*CWC decision on Rahul final: Sonia

NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Anointed the campaign chief, a combative Rahul Gandhi sought to enthuse the demoralised Congress cadre for the Lok Sabha polls and attacked Narendra Modi over his ‘Congress-free India’ pitch and “divisive” politics.
At the day-long AICC session here, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi targeted BJP, with the Congress President saying the country was facing the “biggest threat” from “communal forces and their ideology” which cannot be tolerated.
Rahul accused the BJP of “lighting fires of communal hatred”, pitting people against each other and trying to hand over power structure to one man while the party sought support of all like-minded political and social forces to come together at “this critical juncture”.
In his 45-minute spirited address, which was repeatedly cheered by delegates from across the country, he sought to widen the party’s reach as he asserted that he would fight for the cause of the youth, women, downtrodden sections and a new constituency of people who have risen above the poverty line and are aspiring to be part of the middle class.
He gave indications of changing the style of functioning in the party, which he had promised after the drubbing in Assembly polls, by ensuring larger participation of people, including women in decision-making like candidate selection.
He said tickets will not be given to party hoppers but to those who have “Congress in their blood” and candidates for 15 Lok Sabha seats will be chosen on the basis of feedback from local units, an experiment which will be expanded if it works.
Acknowledging that Congress has a “tough battle” ahead, Rahul said, “This is not just another turn in the history of India, another election to be fought, won or lost. This is a turning point in our nation’s journey. Nobody is in the mood to accept less than their full and complete right. No one is ready to compromise anymore.
“Either we wake up to their aspirations, or we have no business to claim that we represent them. The change that is taking place around us is unstoppable. The imperative before us not whether to change but when and how to change.”
Giving a battle cry for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Rahul said the Congress is ready for the tough challenge ahead and “we will not stop till the battle is won”.
In a bid to lift the morale of the cadre, he said howsoever dark the night may be and tough the battle may be, the Congress will go in as “warrior” with “head high” and “not lose courage.”
Tearing into BJP and its PM candidate Modi for his ‘Congress-free India’ campaign, he said Congress is a “thought” which cannot be erased. “Whoever has tried to do it, has himself got destroyed”.
Sonia Gandhi asked the party workers not to lose heart after the recent drubbing in Assembly elections, saying victory and defeat are inescapable in politics and Congress always has the resilience to bounce back by fighting the challenges strongly.
“Congress has faced many difficult times in the past, much tougher than today, but we have never lost heart,” he said.
Rahul and Sonia Gandhi also put an end to the debate over projecting him as the Prime Ministerial candidate, saying the party has the tradition of PM being elected by the MPs.
In a bid to lift the morale of the cadre, he said however dark the night may be and tough the battle may be, the Congress will go in as “warrior” with “head high” and “not lose courage.”
Rahul articulated worries over the issues of corruption and price rise and said the Congress and the Manmohan Singh Government is determined to address these.
In a virtual directive, Rahul asked the Government to raise the annual cap of subsidised LPG cylinders from 9 to 12, a point that was lustily cheered by the audience.
Oil and Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily immediately announced that the issue will go to the Cabinet and a decision will be taken to implement it.
Apparently taking a leaf out of Aam Aadmi Party’s strategy, he said tickets for 15 Lok Sabha seats will be given on the basis of feedback from local units and if the experiment works, it will be expanded to legislatures.
Singling out Modi without taking his name, Rahul said, “democracy is not rule by dictates, not rule by one man” but by empowered elected representatives.
He accused the BJP of disrupting Parliament, year after year, day after day, for the last 10 years and preventing the Government from enacting crucial laws.
Setting the agenda for the next three months, he said the Government ensure passage of six anti-corruption bills, which will ensure punishment for the guilty and protect the honest.
Referring to the Lok Sabha polls, he said, “It is not just another election, it is a turning point in our nation’s journey”.
He said the question now was not whether the party should change but when and how. “The change around us is unstoppable,” he said, adding the Congress is already responding to the increasing demand for change.
“Unlike others, we do not respond by complaining but solving issues. Unlike others, we do not respond by blocking Parliament day after day, year after year. Unlike others, we do not respond by turning people against people and by lighting fires of communal hatred. We do not respond by handing over the structure of democracy to one person,” the Congress Vice President.
“Congress responds by democracy,” he added.
Sonia Gandhi also made a scathing attack on the BJP, warning that the country faces the biggest threat from communal forces and their ideology.
Apparently referring to the recent drubbing in the Assembly polls, she said there might be “some shortcomings” in meeting the hopes and expectations of the common people and requested all to “be a little soft” towards her party in view of the slew of programmes and policies implemented by the UPA Government.
The AICC resolution’s phraseology was almost similar to the one adopted by the Congress at the Shimla Conclave in 2003 when the party shed its reservation to coalition politics. Congress had then called for unity of secular forces.
Asking the party workers not to lose heart after the recent drubbing in Assembly elections, Gandhi said that victory and defeat are inescapable in politics and Congress always has the resilience to bounce back by fighting the challenges strongly.
“Congress has faced many difficult times in the past, much tougher than today, but we have never lost heart,” she said signalling that the party was battle ready for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Manmohan Singh, who is at the fag end of his Prime Ministership, was praised by Sonia as well as Rahul.
He, however, rued that his Government did not get the “credit it deserves” even though the country has seen the average growth of 7.9 per cent over the last nine years despite two bouts of global recession and taken a slew of initiatives in the social sectors like health care and education.
At the same time, he admitted that the growth rate had slowed down because clearances were not granted to infrastructure projects for the fear of CAG and CVC scrutiny.
He asked the people to judge the record of his Government while closely scrutinising that of Opposition Governments.
Rahul acknowledged that the Opposition marketed its wares well and made a veiled attack on Aam Aadmi Party in this regard.
“They are good in selling combs to the bald. Some new people have come, who have already started giving hair cut,” he said, evoking laughter all around.
The omnibus resolution, which was adopted by raising of hands by the delegates, said, “the recent political setbacks are an important wake up call, and if anything, they should motivate us to work harder, enhancing the connect with every Indian.”
Rahul, while talking about empowerment of people including the elected representatives, talked about concerns over price rise and corruption.
The AICC resolution said the war against price rise will continue to remain the overriding policy priority of the Congress party. “The Congress is deeply aware that the scourge of corruption affects the life of every Indian and the poor carry its greatest burden.”
Facing accusations of policy paralysis, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today admitted that growth rate had slowed down because clearances were not granted to infrastructure projects for the fear of CAG and CVC.
He asked the people to judge the record of his Government while closely scrutinising that of opposition Governments.
Addressing the AICC session here, he rued that his Government was not getting the “credit it deserves” even though the country has seen the average growth of 7.9 per cent over the last nine years despite two bouts of global recession.
With the upcoming Lok Sabha polls apparently in his mind, Singh said the people should compare his Government’s performance while “closely scrutinising” the record and claims of others, particularly in the context of inclusiveness, an apparent reference to BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
The Prime Minister said that the recent election results were disappointing, but stressed there was no reason for despair as the party could still win the Lok Sabha polls with an effective strategy under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.
“We agree that there are certain domestic reasons responsible for the slowdown in our growth rate.Infrastructure projects do not get expeditious clearances. Bureaucrats are hesitant to take decisions fearing that CVC and CAG will raise questions over their decisions,” he said.
He was apparently referring to the questions raised by CAG over various decisions including in coal blocks allocation and 2G spectrum.
Singh asserted that his Government was taking steps to remove such “obstacles” as he cited that the projects worth Rs 5 lakh crore had been cleared by the Cabinet. “It will take some time for our efforts to bear fruit.”
Talking about efforts to deal with corruption, he said these issues are being dealt with as per law, although his Government has followed the earlier policies in the allocation of coal blocks and 2G spectrum.
“Now we have changed the system completely. Now the allocation of 2G spectrum and coal blocks is being done only through auction. In future, there is no scope of corruption in these areas,” he said.
Observing that his Government was also criticised for rise in prices, the Prime Minister said it is correct that there has been a hike in the inflation rate, especially in the prices of edible items.
“But we must remember that those who produce foodgrains, vegetables, fruits, milk and eggs have benefited out of the rise in prices. Though the concerns over price rise are completely valid, we have to also recognise the fact that the incomes of a large number of people have also gone up.
“This can be ascertained from the fact that the real per capita consumption and real wages in rural areas have gone up considerably,” Singh said.
Rise in consumption and providing better facilities for marketing, transport and storage would also be steps towards checking price rise, he said.
Calling for a thorough analysis of the reasons for Congress drubbing in the recent Assembly elections, he said he was fully confident that “if we prepare ourselves properly for the 2014 elections and take the report of our Government’s performance to the people, our performance in these polls will be good.”
While Congress President Sonia Gandhi has successfully led the party since she took the reins in 2008, “the work of our Vice President Rahulji will generate new enthusiasm and energy in the party,” he said.
“The way he (Rahul) is stressing on the basic ideals of the party, it is definite that we will scale new heights in the coming days. I have no doubts in my mind that we will fully succeed in the general elections under his leadership,” the Prime Minister said.
Admitting that “we have committed a few mistakes”, Singh said, “We have always tried to correct our mistakes and take lessons from them. But our intentions have always been clear.”
In his 20-minute speech, the Prime Minister also listed the achievements of his Government, including maintaining an average GDP growth rate of 7.9 per cent, reduction in the number of people below poverty line, rise in agricultural growth, steps to curb violence against women and downtrodden sections, besides enhancing opportunities for education and employment.
Making a scathing attack on the BJP, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today warned that the country faced the biggest threat from communal forces and their ideology even as the AICC resolution called upon “like-minded political and social forces to come together at this critical juncture”.
Apparently referring to the recent drubbing in the Assembly polls, she said there might be “some shortcomings” in meeting the hopes and expectations of the common people and requested all to “be a little soft” towards her party in view of the slew of programmes and policies implemented by the UPA Government.
Asking the party workers not to lose heart after the recent drubbing in Assembly elections, Gandhi said that victory and defeat are inescapable in politics and Congress always has the resilience to bounce back by fighting the challenges strongly.
“Congress has faced many difficult times in the past, much tougher than today, but we have never lost heart,” she said signalling that the party was battle ready for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Describing secularism as the biggest identity of the country, Gandhi hit out at the BJP, without taking its name, saying the policy of the main Opposition party is of dividing society on communal lines, imposing uniformity in the name of unity.
“The biggest danger to the country’s social fabric is from the communal forces and their ideologies. Congress has always worked to unite people and has never compromised with communalism. Secularism means equal faith in all religions (sarva dharma sambhava). It is not an electoral compulsion for us. This is something which we deeply believe in,” she said.
“The next elections will see a sharpening contrast between competing ideologies from the past and clashing vision of the future. It will be a battle between forces of age old secularism and others. It will be a battle for India as we cherish,” she said.
Seeking to contrast it with the politics of BJP, she said their way of functioning is to divide society on communal lines and provoke violence. “As Congressmen, we have always fought this ideology.”
“The 2014 Lok Sabha elections is a contest between opposing ideologies-–one that seeks to divide and other than seeks to unite India. One a polarising ideology that militates against the core values which define Indian nationhood and its constitutional democracy and the other a liberal secular democratic ideology represented by Indian National Congress,” the resolution said.
Maintaining that Congress will continue to champion this “liberal secular democratic vision of India,” the resolution said the party “seeks the support of all like-minded political and social forces to come together in this pursuit at this critical juncture”.
A highlight of the proceedings was the clamour for declaring Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the part responding to which Sonia Gandhi said that the decision taken by the Congress Working Committee yesterday was “final”.
The CWC yesterday decided that Rahul Gandhi will lead the campaign in the Lok Sabha polls, refraining from specifically naming him the PM candidate.
“This meeting of the AICC declares that the Congress Party’s 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign will be led by Rahul Gandhi,” the resolution, which was approved by an extended meeting of the Congress Working Committee yesterday, said.
As the clamour continued, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi intervened seeking to pacify the agitated party workers dropping broad indications that it is Rahul Gandhi who will be Prime Minister if the Congress came to power.
“Is there any name other than Rahul Gandhi? Is there any alternative to Rahul Gandhi? If it is not so why don’t you understand?”
The Congress Vice President too tried to pacify workers saying he would explain to them his position on the issue later in the day.
Detailing the work done by the Congress-led coalition at the Centre, Sonia asked whether any other Government had done so much in the past.
Hailing Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, she said he has led the coalition for the past ten years with dignity despite all difficulties and obstructions as well as “irresponsible attitude” of the Opposition and remained firm on his objectives.
At the outset, Gandhi said, “We meet today to send a clear signal that the Congress is ready and prepared for the battle ahead”.
Noting that the AICC is meeting at a time when the party is celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi said it was he who had said soon after independence that confronting danger and facing adversity is the Congress way.
“That message should resonate more loudly now than ever before”.
Turning to the issue of corruption, Gandhi said crucial bills, which are powerful instruments in the country’s fight against corruption, are pending in Parliament.
“We will do our utmost to get them through when Parliament reconvenes next month,” she said, appealing to all parties to rise above political considerations and pass these bills.
Noting that the RTI Act was the single most important reason why citizens feel empowered to fight corruption, she said that Congress is responsible for the “historic” Act.
On the issue of disparities, she said that while growth is essential and must be sustained, it alone cannot address the problems arising out of continuing disparities.
“Tackling these is not just a matter of social justice but more importantly an existential necessity and a moral imperative,” she said.
“If the basic needs of large sections of society are not met in tangible measure, the fabric of society will be stretched and torn,” she warned.
The CWC decision not to anoint Rahul Gandhi as Prime Ministerial candidate did not deter party workers from voicing their clamour but Sonia Gandhi put an end to any debate asserting that the decision taken last night was “final”.
As soon as the AICC meeting began at the packed Talkatora Stadium here, loud demands were made that the Congress Vice President be declared the PM candidate ahead of the general elections.
The Congress President immediately made it clear that the last night’s decision not to nominate him as PM candidate is final, in an apparent bid to avoid any further debate on the issue.
But as the leaders shouted that Rahul be made the PM candidate other party leaders intervened to drop enough indications that despite the absence of a formal decision, it is the Congress Vice President, who will become Prime Minister if the party comes to power.
The slogan shouting continued even as Sonia Gandhi rose to speak, prompting her to declare “a decision has been taken in the CWC and that decision is final.”
However, the workers continued with their Rahul as PM candidate pitch.
Under attack over the issue of corruption, Congress today asserted that it would work tirelessly to remove this “scourge” but advocated caution saying that disagreement on merits and “honest mistake” should not be confused with it.
The party also expressed its dismay over rejection of some of the Government’s decisions by courts and constitutional authorities saying they have caused damage to the economy. The resolution was, however, silent on what those decisions were.
The UPA Government had faced flak from the judiciary on 2G and coal block allocations issues along with some of its other controversial decisions earlier.
“Congress is deeply aware that the scourge if corruption affects the life of every Indian, and the poor carry its greatest burden.
“The Congress believes this is unacceptable and has been tirelessly working on an agenda of governance to address this,” the party said in the resolution.
Claiming that the Congress-led UPA Government struck the defining blow on corruption by enacting the Right to Information Act in 2005, the party also noted “however, in our pursuit to root out corruption, we have to be careful so as not to confuse disagreement on merits or even an honest mistake with corruption.
“Not everything that we find wrong is necessarily corruption.”
The resolution noted that several decisions of the courts and constitutional authorities rejecting some administrative and executive decisions taken with good intentions have caused considerable damage to our economy.
“We are laying down a solid base of legislation to root out corruption and making the corrupt accountable, but equally we have to be vigilant that natural justice is not given a go-bye or honest public servants hounded or forced into self-conscious paralysis,” the resolution said.
Commending the UPA Government for ensuring that the Lokpal bill was passed in the last session, the resolution referred to party Vice President’s pitch for a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political programmes at all levels for tackling corruption.
The Lokpal bill while being a critical milestone, alone will not be adequate to fight corruption.
India needs a comprehensive anti-corruption code, which the UPA Government has developed, consisting of nine central laws, it said.
It said that Congress believes that fighting corruption requires a fundamental transformation in our service delivery systems.
“The Aapka Paisa, Aapke Haath, initiative of the UPA Government, backed by the unique identity number Aadhar , which will ensure that benefits of Government schemes reach the people directly, on time and at their doorstep, eliminating corruption and leakages, is a major step in this direction.
“The Congress is deeply committed to ensuring the full roll out and effective implementation of this programme across the country, while ensuring that no one is excluded in the transition and no hardship is caused in the initial stage,” the resolution said.
Apparently mindful of legal and political wrangles involving its initiaves on quotas, Congress today emphasized the need to look at “other forms of affirmative action as well” to help socially disadvantaged sections of society.
“The reservation model has served India well over the years since independence to ensure social justice, especially for the weakest sections of society, dalits, adivasis, OBCs and women.
“Whilst it is important to review the contours of the model for more effective implementation and to address the issue of reservation in promotion, Congress believes that it is also an opportune time to look at other forms of affirmative action,” a resolution adopted by AICC meeting here said.
It also said the proposal to set up an Equal Opportunity Commission has been in principle accepted by the Government.
The Government’s last few initiatives on quota have run into controversies. Its decision to carve out a minority sub quota of 4.5 percent from the existing 27 OBC reservation ran into rough weather with the courts snubbing the Government.
Its another move to give reservation in promotion was recently passed in Rajya Sabha amid fierce Opposition by Samajwadi Party while the issue of reservation in AIIMS faculty is also in legal knot.
Noting that terrorism is a major challenge, it said it was committed to tackling it through global cooperation and to follow a foreign policy rooted to India’s interest.
Congress, which has decided to make rights based legislations brought under UPA rule a major poll plank, today said time has now come to bring in ‘Right to Health’ and ‘Right to Justice’ for all Indians.
“The Congress believes that it is time for us to consider Right to Health for all Indians.
“In addition, conscious that our growing economy will inevitably bring conflicting claims and consequent need for fair adjudication, the Congress party believes that it is time to introduce the Right to Justice by ramping up the legal aid schemes and expanding the judicial footprint to ensure faster dispensation of justice,” said a resolution at the AICC meet here. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent/ PTI
NEW DELHI, Jan 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said perception about his State needs to be changed as there has been a constant decline in infiltration as well as violence.
“Year after year, there has been a decline in infiltration and violence. There are some areas of concern like death of security forces. We are looking into it and addressing it. But the fact remains that violence and infiltration has come down,” Omar told reporters after meeting Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
“The perception about Jammu and Kashmir needs to be changed,” he said.
A State Government official spokesperson later said the Chief Minister met the Union Home Minister and discussed various matters relating to security and development of the State.
“Matters pertaining to prevailing law and order scenario, general situation in the State and the coordination between various security agencies in their functioning were also discussed in detail in the meeting,” he said.
The two leaders also reviewed preparatory arrangements by the State Government and the logistics it requires from the Centre for smooth and peaceful conduct of ensuing parliamentary elections in the State.
Meanwhile, suggesting an offensive policy for UPA,  Omar defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s blistering attack on BJP and said the Centre has been “defensive for too long”.
Emerging from his 30-minute meeting with Shinde here, Omar said Rahul’s speech was timely and added that the UPA should shun the approach of being on the backfoot.
“He was very combative (and) that is required for UPA. We have been defensive for too long. There were mistakes but there are more positives than negatives. Why should we be on the backfoot,” Omar told reporters.
“We have made mistakes along the way…Ten years but that is a learning curve in power,” he said.
To a question about the prospects of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Rahul, Omar said “come on, you cannot compare an orange with an apple. What Rahul said today and said with tone and tenor, it was needed. He was combative and that was needed.”
He said Rahul is going to head the UPA campaign. “We are hopeful that UPA will get maximum seats in elections. Naturally, MPs will elect him and he will become the Prime Minister.”
He also said Congress had no culture of declaring Prime Ministerial candidate before polls but since Rahul is going to lead the campaign, so naturally he should be the Prime Minister.
“Besides this, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has declared he won’t be Prime Minister again,” he said.
Asked about the opinion polls suggesting the rout of UPA in 2014 general elections, he said “elections are not decided by surveys. Voters decide elections. So wait for the day when results are out.”
Earlier, Omar criticized senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for “mocking” at the “humble” background of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, saying such remarks would not help the UPA’s campaign.
“Modi has a lot of negatives but his humble origins are a positive some of us can’t claim. We aren’t helping our campaign by mocking him,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter in an apparent reference to the Congress leader’s remarks.
At the ongoing AICC meet in New Delhi today, Aiyar mocked Modi’s Prime Ministerial ambitions and said a place will be identified for the Gujarat Chief Minister to distribute tea.
“I promise you in 21st Century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. …But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him,” Aiyar had said.
“There is a difference between an activist and a Chief Minister”, was a word of advice for Arvind Kejriwal from Omar over the threat of the former to stage a sit-n protest if action was not taken against Delhi Police officials.
He said sit-in was not solution to problems. “Working together with the central Government will solve the problems of Delhi,” Omar said.
“See, there is a difference between an activist or an Opposition leader and the Chief Minister,” he said when asked about threat from Kejriwal to stage a sit-in if action was not taken against Delhi Police officials. He said people should give time to the Delhi Chief Minister as he had just taken charge.
Asked to comment on Aam Aadmi Party’s national impact, he said “let us see how they navigate their way in future. “So far, AAP has a blemish imaged that they require to work on,” he said.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to adopt a strong worded political resolution on terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and UPA’s ‘soft policy’ towards Pakistan and China in its three days national executive meeting, which started today in New Delhi.
BJP’s Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shankar Prasad today moved the political resolution in the national executive, which would be debated and passed during the party meeting.
The political resolution of the BJP dealt with a number of issues related to terrorism. Failure of UPA Government on terrorism front and alleged ‘vote bank politics’ on terrorism.
The resolution charged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh led UPA Government with failure to curb the menace of terrorism in the country especially Jammu and Kashmir and following ‘weak policies’, leading to spread of terrorism in various parts of India.
“The UPA Government’s soft approach in dealing with terrorism in the country including Jammu and Kashmir was responsible for increase in terrorism in various parts of India, which were earlier free from the menace,’’ the resolution said.
BJP national executive member and senior party leader from Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Jitendera Singh moved an amendment to the resolution, which has been adopted and would be passed along with the resolution.
Dr Singh’s resolution read: “the UPA Government was resorting to vote bank politics on the name of terrorism in various parts of the country.
“In the context of J&K, Kashmir centric political parties have entered into a race of competitive upmanship to appease separatists and terrorism and this phenomenon is gaining as general elections draw close. The Congress, which is a coalition partner in J&K with National Conference, has adopted silence to external security threats from China and Pakistan’’.
The resolution said the “intrusionary designs by China not only pose security threat but was motivated by big larger drade interests. China is trying to find gateway into Central Asia through Gilgit-Baltistan and sea route through Gaudar port at Arabian sea to gain access into the Indian nation’’.
PTI adds from New Delhi:
BJP was today decided to factor in the growing clout of Aam Admi Party in its strategy for coming Lok Sabha poll and make Rahul Gandhi its main target of attack along with “failures” of the UPA Government.
The BJP national executive meeting here today saw the party move closer to giving final shape to its roadmap for the polls.
The opposition party is clearly wary of AAP with BJP party’s national executive here today discussing ways to counter the challenge posed by it along with Congress in the elections and focussed on how issues like scams, “communal card” and state of the economy under Congress-led UPA Government should be taken to the people.
Addressing the national executive, BJP President Rajnath Singh refrained from naming AAP but alluded to how Congress may use the growing clout of Arvind Kejriwal’s party to spoil their march to victory.
The BJP chief said since Congress is aware it is going to “lose” the polls, it is trying every trick in the book to ensure that a “majboor (weak)” Government is formed at the Centre.
Though Singh did not name AAP, BJP sources said he was making a veiled reference to it. Congress is supporting the AAP Government in Delhi and BJP has often alleged the latter is the B-team of the former.
When BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain was asked by reporters if his party is making strategies to counter AAP as is being done by Congress, he sought to club the ruling party and AAP as being on the same side.
“Till now, Congress’ hand was with aam admi (common man). Now, it is with Aam Admi Party. AAP will be protector of Congress. In Delhi, they have already joined hands,” Hussain said.
In an indication that Rahul Gandhi, Congress campaign chief, will be its primary target along with “failures” of the UPA Government, BJP would try to sell the idea that Modi’s charisma and popularity had “scared” Congress and forced it not to declare Rahul as its PM probable.
“The diminishing returns of a dynasty controlling a party are now visible. In 25 years, a Gandhi has not been the Prime Minister of this country. India, indeed, is changing. The Gandhis can control a party but not the nation,” Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said in an article posted on his website.
“It is the prospect of defeat staring in the face, which is responsible for the reluctance to announce Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate in 2014,” he added.
Rahul’s combative speech at AICC meeting today-where he lambasted the Opposition–drew more retaliation from the main Opposition.
“Rahul Gandhi has run away from the contest inspite of the pressure on him (to become PM candidate) even before the contest has begun. He does not have the courage to be the PM candidate and take on Modi… Congress has become so weak that is why it is talking about Gandhi and Godse,” Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
BJP also countered Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s charge that it is communal by alleging that 10,000 Sikhs were killed in 1984 under Congress watch. The party further attacked the Congress on scams, growing unemployment, its “votebank” politics and for turning India a “weak state”.
“It is Congress which has always indulged in communalism and done votebank politics. On communalism-versus-secularism debate, Congress will fail this time. People now understand that the real issue is one of governance, development and security,” senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi told reporters.
With Modi’s projection, some sections within BJP are worried about polarisation on communal lines due to his Hindutva hardliner image. The party is likely to combat this by taking on UPA on issues of governance, development and charging Congress with indulging in minority appeasement.
“If today there is any big communal party in the country, it is Congress. It is doing votebank politics by trying to create animosity among the people,” Rajnath Singh told reporters.
BJP also alleged since Congress has realised it is going to lose the forthcoming elections, it is resorting to all tricks to prevent NDA from coming back to power.
In his presidential address, Singh said “Congress can see the writing on the wall and knows that defeat is writ large there. Congress is losing elections and hence is trying to ensure that BJP does not get a clear majority. It is making every effort to stop BJP’s march to success.”

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 17: India today lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over ceasefire violations—the latest one on January 13 at Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district during a Brigadier-level flag meeting at Chakan-Da-Bagh along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district today.
Army lodged a strong protest with Pakistan Army authorities over the ceasefire violations along LoC in Poonch at the Brigadier-level flag meeting of the Indian and Pakistan Army today,” official sources said.
Brigadier Sen Gupta, Commanding Officer of 120 Brigade headquartered at Bhimber Gali, represented the Indian side along with four officers. Pakistan delegation also had five officers in the meeting.
The flag meeting between started at 11.30 am and continued till 12.50 pm at Chakan-Da-Bagh cross-LoC point in Poonch district, which is used for trans-LoC bus and trade between two parts of divided State every week.
Sources said the Indian side took strong exception to infiltration attempt by three members Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan at Krishna Ghati sector on January 13 with a view to commit an action on the Indian side. However, the troops had thwarted the infiltration attempt.
Following a large number of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops on the LoC last year, the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries had met at Wagah border near Amritsar after 14 years on December 24 last.
“Pak authorities denied ceasefire violations from their side as usual,” sources said, adding the meeting was held in a cordial and conducive atmosphere.
Indian officials are reported to have told their counterparts not to allow infiltration of militants and BAT attacks, warning that troops guarding the border will give a befitting reply in case of any violation.
There have been 196 ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir last year, the highest in last one decade.
There were 93 ceasefire violations along the LoC by Pakistan in 2012. The numbers of ceasefire violations by Pakistan in 2011 were 51 and 44 in 2010.
“Both delegations were led by Brigadier level officers and discussed various issues related to the ceasefire agreement as well as the need to improve responsiveness of existing communication channels,” sources said, adding that the meeting was held in cordial atmosphere.
“The Indian Army’s concerns about the infiltration attempt in the Krishna Ghati Sector on 13 January, 2014 were conveyed in strong terms to the Pakistan delegation,” sources added.
“The meeting is another step forward in the Confidence Building Measures agreed to by both sides during the DGMOs’ level talk held at Wagah on December 24, 2013,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rangers also held a flag meeting at Chamblayal in Ramgarh sector of Samba district this morning and discussed the issue of clear the border track ahead of fencing by both the sides. The meeting last about an hour this morning and was held in a cordial atmosphere.  Sukhjit Dangar, Second-in-Command of 200 BSF led five members BSF delegation with Wing Commander Mohammad Ashraf of 12 Chenab Rangers led the Pakistani side, sources said.  Both sides agreed to cooperate with each other in cleaning the border track ahead of fencing, they added.

Fayaz Bukhari

SRINAGAR, Jan 17: In a major drug haul, Jammu and Kashmir Police today recovered around 114 kilogrammes of narcotics from a truck at Salamabad Trade Faciliation Centre, Uri in district Baramulla that was coming from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of trans-Line of Control (LoC) trade.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) and Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Uri, Govind Ratan told Excelsior that truck bearing registration number RIS-2137 and driven by Mohammad Shafiq, a Pakistani national, loaded with almonds was searched at Salamabad trade LoC centre and 114 packets of the narcotics were recovered from it.
The Police officer said that the packets were hidden in almond bags and loaded in the truck that came from Chakoti Trade Facilitation Centre in PoK to Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre in Uri, North Kashmir this afternoon.
Ratan said that the driver of the truck was questioned at the Salamabad Trade Centre and other 48 trucks that arrived from PoK today were thoroughly searched.
A case (FIR no 06/2014 under Section 8/21 NDPS Act) was registered in Police Station Uri and police are investigating the case. The Police officer said that some people were arrested in this connection.
The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla, Zubair Ahmad Khan told Excelsior that a forensic expert team was called and they took samples of the recovered narcotics. However, sources said that the recovered narcotics are most probably brown sugar.
Sources said that almonds were meant for M/S Shoukat Habib Trading Corporation Bandipora.
Forty nine trucks carrying goods from PoK crossed the Aman Setu this afternoon into Salamabad Uri while 17 trucks went across to Chakoti Trade Facilitation Centre, Muzaffarabad as part of LoC trade.
The SSP said that truck from which narcotics was recovered and its driver have been detained at the Trade Facilitation Centre Salamabad and other trucks have been sent to Aman Setu for crossing the LoC into Chakoti Trade Facilitation Centre.
Seventeen Trucks that had gone to Chakoti Trade Facilitation Centre from Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre were still at the LoC on Pakistan side till late night.
The SSP said that the Custodian of the Trade Facilitation Centre, Chakoti in Muzaffarabad was informed about the recovery and he was told that the truck and driver have been detained for investigations.
This is the second incident of seizure of drugs from trans-LoC trade since 2008. Last year in August, Police recovered cocaine worth Rs 10 lakh from a truck. Nine packets of cocaine, each weighing one kilo and valued at Rs 10 crore in international drug market, was concealed in a tyre of a truck and kept in tool box. The truck had gone to deliver goods at Chakoti trade facilitation centre, Muzaffarabad.
Police had claimed that the consignment was meant for Hizbul Mujahideen and later arrested Yasir Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Rehman Mir of Hazratbal Srinagar.
The barter trade of around two dozen listed items between India and Pakistan operates for four days a week through Aman Setu LoC from Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre in Uri to Chakoti Trade Facilitation Centre, Muzaffarabad.
The trans-LoC trade was started in October 2008 as part of Jammu and Kashmir specific Confidence Building Measure between India and Pakistan. Earlier trans-LoC bus was started after 57 years in April 2005.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 17: The Election Commission of India has asked Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey to shift by February 15 all Government officers and officials in civil and police administration, who have been posted in their home towns and those who have been overstaying on their posts (a tenure of three or above years).
Official sources told the Excelsior that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath has written a letter to the Chief Secretary asking him to ensure compliance of the order by February 15 positively.
The official communiqué of Mr Sampath addressed to Mr Khandey called for shifting of all civil and police officers from top to bottom, who were directly or indirectly concerned with election duties or exercise to conduct the elections, from their home towns.
“There should be no officer, who had to be connected with the election duty, posted in his home town,’’ the communiqué said.
It also called for shifting of the officers concerned with any kind of election duty from their posts if they had completed their tenure of three years at one place.
“All such officers should be transferred by or before February 15,’’ the communiqué said.
Sources said the Government would be complying with the Election Commission’s notification in the next few days. The officers and officials covered by the Election Commission’s order included Deputy Commissioners, Tehsildars, Sub Divisional Magistrates, Naib Tehsildars, Patwaris etc and all police officers apart from all other officers even remotely connected with the election duty.
They added that the Chief Secretary has directed the authorities to identify the officers posted in their home towns and those who have completed stay of three years or more at a particular place for their transfers and postings.
“The Government would abide by the order of the Election Commission of the India,’’ sources said, adding all those officers, who fall in the ambit of the ECI direction, would be shifted within the deadline i.e. February 15.
Worthwhile to mention here that the Election Commission of India was likely to impose Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections either by the end of February or start of March and it was in this context that it wants to ensure the officers serving in home towns or overstaying at one place out of the election duty from those particular places. Sources said the State Government after effecting the transfer of overstaying officers as well as those posted in home towns would submit their list to the Election Commission of India through the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir. It would also give the list to the Election Commission of the officers posted in their place, they added.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 17: Thousands of devotees from across the Kashmir today thronged Hazratbal Shrine on the Friday following Eid Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) to offer prayers and have a glimpse of the Holy relic.
Despite biting cold around one lakh devotees thronged Hazratbal Shrine which houses the relics of the last prophet of Islam.
As part of the celebration special prayers were offered after afternoon congregational prayers at Hazratbal shrine and devotees were eagerly waiting to have the glimpse of holy relics.
Devotees burst into tears after Peer Hisam-u-Din-Banday displayed holy relic that was displayed five times after every prayers since morning today.
On the occasion Imam of Masjid, Bashirudin Farooqi addressed huge gathering and threw light on the life of Holy Prophet (SAW) and his teachings.
On the occasion special transport facilities were made available on all routes leading to Hazratbal shrine and dozens of voluntary organization had installed stalls to offer free service to devotees.
Traffic police officials had made special arrangements for smooth movement of the vehicles but the huge rush of people led to traffic jams at several places. “One-way traffic was allowed from Lal Chowk to Hazratbal via Lal Bazar route and vehicles moving from Hazratbal to Lal Chowk had to take the Saidakadal route,” the officials said.
Special congregational prayers were also held at Janab Sahab Soura, Asar-i-Sharif Shahri Kalashpora, Lal Bazar, Khanqah-i-Maula, Ziarat Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib (RA), Syed Yaqoob Sahab (RA) Sonwar, Khawaja Naqshband Sahab (RA) and Ziarat Makhdoom Sahib (RA).
Reports said special prayers were also offered at Masjids and shrines in Anantnag mainly at Jamia Masjid Reshi Sahab, Khiram Sirhama, Kaba Marg, Dooru and Seer Hamdan and special prayers were also held in Pinjoora, Shopian.