<b>Could have been PM, didn't want it: Rahul</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul Gandhi says he could have been India's Prime Minister at age 25, but decided against it.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Self gloating fool.
Is this possible according to Indian law?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Is this possible according to Indian law? <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think lower age limit to PMs office is 35 - not 100% sure. But since this is Rahul Gandhi we are talking about, I don't see why he could not have been PM at 25, what the heck, given their blue blood Priyanka's 5 year old could be a PM too. Anything's possible.
Interesting to note that he's talking about 10 years ago when PM Rao's term was coming to an end.
<b>Sonia Gandhiâs Reluctant War on Terror</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b> In a strange way, Mrs. Gandhi finds herself in a position quite similar to General Musharrafâs. Just as Musharraf has to keep his Islamist allies happy, Sonia Gandhi too feels that she has to keep her Muslim power brokers happy in order for the government to survive. She and her family now enjoy security guards provided by the government. She will lose this protection once the coalition government falls. This has made her soft in the face of provocation by Islamic fundamentalist forces. This vulnerability and its potential impact on the global war on terror is something that Americans need to know and understand. Part 2 will examine this influence of private citizen Sonio Gandhi.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Really how shameless can these people get? Sonia should get a nobel because she dreams of a world without violence. the Nobel peace award comittee have such a fun job! <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->For saving Cong, NGO recommends Sonia gets Nobel
Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Nobel Peace Prize and Sonia Gandhi. The two may not be remotely synonymous yet, but an Indian non-profit organisation has done everything within its powers to ensure that this year's peace prize, which would be announced on Friday, goes to the powerful Congress president.
Ms Gandhi's name was recommended by the International Awakening Centre, which has close links with the Gandhi family, for her "outstanding contribution" to world peace.
Asked why the non-profit organisation recommended Ms Gandhi's name, its spokesperson Reshma said, "Congress ko dubne se bacha liya (She has rescued the Congress from sinking."
This Mayur Vihar-based non-profit organisation had recommended her name last year too and said it would recommend Ms Gandhi's name again if the award was not given to her this year. The organisation claims to work to contain the spread and control of AIDS in the country.
Mjaz Mungeri who runs the NGO and also had links with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had written to Norwegian Institute Director Geir Lundestand: "Ms Gandhi is not only in favour of peace with India's neighbouring countries, she wants friendship with other countries too."
Pitching further in favour of the Congress president, he wrote: "She dreams of a world where there is no violence, and wants to spread happiness and prosperity. She is working for poor women and deprived people. So, we consider her as a symbol of world peace."
A similar letter was also sent to the director of the Peace Prize Award Committee. Mr Mungeri refused to speak to The Pioneer.
You see Srini, these NGOs must have got tried of waiting near the phone for the Nobel folks to call them announcing that Teesta would be getting the prize, remember that had been betting on Teesta Setalvad getting it?
Now they are just moving up the food chain.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Meat the ignorant non-vegetarians</b>
Pioneer.com
Maneka Gandhi
A member of my family's favourite food is blood pudding. You take the blood of a cow and then put it into a cake dish with salt, herbs and a little garlic and then put the dish into the fridge. When it congeals it becomes like a cake. You can then cut it and eat it in slices. It is a much eaten South European dish.
[My guess- Sonia Gandhi]
   Â
Are you feeling sick? But you eat meat. People in the Northeast eat dogs and look after goats. You eat goats. The Scottish eat the stomachs and intestines of sheep and cows. The Maharajas in India made pickles out of deer feet. The British boil pig feet and call it trotters. The Europeans eat snails and the cancerous liver of geese called pate. The Orientals eat snakes. Locusts and bear gall bladders and monkey brains. The Africans and Chinese eat everything.
Even when people eat meat they know what is wrong and what is right. The person who eats meat will still feel sick if he learnt that he was brushing his teeth everyday with animal bones in the form of toothpaste. Let me make a list of some items that are made of meat and that the manufacturers do not label as non-vegetarian. Look at the labels. Many of these also have vegetable substitutes but since it is easier to use animals, the producers do. It is for you to either shun the product or write to the manufacturer asking whether it is vegetarian or not.
* Insulin: From pig and cow pancreas. Used by millions of diabetics daily.
* Activated carbon: Cow bones. Used in cane sugar processing and water purification.
* Adrenaline: Adrenal glands of pigs, cattle, and sheep. Medicine.
* Allantoin: Most mammals. In cosmetics, creams and lotions.
* Carmine, Cochineal or Carminic Acid: Red colouring made from beetles. Candies, juices, coloured pasta, cosmetics, dairy products, ice creams, fruit fillings - anything coloured red or pink.
* Clarifying agent: Animal (egg, gelatin, fish bladder which is known as Isinglass). White wine and some jellies. Used to filter out particles to make the liquid clear.
* Gelatin: Hooves, cartilage, bones of animal. Jellybeans, marshmallows, yogurts, jams, ice-cream, cakes and frosted cereals, shampoos, cosmetics, coating on pills and capsules, photographic film. Used as a thickener.
* Emulsifier: Lecithin, monoglyceride, diglycerides, calcium stearoyl, polysorbate and monostearate, magnesium stearate. Can be Animal(cow, pig, eggs, milk), vegetable or synthetic. Processed foods, peanut butter, candies, dairy products, baked goods, soft-drinks, chocolate and ice creams. Margarine, breakfast cereals, vegetable oil sprays, lipsticks, hand-creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, medicines and eye creams. Gelatin products, nondairy creamer, salad dressing, chewing gum, whipped topping. It is used to keep different ingredients mixed together like water and oil.
* Glycerin: Glycerol. Byproduct of soap manufacturing (usually animal fat). Cosmetics, foods, toothpastes, mouthwashes, ointments, chewing gum, medicines and soaps.
* Enzyme: Pepsin (pig or cow's stomach), Lipases (from the tongue and stomach) and Trypsins come from animals. Rennet (which is a pepsin) is used for making cheese and comes from slaughtered calves. Lipases are used in cheese, ice cream, chocolate, cream and margarine.
* Tallow (fatty acid, suet): Fat from cattle, sheep. Margarine, shortening, pastries, cake mixes, cooking oils, soaps, candles, cosmetics, rubber, waxed paper and crayons.
* Lactylic stearate: Animal fat. Used to make baked goods fluffy.
* Lard: Fat from pig abdomens. In shaving creams, soaps, cosmetics, baked goods, French fries, processed foods, chewing gum.
* Oleic acid /oleinic acid: Animal tallow, or vegetable fats. Cheese, candy, synthetic butter, beverages, baked goods, ice cream, soaps, lipsticks, cosmetics and nail polish.
* Linoleic Acid: Cow, pig or synthetic. Used in lipsticks, food, cosmetics, detergents, soap, vitamins.
* Guanine: Scales of fish. Shampoo, nail polish, and other cosmetics.
* Stearic acid: Animal (cow, stomachs of pigs, and sometimes from stray dogs and cats). Food flavouring chewing gum, soaps, deodourants, creams, cosmetics and hairspray.
* Palmitic acid: Animal (cow, pig fats), vegetable oils, palm oil. Usually non-vegetarian. Baked goods, cheese and butter flavouring shampoos, shaving soaps, creams. Isopropyl Palmitate -mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid.
* Myristic acid: Usually animal (cow or sheep). Processed foods, baked goods, ice cream, candy, cocoa flavouring, butter, chocolate, gelatin desserts and butterscotch.
* Vitamin A: Egg yolks, fish liver oil. Supplements, cosmetics. Skim milk,infant formula, margarine, vegetable cooking oil, cheeses, hair-dyes, cosmetics, creams, perfumes, fortified foods.(Wheat germ oil and synthetics can also be used. All yellow and orange vegetables have this vitamin) Vitamin B12. Usually animal source. Vitamin D-2 and many other vitamins can come from animal sources. Examples: Choline, biotin, inositol, riboflavin. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, calciferol) comes from lanolin or fish liver oil.Vitamin D-3 is always from an animal.
(Anyone wanting to join the animal welfare movement contact Ms Gandhi at 14, Ashoka Road, New Delhi: 110001 or gandhim@parlis.nic.in) <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Yes Mr Gill, Any citizen of India who is qualified to be the Member of Parliament is eligable to be the Prime Minister of India. Therefore, there is no Constitutional bar to Smt Sonia Gandhi becoming the Prime MInister of India. Under the Indian Constitution, there is only one class of Citizen of India. However, there are different methods of acquiring the Citizenship. So far Smt Gandhi has been elected to the LOk Sabha several times. So there can be no doubt about her Citizenship.</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>One too many power centre </b>
Pioneer.com
Arun Nehru
Former Minister for External Affairs Natwar Singh has finally resigned from the Union Cabinet. Despite his exit, chaos prevails within the Congress because of the existence of dual power centres. <b>With Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi calling the shots, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has virtually no power to act on his own accord.</b>
On the other hand, Ms Sonia Gandhi's decisions lack accountability and are far removed from public scrutiny. The 'confusion' within the party is obvious going by the conflicting media statements made by Congressmen in the past one month.
The turmoil was evident as Congress spokespersons threatened to sue the United Nations for naming their party and Mr Natwar Singh as non-contractual beneficiaries in the Iraq Oil-for-Food scam. Unfortunately, things were allowed to go out of hand like a 'comic' drama. But eventually the Congress will have to pay a heavy price for it.
Any political issue requires quick responses, not twisted legal arguments by clever lawyers. After the defeat of the Rashtriya Janata Dal/Congress/Left alliance in Bihar and the revival of NDA in the State, the message has still not been understood. The making of a Third Front is imminent and the 'weakness' of the UPA obvious.
Â
I have written for the past one year that dual power centres cannot function and there is a need for an authoritative 'full time' Prime Minister. <b>Unfortunately, the entire drama concerning the Volcker Committee report has put a question mark on the stature and relevance of Mr Manmohan Singh.</b>
<b>There have been occasions in 'dynastic politics' when senior leaders have had to 'fall upon the sword' to protect the dynastic head who was credited with everything good</b>. After all, followers must pay for their errors.
In this case, too, however hard Mr Natwar Singh and his family may 'resist' the charge against them of involvement in the Oil-for-Food scandal, they will be forced to prove to the authorities that it was an act of individual indiscretion and not a party matter. There is no place for sentiments in politics. Indeed, the matter is far from over as more dust is going to be kicked up on the issue in the days to come.
There will be numerous stories of Mr Natwar Singh's excesses, most of which would be leaked by the MEA and his many 'friends' in the Congress. The extent of these revelations will depend on how he is treated by the party in the immediate future and the manner in which he reacts to the investigations.
The Opposition has a major issue with which it can rap the knuckles of the ruling coalition. However, the investigations into the Oil-for-Food scam can only be conducted by the CBI as an FIR has to be filed to obtain details of bank accounts and diversion of funds to Switzerland and Jordan.<b> The situation has the potential of turning quite ugly.</b>
While the Opposition will try to drag the name of Ms Sonia Gandhi into the Volcker affair the aim of the Congress would be to project that individuals acted on their own and the party was not involved, the credibility of such a line be darned!
Indeed, the party's image with the public has been damaged considerably. In fact, <b>Ms Sonia Gandhi, in order to maintain her position and to protect the party's image, will have little option but to ensure that truth is brought out to the public at large as early as possible</b>. At least this will be the course of action if the party is not involved.
There are pitfalls at each level and things will be difficult to predict for the immediate future. All these events have political ramifications. However, it is unfortunate that ultimately it is the individual and his family who suffer. One only hopes politicians will not act against each other out of spite or malice.
The BJP has parted company with Ms Uma Bharati. In fact, the 'timing' was almost perfect with the oil scam and Amitabh Bachchan's illness hogging the media limelight. The NDA's victory in Bihar has forced a closing in of ranks between the warring factions of the RSS and the BJP.
The change in Madhya Pradesh, where Mr Shivraj Singh Chauhan has been appointed the Chief Minister, was smooth and with little dissent.<b> It was handled firmly by BJP leaders like Mr Arun Jaitly and Mr Pramod Mahajan. It is evident that the party is showing signs of recovery as its rival</b>, the Congress, suffered not only a heavy electoral defeat in Bihar but also received a dent in its image owing to the Volcker Committee report.
<b>The BJP has virtually nothing at stake in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and is left with only a few months to organise itself for the elections in Assam, Uttaranchal and Punjab</b>. While in Assam an alliance with the AGP can sweep the Congress out of power, in Uttaranchal I predict a landslide victory for the BJP. On the other hand, in Punjab, the competition is stiff and the verdict may tilt towards the Akali Dal/BJP combination and the Congress may suffer a string of defeats.
The BJP needs alliances and these will materialise naturally as the mood of the electorate changes. However, the party has a great deal of work to do in States like Uttar Pradesh where it has shrunk from 62 seats to 10 in the last three general elections.
The political turmoil over the Oil-for-Food scam has lessons for all of us. The Congress's spokespersons changed their statements on a day to day basis, as events overtook their decisions. The Prime Minister lost heavily in terms of credibility. It is time he understood that 'servility' and fight for 'survival' are no substitutes for decisive leadership.
<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Ms Sonia Gandhi and her family may enjoy the 'fruits of office' but they tend to shy away from governance and taking responsibility. This does not exactlly make for credible leadership that both the UPA and the country need.</span>
The elections in Bihar were a disaster for the UPA Government, which had ordered the dissolution of the State Assembly. The question is, will Ms Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul lead from the front in West Bengal and Kerala, where the party is heading towards a humungous drubbing?
Moreover, does the Congress have any worthwhile strategy for Tamil Nadu, which suffers from one natural calamity after another, and the only visible political outfit seems to be the ADMK? The ruling coalition at the Centre has a dozen ministers with important portfolios from Tamil Nadu.
However, where is the Sonia Gandhi-led grand coalition in the State to which the people of Tamil Nadu are looking for support? After all, Tamil Nadu elections are a mere six months away.
Political battles are not any different from real ones. They too require leaders to lead from the front. This is what is needed in the Congress today. The Prime Minister cannot be a proxy of a hidden power-base. Also, political events cannot be manipulated by a few friendly media barons and editors or by select officials. Politics has moved beyond the control of a select coterie.
Coalition politics is here to stay and no regional leader can survive unless he or she has the ability to win elections. <b>It is my assessment that things will be difficult for both the BJP and the Congress unless they have charismatic leaders who lead by personal example and have the ability to reverse electoral trends</b>. Numbers determine coalition patterns and numbers will favour the regional forces.
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As India moves towards globalisation, the narrow minded thinkings should have no place. We should be ready to accept many foreign spouses on India soil and true to our traditon should give them a warm and cordial reception.
This thread and discussion is NOT about Indians marrying foreigners (<b>their choice and none of our business</b>).
This is NOT about "Cultural values or Sentiments" but it is ALL about an "Incompetent, Corrupt, Mafiaso, Feadual/Dynastic" leader running nuclear powered India in the Globalized world. She can dictate (and is) the future of India, and we can discuss that as it affects every citizen (Indian) and foreigners who married Indians alike.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->[We the people of India have brought her to this postion. It is not her fault. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Those who brought her are fools, why should we become cheer leader.
We want to rectify or atleast can educate some.
At present no such thing is happening. In fact her postion is gaining strength
in view of the continued in fighting within the BJP and the VHP becoming dormant.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->We the people of India have brought her to this postion.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
People of Rae Bareli and Amethi along with congressi chamchas have brought her to this position. Fortunately or unfortunately that is considered as "people of India". Be that as it may, my personal opinion is that a foreigner becoming a head of state is just a no-go. We fought for sampoorna swaraj for centuries and will not accept a foreigner through a back-door. That would be akin to throwing away all that my ancestors fought for.
I would prefer Lalu as PM compared to MMS(Sonia) anyday.
<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->We the people of India have brought her to this postion.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
People of Rae Bareli and Amethi along with congressi chamchas have brought her to this position. Fortunately or unfortunately that is considered as "people of India". Be that as it may, my personal opinion is that a foreigner becoming a head of state is just a no-go. We fought for sampoorna swaraj for centuries and will not accept a foreigner through a back-door. That would be akin to throwing away all that my ancestors fought for.
I would prefer Lalu as PM compared to MMS(Sonia) anyday.
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But in reality the reins of India is in the hands of Sonia. And it will be there for another 4 years as well. <!--emo&:bcow--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/b_cowboy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='b_cowboy.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Whatever may be your preferance sir, she once got elected from Karnataka also. Why to blame the people of Rai Barely? She may win from many other seats in differnet States of India as she ahas supporters in many parts of India.
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Antique smuggling and money laundering by Sonia with LTTE help was going on since 1984. Boyfriend Quattrocchi, wanted in Bofors, was buying arms from Phuket, Thailand for LTTE. Rajiv killing by LTTE if probed further by CBI-led MDMA, of Jain Commission would have revealed the conspiracy with LTTE in the assassination of Rajiv killing. Sonia systematically plundered and exported the ancient treasures of India, especially temple sculptures of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, Mughal paintings and precious gems in Indian Museums, all protected and banned from export under the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and this is one reason why she is putting Chawla as an EC and christians as IGs in various states. The CBI had in 1993 registered cases on such illegal exports from a Chennai suburb to an identified person in Italy. Festival of India was used as a ploy to smuggle out treasures. In this Sonia took the help Arjun Singh while he was MP, CM, art expert Martand Singh, a Pakistani couple Muneer and Farida Attaullah, London based Pakistani ISI fixer Salman Thassir a prince of Kuwait, and even the LTTE.
Pawan Kumar Bansal, Chairman of the committee that probed the âcash-for-question scamâ gave MPLAD money to Chandigarh Golf Club to become honorary member. Narasimha Rao, who bribed MPs for votes, introduced the MPLAD fund so that his colleagues in politics can collect kickback. Karnataka politicians and the bureaucracy collect 30% of the amount each and the project will see only 40% of the amount for implementation. When it comes to Tamil Nadu, ministers ask the Engineers to collect 5% of the contract amount the instant a major state contract is awarded. The whole sale theft starts then. Central ministers setup shell companies in Dubai to collect bribe for major GOI orders. The four MPs who demanded the kickback on camera is very recent. But some MPs have perfected this art to charity donation to the trusted NGOs. Here the money is donated as charity and the NGO route it back in kind or black money to the MPs. Chawla and his wife Rupika Chawla had set up social welfare trusts that cater to this need of the MPs and have received funds to the tune of Rs 85 lakh, from congress MPs. Chawla an IAS fellow cannot run such thing, but got special waiver of rules from the Union Government pertaining to civil servants
Chawla was appointed as Sonia could be jailed even today if an EC follows it up
Chawla was appointed as Sonia could be jailed even today for being a voter in India in 1980, while she was a citizen of Italy if the EC follows it up. Sonia married Rajiv Gandhi in 1968. But applied for Indian citizenship 15 years later on 7-4-83 and was granted it on 30-4-83. The electoral rolls of the New Delhi constituency were revised in 1980, with January 1 of that year as the qualifying date Sonia lived in 1, Safdarjung Road and until then there were four voters there, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi and Ms Maneka Gandhi. In 1980, there was an addition to the list - Ms Sonia Gandhi. She was listed as a voter at serial number 388 in polling station 145 of the constituency. Yet Sonia Gandhi was not at that time an Indian citizen, a fundamental qualification for anyone. This was a blatant violation of rules. The Pioneer dated 11-5-99 reported this. No wonder that the three crore illegal Bangladeshi muslims are allowed to vote in India by Sonia overcoming the Supreme court ruling now. Sonia became a citizen of India only in 1983. Following an outcry in 1982, Soniaâs name was deleted only to be reinstated in 1983. But even the reinstatement is questionable as Sonia was conferred Indian citizenship by the Government on 30-4-83 and the qualifying date for registering as a voter was January 1 that year.
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