Country needs will not bills, commitments not committees

NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Hitting back at Congress, BJP led by Narendra Modi today taunted it for not naming Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate saying Sonia Gandhi wanted to save her son from being sacrificed politically in view of “imminent” defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, while attacking the UPA’s policies, unveiled his vision for the country, promising to develop 100 smart cities and set up IITs, IIMs and AIIMS in every State while projecting India as a brand worldwide.
He talked about steps like creation of a ‘Price Stabilisation Fund’ and having a system of realtime data of agricultural produce to deal with the problem of inflation and creating more job opportunities to deal reduce poverty.
At the National Council here, senior leader L K Advani cautioned the party against “over confidence” citing the example of 2004 even as he praised Modi, whose elevation as PM candidate he had been opposed initially.
The Council adopted a political resolution which attacked the Congress and its Government, saying they were responsible for slow economic growth, failure to check terrorism, vote bank politics, and decline of constitutional institutions.
It said Congress had taken the “exit” route by not naming Rahul as PM candidate as he was “no match” to Modi and was equally responsible for the “ills” and “suffering” of the country.
Taking the centre stage on the second and concluding day of the conclave, Modi questioned Congress’ contention that it was following the tradition that PM should be elected by party MPs as he cited the case of Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 and Manmohan Singh in 2004.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate also responded to the ‘chai wala’ barbs at him by Congress leaders by invoking his backward class background and saying that “those born in an aristocratic family” feel below their dignity to contest against a tea vendor because of “feudal mindset”.
During his 75-minute speech at the conclusion of the two-day meet, he took digs at Rahul while referring to his address at AICC on Friday and attacked the UPA Government over its policies, corruption and price rise.
Insisting that the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are not only for a change in Government but for meeting the hopes and aspirations of the country, Modi asked people to give “this servant” a chance to serve for 60 months when they have given chance to “rulers” for 60 years.
The Gujarat Chief Minister, who is often attacked by Congress, said “woh naamdar hain aur mai kaamdar hun (they are big names and I am a worker).”
Referring to the Congress decision of not naming Rahul as PM candidate, Modi said, “There are obviously political reasons. But I see a human angle behind this decision of Congress. When defeat is imminent, which mother will sacrifice her son politically? The heart of a mother (Sonia) decided to protect her son.”
He questioned Congress’ contention that it was following the tradition of not naming a PM candidate as the person should be elected by the MPs. In this regard, he referred to 1984, saying Rajiv Gandhi was made as the Prime Minister hours after the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi.
“About four people took the decision and Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as the Prime Minister,” he said.
He also mentioned 2004, when Congress MPs elected Sonia Gandhi to be the Prime Minister but she instead nominated Manmohan Singh for the top job.
Modi claimed that after Independence, “everyone” wanted Sardar Patel to be the Prime Minister but somehow Jawaharlal Nehru got the top post.
Invoking his backward class background, he said, “How can people with big names contest against a worker? They feel insulted. For those born in higher clan cannot think of being pitted against a person born in a backward caste, whose mother used to clean utensils and fill water of others…How can they contest against someone who sold tea?”
Responding to the comment by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar that he should focus on selling tea than dreaming about becoming the Prime Minister, Modi said all the tea vendors are today feeling proud that one among them was contesting for the top post.
The BJP leader has himself been saying that he used to sell tea in trains during his inital years.
“The tradition in which they have grown up, the way they have established themselves as a senior family, when people live in this kind of life, their mindsets become conditoned in such a manner that they feel it is a matter of shame to contest a tea boy in the election,” he said.
He said that it feels humiliating for those “born with prominent sirnames” (Namdars) to constest against those who is known for his work (Kamdar).
“It feels insulting… They think there is no equality..They are ‘namdar’…I am ‘kamdar’…These big namdars feel bad to contest against a Kamdar.. They think its humiliating for them,” Modi added.
“They think that it is below their dignity to fight against a person was born in a backward class…A person whose mother used to clean dishes in the neighbourhood, a person who used to sell tea in a railway compartment, we fight such a person?,” he added.
Modi cited Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule and the decisions taken during that time while urging people to elect a Government based on the track record of parties and not on rheotrical claims coming out of “decrepit tape-recorders”.
He also praised the L K Advani, who had initially been opposed to his projection as the PM candidate, and promised to implement his favourite proposal of getting back blackmoney stashed abroad if he becomes the Prime Minister.
He sought to reach out to States, many of which are ruled by regional parties whose support to him could be crucial in future. He promised to change the present order in which the Centre behaves like a “big brother” and acted as if it was doing a favour to States with its help.
Attacking the UPA Government, Modi said the country has never seen such bad days as during the last decade when corruption and inflation were at peak and poverty was all over.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said Congress had ruled the country for 60 years and it was now time for giving a chance to his party for 60 months.
“For 60 years, you have chosen rulers…I appeal to the people, you have given 60 years to rulers, now give 60 months to this ‘sevak’ (servant). It is time now for ‘sevak’,” he said while addressing the BJP gathering at Ramlila ground.
Apparently with the Aam Aadmi Party effect in mind, Modi said democracy so far has been “representative” but now it was time to make it “participatory” with greater involvement of people in governance.
Taking a dig at Rahul’s contention that Congress is a “thought” which cannot be erased, he said he did not want to delve into what kind of thought it is. “But the entire Congress party is in deep thought.”
Continuing his swipe, he said, “our thought is nationalism, their thought is dynasty.”
He also hit out at Rahul for his remark that tickets would be given to those having Congress in their hearts. “Our thinking is that tickets be given to those who have the country in their hearts.”
Rahul’s other comments like ‘India is a bee-hive’ and ‘poverty is a state of mind’ also came in for attack from Modi. “For us, India is our mother and the poor should be treated like god,” he said.
Modi cited the Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule and the decisions taken during that time while urging people to elect a Government based on the track record of political parties and not on rheotrical claims coming out of “decrepit tape-recorders”.
Targeting the Prime Minister, Modi said, “not a single month goes when he does not form a committee. The country is burdened with committees. Now it is time not for committees but for commitments.”
He said, “The country does not need Bills but political will… We have heard enough of Acts what we need now is action. We do not need doles, we need delivery.”
In an apparent bid to counter the charge by his rivals that his economic model is pro-rich, he said “good governance” is not for the rich who can “buy” Government but for the poor, dalits and deprived who need schools and hospitals.
Observing that India has huge potential to be among the top countries of the world, Modi unveiled his vision of giving a new direction to progress through empowerment and job opportunities to various sections, particularly the poor and skilled workers.
He talked about his plan to create 100 “smart” cities and establishing IIMs, IITs and AIIMS in every state.
“We need second generation infrastructure, inter-linking of rivers, gas grid to end fight over (LPG) cylinders, optical fibre network across the country, the BJP leader said.
He said the Vajpayee Government built golden quadrilateral of roads and it was time to build golden quadrilateral of bullet trains as country approaches “diamond jubilee” of Independence.
Wanting to build “brand India” to compete in the globalised world, he said it would focus on 5-Ts — talent, tradition, tourism, trade and technology.
To address the issue of price rise, he talked about setting up of a ‘price stabilisation fund’ and creation of an agriculture grid, which will involve keeping realtime data about production.
Wondering whether inflation could not be checked, he said there is no realtime data about sowing of seeds and production of foodgrains.
“Our first priority will be to have realtime data of foodgrains sown and produced as also the requirement. By this method, we can also decide what to export,” he said.
He also proposed to have a price stabilisation fund which could help the Government intervene in case of price rise and give immunity to the people.
Setting up of a National Agriculture Market is another proposal he has besides special courts to deal with black marketing.
“If Atalji’s Government could prevent price rise, our Govt in 2014 can also do,” he said.
Senior BJP leader L K Advani, who had initially opposed naming of Narendra Modi as PM candidate, today showered praise on him but cautioned against “over confidence” which had spoiled the party’s chance of retaining power in 2004.
“I have not seen so much enthusiasm and self confidence, I congratulate party president Rajnath Singh and other colleagues who decided that we will make Narendra Modi as the PM after we get the majority in these elections,” Advani said while addressing the party National Council here.
Applauding the election campaign which has been going on for the past five-six months led by Modi, he said he had not seen any other politician address so many “massive rallies”.
He noted that Modi has already addressed 77 rallies and 100 wll be completed soon.
At the same time, he had a word of caution.
“We lost 2004 elections because we had become over confident. This Lok Sabha elections, we have to ensure that we do not become over confident and fight the elections with only with confidence,” the former Deputy Prime Minister said.
He praised Modi for his track record in governance in Gujarat as well as the crowds his rallies attract.
“There are many achievements of Gujarat for which everybody including its Chief Minister Narendra Modi can be proud of. But the way the water of Narmada was brought to Sabarmati river, it (achievement) was given such a spectacular dimension… I want to congratulate Modi for that,” Advani said.
Advani said he had taken a ride by a water launch along with Modi when the linking (of rivers) was done and the entire experience was such as if one was taking a ride in Paris or some other European city where river flows through the middle of the city.
His praise for Modi assumes significance as he had initially strongly opposed Modi’s anointment as PM candidate.
“During the Vidhan Sabha elections, Mizoram was like a consolation prize for them (Congress). But take just Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, we secured more than 80 per cent of the seats. That is an all-time record,” Advani said.
“In all the four States combined, Congress got only 126 seats, which means what we have got in just two States, they have got less than that in all. That is why they (Congress) are demoralised,” he added.
He said that despite Congress and its allies creating doubt regarding BJP amongst the minorities, the latter had heavily supported the party in states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“Mistrust has been built by the Congress and its allies for us (BJP) amongst Muslims; but this time, in MP and Rajasthan, Muslims have greatly supported us and not only them, but also people from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. I want to address this mistrust as well,” he said.
He said that Muslims had seen how for many years, they have been used for vote-bank politics.
“As far as our party is concerned, we believe in integral humanism. We do not discriminate between humans on the basis of caste, creed, religion, language.
“We say that when it comes to the question of governance, development and removing poverty — majority and minority become irrelevant… Those people discriminate between majority and minority who are interested in the votes. We want everybody’s benefit,” Advani added.
Meanwhile, BJP today said that Congress shied away from naming Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate as it is foreseeing defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
It was also unsparing in its criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging his ministers “looted” the country while he blamed constitutional watchdogs like CWG and CVC for the slump in the economy.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj accused the Prime Minister of speaking “untruth”, in an apparent reference to his remarks that bureaucrats were hesitant to take decisions fearing CVC and CAG.
She mocked the claim of Congress that it was not its tradition of naming the PM candidate and said a tradition is something which party leaders and workers are aware of, not something which they are reminded of at the last moment.
“This is the same drama which we had seen during the time of ‘inner voice’,” she said in a reference to Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s decision to not become the PM after her party’s victory in 2004 polls and instead appointing Manmohan Singh for the top job.
“This is a party which hears the voice of conscience a bit too late and realises its tradition a bit too late. The truth is that Congress is scared and refused to declare its leader fearing defeat. The battle will be between our visible leader and their invisible leader,” she said in a hard-hitting speech on the last day of two-day BJP National Executive meeting.
Swaraj also praised BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi, saying he has shown strength of character during the last 12 years as he fought false charges, which had accused him of collusion in 2002 Gujarat riots, and came out triumphant.
Asking whether the PM did not feel a “tinge of hesitation” when he said last year on the completion of four years of UPA-II that the economy he had inherited was a glass only half-full, she said the NDA government had left behind an economy growing at a robust 8.4 per cent which slowed down to 4.5 per cent under him.
“We had given you a full glass but you have done the job of emptying it,” she said. (PTI)

Avtar Bhat

NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Maintaining that his Party is fully seized of with the problems of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today said that the community will only get justice fully when it is rehabilitated in its motherland Kashmir with honour and dignity.
Addressing a Kashmiri Pandit delegation at the sidelights of Party’s three day National Executive meeting here today, Mr Modi reiterated the BJP’s commitment towards this cause. He said the return and rehabilitation of Pandits with honour and dignity in their motherland is on top of BJP’s agenda as they have suffered a lot due to turmoil and mass exodus from Valley.
Adorned in a traditional Kashmiri Pheran and turban which the delegation gifted him on the occasion, the BJP leader said that it is our duty to take you back to your native land for which you crave for decades together as motherland can’t be discriminative against its children.
While sharing the pain and agony of the community on 25th Holocaust Day, Mr Modi said the nation was stabbed in back when the country was divided in 1947 on communal lines. “Though it was a cherished goal that independent India will live in peace and tranquility but 24 years back the nation was again stabbed on this fateful day in 1990 when the sons of soil were forced to flee from their homes and hearths in Valley. This (January 19) is a day of pain and agony for you,” he told the delegation.
He, however, reiterated that BJP is committed to their honorable return and recalled the sacrifices of Praja Parishad Movement led by veteran Jan Sangh leader Pt. Prem Nath Dogra. He said founder president of Jana Sangh Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee also laid down his life for national cause in Kashmir in 1953.
Reiterating that India believes in Sarava Panth Sambav, Mr Modi said that during the golden era of India when the nation was very strong it never attacked any nation to uproot its population or destroy its traditions and culture.
“But it is unfortunate that our traditions and culture was attacked,” he said, adding  that partition of 1947 and January 1990 tells a worst tale of it”.
He said the mass exodus of Pandits from Valley is not the attack on the sons of soil only but attack on an ancient civilization and culture of the country.
He however lauded the Pandits that despite suffering such a pain and agony over these years they always gave nationalism and patriotism a preference over every thing and it was the national spirit of the community that it bestowed honour to  him today.
Later on tweet Mr Modi said  “no words will ever explain the extent of sufferings KPs experienced. Justice towards the community remains our firm commitment”, he added.
The KP delegation was led by veteran journalist and a community think tank Dr K N Pandita. The various KP organisations which were the part of delegation included Jammu Kashmir Nationalist Movement (JKNM), JK Vichar Manch,  All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), Kashmiri Hindu Conference (KHC),  Roots in Kashmir (RIK), Jammu, etc.
While submitting the memorandum, Dr Pandita said that over the years both Central and State Governments failed to redress the genuine problems of exiled Pandits. He demanded restitution of entire displaced Pandit community at a concentrated place in Kashmir Valley ensuring their non refoulement.
Dr Pandita also showed grave concern over delay in passage of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill by J&K Government, enrolment of KPs as voters by streamlining the procedures, rehabilitation of displaced unemployed and overaged youth etc.
The delegation also presented  four books  to Mr Modi. Among them two books were highlighting the plight of KPs right from 1947 and invasion of Pak raiders while other two books were titled Kashmiri Pandit Bujstey Charag and Aborigines of Kashmir were also presented to him.

Neeraj Rohmetra

JAMMU, Jan 19:  Reiterating their resolve of not having any pre-poll alliance with National Conference (NC), the top brass of the Congress Party yesterday apprised All India Congress Committee (AICC) Vice-President, Rahul Gandhi of their reservations against having any pre-poll understanding with their coalition partner as they feel it is likely to affect their poll prospects in the State.
The Congress leaders have unanimously opposed the decision of having any pre-poll alliance with NC and publically aired their views against any understanding in view of the political implication of such a decision in forthcoming elections.
The State Congress leaders, one after another expressed reservations about any alliance, when the AICC Vice-President after his anointment as the Campaign Chief for the Congress party for 2014 Lok Sabha elections was holding one-to-one interaction with delegations from respective States. Besides, Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, their colleagues from few other States including J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana were also present at the meeting on that occasion.
Interestingly, sources said, the occasion also witnessed a squabble between Rahul Gandhi and a sitting Member of Parliament (MP) from the border State. The senior leader, while emphatically favouring pre-poll alliance stated that the party should have an understanding either with NC or even Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Earlier, sources said several Congress leaders from Jammu and even Kashmir region categorically stated that the rank and file of the party was against any understanding. “National Conference had not taken Congress on board, while taking several important decisions in the State. The latest instance has been on the incorporation of 73rd and 74th Amendments in the State Panchayati Raj Act, where the State Government had repeatedly failed to implement the decision on one pretext or the other”, the leader alleged. Even, Congress general secretary and in charge JK Affairs, Ambika Soni in September, last year had given two month deadline to State Government for inclusion of these Amendments.
The leaders also told Rahul Gandhi that several important decisions taken by the Congress Ministers were scuttled by the NC leadership at different levels. “On several occasions, the Congress leadership of the State was not taken into confidence despite the formation of a Coordination Committee”, the leaders alleged.
The leaders also commented that the anti-incumbency was heavily weighing against National Conference and Congress was also likely to suffer in case of having any truck with them before elections.
Sources remarked that a piquant situation was created in the on-going interaction, when the Congress leader and sitting MP of Congress Party did some tough talk with the Vice-President, Rahul Gandhi in full public view.
Favouring a pre-poll alliance, the Congress MP while addressing his Vice-President said, “I have been an MP for 10 years and ironically, I have met you only three times. You aren’t reachable to your own partymen and most of the leaders are reluctant to interact with you out of fear”.
Stunned at the views expressed by MP in public view, Rahul Gandhi retorted saying, “you sit very close to me in the Parliament and there is no such lack of interaction. We have met so many times and I am always willing to hold parleys with you”.
Earlier, Congress leader from Anantnag, Mr Inayat while appreciating the policies of Congress party said, “landmark policies like NREGA, Food Security Bill  and RTI Act had been initiated by the Congress led UPA Government at the Centre”.
“As suggested by our chief, Sonia Gandhi mandate should be only given to people with clean image and only those, who are connected at the grass-root level”, he added.
Congress MLA and President of Mahila Wing, Indu Pawar while addressing the party workers demanded that more representation be given to women in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State.
Sources said after the interaction got over, the Congress MP had also heated exchange of arguments with JKPCC (I) chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz.
“There is need for an alliance, either with NC or PDP and if Congress Party doesn’t forge an understanding in the forthcoming Parliamentary polls, I wouldn’t contest elections from my constituency even if offered a mandate”, threatened the MP.
It is pertinent to mention here that senior leader from the State including Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and JKPCC (I) chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz have made separate announcements of going alone in the forthcoming Parliamentary and Assembly elections.