Avtar Bhat

HIRANAGAR, Mar 26: Reiterating his promise to work on former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Kashmir doctrine to restore everlasting peace and normalcy in trouble-torn Kashmir, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi today made it clear that without concentrating on development of the country problems can’t be solved.
Addressing his inaugural poll rally here, today, after paying obeisance at holy cave of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Katra early this morning, Mr Modi said that for last 30-32 years J&K State is witnessing bloodshed through the hands of cross border terrorists who killed innocent human beings attacked “Kashmiriyat and Insaniyat’’ (humanity).
“To rid the State from the clutches of the terrorists, it is our duty to work on the path of Insaniyat, (humanity), Jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat shown by Mr Vajpayee for the progress of J&K, to change its fate and to take the State forward’’, he said, adding, “without development our problems will not be solved’’.
Lauding Mr Vajpayee, the BJP stalwart and star poll campaigner said that former Prime Minister had created a hope among the people of J&K with his Kashmir doctrine and had he got five more years to rule, the situation in this State would have been quite different.
Describing Hiranagar as “Karam Bhoomi’’- a land of action, he said this land has given many sacrifices for national cause and recently police jawans from here also laid down their lives for it and “I salute them’’.
He said this rally has been named as Bharat Vijay rally as BJP’s goal is to attain victory over price rise, mis-governance, rising corruption, other ills facing the nation and rid farmers of suicides.
Mr Modi said the fate of common man has not changed after 65 years of independence and their demands are still the same. Making a dig at Congress, he said whenever he talks about removing poverty, changing the fate of women folk, solving the problems of farmers they talk about secularism and ask me to clarify the stand on the same. “Those who have no answer to their failures can’t mislead the nation and its people on the name of hollow slogans of secularism’’, he added.
Stressing on chalking out projects for development to take nation forward, he said the country needs development which is the only remedy to all problems including unemployment, poverty, unrest etc but this does not fit their (Congress) politics.
The BJP stalwart without naming Congress and National Conference (NC) said how long will people tolerate the dynastic politics running from three to four generations. He asked the people to decide whether they need politics of progress or dynastic rule. Terming the dynastic politics a great enemy of the country, Mr Modi asked people to join hands and rid the country of the same.
He said it was the former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who has given Mantra of Jai Jawan-Jai Kissan but he regretted to say that under this Congress led UPA Government, the heads of jawans guarding the frontiers were chopped off by the enemy.
“Our jawans guarding borders are done to death as they have been given lathis instead of weapons for protection,. Is this the honour we are bestowing on our soldiers’’, he asked?
Same is the case with farmers (Kissans) he said that they are committing suicides due to the wrong policies of the Government.
“What happened to Shastri’s Mantra’’ he asked and added that Congress has added a new Mantra to it “Mar Kissan, Mar Jawan’’ (die Kissan -die Jawan) and these are the policies pursued by the Congress led Government, he added.
Expressing his concern over the plight of West Pak refugees putting up in J&K for last over 65 years, he said they have been deprived of the citizenship rights and there is no country all over world where the West Pak refugees are craving for citizenship rights over decades except India. He wanted to know what is their fault? Likewise, the problems of PoK, Chamb and refugees of 1965 and 1971 as well as lakhs of Pandit migrants from Kashmir valley who were forced to flee from there are piling up due to the wrong polices of the Congress.
The Congress made only false promises with them for decades together and the Government which can’t restore rights to the refugees has no moral right to govern, he added.
Mr Modi said that Bangladeshis are given Indian citizenship but the West Pak refugees who are even ready to lay down their lives for national cause have been denied these rights. He asked how long people will tolerate the same?
Making a dig at Congress Party, Defense Minister, A K Antony and 49 day Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Mr Modi said nowadays three AKs are making rounds in Pakistan and people of that country were praising them. They include AK 47 which was the cause of blood shed in India, Defense Minister, AK Antony who gave clean chit to Pakistan Army on infiltration of militants from across the border and A K 49-Arvind Kejriwal who gave birth to a new party which in its map on website has shown Kashmir as part of Pakistan.
Terming them the agents of Pakistan and enemies of nation, he said we have to identify these AKs as the Pakistanis are dancing on their statements. They are speaking Pakistani language on Kashmir for whose total integration with India, the founder of Bharatiya Jan Sangh Dr Shyamaprasad Mookherjee laid down his life, he added.
Ridiculing the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s statement Mr Modi said “I confront him on saying that Congress is a concept. But I believe that Congress at present is itself in a deep thinking that where from this Chaywala (tea boy) came’’ he added.
Making a sarcastic reference to Congress he said it is the party where people first became “Ghulam’’ and then “Azad’’, adding that it was the concept of Congress which ruined this nation and the same can’t be tolerated in the future.
Terming J&K problem creation of Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, he said there would have been no problem if Sardar Patel had been given a free hand. The concept of Dr Shyamaprasad Mookherjee was good on J&K and not that of Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah, he added.
He said that there is lot of corruption in J&K but asked why the Prevention of Corruption Act was not implemented in the State.
As the crowd replied in affirmative to Modi’s question whether they wanted to get rid of corruption or not, he said they will not do as they all (Congress-NC) are neck deep in corruption.
The BJP firebrand leader said that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had disclosed that out of one rupee only 15 paisa reach ground while 85 percent of it is looted. He asked when Congress was there from Parliament to Panchayat who was responsible for this loot and said that till the Congress symbol of hand is not removed, corruption will continue.
Making a scathing attack on Congress, Mr Modi said in J&K the down-trodden people have been deprived of their rights. He asked the Congress leadership who claims to be champion of down-trodden why their mouths remain tight lipped in extension of benefits to the down-trodden in the State.
Asking the people that election bugle has been sounded and you have to ensure that the problems faced by your parents should not be faced by your children.
“You trusted the Congress for 60 years and now trust me for 60 months only and see results’’, he said. “They destroyed the nation in 60 years and I will bring it out from the present mess in only 60 months’’, he asserted.
Modi said “I don’t want to sit on Raj Gadi (Chair of Prime Minister) but to work like a Chowkidar (watchman). “You tolerated Shasaks (rulers) for 60 years and trust me as a Sevak (servant) for 60 months only and you will see the difference that how democracy flourishes in the country.
Maintaining that his only mantra is politics of Vikas (progress), the BJP star campaigner said this is the only solution to all the problems facing the nation at present.
He said development and progress is the key to all problems of youth, patients and solve the problems of all three regions of State including the West Pak, PoK and Kashmiri Pandits refugees. “These people will not face problems if I am given an opportunity to work as a sevak’’, he added.
Modi said it is his dream that every Indian gets justice as lot of politics has been done in past and now it is the time to have a strong national policy.
Modi also did not spare the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah saying that during his previous rally at Jammu, he had made an aerial survey of Stadium to see the response of crowd and then tweeted that there were two lakh people. He would have definitely made aerial survey today also had there been no Code of Conduct, he added.
Addressing the rally BJP candidate from Doda, Kathua, Udhampur Constituency, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Kathua being gate way of J&K where Dr Mookherjee was arrested during the Praja Parishad’s Ek Vidan, Ek Nishan & Ek Pradhan agitation who later died in mysterious circumstances reminds us the sacrifices of the valiant people.
He said that BJP is party with difference and there is no promotion of dynasties but people are promoted as per their merit, capacity and qualities.
He said the beauty of Kathua Doda Constituency which is a hilly area is that it has nurtured the composite culture for years together. He said there is lot of enthusiasm among people even in remote areas of Doda, Reasi, Ramban etc and people want Modi to be the next PM. This is the reason that Congress delayed announcement of its candidate from this Lok Sabha seat, he added.
Dr Singh said the war has begun and it will intensify as Congress –NC coalition is responsible for multi crore Roshni scam, Kishtwar riots and other problems.
Terming it the crucial election, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the people laid down their lives during freedom struggle and many were sent to Kalapani and the coming generations will pose a question tomorrow if we failed to see the writing on the wall.
Jugal Kishore Sharma said it is a serious election which will decide who will be the next Prime Minister. He said Congress looted the nation much more than Britshers and brought it on the path of destruction. The prestige attained by India during Vajpayee’s time was totally lowered by Congress led UPA later, he added.
He said it is first time in the history of country when the people will choose their Prime Minister while earlier the PM’s were chosen by respective parties only.
BJP National Executive Member and former State president Dr Nirmal Singh also addressed the rally and sought vote for party. The rally among others was addressed by BJP Legislative Party leader Ashok Khajuria, Sat Sharma (CA), Ramesh Jasrotia, Col, (retd) Uttam Singh, former president Shamsher Singh Manhas, Raju Arora and others.
On the occasion, former IGP Farooq Khan, journalist, Sheikh Khalid Jhangir, Student leader, Suresh Mangotra joined the BJP and they were taken into party fold by Mr Modi.

Mir Farhat

SRINAGAR, Mar 26: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that he has no desire to shift to the Centre to become a Minister in the UPA III if it comes to the power and accused the People’s Democratic Party of supporting BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.
“I do not want to go to the Centre and be a Minister in the UPA III. I have to remain in the State and serve the people,” said Omar, while addressing his party workers during a convention in Budgam district this afternoon.
Omar was reacting to the media reports where his father and National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had said that Omar could go to the Centre to work with Rahul Gandhi if he becomes the Prime Minister after the Parliamentary elections.
“As a party president, Farooq Sahib will decide who will go to the Centre. But, I will not go. I am ready to jump anywhere, but will not jump to Delhi,” said Omar, who is the working president of NC.
Omar lashed out at the principal Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for singing the paeans for Bharatiya Janata Party’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
“PDP was covertly supporting Modi. Now, they are openly saying that Modi will resolve the Kashmir issue. They fielded a weak candidate for the Jammu-Udhampur Parliamentary seat so that he does not get votes and it benefits the BJP candidate,” he said.
“But, if people of the Jammu and Kashmir do not want that incidents like Gujarat 2002 occur, they should defeat such candidates,” the Chief Minister said.
Omar told his party workers that the forthcoming Parliament Elections are a semi-final match for them and the results will predict the outcome of the Assembly elections in November.
“Show me in this election that you vote for us because this election is a semi-final. If we win this election, we will win all Assembly seats in November,” he said, adding that his Government will do everything for the workers after the Model Code of Conduct ends.
While reacting to the Narendra Modi’s speech at Hiranagar today, Omar said that Modi is not aware of the ground situation in the State. “He flies to the State, so he is not aware about the development in Jammu and Kashmir. Let him come by ground and see what our Government has done for development,” said Omar while talking to reporters after the convention.
Omar said that Modi has a habit of twisting truth and he distorts facts and presents them in his own way.
Asked that Modi has slammed the family-run parties, Omar said he should check his own party first, and then talk about other parties.
“They have fielded Yashwant Sinha’s son in the elections. Let him clear his alliance parties from dynasty; Akali Dal in Punjab is a family party. So before Modi takes a dig at other family-run parties, he should look into his party and his alliances first,” said Omar.
Omar expressed his surprise at Modi for not talking about the abrogation of Article 370 in his rally. “Modi in his previous rally had talked about abrogation of Article 370. But, I am surprised that today in Hiranagar he did not talk about it,” he said.
Omar also reacted to Modi’s statement that the Jammu and Kashmir Government has failed to implement the Prevention of Corruption Act in the State. “I would like to ask Modi what he did in his own State of Gujarat. He was so opposed to the appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat so much so that the Governor of the State had to appoint him. We have a strong Accountability Commission in the State. Therefore, it is against the fact that we don’t have any mechanism to prevention corruption in our State,” he said.
NC President and candidate for Srinagar-Budgam Parliament Constituency, Dr Farooq Abdullah, in his address to the workers also lashed out at the Narendra Modi.
Calling Modi “plague”, Farooq said the parliamentary elections are about saving the country from the plague. “Such a plague is coming that the whole country will be wrapped in a disaster. I fear that if Modi comes to power, he will burn whole Hindustan. Pray to God that he does not come to power. If the country is safe, we all are safe,” said Farooq, who is also the Minister for Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy in the UPA-2 Government.
Farooq also hit out at the media for “distorting” his statements about Omar shifting to Delhi to work under Rahul Gandhi if he becomes the Prime Minister. “I told the media that it is upto Omar to decide. But they distorted my statement. The media twists the statement like our Banihal Tunnel,” he said.
The NC President also felt that there is a wave which is against Modi. “As far as I am concerned, Modi will not become Prime Minister. I feel there is a wave against Modi. Media calculations that there is a Modi wave are not right. He is a dictator and he has shown door to his party senior. See, how he got rid of Jaswant Singh,” he said, adding Modi will be a disaster.
Farooq also said that nobody can abrogate Article 370 until he is alive. “One day I have to die, but until I am alive I will not allow anyone to touch the Article 370. We are oppressed; Muslims, Sikhs in the State are oppressed, and it is because of this Article that nobody can occupy us,” he said.
He called the PDP “traders”, saying they are ready to abrogate the Article 370 as they are supporting Modi.
Taking a dig at the PDP candidate, Tariq Hamid Qarra, Farooq said Qarra is a dishonest man who betrayed the National Conference. “He has grown in our home after his father told me that he was handing over his son to me. But, when he grew up, he betrayed us,” said Farooq, adding that people should not give mandate to such “betrayers”.
Other party activists present at the convention were State Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, MLA Aga Ruhullah, NC Provisional President Nasir Aslam Wani, Tanvir Sadiq, and MLC Ali Mohammad Dar among others.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 26: On the last day for filing of nomination papers for Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency, nine more candidates joined the fray today while two Independent candidates filed second set of nomination papers taking total number of candidates to 23.
In Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat, all 19 candidates stayed in fray as none of them withdrew their papers on last day of withdrawals. However, as against 19 candidates, the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for Jammu-Poonch constituency this time would have 20 buttons including one with the option of None Of The Above (NOTA), official sources said.
Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat would go to polls on April 10 in first phase of election for Jammu and Kashmir.
During 2009 Lok Sabha elections, there were 21 candidates in the fray for Jammu seat while this time the number has come down to 19.
The candidates left in the fray after last date of withdrawal included Jugal Kishore Sharma (BJP), Madan Lal Sharma (Congress), Yash Pal Sharma (PDP), Ashok Bhagat (BSP), Hari Chand Jhalmeria (NPP), Labha Ram Gandhi (Refugee United Front), Gursagar Singh Isher (Socialist Democratic Party), Mehar Manav Bhagat (Bharatiya Bahujan Party), Subash Chander (Kissan Mazdoor Party), Bahadur Singh Choudhary (Samajwadi Party), Vijay Kumar (Aam Mazdoor Kissan Vikas Party), Abdul Majeed Chouhan, a resident of Mendhar, Mohammad Abbas Khan of Digwar, Perseen Singh of Digwar, Poonch, Mohammad Imtiyaz of Manjakote, Rajouri, Ashok Kumar of Maheshpura, Bakshi Nagar, Satish Poonchi of Durga Nagar, Muthi, Raj Kumar and Nirmal Singh, all Independents.
Nine candidates, who filed their nomination papers for Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat before Returning Officer, Jatinder Singh (the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua) today, included Dr Liaquat Ali Magray of Socialist Democratic Party (SDP), Girdhari Lal of Bharatiya Bahujan Party (BBP), Kanchan Sharma, covering candidate of BBP, Nazakat Hussain, Surjeet Singh ‘G’ Sitara, Puran Chand, Jagdish Kumar and Parveen Kumar, all Independents. One candidate filed his papers without mentioning his name on the documents.
Two Independent candidates—Sham Lal and Ranjeet Singh, who had already filed their nomination papers for Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, today filed second set of papers.
With today’s nominations, a total of 23 candidates have joined the battle of ballots for Udhampur-Doda seat. Today was last day of filing the nomination papers for Udhampur Parliamentary constituency, which would go to polls on April 17. Scrutiny of the nomination papers would take place tomorrow while the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till March 29.
Fourteen candidates, who have already filed nomination papers for Udhampur-Doda seat included Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad (Congress), Dr Jitendra Singh (BJP), Mohammad Arshad Malik (PDP), Prof Bhim Singh (Nationalist Panthers Party), Anil Gupta (JKDF), Amrit Barsha (Samajwadi Party), Dharam Pal Balgotra (BSP), Madhu Bala Balgotra, covering candidate for BSP, Prem Nath, covering candidate for BJP, Hussain Ali, covering candidate for PDP, Sham Lal (All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party), Bansi Lal (Aam Mazdoor Kissan Vikas Party), Ranjeet Singh, and Anil Khajuria, both Independents.
Mr Azad had filed four sets of nomination papers while Prof Bhim Singh and Anil Gupta had filed two sets of nomination papers.

NEW DELHI, Mar 26:

Unveiling an agenda of rights- based welfare schemes with reforms to pursue growth and job creation, Congress top brass today said BJP’s poll campaign “balloon” will explode like ‘India Shining’ 10 years ago.
Warning that Narendra Modi’s ideology is damaging for the country, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh asserted that party will fight in a determined manner the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to ensure its defeat.
Releasing the party’s manifesto ‘Your Voice, Our Pledge’ here, they debunked the opinion polls, which predict a dismal show by the UPA, and said everybody will be “surprised” by the results.
On the upbeat campaign mounted by NDA under Modi, Rahul said, “just like the ‘India Shining’ balloon exploded… I can say certainly the balloon will explode.”
“India shining was an excellent campaign. They thought they will get 350 seats. But it evaporated when the results came. I am confident that like the balloon of India Shining, this time also the balloon will explode,” he said.
With Congress fighting the elections with its back to the wall on a variety of issues, including corruption and price rise, the Prime Minister conceded that corruption “cannot be wished away” in a developing country. He, however, said mechanisms have been put in place to deal with it.
At the same time, Sonia Gandhi brushed aside criticism over nomination of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, whose name figured in the Adarsh Housing scam, saying he has not been barred from contesting elections by any law or the Election Commission.
The 49-page manifesto was prepared over five months using a different approach of consulting people which Rahul did.
It promised an ambitious six-point charter of pro-poor measures, including the right to affordable healthcare, housing and pension, and to uplift 80 crore of the population to the middle class.
Amid demands that job reservation be extended to private sector, the party committed itself to creating a national consensus on affirmative action in this regard.
It has also set out a special Youth and Student Agenda committing to train 10 crore youth and give them employment opportunities in five years.
Expressing a resolve to tackle corruption, an issue that has hit UPA-II in the form of scams like 2G, coal and CWG, the party pledged to appoint a special envoy on black money.
Rahul along with Sonia Gandhi debunked the opinion polls which project a dismal show for the Congress.
“I frankly don’t have much faith in the opinion polls. In 2004 also, the story of Congress was over as per the opinion polls. In 2009 also, we were given no chance. But we got more seats. So, we cannot go 100 per cent by the opinion polls,” the Congress president said.
Rahul also talked in same vein, saying in 2009 Congress was projected to suffer badly and predicted NDA wave. In UP, Congress was projected to get 5 seats (but it got 22 seats).
“You did not believe us then. When the results come (this time), you will be surprised,” he added.
At the function to release the manifesto, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hailed the 10-year rule of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as they promised a slew of initiatives under the “New Vision”.
“The 2014 polls is not only about programmes, policies, planning and economic development but also to preserve the Constitutional structure of the country envisaged by our freedom fighters. We will fight in these elections, not for uniformity but for unity.
“We will struggle for such India which is secular and inclusive and does not pit one against the other. We will struggle for such an India in which religion, region and language are not important and in which all are considered Indians,” Sonia Gandhi said.
Insisting that the country had witnessed the fastest economic growth during the last 10 years, the Prime Minister hit out at Modi’s model of development.
“Development has many models. One hears these days about Gujarat model of development. Congress model is one which recognises that the growing economic provides answers to all concerns,” he said.
“Growth by itself is not enough to achieve solid results of inclusive progress. It needs to be backed by education, healthcare and needs of women, SCs, STs and OBCs,” Singh said.
Contending that “attempts of disinformation” are being made, he said that in all respects, the record of the UPA has been “superior” to that of NDA.
He said the concerns and needs of all sections of the society can be addressed by an ideology which seeks to unite. (PTI)