UNNAO, (UP), Jan 9:  Ruling out any future alliance with NDA, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today said his party was part of the dispensation when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was at the helm, but not now.

“Even if the BJP-led NDA comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls, National Conference will not be a part of it,” the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy told reporters here.

When asked that he was in the NDA government last time, he said that “the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was different…I can go with that person but not this,” though he did not name whom he referred to as “this” person.

Referring to AAP leader Prashant Bhushan’s statement on army deployment in Kashmir, Abdullah said he did not have full knowledge about Kashmir.

The Union minister said that army deployment in Kashmir was necessary as it faced a threat from China and al-Qaida although he favoured withdrawal of army from areas where it is not required. (AGENCIES)

GUWAHATI:  The BJP today said repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur should be done through proper dialogue and keeping in mind the national security.

“We all know that terrorist activities are going on in J&K. They come and kill people. The armed forces go to those places to protect the people. Same is the case in Manipur,” BJP’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

When asked about the BJP’s stand regarding repeal of the AFSPA, he did not give a direct answer.

“For repealing the Act, there is a need to talk with the people. We have to consider it through dialogue keeping in mind the national security,” Prasad said.

The Act has been enforced in Manipur for more than two decades, being extended annually. In November 2013, the AFSPA was extended for another year in insurgency-hit Manipur, barring seven Assembly constituencies within Imphal Municipal area.

Social activist Irom Chanu Sharmila has been on fast unto death for more than 13 years demanding repeal of the Act after killing of 10 civilians by Assam Rifles near Imphal airport on November 2, 2000. (AGENCIES)

JAMMU: Facing flak from ally Congress over its alleged failure to fully empower Panchayat Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today promised to soon make it a reality.

“A three-tier and fully empowered Panchayat system ruling the roost in the state will also be a reality. The fully empowered Panchayat System in the state is my goal,” he said.

Omar was speaking to a group of Sarpanches and Panches who called on him here today to discuss issues related to strengthening of Panchayat and expanding their orbit of activities.

The Chief Minister described establishment of Panchayat Raj by enacting 73rd and 74th amendments of Central PRI Act in Jammu and Kashmir as a historic measure to strengthen democratic institutions from grassroot level and empower people to draw blueprints of development.

The Congress as well as Opposition parties besides Panchayat members were critical of Omar Abdullah government for its alleged failure to empower Panchayat Raj system in the state which would give decision making and financial powers to Panchayats.

Even Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has been demanding implementation of these acts in Jammu and Kashmir and its Youth Congress members have held anti-government and anti-Omar protests in the past.

“My government rejuvenated Panchayats in the State by holding elections after a gap of over 30 years even though speculations and suspicions were floated by many in this regard when we decided to hold Panchayat polls. We went ahead and today the Panchayat Raj in the State is a reality,” he said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : The NIA probe into the circumstances leading to the arrest of alleged Hizbul Mujahideen militant Liaqat Shah is still on, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said today.
Without elaborating further on the case, Shinde said any decision on the role of officials of Delhi Police or security agencies in the matter could only be taken once the probe was completed.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the circumstances leading to the arrest of Shah, who was nabbed while returning from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last year as per the surrender policy of Jammu and Kashmir Government.
Shah was arrested on March 20, 2013, by Delhi Police while crossing the Indo-Nepal border in Gorakhpur with his family.
While his family proceeded on to Kashmir, Shah was brought to Delhi and arrested on charges of plotting terror strikes in Delhi before Holi, accusations which he has denied.
His arrest led to a bitter exchange of words between J-K Police and Delhi Police. The incident also saw an intervention by J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who demanded an NIA probe into the matter.
Shah had received bail on May 17 of last year from a Delhi court.
Talking about the security situation in J-K, Shinde said that Indian forces had killed more infiltrators this winter as compared to the last.
“We have alerted local police and central paramilitary forces in this regard,” he said, adding that the infiltration this winter in the area had come down as compared to the last.
Replying to a separate question during the minister’s monthly press conference here, Home Secretary Anil Goswami said that a “detailed investigation” was underway into the role of senior Delhi Police officers during the December 16, 2012, gangrape case in Delhi.
“We will soon be giving a report in this regard to the Home Minister,” Goswami said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : The Government will push its six anti-graft framework bills during the short Parliament session next month fulfilling the agenda set by Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing his monthly press conference here today, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the bills would be pushed when Parliament meets next month to pass vote on account.
“Rahuljee Gandhi”, as Shinde referred to the Congress Vice President, “has been working for passage of these bills and it was only to fulfill the promises made to the people rather than scoring any political points”.
He said the decision was taken at the Core Group meeting of the Congress party held earlier in the day.
The bills likely to be pushed during the session are the Public Procurement Bill, the Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment) Bill, the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organisations Bill, Electronic Delivery of Services Bill, The Right of Citizens for Time-bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill and the Whistleblowers Protection Bill.
To a question as to whom did Congress find as bigger challenge — Narendra Modi or Arvind Kejriwal, Shinde said “none” and elaborated further that Congress had weathered many storms during its 128-year-long history.
“We were ruled out of power in 2004 as we had just faced defeat in six states. However, we came to power and continue till date,” he said and also referred to the anti-Congress wave of 1977 which lasted only three years till Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980.
Asked whether the AICC session on January 17 was to announce Rahul as Prime Ministerial candidate, Shinde said the party is of the view that he is a natural choice for the post. “We have always been saying this that we need him and so does the country,” he said.
The Home Minister said he was ready to do any work that his party would assign him. “I was asked to be the Chief Minister, Governor, party worker and now a Home Minister. I can do any work which my party feels I am capable of,” he said while answering a question on whether he was being shifted to the organisation. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI : Buoyed by its spectacular success in Delhi Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party today kicked off a nation-wide membership drive with an aim of including at least one crore members by January 26 to strengthen the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said under the ‘Main bhi aam aadmi’ campaign, any citizen can enroll as member of the party without paying any fee.
“Our target is to include one crore members in the party by January 26. But the membership drive will continue after that as well,” he said addressing a press conference.
He said the party had decided to waive off the Rs 10 membership fee as it was found out that many people could not afford it. “The decision to waive off the membership fee was taken at the national executive meeting last week,” he said.
Party leader Gopal Rai, who has been tasked to oversee the special membership drive, said over 3 lakh people have registered online as party members after the Delhi elections.
“This is perhaps the first time in the history of India that membership to a party is being opened to public like this. This is our biggest country-wide drive to connect with people before the Lok Sabha polls,” Rai told reporters.
“Success of this campaign is one of our major strategies before the Lok Sabha polls,” he said.
Rai said the whole campaign will check the “ground reality” of the party’s prospects in the Lok Sabha polls to a certain level.
“A lot will depend on this campaign. We will get to know how much response is coming and from which areas,” he said.
Kejriwal said any citizen can give a missed call on mobile number 07798220033 to enroll as a party member. They can also send SMS of their name, STD code and Vidhan Sabha name after which they will get their membership number.
The citizens will also have an option of filling an online form on the Aam Aadmi Party website aamaadmiparty.Org to become a member.
“Anyone can become a member of the party, but any person who will hold any post in the organisation or is chosen as a party candidate for elections will be screened,” Kejriwal said.
He said AAP volunteers will also conduct door-to-door visits as part of the ‘Main bhi aam aadmi’ campaign.
“Those who do not have mobile phones have to use their voter identification number and register at our website after January 17,” Rai said.
He said one mobile number holder can only have one membership.
Rai said all AAP members are being urged to bring in as many people as possible into the party fold. (AGENCIES)