Narendra Modi targets government on Maoists, black money

New Delhi, Feb 1: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement about a decrease in Maoist violence during 2010, saying it was "nothing to be proud of" as now more security personnel and civilians were being killed. Speaking on the sidelines of the chief ministers meet on internal security here, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the prime minister's remarks during the meeting that there had been a reduction in incidents of Maoist violence last year was "nothing to be proud of". "Earlier, many Maoists and terrorists were killed. Now, many security force personnel and citizens are being killed. The capability of Maoists has increased. "They (Maoists) have more armaments and networks to strike. They can get better results with less action. This is not a matter to be proud of," Modi said. Attacking the United Progressive Alliance government on the issue of black money, Modi said while the central government had asked states to "take serious action in cases of money-laundering, it was terming cases of black money of Indians in Swiss banks as just tax-evasion". He said the central government should also take responsibility for curbing black money in the same way it had instructed the states. He demanded that the central government should blacklist Germany and Austria as the two countries had refused to supply weapons to Orissa and Punjab for fear of misuse. Chidambaram, speaking to mediapersons later, denied the allegations levelled by Modi. The home minister said the prime minister was "absolutely right" when he said there was a decrease in incidents of left-wing extremism. Chidambaram said he had said in his speech too that there was a kind of stalemate in the fight against Maoists in 2010. Quoting from his own speech, Chidambaram said that the Maoist-violence affected states cannot claim any major advances but it also cannot be concluded that Maoists had gained an upper hand. The worst Maoist-affected states are Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, Chidamabram said, adding that concerns on Maoist violence should be addressed to chief ministers of all these states and not to the central government alone. Chidambaram said Germany and Austria have denied manufacturers licence for exporting arms to some states, including Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Orissa. He said because export licence was denied, the central government wrote a "helpful letter" that the concerned states may approach Turkey, Russia, Italy, the US and some other countries. "There was no picking on Gujarat," he said. To Modi's charge that the central government was not doing enough in cases of money-laundering, Chidambaram said "money laundering was not part of the agenda" of the chief ministers' conference. To chief ministers belonging to National Democratic Alliance (NDA-ruled states blaming corruption and price rise as "factors undermining internal security", Chidambaram said "it was an extraordinary conclusion". In his speech, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh of the BJP said the states should not be asked to pay for the deployment of central forces to battle Maoists. "We are surprised that in this joint battle against Maoists, the states should be asked to pay for the deployment of central para-military forces. No state in the country has financial resources to make these payments," Singh added. (IANS)

Narendra Modi's book JyotiPunj follows Advani's My Country, My Life

After Opposition leader L K Advani’s memoirs, My Country, My Life, it’s now the turn of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s new book Jyotipunj to create a controversy.

Narendra Modi’s 200-page book will be launched by Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh General Secretary Mohanrao Bhagavat in Hyderabad on April 15, 2008.

In JyotiPunj, what we hear is that Narendra Modi would attempt to communicate his persona, thinking and principles - and attribute them to the years he spent in the Sangh.

Advani’s book had attracted severe criticism from other political parties and has been instrumental for political debate all over the country because of his comments on certain events and personalities. My Country, My Life was attributed as a move to increase Advani’s image as a future Prime Minister. In the autobiography, he had admitted that the Babri Masjid demolition was a big mistake. Though the Babri Masjid demolition helped the Bharatiya Janata Party to grab power at the Centre, the event had a strong bearing on the secular history of India, he admitted in the book.

The book by the ambitious Prime Ministerial candidate of India has attracted mixed reactions from different political corners. Some of his party colleagues have felt annoyed by his narration of events during the National Progressive Alliance rule. Advani has also started an ideological discourse by challenging its policies on minorities, cultural nationalism and security issues. He has even questioned the commitment of the Congress party to national security. The ruling Congress Party on the other hand criticized the book as one-sided account of modern India’s history.

However, the book has attracted flak for his less-than-full account of some of the events under his watch. The other controversy was over his remark that he was unaware of then Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh had personally flown with the four terrorists who were set free during the hijack of the Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi by Pakistani terrorists. Advani was the Home Minister then. The hijackers had forced the plane to land in Kandahar in Afghanistan and demanded the release of four of their comrades held in Indian prisons in exchange of the hostages. Within a few days, George Fernandes, who was the then Defence Minister in the NDA government contradicted Advani’s remarks.

My Country, My Life has sold more than one lakh copies within few days.

However Narendra Modi’s new book is more focused on several known and unknown RSS leaders, who have shaped the Gujarat Chief Minister’s thinking. Modi wants to use the book to convey his commitment as strong Sangh man to the cadres. The book also contains some justifications for the Gujarat carnage.

Narendra Modi involvement in godhra riots lacks evidence

Narendra Modi involvement in godhra riots lacks evidence

Tehelka-CNN-IBN has decided to approach Supreme Court to look into the matter of godhra riots. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been asked several questions in the supreme Court for his involvement during the 2002 post godhra riots.

SIT report has been filed in the apex court which doubts Modi but does not have enough evidences against him.

There were many charges against Modi’s Administration during the riots and 600 page report said, that even though Muslims have faced terrible attacks in Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya, the government has not reacted in the manner which would have been expected by anyone.

Regardless of taking an appropriate action in Gulburg Society and Naroda Patiya, the chief minister rather tried to downhill the importance of the situation and said that every action has equal and opposite reaction.

Pro-VHP advocates were appointed by Modi as Public prosecutors in the riot cases.

The report further said that government has destroyed all the wireless records of police conversation of the day and even though Modi was present at Godhra on February 27, 2002 but he did not visit riot affected areas. The report also claims that his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats play a critical role in the post riots situation.

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi fetes Anganwadi workers, calls upon women to make Gujarat a malnutrition-free state

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi fetes Anganwadi workers, calls upon women to make Gujarat a malnutrition-free state

Gandhinagar: Woman and Child Development Department of Gujarat today organized a women convention at Mahatma Mandir complex, Gandhinagar, in the context of International Women's Day. Women in large number attended the gathering. Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi while inaugurating the convention called upon women to come together and free the mothers and children of the state from the shackles of malnutrition. Chief Minister, on the occasion, presented state sponsored Mata Yashoda Award to the Anganwadi workers with the prizing amount ranging from Rs.11,000 to Rs.51,000. Chief Minister said the state government's objective is to put a chunk of money in the hands of Anganwadi workers so that they can live a respectful life after retirement. The government has also initiated and started giving them health insurance, he said. He said that state government has formed a network of Sakhimandala with a view to financially empower the rural women in the state and to free them from the nexus of money lenders exploiting them. About two lakh Sakhimandals in state will soon manage the financial activities worth Rs.1000-cr, more than any man-managed rural organization, he said. Considering the success of Sakhimandalas, he said, the government has taken up yet a new project – 'Mission Mangalam' for the empowerment of women, where around 32 well-known Indian companies will invest about Rs.25000-cr, which will provide employment to rural poor. Expressing contentment over the response women gave to the training programs government started in Gandhinagar for making nutritious food items, Chief Minister said that malnutrition can be well fight with such programs. He also released a book on making nutritious food items. Woman and Child Welfare Minister Smt.Anandiben Patel said that nutritious food is being supplied to pregnant women and children through the network of about 44,000 Anganwadi spreading in 18,000 villages of Gujarat. She asked women to go to Anganwadis and learn making nutritious food from fortified atta. Minister Shri Parbat Patel, Woman MLAs Jasumatiben Korat, Smt.Bhavnaben Babariya, Smt.Gitaben Patel, Smt.Vibhavariben Dave, Smti.Varshaben Doshi, Dr.Nimaben Acharya, MLAs Prof.Mangal Patel, Gandhinagar District Collector Shri Sanjivkumar, Secretary for Woman and Child Development Department Smt.Sunayana Tomar and senior officials were present on the occasion.

Anti-Hindu 'Tehelka' critisize Narendra Modi for supporting HJS and Sanatan Sanstha

Criticizing Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat for his extending support to the activities undertaken by Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

Mumbai: It has been mentioned in a fresh article in English uploaded on the website by ‘Tehelka’ periodical that Mr. Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat granted permission to Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha, the two ‘saffron organisations’ involved in a bomb blast case in a theatre at Thane. The article has been written by Rana Ayub. (It has nowhere been proved that Sanatan Sanstha or HJS were involved in the bomb blast. Such unwarranted defamation of these pro-Hindu organizations indicates Hindu-hatred of ‘Tehelka’ website and Rana Ayub. Will ‘Tehelka’ and Rana show guts to accuse own brethren of supporting anti-nationals and terrorists or dare to call Muslim organizations as ‘green organizations ? – Editor SP)

There is a criticism in this article that how the CM- Narendra Modi, who has been stating for the past ten years that Gujarat was the strong target of terrorists, has granted permission to an organization which is an accused in a terrorist activity, for holding a meeting, is a serious question. (None of the Investigating Agencies in the country has ever said that HJS was involved in any bomb blast case. In fact, activities of HJS have been commended by police from various States and the people. Even then, by accusing HJS, Ayub Rana has exhibited his Hindu-hatred. If Rana is so angry with the terrorists, he should show guts to criticize Imam Bukhari, Abu Azmi of Samajavadi Party and Congress leader Digvijay Singh for backing terrorists rather than censuring patriotic organizations ! – Editor SP)

It has been claimed in the article that it is in custody of a letter written by Mr. Modi, in the year 2008, granting permission to HJS to hold a meeting. A photo of the letter has also been published. The article published by ‘Tehelka’ has been translated in Kannada language and published on the website ‘Vartabharati’ in Karnataka. It has been mentioned in the article that the letter written by Narendra Modi also gives assurance of continued support to programs organized by the said organizations in future. (Is Ayub trying to say that it was a crime to extend support to a patriotic organization? – Editor SP)

The article says, “The blast had taken place targeting ‘Jodha-Akbar’ film that was being screened at a theatre in Thane. Other pro-Hindu organizations had also protested against the said film. In this case, Sanatan Sanstha and HJS are the accused. (Both the organizations are not in any way, involved in this blast. None of the Investing agencies in India have accused the two organizations of such involvement; but Rana has tried to mislead the readers by giving false information. Sanatan Sanstha is seeking legal opinion from its advocates to take action ! – Editor SP) Later, in the bomb blast that had occurred in Margao, Goa in the year 2009 also, these two organizations were involved. (The case is under investigation with the National Investigating Agencies (NIA). The charge sheet filed by NIA nowhere mentions names of Sanatan or HJS ! – Editor SP)

"In this background, the chief of Anti-terrorists Squad Hemant Karkare had made a demand with the Home Ministry to impose ban on these organizations." (No one else has information about Karkare making such demand; then, from where did Rana invent such things? The article by Rana is an example of the low level to which anti-national Muslims and the media backing them, can stoop to defame pro-Hindu organizations ! – Editor SP)

‘Narendra Modi invited HJS and Sanatan Sanstha to hold programs in his State; besides written a congratulatory letter to HJS. The letter written in Gujarati language bears the signature of Mr. Modi. In this letter, he has said, “This is the right time to bring together national leaders and Saints. We must resolve to defeat those terrorists’ powers that support division and must become patriots. Terrorism has no religion. It is against humanity. HJS is creating awareness against such powers which is commendable. My best wishes for the success of Hindu Dharmajagruti Sabha, special exhibitions and all programs of the organization.’

It is stated in the end of this article that ‘Tehelka’ had drawn attention to the expansion of radical activities of HJS and Sanatan Sanstha with their offices at Mumbai and Goa, when the inquiry of Margao bomb blast case was under way