After three phases of polling, it appears the Congress and the BJP may well be doing better than expected in the key state of Uttar Pradesh with the potential losers being the SP and the BSP.
So has Rahul Gandhi's “go it alone” policy and BJP’s Hindutva slant clicked? Ground reports suggest so. Muslims, having turned their back on the Congress after the Babri demolition, are doing a rethink after Mulayam embraced Kalyan Singh.
The good news for BJP is that Brahmins are tiring of Mayawati's social engineering which has now begun targeting the Muslims.
It was Rahul's idea to walk it alone in the crucial state despite having taken the Samajwadi support during the trust vote. But a bitter SP thinks Rahul's romance with this idea will be shortlived.
There are smiles on BJP faces, having once boasted of big names from the state, the party was groping for a foothold. Now, after three phases of polling, the Hindutva strategy, which was not overplayed except in Pilibhit, may have clicked.
And as the Congress and the BJP prepare for the last two phases, it will be Gandhi versus Gandhi as Rahul and Varun take each other on. The national parties are relying on the same family tree to reap a harvest in Uttar Pradesh.
Friday, May 1, 2009
PM assures Altaf of notice against police
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Quaid Altaf Hussain by phone assuring him of strong note against Karachi police in connection with the negative reporting conducted by police against MQM.
The telephonic talk between Prime Minister Gilani and MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain lasted for over thirty minutes.
Premier said the violence, erupted on recent days in Karachi, was brought under control by the efforts of MQM and lauded his party’s endeavors for establishment and maintenance of peace in the metropolis.
“The positive role, played by MQM to overpower recent social turmoil in Karachi, is utterly commendable”, PM Gilani remarked adding, “MQM’s reservations will be abolished thoroughly”.
MQM Quaid, on the occasion, apprised PM of it’s party’s reservations and negative reporting conducted by some police officials against MQM.
“Land and drug mafia have afflicted terror activities in Karachi”, Altaf Hussain made clear adding, “Police is holding MQM responsible for it.”
The telephonic talk between Prime Minister Gilani and MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain lasted for over thirty minutes.
Premier said the violence, erupted on recent days in Karachi, was brought under control by the efforts of MQM and lauded his party’s endeavors for establishment and maintenance of peace in the metropolis.
“The positive role, played by MQM to overpower recent social turmoil in Karachi, is utterly commendable”, PM Gilani remarked adding, “MQM’s reservations will be abolished thoroughly”.
MQM Quaid, on the occasion, apprised PM of it’s party’s reservations and negative reporting conducted by some police officials against MQM.
“Land and drug mafia have afflicted terror activities in Karachi”, Altaf Hussain made clear adding, “Police is holding MQM responsible for it.”
Obama, Zardari, Karzai to meet on Wednesday
The White House said the President Barack Obama will meet Wednesday with President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai to discuss their troubled region.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two presidents at the White House. He said Obama looks forward to discussing with them "how we can work together to enhance our cooperation in this important part of the world."
The Karzai and Zardari governments are dealing with Taliban insurgencies in regions of their countries, which share a mountainous border.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two presidents at the White House. He said Obama looks forward to discussing with them "how we can work together to enhance our cooperation in this important part of the world."
The Karzai and Zardari governments are dealing with Taliban insurgencies in regions of their countries, which share a mountainous border.
US gives Pakistan two weeks to eliminate Taliban
Virtually putting Pakistan on notice, the US has said it is looking for concrete action by the government there to destroy
the Taliban operating out of its territory in the next two weeks before determining its next course of action. This came even as Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day on Friday, killing up to 60 of militants.
Gen David Petraeus, Commander of US Central Command, has told US officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, Fox News reported. Petraeus made this assessment in talks with lawmakers and Obama administration officials this week, individuals familiar with the discussions said.
“The Pakistanis have run out of excuses” and are “finally getting serious” about combating the threat from Taliban and al-Qaida extremists, the general is reported to have told the officials.
The TV network reported that Petraeus also said wearily that “we’ve heard it all before” from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining US’ next course of action.
Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day, killing up to 60 of them. The militants were still in control of parts of Buner valley, though troops had secured the main town of Daggar on Wednesday after helicopter dropped troops behind enemy lines.
The ground troops have established links with the soldiers airlifted to Daggar, but heavy fighting was going on elsewhere in the valley, military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said.
In another district of the region, Upper Dir, over 50 militants stormed the headquarters of a paramilitary force early on Friday and kidnapped 10 of them.
NWFP authorities on Friday opened talks with Sufi Mohammad, an influential cleric of the region who has acted as a go-between with the Taliban, in a renewed effort to stop violence.
the Taliban operating out of its territory in the next two weeks before determining its next course of action. This came even as Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day on Friday, killing up to 60 of militants.
Gen David Petraeus, Commander of US Central Command, has told US officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, Fox News reported. Petraeus made this assessment in talks with lawmakers and Obama administration officials this week, individuals familiar with the discussions said.
“The Pakistanis have run out of excuses” and are “finally getting serious” about combating the threat from Taliban and al-Qaida extremists, the general is reported to have told the officials.
The TV network reported that Petraeus also said wearily that “we’ve heard it all before” from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining US’ next course of action.
Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day, killing up to 60 of them. The militants were still in control of parts of Buner valley, though troops had secured the main town of Daggar on Wednesday after helicopter dropped troops behind enemy lines.
The ground troops have established links with the soldiers airlifted to Daggar, but heavy fighting was going on elsewhere in the valley, military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said.
In another district of the region, Upper Dir, over 50 militants stormed the headquarters of a paramilitary force early on Friday and kidnapped 10 of them.
NWFP authorities on Friday opened talks with Sufi Mohammad, an influential cleric of the region who has acted as a go-between with the Taliban, in a renewed effort to stop violence.
Digital campaigning, how effective?
As voting for the General elections reaches final phases after hectic campaigning with political parties heavily relying also on digital technology, the effectiveness of this new penchant is yet to be proven, experts say.
"We can't be certain about how effective this form of campaigning has been because the political parties don't just rely on this medium. They still hold rallies and face to face campaigning, besides the digital form of campaigning," said Rajeeva Karandikar, a psephologist.
Dr Ajay Pal Singh, Psychiatrist, Max Health Care said, "In any human interaction, there are many factors like body language, eye movements that govern the final effect on the listener. So, it becomes much easier to motivate someone when you are face to face with him. The digital medium is impersonal in nature and to convince the audience is not very easy."
While messages from different parties keep on popping continuously into our phone inbox, how much we are motivated and to what extent, determines how effective the message is, according to experts.
"In case of advertisements on TV, we do not have a choice. In case of SMSes popping up every now and then, a sense of irritation is created and unintentionally you start disliking the party or individual," said Dr Singh.
"We can't be certain about how effective this form of campaigning has been because the political parties don't just rely on this medium. They still hold rallies and face to face campaigning, besides the digital form of campaigning," said Rajeeva Karandikar, a psephologist.
Dr Ajay Pal Singh, Psychiatrist, Max Health Care said, "In any human interaction, there are many factors like body language, eye movements that govern the final effect on the listener. So, it becomes much easier to motivate someone when you are face to face with him. The digital medium is impersonal in nature and to convince the audience is not very easy."
While messages from different parties keep on popping continuously into our phone inbox, how much we are motivated and to what extent, determines how effective the message is, according to experts.
"In case of advertisements on TV, we do not have a choice. In case of SMSes popping up every now and then, a sense of irritation is created and unintentionally you start disliking the party or individual," said Dr Singh.
Fast-track courts for Gujarat riot cases
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to transfer the trial of over 10 major post-Godhra riot cases out of Gujarat, but ordered the state government to form six fast-track courts to conduct day-to-day trial in these cases.
The order comes as a reprieve for Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whose alleged role in the 2002 riots is already under a scanner following the April 27 court direction to the special investigation team (SIT).
A bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat ordered protection for witnesses and appointment of prosecutors for the trial in consultation with the SIT headed by former CBI Director R.K. Raghavan.
The court vacated its November 2003 stay order and asked the state to appoint experienced lawyers as special public prosecutors. It gave liberty to the SIT to file supplementary chargesheets against the accused on the basis of its probe.
The fast-track courts will be set up in Ahmedabad, Anand, Mehsana and Sabarkantha districts and senior judicial officers would conduct the trials “with utmost expedition” as the trial had already been delayed by seven years. The court requested the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court to select the judicial officers.
It ordered measures for witness protection so that victims could depose fearlessly. These include safe passage for the witnesses to and from the trial court, security at their residence wherever necessary, and relocation to other states, if needed.
It would be open to the SIT seeking a change of public prosecutors if any deficiency was found and recommending cancellation of bail if necessary.
The order came six years after the National Human Rights Commission filed a plea seeking shifting of the trial in major post-Godhra riot cases arising out of nine incidents during the 2002 riots. These included the Gulbarg Society massacre in which around 70 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffri, were killed.
The other cases related to the Godhra train case, the Gulbarg massacre, the Naroda Gam and Naroda Patiya massacres and the Sardarpura and Ode killings.
The order comes as a reprieve for Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whose alleged role in the 2002 riots is already under a scanner following the April 27 court direction to the special investigation team (SIT).
A bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat ordered protection for witnesses and appointment of prosecutors for the trial in consultation with the SIT headed by former CBI Director R.K. Raghavan.
The court vacated its November 2003 stay order and asked the state to appoint experienced lawyers as special public prosecutors. It gave liberty to the SIT to file supplementary chargesheets against the accused on the basis of its probe.
The fast-track courts will be set up in Ahmedabad, Anand, Mehsana and Sabarkantha districts and senior judicial officers would conduct the trials “with utmost expedition” as the trial had already been delayed by seven years. The court requested the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court to select the judicial officers.
It ordered measures for witness protection so that victims could depose fearlessly. These include safe passage for the witnesses to and from the trial court, security at their residence wherever necessary, and relocation to other states, if needed.
It would be open to the SIT seeking a change of public prosecutors if any deficiency was found and recommending cancellation of bail if necessary.
The order came six years after the National Human Rights Commission filed a plea seeking shifting of the trial in major post-Godhra riot cases arising out of nine incidents during the 2002 riots. These included the Gulbarg Society massacre in which around 70 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffri, were killed.
The other cases related to the Godhra train case, the Gulbarg massacre, the Naroda Gam and Naroda Patiya massacres and the Sardarpura and Ode killings.
Pakistani troops move against Taliban militants
Soldiers sent to halt a Taliban advance toward the Pakistani capital fought their way over a mountain pass Thursday, killed at least 14 militants and narrowly escaped a wave of suicide car bombers, the army said.
Troops ousted militants from the Ambela Pass leading over the mountains into Buner and were inching toward the north, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said.
Soldiers opened fire on four suspected suicide car bombers who drove toward them near the pass, Abbas said. Two vehicles exploded and the other two managed to drive away. No troops were hurt, he said.
Troops also destroyed four militant vehicles in Dir, a nearby district to the west, Abbas said. In all, at least 14 militants were killed and one soldier was wounded in the previous 24 hours, he said.
Abbas also said militants, who have kidnapped dozens of lightly armed police and paramilitary troops, burned a police station farther north and sealed off the town of Sultanwas.
"The people of Sultanwas are in great distress," Abbas said at a news conference. "Nobody is being allowed to move out of Sultanwas."
Security forces backed by artillery and warplanes began pushing into Buner, a district just 60 miles from Islamabad, on Tuesday after Taliban militants from the neighboring Swat Valley muscled into the area under cover of a peace pact.
Abbas said militants killed a police officer and threw his body into a river in Swat, but he said the peace deal centered on the valley remained intact.
A spokesman for the Taliban in Swat insisted it was sticking to the peace process. The militants in Buner were all local Taliban, said the spokesman, Muslim Khan.
"They are our friends and they have not suffered any big losses so far," Khan said.
Troops ousted militants from the Ambela Pass leading over the mountains into Buner and were inching toward the north, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said.
Soldiers opened fire on four suspected suicide car bombers who drove toward them near the pass, Abbas said. Two vehicles exploded and the other two managed to drive away. No troops were hurt, he said.
Troops also destroyed four militant vehicles in Dir, a nearby district to the west, Abbas said. In all, at least 14 militants were killed and one soldier was wounded in the previous 24 hours, he said.
Abbas also said militants, who have kidnapped dozens of lightly armed police and paramilitary troops, burned a police station farther north and sealed off the town of Sultanwas.
"The people of Sultanwas are in great distress," Abbas said at a news conference. "Nobody is being allowed to move out of Sultanwas."
Security forces backed by artillery and warplanes began pushing into Buner, a district just 60 miles from Islamabad, on Tuesday after Taliban militants from the neighboring Swat Valley muscled into the area under cover of a peace pact.
Abbas said militants killed a police officer and threw his body into a river in Swat, but he said the peace deal centered on the valley remained intact.
A spokesman for the Taliban in Swat insisted it was sticking to the peace process. The militants in Buner were all local Taliban, said the spokesman, Muslim Khan.
"They are our friends and they have not suffered any big losses so far," Khan said.
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