New Delhi: Congress today targeted BJP chief Amit Shah over his sharing of the dais with mafia don-turned- politician DP Yadav during an election rally, saying birds of a feather flock together.
The party also expressed displeasure over the “mujrewala” remark which was reportedly made by Shah against Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda during campaigning for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
“We cannot advise the president of BJP as to what company he should keep… (But) there is an old saying, birds of a feather flock together,” party spokesperson Anand Sharma told reporters here in reaction to the matter of Yadav joining Shah during campaigning in Haryana.
Almost a decade after he was thrown out by BJP over his controversial background, Yadav was seen sharing the dais with Shah on Monday.
Yadav had accompanied Shah to three places in Haryana to canvass for votes for BJP candidates ahead of the Oct. 15 Assembly elections.
On the issue of Shah’s remarks directed at the Haryana Chief Minister, Sharma reacted sharply, saying, “I cannot respond to Shah by descending to his level and language. It is not possible for me to communicate in his language.”
Shah’s ‘mujrewala’ barb reportedly came at a rally in Hisar where he said that the Haryana chief minister has been dancing to the tune of the Congress high command in Delhi in order to save his chair.
As many as 7,666 candidates have filed their nominations for the October 15 Maharashtra Assembly polls, which is set to witness a five-cornered contest in all the 288 constituencies.
The nomination process ended yesterday with 7,666 candidates filing their papers, state electoral office said today.
The highest 91 nominations have been filed from Nanded-South constituency while the lowest nine each have been filed at Guhagar (in Ratnagiri), Mahim (Mumbai) and Kudal (Sindhudurg) seats.
Congress campaign committee chief Narayan Rane is contesting from Kudal.
On the last day of filing of nominations yesterday, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister R R Patil filed their papers.
Chavan, who resigned as Chief Minister after NCP pulled out of the government, filed nomination from Karad South amidst rousing welcome from supporters.
This will be Chavan’s first electoral battle after he lost the 1999 Lok Sabha elections from Karad, which he represented thrice.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who had declared at a rally a few months ago that he would enter the electoral battle by contesting the polls, will not contest.
The Congress has fielded candidates for all the 288 seats, while the NCP’s 286 candidates will be in the fray.
BJP has fielded candidates in 257 seats, state party spokesperson Keshav Upadhye had said yesterday.
“The remaining 31 seats have been given to our allies,” he had said.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, whose name was being pitched by his party as the Chief Ministerial candidate, is also not contesting.
The Sena declared a list of 286 candidates. The two constituencies where the party has not fielded candidates are Parli, where Gopinath Munde’s daughter Pankaja is BJP nominee, and Byculla, where Arun Gawli’s daughter Geeta is nominee.
The scrutiny will take place on September 29 and last date of withdrawing the nominations is September 30.
Mumbai: Apparently targeting its former ally BJP, Shiv Sena on Saturday said it was its leader Bal Thackeray who stood up for Hindutva while others used it as a “shield for political gains” and warned that “those who came to conquer Maharashtra were buried in the state’s soil”.
It sought to give credit to late Bal Thackeray’s efforts for BJP coming to power at the Centre.
The battle (for 15 October Assembly polls) is one for self-respect,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.
“Be it Aurangzeb or Afzal Khan, those who came with vested interests were either buried here or became extinct,” the Sena organ said.
“After Shivaji Maharaj, it was Bal Thackeray who created history. Shivaji set up the Hindavi Swarajya but it was the late Sena chief who had the determination to unfurl the Hindutva flag in the country,” it said. It expressed surprise over politicians who indulge in “moonh mein Ram bagal mein chhoori” approach.
“The late Thackeray faced several attacks for ensuring propagation of Hindutva in Maharashtra and the country. Like in the case of Aurangzeb, (Thackeray) vanquished the new Aurangzebs. Its fruits are today seen in Delhi and Maharashtra,” the editorial said.
In a veiled attack on BJP leadership, the Sena mouthpiece said, “Aurangzeb camped in Maharashtra to overthrow the Maratha regime but could not succeed.
“Aurangzeb, who came to conquer, had to bite the dust here. Maharashtra always protected national interest. It did not use the shield of Hindutva for political gains.”
The 25-year-old Sena-BJP alliance fell apart this week over the issue of seat sharing in the assembly polls.
PTI
Mumbai, Sept. 28 (ANI): The central government on Sunday imposed President’s rule in Maharashtra following the resignation of Prithviraj Chavan as state Chief Minister due to the breakup of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance.
BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that it was a natural outcome after the NCP withdrew support from the Congress and it became a minority Government.
“It’s a natural outcome after the NCP withdrew support from the Congress in Maharashtra, the state government became a minority government, and after that state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan resigned, and having said that there is a constitutional provision in the state and where there is minority government, president’s rule is imposed,” said Rudy.
“The centre has taken a conscious call and recommended President’s rule in Maharashtra, it’s a constitutional process and now the state administration would be run by the Governor of Maharashtra with the advisers appointed by the central Government,” he added.
Rudy however, downplayed reports of the BJP being asked to form government in Maharashtra saying, “It’s absolutely bizarre and ridiculous that the party has been asked to form government in the state, the BJP is going to score majority in Maharashtra and form a stable government.”
BJP state unit spokesperson Madhav Bhandari added, “This decision has been taken as per the constitutional provision. Due to this, the Maharashtra administration will work freely without any pressure from the Congress or the NCP and doors are now open in the state for fair elections.”
Another BJP leader Shaina NC said that it was a clear indication to the people of Maharashtra that they must vote for a stable government in the state.
“This is a constitutional provision, it is a clear indication for the public of Maharashtra that you must vote for a stable government in order not to have these kind of scenarios of coalition politics.”
On Thursday, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) broke its alliance with the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, blaming their erstwhile allies of not being on the same page as far as the allocation of seats in the state was concerned.
The NCP’s announcement came minutes after the BJP ended its 25-year alliance with the Shiv Sena.
Earlier on Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan submitted his resignation to Governor C.V. Rao, after his Congress Party snapped its ties with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Chavan served as Maharashtra Chief Minister for a little less than four years.
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Using an unusual platform of a rock concert, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked on Sunday a “can do” attitude of youth to change India and the world, while addressing a thousands-strong crowd which gathered for “Global Citizen Festival” in Central Park in New York.
After a seven-minute speech in English, Modi also read out a Sanskrit scripture calling for “peace in the world” and greeted the largely American crowd with a “Namaste” amid cheers and claps.
Amid performances by various singers, Modi was introduced to the crowd by actor Hugh Jackman as someone who started as a “tea salesman” and went on to become chief minister of Gujarat and then Prime Minister of India with a huge mandate.
Addressing the crowd, Modi also sent his “Namaste” to those watching the concert on “TVs, laptops, tablets and phones”.
Modi said he was delighted to be among the youth in an open park and not inside a closed conference room. “Because you are the future. What you do today, will decide our tomorrow. I feel a current of hope in this park. Among you, I feel confident about the future,” he said.
Hailing the Global Citizen movement to end poverty and provide education and basic sanitation to all, Modi said, “Some believe that the world changes with the wisdom of the old. I think that the idealism, innovation, energy and ‘can do’ attitude of the youth is even more powerful.”
“That is my hope for India too (for) 800 million youth joining hands to transform our nation,” he added.
Modi said he decided to come to the festival to extend his support and to express his belief that youth of India can join them in this global effort.
Security has been increased at the DMK headquarters and residences of its senior leaders here as a Special Court in Bangalore is set to deliver verdict in the 18-year-old wealth case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today.
On a request from DMK, security had been increased at “Anna Arivalayam”, the headquarters of DMK, two residences of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi and the residence of K Anbazhagan, party’s General Secretary, police said.
It was on Anbazhagan’s petition that the case had been transferred to Bangalore by the Supreme Court.
Hollywood star Al Pacino said he was “overwhelmed” after being made a fellow of the British Film Institute (BFI).
The 74-year-old star of The Godfather films received the honour at a ceremony in London from BFI chairman Greg Dyke.
“People I’ve adored have received this award,” said Pacino. “I appreciate this so much. Thank you.”
Industry legends including Orson Welles, Dame Judi Dench, Ken Loach and the late Lord Attenborough have received the fellowship in the past.
It is awarded by the BFI Board of Governors and is presented for outstanding achievement in film and television. Since 1983, a total of 78 fellowships have been awarded.
Actors Richard E Grant, Ian Holm, John Hurt and Steven Berkoff were among those attending the star-studded ceremony on Thursday, alongside directors Terry Gilliam and Terence Davies, playwright David Hare and Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.
Pacino, who won the best actor Oscar in 1993 for his role in Scent of a Woman, is best known for his performances in the Godfather trilogy, Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon.
Presenting him with the fellowship, Mr Dyke called the actor “a true icon”.
“Al Pacino is one of the greatest actors the world has ever seen, and a visionary director of stage and screen,” he said.
“His extraordinary body of work has made him one of the most recognisable and best-loved stars of the big screen, whose films enthral and delight audiences across the globe.”
Pacino stars in forthcoming dramas Manglehorn and The Humbling, which debuted last month at the Venice Film Festival.
Earlier this month he premiered a film version of the Oscar Wilde play Salome – which he directed – in London. It marked his second directorial turn, following 1996’s Looking for Richard.
Mumbai: A day after the split in the saffron alliance, Shiv Sena on Friday lashed out at BJP, calling it “enemy of Maharashtra”, signalling a return to its original pro-Marathi agenda for next month’s assembly polls.
“Our other (Mahayuti) alliance parties wanted the Sena-BJP association to continue. More than that, it was what the 11 crore people of Maharashtra wanted. Those who trampled these sentiments are enemies of Maharashtra,” Shiv Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’
“This (breaking of alliance) is an insult to the 105 Marathi martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement,” the editorial went on to say. It also termed as “unfortunate” the demise of the long-standing alliance between the two ideologically compatible pro-Hindutva parties.
“It is unfortunate that the Sena-BJP alliance, which for the last 25 years was bound by the Hindutva ideology, has ended. We made sincere efforts till the end to ensure that the alliance with BJP and other parties of Mahayuti remained intact,” the editorial said.
“Those who till yesterday were praying in this tent are now offering namaz in the other tent,” it said, apparently targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent remarks praising the “patriotism” of Indian Muslims. “Soon the realisation will dawn that those who flew away (BJP) were crows of ‘pitrapaksh’ and those who remain are Mavle (a term used for Chhhatrapati Shivaji’s soldiers),” the editorial said.
Referring to senior Congress leader Narayan Rane’s recent allegation that the BJP-led government at the Centre was trying to reduce the importance of Mumbai as the country’s financial capital by shifting RBI’s foreign exchange divisions to Delhi, the editorial said, “Today Congress leaders are decrying conspiracy to reduce the state’s importance. But Morarji Desai too was of flesh and blood of Congress.”
It was during Desai’s tenure as Chief Minister that 105 volunteers of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement were killed while demanding a separate state for Marathi-speaking people with Bombay as its capital.
Frankfurt, Sept 26:
After an overnight transit halt here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today left for his maiden visit to the US, during which he will address the UN General Assembly, hold talks with President Barack Obama and meet top American corporate honchos, besides a series of other engagements.
On his first leg of the high-profile five-day visit, Modi will land in New York, where he will address the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) tomorrow and a rally at the famous Madison Square Garden on Sunday, which is likely to be attended by around 20,000 people from the Indian-American community.
Modi will have a summit-level meeting with Obama on September 30 and today in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, the Prime Minister described America as India’s “natural global partner’’.
“The US is our natural global partner. India and the US embody the enduring and universal relevance of their shared values,” Modi wrote.
Modi is visiting the US after being denied a visa in 2005 for his alleged role in the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat when he was the tate’s chief minister.
The Prime Minister will have a gruelling schedule in New York which includes a meeting with as many as 11 top corporate honchos over breakfast on September 29 apart from one-on-one meetings with six more business captains the same day.
In New York, Modi will pay a visit to the 9/11 memorial on Saturday following which he is expected to drive down to the United Nations headquarters to address the 69th annual session of the UNGA.
Obama will host a rare private dinner for Modi at the White House on September 29 to establish a personal relationship with the Indian leader ahead of summit talks the next day. The two leaders are meeting for the first time.
Modi will also be participating in a business meet, to be organised by the US-India Business Council (USIBC), expected to be attended by 300-400 businessmen in Washington on September 30.
Seeking enhanced ties, in the op-ed, Modi said the complementary strengths of India and the US can be used for inclusive and broad-based global development to transform lives across the world.
“This is a moment of flux in the global order. I am confident in the destiny of our two nations, because democracy is the greatest source of renewal and, with the right conditions, offers the best opportunity for the human spirit to flourish,” he said.
New Delhi: Significant differences on ‘critical issues’ forced NCP to take ‘bold’ step of ending the 15-year-old alliance with Congress in Maharashtra, party chief Sharad Pawar said on Friday.
The Maratha strongman also said that his party would seek support of “other secular parties” for the assmebly polls next month.
In a series of tweets, Pawar said, “I would like to say that there were significant differences between our party & Congress on various critical issues. Due to time constraint & other issues, we were compelled to take bold step to end 15 years of alliance with Congress in Maharashtra.
“So our party has decided to contest this elections independently and we will be happy to take support from other secular parties,” he tweeted.
While he did not elaborate on what were the critical issues, NCP had pulled a rabbit out of its hat by raising the demand for rotational Chief Ministership at the last minute during the seat sharing talks with Congress in Maharashtra.
NCP had sought the Chief Minister’s post for half of the 5-year term if the alliance retained power. The formula was adopted by Congress in Jammu and Kashmir sometime back with its then state partner PDP.
Supporters of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan were hinting for long that NCP leader Ajit Pawar would not like the alliance to take place as he aspired for the top post.
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