Congress-Sena face-off over SRK's film

The ruling Congress and the Shiv Sena were on Wednesday on the path of bitter confrontation in the escalating row over the screening of Shah Rukh Khan film My Name is Khan in Maharashtra this Friday, as Sena MPs decided to surrender their security cover.

Sparks flew on Wednesday after Chief Minister Ashok Chavan spoke of removing security cover provided to Uddhav Thackeray if he takes law into his own hands with the Sena executive chief mocking at the Congress-led government saying it was interested only in providing security for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Uddhav said he did not need government security.

"I don't need his security. My party MLAs will also return their security. Let the men guard Kasab as he seems dearer to government instead of those who express their love for the country," Uddhav said. Kasab is the lone surviving Pakistani gunman in the Mumbai terror attack.

After Chavan's threat on Tuesday to Uddhav, Shiv Sena MPs on Wednesday decided to surrender their security cover in protest.

"We have already returned the security cover since this morning," party leader Sanjay Raut, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, said.

He said that letters have been written by party leaders to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari in this regard.

Raising the rhetoric after the crackdown by the state governments in which over 1,200 Shiv Sainiks were arrested following their violent protests against the SRK film, Raut warned: "Wait and see what happens on 12th despite huge security". The film of the responding Bollywood superstar is due to be released on February 12.

In New Delhi, Congress spokesman Abishekh Singhvi sent a strong message to the Shiv Sena saying their protests over the release of the film would be dealt with a "very firm hand".

Chavan had earlier said, "We are not going to tolerate Shiv Sena's bullying tactics". Chavan said the Sena-SRK controversy should be resolved by "mutual understanding."

He said though the law and order is primarily the state government's responsibility, other political parties should also think over it.

On reports that the advance booking for My Name... being closed apparently due to Sena threats, Chavan said police is taking care of security.

"Police are taking care of the security issue to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Condemning the Chief Minister's statement that he would withdraw the Z-plus security cover to Uddhav, Raut alleged that the remarks were "irresponsible" in view of the fact that their leader faced threats from "terrorists and traitors".

The Shiv Sena is protesting against Shah Rukh for not agreeing to its demand to tender an apology for his remarks that Pakistani players should not have been excluded in the third edition of the IPL cricket tournament.

Smarting from its botched attempt at disrupting Congress leader Rahul Gandhis visit to Mumbai last Friday, the Sena has made Shah Rukh the target of a virulent campaign, to the extent of calling him a traitor and asking him to leave for Pakistan.

Uddhav to Rahul Gandhi: Stay out of Mumbai

"Rahul should not interfere in Marathi affairs...Rahul should stop all this or we won't allow him into Mumbai"- more threats from the Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray.

Thackeray's day was spent in twin attacks against Shah Rukh Khan and Rahul Gandhi.Uddhav also lambasted Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan saying Chavan does not fight for his state like other CMs do. The Sena president said, "I am ashamed of Chief Minister Ashok Chavan."

On Wednesday morning, Bal Thackeray said, of Gandhi, "The Prince Has Sprouted Wings." Thackeray Senior has written an editorial in his party's mouthpiece, Saamna, in which he says, "Rahul Gandhi has insulted Maharashtra and its people." Thackeray goes on to say, "We agree with his statement that 'Mumbai belongs to all Indians'. As Shiv Sena chief, I have never said Mumbai is not a part of India. We have never encouraged separatism in Maharashtra or among its people. But we do not need him to tell us that this nation has to stay one and united."

In the last few days, Rahul Gandhi has taken on the Thackerays over their migrant politics for Mumbai. Gandhi said that "Mumbai belongs to all Indians." He also said that during 26/11, many of the commandos who fought to save Mumbai were from North India. Gandhi's remarks were made in Bihar, a state whose residents have repeatedly been targeted by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai.

Uddhav Thackeray has been getting shriller in his keep-outsiders-away-from-Mumbai campaign. The new pitch is attributed to the success his estranged cousin and political rival, Raj Thackeray, has enjoyed in recent elections, mainly as a result of his Marathi Manoos campaign.

Since last month, migrant politics in Mumbai has taken the national centre stage. The debate was triggered by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra who said that taxi drivers in Mumbai would need to prove fluency in Marathi to get their permits renewed. More than half the city's taxi drivers are from North India. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan quickly changed his stand after gigantic public criticism. Gujarati and Hindi-speaking drivers were eligible, he said. The Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray have said the U-turn is not acceptable to them

The Sena has also attacked actor Shah Rukh Khan for stating that it's wrong that not a Single Pakistani player will play in IPL3.

Modi on prices: Will write to Sonia in Italian

It's a typical Modi dig at Sonia Gandhi.

"I have written scores of letters to the Centre saying there is a need to control the rise in food prices. I wrote in a language they understand. But nothing has come of it. Now I guess I will have to write to them in Italian," said the Gujarat Chief Minister at a public meeting on Friday.

The Congress' reaction was fast and furious. "Only Modi could have made such a preposterous comment. Modi must have lost it," said Manish Tiwari, the party spokesperson.

Narendra Modi has raked up the issue of Sonia Gandhi's Italian origin in every election since 2002. Then, in 2007, Sonia Gandhi struck back, referring to Modi as the Maut Ka Saudagar or 'Merchant of Death', invoking the communal riots that took place in 2002 on Modi's watch.

Modi was re-elected that December for the third time.

But with the Congress returning to power with a sound majority last May, political analysts say Modi wants to project himself as more than an irrepressible right-wing leader. He wants to be identified with issues that all voters consider important - like the seemingly unstoppable price rice that the country is confronting.

"Gujarat has initiated so many pro-poor schemes. But they are failing because the Centre can't control food inflation," he says. But at a relief camp organized by him on Friday, people complained that the envelopes they received were missing the cash they were promised

Controlling prices is also responsibility of states: Congress

With UP Chief Minister Mayawati and her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar blaming the Centre for the price rise, Congress on Thursday hit back saying it (controlling prices) was also the responsibility of the states.

"The UP Chief Minister does not have the interest of the common man at heart. All she wants to do it to score browny points in politics. Government has announced a number of measures for checking prices and if any Chief Minister puts obstacle in these steps, this amounts to working against the common man," Party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.

Another senior party leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi termed Mayawati's statement, charging the UPA government with working under the influence of capitalists, as "irresponsible" and "childish", saying no Prime Minister or Government can do this.

Putting states in the dock over their role in controlling price rise, Chaturvedi said, "Do states have no responsibility? Who looks after supply department, food department and the Public Distribution System? Is it not the state?"

"Centre can give foodgrains but what if states do not lift it. Many states did not lift even 40 percent of the foodgrains given to them. States have to take responsibility.

Putting the blame on the Centre alone won't do," he said.

No intention to hurt Muslim sentiments: Chidambaram

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said he had no intention to hurt the sentiments of Muslims by his recent remarks equating 'jihad' to terrorism and said he was "happy to stand corrected."

"I may assure you that there was no intention to hurt the sentiments of anyone in the Muslim community," Chidambaram said in a letter to M H Jawahirullah, president of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), who had objected to his remarks on jihad.

He said as a "devout Muslim," Jawahirullah was more informed about the teachings of Islam and the true meaning of the word 'jihad.'

Pointing out that the words 'jihad' and 'jihadi' are in common parlance used to describe militant activities and militants in different parts of the world, including India, Chidambaram said he had used the word as it is used in common parlance.

"Like others,I used the word as it is used in common parlance, and I am happy to stand corrected," he said in his letter.

He said leaders of terror outfits like Al-Qaeda and Lashkar-E-Taiba used the word "jihad" on more than one occasion.

Krishna on Tharoor tweet: all have to fall on same page

"Everyone will have to fall on the same page," was the External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's message today to his junior Shashi Tharoor who had publicly questioned the new visa rules. Minutes after Tharoor met him, Krishna said there could be different perceptions but there is also a method and procedure to "sort out" those issues and he was sure that his deputy minister "understands" that.

"The broad policy parameters are dictated, decided by the Minister in-charge of External Affairs of this country and everyone will have to fall on the same page," he said when asked if Tharoor and the Ministry were on the same page.

Krishna had publicly rebuked Tharoor for using the social networking site 'twitter' for questioning the relevance of tightening of visa norms in the backdrop of David Headley episode. "26/11 killers had no visas", he had posted and wondered if the new rules will make India a less welcoming destinations for tourists.

About repeated controversies over Tharoor tweeting, Krishna said, "I would request you to not generalise issues. There could be different perceptions.

"As I have said in my statement earlier and if there are different perception then I think there is a method, there is a procedure where we sort out those issues and I am sure that Tharoor understands that." He said the two also discussed the visa policy but did not give the details of the talks.

"We discussed. With reference to visa policy, I think the Home Ministry after deliberations have come out with a new policy.Whenever, a new policy comes into effect, there are bound to be repercussions and based on the kind of feedback that MEA gets from various sources, we take it up with the Ministry of Home Affairs and then if need be, we will suggest to the Home Ministry to what needs to be done in this regard," Krishna said.Replying to a question if as the boss of the Ministry, he was happy with the outcome of the meeting with Tharoor, Krishna said, "Oh yes. As the boss of the Ministry, as head of External Affairs Ministry, I am completely at peace with myself and the Ministry. Everything is alright."

Chautala refutes charges of shielding Rathore in Ruchika case

Refuting the charge that he had shielded former DGP S P S Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case, former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said on Friday that while he had taken action against the officer, he was promoted by other governments."We took strong action against him. During my government (in 1990), we instituted a departmental inquiry against him. In my tenure later, we suspended him from the post of DGP as he was facing charge sheet in the case. He (Rathore) was promoted to the post of ADGP and DGP during the governments of Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal. They should be blamed for the promotion," he told reporters in New Delhi.S C Girhotra, Ruchika's father, accused Chautala of shielding Rathore in the case on Thursday.Rathore, who molested 14-year-old budding tennis player in 1990, was sentenced to six-month imprisonment, 19 years after the incident. Chautala said he, as chief minister, did not recommend Rathore for President's medal and that his name was forwarded for the award as part of a routine bureaucratic process.

I did not recommended him for the medal. That was done as part of a routine work by officers. The issue (recommendation) did not come to my notice," he said.

Chautala said his government had taken strong action by initiating departmental inquiry against Rathore.

Ruchika was molested by Rathore, the then IG of Police. She committed suicide three years later by consuming poison. Girhotra has demanded that the former DGP should be punished for abetment to suicide instead of being let off with a lighter six month sentence.Chautala said the case dates back to August 12, 1990 when an FIR was lodged. "I was not satisfied with the FIR only. We started departmental inquiry which suggested that charge sheet should be filed in the case. Later the charge sheet was filed," he said.

"I am surprised how I am being blamed in this case. He (Rathore) was not promoted during my tenure," Chautala said.

He alleged that there were efforts to dismiss the case during the government headed by Bhajan Lal.

Ruchika's father had alleged on Thursday that she committed suicide in 1993 after facing constant harassment from Rathore.Chautala declined to comment on the demand made by Ruchika's father for framing charges of abetment to suicide against Rathore saying he was not a law student."I am not a student of law. I respect the court's decision. It is not the question whether I am satisfied or not," he said.