Bihar stalwarts face a battle for survival

Though the big three of Bihar politics-Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and BJP heavyweight Sushil Kumar Modi-are unlikely to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, scheduled in a few months from now; their future appear critically dependent upon the outcome of the general election.

While Lalu Prasad cannot contest the Lok Sabha after his conviction in a fodder scam case that barred him from electoral politics; Nitish Kumar and his friend turned bete-noire Sushil Kumar Modi may prefer to stay back in Patna for obvious reasons. Nitish Kumar will continue as Bihar Chief Minister whereas Sushil Modi will seek to become one after the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled next year.

Ram Vilas Paswan, the only political biggie from Bihar who is almost sure to contest 2014 Lok Sabha election from Hajipur, the seat that he once won with a record margin but lost in 2009-needs to put up a better show to stay relevant in Bihar political landscape. This will also be perhaps his last chance to stage a comeback to political centre-stage or get reduced to political insignificance.

Having spearheaded JD-U to win 20 of the 35 Lok Sabha seats that his party contested in 2009, Nitish Kumar faces an enormous challenge of repeat his performance in 2009 Lok Sabha and 2010 Assembly election Nitish Kumar currently has the highest number of 20 Lok Sabha MPs in Bihar. No wonder, he is faced with the biggest challenge to retain these seats, if not to improve his tally.

In a calculated risk, Nitish Kumar had dumped BJP in June this year after his saffron ally of 17 years projected Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate.

Nitish Kumar broke up the alliance shortly after losing Maharajganj by-election by a huge margin to RJD, prompting new political alignments in Bihar. Though Nitish Kumar will continue as Bihar Chief Minister irrespective of Lok Sabha polls results; JD-U's performance in these elections will largely determine his political future in the long run.

Truth to tell, the Nitish Kumar's government has faced multiple challenges in the aftermath of their divorce with BJP; and ironically failed to inspire confidence.

The death of 23 kids who lost their lives after consuming poisonous midday meal in Saran followed by Indian Mujahideen-triggered serial blasts at Bodhgaya on July 7 and subsequently at the BJP rally in Patna on October 27 are some of the incidents that raised serious questions on the ability of Nitish Kumar's minority government to govern. Not only this, the Naxalites have stepped up their attacks while criminals are once again began calling the shots in Bihar, prompting spurt in murder, loot, kidnapping and robbery.

If Nitish Kumar has a mountain to climb; so does BJP heavyweight Sushil Modi. The split has put him face to face with Nitish Kumar. Having shaken off the image of an amenable Deputy Chief Minister that he was, Modi has emerged as a sharp and belligerent opposition leader. Now, the 2014 elections results would determine if become a bigger leader than the other three better known politicians from Bihar.

The 2014 Lok Sabha election will also decide if Lalu Prasad has stayed relevant in Bihar despite his conviction in a fodder scam case. While flaunting his anti-Narendra Modi credentials; Nitish Kumar has been trying hard to woo the 16 per cent Muslim electorates, Lalu's relevance will depend on how much he succeeds in retaining his hold over minority votes. Having lost his Lok Sabha member ship following his conviction, Lalu is fighting with his back to the wall. The 2014 election results will eventually decide if the most famous poster boy of secularism in Bihar goes up or down.

Maoists threaten to kill Sushil Modi, Bihar BJP leaders

Maoists have put up posters in Jharkhand's Latehar district, threatening to kill top Bihar BJP leaders, including former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Modi along with party colleague and former minister Giriraj Singh have been advocating strong police action against Maoists in Bihar. The two leaders have alleged the Nitish Kumar government is soft on the Maoists who have recently carried out attacks in Bihar.

"We have recovered the posters that threaten to target Modi, Giriraj, Rajya Sabha MP C P Thakur and other BJP leaders," Latehar SP Michael S Raj said on Thursday. The posters have urged people not to come under the influence of these leaders because they are "fascists".

Police have sounded an alert in the district. "We have communicated to Bihar police," said additional SP Manish Kumar Bharti.

Police said the posters read, "Sampradayeek aur fascist party Bhajapa tatha khunkhar pratikriyawadiyo ke chakkar me na padey. Aam admi se anurodh hai ki samanti pratikriyawadi Sushil Kumar Modi, Giriraj Singh, C P Thakur and other leaders ko maar girayein (Do not get influenced by communal and fascist BJP. Common people are requested to kill feudal reactionaries Sushil, Giriraj, Thakur and other leaders)."

Latehar is close to Chatra district in Jharkhand where Maoists from Bihar allegedly take shelter. "It could be a possibility that the posters were meant to be used in Bihar, but the banned outfit's men inadvertently brought and pasted them here," a police officer said.

Three such posters and two banners were recovered from two different places on Wednesday. One poster said CPI(Maoist) has opened a recruitment cell each in all panchayats. "The posters invited schoolchildren to join the party," said the police officer.

Two Maoist posters were recovered from Deoghar district on Thursday. Police said the posters condemned police action against the Maoists and asked people to support their cause.

Source: TOI

BJP MLA adopts three gangrape survivors in Bihar

BJP MLA from Hajipur in Bihar Nityanand Rai in an unprecedented move has adopted three gangrape survivors and promised to bear their educational and medical expenses for life. The victims who belong to the backward class were sexually assaulted by local youths in September this year. Perhaps this is the first case in the state where a lawmaker has taken such a step. These rape victims are from Kajbati village falling under Bidupur block of Vaishali. All the three were sexually assaulted in broad day light triggering massive public outburst. Rai's effort has come as a ray of hope for these rape survivors who have promised to take care of the survivors educational and medical expenses for life. Speaking exclusively to Headlines Today-Aaj Tak, Rai said, "I have adopted three rape victims. I will bear expenses for their education and medical needs. I want to see them stand on their own feet. They are poor girls and they have been raped. My intention is to take good care of them after the trauma they have faced."

The rape survivors and their families have welcomed the support from the political quarter and demanded speedy arrest of the accused who are still absconding after the incident. One of the rape survivors Rita (name changed) spoke to Headlines Today-Aaj Tak and narrated her ordeal. She said, "The accused raped me and threatened me not to speak about this incident to anyone or else they would eliminate me and my family." Her parent said, "We are glad that the lawmaker will be taking care of my daughters from now on, we want the accused to be arrested at the earliest."

However, Rai's efforts has raised many a eyebrows in the ruling JD-U with leaders questioning the real intention of the lawmaker. Minister in Nitish Kumar govt, Ramai Ram said, "Why has he adopted the rape survivors has to be found out. We need to know what is his motive behind this. May be there is a political motive behind adopting the rape survivors."

Rai, on the other hand, slammed the Nitish Kumar administration for deteriorating law & order situation in the state because of which there has been spurt in cases of rapes. He also dismissed Ramai Ram's charges that his intentions were political behind rehabilitating the girls. Rai said, "The government only gives a small compensation when such incidents happen but such compensation are peanuts. I have taken a pledge to take care of them. There is no politics in this."

According to Bihar government's own reports, almost 900 rape cases have already been reported till September this year in comparison to 927 in 2012 and 934 in 2011. This is a clear indication on the rising trend of crime in Nitish's regime and politics is also being played over rape survivors for electoral gains ahead of 2014.

Source: IT

Bihar BJP invites Narendra Modi to contest LS polls from state

The state unit of BJP has invited party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to contest from any Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, a senior leader said on Wednesday.

"We have invited Modi to contest from any Lok Sabha seat in Bihar during the next general elections," former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters here.

All our sitting MPs are keen to vacate their seats to enable Modi to contest from any Lok Sabha seat, he said, adding, "We will ensure that Modi wins hands down from any seat in Bihar during the next general elections."

A formal proposal has been sent to the BJP leadership apprising about the sentiments of the BJP state leadership and workers on Modi contesting from Bihar, but a final decision would be taken by the party's parliamentary board, he said.

The Bihar BJP's invite to Modi to contest the general elections from the state comes a day after a proposal was sent to him requesting him to visit the state for a third time to address public meetings between December-end and mid-January next year.

Modi had recently visited Bihar twice within a span of a week - first to address the party's 'Hunkar Rally' at the Gandhi Maidan on October 27 last which was marred by serial blasts claiming six lives and second, to express condolences to the kins of the blasts victims on November 2 last.

Source: TOI

EC issues notice to Narendra Modi for his 'khooni panja' remark

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been issued a notice by the Election Commission for an alleged model code of conduct violation over his "khooni panja" remark. The Election Commission has asked Modi to explain by 5 pm on November 16 why action should not be initiated against him for the alleged model code of conduct violation.

The notice was issued on a complain by the Congress party which sought stern action against Modi for his "khooni panja" barb against the party.

In its communication to Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath, Congress accused BJP's prime ministerial candidate of making "intemperate, malicious and defamatory" remarks by referring to the hand symbol, allotted by the Commission to Congress, as "Khooni Panja" and "Jalim Haath".

"The use of the expression 'khooni panja' is extremely significant and deplorable and has an effect of terrorising the public at large against Congress," the party had said in its petition.

The Congress move to approach the EC came days after the Election Commission notice to the party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi over his remark that Pakistani intelligence agency ISI was in touch with some victims of Muzaffarnagar violence.

After BJP's petition to EC in this regard, Rahul Gandhi was served a notice to which he had replied on Friday stating that he had not violated the model code of conduct.

Congress also sent to the EC a DVD of Modi's speech at Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh in which he had made the remarks as well as clippings of a newspaper report.

The party also sent the EC, the text of Modi's speech in which the BJP leader had said, "Yadi aap chahte hain ki Chattisgarh ke upar kisi khooni panje ka saya na pade to aap sabhi kamal mein button dabana aur Chhattisgarh ko khooni panje se bachana. (If you want that the shadow of bloodied hand does not fall on Chattisgarh, press the button on Lotus)"

The party has alleged that Modi had gone on to say - "Jalim hatho mein Chattisgarh ko dena chahate ho?.... Galti se bhee jalim panja ke hatho me Chattisgarh nahi jane dena." (Do you want to give away Chattisgarh to brutal hands....Don't let Chhatisgarh slip into the grip of brutal hands even by mistake)."

Source: IBN

Shatrughan Sinha wants post-poll BJP-Congress coalition govt

National interest today demands that Congress and BJP seriously think of forming a coalition government -- based on a common minimum programme -- after the next general elections, filmstar-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha has said.

Asserting that his vision of a joint BJP-Congress government fits into the 'India First' concept of his party's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, the BJP MP said such a decision by the leaders of the two parties would result in a strong and stable national government, which is the need of the hour.

It would prevent any blackmailing tactics from regional players and smaller parties in the event of a fractured mandate after next year's general elections, he said.

On a weekend-trip to Washington, the 67-year-old BJP leader said he was speaking as a conscious citizen and as an artist for whom the nation is first and is on top of all other priorities.

"This is certainly not my party's view. But I hope, wish and pray that one day it becomes my party's view as well as the view of other parties including the Congress party," Sinha said in an interview.

"It is time for India First and not party first," he asserted, adding that the first option would be to form a majority government of the BJP at the centre. But in case of a hung parliament, the two parties should give a serious thought to a strong coalition government based on a common minimum programme, he added.

Recollecting the bitter experiences of the NDA and the current UPA, Sinha argued that a BJP-Congress government is essential to "end the daily political blackmailing" by smaller and regional parties in the event of a hung parliament.

Arguing that "No one is untouchable in Indian politics now," Sinha cited the examples of various political formations in the past at both national and state levels to buttress his point of a joint BJP-Congress government, which he said is the need of the hour to have a strong and credible national government that would send a strong message to the world.

Sinha said both the Congress and the BJP have a lot in common when it comes to national interest. This includes a similar view on foreign policy, defence issues, and economic reforms.

It is in the interest of the nation that both the Congress and BJP should keep aside their differences, come together to develop a common minimum programme to address larger national issues like poverty, corruption and transparency.

Noting that the prime minister should be from the party having maximum number of seats and on a rotational basis if the two parties have equal number of seats, Sinha, however acknowledged that there are no takers for his views inside the party.

But he hoped that leaders from both the Congress and the BJP would give a serious thought to it in the next six months even as they fight it out against each other in the electoral battlefield.

"If DMK and Congress can join hands together, Mulayam Singh Yadav supports Congress; Mayawati forms government with support from the BJP, Mamata can be part of the both NDA and UPA at different times, why can the BJP and Congress not work together?" Sinha asked.

"The question is in the large national interest, functioning of the government, good governance, stable government, and of course a government of checks and balances, why can't Congress and BJP join hands together," the senior BJP leader asked, insisting that his views are purely personal and do not in any way reflect the views of his party.

"Both the Congress and the BJP have learned and intelligent people, both have popular leaders and our policies are almost the same -- economic policy, foreign policy, industry, defence and terrorism," he added.

Responding to questions, Sinha said there is no time for a pre-poll alliance between the Congress and the BJP, but in the national interest the two parties should have "room for flexibility" to consider a post-poll alliance.

"I am sure even in the Congress, many young leaders, even senior people, who are matured and learned and even in BJP leaders like L K Advani, Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, Arun Shourie, Sushma Swaraj...There should be churning on this issue," he said.

"Modi has given a great concept of India First. It is a visionary thing. He (Modi) has said 'India First'. I am also saying the same thing, country is above party and politics," Sinha said.

Source: Zee

Modi gets the facts wrong, again

Gujarat chief minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi got his history twisted again on Sunday, giving his detractors a chance to have a field day on social media platforms.

Addressing a gathering after the inauguration of a multi-speciality hospital in Gujarat's Kheda district, Modi said, "Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a revolutionary. He died in 1930 in London. But the Congress never bothered to bring back his ashes to the country."

Going by the facts, the revolutionary Modi was referring to was Shyamji Krishna Verma, a freedom fighter, lawyer and a journalist.

Mookerjee was the founder of the Jan Sangh, which was later transformed into the BJP. He died in a Jammu and Kashmir prison on June 23, 1953 - 45 days after being detained for entering the state without a permit.

At a rally in Punjab in June this year, Modi had held India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru responsible for Mookerjee's death.

But on Sunday, Modi said, "Nehru should have sent an emissary to bring the ashes (of Mookerjee) back. The Congress government didn't get them back till 2003. It was me who brought the ashes to India in 2003."

Modi later apologised for the blunder. But his critics on Twitter described him as "his own party's history".

Modi has landed in a tight spot more than once for making serial mistakes during his recent speeches.

At the October 27 Patna rally - held hours after serial blasts rocked the Bihar capital - Modi had said, "When we are reminded of the Gupta Dynasty, we are reminded of Chandragupta's rajneeti."

Bihar chief minister and Modi's political rival, Nitish Kumar, had replied saying, "The BJP has amazing grasp of history. They should know Chandragupta was of Maurya dynasty, not of Gupta dynasty."

Source: HT

US says ready to work with Modi if he becomes PM, blames media for visa row

The US would be willing to work with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, if the party is voted to power in the next general elections, senior Obama administration officials here have said asserting that the enduring bilateral relationship is to continue irrespective of the poll results.

"We will work with the leader of the world's largest democracy. There is no question about that," a senior US official said on Thursday when asked about the prospects of working with an Indian government led by Bharatiya Janata Party's PM nominee Narendra Modi.

Dismissing visa as a non-issue, the official said it was largely a creation of the Indian media and not at all an issue in the US government.

"Visa issue is a media creation. He has to apply and we will review. He (Modi) has not applied (for a visa)," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"You said you have very strong relationship with Prime Minister Singh. If Modi become the Prime Minister next year, would that be problematic for the United States?" the official was asked.

"I think that the United States had a very strong relationship with the previous Indian government when it was under BJP leadership," the US official said.

"I think the relationship between the United States and India is an enduring one, it is a bipartisan in the United States, irrespective of who is in office. And we believe that (in a ) multiparty (system) in India that it is supported by all political parties, we expect that relationship to continue," the official said.

According to another US official "there is not a lot of angst about him (Modi)" in the US government, but it is believed that the Administration has decided to maintain the status quo on this issue for the very reason that it might be seen as an interference in the internal domestic polity of India.

Source: IE

BJP demands PM-level security for Narendra Modi

The BJP parliamentary board on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding prime minister-level security for the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

According to reports, the BJP said Modi's security cover must be increased.

The party also accused both the Bihar and the central governments of monumental failure in providing adequate security to the Gujarat chief minister during the party's 'Hunkar' rally' in Patna on October 27 when a series of low-intensity bomb blasts claimed seven lives.

Earlier, former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi claimed that Modi was the 'target' of the Patna serial blasts.

"Not the crowd, Narendra Modi was the target of the blasts in Patna," Sushil Modi said.

Source: TOI

Bihar BJP leader made to apologise

A burst of unruly protest by women on Monday virtually forced senior BJP leader and ex-minister Giriraj Singh to apologise for his remark that chief minister and JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar was behaving like a “dehati aurat (rural woman)” in his antipathy towards Narendra Modi.

Mr Singh, a diehard supporter of the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and a former Cabinet minister in Bihar’s erstwhile BJP-JD(U) alliance government, had taunted Mr Kumar with an unusually sharp reaction to Mr Kumar’s equally controversial criticism of Mr Modi.

Soon after Mr Kumar obliquely referred to Mr Modi’s two Bihar visits as “outside garbage entering Bihar”, Mr Singh had said on Saturday that the chief minister was behaving like a “dehati aurat and quarreling with Modi out of jealousy”.

When a group of women carrying placards and brandishing bangles surrounded Mr Singh’s 15 Circular Road residence in Patna and chanted slogans against him, Mr Singh was not present at the ministerial bungalow that he still retains. The women insisted that Mr Singh had disrespected millions of women who live in India’s vast rural areas and must apologise or face more protests wherever he travels in Bihar.
“If women have felt hurt by my comments, I express regret. I never intended to hurt them,” said Mr Singh later to journalists. He, however, insisted that Mr Kumar’s statements regarding Mr Modi’s political activities continue to display the JD(U) leader’s “deep jealousy” at his Gujarat counterpart.
Mr Singh also accused Bihar’s food and civil supply minister Shyam Razak of the JD(U) of orchestrating the women’s protest and said the police did nothing to restrain the protesters outside his residence despite it being in a restricted zone with Section 144 clamped always.

Source: AA

Narendra Modi visits Bihar, meets kin of Patna blasts victims

Meeting the families of six persons killed in serial bomb blasts during his Sunday rally, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Saturday assured them all help from the party.

Amid tight security, Modi first headed for Gaurichak in old Patna locality to convey his condolences to the kin of village Azeemchak resident Raj Narain Singh, 65, who had died in the serial blasts.

The BJP leader garlanded the photograph of Singh, sat on the floor as he consoled the family and handed them a cheque of Rs five lakh on behalf of the party, said Arun Sinha, BJP MLA from Kumrahr.

Singh was a farmer and an ardent follower of Jaiprakash Narayan. He had gone to Modi's rally without informing his family, the Gujarat chief minister was informed by Bihar's former deputy chief minister sushil Kumar Modi who accompanied him.

Leader of opposition Nand Kishore Yadav was also present.

Sinha said the family sought a job for one of the three sons of Singh and Modi assured them he will look into it. Singh's other two sons are in the Army.

"Modi consoled Singh's widow. The family was assured that the party will take care of them and and they were satisfied that Modi had come to meet them," BJP leader Ravishanakar Prasad said.

Modi's visit was delayed by two hours this morning due to fog. As the weather opened up, he left for Gauraichak, 25 kms from here, in a helicopter. He has been accorded the status of "state guest" by the Bihar government. The state guest house where he has been staying is opposite to chief minister Nitish Kumar's official residence.

Heavy security arrangement were in place Modi's visit.

Besides, Bihar police personnel, 150 police officials from Gujarat including one Additional Director General of Police rank officer, two deputy inspector general of police and six deputy superintendent of police level officials have come to Bihar as part of elaborate security cover for Modi at all the places he would visit, police sources said.

As part of Z++ VVIP security arrangement for Modi, the Bihar government has issued an alert. A DIG rank officer along with commissioner is accompanying the Gujarat chief minister in all the districts he is visiting, police sources added.

At Singh's residence, Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj was present. Mediapersons were allowed near the residence after a thorough check. From Gaurichak, Modi was slated to families of victims in Kaimur, Gopalganj, Supual, Begusarai and Nalanda. Nalanda, the home district of chief minister Nitish Kumar, will be the final destination of Modi. From there he will fly in helicopter straight to Patna airport to return to Ahmedabad in his chartered plane, BJP sources said.

Six persons were killed in multiple explosions on October 27 during "Hunkar rally" which was addressed by Modi, his first major political show in rival Nitish Kumar's home turf after parting of ways of JD(U) and BJP on June 16 last.

The investigation in the blasts case has pointed to involvement of Indian Mujahideen militant outfit.

Within a week, Narendra Modi has returned to Bihar to pay condolence to the six persons killed in the blasts on Sunday.

The ruling JD(U) hit out at Modi, alleging that he was playing politics of polarisation and questioned why he had never visited the families of 2002 Gujarat riots.

"This kind of behaviour does not behove a person who has been named as the prime ministerial candidate by the main opposition party. We are not saying he should not come to Bihar. But the time he has chosen is not right," JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari said.

His colleague K C Tyagi attacked Modi for travelling with a large security entourage from Gujarat, saying his actions were an insult to the prestige of Bihar.

"It is naked aggression from one state against another. He is behaving like the cruel invaders from the medieval period. Till now we had only seen Centre's interference in affairs of the states," he said.

Modi arrived in JP Airport Patna late on Friday night around 11:15pm from Pune. He was received at the airport by Sushil Modi, Nand Kishore Yadav, Shahnawaz Hussain, Ravishankar Prasad, Dharmendra Pradhan among others.

Source: TOI

Six new ministers in Modi Cabinet, including a Yaduvanshi

Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inducted six new ministers on Friday, nearly a year after winning his third consecutive Assembly elections in December 2012.

Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers at a swearing-in ceremony at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

All six of them were sworn in as ministers of state, taking the total number of ministers in the Modi government to 23, which is still less than the norm of 28.

The expansion has been done to boost the party's performance in the forthcoming 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Little wonder, the caste balance has been given utmost importance. A Patel, OBC, tribal, koli and Kshatiyas have been selected. However, there has been only one fresh face — Jayesh Radadiya. The others had been ministers earlier.

MLA from Jetpur (Saurashtra) Jayesh (32), who along with his father, Saurashtra strongman Vitthal Radadiya, joined the BJP by severing ties with the Congress in February, has also become the youngest minister. He is a Leuva Patel.

While the Cabinet has many Patel leaders, his inclusion was part of a condition that the Radadiyas had made to change loyalties.

The other five are Vasan Ahir (OBC from Anjar Kutch), Jaydrathsinh Parmar (Kshatriya from Halol, central Gujarat), Dilip Thakor (OBC from Chanasma, northern Gujarat), Jaswantsinh Bhabhor (tribal from Limkheda, central Gujarat) and Chhatrasinh Mori (Koli from Jambusar, central Gujarat).

By allocating tourism and civil aviation portfolio, the Modi government has expressed faith in young Radadiya.

However, the portfolio of tainted minister Purshottam Solanki has been reduced to only one department of Labour and Employment, as his other portfolio — Fisheries — has been allocated to Thakore along with Animal Husbandary and Cow Conservation and printing related work.

Bhabhor has been given forest and environment along with Tribal Development. He will be junior minister to Ganpat Vasava, who is also a tribal.

Source: IE

Modi will be 'state guest' during his 2-day Bihar visit

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modiwill be Bihar's 'state guest' during his two-day visit, beginning tomorrow, to meet relatives of the six killed in the serial bomb blasts before his rally in Patna last Sunday.

"He is a chief minister of a state and will be accorded the honour of being a state guest and all protocol will be followed," Principal Secretary to the Cabinet Coordination Committee Brajesh Mehrotra said today.

Modi, who is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow night and will take a chopper to visit the houses of the six slain persons in different districts the next day.

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said there was nothing big in this as being a CM Narendra Modi was entitled to be treated as a state guest.

The former deputy chief minister, who has gone to Supual to launch 'Asthi Kalas Yatra' after meeting family of a blast victim Bharat Rajak, told that the state government should have ensured foolproof security for Modi and not repeat the "lapses" it had shown during Sunday's rally in Patna.

Bihar JD(U) president Bashitha Narayan Singh, however, said the state government had always "performed its duty honestly."

"Despite political differences, Narendra Modi is a Chief Minister of a state. The state government will extend him all facilities in the rule book relating to the visit of a VIP", he said.

Source: TOI

Failure to back anti-terror operations haunts Nitish Kumar now

Bihar government's apparent reluctance to associate with anti-terror operations in the run-up to 2014 elections has come back to haunt it in the form of Gandhi Maidan blasts where it was caught napping. Even as the incident exposed security lapses at the rally venue, sources pointed to the Bihar government's overall attitude to security which has been found to be wanting.

Allegedly wary of stirring the terror pot ahead of 2014 elections, CM Nitish Kumar's government had in August refused to take custody of IM operative Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal even though Bihar Police played a significant role in his arrest from Nepal. Yasin was tracked by Intelligence Bureau to Pokhara and then arrested by a joint team of IB and Bihar Police.

However, after he was brought to Raxaul in Bihar, the state police refused to take his custody saying it had no cases against him. Ultimately, the central security set-up had to make a last minute call to National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the case.

Bihar's refusal to take Yasin's custody was intriguing as one of the most ferocious modules of Indian Mujahideen was raised by him in Darbhanga and Madhubani and several members of this module are still absconding. IM is also a suspect in the Bodh Gaya blasts.

Sources said apart from Bihar appearing to be dragging its feet on the security front, there were some deeply entrenched systemic problems with Bihar's security set-up. During the previous regime in the state, law and order suffered to such an extent that it had a debilitating impact on the police force which despite some good successes in Kumar's regime, will take time to be a fully functional and competent entity, sources said.

They added the fact that Bihar hadn't experienced a bomb blast in several years (except for the recent Bodh Gaya blasts) also added to the lack of preparedness and experience of the police force to deal with terror attacks.

Source: TOI

Patna blasts mastermind Tehseen Akhtar is nephew of JD(U) leader: Report

Indian Mujahideen operative Tehseen Akhtar, who is allegedly the mastermind of Sunday's Patna serial blasts that left six dead and over 50 injured, is the nephew of a Janata Dal (United) leader from Bihar, reports claimed on Tuesday.

Taki Akhtar is the JD(U) leader in Samastipur district, Bihar.

According to a report published in a daily, Taki has always denied any ties with Tehseen. The Akhtars are residents of Maniarpur village of Samastipur, about 100 km from Patna.

Seven blasts took place on Sunday, six of which occured in and around the Gandhi Maidan where Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi later addressed a rally. Tahseen Akhtar is considered to be close to Yasin Bhatkal, the man who co-founded Indian Mujahideen. In the last few months, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on more than 10 occasions raided his native village but failed to find him.

Earlier, the NIA issued an arrest warrant against Tahseen Akhtar, and also announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information that could lead to his arrest.

Source: DNA

Nitish attacks Modi, says 'a man who aspires to be PM should be patient'

Excerpts from Nitish's speech at Rajgir convention:

• I noticed Modi was wiping his face. Why was he sweating? A man who aspires to India's highest post should be patient.

• BJP has amazing grasp of history. They should know Chandragupta was of Maurya dynasty, not of Gupta dynasty.

• Security agencies and Bihar administration are answerable for security at BJP's Patna rally.

• My ex-friends once praised me and now they are finding faults with me.

• My ex-friends of BJP accuse me of failing in security for BJP Patna rally. All security was made.

• I condemn the terrorist incidents in Patna 2 days ago.

• Special status for Bihar will be JD-U's main issue in 2014 polls.

• Bihar isn't begging for special status. It's our right.

• We are fighting for Bihar but some people are creating hurdles for us.

• Nobody can beat our rally in Patna last year, that was for Biharis and not for an individual.

• BJP is responsible for the alliance between the two parties breaking.

• JD-U will connect with voters, demand the legitimate rights of Bihar.

• JD-U will organise 12 sankalp rallies to contact with voters.

• Janata-Dal United's signature campaign forced Centre to set up panel to consider special status for Bihar.

• Bihar demanded Rs. 20,000 cr from centre and got Rs. 12,000 cr. Our fight goes on.

• Janata Dal United convention in Rajgir was successful. We have gained strength.

• Nitish Kumar addresses Janata Dal-United meeting in Rajgir after senior party leader Shivanand Tiwari praised Narendra Modi.

Narendra Modi cannot hope to lead India by inspiring fear: NYT

A leading US daily is of the view that Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi cannot hope to lead India effectively if he "inspires fear and antipathy among" many, particularly Muslims.

Editorially commenting on Gujarat Chief Minister "Narendra Modi's Rise in India," influential New York Times said "His rise to power is deeply troubling to many Indians, especially the country's 138 million Muslims and its many other minorities."

"They worry he would exacerbate sectarian tensions that have subsided somewhat in the last decade," it said noting that in 2002, rioters "savagely killed nearly 1,000 people, most of whom were part of the Muslim minority" in Gujarat.

"India is a country with multiple religions, more than a dozen major languages and numerous ethnic groups and tribes," the Times said. "Mr. Modi cannot hope to lead it effectively if he inspires fear and antipathy among many of its people."

Modi has been denied a US visa since 2005 for his alleged role or inaction during the 2002 riots.

Supporters of Modi, the Times noted "argue that an investigation commissioned by India's Supreme Court cleared him of wrongdoing in the riots."

"And they insist that Mr. Modi, who is widely admired by middle-class Indians for making Gujarat one of India's fastest-growing states, can revive the economy."

But "Modi's strident Hindu nationalism has fuelled public outrage," the daily said recalling his "incendiary response" to a question from a British news agency whether he regretted the killings in 2002.

"Modi has shown no ability to work with opposition parties or tolerate dissent," the Times said.

"His economic record in Gujarat is not entirely admirable, either," it said noting, "Muslims in Gujarat, for instance, are much more likely to be poor than Muslims in India as a whole, even though the state has a lower poverty rate than the country."

Source: ANI

Serial bomb blasts rock Patna; 5 dead, 24 injured

At least five people were killed and 24 injured when a series of blasts rocked Patna ahead of BJP's Hunkar rally on Sunday.

Bihar DGP GP Abhyanand has confirmed 8 explosions. Most of the blasts occurred in and around the Gandhi Maidan.

People were seen rushing the injured to the hospital as the explosions sparked panic.

Six persons were injured in a blast before the Eliphistine cinema hall on the western side of the rally venue, police sources said.

Hours before that, a bomb exploded in a newly constructed toilet at the Patna railway station, two kilometers from the BJP's 'Hunkar rally' venue, injuring one person.

Immediately after the explosion, bomb disposal swept the area and discovered two more crude bombs, railway superintendent of police Upendra Kumar Sinha said.

One security personnel was injured while defusing a bomb recovered from the toilet, he said.

At the rally, plumes of smoke billowed from a couple of sites even as BJP leaders, including its Prime Ministerial candidate Modi, addressed the crowd.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and appealed for calm. He spoke to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and asked him to speedily probe the blasts and ensure that perpetrators are punished.

The home ministry has sought a report from the Bihar government on the explosions and is sending teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guard (NSG) to the state.

"We are in regular touch with authorities in Bihar and have offered them all necessary assistance. We are trying to get more information," minister of state for home R P N Singh said in Delhi, adding the Centre was ready to provide additional forces to maintain law and order.

The ministry has asked the state government to send a report about the nature of the bombs, suspected persons or organisations which could be behind it and steps taken to maintain law and order, official sources said.

The Centre also decided to send a team of explosive experts of the NIA to help the Bihar police in post-blast investigation, they said.

Station manager of Patna Junction Raju Kumar said eleven trains booked by the BJP for the rally had arrived much before the blast.

Patna City SP Jaykant said that security arrangements had been scaled up there.

The BJP demanded a probe into the blasts even as the incident triggered a political slugfest between the saffron party and its former ally JD(U).

"This blast cannot stop the youth from being part of Modi's rally. There is anger among people and they want to get rid of Congress and also other parties who are standing with it," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

"Investigation should be done so as to find out who is behind it," he said.

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sabir Ali questioned why "such incidents were happening after JD(U) parted ways with BJP".

"There is something suspicious. I can feel. They will divide the nation, divide the people only for power," he said.

Bihar has no bullet proof vehicle for Modi

The Bihar government has expressed its inability to meet Gujarat's request to provide a bullet-resistant SUV to its chief minister and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his less than three-hour stay during the party's Hunkar rally in Patna on October 27.

Gujarat has now decided to move its bullet-resistant SUV from New Delhi via Jhansi.

In response to Gujarat's request, the Bihar government had offered a bullet-resistant ambassador car. However, top Gujarat police officials indicated Modi's preference for a bullet-resistant SUV, which its Bihar counterparts declined.

The reason behind denial, said top government sources, was Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's two-day tour to Rajgir, 98 km south of Patna, in Nalanda district. The Janata Dal-United is holding its 'chintan shivir' (brainstorming camp) at Rajgir on October 28 and 29.

Bihar has only two bullet-resistant SUVs and 25 such ambassador cars. However, both SUVs are part of the CM's cavalcade.

Additional director-general (headquarters) Raveendra Kumar told HT: "Since Modi is a Z-plus protectee, a bullet-resistant car would be given to him." Asked about Gujarat's desire for an SUV, Kumar said: "I have not seen any such request (letter)."

The verbal request from Gujarat was made during initial telephonic deliberations between senior officers of the two states early this week.

Factory made bullet-resistant SUVs, are far more superior to retrofitted ones, as in case of ambassador cars. The ones made on assembly line have higher torque and can rev up faster than retrofitted ambassadors. Due to the heavy steel plating, a bullet-resistant SUV weighs 1.5 tonne as against the normal weight of 700 kg.

Seeing Bihar's reluctance, Gujarat even enquired if it should get jammers for negating remote control explosive device and bullet-resistant lectern. Bihar, however, indicated it would have those in place.

Source: HT

How politics of religion, caste may help Modi to win UP, Bihar

Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, is arguably India's most controversial politician. But as the country gears up for a general election due by May 2014, he is probably gaining attention, and plaudits, at a national level.

According to the Economic Times survey, half of Uttar Pradesh's (UP) voters prefer Modi as prime minister. But only 28% intend to vote the BJP. The trend is similar in Bihar: nearly half favour Modi over Rahul Gandhi for prime minister but only one-third will vote the BJP. This does not spell good news for the BJP or Modi. The saffron party needs to do significantly better in these two crucial states, if it is to garner enough seats overall to attract new allies and cobble together a majority.

The survey also reveals that religion and caste still play a central role in politics in UP as well as in Bihar. Caste will shape voter choice, say 47% in Bihar and 41% in UP. Religion will influence voting, say 49% in UP and 43% in Bihar.

In UP, which has the biggest number of Lok Sabha seats, Modi will begin his campaign in big way on October 19. The Hindutva mascot's itinerary includes Kanpur (October 19), Jhansi (October 25) and Bahraich (November 8). Amit Shah, a trusted associate of Modi and BJP in-charge of UP for the 2014 general elections, has been assigned the task to win maximum seats for the party.

The Muzaffarnagar riots have unsettled the social equations in western UP and catapulted the BJP into a dominant position. Political observers feel that if the party sticks to the line against alleged 'minority-appeasement' by other political parties, it could harness the Hindu votes. The BJP believes that the polarisation in western UP would help it make sizeable inroads into the Jat belt, as the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) are perceived as pandering to only the Muslim community.

The BJP will also try to work at social engineering after a spate of riots in UP since the SP came to power one-and-a-half years ago. West is one of the eight zones the BJP has divided UP into for putting in extra effort to achieve its target of winning 40 seats, which would be 30 more than their present strength in the state.

According to The Telegraph, Modi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from 'outside Gujarat', his principal aide Shah said, providing the first on-record validation of what was being widely speculated. He added that the list of states from where Modi might be fielded “certainly” included UP.

Bihar and UP together account for 120 of the Lok Sabha’s 542 seats. One section of the party feels that if Modi contests from UP, it would hint a committed engagement with the state and motivate the cadres and the voters, especially the floating voters.

Bihar, too, is of special interest, not only because it has 40 seats but also in view of the BJP's bitter fight with former ally, the Janata Dal (United).

While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar managed to keep Modi out of the state even when his party was in alliance with the BJP, the Gujarat CM's presence at the Hunkar (roar) rally will be a direct challenge to him. The BJP’s star campaigner is scheduled to address the party’s much-vaunted rally on October 27. The saffron cadres are pulling out all stops to ensure the grand success of what observers see as the party’s effort to present Modi as a bigger hero than Nitish Kumar on his own soil. The BJP's state unit is banking on Modi's charisma to cut into Nitish Kumar's mass appeal - and vote bank, too.

It seems that politics in Bihar has become Modi-centric, at present. The entire political class in the State is either attacking Modi or chanting NaMo mantra. Former Congress leader and RJD boss Lalu Prasad's brother-in law Sadhu Yadav reached Ahmedabad to meet him, calling him a prime ministerial material.

Political pundits are of the view that Modi has given a final shape to Bihar electoral strategies for the LS polls. The Hindutva poster boy is putting special emphasis on social engineering in the state while preparing the party’s poll strategy. Interestingly, the first proposal to declare Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate came from Bihar.

The BJP spin doctors are also eyeing Nitish Kumar’s core constituency -- extremely backwards castes (EBCs). In an attempt to erode this vote-bank of the JD (U), the Bihar BJP unit has already started projecting Modi as a ‘representative’ of the EBCs.

Also, Upend Kushwaha, who has left JD (U) to form his own party, is reportedly coming closer to the BJP. Kushwaha has said that coming from the EBC background, Modi is the right choice for the Prime Minister’s post given his credentials as an administrator. Kushwaha, who hails from the backward Koiri caste, had been known to be very close to Nitish Kumar. The two backward castes, Kurmi and Koiri had been the backbone of the JD (U) since its inception and it is believed that Kushwaha’s rebellion could dent the base.

The saffron party also wants allure Pasmanda Muslims in the state. They form the core vote-bank of Nitish Kumar, who has sent its leader, Ali Anwar, to the Rajya Sabha for the second consecutive term. ‘Pasmanda’, a Persian term meaning “those who have fallen behind,” refers to Muslims belonging to the shudra (backward) andati-shudra (Dalit) castes.

The BJP’s campaign in Bihar will be based mainly on four themes “inspired” by Modi. A senior leader listed these as national security and national pride, good governance and Modi’s impeccable integrity, his caste origin and soft Hindutva. As the other parties are scrambling for the minority votes, the party think tank believes there could be a reverse Hindu polarisation, at least among the upper castes and sections of the backward castes that had rallied behind the party in the Ayodhya era.

Source: BS