<!--emo&:drool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/drool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='drool.gif' /><!--endemo--> No music to UPA ears: Maya slams Cong over deal and Ram affidavit
Siddharth KalhansPosted online: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 0000 hrs Print Email
LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 9: Weighing her options days after she backed Sonia Gandhi for fielding Pratibha Patil in the Presidential polls, BSP chief Mayawati today attacked the Congress over its handling of the nuclear deal and the Ram Sethu controversy. She asked people to get ready for early LS polls.
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Addressing a massive BSP rally in Lucknow on founder Kanshi Ramâs death anniversary, Mayawati hit out at the UPAâs National Rural Employment Guarantee programme, saying it could not be a permanent solution and would not eradicate poverty.
In her first comments on the nuclear deal, Mayawati said the Congress should have taken all parties into confidence before initiating talks on such an important issue. She also slammed the Congress for âtarnishing historyâ by filing a âwrong affidavitâ in court in the Ram Sethu case.
As her supporters chanted âDelhi ki majboori hai, Mayawati jaroori haiâ and âUP hui hamaari, hai Delhi ki taiyyariâ, Mayawati cautioned them against the âfour Ms â money, mafia, media and middlemanâ. She said the âfour Msâ would try their best to stop her partyâs victory roll.
She said the Congress and BJP had tried hard to give the BSP a bad name among upper castes: âYeh Congress aur BJP hai jisne tilak, tarazu, talwar ka naara uthaa kar BSP ko upper caste mein badnam kiya.â
Mayawati draws spotlight in the US
15 Oct, 2007, 1443 hrs IST, PTI
NEW YORK: Uttar Pradesh's firebrand Chief Minister Mayawati has been profiled by the US magazine Newsweek among eight women leaders worldwide who have reached the top despite all odds, with the dalit leader narrating her struggle to rally the oppressed community.
Writing in the magazine, the 51-year-old Bahujan Samaj Party chief, who swept the Assembly elections early this year with a rainbow coalition of dalits, upper castes and Muslims, says her aim is to replicate the victory in the other states and prepare for a bigger struggle to capture power in New Delhi.
Mayawati says her party initially needed an aggressive approach to rally the poor dalits. "Political parties dominated by upper castes got alarmed by the rising masses.
"Their opposition cut short each of my first four stints as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and it became clear we needed to broaden the base to include the poor irrespective of caste or religion," she said.
So, Mayawati says, she organized village-level amity meetings for the poor irrespective of caste or religion. "Our efforts were met with calumny, attacks and lawsuits, but we struggled on, and prevailed in elections this May. For the first time in 17 years, a majority government led by a Dalit is in place in Uttar Pradesh," she adds.
Apart from Mayawati, others who write their success story include CEO of the French Energy Conglomerate "Areva" Anne Lauvergeon and Director General of World Health Organization Margaret Chan.
<!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo--> Advani justifies BJP's hardselling him as next PM
PTI | New Delhi
Posted online: April 06, 2008
Citing British politics, leader of the opposition LK Advani on Sunday sought to justify BJP's strategy of hardselling him as the country's next Prime Minister.
He referred to the loss of Labour Party leader James Callaghan in the prime ministerial race to Margaret Thatcher as the opponent of the former British Prime Minister was averse to himself being "sold" to the voters.
"Callaghan during his campaign said he was averse to the idea of himself being sold as a packet of popcorn. Thatcher won and he ultimately lost," Advani said on the occasion of the party's foundation day here.
"Now people say Callaghan lost because he projected just himself while Thatcher won because she projected herself as the next Prime Minister," he added.
Addressing the function which also saw the launch of internet portal of his autobiography My Country, My Life, Advani said that the venture was aimed at reaching out to the young people of the country.
"This website will reach out to the young Indians. Although they may lack in EQ(emotional quotient), they are no doubt the best in with their IQ(intelligence quotient)," he said.
The saffron party has also plans to launch a dedicated website on Advani's campaign apart from translation of his autobiography to several Indian languages starting with Hindi.
As per sources, a separate control office is already functional in the veteran leader's residence to co-ordinate the campaign of Advani.
04-15-2008, 02:41 AM (This post was last modified: 04-15-2008, 03:58 AM by Capt M Kumar.)
<!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo--> <span style='font-family:Optima'><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>On the tune of
'Mera Gaon Mera Desh'= My Village My Country(a movie)
Advani presents: http://www.mycountrymylife.com/
And along with
Ab Dilli door Nahin= Now Delhi is within reach(?Subhash C. Bose)</span></span>
<!--emo&:argue--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/argue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='argue.gif' /><!--endemo--> Political observers keenly following Adwaniji's visit to Marthomite Church
23/04/2008 06:22:52 HK
Thiruvananthapuram: Apart from the ongoing issues between the different Christian denominations in Kerala, A new row has hit the Marthomite Church.
The Mar Thoma metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma has kicked started a new debate within the church, by inviting Shri. L.K.Advani to inaugrate the 90th birthday ceremony of valiya Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrisostum.
A section of bishops and believers, close to Ruling Communist party and Opposition Congress has come together to release statements against the decision. Emails have been sent out to Advaniji to refrain from attending the programme by those group opposing his visit.
But, T.K. Mathew, chairman of the reception committee for the function, told that the church does not care about politics and those who oppose Advanijiâs visit are only small in numbers. 'Maybe the laity has politics but we don't have any politics. As far as we are concerned there is no controversy at all because we have invited a leading political personality in the country to be present on the occasion and all arrangements are in the final stages'.
The move is significant in the light of the changing political scenario in the country. A clear indication is being given that the general population has become disgusted at the Central government for taking biased decisions against the Hindus just for the sake of minority appeasement. The communist government in the state has been exposed as corrupt and murderous group of individuals busy fighting each other in groups.
A ground level feedback shows that the normal Hindu has seen through the UPA game and has started to understand the long term implications of the disastrous moves this government is making. The next election will surely see a shift in the voting patterns.
Marthoma Church has been hailed by the Sangh parivar earlier also as the true Christian church. The RSS Sarsangachalak has also asked the Christain community to study as to how best to live in harmony with the majority Hindus of India and to create a swadeshi church in India country-region.
The Marthoma church is also not a strong proletyzing body like the Pentacost or the Catholics. Many of their customs have been evolved from their Hindu background and they are proud to say so. Also the Marthoma church faced the issue of dwindling numbers due to the conversion in large number to the Pentacost sect in Kerala.
The visit of Advaniji will send strong signals to the Christian community to recognize the Majority Hindus not as lambs for conversion nor as Foes, But as the followers of a great Religion which welcomed all Foreign faiths and Accommodated them by giving place to worship and prosper.
All Christian sects who are ready to stay away from Conversion activities by fraudulent means and are proud of their ancient lineage and Great Heritage of Bharatham should certainly take cue from this initial step taken by Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thomas.
The invitation of 1 million strong Marthoma Church is keenly observed by Political observers and many expects that this may cumulate more dialogues between Hindu Organisations and Nationalist churches. Communist and Congress party will try their level best to prevent Christian exodus towards Bharatheeya Nationalism and Hindutva.
06-25-2008, 11:10 AM (This post was last modified: 06-28-2008, 01:12 AM by acharya.)
<!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo--> <span style='color:green'>Imams back Advani on Ram Mandir issue
Kumar Uttam | New Delhi
NDA's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani, who recently favoured Ram Temple at Ayodhya without disturbing communal harmony, has got support from unexpected quarters - the Imams of India.
Imams have thrown in their weight behind Advani saying his formula would "only establish permanent fraternal bonds between the two major communities of India". "And, in that case, as a society, we shall also experience and cherish unprecedented communal amity and harmony," the All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques (AIOIM) wrote in a letter to the Leader of the Opposition. AIOIM is the representative body of over five lakh Imams across the country.
"Under your leadership/prime ministership we, as a nation, will march towards our common destiny with a new moral and political strength," AIOIM secretary general Maulana Umer Ahmed Ilyasi told Advani on Sunday. Incidentally, Advani told his party, earlier this month, to reach out to Muslims and Christians who have been out of party's traditional support base.
When the Centre is battling for survival, AIOIM has put up five 'open questions': 1. Who can be the alternative? What are the options available before the masses? 2. If UPA and its constituents have failed to deliver what initiative is required to be taken by the NDA? 3. Is there a specific need to make Muslim backwardness an issue to target 'secular politics' and its negative fallout on community? 4. Are Muslims ready to make a shift? 5. How Imams of Mosque and their organisation can facilitate the required transformation?
The AIOIM answers them all. "The BJP and its allies can be the alternative provided common issues are highlighted. Social and economic issues are targeted. Communal issues are not focused."
It suggested the NDA to make a very strong peoples' movement against the Government of the day on its failure to check rise in prices of essential commodities. "Next election is neither on passion nor on development. It is simply on inflation and its impact on the men on streets," said AIOIM.
Imams believe there is a need to 'expose' the pseudo-secular face of the Congress and its allies, but when it comes to whether Muslims are ready to make a shift or not, they say it will all depend on the face of future politics of the NDA.
At the same time, they appealed, it was like now or never and this was the most opportune time to bring about such a shift. "After many elections, it will now be an election on common issues," Ilyasi wrote in his letter to Advani.
The Imams unveiled a 12-point agenda (including better relations with Muslim countries, non-interference in Personal Law, computerisation of Madarsa education and others) that, if achieved, would help them facilitate the required transformation.
Also, last para (demands of imams) includes "computerization of madrassa education". That's good. We all want to know exactly what madrassas teach. IMO, the more the light that is shined on "teachings" of the pedophile the better.
Vajpayee had started to gather endorsements from folks like Shahi Imam, and he found his campaign falling deathly silent on Hindu issues. Hindus got disappointed and stayed home. And muslims don't vote for BJP anyway.
The effect of such pronouncements will be dilutig of BJP's pro hindu stances, if any, and proportional disillusionment of hindu voters.
Congress, left, SP etc will redouble their efforts to "regain" the trust of the muslims and Imams etc. Come election time, muslims won't be able to bring themselves to vote for the party of "Modi The Rioter" and "Advani The Demolisher".
Who gains in all this?
I would recommend BJP to never welcome such endorsements. BJP leaders should never be seen in such company in public. That doesn't mean they need to denounce them. But welcoming such stances puts a burden on BJP to dilute its pro hindu stances.
The best bet for BJP is to split the muslim vote. That is stop it from becoming a consolidated vote against BJP.
But there shouldn't be any delusions that muslim vote will come to BJP.
So BJP doesn't need to welcome such endorsements. It just needs to make sure that muslim vote doesn't consolidate into a single anti BJP block. If BJP is not overtly anti muslim then it can mange that. If there are triangular contests, and muslim vote splits to support both non-BJP parties, that should be good enough.
NDA's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani, who recently favoured Ram Temple at Ayodhya without disturbing communal harmony, has got support from unexpected quarters - the Imams of India.
Imams have thrown in their weight behind Advani saying his formula would "only establish permanent fraternal bonds between the two major communities of India". "And, in that case, as a society, we shall also experience and cherish unprecedented communal amity and harmony," the All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques (AIOIM) wrote in a letter to the Leader of the Opposition. AIOIM is the representative body of over five lakh Imams across the country.
The basic issue here is construction of Ram Temple. Courts have not decided it in last 63 yrs and nothing can get better than this when the 2 parties r ready for this.
I could have put this article under the discussion of 'Ram Mandir'.
At the same time, there is basic assumption here that BJP as part of NDA would be the winning party and Advani will be the PM. And that's why, I put this article here. I think we don't have to be paranoid about the support and read too much between the lines or go back on past experience. 'Aam aadmi' coined by a Muslim firm in UK got the Cong better of BJP in last election and if that is coming to BJP side as along with Ram Mandir, it is welcome move.
Have the Imams agreed to let Rama temple be built on the site where Babri mosque used to be?
None of the quoted responses mention this. All the claims like Imams are supporting Advani, they are throwing their weight behind him and they agree to his formula are not within quotes, and evidently they are reporter's "opinions".
No other news site mentions this. Nothing is available on the Imams' website either: http://imamindia.tripod.com/
From that article, the actual text within quotes, i.e. actual words used by the Imams is:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"only establish permanent fraternal bonds between the two major communities of India".
"And, in that case, as a society, we shall also experience and cherish unprecedented communal amity and harmony,"
"Under your leadership/prime ministership we, as a nation, will march towards our common destiny with a new moral and political strength,"
"The BJP and its allies can be the alternative provided common issues are highlighted. Social and economic issues are targeted. Communal issues are not focused."
"Next election is neither on passion nor on development. It is simply on inflation and its impact on the men on streets,"
"After many elections, it will now be an election on common issues,"
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My reading of all this is that Imams want to talk nice to Advani, and they have used vague, general, communal-harmony type of pleasantries. If they had agreed to let Rama temple be built at the Babri mosque site, then that would have been a big news and every news site would be reporting it. At least Organiser would be mnetionig it. But notheing there either. http://www.organiser.org
So, just like Vajpayee was led along the garden path, so will many attempts be made to do the same to Advani. I expect such shows to increase till the elections. And also a lot of media articles praising such initiatives from the muslim community and asking BJP to "reciprocate". But I can bet that elections figures will show that no muslim vote would have turned to BJP, even if every Imam happily shook hands with Advani.
Also, it is not given that BJP will come back to power. It is quite certain that Congress will not regain power. The left parties will be dented, but they always manage to gain a chunk of seats. But a "third front" may gain on those seats where Congress loses. BJP has to be careful how it handles its campaign. Getting sucked into a position, where Advani will be endorsed in public by Shahi Imam Abdullah Bukhari kind of characters, will dent his chances with the hindu voters. He has just been rehabilitated after his Jinnah fiasco. He needs to tread carefully.
Have to agree with Ashok here. INC + commies are going to loose voteshare if they go for elections right now. Inflation will immediately become a big issue. At the same time whether BJP is going to gain is not certain. In general BJP has a choice of just depending on anti-incumbency or generating pro-BJP support.
If they depend on anti-incumbency there is a real danger that we will have DeveGowda/Gujral type PM with commies giving outside support.
06-27-2008, 02:33 PM (This post was last modified: 06-27-2008, 02:38 PM by Capt M Kumar.)
<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Media thrive on controversy
and not on consensus; so, the story is not picked up by others.
On the other hand, courts thrive on consensus.
Advani is not Vajpayee.
Ha has image of 'loh-purush'; so, things will work out his way and not Vajpayee.
Moreover, this discussion is all about exploring new vistas and not remain stuck on preconceived notions.
<!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo--> Believers blinded by her halo-or by the flash of her diamond rings?-are convinced that her day has come and only she can remove the curse of bipolarity that keeps the dispossessed away from the highest seat of power.
She, at her imperious and benevolent best, plays the role of Our Lady of Deliverance to perfection, all set to take that revolutionary leap from Kalidas Marg in Lucknow to Race Course Road in Delhi. As her spell spreads, guess who're falling at her feet with total submission.
<!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo--> Rahul emerges first choice for PM beating Manmohan
PTI | New Delhi
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has emerged as the first choice of people for the Prime Ministership of the country, beating Manmohan Singh.
As per a survey conducted by NaiDunia Media Pvt Ltd, 62 per cent of the respondents favoured Congress coming to power after the next Lok Sabha polls while 34 per cent sought to differ, a Press release from the media house said.
About 41 per cent of people interviewed by about 500 journalists of the media house across the country, said that they wanted to see the reins of the Congress party in the hands of young leaders and Gandhi was their first choice.
However, about 29 per cent of the respondents said they would like to see Manmohan Singh at the helm again. As for Sonia Gandhiâs prospects, majority of them said she may not like to become the Prime Minister even though her party gets a majority.
<!--QuoteBegin-rajesh_g+Jun 27 2008, 01:20 PM-->QUOTE(rajesh_g @ Jun 27 2008, 01:20 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Have to agree with Ashok here. INC + commies are going to loose voteshare if they go for elections right now. Inflation will immediately become a big issue. At the same time whether BJP is going to gain is not certain. In general BJP has a choice of just depending on anti-incumbency or generating pro-BJP support.
If they depend on anti-incumbency there is a real danger that we will have DeveGowda/Gujral type PM with commies giving outside support.
[right][snapback]83433[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gootyji, The anti-incumbency benefits different parties in different states. There are of course other factors that play in the election as we have seen in Rajasthan and Delhi.
One hope is that the NDA headed by the BJP comes to power and do things having learnt lessons from its fall from power of the prev. NDA govt that appeased to the so called non-congress parties at the expense of the Hindus.
There is a chance that this hope could be dashed with all the negative factors at play.
Unfortunately neither the Congress nor the BJP is a dominant party in majority of the states. Therefore the non-Congress, non-BJP parties become trump cards in the formation of the government at the center. In such circumstance, one slight hope for us is to bring about an anti-congress govt. with BJP support which is not the same as NDA headed by the BJP.
01-05-2009, 12:32 PM (This post was last modified: 01-05-2009, 12:34 PM by Bodhi.)
Mayawati has a very real chance in 2009 no doubt. She has a higher probability on being next PM than Advani ji has, that much is for sure.
In fact the best bet for NDA, if they dont want a return of the UPA, is to negotiate with Mayawati right now. 80 seats of UP are crucial for whoever will form the next govt in Delhi. BJP+RLD dont look like crossing the 10-15 number as things stand right now.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Mukherjee said India had a tradition of young leaders at key government positions.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And it's the tradition of Congress party to not question the first family. Pranab-da had air-dashed to Delhi after Indira Gandhi's assasination in '84 with some ambitious plans. After about about 10 years in oblivion, Mukherjee's now knows what good for him - not what's good for nation.
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Media thrive on controversy