ravi canal released by the Punjab Government.

“In our village, 100 per cent people are farmers, but the problem is irrigation is not solved yet. The Government once made a canal near river Ravi, but it never had water in it. So, we placed electrical pump sets on our own expense but even then it is of no use, as we don’t receive proper electricity facilities,” said Janak Maan, another farmer.

Instead of releasing 1200 cusec of water, only 300 to 400 cusecs of water is released.

According to the farmers, neither they have been given bonus and actual rates of crops as per the Punjab Government pattern nor have they received compensation for the drought ridden and damaged crops. They claim that they would cast their votes only when their issues would be solved.

The second phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on April 23 in Udhampur-Doda constituency. By Tahir Nadeem Khan (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: electricity facilities, farmer insurance, hilly region, income farmers, insurance schemes, irrigation facilities, irrigation water, Jammu and Kashmir, Jaswant Singh, lok sabha elections, nadeem khan, national farmer, natural agriculture, parliamentary constituency, Poll Issue, punjab government, river ravi, Udhampur, uncertain weather, weather changes

Inflation becomes a major poll issue in Himachal Pradesh

April 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Hamirpur/Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), Apr 19 (ANI): Price rise has become a major poll issue in Himachal Pradesh as zooming prices of basic commodities pinch the voters’ pockets.

As inflation hitting hard the lives of many people, voters in the region are looking for government that will help in reducing the prices on a number of basic commodities.

“Our main issue is inflation. Besides, we will also see the work done by the candidate in the past and his family background. He should be young and dynamic,” said Prakash Chand, a voter.

As the election fever grips the nation, leaders of various political parties are trying to achieve maximum political mileage out of the inflation issue making it as a poll’s key issue.

“The Congress and inflation are real twin sisters, if one comes another automatically follows. On May 16, the Congress will go out and certainly inflation would also go,” said Prem Kumar Dhumal, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, candidate of Congress party, Kangra district, Chander Kumar tried to woo the voters with promises to get essential commodities available at cheaper prices.

“We will provide three rupees per kg ration to the villagers who will include rice and other such edibles. Apart from this, the other basic commodities will also be provided to the people through the depots by us,” said Chander Kumar.

The first phase of general elections was held on Thursday, covering 124 seats while campaigning continues in the remaining 419 constituencies.

The outcome of the five-stage election will be known on May 16.By Akhilesh Bharti (ANI)

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: campaigning, Chander, Chief Minister, commodities, congress party, constituencies, edibles, Election Fever, family background, general elections, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, inflation, Kangra District, mileage, pockets, political mileage, political parties, Poll Issue, rupees, twin sisters

Water scarcity becomes a major poll issue in Dharamsala

April 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Dharamsala, Apr 14 (ANI): Scarcity of drinking water has become a major poll issue in Dharamsala.

Villagers have made up their mind that they will cast votes for a candidate who would solve their water problem.

Vidya Devi, a resident complained that politicians promise to fulfil their developmental needs every time elections are round the corner but the problems remain.

“We will only give our vote to one who solves our water problem. We have taps in our homes, but they are more of a showpiece. We don’t have either hand pumps or wells here,” she said.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal took a dig saying that he would create ponds where the ‘lotus’, the poll symbol of his Bharatiya Janata Party, would blossom.

“We are solving the water issue and creating ponds where the lotus will prosper,” said Dhumal.

Local problems and the developmental works undertaken by the State Governments are often major swing factors for political parties even in general elections. Quite a few villages mass boycott the polling citing lack of developmental works. By Akhilesh Bharti (ANI)

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Harassed parents threaten to make school fee hike poll issue

April 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) Hike in school fees and then in development and activities fee in many Delhi schools has become a major cause of concern to many parents. Tired of the financial and mental stress this has put on them, the Delhi Parents Council has now threatened to make it an election issue if the government does not take up the matter immediately.

Praveen Khandelwal, president of the Delhi Parents Council, said Thursday that despite the ‘mindless’ increase in school fees, the Delhi government has maintained a silence, which in turn is now agitating parents.

‘Through a Right to Information (RTI) application, we found that the total education cess collected from Delhi has been enormous. In 2006-07, it was more than Rs.418 crore, between 2007-08 it was Rs.377 crore, and until January 2009, the cess collected was Rs.286 crore,’ Khandelwal said.

‘Therefore, instead of burdening parents with hefty fee, the government should compensate the private schools by providing financial support out of education cess, which is kept unutilised in the Prathamik Shiksha Kosh (primary education fund) established in 2005,’ he added.

Khandelwal also said that the onus of meeting the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in terms of salary hikes of teaches has put an additional burden on parents.

‘We, therefore, demand that the Delhi government should form a joint committee of officials and representatives of schools and parent bodies, and the union government should provide financial assistance to schools from the education cess collected.’

‘The government should remember that people will vote for a party that looks after their needs and if need be, we will not hesitate in making this an election issue,’ he said.

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Monkey menace, a poll issue in Shimla

April 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Shimla, Apr 9 (ANI): The general elections approaching, the monkey menace in Shimla has become a major poll issue.

Among the worst hit areas are Hamirpur, Sirmour, Solan, Kangra, Mandi andhimla districts covering almost all four parliamentary seats of Himachalradesh.

Most of the farmers grow fruits and crops such as maize and wheat. But monkeys are destroying the crop. They want to elect a candidate who can assure them riddance from the monkeys.

As a farmer, Shyamlal from Pantegli village said, “The monkeys destroy whatever we sow in the fields. The monkeys are shifting from the city to the villages. We used to sow maize but that was completely destroyed by the monkeys.”

The farmers believe that the politicians promise to find a permanent solution to the monkey problem during elections, only to forget afterward.

In the 11th Assembly elections too, farmers had made it a poll issue. After the elections, the State Government tried to open Primate Protection Parks but these proved to be a complete failure.

Sterilization of the monkeys is a solution but not much has been done in this regard.

“As per the Wildlife Institution of India, until 70 per cent of any species is sterilized, the population of the species cannot be controlled. But over the years, the BJP and the Congress Governments are saying that they will establish sterilization centres in Shimla, Una and Hamirpur districts to curb the monkey menace and spend 20 million for the purpose. But till today, all they could do was sterilize 4000 monkeys and that too of all age groups,” said Kuldeep Tanvar, a social worker and a Communist party of India leader.

An amendment in the Wildlife Protection Act is needed to tackle the problem. There is also a need to reintroduce the export policy, for exporting monkeys for biomedical research, which was in practice before 1978. By Hemant Chauhan (ANI)

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Assam-Nagaland border villagers demand solution to border dispute

April 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Udaipur Notun Gaon, Mariani (Assam), Apr 8 (ANI): As general elections draw closer, the border dispute between Assam and Nagaland has come to the fore again and has become a poll issue.

The border near Jorhat and Mokokchung has been on the boil for the past two decades.

Both the States have been periodically accusing each other of violating the agreement.

While Assam claims that its neighbour has encroached upon its land, Nagaland accuses Assam of setting up police outposts in several “disputed areas.”

“We are living in the Nagajanka area, border of Assam and Nagaland. Our border region is the most neglected area. We are facing lot of problems and this time election is round the corner. We have decided that we will cast our votes to the leader who is committed in solving this border issue,” said Rupna Sarwa, a resident of Nagajanka.

The All Assam Student Union (AASU) on April 4 organised a peaceful sit-in protest at Titabor town, against the encroachment on the Assam land by Nagaland during the election campaign.

Leaders of the Union criticised the Assam Government for not solving this issue. They also discussed matters pertaining to the solving of border dispute.

“The government in the past has failed to solve the long drawn Nagaland-Assam border dispute. We thought Assam Chief Minister would take important steps to solve this border dispute. Both the Central and State Governments are under Congress, they are doing nothing about it. We want answer from the government,” said Nilofor Rehman, Assistant General Secretary, AASUentral Committee.

The first clash between Nagaland police and Assamese villagers residing at the Doyang forest reserve broke out in 1968. Similar incident took place at Rengma forest reserve of Karbi Anglong on January 5, 1979.

The worst clash occurred on June 4, 1985, when over 100 people died in firing between Assam and Nagaland police at Merapani.

The two sides later signed an interim agreement to maintain status quo along the border.

But the people continue to live under uncertainty and insecurity due to the periodic clashes. They have appealed to leaders to give a permanent solution to the dispute, so that people in both states co-exist peacefully and harmoniously in future. By Apam (ANI)

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BJP fully backs Varun, says Rajnath Singh

April 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Etah (Uttar Pradesh), April 6 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will make the ‘harassment and torture’ of its jailed young leader Varun Gandhi a poll issue, party president Rajnath Singh declared Monday after meeting him in a prison.

‘We back Varun, who is being harassed and tortured by the state government. Let the law take it own course. But we want to make it clear we will support Varun politically and legally,’ Rajnath Singh told reporters after meeting Varun Gandhi, the BJP’s likely candidate from Pilibhit constituency of the state.

The young BJP leader is behind bars for his alleged inflammatory speeches. The Uttar Pradesh government slapped the National Security Act (NSA) against him for ‘inciting violence’ in Pilibhit before his arrest March 29.

Rajnath Singh said the party would take the issue to the ‘people of India’.

He alleged that Varun had been falsely implicated. ‘The CDs showing Varun making hate speeches are doctored. He has been saying this. Action against Varun has been taken in haste. Before taking any action against Varun, the government must have conducted a thorough inquiry.’

Police officials said the meeting between Varun Gandhi and Rajnath Singh lasted for about 30 minutes. Unwilling to take any chance, the district administration in Etah said the meeting was videographed for security reasons.

‘A doctor had gone along with Rajnath Singh to meet Varun after taking the necessary permission from the district administration,’ police inspector Nawaab Singh said.

The BJP president later addressed a gathering at the Ramlila Ground in Etah, 300 km from the state capital Lucknow.

‘Varun’s health is deteriorating. But his mental strength is high. That is enough for us to fight against the state government,’ Rajnath Singh told the gathering.

‘It is shocking and surprising that Varun is being treated badly than hardcore criminals in the jail.’

The Uttar Pradesh government March 29 invoked the NSA against Varun Gandhi – the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit – for his hate speeches and the mob violence that erupted a day before his arrest.

On April 1, he was shifted from Pilibhit to Etah jail due to ‘security concerns’ cited by the state government.

Several party leaders, including M. Venkaiah Naidu, Kalraj Mishra and BJP state president Ramapati Ram Tripathi, have met Varun Gandhi in the jail.

Earlier in the day, a large number of BJP workers took to the streets in Etah district, demanding immediate release of Varun Gandhi.

‘Despite the section 144 that prohibits illegal assembly of persons clamped in the district, hundreds of party activists converged outside the Etah jail and shouted slogans in favour of Varun Gandhi,’ police inspector Nawaab Singh said.

However, with the assistance of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the police, the activists were dispersed and the route along the jail was cordoned off, Singh said

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Administration Police, bharatiya janata party, bjp leader, bjp president, constituency, district administration, lok sabha, Lucknow, mental strength, National Security Act, Necessary Permission, NSA, party President, police inspector, police officials, Poll Issue, rajnath singh, security reasons, uttar pradesh government, Varun Gandhi, young leader

BJP says it’s committed to creating smaller states

April 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said it was committed to the creation of smaller states, as it justified its support to the demand of a separate Gorkhaland state in West Bengal and Telangana in Andhra Pradesh.

Justifying the party’s alliance with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which is demanding a separate state carved out of Darjeeling and nearby areas of West Bengal, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said: ‘Small states are growing at faster rates. The Economic Survey Appraisal has given us this data.’

BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said the party will consider sympathetically the GJM’s demand for a Gorkhaland state. The BJP has also supported a separate state for Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh.

‘They (GJM and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti) are regional outfits and there are many outfits who call for smaller states. We will look at their demand sympathetically.’

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday accused the BJP of trying to divide West Bengal and asserted that it would make BJP’s tie-up with the pro-Gorkhaland GJM a poll issue.

The CPI-M’s reaction came in the wake of the GJM joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and extending support to Jaswant Singh’s candidature from the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat. The BJP manifesto has also promised to consider the demand for a Gorkhaland state.

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BJP trying to divide West Bengal: CPI-M

April 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kolkata, April 3 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to divide West Bengal and asserted that it would make BJP’s tie-up with the pro-Gorkhaland Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) a poll issue.

‘It is astonishing that the BJP has promised in its election manifesto to look into the Gorkhaland issue sympathetically. It is the reflection of its double standards,’ CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose told reporters.

The CPI-M’s reaction came in the wake of the GJM joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and extending support to Jaswant Singh’s candidature from the Darjeeling seat. The BJP manifesto has promised to consider sympathetically the GJM’s demand for a Gorkhaland state to be carved out of parts of north Bengal including Darjeeling.

Bose said the BJP had not supported the Gorkhaland demand at the all-party meeting in the state secretariat and accused it of being greedy for votes.

‘The BJP’s game plan is in sync with its policy of trying to divide the people on the basis of religion, language, caste and creed. This will definitely be an issue for us. We shall never allow Bengal to be divided again,’ Bose said.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: bharatiya janata party, Biman, bjp manifesto, bose, candidature, caste, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, cpi, Election Manifesto, game plan, Jaswant Singh, Kolkata, national democratic alliance, nda, north bengal, Poll Issue, state secretariat, state secretary, west bengal

BJP indulging in politics of division: Rahul Gandhi

April 1, 2009 By admin 1 Comment

Nander (Maharashtra), March 31 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party, without naming it directly, for indulging in tactics that divide the nation.

Attacking BJP for trying to make the Mumbai terror attacks as a poll issue, Rahul accused it of indulging in politics of division.

“We consider the whole country as one and try to unite the people…Our opponents indulge in the politics of dividing the nation,” Gandhi said, addressing his first poll rally in this region.

“Some of these parties (opposition), do politics of religion, others of caste. Another difference between the opposition and us (Congress) is that we see India from the point of view of the Aam Aadmi (common man),” Rahul remarked.

Hailing the pro-poor policies of the UPA government, he said in 2004 the slogan of the BJP was “India Shining” which no one in the villages understands.

“Their thinking (BJP) is not for the poor but the rich. They talk of the stock market…When someone reaches out to the poor, they make fun of it terming it as a drama. They are not bothered what a poor man is thinking and wants,” Gandhi said.

Pointing the BJP-led NDA government’s regime during its tenure, Rahul raised the issue of IC-814 Kandhar plane hi-jacking incident.

“They are talking of terrorism…When they were in government, they did not talk about it. They call our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as weak. But when they were in government, they bowed before the terrorists, a minister went to Kandahar and released terrorists,” Rahul said. (ANI)

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Rahul Gandhi criticizes BJP for its ‘politics of division’

April 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Ahmedabad, Mar 31 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to make the Mumbai terror attacks as a poll issue, saying the saffron party was indulging in the politics of division.

“They are talking about terrorism. When they were in government, they did not talk about it. We consider the whole country as one and try to unite the people. Our opponents indulge in the politics of dividing the nation,” Gandhi said while addressing a rally here.

He claimed that ‘some parties’ were trying to do politics of religion.

“Some of these parties do politics of religion, others of caste. The difference between the BJP and the Congress is that we see India from the point of view of the common man,” he added.

Gandhi attacked the BJP for its alleged ‘anti-poor policies’.

“Their thinking is not for the poor but the rich. They talk of the stock market. They are not bothered what a poor man is thinking. When they were in government before 2004, I do not remember them doing anything for the poor,” he added.

The Congress leader also criticized the BJP for its allegation against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“They call our Prime Minister weak. But when they were in government, they bowed before the terrorists. A minister went to Kandahar and released terrorists. If we talk about Manmohan Singh, he did everything to take the country forward,” he claimed. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Ahmedabad, allegation, allegation against, ANI, anything, bharatiya, bharatiya janata party, bjp, caste, common man, Congress, congress leader, country, difference, division, everything, general, general secretary, Government, India, issue, Janata, kandahar, leader, man, manmohan, Manmohan Singh, mar, market, minister, Mumbai, nation, opponents, party, point, point of view, poll, Poll Issue, poor man, Poor Policies, prime minister manmohan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, rally, religion, saffron, saffron party, secretary, Singh, stock, stock market, talk, terror, terror attacks, terrorism, thinking, Tuesday, view

Bangladesh migrants are main poll issue in Assam

April 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Guwahati, Mar 31 (ANI): Political parties in Guwahati are raising the issue of Bangladeshi migrants to garner support of the voters ahead of the general elections.

For this purpose, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the upcoming parliament elections.

Talking to reporters here, Apurva Bhattacharjee, Spokesperson of AGP said,The BJP is also committed to deport the border nationals from the country and seal the borders.”

BJP has always accused the Congress party of indulging in vote bank politics and not taking steps to stop the illegal migration from Bangladeshi.

However, Congress party, which is in power in many north-eastern states, defends itself by saying that it is strictly against illegal migration, but being a national party their job is to defend all religious and linguistic minorities.

Meanwhile, the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF), a Muslim-dominatedarty that won 10 seats in the 2006 Assam state polls, advocated for effectiveaw to solve this problem.

“Normally in the name of foreigners the linguistic and religious minorities people are victims. So, we want it must be solved immediately, so that the people get rid of the harassment. We want a very effective law,” said Hafiz Rashid Choudhury, General Secretary of AUDF.

AUDF supported the humanitarian approach towards Bangladeshi migrants whoad entered the state from Pakistan as refugees, and deporting the Bangladeshis who had entered the country after March 25, 1971.

India will hold five-phased general elections to the Lok Sabha between April 16 and May 13, in which 714 million people will cast their votes to elect a new Central Government. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: agp, ANI, approach, April, Apurva, asom, Assam, Assam state, AUDF, Bangladesh, Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi Migrants, bangladeshis, bank, bharatiya, bharatiya janata party, Bhattacharjee, bjp, border, Central Government, Congress, congress party, country, Democratic, democratic front, deport, eastern states, effectiveaw, front, Gana, general, general elections, general secretary, Guwahati, Hafiz, harassment, Humanitarian Approach, illegal migration, India, issue, Janata, job, law, Linguistic Minorities, lok, lok sabha, mar, March, May, migration, Muslim-dominatedarty, name, Pakistan, parishad, parliament, parliament elections, party, poll, Poll Issue, power, problem, purpose, Rashid Choudhury, religious minorities, sabha, secretary, spokesperson, state, support, united, vote, vote bank, whoad

Bangladesh migrants are main poll issue in Assam

April 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Guwahati, Mar 31 (ANI): Political parties in Guwahati are raising the issue of Bangladeshi migrants to garner support of the voters ahead of the general elections.

For this purpose, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the upcoming parliament elections.

Talking to reporters here, Apurva Bhattacharjee, Spokesperson of AGP said, “The BJP is also committed to deport the border nationals from the country and seal the borders.”

BJP has always accused the Congress party of indulging in vote bank politics and not taking steps to stop the illegal migration from Bangladeshi.

Meanwhile, the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF), a Muslim-dominated party that won 10 seats in the 2006 Assam state polls, advocated for effective law to solve this problem.

AUDF supported the humanitarian approach towards Bangladeshi migrants who had entered the state from Pakistan as refugees, and deporting the Bangladeshis who had entered the country after March 25, 1971.

India will hold five-phased general elections to the Lok Sabha between April 16 and May 13, in which 714 million people will cast their votes to elect a new Central Government. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: agp, ANI, approach, April, Apurva, asom, Assam, Assam state, AUDF, Bangladesh, Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi Migrants, bangladeshis, bank, bharatiya, bharatiya janata party, Bhattacharjee, bjp, border, Central Government, Congress, congress party, country, Democratic, democratic front, deport, eastern states, front, Gana, general, general elections, general secretary, Guwahati, Hafiz, harassment, Humanitarian Approach, illegal migration, India, issue, Janata, job, law, Linguistic Minorities, lok, lok sabha, mar, March, May, migration, muslim-dominated, name, Pakistan, parishad, parliament, parliament elections, party, poll, Poll Issue, power, problem, purpose, Rashid Choudhury, religious minorities, sabha, secretary, spokesperson, state, support, united, vote, vote bank

No plans to enter politics: Priyanka Gandhi

March 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Amethi, Mar 24 (ANI): Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the daughter of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on Tuesday said she had no plans to contest elections or enter politics but would continue campaigning for the Congress.

Talking to the reporters here, Priyanka said, “Like previous years, I will oversee campaigning in Amethi and Rae Bareli. I have no intentions to enter politics or to contest elections.”

Priyanka is on a two-day tour of Amethi and Rae Bareli-constituencies represented by brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi respectively.

She met senior party leaders and MLAs last night to review poll preparations in the two constituencies.

Projecting the Congress as the most responsible party towards the issue of development in the country, Priyanka said, “Except Congress, none of the political parties has development on its agenda as a poll issue. The party will fight Lok Sabha polls on this issue.”

Priyanka had earlier campaigned for Sonia in the 2004 and 1999 parliamentary elections. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: agenda, amethi, ANI, Bareli, Bareli-constituencies, brother, Congress, congress president sonia gandhi, constituencies, country, daughter, Development, Enter Contest, issue, lok, lok sabha polls, mar, met, MLAs, mother, mother sonia gandhi, night, none, parliamentary elections, party, party leaders, political parties, politics, poll, Poll Issue, President Sonia Gandhi, previous years, Priyanka, priyanka gandhi, Rae, rae bareli, Rahul Gandhi, Responsible Party, sabha, sonia, Sonia Gandhi, tour, Tuesday, Vadra

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