Statewide and National runup to 2014 General elections

Chandragupta · Post by **Chandragupta** » 03 Jun 2013 18:06

It's gone.

Ashok Sarraff · Post by **Ashok Sarraff** » 03 Jun 2013 18:14

vivek.rao wrote:
Hari Seldon wrote:^ NOt true vivek. rao, the page opened fine for me.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nia- ... 78133.html
Can you retry on a different browser? I am getting 404 error and redirected to pagenotfound.jsp

It's gone, saars! Everything else is working fine on India Today website but for this news item.

Yogesh · Post by **Yogesh** » 03 Jun 2013 18:28

i am still open on that page..have taken screen shots ..but in ophice, so no way to uplaod and sent mail to pid

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 03 Jun 2013 18:34

There was also a video report from India Today's Aaj Tak channel -

Have already downloaded it, just in case it disappears.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 03 Jun 2013 18:34

Yogesh wrote:i am still open on that page..have taken screen shots ..but in ophice, so no way to uplaod and sent mail to pid

Maybe you can post it here later.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 03 Jun 2013 19:57

That is why I alway post the full article when they come. The things that are discomfort to UPA will be managed to be pulled off.

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 03 Jun 2013 20:39

Yogesh wrote:i am still open on that page..have taken screen shots ..but in ophice, so no way to uplaod and sent mail to pid

Please Don't lose. Please post it to slideshare.net when you go home.

Yogesh · Post by **Yogesh** » 03 Jun 2013 22:00

no way I am losing it..but smtps are disabled I can't send the effing thing on my personal id. will see how I can bypass the IED led out by IT (banking jobs are sometimes weird..) !

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 03 Jun 2013 22:00

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/c/1149091

Ashok Sarraff · Post by **Ashok Sarraff** » 03 Jun 2013 22:03

Yogesh wrote:no way I am losing it..but smtps are disabled I can't send the effing thing on my personal id. will see how I can bypass the IED led out by IT (banking jobs are sometimes weird..) !

Did you consider (color) printing it and scanning/hosting on a website?

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 03 Jun 2013 22:07

NIA confirms Congress conspiracy behind C'garh Naxal attack

Raipur, June 3: Days after its investigation in deadly Chhattisgarh Naxal attack, National Investigation Agency (NIA) came up with some shocking information. The investigating agency confirmed that four Congress leaders indeed had conspired with the ultras to carry out the May 25 attack. However, the identities of the four leaders of the party have not been revealed yet. According to a report published in Daily Bhaskar, while two Congress leaders were present at the convoy, other two leaders were believed to have provided "running commentary" to the ultras as soon as party convoy left from Darbha block. One NIA official was quoted as saying, "We are investigation the call records which were made through the Jagdalpur cellphone tower. Four Congress have been identified who we believe provided minute-by-minute information to the Naxalites. Two of them were present in the convoy."

Continuing his statement, the official added, "At present, we think that one of those in the convoy was the mastermind who planned the strike." Earlier slain Congress leader Mahendra Karma's son Deepak had raised questions regarding the "successful" attack by the Naxals. During an interview with Times of India, Deepak said, They cannot carry out such a big operation successfully without inputs on Congress leaders' movement. This information was provided by someone who was privy to the movement plan." Deepak also informed that his father did not used to take similar routes while travelling from one place to another. But on that fateful day, he surprisingly had taken the same route. Deepak claimed that someone might have influenced him to change his normal routine. Ruling party in the state -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also had accused former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Ajit Jogi for hatching the conspiracy with Naxals. The BJP leaders had raised questions regarding Jogi who had left by a chopper after the rally on May 25. BJP also demandeda narco test on Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma who was spared by the naxalites while other senior leaders were killed. BJP spokesperson Ajay Chandrakar was on Sunday quoted as saying, "Lakhma can give exact information about the conspiracy involved in the Naxal attack. The legislator has admitted that he had a conversation with Naxals before they released him during the attack." At least 250 Maoists had attacked the Congress convoy when the leaders were returning from party's Parivartan rally in Sukma on Saturday, May 25. Karma along with other senior leaders were killed when the heavily-armed Maoists ambushed the convoy. Shukla, who was injured critically, is being treated in a hospital in Gurgaon.

Read more at: http://news.oneindia.in/2013/06/03/cong ... 30528.html

Yogesh · Post by **Yogesh** » 03 Jun 2013 22:08

Ahsok jee, That's one option I am thinking of but what to do ..work pressure, lotsa meeting & presentation lined up this week & early next week!

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 03 Jun 2013 23:44

Sushupti wrote:NIA confirms Congress conspiracy behind C'garh Naxal attack

Raipur, June 3: Days after its investigation in deadly Chhattisgarh Naxal attack, National Investigation Agency (NIA) came up with some shocking information. The investigating agency confirmed that four Congress leaders indeed had conspired with the ultras to carry out the May 25 attack. However, the identities of the four leaders of the party have not been revealed yet. According to a report published in Daily Bhaskar, while two Congress leaders were present at the convoy, other two leaders were believed to have provided "running commentary" to the ultras as soon as party convoy left from Darbha block. One NIA official was quoted as saying, "We are investigation the call records which were made through the Jagdalpur cellphone tower. Four Congress have been identified who we believe provided minute-by-minute information to the Naxalites. Two of them were present in the convoy."

Continuing his statement, the official added, "At present, we think that one of those in the convoy was the mastermind who planned the strike." Earlier slain Congress leader Mahendra Karma's son Deepak had raised questions regarding the "successful" attack by the Naxals. During an interview with Times of India, Deepak said, They cannot carry out such a big operation successfully without inputs on Congress leaders' movement. This information was provided by someone who was privy to the movement plan." Deepak also informed that his father did not used to take similar routes while travelling from one place to another. But on that fateful day, he surprisingly had taken the same route. Deepak claimed that someone might have influenced him to change his normal routine. Ruling party in the state -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also had accused former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Ajit Jogi for hatching the conspiracy with Naxals. The BJP leaders had raised questions regarding Jogi who had left by a chopper after the rally on May 25. BJP also demandeda narco test on Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma who was spared by the naxalites while other senior leaders were killed. BJP spokesperson Ajay Chandrakar was on Sunday quoted as saying, "Lakhma can give exact information about the conspiracy involved in the Naxal attack. The legislator has admitted that he had a conversation with Naxals before they released him during the attack." At least 250 Maoists had attacked the Congress convoy when the leaders were returning from party's Parivartan rally in Sukma on Saturday, May 25. Karma along with other senior leaders were killed when the heavily-armed Maoists ambushed the convoy. Shukla, who was injured critically, is being treated in a hospital in Gurgaon.

Read more at: http://news.oneindia.in/2013/06/03/cong ... 30528.html

These Congressites are the worst. The way they help butcher their own reminds me of the jihadis next door. Sick onlee...

Kamal_raj · Post by **Kamal_raj** » 04 Jun 2013 01:17

Did she and pappu get that angry when Mumbai was attacked?

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Jun 2013 01:36

^^ Nope. He was partying at a wedding. The Queen Bee was not to be seen. The HM Patil was changing suits every 2 hours to make a statement giving updates to the terrorists on where the Security forces are.

Even during the rape and subsequent protests, the Maino clan was totally absent.

I think BJP has to take this information, leak it out and keep pointing fingers at the Ajit Jogi, Sonia, Rahul and Shinde. Make a mess in the Parliament. Keep blaming the ITALIANS.

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Jun 2013 02:07

NIA’s stunning revelation; local Congress leaders acted in tandem with Naxals

The preliminary report by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) has made some shocking revelations with regard to the Naxal attack on Congress convoy in Darbha valley of Sukma in Chhattisgarh last month. According to the report, four Congress leaders were in constant touch with Naxals on the fateful day and were providing every detail about the position of the convoy.

In its 14 page initial report, the NIA has mentioned that four Congress leaders were in touch with Naxals and even passed information about the change of route. According to NIA, they reached to the conclusion after analyzing several call details of Jagdalpur tower. The report is likely to be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday.

The report also adds that there were some insiders who were present in Congress camp. These insiders had been giving even the minute details to the Maoists. The phone numbers which Congress leaders were using to pass on the information to red rebels are now found to be switched off. During the investigation, the NIA also learnt that all those numbers were purchased by using fake documents.

Four Congress leaders, including Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma, are under suspicion. NIA may interrogate Lakhma who was also a part of the convoy but survived the attack. Lakhma was seriously injured and is undergoing treatment at a Raipur hospital. The NIA is of the view that security of Lakhma should be tightened as he may be killed by Naxals to create hurdles into the investigation.

One of the Congress leaders had suspiciously left the convoy in the midway while another survived the attack with just a bullet wound in his leg. The fourth Congress leader saved his life by hiding himself and came unhurt.

The convoy of Congress leaders was attacked at Jiram Valley in Darbha region when it was returning from Sukma to Jagdalpur. Twenty-eight people including Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel and veteran leader Mahendra Karma were killed and 37 others including former union minister VC Shukla were injured. - See more at: http://post.jagran.com/nias-stunning-re ... lXXNU.dpuf

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 04 Jun 2013 02:16

vivek.rao wrote:^^ Nope. He was partying at a wedding. The Queen Bee was not to be seen. The HM Patil was changing suits every 2 hours to make a statement giving updates to the terrorists on where the Security forces are.

Even during the rape and subsequent protests, the Maino clan was totally absent.

I think BJP has to take this information, leak it out and keep pointing fingers at the Ajit Jogi, Sonia, Rahul and Shinde. Make a mess in the Parliament. Keep blaming the ITALIANS.

Not until D4 is in control of BJP at the central level.

Narendra Modi’s formula for keeping BJP unity was to focus the fight on ousting the Congress party and the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty in particular who he believes to be the root of India’s problems. Precisely on this fight, Advani and Sushma Swaraj are compromised, because having operated all their lives in the comfort of Delhi, they have been unable to withstand the strange and ultimately crippling draw of the Nehru-Gandhis. In the battle against the Congress such as it presently is, venal and corrupt, sucking the blood of the nation, the old RSS ideology supports Modi, but petty parochial considerations have also infected its present leadership of men such as Mohan Bhagwat and clouded their judgment.

http://www.newsinsight.net/Modi-bashing ... age=page-1

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Jun 2013 06:03

Some twitter folks realized the game on the day it happened. Look at this...

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 04 Jun 2013 06:45

RSS makes first move to woo Yeddyurappa back to BJP

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/336 ... e-woo.html

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 04 Jun 2013 06:59

Andhra Pradesh Opinion Poll 2013

Very very detailed and it looks pretty accurate per current day situation.

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Jun 2013 07:07

Except for the web news, none of the paid media have leaked NIA investigation. India Today published it and deleted it. If it had been CBI investigation into a terrorist or criminal or extortionist and the state is Gujarat, every little tidbit is leaked 24x7

debadutta · Post by **debadutta** » 04 Jun 2013 07:20

vivek.rao wrote:Except for the web news, none of the paid media have leaked NIA investigation. India Today published it and deleted it. If it had been CBI investigation into a terrorist or criminal or extortionist and the state is Gujarat, every little tidbit is leaked 24x7

not true, I read it today in a oriya news paper. I am assuming that vernacular press in chattisGarh and other states would have picked it up.

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Jun 2013 07:38

Muppalla wrote:Andhra Pradesh Opinion Poll 2013

Very very detailed and it looks pretty accurate per current day situation.

So that is the CON's confident: THey have 10 (Jagan)+ 7 (CONs) + 9 (TRS) = 26

28% of upper caste and 35% of old aged are supporting Jagan. Unbelievable!

Which party can provide pro people and welfare government?

Which party do you think can provide better governance?

Free stuff... That's what the people AP want ... Sad and pathetic

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Jun 2013 08:25

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/congr ... 38797.html
Congress’ doublespeak on Maoist terror isn’t confusion, it’s policy

In 2008, a small group of investigators emerged from Chhattisgarh, appalled by the evil war India was engaged in. More than 640 villages, they reported, had been “burnt to the ground and emptied with the force of the gun and the blessings of the state”. Mahendra Karma’s death-squads had forced 350,000 adivasis into refugee camps, “their womenfolk raped, their daughters killed, and their youth maimed”. The slaughter had been “scripted by Tata Steel and Essar Steel” to gain control of giant iron-ore fields, “the biggest grab of tribal lands after Columbus”.

The author of this fine Maoist hyperbole was the government of India, in a report circulated at about the same time prime minister Manmohan Singh was telling police “left-wing extremism is perhaps the gravest internal security threat we face”.

Puzzled? Don’t be.

Ever since the 25 May massacre of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh, the same memes have been playing themselves out yet again. India’s rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh, calls Maoists terrorists. Kishore Chandra Deo, tribal affairs minister, rejects force, saying the Maoists have a genuine political cause. Earlier, Digvijaya Singh and Mani Shankar Iyer took on P Chidambaram.

For the Congress, this doublespeak isn’t confusion: it is time-tested policy, the policy of the safer, saner course.

From around the time the counter-Maoist offensive began, voices sympathetic to Maoists began to regularly feature in official documents. The Planning Commission issued a report asserting that the Maoists “provide protection to the weak”. It conceded “that the level of violence they use tends to be on the high side”—“severe corporal punishment, including capital punishment”. Yet, it attacked security force operations, saying they were causing “alienation of common people”.

Like all good propaganda, these attacks had a solid foundation of truth: Salwa Judum’s cadre engaged in savage brutalities; innocents were killed, sometimes deliberately, by police. From the historian Ram Guha—who litigated against Salwa Judum in the Supreme Court—we know they didn’t, however, have a monopoly on barbarism. There isn’t, moreover, even one credible document which bears out the claim that 640 villages were “burnt to the ground”. Essar might or might not have been paying Salwa Judum—but it was also making payoffs to the Maoists.

Indeed, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh told Firstpost that the report his Ministry put out in 2008 — before he took office — was “mouthing Maoist propaganda”. That just begs the question, though, of why it was put out in the first place.

Liberal apologetics for Maoists, however, goes on. There’s a fascinating statement issued by Delhi university scholars condemning the massacre, but calling on “the state and central governments to exercise great restraint in their response”. There’s no call for the Maoists, though, to do anything—not even to hand over the killers for trial, for example. It’s language Kishore Chand Deo would agree with.

There’s one single question the government needs to answer: is there a way forward other than killing? In 1996, Andhra Pradesh high court judges M Rao and S Nayak addressed the case of Appa Rao, an alleged Maoist operative responsible for the assassination of Deputy Inspector General of Police KS Vyas. Police action, the judges argued, would achieve nothing; there had to be “a saner and a safer course” The judges advocated a “peace commission, with a representative character inspiring confidence in all sections of the society”. “This, we believe”, they concluded, “can bring about immediate cessation of police encounters and violence”.

Enthusiasts often applaud the judgment. They tend to ignore the fact that the story didn’t end with those rousing words.

Terrorism charges against Appa Rao were dropped by the High Court. He was eventually acquitted at trial, after witnesses—among them, now Director-General of Police Dinesh Singh, who was out jogging with Vyas the day of the attack—failed to identify him as the killer. In 2003, Appa Rao was alleged to have been the principal organiser of the 2003 attempt to assassinate Chandrababu Naidu. He went on to become a key Maoist commander; the state government offered a reward of Rs 1 million for information leading to his arrest.

Then, in 2010, the Andhra Pradesh police ended Appa Rao’s life deep inside the Nettikonda forests. The government rejected peace committees; it chose to kill. Yet, there’s one inescapable truth: from a peak of 508 killed in the conflict in 1998, violence in Andhra Pradesh has fallen to almost zero. Hundreds of people are alive—civilians, police, political Maoists—who wouldn’t otherwise be.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 04 Jun 2013 09:22

In respect of the surveys in AP the Jagan criminal gang is creating a simpathy wave for the criminal and spending huge amount of money. local media is mostly paid and other than Enadu which is paid media of TDP every one else is on the take. YSR and INC created huge criminal and currption net work covery almost entire state and this network is now trying to get Jagan into power in 2014. Till resently it was expected that Jagan will get some 20 plus seats at least. Now it is 10. By the time elections come it will be single digit figure. howfully a lower one. So INC plus may not be crossing 15. In respect of TRS their leaders can be purchased at any time by INC or anyone else. Just like Ajit singh.

One good thing is TDP is picking up slowly and now in no.1 position vote wise. With people giving dicisive mandates almost everywhere I hope TDP wins assembly elections hands on and cross some 20 MP seats. They need to stop this 3rd front rubbish though and join NDA. But oversmartness is the feature of CBN and his ego will not allow him to do the right thing nationally. At least he is reducing iNC total so something is better than nothing.

News of bringing back Yaddi is a good one. It is never late to do this politically inteligent thing. The earlier the better.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 04 Jun 2013 09:33

if Jagan rises, then another generation of "secular" political wilderness for Andhra. guaranteed.

he has the capability to turn into a Jarasandha. always relentlessly planning for expansion; not being thwarted by tactical-level attacks or battle scenarios.

and at the subregional level, I would expect proselytizing to reach a new pitch.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 04 Jun 2013 09:48

Unless ja-gan becomes ja-gone, there's no hope for AP.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 04 Jun 2013 09:50

hope is too much to wish for, Hari garu. If somehow TDP manages to come back, I'll be happy with that. working under Least Worst expectations here.

Rudradev · Post by **Rudradev** » 04 Jun 2013 11:25

Deleted by moderator

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 04 Jun 2013 13:21

Jagan criminal gang has to go and there is no two opinions. It fills me with disgust to see my fellow telugu people voting such overtly criminal people. YSR created a AP wherein massive looting of public is casually seen and even accepted. Apart from EJ activities, Telangana fire, this is the main crime done by him. But slowly TDP is coming back and I hope by 2014 TDP will have significant support in voters and will stop INC mafia and its B team Jagan Cirminal gang, TRS cheats. CBN is 1000 times better than any of these fellows.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 04 Jun 2013 15:29

Narayana Rao wrote:Jagan criminal gang has to go and there is no two opinions. It fills me with disgust to see my fellow telugu people voting such overtly criminal people. YSR created a AP wherein massive looting of public is casually seen and even accepted. Apart from EJ activities, Telangana fire, this is the main crime done by him. But slowly TDP is coming back and I hope by 2014 TDP will have significant support in voters and will stop INC mafia and its B team Jagan Cirminal gang, TRS cheats. CBN is 1000 times better than any of these fellows.

What difference is there between Jagan and Virbhadra Singh of HP? Both are charged, one jailed the other cleared to make him as CM. Don't bring EJ stuff into mix and the EJ stuff just clouds the real-politik.

YSR brought 35LS seats and 163LA seats in 2009. There is no sympathy wave or such thing for Jagan. In a true dynasty methods he inherited the entire vote bank of INC. The INC's strength is going down. The survey is very good and it is representing the reality. As the elections becomes close, it will be a contest between TDP and Jagan in coast and seema. It will be TDP Vs TRS with BJP doing the salami slicing of TRS in T region. This is also the first time that difference is shown between HYD, South and North T regions.

I wish there is differentiation between south and north seema as well which would also put to rest the theories such as AP has 50% Christian theories that freely float here.

TDP is also rising at the cost of INC. In essence, BJP's rise in T regions is actually helping TDP more. Jagan seems to be not a factor in T politics which is good.

Any further rise of INC will only be at the cost of Jagan and that also will make easy for TDP.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 04 Jun 2013 15:33

devesh wrote:hope is too much to wish for, Hari garu. If somehow TDP manages to come back, I'll be happy with that. working under Least Worst expectations here.

+1.

Vamsi.R · Post by **Vamsi.R** » 04 Jun 2013 16:42

i think it will be tough for TDP to come into power in 2014.. in rural AP people have the sympathy for Jagan..in urban areas people want TDP but voter turnout will be less and in Telengana .. KCR will talk and do anything to get people's votes

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 04 Jun 2013 20:42

Funny Tweet

Kiran Kumar S @KumarKS

Somewhere in the jungles of Bastar "Cheers Comrades! Maino Mao Behan Bhai"

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 05 Jun 2013 08:05

Dynasty-D4 Leela!

BCCI, FSB: Spot (fix) the difference
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bcci- ... e/1125101/

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 05 Jun 2013 09:05

The political culture of AP is now a freebie and election day money one. CBN in 2004 told people that free power is very bad and he can not give. It took him almost 10 years to recovery. Now he is also promissing lot of free things. Present money transfer recommendations of INC is almost the same CBN promissed in 2009. Another problem is CBN took tough economic decisions when he was CM and discontinued election day promises. This created a trust defisit. Still many in AP now are saying CBN is a must for AP now as they are fed up with INC, Jagan and TRS gangs. But money will be problem for CBN and he can not match money power of INC and Jagan. Further many people got benifited from YSR free things who may vote for Jagan. We can hope they don't.

apoorv · Post by **apoorv** » 05 Jun 2013 11:50

I am unable to find any details of results for by-polls held in UP and Maharashtra assembly seats. Any one has any idea? The information so far:

BJP leading 2+4 in Gujarat
Trinamool leading the assembly by-poll in WB
JD(U) losing to RJD in Bihar

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 05 Jun 2013 11:55

Melting Pot, Fingers point at Ajit Jogi ~ arati r jerath

Posting in full. It seems Indics are angry at Congress' EJ camp.

The political war in Chhattisgarh after the recent Naxal attack has taken a strange turn. A Congress-versus-BJP battle has become a Congress-versus-Congress internecine feud. The party has turned on itself following reports that the National Investigation Agency’s preliminary inquiries point to a Congress hand in the Naxal ambush that led to the death of 27 persons, including top state leaders.

The NIA’s needle of suspicion seems to be pointing at the faction led by former chief minister Ajit Jogi who, along with son Amit, was mysteriously absent when the convoy was ambushed by Naxals on 25 May.

The revelations have sent tempers soaring and Congress workers are now venting their wrath on Jogi loyalists in different parts of the state. They’ve hunted them down, locked them into rooms, beaten them mercilessly with shoes and iron rods, leaving several badly injured.

The fight followed Jogi loyalist and one of the two survivors of the attack, Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma, to the corridors of the swanky Gurgaon hospital in which V C Shukla is being treated for the four gunshot wounds he sustained. Lakhma turned up to inquire about his condition and there, right outside the ICU where Shukla was lying, a Congress group led by union minister Charan Das Mahant, now the new state chief, waylaid him and beat him with shoes. There was complete pandemonium in what is supposed to be a silent zone, but the hospital staff did not dare intervene as the two Congress factions tried to settle scores. Later, a bleeding Lakhma was handed over to the police, who were instructed to dump him somewhere near Karnal.

Furious Sonia

Those who accompanied Congress president Sonia Gandhi to Chhattisgarh after the Naxal attack on a Congress convoy were stunned by the depth of her fury. Sonia is known as a composed, polite person. But in Raipur, she lost her cool with everyone, from chief minister Raman Singh to the chief secretary Sunil Kumar and other senior officials to her own party workers. “You are lying,” she is believed to have shouted at Sunil Kumar at one point. And as Raman Singh fumbled with weak explanations for the security lapse that led to the killings, she told him angrily that the Centre had the power to dismiss him “in one minute”, according to someone familiar with the discussions.

She didn’t calm down even at the Congress headquarters in Raipur, where she met surviving state leaders in small groups. Those waiting outside could hear her raised voice through the closed door as she gave vent to her agitation and distress. Perhaps, the killings were a sharp reminder of past tragedies in her life and cut too close to the bone for her to handle with equanimity.

‘Thankless’ media

There were many red faces in the official delegation that went with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan when a Hyderabad-based television channel telecast footage of senior babus having a night-out in Tokyo with the media contingent. As is tradition, the external publicity division of the ministry of external affairs arranged a dinner cruise for the media, to which officials accompanying the PM were also invited.

It would have gone down as just another XP dinner, except that the hosts had also arranged for live entertainment in the form of a Bollywood dance performance. The dancer, an Indian girl born and brought up in Japan, was full of oomph and her dance was provocative. At one point, she almost had a wardrobe malfunction too, after which the entertainment programme was called off.

When the delegation returned to the hotel, panicky aides informed them that footage of the evening had been telecast in Hyderabad, with the TV camera focusing closely on the dancer and the officials watching her. There was a huge furore that night. PMO officials breathed fire at the ministry of external affairs, which in turn came down heavily on the media group. The representative of the TV channel was taken to task and XP officials vowed to stop all hospitality for accompanying media persons on future trips.

The threat was put into action almost immediately. When the delegation landed at Bangkok on the way back from Tokyo, media persons were left to fend for themselves, without the cocktails and dinner usually showered on them.

member_23629 · Post by **member_23629** » 05 Jun 2013 12:33

Lalu candidate’s win sure raises hope of RJD revival

Hopefully, this will keep Nitish Kumar off Modi's back for a while.

AjayKK · Post by **AjayKK** » 05 Jun 2013 13:15

apoorv wrote:I am unable to find any details of results for by-polls held in UP and Maharashtra assembly seats. Any one has any idea? The information so far:

BJP leading 2+4 in Gujarat
Trinamool leading the assembly by-poll in WB
JD(U) losing to RJD in Bihar

Yavatmal, Maharashtra - Nandini Parvekar - Congress - Won

Handia, Uttar Pradesh - Prashant Kumar Singh - Samajwadi Party - Leading