UPA has disintegrated: Advani

BILASPUR (HP): Claiming that cracks in UPA were now in open, L K Advani on Saturday said that the ruling alliance had "disintegrated" while "new friends" will be joining hands with BJP-led NDA, a day after union ministers Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan skipped a cabinet meeting.

"Cracks in the UPA can be gauged from the fact that three of its cabinet minister including Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, who are miffed with the Congress, skipped the Cabinet meeting yesterday," the BJP prime ministerial candidate said at a rally in support of BJP candidate from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur.

"On the other hand NDA is standing firm and new friends will be appearing at a joint NDA rally in Punjab tomorrow," he said, apparently referring to TRS, a constituent of the Third Front, whose chief K Chandrashekhar Rao will attend the Ludhiana election meeting.

Claiming that the UPA had "disintegrated", Advani said, "The Congress has failed to run a coalition government but the previous NDA was successful experiment in coalition politics."

Accusing the Congress of "betraying" faith of freedom fighters by doing precious little to ameliorate the condition of 'aam admi' (common man), Advani promised that if the NDA came to power, the country will be placed among the developed nations of the world.

-------------

PM pooh-poohs Jaya’s demand to send army to Lanka


CHENNAI: Dismissing the demand for sending Indian Army to carve out a separate 'Tamil Eelam' in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
Saturday categorically said it was not "easy to march armies" into a sovereign country, and those advocating it were themselves aware that these were only "tall promises."

"We are dealing with a sovereign state. You can't march the army into a sovereign state. There is something called international law. All these constraints are known to those who are making tall promises," Mr Singh said, answering a question on AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa's often repeated declaration that any government in which she will have a say will despatch the Army to the island nation and establish 'Tamil Eelam'.

Replying to a volley of questions from the media here, the prime minister said "what is possible and not impossible is a matter of speculation."

"We have continuously been in contact with the highest levels of the Sri Lankan government on this matter. We have consistently maintained that there is no military solution to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka. We have stressed that the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil speaking minority must be fulfilled within the framework of a united and federal Sri Lanka, through a negotiated and peaceful settlement," he said.

Mr Singh said topmost priority and concern of the Indian government is to provide relief and succour to displaced people and wait till the fight comes to an end in the Island nation.

While conceding that the Tamils in the neighbouring country had not got a fair deal, he said the solemn duty is to find a dignified solution for the Tamil populace.

Recalling the UPA government’s position on the issue, Mr Singh said all efforts must be made to ensure that the Tamils in Sri Lanka got a place of honour so that they were treated as equal citizens in that country and were able to lead a life with dignity and self-respect. "Our stand has been that a solution has to be found under the framework of a unified Sri Lanka."

Asked for a categorical answer on a possibility of forging an alliance with the AIADMK in a post-poll scenario, Mr Singh said "we are fighting this elections in the company of DMK." It has stood the test of time and yielded solid results.

"We fervently hope to maintain the alliance as we form the government," he added. He exuded confidence that the Congress-led UPA alliance "will be able to form a new government."

Showering praises on TN CM M Karunanidhi, he said the achievements of the UPA government are nowhere as evident as in the state of TN. It is a model state that exemplifies the success of the country’s economic story.

Modernisation of airport and infrastructure improvement were all symbols of progress that the state has achieved.

On whether the Congress was likely to lose its vote bank on account of the Ealem issue, the prime minister said he recognised that there is a problem with reference to the island nation as regards the place for Tamil population. All Indians are united on the issue that the Tamils were able to lead a life of dignity and self-respect in Sri Lanka, he reiterated.

Hailing Tamil Nadu as an enlightened state of the union, Mr Singh said the government is doing and would continue to do all that it could to bring about this outcome. The chips are down, but Tamil people will recognise that there are limitations in dealing with another country.

On the disintegration of third front, the prime minister said he did not view it as a "viable arrangement." It is a matter of speculation and a clear picture would emerge only after May 16, when the poll results were out.

To a question on a "disconnect" between his statement and the one made by Rahul Gandhi on the role of regional parties, Mr Singh sought to clarify by saying that it was a casual remark made at the Editors’ Guild conference, given that there are too many parties. "We are passing through a phase where regional parties are a phase of life... they will exist and continue to exist," he said, pointing out that his party already had an alliance with DMK here.

The prime minister declared that Prabhakaran was "a proclaimed offender... he is wanted in our country," when asked about the efforts initiated by the Indian government to have a trial of LTTE supremo Prabhakaran in the sub-continent. But, those trapped in the no war zone must be brought to safety and according them the attention they deserve were the primary concerns.

Dwelling on the impact of outsourcing backlash on Indian IT, he said "governments take certain postures but they learn fast." Officials in the US administration also held the view that such a posture would hurt competence of the US corporation, Mr Singh sought to point out, while expressing confidence that the US government would recognise this reality not in the distant future.

To a question on how the prices continued to rise despite a dipping inflation, the prime minister said the wholesale price index had to be viewed from a global perspective. The buffer stock of foodgrains had triggered its price rise world-over but as the government wanted Indian farmers to get remunerative prices, the procurement cost had to be passed on somewhere.

Hence, though inflation had come down below 1%, the consumer prices had not come down. But with bumper crop this year, prices of essential commodities would dip, he assured.

Asked about the absence of UPA’s key constituents — Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan — during the cabinet meeting, Mr Singh said the media tends to sensationalise even trivial issues. As meetings were convened on an urgent basis, it was not possible sometimes to re-schedule already planned ones, he said, going on to add that Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Mani Shanker Aiyer too were absent.

Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natrajan, AICC general secretary and TN incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad, former union telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and power minister Arcot Veeraswamy were also present at the press conference.

Later, the prime minister met Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi at Apollo hospital and enquired about his health, before taking the helicopter back to the capital.


------

Manmohan Singh not PM candidate for entire UPA: Modi


Thiruvananthapuram (PTI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Manmohan Singh was not the unanimous choice of UPA and also some Congress leaders for the post of Prime Minister.

"Senior leaders of the Congress like Arjun Singhji has not even mentioned the name of Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. Only Soniaji has said that he is their PM candidate.

Leading partners in the UPA have also not said anything on Manmohan Singh becoming the Prime Minister," Mr. Modi said.

The Gujarat Chief Minister, who had a brief stop-over at the Airport here on his way to campaign in Kanayakumari Lok Sabha constituency, told reporters that this was in sharp contrast with the situation in the BJP, where L K Advani was the unanimous choice of the entire NDA for post of Prime Minister.

Asked about prospects of the 'third front", he mockingly replied, "one does not know who is the owner of the third front, which all parties are there and what their agenda."

------

Thirteen injured in post-poll violence in Nandigram


Nandigram, May 9: In the continued post-poll violence, 13 political workers of both Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) suffered bullet wounds in different areas here today.

Nine Trinamool Congress workers were hurt in a clash at Jadubarichowk during a 12-hour bandh called by the party to protest against the arrest of three of its supporters following disturbances on polling day on Thursday.

The clash, which saw bombs and guns freely being used by both sides, broke out after a procession was taken out by TC in the area, police said.

In another clash in the afternoon four CPI(M) workers were injured.

All the injured were hospitalised. PTI


--------

Regional parties to play key role in Third Front govt formation: Karat


Kolkata (PTI): Regional parties would play an important role in formation of a Third Front government at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat claimed on Saturday.

He said these parties parties should not be underestimated as they "are support-based and they fulfil the aspirations of the people. We are talking to them. These parties have an important role to play in government formatation."

He also said that during the election it was not possible to work out common policies with regional parties."After the elections, we will formulate these policies."

Speaking about the prospects of a Third Front government coming to power, Mr. Karat said "I am 100 per cent confident. We are talking with different political parties.

"Many people were not believing that the Third Front will come into being before the Lok Sabha polls. Now, it is clear that the Third Front is a reality. The Third way is possible," he said.

---------

Cong afflicted with despondency, defeatism: BJP


DEHRADUN: Stating that Congress is afflicted with the feeling of despondency and defeatism, BJP on Saturday said that Congress has now started praising those parties which are arch-rivals of its own allies.

"Rahul Gandhi is praising the work of Nitish Kumar government in Bihar despite the fact that Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD is an ally of Congress. Other Congress leaders are luring Left parties despite having Mamata Banerjee as their ally in West Bengal," BJP's national spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said at party headquarters here.

"In Tamil Nadu, they want to bring AIADMK with them despite DMK being the part of UPA," Prasad said.

This behaviour of Congress leaders clearly shows that the party is afflicted with the feeling of despondency, pessimism and defeatism, he said.

Prasad said the feeling is evident in the fact that the party has dismissed its media cell chief Veerappa Moily for making a statement that if Nitish Kumar wanted to waste his time with communal parties, then nobody can help him.

----------

TRS chief to attend NDA rally tomorrow, CPI opposes


Hyderabad (PTI): The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Saturday appeared to have annoyed its partners in the "Grand Alliance" in Andhra Pradesh with its decision to attend the NDA rally being organised at Ludhiana in Punjab on Sunday.

"TRS cannot continue in the Grand Alliance if it supports BJP or NDA. How can he (TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao) attend a rally where L.K. Advani would be present. Opposition to Congress and BJP is the basis for formation of Third Front," CPI state secretary K. Narayana told PTI.

"TRS says formation of Telangana is their top priority and agenda. But they need not resort to such tricks like attending an NDA rally for the sake of Telangana. This is an insult to the people of Telangana," he said.

TDP leader K. Yerran Naidu, however, played down the TRS decision, saying it is too early to come to a conclusion over the matter.

"TRS said they are attending the rally on the invitation of Akali Dal. Let them attend it and I don't see anything wrong in it. A big issue need not made out the TRS decision when the political situation is still fluid," he said.

Senior TRS leader B. Vinod Kumar said in Delhi: "We got an invitation from SAD chief and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to attend the rally to be organised tomorrow. Our party chief has accepted the invitation."

On whether Mr. Rao's attendance of the NDA rally meant he had joined the alliance, Mr. Kumar said as of now no official decision has been taken in this regard.

"An official decision will be taken by the Parliamentary Party meeting that will take place after results are announced on May 16," the TRS MP said.

---------------

Jammu protests Taliban tax on Sikhs

Srinagar: Jammu is seething with anger over the atrocities on Sikhs and other minority communities by the Taliban in Pakistan.

A bandh was observed in the winter capital in protest against the Taliban's jazia demand. Jazia is a tax imposed on non-Muslims in a country under Sharia law.

Protesters marched to the UN military observers' group (UNMOGIP) office and submitted a memorandum seeking protection of minorities in Pakistan. They also burnt tyres and raised slogans against Taliban. Some tried to smash vehicles at Satwari.
Police had to resort to cane charge to disperse the mob. Inspector general of police, Jammu, K Rajendra Kumar said the situation was under control.

The bandh was called by the Jammu Bar Association and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) with the support of several social, religious and political organisations.

Life was hit in Jammu city with commercial establishments remaining closed. Traffic was sparse as matadors and autos, the main modes of public transport in the city, kept off the roads. Attendance in most government offices, public sector undertakings and banks was thin. There was no response to the bandh from elsewhere in Jammu region.

"The ghost of jazia has returned to haunt Hindus and Sikhs after 400 years. This is a serious issue because minorities are feeling unsafe in Pakistan. Taiban is demanding jazia from Sikhs and those who can't pay the tax are being targeted. The Indian government should take up the issue with Pakistan and ensure their safety," Dr Rama Kant Dubey, state president of the VHP, said.

The VHP has decided to hold a meeting with different organisations to chalk out a strategy.

Lawyers and members of civil society also led a protest march in Jammu and submitted a memorandum to the UNMOGIP. "Taliban's demands are in violation of the UN charter on human rights. The UN should step in and guarantee the safety of minorities in Pakistan," Sunil Sethi, president ofJammu Bar Association, said.