Claiming that the pro-poor programmes of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were revolutionary and labelling the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) “anti-poor,” All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged voters to give the UPA another term to further strengthen the programmes it had initiated.
Addressing four election rallies during a day of electioneering in Assam, he said India cannot shine until even one person in the country remained poor.
Against slogans
Mr. Gandhi said that during the previous Lok Sabha elections the NDA had claimed that India was shining: but the people told them, India was not. “The Congress never raises such slogans. The Congress believes India cannot shine till there was even one poor person in the country,” he said.
Accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita, Mr. Gandhi addressed election rallies in Lakhimpur, Kaliabor, Mangaldai and Dhubri Lok Sabha constituencies.
Benefits for the poor
He claimed that it was only during Congress rule that the benefits of welfare and development schemes reached the poor. He claimed that wherever the Congress was in power their benefits reached the poor. But in States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, funds sanctioned by the Centre did not reach the common people, he alleged.
He said the non-UPA parties were not bothered about the poor. They think they can leave the poor behind to make India run fast. But during their time, the growth rate was just about 5 per cent. During UPA rule, it went up to 9 per cent.
He highlighted the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the loan waiver for farmers and the midday meals scheme as three major pro-poor programme of the UPA. There is no similar programme bigger than the NREGA anywhere in the world, he said. Referring to the benefits of the Rs. 70,000-crore loan waiver scheme for the farmers, Mr. Gandhi alleged that while in power the NDA had forgotten the farmers. The midday meal programme encouraged poor parents to send their children to school, he added.
Pot shot
The young Congress leader took a pot shot at the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, L.K. Advani, and accused him of “surrendering” before the terrorists during the Kandhahar hijacking episode.
“They call Dr. Manmohan Singh a weak Prime Minister. But during NDA rule the Home Minister was not even aware that the External Affairs Minister was releasing terrorists for the release of hostages. What kind of Home Minister he was when he did not even know what his Cabinet Minister was doing?” asked Mr. Gandhi.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Surveillance satellite put in orbit by PSLV
In a flawless mission, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C12) on Monday put in orbit Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2), a surveillance satellite, which could keep a watch on the country’s borders.
This is the first time the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is putting in orbit a RISAT in the micro-wave band. It can take images of the earth day and night, see through clouds and identify objects on the ground.
The 300-kg RISAT-2 has been procured from Israel. Anusat, built by Anna University, Chennai, was also put in orbit by the PSLV-C12.
It is an experimental communication satellite meant for storing and relaying information.
Asked whether the RISAT-2’s synthetic aperture radar operating in the X-band meant that it would be used for defence applications, ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said, “There is nothing like a spy satellite in our agenda. We have only earth observation, communication and scientific satellites.”
The RISAT-2 could precisely look at water bodies and vegetation. Its images would have wide ramifications in managing disasters such as cyclones, floods and landslips.
It would also be “a powerful tool” in estimating the paddy acreage.
However, informed sources said the RISAT-2 would be used for surveillance purposes and its images would be used for identifying arms caches and bunkers.
This is the first time the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is putting in orbit a RISAT in the micro-wave band. It can take images of the earth day and night, see through clouds and identify objects on the ground.
The 300-kg RISAT-2 has been procured from Israel. Anusat, built by Anna University, Chennai, was also put in orbit by the PSLV-C12.
It is an experimental communication satellite meant for storing and relaying information.
Asked whether the RISAT-2’s synthetic aperture radar operating in the X-band meant that it would be used for defence applications, ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said, “There is nothing like a spy satellite in our agenda. We have only earth observation, communication and scientific satellites.”
The RISAT-2 could precisely look at water bodies and vegetation. Its images would have wide ramifications in managing disasters such as cyclones, floods and landslips.
It would also be “a powerful tool” in estimating the paddy acreage.
However, informed sources said the RISAT-2 would be used for surveillance purposes and its images would be used for identifying arms caches and bunkers.
IPL trails Indian Poll League
When Home Minister P.Chidambaram announced on March 23 that elections were more important than cricket, the 64-year-old Congress leader could have been speaking for television audiences. At least that is what viewership figures for the first IPL weekend (over April 18 and 19) suggest.
Data released by viewership rating companies indicates more people watched the developments in the political arena than cricket on the first two days of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Even as IPL viewership in season two has dropped, elections continue to be a hit. IPL this weekend got 3.5 television rating points. The evening political news did better with 3.6, data from Audience Measurement and Analytics (aMAP) of the six metros showed. In 2008, 70 lakh people watched T20 matches on the first two days — compared to 56 lakh this year.
According to P.N. Vasanti of the Centre for Media Studies, sports dominated politics in TV and print media through 2008. “But after the announcement of elections, politics has managed more space.”
Data released by viewership rating companies indicates more people watched the developments in the political arena than cricket on the first two days of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Even as IPL viewership in season two has dropped, elections continue to be a hit. IPL this weekend got 3.5 television rating points. The evening political news did better with 3.6, data from Audience Measurement and Analytics (aMAP) of the six metros showed. In 2008, 70 lakh people watched T20 matches on the first two days — compared to 56 lakh this year.
According to P.N. Vasanti of the Centre for Media Studies, sports dominated politics in TV and print media through 2008. “But after the announcement of elections, politics has managed more space.”
Lankans get ready for final offensive
A surge of more than 35,000 displaced Tamil civilians broke out of the LTTE-dominated `no fire zone’ (NFZ) on Monday to government camps braving bullets and a spate of suicide attacks by the rebels.
The suicide attacks on the fleeing civilians claimed at least 17 lives and injured more than 200.
Seizing the movement, the government again gave a deadline to LTTE chief V Prabhakaran and the remaining cadres to surrender within 12 noon on Tuesday. Similar deadlines earlier got no response from the Tamil Tigers.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the “complete defeat” of the LTTE was now imminent. “The (aerial) footage clearly shows that the people are defying the rebels and escaping. They are running to safety,” Rajapaksa told news agencies.
“We have indications where Prabhakaran and the rest of the leaders. We are closing in,” defence ministry spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella, told HT.
More than 30,000, according to government estimates, remain in the NFZ located in Mullaitivu. The rapid developments and government statements of the day came in the background of a chilling warning from the LTTE. “The LTTE and the fight for our freedom will continue. The methods may vary but Sri Lanka will never be able to live in peace as it imagines a military victory will bring,” the rebel group said in a statement. It added: “The LTTE would like to emphasise that it is always ready to explore peaceful means to resolve the conflict.” Earlier, Lankan army troops had to be redeployed to control the flood of men, women and children who suddenly broke out of the NFZ. The floodgates opened after SLA troop took control of a causeway over a lagoon leading to the NFZ from the west. But even as thousands of refugees ran to cross the shallow lagoon, they came under attack – according to the military — from the cornered LTTE cadres left behind.
Three women suicide bombers exploded themselves in the middle of screaming civilians who had jumped into the lagoon to dodge gun fire. The death count of 17 was likely to rise.
The suicide attacks on the fleeing civilians claimed at least 17 lives and injured more than 200.
Seizing the movement, the government again gave a deadline to LTTE chief V Prabhakaran and the remaining cadres to surrender within 12 noon on Tuesday. Similar deadlines earlier got no response from the Tamil Tigers.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the “complete defeat” of the LTTE was now imminent. “The (aerial) footage clearly shows that the people are defying the rebels and escaping. They are running to safety,” Rajapaksa told news agencies.
“We have indications where Prabhakaran and the rest of the leaders. We are closing in,” defence ministry spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella, told HT.
More than 30,000, according to government estimates, remain in the NFZ located in Mullaitivu. The rapid developments and government statements of the day came in the background of a chilling warning from the LTTE. “The LTTE and the fight for our freedom will continue. The methods may vary but Sri Lanka will never be able to live in peace as it imagines a military victory will bring,” the rebel group said in a statement. It added: “The LTTE would like to emphasise that it is always ready to explore peaceful means to resolve the conflict.” Earlier, Lankan army troops had to be redeployed to control the flood of men, women and children who suddenly broke out of the NFZ. The floodgates opened after SLA troop took control of a causeway over a lagoon leading to the NFZ from the west. But even as thousands of refugees ran to cross the shallow lagoon, they came under attack – according to the military — from the cornered LTTE cadres left behind.
Three women suicide bombers exploded themselves in the middle of screaming civilians who had jumped into the lagoon to dodge gun fire. The death count of 17 was likely to rise.
If voted to power, BJP will honour nuke deal with US: Advani
In a major shift of stand, BJP’s prime minister candidate L K Advani has said for the first time that his party will not abrogate the civilian nuclear deal with the US if it is voted to power.
In an exclusive interview with The Hindustan Times in the course of his election tour, the 81-year-old leader said, “We realise it’s not easy to do so. After all it’s an international agreement, and one signed between two countries and their governments. We will have to look into all aspects.”
He conceded that his party had vowed to turn the clock on the deal during the heat of the controversy in July last year when the Manmohan government was in trouble in Parliament after the Left withdrew support. Senior BJP leaders including Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie had called for cancellation of the deal.
“But once when we are in the government,” Advani said, “we will obviously get to know more about the deal and decide accordingly on the basis of all available facts. We are definitely against India being subjected to a discriminatory non-proliferation regime.”
His government, if voted in, will undertake a complete review of all aspects of the deal to protect India’s strategic interests. “We will never compromise on our country’s interests. But I cannot say today that we will just cancel the deal.”
Defending the BJP’s changing view, Advani said, “one must remember that it was the BJP (as the Jan Sangh) that was first to demand that India must have a nuclear deterrent way back in 1964 after China exploded a device.”
He said, “In 1998, the BJP manifesto had promised to re-evaluate the country’s nuclear policy and exercise the option to induct nuclear weapons. We took office on March 19 of that year and we conducted Pokhran II on May 11 — in 39 days.”
Advani’s latest position on the issue underscores the BJP’s worry — right from the start of the controversy — that it could lose the support of the middle-class that favours close ties with the US.
The BJP’s decision to live with the deal had been in the making after the US Congress put its seal of approval following the IAEA’s waiver for India so that the Nuclear Supplier Group could do commercial nuclear business with the country.
In fact, in 2007, Advani tried to fine-tune the party’s stand by stating that the problem was the Hyde Act (passed by the US Congress, which barred India from contesting any nuclear tests further) and not the 123 pact that laid down terms of civilian nuclear cooperation. But he had to retract in the face of disagreement within the party.
On the BJP’s position on the nuclear deal, Advani said the party would honour India’s commitments to prevent proliferation. But it will pursue an independent nuclear policy.
The BJP still favoured an amendment to the Constitution to make it mandatory for the government to seek Parliament’s approval/ratification by two-thirds majority before signing any bilateral or multilateral agreement that impacts India’s strategic programmes, territorial integrity and economic interest. Advani also held that the BJP always favoured “excellent ties” with the US and “the six years we were in office are a testimony to the closeness that developed between the two countries.”
In an exclusive interview with The Hindustan Times in the course of his election tour, the 81-year-old leader said, “We realise it’s not easy to do so. After all it’s an international agreement, and one signed between two countries and their governments. We will have to look into all aspects.”
He conceded that his party had vowed to turn the clock on the deal during the heat of the controversy in July last year when the Manmohan government was in trouble in Parliament after the Left withdrew support. Senior BJP leaders including Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie had called for cancellation of the deal.
“But once when we are in the government,” Advani said, “we will obviously get to know more about the deal and decide accordingly on the basis of all available facts. We are definitely against India being subjected to a discriminatory non-proliferation regime.”
His government, if voted in, will undertake a complete review of all aspects of the deal to protect India’s strategic interests. “We will never compromise on our country’s interests. But I cannot say today that we will just cancel the deal.”
Defending the BJP’s changing view, Advani said, “one must remember that it was the BJP (as the Jan Sangh) that was first to demand that India must have a nuclear deterrent way back in 1964 after China exploded a device.”
He said, “In 1998, the BJP manifesto had promised to re-evaluate the country’s nuclear policy and exercise the option to induct nuclear weapons. We took office on March 19 of that year and we conducted Pokhran II on May 11 — in 39 days.”
Advani’s latest position on the issue underscores the BJP’s worry — right from the start of the controversy — that it could lose the support of the middle-class that favours close ties with the US.
The BJP’s decision to live with the deal had been in the making after the US Congress put its seal of approval following the IAEA’s waiver for India so that the Nuclear Supplier Group could do commercial nuclear business with the country.
In fact, in 2007, Advani tried to fine-tune the party’s stand by stating that the problem was the Hyde Act (passed by the US Congress, which barred India from contesting any nuclear tests further) and not the 123 pact that laid down terms of civilian nuclear cooperation. But he had to retract in the face of disagreement within the party.
On the BJP’s position on the nuclear deal, Advani said the party would honour India’s commitments to prevent proliferation. But it will pursue an independent nuclear policy.
The BJP still favoured an amendment to the Constitution to make it mandatory for the government to seek Parliament’s approval/ratification by two-thirds majority before signing any bilateral or multilateral agreement that impacts India’s strategic programmes, territorial integrity and economic interest. Advani also held that the BJP always favoured “excellent ties” with the US and “the six years we were in office are a testimony to the closeness that developed between the two countries.”
Sunday, April 19, 2009
PM, Advani, Tata, Ambanis among India's most powerful
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Opposition leader L K Advani, business tycoons Mukesh and Anil Ambani, corporate czar Ratan Tata and star cricketer Sachin Tendulkar have been named among the 50 most powerful people in India by American magazine BusinessWeek.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, music maestro A R Rahman, BSP chief Mayawati, Olympics gold medalist Abhinav Bindra and Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Chairman C B Bhave also feature in the league of 50.
The magazine pointed out that the list of 'India's 50 Most Powerful People 2009' reflects the impact of the Satyam scandal and the global economic crisis.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat, Mahindra and Mahindra's Managing Director Anand Mahindra, steel czar Lakshmi Mittal, telecom tycoon Sunil Mittal, Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi and Indian Space Research Organisation's Chairman G Madhavan Nair and bankers -- K V Kamath and Deepak Parekh also feature in the list.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, music maestro A R Rahman, BSP chief Mayawati, Olympics gold medalist Abhinav Bindra and Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Chairman C B Bhave also feature in the league of 50.
The magazine pointed out that the list of 'India's 50 Most Powerful People 2009' reflects the impact of the Satyam scandal and the global economic crisis.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat, Mahindra and Mahindra's Managing Director Anand Mahindra, steel czar Lakshmi Mittal, telecom tycoon Sunil Mittal, Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi and Indian Space Research Organisation's Chairman G Madhavan Nair and bankers -- K V Kamath and Deepak Parekh also feature in the list.
Kandahar episode exposed NDA’s weakness: Rahul
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi termed as ‘dismal’ the previous NDA Government's record in handling terrorism and charged that its ‘weakness was exposed’ during the Kandahar episode when "the terrorists responsible for the recent Mumbai attacks were let off".
"The people who are talking about terrorism themselves bowed before terrorists and released two of their associates, who were later responsible for the terror attacks in Mumbai," Rahul said, addressing an election rally in the temple town.
In contrast, UPA Government acted decisively in tackling the Mumbai attacks and exerted intense diplomatic pressure on Pakistan putting onus on that country for the terror mechanism operating from its soil, he claimed.
The Congress leader, who was here to canvass votes for Union Power Minister and party's candidate from Solapur Lok Sabha constituency Sushil Kumar Shinde, wondered as to why the Opposition was raking the issue of black money in Swiss banks now and had maintained silence over the issue in the last five years
"The people who are talking about terrorism themselves bowed before terrorists and released two of their associates, who were later responsible for the terror attacks in Mumbai," Rahul said, addressing an election rally in the temple town.
In contrast, UPA Government acted decisively in tackling the Mumbai attacks and exerted intense diplomatic pressure on Pakistan putting onus on that country for the terror mechanism operating from its soil, he claimed.
The Congress leader, who was here to canvass votes for Union Power Minister and party's candidate from Solapur Lok Sabha constituency Sushil Kumar Shinde, wondered as to why the Opposition was raking the issue of black money in Swiss banks now and had maintained silence over the issue in the last five years
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