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www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 13th April 2013
A show of strength by Modi Spacewoman Sunita Williams on BJP’s 33rd foundation day felicitated in Ahmedabad
By AV Correspondent BJP president Rajnath Singh last Saturday declared Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the country’s most popular leader. The day was to mark the 33rd foundation day of the BJP. After Rajnath Singh made him a member of the party’s parliamentary board, Modi decided to organise a meeting a show his popularity at Ahmedabad’s Sardar patel stadium where one lakh of supporters from different part of the state gathered to show their solidarity with their leader. Attacking the Congress, especially its policies and the language it uses to talk about Modi, Singh said, “For addressing him a ‘Maut ja Saudagar,’ the people have shown the door to the Congress and now that he is being termed as the Yamraj and the people will definitely punish the Congress for this.’’ For Modi who has been inducted in the
party’s top decision making body, along with his close aide and former minister Amit Shah, this was an opportunity to showcase his strength in his home turf with the party president by his side. Modi chose to make a veiled attack on the Gandhi scion for his comparison of India with a beehive, he said “If you do not have enough understanding of the country please get it from the people who do, but don’t insult our mother land,” “It may be beehive for you, but India is mother for us,” Modi added. And unlike his speeches in the past on the party’s foundation day, Modi decided to dedicate it to senior party leaders, founders of the party and party workers. “It is because of you and your hard work that the party has been able to be in power in so many states of the country and also at the Centre under the able leadership of Vajpayee,’’ said Modi.
Rajiv Gandhi was 'middleman' for Swedish jets in 1970s: WikiLeaks Continued from page 1 Cutting across party lines, leaders of various political outfits sought an explanation from Rajiv’s wife and Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the revelations. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut stressed that Sonia Gandhi was the one, who must now clarify these revelations. "A lot of points have now come out and they are concerning a former Prime Minister of this country. Now it is the responsibility of Sonia Gandhi to give a clarification on the issue,” Sanjay Raut said. Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary Atul Anjan said the latest revelations would create fresh problems for the Gandhi family, and sought an explanation from them on the entire issue. "There is truth in these facts as names of other senior administrative officers were there in this expose and they were those people who have been close to the Nehru family, like Henry Kissinger," he added. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Prakash Karat also expressed serious concern over the issue. "What it shows is this a matter of great and wider concern that you have over the years foreign arms dealers and companies having this nexus with Indian people, political connections and the bureaucracy and
the system in India. This is a matter, which already is there. There are so many recent contracts of arms deals," said Karat. "So, I think it should be taken as something which confirms that this nexus exists," he added. Samajwadi party (SP) leader Kamal Farooqi said that we should not dig up the past, but tries to make corrections in the system. "I personally feel that we should not go into the past so much rather whatever has happened in the past, it should be a lesson for us in future and we should try to correct our system, we should try to make everything foolproof so that there is no element of correction in all this kind of deals," he said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balbir Punj urged the government to order an independent inquiry into the matter. "It's a very serious matter. It is an allegation, very serious allegation on the former Prime Minister of India (Rajiv Gandhi). The least the government can do is to order an independent inquiry so that we can know what the facts are," said Punj. Congress party, however, dismissed this expose, and said that the 'magazine reports' should not be given much importance. "All these are nonsensical things and we do not comment on reports in a magazine," said Congress leader Rashid Masood.
Sunita Williams was in Ahmedabad, when the participants and delegates revolved around Sunita's life in space at the event organized by the Indian Council of Social Welfare. When some students asked her whether they can become astronauts like her, she answered in the affirmative. One student asked whether Sunita was bored in the 320 days that she spent aboard International Space Station (ISS), she said, "I was never bored because I had a lot to do. I was like a bird floating in space, observing the earth. Life
was never dull for me Williams, who holds the world record for the most spacewalk time by a female astronaut, was gifted a pair of gold bangles. A couple of families also offered her land in case she decided to settle down in Gujarat. Sanand may get ‘Sunita school’ soon. Motown Sanand, which is famous for attracting carmakers, has another reason to cheer. IndianAmerican astronaut Sunita Williams may soon set up a school for underprivileged children in the area.
In Focus Rahul Gandhi: Talk about my becoming PM is irrelevant
Who would be the Congress' next prime ministerial candidate? Rahul Gandhi dubbed as "irrelevant" and "all smoke" the debate on the issue as he insisted that no individual can fix all the complex problems of the nation. Gandhi, who has been reluctant to join the government, described his advent into politics as "an accident of fate" and "DNA" linkage with a particular family. He said that he is not a hard-nosed politician" and does not want to become one. "These are irrelevant questions. Like when are you getting married or when are you becoming PM? It's all smoke," the 42-year-old Congress vice-president said, adding the only relevant question is how to give voice to one billion people that would solve all problems.
5 of family immolate themselves in Rajkot
Five members of a Nepalese family succumbed to burn injuries as they immolated themselves before civic authorities fearing eviction from their dwelling in Rajkot last week. The Nepalese family, which had been residing there for 35 years, had received a notice from RMC some months back for vacating the place and their plea for a stay on demolition of additional construction had been turned down by a court. Meanwhile, police arrested two people for abetting the crime and aare on the look out for four more people.
Petition in support of Direct Flight between UK and Gujarat, organised by AV, GS and NCGO (UK) If you want a direct flight from London to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad; if you have a desire to get a permanent, easy connection with people of Gujarat, do sign and get others to sign this petition and send it to “Asian Voice” or “Gujarat Samachar” office by post or fax it to our office (Fax no: 020 7749 4081), at the earliest. THE CAMPAIGN to facilitate direct flights between London Heathrow and Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport Ahmedabad, Gujarat has generated much interest amongst Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar readers and the entire community. All those wishing to add their names to the list of petitioners, which includes several prominent politicians, business people and community members are requested to complete the tear-off the form and send it to the offices of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar,
12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW. We will forward all petitions to the Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi. Who is renowned to be in the forefront of serving Gujarati people. Please note: If you wish to register more than 10 names on your petition, then simply photocopy the tearoff form and add the extra names. All petitions must clearly state your full names, postal address and must be signed and dated.
REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT WE THE undersigned hereby support the direct Air India flights between London and Ahmedabad for the following reasons : l There are more Gujaratis living and travelling abroad than any other Indian community, and this figure is increasing. l About 40% of Air India passenger to the UK are Gujarati. Indeed on some flights, close to 80% to 90% are Gujarati. l India is the 2nd largest investor into United Kingdom, according to British Government figures. Many of these Indian companies are either owned, controlled, or significantly staffed by Gujaratis. l The UK is the Second Largest investor in India, and the largest cumulative investor in Gujarat. l Nearly 50% of all visas issued by British High
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Commission in India are to Gujaratis. l Currently, air passengers travelling between the UK and Gujarat are required to change planes either at Mumbai or Delhi. This inevitably leads to considerable inconvenience, delay and expense – particularly for families with young children, pregnent women, the elderly, and the increasing number of business travellers. l We believe that the introduction of direct flights will not only be of benefit to the Gujarati diaspora, but also prove commercially successfully for Air India.
Form also available online at www.abplgroup.com to download and Fax on 020 7749 4081 Email: support@abplgroup.com
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