No norm flouted in Haryana land deal: Congress

New Delhi: Reacting to reports on Haryana land deals favouring the Rajiv Gandhi Trust, the Congress has said that no rules were bent and that land was only given on lease. Speaking to newsmen here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "The land was leased to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust for eyecare. The trust does not own the land."

Singhvi claimed, "Not a single rule has been bent, the Gram Panchayat owns the land."

Maenwhile, the Haryana government has decided to relook at the acquisition of over 850 acres of land for the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust after reports of how the trust was given land breaking rules and regulations.

In all, 65 petitions in Punjab and Haryana High Court have now claimed the 'Gandhis as trustees' tag swung the deal.

On Tuesday the Haryana government offered to reconsider the cases of the 65 petitioners that alleged discrimination.

Villagers have asked why should they plead to seek the release of their land.

"We don't want to keep coming to the court, but we are helpless," said Sukhraj, a villager from Ullawas.

Pushed to the wall, the Haryana government told the court that the land released to the Rajiv Gandhi Trust had been taken on lease from the village Panchayat and there is no violation. All officers who came to court maintained silence on who the trustees are.

"I don't have information as far as my official records are concerned," said Town & Country Principal Secretary SS Dhillon.

"I don't know," said additional advocate general (ADG) of Haryana Narinder Hooda.

The BJP took this chance to draw comparisons with Yeddyurappa in the mining scam.

"For one acre of land, they (Congress) are asking for the head of Yeddyurappa. But here is a case, wherein their family trust, in which all the eminent members of the family are trustees, huge chunk of land have been given and thereafter released for acquisition," said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The High Court has added a rider that in case the villagers don't get justice, they can come back to the High Court. But the petitioners for now continue to allege that there has been discrimination in the way the Haryana government has released land.

Rahul urges youth to revive Congress in UP

LUCKNOW, July 21: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged the youth to work hard for reviving Congress in Uttar Pradesh and absolve it of the alleged "misrule" of the Mayawati-led BSP government.

In a meeting with the party's youth brigade at Syed Modi railway stadium, he said that the youth should come forward to propagate the centre's "people-oriented policies and programmes", and unearth the "anti-people and anti-farmer policies" of the state government.

Senior Congress leaders including state unit president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, national and state youth Congress office bearers were present for the meeting, apart from district-level office bearers of seven districts of Gorakhpur and Basti divisions.

Gandhi later left for Mau district where he will address a similar meeting.

He is on a two-day tour to promote membership campaign of the Youth Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

After his kisan sandesh yatra in western UP earlier this month where Rahul carried out foot march in villages in Gauttam Buddha Nagar and Aligarh, this is the second programme of the Congress leader in the state.

Twenty one dead, over 100 injured as three blasts rock Mumbai

MUMBAI, July 13: Terror struck Mumbai when three near simultaneous blasts ripped through crowded areas in the this evening killing at least 21 people and injuring over hundred in a grim reminder of the deadly 2008 Mumbai attack.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said 21 people had died in the back-to-back explosions which struck in a span of 14 minutes, apparently aimed at causing maximum casualties during the peak hour.

Union home minister P Chidamabaram said the quick succession of the blasts showed that it was a "coordinated attack by terrorists."

All the explosions were triggered by Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), a home ministry official said, adding 113 were injured.

The first explosion rocked Zaveri Bazaar, a popular jewellery market, at 6.50pm and a minute later another blast shook the busy business area Opera House. A third blast ripped through crowded Dadar area in Central Mumbai at 7.04pm.

The blast sites were splattered with blood as some bodies lay strewn around while cars and motorcyles were charred in the impact of the explosions in the country's financial capital.

No group claimed responsibility but Mumbai police suspects the hand of Indian Mujahideen (IM). Chavan declined to speculate on who could be behind the attack.

Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik said the blasts at Opera House and Zaveri Bazaar were of a higher intensity than the one at Dadar.

"It is a terror act. Quite obvious that some terror element is involved in the attack. Zaveri Bazaar blast exploded with use of IED kept in an abandoned umbrella. All three blasts occurred between 6.50pm and 7pm," Patnaik said.

All the injured have suffered burn injuries.

Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan said the blast at Opera House was the "most powerful". He appealed to people to maintain calm and not to get swayed by rumours.

The explosions struck this metropolis two days after the fifth anniversary of the serial train blasts here that had left 186 dead and 800 injured.

While the blast in Zaveri Bazaar was triggered through explosives planted in an umbrella, the one in Dadar West was caused by an explosive device concealed in a meter box of the electric cabinet of a BEST bus stop. Preliminary reports said that the explosives were kept inside a Maruti Esteem in the Dadar blast. Police late tonight said that the blast at Dadar was of low intensity.

The umbrella was apparently used to camouflage the explosive during the downpour being witnessed in the city, in the bustling Khau Gali in Zaveri Bazaar, according to police commissioner Arup Patnaik.

The scene of the blast in Dadar is less than a kilometre from the headquarters of hardline saffron outfit Shiv Sena.

The Opera House blast took place at Prasad Chamber building where a loud explosion was heard around 6.45pm and people ran helter-skelter in blood-soaked clothes with shards of glass strewn all over the area.

The blast at Khau Gali in Dadar, outside the `Mohanbhai' stall, left several mutilitated bodies lying in a pool of blood.

"The entire lane was splashed with blood...There were 4-5 mutilated bodies lying around and people were fleeing the spot in fear," said Vijay, a carpenter.

According to Jayant Patil, guardian minister for Mumbai, 29 injured were brought to Harkishandas hospital from Opera House of whom six were serious.

At St Georges hospital, co-director Pravin Shingare said of the nine admitted there one was in a critical condition, while among 19 admitted to GT Hospital one was serious.

Seven injured at Dadar have been admitted to KEM Hospital, while several others are undergoing treatment at Saifee and JJ Hospitals.

Two teams of CFSL from Delhi and Hyderabad have been rushed to Mumbai where NSG and NIA personnel are assisting the local police in investigations.

The city has been put on a high alert with pickets erected at several places, city police commissioner Arup Patnaik said.

President, Vice-Prez, Prime Minister condemn Mumbai blasts

NEW DELHI, July 13: President Pratibha Patil, Vice-Prez Hamid Ansari and PM Manmohan Singh condemned the terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed at least 21 lives and injuring many others.

The President is grieved to know about the incident of blasts in Mumbai and has condoled the loss of lives in these blasts, a Rashtrapati Bhawan statement said. "The President wishes speedy recovery to those injured in the incident in Mumbai," it added.

Ansari expressed deep shock at the scale of the attacks targeted against innocent people causing numerous fatalities and casualties, a statement from the Vice-President's Secretariat said. Such acts are aimed at destabilising the nation, he said, and urged all citizens to unite in this critical hour.

The Prime Minister strongly condemned the bomb blasts in Mumbai and appealed to the people of the megapolis to remain calm and show a united front. Singh, who is monitoring the developments related to the three explosions, spoke to Home Minister P Chidambaram and also to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. He asked Chavan to do whatever is possible to provide relief to the injured and the families of the deceased.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi condemned the dastardly act of terror in Mumbai and said such acts of cowardice would be dealt appropriately.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari condemned the Mumbai blasts in the strongest possible terms and asked the government to take a clear stand in setting up an effective anti-terror infrastructure. BJP veteran L K Advani also spoke with Chidambaram to seek an update on the developments.

UN, US, France, UK condemn Mumbai blasts

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, July 14: The members of the Security Council, the US and French Presidents, the UK Foreign Minister and Vietnam have condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks that occurred in various parts of Mumbai in India on July 13, causing numerous deaths and injuries.

The world leaders have expressed their deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the victims of these heinous acts and to their families, and to the people and Government of India.

According to Indian mission at the United Nations, the members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

While condemning the attacks, United States President Barack Obama called them “deplorable terrorist acts.”

The US President, who visited Mumbai last fall, says the attacks were “outrageous” and his thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and those who lost loved ones.

He said in a statement the US government continues to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of U.S. citizens, and will support India’s efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Obama said he’s seen the strength and resilience of India’s people firsthand, and they will overcome the bombing.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned with utmost indignation and strength the cowardly and blindly attacks that have once again targeted Mumbai. In these hours of mourning, he expresses the full solidarity of France with India.

More than ever, Sarkozy said France stands resolutely side by side with India in the fight against the scourge of terrorism.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said he had been terribly shocked to learn about the terrorist attacks that have hit Mumbai today, killing and wounding a large number of victims.

“These barbarian attacks provoke horror and indignation. I most strongly condemn them,” he said.

To the inhabitants of Mumbai, who were so severely affected by the terror attacks of 26th November 2008, Mr Juppe expressed the solidarity of France in this new ordeal.

France reaffirms its solidarity and support to India and the people of India in the fight against all the forms of terrorism. This common fight is one of the pillars of the Indo-French strategic partnership.

The President of the French Republic reminded in Mumbai, last December, that nothing can never justify terrorism and the international community has, more than ever, to act against this scourge.

British Foreign Minister William Hague said that these were deplorable acts of terrorism. “The UK stands firmly with India in the face of such atrocities. We are committed to working with the Indian government and our allies and partners to combat the threat from terrorism in all its forms.”

He said “Our Consular team at the Deputy High Commission in Mumbai is closely monitoring the situation and is geared to provide consular support to any British nationals who may have been caught up in these events. The Foreign Office and British High Commission officials are in close contact with the Indian authorities.”

Strongly condemning the bomb blasts, spokeswoman from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Nguyen Phuong Nga said:

“Vietnam strongly condemns the bomb blasts in India’s Mumbai city on July 13 that left dozens of people dead and hundreds of others injured.”

She said “We would like to convey our regards and deepest sympathy to the Indian state, government, people and families of the victims.”

Rahul asks tribals to join politics in large numbers

BHUVNESHWAR, July 13: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asked tribals to join active politics in large numbers to ensure their empowerment and help solve long-standing problems.

"More and more tribals should join politics through which they will be able to solve problems being faced by them for ages," Gandhi said during an interaction with party members at Kotpad in Orissa's tribal-dominated Koraput district.

A large tribal presence in politics would play a significant role in empowering them effectively and elevating their position in society, he said on the first day of his two-day visit to Orissa.

Tribals as well as dalits could make their voices heard if more people from their communities participate in politics and public life, said Gandhi.

Gandhi, accompanied by AICC's Orissa in-charge Jagdish Tytler, said Congress provided a platform for common and ordinary youths to move up the ladder even without any political links or influential background.

During the interacton, closed to the media, Gandhi answered a host of queries, the participants later told reporters in Koraput.

Congress for aggressive campaign against Mayawati

LUCKNOW, July 12: Encouraged by the response to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘padyatra’ and subsequent ‘kisan maha panchayat’ in Aligarh, the Congress has decided to launch an aggressive campaign against the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh.

"We will go all out against the BSP government and will focus on issue-based politics. The momentum created by Rahul Gandhi’s padyatra and panchayat will be carried forward by the state party unit. We will hold similar panchayats at all district levels in the state," said UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi while talking to reporters after the second meeting of the election committee which Rahul attended here on Tuesday. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and five Union ministers were also present.

Joshi said the party had started the process of candidates' selection and the first list was likely to be released later this month. AICC secretary Pervez Hashmi said Rahul wanted the first list to be released this month so that candidates get ample time to prepare for polls.

Meanwhile, the UPCC chief said, "We have prepared a consolidated document comprising panels of names sent by district units, observers for the Congress yatras along with comparative charts of candidates announced by other parties and also the assembly-wise position of our candidates in Lok Sabha elections. We have also discussed the three dozen odd seats where we have received a single name for the assembly seats."

The election committee members have been asked to shortlist the candidates and add their preferences, if any, and return it by July 20 after which the names will be forwarded to the screening committee which is likely to be constituted by the party high command within the next few days.

Suggestions have also been invited for the election manifesto, and a separate committee for this will also be set up soon.

All sitting Congress legislators will be re-nominated to their seats unless they decline to contest.

Rahul meets train accident victims, pulls up rail officials

KANPUR, July 12: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who on Tuesday met those injured in the Kalka Mail accident at a hospital in Kanpur, pulled up railway officials after the victims complained that they had not got the promised compensation.

During his nearly 40-minute visit to Hallett hospital, Rahul, who was accompanied by Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and senior rail and other officials, inquired about the condition of those undergoing treatment in the Burns, Emergency and ICU wards from their families and doctors, officials said in Kanpur.

Rahul promised the victims and their families all possible help.

A few victims told Rahul that they haven't received the promised compensation from the Rail Ministry yet. A visibly agitated Rahul expressed his unhappiness over the complaints and directed the rail officials to take steps to hand over the compensation to the victims as soon as possible, they said. The railway officials said that they were facing some problems but Rahul dismissed them.

"I don't know all this. You will have to immediately settle this," the Congress general secretary was quoted as saying by an official accompanying him.

56 of those injured in the train tragedy have been admitted to the hospital in Kanpur while others are undergoing treatment in Allahabad and Fatehpur.

Gandhi was originally scheduled to reach in Kanpur at 8 AM but due to a last minute change in plans, he reached Hallett hospital at 10:55 AM from Chakeri airport.

8 new faces in India's Cabinet reshuffle

NEW DELHI, July 12: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday inducted eight new faces into his government, axed seven and juggled a few portfolios in a bid to improve the sagging image of his government.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, external affairs minister SM Krishna, defence minister AK Antony and home minister P Chidambaram have been left untouched in the exercise to draft a new Team Manmohan.

The 78-member council of ministers - the same in number - includes 52 from the Congress and 16 allies.

Of the 13 ministries that dominantly deal with India's economy, changes took place only in three - steel and mines, corporate affairs and railways.

Among the major changes, Salman Khursheed takes over the law ministry from M Veerappa Moily, who moves into corporate affairs; Dinesh Trivedi of the Trinamool Congress takes over the railways; and Jayanthi Natarajan, the only Congress woman MP from Tamil Nadu, is the new environment minister.

She replaces the hyperactive Jairam Ramesh who gets elevated as a cabinet minister in the ministry of rural development.

"This is the last reshuffle before we go to the polls (in 2014)," Manmohan Singh told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony.

"It reflects a balance necessary for the states of the union. Consideration of the efficiency, of continuity and all elements were taken into account," he added.

Veteran leader from Andhra Pradesh, V Kishore Chandra Deo, has been put in charge of tribal affairs and panchayati raj.

And Beni Prasad Verma of Uttar Pradesh has been made the cabinet minister in charge of steel ministry. He was the minister of state there.

Among those asked to go are DMK's Dayanidhi Maran, who had put in his papers earlier after being linked to the spectrum scandal, and MS Gill, sports minister when New Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games amid complaints of largescale corruption.

Only one of the seven dropped ministers, Arun Yadav, gets a place in the Congress hierarchy.

It was the second reshuffle in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government that took office for a second five year term in 2009.

Sudip Bandopadhyaya of the Trinamool Congress, the largest Congress ally in the government, makes his debut as minister of state for health and family welfare.

But his party colleague Mukul Roy has been relieved as minister of state for railways, a day after after he publicly ignored Manmohan Singh's directive to the site of a train derailment site in Assam.

He, however, remains the junior minister in the shipping ministry.

The DMK figures nowhere. With both Maran and A Raja, who is in prison, out of the ministry, the party has only four faces in the government.

E Ahamed of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is pivotal to the survival of the Congress government in Kerala, is back as minister of state for external affairs and also gets human resource development (HRD).

The primary charge of the HRD ministry remains with Kapil Sibal, who also holds the communications and IT portfolio.

In a father-son swap, Congress leader Murli Deora is out of the cabinet. His son Milind is in as the minister of state for communications and IT.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has been shifted to the science and technology and earth sciences ministry.

Assam's Paban Singh Ghatowar is minister of state with independent charge (Development of North Eastern Region). Other ministers of state are Congress' lone Lok Sabha member from Chhattisgarh Charan Singh Mahant (agriculture and food processing); the high profile Rajiv Shukla (parliamentary affairs) and the understated Jitendra Singh (home), who is a close aide of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

69 dead in Kalka Mail mishap in India

NEW DELHI, July 11: The devastating Kalka Mail accident has now claimed 69 lives. At least 150 passengers have been injured in the accident in Uttar Pradesh.

The rescue operation, has, meanwhile, ended. The rescue workers faced extreme difficulty in reaching the last coach of the New Delhi-Howrah Kalka Mail that derailed on Sunday.

Nearly hundred Armymen were pressed into service with medical supplies being rushed to the area.

The train was on its way to New Delhi from Howrah, with 1,200 passengers on board when 15 bogies of the train derailed near Malwan station in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur district on Sunday.

Railway authorities said the train was travelling at a top speed of 108 kilometres per hour, when it derailed near Malwan railway station. HC Joshi, North Central Railway General Manager, said, "The exact cause of the derailment has not been ascertained as we are busy in rescue operations." He added a probe has been ordered into the accident.

A Special train carrying 165 passengers of New Delhi-Howrah Kalka Mail reached Delhi this morning. The rescue train departed from Malwan Railway Station last evening to bring survivors to the capital.

All the injured passengers were rushed to Kanpur hospital. Two relief trains, one from Kanpur and the other from Allahabad comprising of medical teams, cutting equipment, cranes, engineers were at Malwan to assist in the rescue operations. Due to the derailment, 13 trains were cancelled and 25 others diverted along the Allahabad-Kanpur section.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expressed shock and instructed Minister of State (MoS), Railways, K H Munniyappa, to visit the accident site and provide all resources for the rescue operation.

An inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety has been ordered into the derailment. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Railways, Mukul Roy, announced that the families of the dead would be paid an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh, the seriously injured would receive Rs. 1 lakh each.

Railway Helpline Numbers:

New Delhi: 011-23342954 , 23341074
Allahabad: 0532-2407353, 2408128
Fatehpur: 05180-222025, 222026, 222436
Kanpur: 0512-2323015, 2323016, 2323018
Khurja: 05738-253084, 253085

Foot soldier Rahul says Mayawati's land acquisition policy is full of flaws

ALIGARH, July 9: Winding up his four-day 'padyatra' in the battle against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused her govt of acquiring farmers' lands for golf courses and racing tracks and firing upon poor farmers when they protest.

Addressing a Kisan Mahapanchayat, capping his 70-km foot march through the villages of Greater Noida and Aligarh district, he rejected criticism that he was enacting a "drama", apparently referring to Mayawati's description of his march as "nautanki".

Using some strong words for his rival in the campaign seen as preparations for the next year Assembly elections, Gandhi said that in Uttar Pradesh a farmer gets to know about the acquisition of his land only when the builder comes and tells him that the land belongs to him.

"In UP, we are not against development or making roads. But this land is being taken away to make golf courses, colonies and racing track from farmers and that is why they are angry".

"The farmer says if in Lucknow a rich person's land is taken he is given the market rate but when it comes to a poor farmer he is fired upon, beaten, and government does not talk to us," Gandhi said.

An estimated crowd of about 10,000-15,000 farmers attended the Mahapanchayat, whose venue became soggy in early morning rains, capping the padyatra that began in the villages of Bhatta-Parsaul, the epicentre of a violent agitation against land acquisition in Greater Noida in May.

Travelling in buses, trucks and tractor-trolleys, the villagers arrived from the wee hours at the sprawling Nomaish Ground in Aligarh, amid tight security.

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, Union Ministers Sachin Pilot and Jitin Prasad and state unit president Rita Bahuguna Joshi were among those present.

Heavy rains, however, led to waterlogginng at the venue and also damaged the waterproof tents erected for the assembly to be addressed by Rahul.

But the crowds soon began to surge as the showers stopped.

"We have come here because we are hopeful that Rahul Gandhi's leadership will herald change in Uttar Pradesh," said a Congress leader from Meerut J P Singh, who has been camping since Friday night.

With Congress leaders and workers thronging the town, no hotel accommodation was available in the area.

Huge posters of Rahul Gandhi dominated the complex.

Four big hoardings on the stage had pictures of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, Joshi and AICC incharge for UP Digvijay Singh.

A muti-tier security ring was in place in and around the venue.

Foot soldier Rahul continues march in UP

ALIGARH, July 6: Continuing his footmarch in Uttar Pradesh for the second day on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi headed towards Aligarh with the district admin saying his 'kisan padyatra'would be a "clear violation" of prohibitory orders in force if it enters the area.

The AICC General Secretary during his informal interactions with villagers while criss crossing several villages after he resumed his march at 6.20 am at Rampur Bangar had Chief Minister Mayawati firmly on his cross-hairs over the issue of forced land acquisition from farmers.

Heavy police force has been deployed near Siarol village on Aligarh-Gautam Budh Nagar border, even as senior police officers insisted it was purely a precautionary measure.

"Heavy police force has been deployed near Siarol village on the Aligarh-Gautam Buddha Nagar border from where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is barely at a short distance," official sources said in Aligarh on Wednesday.

A Congress-backed kisan mahapanchayat is planned in Aligarh on Saturday.

After walking around 25 kms, Rahul had a halt at Rampur Bangar in Gautam Budh Nagar district where he spent the night at the house of a former village head after partaking rotis cooked by the women of the farmer's household.

In Aligarh, SSP Satyendra Vir Singh said, "Section 144 CrPC is in force all over the district since June 12 and in this background Rahul Gandhi's padyatra will be a clear violation."

The SSP, however, clarified that if there is no apprehension of law and order problem, the authorities might choose not to prevent Rahul's entry into the district.

Asserting that the Mayawati government should understand its responsibilities, Rahul told villagers in Alawalpur that farmers, whose land is being acquired, come to know of it only when the process is already over.

"This is not being said by one person, but thousands. People were killed in Bhatta Parsaul, but it was said that nothing happened. People were killed in Tappal. Your voice must be heard against the wrong doing," he said in Alawalpur village where he camped for several hours.

Addressing a chaupal (informal assembly) in another village, Rahul said the magnitude in which land was being acquired in UP was not happening anywhere else in the country.

"It's ok if the land is being acquired for road. Roads should be constructed and development must take place, but here land is being taken for colony," he said.

Aligarh SSP Singh said, "The Congress party has secured permission for its kisan mahapanchayat in Aligarh on July 9. They have, however, not sought any permission for the 'kisan padyatra' which is currently on in certain other districts."

Singh said the district authorities have communicated to the Special Protection Group that Rahul's padyatra here would, therefore, be considered as a violation of section 144 CrPC.

"All our options are open in this matter and we are monitoring the situation carefully," he said.

For the second consecutive day, ruling BSP attacked Rahul terming his padyatra as merely a political drama in view of the coming assembly elections.

Foot Soldier Rahul Gandhi takes on Mayawati

BHATTA-PARSAUL, July 5: Throwing a fresh challenge to Chief Minister Mayawati, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday visited Bhatta- Parsaul again to kickstart his foot march nearly two months after his visit to the twin villages, the epicentre of farmers' protests that had led to his midnight arrest.

The Congress General Secretary made Bhatta-Parsaul, which saw widespread protests over land acquisition in Uttar Pradesh two months back, the first stop of his 'Kisan Sandesh Yatra' when he came calling in a car at 6 am drumming up support for the planned kisan mahapanchayat in Aligarh on Saturday ahead of next year's Assembly elections.

Rahul visited a number of villages in this Gautam Budh Nagar district, met farmers and tried to know problems being faced by them.

He also held 'Choupals'(informal assembly of people), some of it under the trees on the roadside.

Till evening, Rahul walked around 25 km on foot and covered Rustampur, Nagla Bhatauna and Dayanathpur besides Bhatta and Parsaul, according to UPCC spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh, who is accompanying Rahul Gandhi.

In the afternoon, Rahul relished "desi food"--Dal, Roti and Chhach at one Rajiv Singh Jat's house in Nagla Bhatauna, where people of nearby villages also joined in after hearing the news of his arrival.

During the yatra, Rahul preferred to talk less and hear more from the farmers and poor villagers, a person accompanying him said.

Rahul is expected to stay overnight in Jewar, a tehsil in Gautam Buddha Nagar and will rersume his yatra early on Wednesday.

The Mayawati government refused Rahul permission to hold a kisan mahapanchayat in Bhatta Parsaul in the outkirts of Delhi as the two sides geared up for another round of confrontation.

"Whatever happened in Bhatta Parsaul, other people were not aware of it. I wanted to understand this land acquisition happening here, from here to Agra," he said addressing villagers at one place.

"This yatra I have started from Bhatta, from here I will to go to villages and I will try to understand this acquisition, the new law and the peoples' opinion on this law. How, where and for whom are the laws getting implemented I want to understand.That is why I have come here and will go to other villages to understand the same," he said.

Sitting on a rope cot, Rahul looked very much at home, holding a small, beaming child in school uniform on his lap as he talked to villagers in Bhatta-Parsaul.

Rahul was accompanied by security personnel.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said Rahul Gandhi's foot march was aimed at getting first-hand information from people on the impact of Mayawati government's land acquisition policy.

"The foot march is to know what is the benefit, what is the impact of the land acquisition policy of the Mayawati government. When and where he will go, we do not have information," Singh told reporters.

He said that farmers facing problems relating to land acquisition in any part of UP should come to the party's rally in Aligarh on July 9 and speak out.

Rahul was arrested by the Mayawati government in Bhatta Parsaul on the night of 11th May and released after a few hours when he had gone there to oppose the police action against farmers during their protests against land acquisition.

Four persosn were killed during the police action.

He told the villagers that the Congress is dedicated to take up their cause and was therefore holding the mahapanchayat.

Congress leaders accompanying Rahul told Bhatta Parsaul farmers that the kisan mahapanchayat was earlier scheduled to be held at Bhatta Parsaul but as the administration did not give permission the venue was shifted to Aligarh.

Some areas of Aligarh saw massive agitation against land acquisition in August last year.

Rahul's padyatra an attempt to know farmers' problems: Cong

LUCKNOW, July 6: Dismissing criticism that Rahul Gandhi's 'padyatra' from Bhatta-Parsaul was a "political stunt", the Congress on Wednesday said there were "no party flags or workers" with the leader who is only trying to know the real problems being faced by farmers affected by land acquisition.

"Rahul's padyatra is an attempt to know the real problems being faced by the farmers affected due to land acquisition. As the Centre will be amending land acquisition Act, he will be giving suggestions on certain points about that," senior Congress Digvijay Singh, who is in-charge of UP, told reporters in Lucknow.

About BJP leader Rajnath Singh and ruling BSP in Uttar Pradesh terming terming Rahul's padyatra a "political stunt and a "drama", Singh said, "People know better. "Unlike Rajnathji, we do not organise demonstrations for photographs only. If he goes to villages in this rainy season, I will appreciate him," Digvijay Singh said.

"You can see that Rahul is among farmers. There are no party workers or flags around him in his yatra," he said.

In Delhi, Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed echoed the views, saying it was the leader's initiative to get a first hand knowledge of the problems of the farmers.

Asked about Rahul's schedule during the padyatra, Digvijay Singh said that it was not known for how many days the tour will continue.

"Wo kitne din padyatra karenge ye pata nahi... Ye to unke upar hai", (It's upto him. We are not aware as to how many days he will undertake padyatra)," Singh said in reply to a question.

About the July 9 'kisan mahapanchyat', Singh said that after hearing farmers and their representatives, Rahul will deliver his address.

"There will be one stage, where there would be no party flags and banners and those not associated with the party can also come and air their views. We urge all farmers and their associations to participate in the mahapanchyat," he said.

Rahul meets families of Araria firing victims

FORBESGANJ, July 1: Extending a “healing touch”, Rahul Gandhi on Friday met the families of victims of Forbesganj police firing in Bihar’s Araria district and assured them justice.

The Congress General Secretary, who went to the house of a boy, Md. Rashid Ansari who was injured in the firing, said that all assistance would be provided to the victims. He also spoke to Ansari’s mother Phulia Khatoon.

Mr. Gandhi directed State Congress president Choudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser to bring the injured boy to New Delhi for treatment.

The Congress leader also went around the starch factory at Bhajanpura near here, where the firing took place on June 3, claiming four lives. He, however, left after a group of persons standing there with flags tried to draw his attention to the loss of property in the arson before the firing.

Mr. Kaiser said that Mr. Gandhi met the bereaved families besides those injured. “The visit has nothing to do with politics and is to give a healing touch,” he said.

Reacting to Mr. Gandhi’s visit, Deputy Chief Minister S.K. Modi said, “I am not against the Congress leader’s visit to Forbesganj, but he also should have gone to Bhagalpur where hundreds of people died during the riots when the Congress was in power in Bihar.”

Indian PM says he is not averse to bringing his office under Lokpal

NEW DELHI, June 30: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday that he had no objection in bringing Prime Minister's office under the purview of Lokpal but said that views of cabinet and other political parties would be important in arriving at a final decision on the issue.

Sonia Gandhi had done a "superb job" as Congress President for nearly 15 years now, he underlined.

Asked about occasional statements from party functionaries that Rahul Gandhi should become Prime Minister, Singh said that the Congress Party and its President had entrusted him with this job and he had not heard any contrary view from the Congress high command.

"In fact, the Congress high command has always been most supportive, particularly Mrs Gandhi," the Prime Minister said.

He went on to add, "Personally, if you ask me, the general proposition that younger people should take over, I think, is the right sentiment".

Whenever the party "makes up its mind I will be very happy to step down, but so long as I am here I have a job to do".

To a question about a possible reshuffle of his Cabinet, the Prime Minister said it was a "work in progress".

Asked if it could take place soon, Dr. Singh replied, "I cannot predict."

About Lokpal Bill, he said it was essential and desirable. The country needed a strong Lokpal although it is not not a "panacea".

He told the editors that he would try to find a way on the Lokpal issue and work for a national consensus.

The government would reach out to the civil society but no group can insist that their views "A to Z" are the last word.

As for bringing the office of the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal, the Prime Minister said that he has no hesitation in bringing himself under it.

However, many of his Cabinet colleagues were of the view that bringing the institution of the Prime Minister under Lokpal would create "an element of instability which can go out of hand".

In any case, the Prime Minister is covered by the anti-corruption act and is a 24-hour servant of the people, he said pointing out that a person holding that office can be removed by Parliament.

Dr. Singh said that he would like to be "guided" by political parties on this issue.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha and her Punjab counterpart Prakash Singh Badal had both expressed their views that this office should be kept out of Lokpal's purview.

Dismissing talk that he is a "lameduck" Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said he has been entrusted with the job by the Congress party from which he has not heard "any contrary view".

Terming the perception that his government had gone "comatose" and was "lameduck" as clever propaganda of the Opposition "to which some sections of the media had lent ear", Dr. Singh asserted that "truth will prevail" and his performance will speak.

Dr. Singh spoke of "maximum possible cooperation" that he was getting from Congress President Sonia Gandhi whom he met one-on-one every week. He had never felt that she was an "obstacle".

Told about doubts being raised about the stability of his government, particularly in the light of problems with DMK, the Prime Minister said, "We have some points of tension but nobody wants an election."

On dialogue with civil society, he said that the government should appear to be receptive to what the society says and he had himself encouraged a dialogue with Anna Hazare.

With regard to Ramdev also, the effort was not to create unnecessary misunderstanding, he said, adding that he had earlier written to the yoga guru to share some of his concerns on blackmoney and corruption.

About the controversy surrounding the decision of four union ministers to meet Ramdev at Delhi airport, the Prime Minister said it was not to "receive" him but the meeting had been arranged so that it could take place before he entered Delhi.

Responding to a question about police action against Ramdev and his followers at Delhi's Ramlila ground in the middle of the night, Dr. Singh said it was unfortunate but he did not see any alternative.

If action had been taken the next day there would have been larger crowds, he said.

Asked if Hazare was naive or politically motivated, the Prime Minister said it was not good to question the motives of that government is negotiating with.

Asserting that his government was committed to pursuing whatever was feasible to deal with blackmoney, tax evasion and corruption, the Prime Minister said it was nevertheless not a "one-shot operation".

He acknowledged that the telecom scam, the CWG scam and other perceived cases of corruption had caused genuine concern to the middle class whom he assured that the guilty would be punished.

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said there was a growing perception in the media that the government was under a siege and not able to implement its agenda.

He then went on to hit out at the role of the media for having become "accuser, prosecutor and the judge".

No parliamentary democracy could function in that manner.

About foreign relations, the Prime Minister said India lived in a very uncertain neighbourhood and a very uncertain international economic environment.

On Pakistan, he said that the action taken by it so far on dealing with terror emanating from its soil was not satisfactory but India had to keep that country engaged.

He said that terror should never be used as a state policy.

Terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were offshoots of ISI.

Asked about the possibility of his visiting Pakistan, Singh said they were keen about it but there must be something solid to achieve.

About China, he said that the Indian media should not sensationalise differences with that country.

He had dealt with the present leadership of President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao whom he regards as men of peace.

At the same time, the Prime Minister said India could not compromise on the issue of Arunachal Pradesh to which China lays claim and on river systems.