Delhi: Parties condemn incident of vandalism at Christian school

New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, leaders on Friday denounced the alleged vandalisation of a prominent Christian school in South Delhi with Aam Admi Party saying both the Centre and the state have to think about how to prevent such "unacceptable" incidents.

"This is an incident which cannot be accepted. Society can't stand like this. Everyone has to think

about this including the Centre and the state," AAP leader Manish Sisodia told reporters here. "Something needs to be done about it because such incidents have been continuously increasing. It can't be left as a small incident.... People belonging to a religion are praying and others who are not following it are throwing stones at them.

"Let tomorrow's programme happen. We will discuss this with police that how such actions can be controlled because society needs to be kept together. If it is divided then it is a danger for the nation," he said.

The AAP government will be sworn in here tomorrow. Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely also condemned the incident saying, "It is a matter of deep concern the way minorities are being attacked continuously. It shows the failure of police and government in maintaining law and order situation."

Another Congress leader, Shobha Jha, said, "It is unfortunate that this is fifth such incident of an attack on minorities, church or schools being ransacked and the government is sleeping." "It is unfortunate that no arrest has been made in the last attack despite people of Christian community protesting against it. This shows the government is insensitive towards security of minorities," she added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today summoned Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi in the wake of the incident and directed him to come down hard against those involved in such attacks.

BJP's spokesperson Sambit Patra, however, said that the incident should not be viewed in religious context. "I don't think this is a targeted attack on a community. The principal has also come to the forefront and maintained that no religious item was attacked and it's a case of theft. Even police commissioner has come out with the same comments on the matter. I think it's unfair to mix religion into every issue," he told reporters. Unidentified persons had allegedly vandalised the school in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar in the wee hours today even as police and school authorities claimed it to be a case of robbery.

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Kejriwal hits Delhi road running, lists 4 must-do things before Modi govt

New Delhi: A day after leading his party to a landslide victory in Delhi Assembly polls against the mighty Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal today met Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and discussed various issues with him including that of unauthorised colonies in the city and full statehood.

He was accompanied by Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia. “We have discussed four big issues with the minister. Firstly, the issues of the poor such as compensation for them, we will need central government’s help in that. Secondly, the issue of unauthorised colonies on which the Centre recently passed a resolution. So in order to take it forward help will be needed from MCD, DDA and the Centre,” Sisodia told reporters after the meeting.

“We told him that for more schools, colleges, hospitals and parking, a lot of land will be needed so whatever land is available with DDA, we have requested for it.

“And lastly the issue of full statehood. We have been fully assured that without any political divide we will get their support,” he added. Kejriwal is slated to meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh later in the day.

The Union Minister congratulated Kejriwal and Sisodia on their victory and also reminded them of the responsibility on their shoulders. “AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia met me and discussed about regularisation of unauthorised colonies and other land-related issues. I congratulated them on the victory and reminded them of the great responsibility on their shoulders,” Naidu told reporters.

“I assured him that the Centre is willing to cooperate with the state and contribute to overall interest of people and development but the cooperation will depend on your operation. As the PM has given us guidance that we have to work as a team, we will help them as per the norms.

“If you perform well, we will extend all our support. There is no question of any political consideration whatsoever,” he said.  Kejriwal also extended an invitation to Naidu for the swearing-in ceremony on February 14 at Ramlila Maidan. “He invited me but I have a prior commitment in Kolkata. I have a municipal commissioners meeting which was fixed a month back so I expressed my inability, otherwise I would have been happy to attend that,” said Naidu.

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Modi's 'I, me, myself' style may have hurt BJP (Comment: Special to IANS)

What the Delhi poll outcome has confirmed is that theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can be stopped in its tracks by a determined opponent, even one not as well-entrenched as established regional parties like the AIADMK, the Biju Janata Dal or the Trinamool Congress were in their respective states in last year's general election.
In contrast to what happened in Tamil Nadu and the two other states, the BJP has been routed in Delhi by an adversary like the Aam Admi Party (AAP) which entered the fray with a lot of baggage - its hasty departure after 49 days in power in the capital last year, the boastful assertion of anarchist tendencies by its leader Arvind Kejriwal, and an economic outlook which ranged from being "Left of Left" to a claim of being sensitive to the concerns of traders since Kejriwal harked back to his 'bania' (trading community) background.
Understandably, the BJP made full use of these deficiencies with Narendra Modi urging the AAP leader to join the Naxalites (Maoists) in the jungles since he is a self-proclaimed anarchist. Earlier, the prime minister had stressed the same point by designating Kejriwal as AK-49, the automatic rifle that is a favourite of insurgents.
To buttress Modi's offensive, the BJP threw in nearly all its central ministers, headed by Arun Jaitley, and as many as 120 MPs into the campaign, a classic case of a sledgehammer being used to swat a seeming fly.
But the reason why none of it helped the ruling party at the centre will be palpable to any discerning observer. Ever since Modi'a assumption of power last summer on the basis of heady rhetoric, the ruling party has been all words and virtually no deeds. Apart from scrapping the Planning Commission, it has done precious little to fulfil its promises of a turnaround of the economy even if the initial signs are favourable considering that a seven percent growth is being forecast.
However, as Tuesday's results show, the so-called aspirational middle class has not been satisfied. It is worth remembering that today's generation is far more impatient than their forbears. They look for quick results and explanations that it takes time for the reforms to bear fruit are rejected as ineffectual quibbling.
But an inability to show results on the economic front is not the only reason for the rebuff which the BJP has suffered after its triumph in the general election and the successive victories in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand with the possibility that it might form a government in Jammu and Kashmir as well with the People's Democratic Front as a partner.
One explanation for the voters' snub to the BJP in Delhi lies in its Achilles heel of communalism, for large sections of the electorate must have been aghast that despite having come to power on the promise of development for all - sabka saath, sabka vikas - the BJP was letting the saffron extremists, including two of its MPs, Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj, to run amok.
Apart from their divisive campaigns, what has apparently hurt the BJP is Modi's "dangerous silence", as the New York Times called it, on these Hindu extremists.
Since Modi is widely perceived as a "strong" leader, the silence has been considered strange. Even if he appears to have acted behind the scenes to rein in some of the hotheads, in addition to telling the party members not to cross the Lakshman rekha (a prescribed limit), the apprehension among the minorities have not gone away.
There is little doubt that the AAP has been a major beneficiary of this unease not only among the Muslims, but also the Christians who have been perturbed by the recent spate of attacks on churches in Delhi. Since the Congress is virtually fading away from the electoral scene, it could not avail of the minority votes, which went to the AAP.
The AAP also gained from the perception of its honesty. It's worth recalling that the Indian voter has long been looking for a person of integrity at the top, whether it was Mr Clean, V.P. Singh, in 1989, or Mr Cleaner Rajiv Gandhi in the first three years of his reign.
Now, the AAP fits the bill, especially in view of its success during its brief stint in power in curbing the police "practice" of collecting haftas or weekly allowances from petty traders and even threatening bigwigs - the Ambani brothers were named - if they insisted on high user charges on electricity and other amenities.
All these assertions, made with a touch of hauteur, made the AAP a darling of the underclass. With the minorities, too, in their catchment area and the middle class disappointed with the slow progress on the economic front, the BJP was always fighting a losing battle.
Besides, Modi's "I, me, myself" style of governance may have begun to jar on the voter. The party may have to become a great deal more moderate if it has to succeed in the next round of elections, notably in Bihar. Modi's call to Kejriwal for a tete-a-tete over tea - chai pe charcha - is probably a sign of the toning down of attitudes.
As for the AAP, it is too early to say now how it will fare outside Delhi considering that its fielding of 432 candidates in the last general election was something of a disaster since it could win only four seats. But it may have learnt its lessons from that misadventure, especially that governance matters and not a display of belligerence against all and sundry.
(Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com)

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Bihar crisis: Manjhi meets PM as JD (U) stakes claim to form government

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is under sharp criticism from the Janata Dal (United) for being defiant and reluctant to step down from his post, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official 7, Race Course Road (RCR) residence on Sunday evening to discuss the political situation in the state.

Manjhi, who has in the past lauded the Prime Minister for his initiatives, was in the national capital to attend the meeting of the NITI Aayog. Earlier in the day, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had pledged his support for Manjhi, speculating that the BJP might hold a meeting with regard to the crisis. Meanwhile, Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary recognized former chief minister Nitish Kumar as the JD (U) legislature party leader, a day after he was elected to the post in Patna.

A delegation of leaders of the JD (U) and its allies have also reportedly submitted letters of support to the Governor's office, stating that Nitish has the support of 130 MLAs. Earlier last evening, Manjhi had called a meeting of the state cabinet, which authorised the Chief Minister to recommend the dissolution of Bihar Assembly. But this move was strongly opposed by 20 ministers loyal to his predecessor Nitish.

Manjhi claimed that only he is authorised to take a decision on dissolution of the assembly.

Manjhi had written a letter to the Bihar Governor and requested him not to accept the recommendations made by the JD (U) legislature party meeting headed by Sharad Yadav.

He also urged the Governor to remove 15 ministers from their posts with immediate effect. Adding a new twist to the entire controversy, 20 ministers on Saturday night sent their resignation to the Governor in support of Nitish. 

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Kiran Bedi staunchly denies BJP's defeat in Delhi polls, says wait for results

New Delhi: A day after the Assembly polls, BJP's Delhi chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi on Sunday staunchly denied that her party was facing first election defeat since storming to power last year, even though exit polls tipped Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to win Delhi elections.

“A survey is just a survey, we should wait for the 10th for the final result,” Bedi told the media.

As exit polls suggested the loss of face for BJP, Kiran Bedi said that she will claim responsibility for either loss or win in Delhi. “I am a person who always takes responsibility,” Bedi reiterate, ANI reported.

Yesterday, Bedi had said, “I will take full responsibility for results of Delhi.”

Exit polls released hours after voting ended yesterday indicated the AAP of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had comfortably beaten BJP.

However, Bedi had said that she would wait for results to be declared on Tuesday.

Kiran Bedi, 65, a former top cop, joined the BJP and politics last month and within four days was named the party's presumptive chief minister of Delhi.

The annointment of Bedi as the CM candiadate was considered as a masterstroke to counter Arvind Kejriwal.

But, if exit poll results turn true, victory for Kejriwal would mark a stunning comeback for the anti-graft champion who resigned following a chaotic 49-day spell in charge of the Delhi state government a year ago.

However, observers say a defeat for BJP will be a significant setback for a Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has enjoyed an extended honeymoon with voters since his landslide General Election victory.

PM Modi needs to win state elections in coming years to gain control of both houses of the national parliament, where he is attempting to push through reforms on land acquisition, tax and other issues to revive the economy.

All seven exit polls predicted another humiliating loss for the Congress party.

After being thumped at the General Election, Congress is expected to win just two seats, according to an average of the polls.

Most political pundits had written off Kejriwal after he resigned as chief minister, in part over failed attempts to get an anti-corruption bill passed in the assembly.

Notably, Kejriwal famously declared himself an 'anarchist' during his brief tenure last year and staged several street protests outside government offices.

But after apologising for leaving voters without an elected government for a year, Kejriwal was the star of the campaign, outshining former top cop Kiran Bedi who was the BJP`s pick for chief minister.

Kejriwal`s campaign has been based around promises of lower utility bills and free Wi-Fi for Delhi`s 17 million residents, as well as pledges to counter corruption.

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JD(U) accuses BJP of plotting split in party, BJP hits back

New Delhi: Grappling with a crisis within, JD(U) on Sunday accused BJP of plotting a split in the party, a charge denied by the saffron party which said the entire crisis was triggered by former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "obsession" for power.

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi suggested that Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was working at the BJP's behest and said he had no right to attend the NITI Aayog meeting in the national capital as he no longer enjoyed the confidence of the majority of MLAs after JD(U) lawmakers elected Nitish Kumar as their new leader in Patna on Saturday.

Asked about Manjhi's scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening, Tyagi said, "The fact is BJP President Amit Shah is working overtime to engineer a split in our party, like he is doing with TMC. He has failed... " "If the need arises, we will parade 130 MLAs before the governor or even the President," he told PTI.

A belligerent Manjhi has refused to step down from the chief minister's post after terming the party's meeting yesterday "unconstitutional". He is said to be exploring possibility of getting the BJP's support to remain in the top post.

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A day before polling, Arvind Kejriwal performs yoga, Kiran Bedi prepares langar

New Delhi: A day before polling begins in the city, Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, chief ministerial aspirants of the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party respectively, took to unwinding after a hectic campaigning spree.

While Kejriwal started his day by performing yoga and later visiting his local saloon for a haircut, Bedi prepared a ‘langar’ at a Gurudwara in Krishna Nagar, from where she is fighting the polls this time.

She also stated that she would celebrate with her party’s workers later in the day.

“I will spend my entire day with BJP workers, have worked a lot for the campaign, will celebrate today evening,” said Bedi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended its campaign for the Delhi polls yesterday with a flourish, holding road shows in all assembly constituencies of the national capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders on their part held a press conference, speeches and various road shows to convince the voters that they would give a stable government this time.

The polls, which are believed to be a direct fight between the BJP and AAP, have witnessed a fractiously divided support base for the two parties.

While the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, headed by controversial spiritual leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, pledged its support to the BJP, the All India Imam Association (AIIA) decided to back the AAP this time.

The AAP, which has come up with several promises this time for the betterment of Delhi, also got the support of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat.

A total of 673 candidates are in the fray for the 70-member Delhi Assembly. Delhi goes to polls on February 7, while the results will be declared on February 10.

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Aberrations don't alter India's history of tolerance: Jaitley on Obama criticism

New Delhi: The ruling BJP on Friday responded to US President Barack Obama's criticism of religious intolerance in India when finance minister Arun Jaitley pointed out that no less a person than the Dalai Lama had found it comfortable to make a home in the country.

"India has a huge cultural history of tolerance. Any aberrations don't alter that history," Jaitley told a news conference in Delhi when he was asked about Obama's critical remarks about religious intolerance in the country.

"And the best example of (that) tolerance was sitting next to President Obama when he made the statement. That is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is part of that tolerance that he found it comfortable and India found it comfortable to absorb him in the society here."

Obama has expressed his concerns about religious intolerance in India twice since last week.

On Thursday, speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event, he said: "Religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs - acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation."

The US president first raised the issue shortly before he wound up his visit to India on January 27. Addressing a town hall meeting at Siri Fort, he had said, "India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith - so long as it's not splintered along any lines."

Radical Hindu groups said Obama's sharp parting shot was aimed at pleasing Christian missionaries and Islamic clerics. Union home minister Rajnath Singh was the first BJP leader to publicly comment on the issue on Monday, when he endorsed Obama's warning that an India divided on religious lines would not progress.

Singh also condemned the Sangh Parivar's conversion campaign, saying there is "no scope for any activity like ghar wapsi in the nation".

During the news conference, Jaitley too acknowledged the importance of tolerance in society. "That any society should be a tolerant society is a fact that each one has to accept. It is good to be tolerant," he said.

Following the strong reaction in India to Obama's remarks at the town hall meeting in Delhi, the White House had insisted that the comments had been "misconstrued".

Obama starker and more direct criticism at the National Prayer Breakfast, however, left no room for misinterpretation.

Mark Stroh, National Security Council spokesperson, clarified that Obama's message was that "freedom of religion is a fundamental freedom, and that every nation is stronger when people of all faiths are free to practice their religion free of persecution and fear and discrimination".

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Delhi elections: AAP rejects Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Bukhari's support

New Delhi: The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, on Friday appealed to people to vote for the AAP in the election to the Delhi Assembly but the offer of support was swiftly rejected by Arvind Kejriwal’s party.

"We don't need the support of a man who did not invite India's prime minister but invited Pakistan's prime minister for his son's anointment. One has to respect the prime minister of the country," senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh told a news conference.

During his sermon at the Friday prayers, the controversial Shahi Imam had called on people to vote for the AAP in the polls on Saturday. The AAP and the BJP are the main contenders for power in the elections.

But AAP leaders described Bukhari's politics as “regressive and communal” and condemned the ideology he represents.

"AAP wants to finish off communal politics. We want to finish off what the imam stands for. We want the support of every common man," said AAP leader Ashish Khaitan.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley too reacted to Bukhari’s remarks by saying: "Shahi Imam Bukhari's diktat to support the AAP may backfire." 

Last year, Bukhari had sent an invitation to Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif for a ceremony to appoint his son as his successor. He had also said he was not inviting prime minister Narendra Modi as he had “no place” in his heart for the BJP leader.

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PM Modi trashes opinion polls, targets AAP on funding issue

New Delhi: Singing the development mantra in his last rally three days ahead of Delhi assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tried to woo voters by highlighting central welfare schemes and trashed the opinion polls which gave an edge to AAP, saying BJP will get majority.

Attacking BJP's main rival AAP on recent allegations of "dubious" donations, Modi said he was asked by his friends whether he has also given donation to AAP and when he got it checked, "I was surprised to know that even Mahatma Gandhi and (US President Barack) Obama have donated to them." "What kind of people are they (AAP)? In public life there should not be any place for such lies," the Prime Minister, who has been holding rallies for three consecutive days in Delhi, targetted AAP without naming it.

Trashing opinion polls which have predicted majority for AAP, he asked people not to get swayed by these "lies" and said last time during last assembly elections they (AAP) claimed that they will win more 50 seats but could not even manage the highest tally. "Even when I contested from Varanasi in Lok Sabha, they (surveys) said Modi will lose by three lakh votes. I don't know who (pollsters) are they," Modi said, adding he was wondering how someone who could not win his own Lok Sabha seat was being projected as someone big, in an apparent reference to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

Talking about various welfare schemes undertaken by his government to help the poor, Modi, during the rally in South Delhi's Ambedkar Nagar, said his politics was all about development without which no state can progress.

"My politics have only one style, only one mantra and only one focus and that is development. And it means that there should be change in the lives of the poor people. Their children should get education, their parents should get medicine. And there should be concrete house in place of jhuggis," he said.

He referred to 'Jandhan' and direct benefit transfer for gas cylinder subsidy as pro-poor measures taken by his government. In an apparent attack on Congress, he said his was neither a "ghotala sarkar (government of scam)" nor was a government run with the help of "ghotalebaaz (scamsters)". 

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Feel sorry for Kiran Bedi, BJP has 'gagged' its CM candidate: Kejriwal

New Delhi: Exuding confidence that his party will come to power in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday the BJP had pressed the "panic button" and was now resorting to "politics of poison" to avoid a defeat.

Five days ahead of the voting to the 70-member Delhi assembly, Kejriwal predicted that the Congress will not win even a single seat which will obviate the need for him to take that party's support as he had done in 2013 to form his short-lived 49-day government.

The significance of election in Delhi went far beyond its borders and that was why the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was fielding its "big guns" for the campaigning, the former Delhi chief minister told PTI in an interview.

"They have pressed the panic button and that is why you see all these big guns campaigning for the party," he said, and accused them of resorting to personal attacks against him, his family and the community he belongs to. "This shows their (BJP's) desperation and frustration."

Referring to an attack on a South Delhi church Monday morning, he said this was in keeping with the pattern adopted by the BJP in Uttar Pradesh where the electorate was polarised at the time of last year's Lok Sabha elections and bypolls.

"This is what is the politics of BJP. They will try to polarise the society... We do politics of love and affection and they (BJP) do politics of poison," he said.

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's argument that it would be good to have a BJP government in Delhi which will work in tandem with BJP-led government at the Centre, he said he would work with Modi in a "constructive" spirit if his party comes to power.

On his rival chief ministerial candidate BJP's Kiran Bedi, with whom he worked closely during Anna Hazare's anti-graft agitation, Kejriwal said if she becomes chief minister, she will be like Manmohan Singh in the Congress party without a voice.

He also said that the former IPS officer was fit for police and not for chief minister's post. Kejriwal said he was sorry for Bedi as she has been "gagged" by the BJP.

Emphasising that it was "lives of Delhiites" who were facing corruption, high prices and issues of security which were at stake in this election, the 46-year-old bureaucrat-turned politician assured that like previous time, his party will reduce power tariff by half and come down hard on bribery.

Asked whether he will again resort to dharna if he becomes chief minister, Kejriwal said, "If need be I will do it again."

"Depending on the requirement of the situation, I will do anything -- discussion, debate or struggle," he said.

On the criticism that both he and Bedi used Hazare's movement as "political launchpad", he said it was for people to see that "one left chief ministership for Lokpal while the other one left Lokpal for chief ministership," in an apparent dig at Bedi.

Kejriwal said there has been a groundswell of support for AAP as people of Delhi want the party to be back at power to address their problems and grievances.

"We are very confident of coming to power. People of Delhi want us to serve them. We have a clear roadmap to make Delhi a truly global city and ensure welfare of all sections of the society," he said.

Asked about number of leaders including Shazia Ilmi leaving the party, Kejriwal said party has become stronger since the last elections as around 30,000 new volunteers have joined it in the last few months.

The former chief minister said if he comes to power, then his government will order through probe into finances of the private power distribution companies and initiate reform in the power sector.

He said enhancing women's security and coming down hard on corruption will be his immediate priorities if he comes to power.

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Another God Man Shankaracharya says Hindus must produce 10 kids to become PM again

New Delhi: Within days after BJP leaders Sakshi Maharaj and Sadhvi Prachi stirred up the hornet's nest by their 4-kid remark, Shankaracharya Vasudevanand Saraswati has gone a step ahead and urged the Hindu couples to produce ten kids each, as per reports on Sunday.

During a convention of Sadhus in Allahabad, Saraswati reportedly urged the Hindu couples to produce 10 kids, stating it will save Hindus race.

“Produce 10 kids so that Hinduism does not become a minority,” said Saraswati.

Commenting on contentious conversion issue, Saraswati said, “There is a need for strict laws to counter conversions in the country.”

He also said that government should soon clear all the obstacles coming in the way of construction of Ram Mandir.

According to sources, the BJP leadership while taking a tough stand against the fringe elements had issued a show-cause notice to Sakshi Maharaj to give clarification on his statement. Later, Sakshi Maharaj had expressed regret on his remarks. (with Agency)

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Kejriwal slapped with show cause notice by EC on BJP complaint

New Delhi:The Election Commission today issued a showcause notice to Aam Aadmi Party leader

Arvind Kejriwal for "prima facie" violating the Model Code of Conduct with his remarks alleging that BJP is trying to incite communal violence in the capital.

The EC gave the former Delhi Chief Minister time till 3 PM on January 20 to respond to the showcause, failing which the poll body will take a decision without any further reference to him.

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Kiran Bedi did not consult me before joining BJP: Anna

MUMBAI: A day after his former associate in the agitation for Lokpal Bill, Kiran Bedi, joined BJP,

Anna Hazare today said the former IPS officer did not consult him before joining the party. 

"No," Hazare said at his native place Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar when asked by reporters if Bedi had consulted him before joining BJP.

Asked if Bedi was in touch with him, the anti-corruption activist said she had not been to Ralegan since the last agitation over a year ago and she had not been in touch with him. 

"She did not call me or talk to me before taking the decision to join BJP," Hazare said. 

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Delhi elections: Kiran Bedi joins BJP, to counter Kejriwal

New Delhi: Former Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on Thursday joined BJP and will contest the February 7 Delhi Assembly polls, a move seen as the party's effort to contain Aam Aadmi Party in the national capital. The 65-year old former IPS officer was inducted into the party fold in the presence of BJP President Amit Shah and Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Harsh Vardhan, triggering speculation that she may be in the race for chief ministership if BJP wins the polls. When asked whether she will be the party's chief ministerial candidate, Shah said party's Parliamentary Board will take a call on the issue after election results are out but added that her induction will "hugely strengthen" the Delhi unit.

He also announced that she will contest the polls but declined to answer whether she will be pitted against her former Team Anna colleague Arvind Kejriwal in the prestigious New Delhi constituency. "A decision about her constituency will be taken later." "Bedi's constructive contribution will play an important role in ensuring that BJP lives up to the expectation of the people in the election and in any future government" Shah told a press conference at the party's headquarters. Describing her as an able administrator who has been a crusader while in government and outside it, Jaitley said the party had been in touch with her for sometime and her joining it will make the party stronger. "She has experience in governance and enjoys a credible image. She is associated with certain values. She has been a crusader in government as well as outside it for a long time," he said welcoming her to BJP.

Bedi, in her speech, pitched her leadership credentials and said she knows "how to work and how to make others work". "I joined BJP due to the inspirational leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Delhi needs a strong, clear headed and stable government. We have to make it capital number one in the world," she said. Bedi thanked Modi, saying the PM's "inspirational leadership" has changed crores of Indians including her. "I wanted to sacrifice my entire life to social work. But he inspired me to join political life." However, contrary to expectations, there was no announcement from the BJP on whether actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada and former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi will be joining the party. The party is banking on Jaya Prada's glamour quotient to boost the party's chances, IANS reported, citing unnamed BJP sources.

 A former Samajwadi Party leader, Jaya Prada fought the 2014 Lok Sabha election as a Rashtriya Lok Dal candidate from Bijnor, but she lost. Former AAP legislator Vinod Kumar Binny too is likely to join the saffron party, according to reports. Meanwhile, another former AAP leader, Farhana, said she will be joining the saffron party within the next three days. "Now that the BJP is on the path of development, why should we not extend our help too? We will join the party in the next two to three days," Farhana told ANI. The BJP is likely to release its first list of candidates for Delhi assembly polls soon. The election committee of the BJP will meet in the Capital to discuss strategies for its campaign. The counting of votes in the Delhi elections will take place on February 10. In the last polls in Delhi in 2013, the BJP had bagged 31 seats in addition to one by its ally Shiromani Akali Dal, falling short of a simple majority in the 70-member assembly. The AAP had won in 28 seats and Congress got 8.

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Indian Union minister Mukhtar Naqvi sentenced to one year in jail for poll code violation, gets bail

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'BJP MP and his family exposed'

Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday made public the video footage to expose the direct involvement of the family members of BJP’s South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri, in leading the pre-meditated murderous attack on AAP volunteers on Saturday.

These videos (attached with this release) nail the BJP lie that it was a clash and the footage makes it clear that Vikram Bidhuri, nephew of the BJP MP directed the mob to attack the AAP volunteers standing at the DDA park to participate in a TV show on elections.

One of the seriously injured AAP volunteer Amit (video attached) has stated that it was Vikram Bidhuri who asked the mob to attack him when he was trying to call the PCR van to bring the situation under control.
One of the lady volunteer who was attacked (video attached) has stated that she was assaulted  and abused by Vikram Biduri and other armed hoodlums.

The video also exposes Deepak Jain, general secretary of BJP South Delhi, who is seen assaulting AAP volunteer Brahm Dutt and his son, both of whom had to be admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre with serious injuries.

Anuj Bidhuri, another nephew of the MP, is clearly seen attacking the AAP volunteers with a rod like object (shown at 1 minute 10 seconds in the video of 1:17 minute duration).

It is also clear from the videos that Bidhuri’s family had reached the location of the TV channel debate with weapons in their car, and are seen in the video taking out these weapons, another nephew Sanjeev Bidhuri is seen in the video taking out rods and sticks from the car.

Another BJP leader Vicky Mavi is seen using a stick to attack AAP volunteers (in the video please find his poster along with the MP).
With the footage now in public domain, the AAP challenges the BJP to deny its contents and wants to know from it what is the BJP stand on the issue now ?

Will the BJP take action against its Lok Sabha MP, whose family members have openly indulged in political violence to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the national capital ?
Is BJP trying to terrorise its political rivals since it cannot fight the battle politically ?

With the video footage now public, Delhi Police must immediately arrest these culprits and book them for having committed the offence of attempt to murder.

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