faheem Accusing Congress and BJP of raising the minority sub-quota issue mid-way during the UP polls for their political gains, BSP supremo Mayawati today said this helped in large-scale transfer of Muslim votes to Samajwadi Party.
Talking to reporters soon after submitting her resignation to UP Governor B L Joshi, Mayawati said 70 per cent of the Muslim votes had gone to the SP due to the minority reservation issue.
Bringing cheers to the Samajwadi Party (SP), the results are out of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls on Tuesday. The parliamentary board of SP will meet on Wednesday to decide the new chief minister of the state.
As per the reports, the meeting will start at 11 am during which the party will finalise its chief ministerial candidate. Akhilesh Yadav extensively campaigned for his party and has emerged as an icon. People of Uttar Pradesh showed their love for him that resulted in SP’s victory.
The Samajwadi Party on Tuesday said it would implement all promises made by it in the election manifesto for Uttar Pradesh, including execution of Sachar and Rangnath Mishra committee recommendations.
State Party President Akhilesh Yadav, said the SP, which is heading towards a majority, was supported by all sections of society irrespective of their caste and creed which proved that people had accepted the issues on which the party went to polls.
I own responsibility, says Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi, who was the face of the Congress campaign in Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, owned responsibility for the party’s dismal performance which he termed as a “very good lesson” for him.
“I own the responsibility for this…This is one of my defeats and I take it in my stride,” said the young Congress General Secretary who extensively toured Uttar Pradesh and addressed over 200 rallies during the month-long campaigning.
Uttar Pradesh was headed for a hung verdict on Tuesday with the Samajwadi Party (SP) leading the four-horse race but expected to fall short of a majority to form a government on its own.
The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which swept to power in 2007 winning a staggering 206 seats, was headed for a near rout, officials said here. The Congress was trailing in the fourth spot.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surged ahead dramatically, mainly in urban centres, with its candidates leading in 59 constituencies.
As Uttar Pradesh headed towards a hung Assembly, Samajwadi Party on Tuesday said it was too early to say whether it would approach Congress for support in the formation of the next government.
“It all depends upon what numbers we get…It is too early to say anything,” was the refrain of SP leader Akhilesh Yadav when asked whether his party would align with Congress after having emerged the single largest party in the politically crucial state.
Right from the first phase of the elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress leaders have been raising contentious issues for their vested interests. First, party’s prominent Muslim face and Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid hit hornet’s nest by making proposition of providing 4.5 percent sub-quota to the Muslims. The Congress’ move irked the entire Oppositions as well as some United Progressive Alliance partners. The Opposition leaders term Salman remarks over the minority reservation as the violation of model code of conduct.
Early trends in poll counting in five states show massive losses for the Congress party while BJP seems to be making solid gains. The Akali-BJP combine in Punjab is headed for a second term in office with leads in over 60 seats in the 117-member house. In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party is emerging as the biggest party, followed by the BSP in distant second, BJP in third and Congress finishing a poor fourth.
Samajwadi Party was way ahead of others in Uttar Pradesh leading in 150 seats while BJP sprang a surprise as it was leading in 65 constituencies in the 403 member Assembly.
Ruling BSP was left way behind leading only in 62 seats while Congress-RLD combine managed to lead only in 42 constituencies.
As per the trends available for 323 seats at 10 am, SP was leading in 141 seats.
Among the key constituencies where SP was ahead were Amethi and Rae Bareli, bastion of Nehru-Gandhi family.
Summer 2012 will see one debate generate considerable heat: who should be the next President of India after President Pratibhatai Devisingh Patil retires this July. The head of state of the Republic of India, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and yes, ideally speaking, also the nation’s conscience-keeper. Political circles are abuzz with a few names who could wear these hats; who, if any of them, will eventually occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan depends on a number of political permutations and combinations.
A six-year-old boy was kidnapped and killed for ransom in Thakurganj area, police said on Saturday.
The body of Onkar Tiwari alias Shivam, who was missing since Thursday, was recovered from the jungle around two kilometers from his house in Thakurganj on Friday, they said.
Police said that Raja Ram Tiwari, a businessman, had lodged an FIR regarding disappearance of his son late on Thursday night.
The family members later received a call from the kidnappers demanding Rs. three lakh for the boy’s safe release.
Britain’s biggest-selling brand of babies’ gripe water is being investigated by the Government’s medicines watchdog.
Stocks of Woodward’s Gripe Water have almost dried up at supermarkets and pharmacies – leading to mothers panic buying the remaining supplies.
Until now the reason for the shortage was not clear. But yesterday the manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser confirmed production had ceased four months ago.
Bottles of the tonic, which sell in shops at £2.49, have been changing hands on eBay for up to five times the normal price.
The second “Azeem-ush-Shaan Musabaqa-e-Azaan” (contest of rendering call for prayers to Muslims) will be held here on March 10 at the historic Iqbal Maidan.
Rally and Candle Light Vigil in New York on the 10th Anniversary of Anti-Muslim Gujarat Pogrom. Jewish Leader Criticizes AJC for Giving Award to Advani. Rallies held in 9 other cities by CAG affiliated organizations
Coalition Against Genocide keeps the heat on Modi, demands his arrest and compensation to the victims; vows to fight Hindutva ideology in the US.
Indian youth can be made to appreciate classical music if it is served to them in the right manner, says music promoter Durga Jasraj, who disagrees with the notion that Bollywood tunes have spoilt the new generation’s taste in music.
“People who feel youth don’t have a knack for listening to classical music should understand that that’s not the case. They just need it to be served to them the way they like it,” Durga says.
A 22-year-old Afghan woman was murdered by her boyfriend in a south Delhi guest house, police said Sunday.
The deceased Paimana, who was stabbed to death, was in a live-in relationship with the unidentified man, an officer said.
The incident took place Saturday night at around 10 p.m. in Shamsher Homestay guest house in Jangpura Extension.
According to the police, the assailant is absconding.
–IANS
A man’s genitals were chopped off by a woman and two of her family members for asking them to return his money, police in Bihar said Sunday adding the victim is now battling for life at a hospital.
According to police, the victim, Ram Biriksh Prasad, 35, is a resident of Ushwaha Tola of Kemai village in Nawada district, about 140 km from here.
The man’s private parts were chopped off in his village by a woman named Pratima Devi along with two of her family members, said police official P.C. Yadav.
Congress leader K. Chiranjeevi on Friday said that he had no information about the allotment of a Rajya Sabha ticket to him by the Congress High Command.
During an interaction with mediapersons in the Assembly lobbies on Friday, Mr Chiranjeevi said, “I have not received any information in this regard. I cannot comment on things about which I have no information. I will abide by whatever decision the party high command takes.”
Mr Chiranjeevi tried to avoid controversy and appeared very cautious during the interaction.
India’s prayers have finally been answered. Doctors looking after two-year-old Baby Falak at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi have said that the toddler “has survived.” She was brought to the hospital on January 18 in a severely battered and bruised condition. After over 45 days of treatment, she is now out of coma and has been off ventilator support for the past five days.
The word ‘sexy’ crept into the Indian lexicon a long time ago, but it continues to create ripples in a society where the conservative goes hand in hand with the modern. Some find it outrageous and derogatory while others say it is important to see how the term is used.
The renewed debate comes after Mamta Sharma, chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), said: “If a group of boys eve-teases you by calling you sexy, you should not get provoked and instead you should take it positively.”
Demanding that the Inter-State Council be activated further, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said here that the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre was nothing but UPA government’s ploy to take away states’ powers.
Accusing the “Delhi Sarkar” of weakening federal system, Modi questioned the need of NCTC instead of anti-terror laws such as POTA. Through this proposed body, the Centre wanted to use the Intelligence Bureau in states’ domain, he said.
To mark the 10th anniversary of Gujarat communal riots, a Democrat lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives urging the state government to restore religious freedom.
The non-binding resolution “recognising the 10th anniversary of the tragic communal violence in Gujarat” introduced by Keith Ellison early this week has been sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Falak, the two-year-old battered baby who has been battling for survival at the premier AIIMS Trauma Centre here, has shown signs of improvement and is likely to be discharged soon, said a doctor looking after her for the past almost month-and-half.
“She is showing body movements and moving her limbs, she has survived now,” Deepak Agrawal, assistant professor (neurosurgery) at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, told IANS Saturday.
Under fire from a section of Muslim community for his remarks on Gujarat riots, Pakistani Islamic scholar Tahir-ul-Qadri has clarified that he only stated that unfortunate incidents should not recur.
Qadri accused a section of media of distorting his statement made during his visit to Gujarat last week.
Ending the long suspense, the Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker Friday disqualified 16 rebel lawmakers belonging to the ruling Congress party who were loyal to Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
The speaker has also accepted the resignation of another Jagan loyalist Shoba Nagi Reddy of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has now merged with the Congress party.
A statement about the disqualification was released from the office of speaker Nandendla Manohar Friday night.