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.

Advani likely to quit next week, Rajnath on Dec 19

A generational change in the BJP hierarchy may be on the anvil with Leader of Opposition L K Advani likely to quit his post next week and party President Rajnath Singh stepping down on Saturday.

Sources said Advani is likely to announce his decision to step down as Leader of Opposition in the Parliamentary Party meeting to be held on the morning of December 21, the last day of the current Parliament session.However, BJP's Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who declined to talk about Advani's moves, said the Parliamentary party meeting on December 21 will not take place in case the winter session of Parliament adjourns sine die tomorrow itself.BJP President Rajnath Singh is slated to tender his resignation on December 19, paving the way for Maharashtra party unit Chief Nitin Gadkari to take over, party sources said here today.

"BJP Parliamentary Board meeting will be held at 3 pm on December 19 followed by a meeting of office-bearers of the party," BJP headquarters In-charge Shyam Jaju said. Sources said Rajnath Singh will submit his resignation to the Parliamentary Board in this meeting.Gadkari has been called to Delhi for the meeting and will be anointed party unit Chief. The decision will be ratified by the BJP National Council. In the wake of these developments, a number of posts would be up for grabs in the party. The elevation of Swaraj as Leader of Opposition is almost a certainty, sources said.The race for the post of Deputy Leader of BJP in the Lower House is now between Ananth Kumar, Gopinath Munde and Shahnawaz Hussain. Munde and Yashwant Sinha are also eyeing the post of Public Accounts Committee Chairman which has fallen vacant after Jaswant Singh's resignation.

76 Rajya Sabha MPs seek impeachment of Dinakaran

In further trouble for beleaguered Karnataka Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, a petition seeking impeachment proceedings against him was moved by as many as 76 Rajya Sabha members on Monday.

The MPs belonging to BJP, Left parties, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (United), Akali Dal and AIADMK submitted the petition to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari seeking the impeachment of Justice Dinakaran, who is facing allegations of land grabbing.
Senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters that the MPs moved the petition in exercise of their Constitutional right as there was a "strong case" with the government returning the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium for Justice Dinakaran's elevation to the apex court.
Leader of Opposition in the Upper House, Arun Jaitley said that Justice Dinakaran should not continue. If the motion is admitted, a three-member committee comprising a Supreme Court judge, a high court chief justice and a jurist would be set up to go into the issue, he said.
Asked whether Congress members had also signed the petition, he said if the Congress members wanted to join, they are welcome.
Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh asked how could a chief justice of a high court function if he is not eligible to become a Supreme Court judge. Justice Dinakaran's elevation to the Supreme Court has been put on hold following allegations of land grabbing.
Top jurists like F S Nariman have objected to his elevation accusing him of judicial impropriety.
Asked about the stand of the government on the impeachment petition of Justice Dinakaran, Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said, "I have not seen the petition."
Refusing to take any stand, Moily said, "We do not discuss matters pertaining to the appointments in the higher judiciary".