Politics

Toilet before Temples: Will BJP, VHP and RSS protest against Narendra Modi too, asks Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi, Oct 03 (ANI): After Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's comment that toilets should be built before temples in India, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh questioned BJP's 'double standards' and asked if BJP, VHP and RSS will protest against Modi as well like they did when he himself gave the same statement earlier. He also deemed the BJP prime ministerial candidate as a person who changes his character every day and that if he had got enlightened before, the incidents like 2002 riots, etc. could have been averted.

Oct 3, 2013

Modi's remark on temple and toilets draws flak

New Delhi, Oct 03 (ANI): Within a month of anointment as prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Narendra Modi's remark "Toilets first, Temples later" drew flak and criticism from political leaders. Speaking at a function organized in New Delhi for the youth, Modi said on Wednesday that millions of rupees were spent on temples in the villages, but there are no toilets there. Meanwhile, the comment garnered a lot of criticism and attracted public attention.

Oct 3, 2013

Defence Experts condemns Kashmir infiltration by Pakistan

New Delhi/ Chandigarh/ /Kolkata, Oct 03 (ANI): After a top army general said 30 to 40 heavily armed fighters have crossed into Kashmir from Pakistan and are holed up for the past nine days in thick forests in the area, Indian defence experts on Thursday called for an independent army and condemned the recent incursion. Experts here said that PM Manmohan Singh should resign and that army should be given more independence; while others said that India should respond strongly against the same and that it is clear that the incursions was driven by Pakistani army.

Oct 3, 2013

Pak's infiltration in Kashmir: Opposition demands action from govt

New Delhi/ Chennai, Oct 03 (ANI): Opposition on Thursday demanded a strong response from the central government after a top army general said that 30 to 40 heavily armed fighters have infiltrated into Kashmir from Pakistan. Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh told a news conference in Srinagar that the fighters crossed the Line of Control and is holed up for the past nine days in thick forests in the area. The latest fighting was taking place as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif pledged in New York last weekend to work towards strengthening a 10-year-old ceasefire that has frayed in recent months.

Oct 3, 2013

Irresponsible way of handling Telangana issue, has led to division of people: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 03 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Congress-led central government for delaying the formation of a separate Telangana state, which has led to protests from people in the southern region, opposing the bifurcation. The decision to break up Andhra Pradesh and establish Telangana comes ahead of elections next year and critics say the ruling party is seeking to shore up its political fortunes after dragging its feet over the explosive issue for four decades. BJP Spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said that the Congress was dividing people in the region, rather than peacefully separating the state.

Oct 3, 2013

Law took its course to a logical end: CPI on Lalu's sentencing

New Delhi, Oct 3 (ANI): After a CBI court in Ranchi sentenced former Bihar Chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to 5 years' imprisonment in a 17-year-old fodder scam case, the CPI said that finally law has taken its course to a logical end. CPI Leader D Raja said that the verdict will send a strong message to the political fraternity.

Oct 3, 2013

No leadership crisis within the party: RJD on Lalu's sentencing

New Delhi, Oct 03 (ANI): Even as former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has been sentenced to jail for five years, his party Rashtriya Janata Dal's members have said that he's still their leader and there is no leadership crisis within the party Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that their party will appeal in higher court.The CBI court in Ranchi on Thursday sentenced former bihar Chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad yadav to 5 years' imprisonment in a 17-year-old fodder scam case. He has been slapped with a fine of Rs 25 lakh.

Oct 3, 2013

Lalu Yadav reaped what he sowed: BJP on Fodder Scam verdict

Patna, Oct 03 (ANI): After a CBI court in Ranchi sentenced former Bihar Chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to 5 years' imprisonment in a 17-year-old fodder scam case, the BJP on Thursday said that the RJD chief has reaped what he sowed. Reacting cautiously BJP leader Giriraj Singh stated transparency in governance should prevail. He further cautioned Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and said that he should also stop walking on the same path of corruption.

Oct 3, 2013

Lalu's sentencing proves CBI works independently: Congress

New Delhi, Oct 3 (ANI): After a CBI court in Ranchi sentenced former Bihar Chief minister and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to 5 years' imprisonment in a 17-year-old fodder scam case, the Congress stated that the law has taken its own course. Congress leader Rashid Alvi also stated that the RJD Chief's sentencing proves that CBI works independently and not under pressure from the government.

Oct 3, 2013

Fodder Scam: RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav Gets 5-Year Jail Term; Latest Reactions

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was convicted in a 17-year-old fodder scam case, has been sentenced to five years in jail by a special CBI court on Thursday. The court also slapped a fine of ₹26 lakh on the former Bihar Chief Minister.

Oct 3, 2013

Rahul could have waited and talked to PM about Ordinance: Vinay Katiyar

New Delhi, Oct 03 (ANI): Talking about the Ordinance on the convicted politicians and the Congress's way of handling the same, BJP Vice President Vinay Katiyar said that Rahul Gandhi should have waited for the PM to return from his foreign trip and talked to him over the issue, rather than doing what he did. He further said that Rahul tried to show that he is superior than PM and anybody else by doing this.

Oct 3, 2013

Sabir Ali on suspended JD (U) MPs

New Delhi, Oct 3 (ANI): Even as JD (U) suspended two Lok Sabha MPs, Jai Narayan Nishad and Purnmasi Ram, from the party for six years on charge of engaging in anti-party activities, JD (U) leader Sabir Ali said that anti-party activities by anyone will not be tolerated by party. Both the leaders were for some time making statements against party leaders, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The letter of suspension issued by the party says that Yadav suspended both the MPs using the power vested in him under section 20 of the party constitution. Ram had yesterday made certain remarks against Nitish Kumar in connection with the fodder scam.

Oct 3, 2013

Congress has Namonitis, they look for problems which are not even issues: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 03 (ANI): After the Congress slammed the BJP for its double standards for backing Narendra Modi who said that toilets should be made first and then temples, the BJP said that the Congress has a habit of creating an issue out of no issue. The Congress had remarked that when a similar comment on toilets was made by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh then BJP demanded Ramesh's apology and now they are backing Modi on same statement which shows BJP's double standards

Oct 3, 2013

Sushma Swaraj after All Party Meeting

Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on Thursday stated that apart from the smooth functioning of Parliament, issues like the recent judgements in the context of reservation in AIIMS faculty, amendment in Representation of People Act, Disqualification of lawmakers and Judicial Commission were discussed during the all party meeting.

Oct 3, 2013

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh backs Lalu, cries conspiracy over Ordinance withdrawal

New Delhi, Oct 3 (ANI): Senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Thursday alleged that the UPA's decision to withdraw the ordinance on convicted politicians is a conspiracy by the Congress, BJP and Janata Dal (United) to ensure that Lalu Prasad Yadav is framed in the fodder scam case. Singh, who was talking to media in New Delhi ahead of Lalu's sentencing in a fodder scam case, said all the political outfits had earlier gave their opinion to reject the Supreme Court's order of July 10. Singh also used the occasion to target Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. The UPA Government on Wednesday decided to withdraw the controversial Ordinance that protects convicted parliamentarians.

Oct 3, 2013