Star Web Media

World Press Freedom Day

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:05:56 PDT

-M.V.S. Prasad/ Dr K. Parameswaran
The World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) was jointly established in 1991 by UNESCO and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), against the framework of a conference held in Windhoek, Namibia. This conference emphasized the idea that press freedom should be understood as necessitating pluralism and independence for the mass media at large. Since then, the World Press Freedom Day has been celebrated every year on May 3rd.
May 3rd was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day by the UN General Assembly also. This happened in 1993, following a recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference.
The day serves to inform citizens about various kinds of violations of press freedom – a grim reminder that publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed and attacked. It is also the apt occasion to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.

In more practical terms, freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and various forms of published material in printed as well as allied forms like photographs, videos etc. While such freedom mostly implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state, its preservation may be sought through constitutional as well as other legal provisions.

The Idea of Press Freedom
Media freedom entails the right of any person to enjoy freedom of opinion and expression on a public basis. This includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ICT (like text messaging) and social media have enabled the diffusion of vital information to reach the widest number of people in the shortest span of time. Equally importantly, the phenomenon of social media has also enabled protesters to self-organize, and thus engaged the global youth in the fight to be able to freely express themselves and the aspirations of their wider communities.

At the same time, it has to be noted that media freedom is extremely fragile. It is also important to recognize that it is not yet within the reach of everyone. While the enabling environment for true media freedom is improving, the harsh reality is that many in the world still do not have access to basic communication technology. Furthermore, as more reporting is transmitted online, more and more online journalists including bloggers are being harassed and attacked. UNESCO has even dedicated a webpage, UNESCO Remembers Assassinated Journalists.
States and governments too have a responsibility to ensure that national laws on freedom of expression are in accordance with internationally accepted principles as laid out in the Windhoek Declaration (adopted at Windhoek, Namibia) and UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators, which are both documents that they have endorsed.

Hindrances to Press Freedom
Media freedom is hindered mainly by two factors. One is a lack of any organized information system; the other is the lack of basic skills and literacy to access, understand and evaluate information. Many sections of the society not only lack access to express themselves publicly, but they are also deprived of ways of getting information that could educate and empower them. This lack of access has become a persistent paradox against the back ground of increasing spread of the World Wide Web and the consequent ease in accessing information.
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), more than 60 percent of the world’s households still do not own a computer and no more than 35 percent of the world population consider themselves as “internet users” with the vast majority of those surveyed belonging to the “developing countries”. (This statistics is taken from a global study sponsored by the UNESCO).
Considering that the right to free speech and press freedom are deeply interconnected with the right to access information, it is a priority to bridge the digital divide both between and within countries. In fact, the participants at the recent 7th UNESCO Youth Forum underlined that democratizing access to ICTs is an urgent challenge. Universal access to information must be pursued especially in remote areas such as rural, remote and insular areas.

The Indian Context
In India, the constitution, while not mentioning the word "press", provides for "the right to freedom of speech and expression" (Article 19(1) a). However this right is subject to restrictions under sub clause (2), whereby this freedom can be restricted for reasons of "soverignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, preserving decency, preserving morality, in relation to contempt, court, defamation, or incitement to an offense".
For a proper functioning of democracy it is essential that citizens are kept informed about news from various parts of the country and even abroad, because only then can they form rational opinions. A citizen surely cannot be expected personally to gather news to enable him or her to form such opinions. Hence, the media play an important role in a democracy and serve as an agency of the people to gather news for them. It is for this reason that freedom of the press has been emphasized in all democratic countries, while it was not permitted in feudal or totalitarian regimes.
In developing countries like India, the media have a great responsibility to fight backward ideas such as casteism and communalism, and help the people in their struggle against poverty and other social evils. “Since a large section of the people is backward and ignorant, it is all the more necessary that modern ideas are brought to them and their backwardness removed so that they become part of enlightened India. The media have a great responsibility in this respect”. (Justice Markandey Katju, Justice, Supreme Court).
Right to Information Act
It is against the background of the quality of access to information that has received world wide concern that the Right to Information Act 2005 passed by the Parliament acquires great significance. The act mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information.
Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen may request information from a "public authority" (a body of Government or "instrumentality of State") which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The Act also requires every public authority to computerize their records for wide dissemination and to pro-actively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum recourse to request for information formally. This law was passed by Parliament on 15 June, 2005 and came fully into force on 13 October, 2005.
In short, the act empowers every citizen to ask any questions from the government or seek any information, take copies of any governmental documents, inspect any governmental documents, inspect any work undertaken by the government and take samples of materials of any governmental work.
Right to Information is a fundamental human right, crucial to human development, and a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights. The experiences of the past seven years since the act has been in place shows that RTI has become a friend in need, making life easier and honorable for common people and empowers them to request and access public services successfully.

Take Care of your Mother

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:36:20 PDT

Firdaus Khan

Over 60% of mothers believe their biggest health threat to be breast cancer but heart disease kills 6 times as many women as breast cancer, said Dr KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India. Some risk factors are different for women than for men. Heart disease symptoms may be milder in women. Heart attacks often strike without warning. If a woman does not realize heart disease is a health threat, she will not make heart healthy changes or respond to symptoms once they occur.

The woman is at risk if:

1. Her father or brother below age 55 or her mother or sister below age 65 have had a heart attack, stroke, angioplasty or bypass surgery.

2. She is over 55 years old. (After age 65, the death rate increases sharply for women)

3. She smokes or is exposed to secondhand smoke every day.

4. Her blood pressure is over 135/85 mm Hg. Optimal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Drug therapy is indicated when blood pressure is >140/90 mm Hg, or an even lower blood pressure in the setting of chronic kidney disease or diabetes (> 130/90 mm Hg).

5. She does not exercise for at least 30 minutes that includes moderate–intensity physical activity, like taking a brisk walk, on most days. For weight control, women need to exercise with 60–90 minutes with moderate–intensity activity on most days. About 70% of American women don't exercise regularly.

6. She has diabetes. After age 45, diabetes affects many more women than men. If diabetic, aim to achieve glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level less than 7%.

7. Her HDL (High Density Lipo-protein or "good" cholesterol) is less than 50mg/dL. LDL Goals are dependent upon risk. The following levels of lipids and lipoproteins in women should be encouraged through lifestyle approaches: LDL–C<100mg/dL; HDL–C>50mg/dL; triglycerides <150mg/dL; and non–HDL–C (total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol) <130 mg/dL. If a woman is at high risk or has hypercholesterolemia, intake of saturated fat

should be <7% and cholesterol intake <200 mg/d. For diabetic women, LDL should be <100. For vascular disease and very high risk women, LDL should be<70. HDL of 60 mg/dL is considered cardioprotective. One can raise HDL by taking in 2–3T of olive oil daily, quitting smoking, getting regular aerobic exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.

8. She is overweight by 20 pounds or more (More than one–third of women are more than 20 pounds overweight.)

9. Either natural or through surgery, early menopause–before the age of 40 – is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

10. Taking birth control pills greatly increases risk of heart attack and stroke, especially after age 35.

11. She has a high demand/low control job with sustained high levels of stress. Stress is a normal part of life.

12. A healthy diet consists of eating fruits, vegetables and whole–grain high–fiber foods (aim for 5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of whole fruit daily);

Eating fish, especially oily fish, at least twice a week

Limiting saturated fat to < 10% of energy, and if possible to <7%, cholesterol to <300 mg/dL.

Limiting alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink per day

Limiting sodium intake to <2.3 g/d (approximately 1 tsp salt)

Avoiding all trans–fatty acids (listed as "hydrogenated oil" in the ingredients section)

13. Pregnant and lactating women should avoid eating fish potentially high in methylmercury.

14. Having at least three of a cluster of symptoms that are listed below put her at risk:

High blood sugar >100 mg/dL after fasting;

High triglycerides – at least 150 mg/dL;

Low HDL (<50 mg/dL in women);

Blood pressure of 130/85 or higher and Waist >35 inches. (Waist measurement of 35 inches or more or waist–to–hip ratio greater than 0.80 is a predictor of high triglycerides and low HDL levels).

Organic Farming in India

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:50:48 PDT

Organic farming is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances health of agro-ecosystem related to bio-diversity, nutrient bio-cycle and soil biological and microbial activities. It is normally defined as a system of farming without use of chemical inputs (fertilizers/insecticides etc.) and is primarily based on principal of use of natural on farm organic inputs (like farm yard manure, green manure, oil cakes, press mud etc.) and also natural biological pest control and plant protection measures to promote agro-economic system and soil biological activity.

Growing Area

Organic farming in India started receiving focused attention from 2004-05 when National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) was launched. In 2004-05, area under organic farming was 42,000 hectares. By March 2010 area under farming had increased to 1.08 million hectares. In addition, 3.40 million hectares is wild forest harvest collection area. Thus total area under organic certification process by March, 2010 was 4.48 million hectares which is 25 fold increase in last 6 years. In cultivated organic land 7.56 lakh hectares is certified while 3.2 lakh hectare is under conversion.

The States doing well in organic farming are Madhya Pradesh(4.40lakh hectares), Maharashtra (1.50 lakh hectares) and Orissa (95,000 hectares), having largest area under organic. Among crops cotton is the single largest crop accounting for nearly 40 percent of total area followed by rice, pulses, oilseeds and spices. India is the largest organic cotton grower in world, and accounts for 50 percent share of total world organic cotton production.

Nearly 6.00 lakh farmers under 920 grower groups produce 18.00 lakh tonnes of different organic commodities valued at Rs. 56-40 crores at farm gate price. Out of 18lakh tonnes organic produce, 54000 tonnes of produce valued at Rs. 561 crores was exported. Export of organic products has also grown steadily over the years. Value of exports which was Rs. 301 crores in 2006-07 has increased to 525.5 crores in 2009-10.

States Adopting Organic Farming

Nine States have drafted organic farming policies. Out of these, four States viz;Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram have declared their intention to go 100 percent organic. Sikkim has already converted nearly 40 percent of its total cultivated area under organic and has set target to convert entire State to organic by 2015. Other States have also defined schemes to promote organic farming. Recently Bihar has sanctioned a scheme worth Rs. 256 crores for promotion of organic farming for period 2010-11 to 2014-15. This scheme is 100 percent State Plan Scheme and entire funds shall be borne by State Government. The Scheme funded by the Central Government will be in addition to this scheme.

Promotion of Organic Farming

Organic farming is being promoted under National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Regulatory Mechanism

For qualify assurance country has internationally acclaimed certification process in place for export, import and domestic markets. Foreign Trade Development and Regulation Act for exports and Agriculture Produce Grading, Marketing and Certification Act for domestic.

Assistance

Important components of assistance being provided under NPOF inter-alia include assistance to input production (large compost plants and bio-fertilizers), Quality control of organic inputs, Human resource development through trainings, PGS facilitation, Biological soil health assessment and awareness creation.

Main components under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM) to assist organic farming are financial assistance to States for adoption and certification and financial assistance to States for vermin-compost production.

While need to maximize crop yield to meet the growing demand for food grains is critical, agricultural productivity has to be sustained in long run. There has been a deterioration in soil health due to removal of crop residues and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, aided by distorted prices. To address these issues, the Government proposes to promote organic farming, methods, combining modern technology with traditional farming practices like green manuring, biological pest control and weed management. These measures will give further push to organic farming.

Tribal Handicrafts of ‘The Nilgiris’

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:50:20 PDT

S.Balakrishnan

The name ‘Nilgiris’ or ‘The Blue Mountains’ is as poetic as the place itself. The Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu is home for the Toda, Kota, Kurumba, Irula, Paniyan and Kattunaicken tribes. The Government of India has identified all these six tribes as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). The verdant forest of the blue mountains has been their home for ages. Living amid the beautiful surroundings has probably made them artisans of equally beautiful handicrafts.

Well known among these six groups are the Toda people and their embroidery work. The Toda women are deft in embroidery work. Their traditional garment is of thick white cotton cloth with red, black or blue stripes, which is further embellished with hand embroidery. Woollen or cotton thread is used for this embroidery work. To suit modern taste and needs, a variety of items like cell phone pouch, table cloth, scarf & shawl, skirts & tops, drawstring purse & bag, coasters, frocks, bags, waist coat, etc are also made. This has been made possible under the ‘Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana’ (Ambedkar handicraft development scheme). Many women Self-Help Groups have been formed which, in turn, have been amalgamated into a federation. Though the pastoral Todas herded buffaloes and dealt in dairy produce, change in land use has deprived them of pasture lands. However, their unique craft has survived and stood the test of time.

The Kotas live in seven settlements, generally known as Kotagiri or Kokkal. They are village artisans who are good in carpentry, black smithy and pottery. As time changed, only a few families are engaged in these skills as a means of living. They eke out a living by cultivating small plots of patta land.

The Kurumba people are experts in basketry and other related bamboo works. The traditional occupation of the Kurumbas is gathering food, collection of honey and forest produce. They are good at herbal medicine and traditional healing. Now, they are mainly engaged in agriculture and those who do not own lands work as casual agricultural laborers. The other three groups – Irulas, Paniyans and Kattunaicken are not known for traditional handicrafts. They are generally food/forest produce gatherers, now working as casual agricultural/estate labourers.

Tamil Nadu has a total of about 6,51,321 tribal population as per 2001 census which constitutes 1.02% of the total population. There are 36 tribes and sub tribes in Tamil Nadu. They are distributed in almost all the districts and they have contributed significantly in the management of the forests. Literacy rate of the population is 27.9%. Most of the tribes in the State are cultivators, agriculture labourers or dependent on forests for their livelihood. But only these six groups are classified as primitive tribes.

House Sparrow– Population Crash

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:36:41 PDT

Kalpana Palkhiwala

Goraiya, the house-sparrow, the little sweetie in countless poetry, lyrics, songs and folk-songs and paintings, is today facing a crisis of survival. Its been several years now that we miss the familiar “chi-chi-chi” every morning and the lovely sight of Goraiyas dancing around.

Following inspiration from a retired forest officer in Gujarat, a movement is on to save house sparrow. People get artificial nests for sparrow, parrot and squirrels either in terracotta or from waste of corrugated boxes, hang them at their places on trees or passages, plant them in farms, fields and even residential bungalows. And regularly put water and grains.

Universally familiar in appearance, the widespread and once abundant house sparrow has become a mystery bird and is becoming increasingly rare all over the World. Perky and bustling, house sparrows have always been gregarious, mingling with finches in the fields in autumn and winter, especially when stubble is available to them. For years we felt irritated by this permanent resident in our garden taking more than a fair share of food during the winter, but now weeks pass without a single one putting in an appearance. That took me to my school days when we read the well known Hindi writer Mahadevi Verma’s story ‘Goraiya’. That time it felt surprising- neither a king nor a fairy nor a great leader was the subject of a story, but a small Goraiya! Subramanyam Bharti also said , “A bird of freedom...”

A springtime hazard was sparrows’ unexplained liking for destroying flowers, especially yellow primroses and crocuses. Kicking up dust and bathing in new seedbeds was a further irritation. Noisy and gregarious, these cheerful exploiters of human beings’ rubbish and wastefulness have colonized most of the world. Found from the centre of cities, kitchen gardens, vacant places in houses to the farmland of the countryside, sparrows feed and breed near habitation. They are vanishing from the centre of many cities, but are not uncommon in most towns and villages. Sparrows might appear to be opportunists, but they are now struggling to survive everywhere on the earth along with many other once common birds. Their recent decline has earned them a place on the Red List in the Netherlands.

India has seen a massive decline of sparrows in recent years. Once a common- place bird in large parts of Europe, the sparrows’ population has now seen a sharp fall in United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Italy and Finland.

The house sparrow is an intelligent bird that has proven to be adaptable to most situation, i.e. nest sites, food and shelter, so has become the most abundant songbird in the world.Sparrows are very social birds and tend to flock together through most of the year. A flock’s range covers 1.5-2 miles, but it will cover a larger territory if necessary when searching for food. The sparrow’s main diet consists of grain seeds, especially waste grain and live stock feed. If grain is not available, its diet is very broad and adaptable. It also eats weeds and insects, especially during the breeding season. The parasitic nature of the house sparrow is quite evident as they are avid seekers of garbage tossed out by humans. In spring, flowers – especially those with yellow colours- are often eaten; crocuses, primroses and aconites seem to attract the house sparrow most. The birds also hunt butterflies.

Nesting

House sparrows are generally attracted to buildings for roosting, nesting, and cover. They look for any man-made nook or cranny in which to build their nests. Other sparrow nesting sites are clothes line poles with the end caps open, lofts, garden kitchens, or overhangs on a roof without a soffit. The sparrow makes its home in areas closely associated with human habitation. It is a common resident of agricultural, urban and sub-urban communities. The male house sparrow is highly territorial, aggressively defending the nesting site during breeding season. Species that attempt to nest within the sparrow’s territory are often be evicted; their eggs destroyed and at times incubating females are killed. The nest is a ball of dried vegetation, feathers, strings and papers with an opening on one side. It is a bulky mass also lined with grass, weeds and hair.

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the old world sparrow family Passeridae. Some consider it to be a relative of the Weaver Finch Family. A number of geographic races have been named, and are differentiated on the basis of size and cheek colour. Cheeks are grey in the west and white in the east. The shade of the colouration, particularly of the chestnut area in the males is also considered. Birds of the western hemisphere are larger than those in the tropical South Asian populations. Some varieties are the passer domesticus in Europe, passer persicus in Karun River, Khuzistan, passer bactrianus in Turkestan, Afghanistan and passer semiretschieensis which is easily seen in Semiryechensk Mountains in the eastern part of Russian Turkestan. The passer biblicus which is found in Palestine and Syria is paler and the colour of the chestnut area is not deep. The cheek is grey. The passer parkini is abundant in Srinagar, Kashmir in western Himalayas to Nepal. The passer indicus found in India, south of the Himalayas and in Sri Lanka.

In India, it is popularly known as Goraiya in the Hindi belt. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala it is known as Kuruvi. Telugu language has given it a name, Pichhuka, Kannadigas call it Gubbachchi, Gujaratis call it Chakli where as Maharashtrians call it Chimani. It is known as Chiri in Punjab, Chaer in Jammu and Kashmir, Charai Pakhi in West Bengal, and Gharachatia in Orissa. In Urdu language it is called Chirya while Sindhi language has termed it as Jhirki.

Features

This 14 to 16 cm long bird has a wing span of 19-25 cms.It is a small, stocky song bird that weighs 26 to 32 grams. The male sparrow has a grey crown, cheeks and underparts, and is black at the throat, upper breast and between the bill and eyes. The bill in summer is blue–black and the legs are brown. In winter the plumage is dulled by pale edgings, and the bill is yellowish brown. The female has no black coloring on the head or throat, or a grey crown; her upper part is streaked with brown. The juveniles are deeper brown.

The sparrow’s most common call is a short and incessant, slightly metallic ‘cheep, chirrup’. It also has a double call note- ‘phillip’ wherein originated the now obsolete name of ‘phillip sparrow’. While the young are in their nests, the older birds utter a long churr. At least three broods are reared in a season.

The nesting site is varied under eaves, in holes, in masonry or rocks, in ivy or creepers on houses or riverbanks, on sea-cliffs or in bushes in bays and inlets. When built in holes or ivy, the nest is an untidy litter of straw and rubbish, abundantly filled with feathers. Large well- constructed domed nests are often built when the bird nests in trees or shrubs, especially in rural areas.

Five to six eggs, profusely dusted, speckled or blotched with black, brown or ash-grey on a blue-tinted or creamy white ground, and usual types. Eggs are variable in size and shape as well as markings. Eggs are incubated by the female. The sparrow has the shortest incubation period of all the birds: 10 -12 days, and a female can lay 25 eggs each summer. The reproductive success increases with age and this is mainly by changes in timing, with older birds breeding earlier in the season.

Causes of Decline

Various causes for its dramatic decrease in population have been proposed, one of the more surprising being the introduction of unleaded petrol, the combustion of which produces compounds such as methyl nitrite, a compound which is highly toxic for small insects, which form a major part of a young sparrow’s diet. Other theories consider reducing areas of free growing weeds, or reducing the number of badly maintained buildings, which are important nesting opportunities for sparrows. Ornithologists and wildlife experts speculate that the population crash could be linked to a variety of factors like the lack of nesting sites in modern concrete buildings, disappearing kitchen garden, increased use of pesticides in farmlands and the non- availability of food sources. The recent threat is from mobile towers. The emission they sent out is disturbing to the sparrows. Which also effects the insects and the hatching of bird’s eggs.

K.S. Gopi Sunder of the Indian Cranes and Wetlands Working Group says: “Although there is no concrete evidence or study to substantiate the phenomenon, the population of house sparrows has definitely declined over the past few years.” He attributes this to a number of reasons like widespread use of chemical pesticides in farmlands, increased predation by crows and cats while crows grow in number as a result of garbage accumulation in the city.

According to Dr. V S Vijayan of the Coimbatore-based Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, though the avian species can still be spotted over two-thirds of the world’s land surface, “ironically, there has been a rapid decline in the population of these once abundant birds.” Changing lifestyles and architectural evolution have wreaked havoc on the bird habitat and food sources. Modern buildings are devoid of eaves and crannies, and coupled with disappearing home gardens, are playing a part in the disappearing act.

Today I miss the sparrows chirping and hopping from branch to branch in the bushes outside my house and remember Mahadevi Verma’s famous poem Goraiya - in which a sparrow is eating grains from hand and jumping on her shoulders and playing hide and seek. It is as vivid as if it were being played in front of me. I wish that it does not remain confined in the pages of Mahadevi Verma’s story and comes back to us as ever before.

Unknown Season of Love...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:09:12 PDT

When

in the calm and lonely night

a breezing wind sings a song

of quite unknown season of love...

I do start changing

the pages of my past days

one by one...

and even more to the introversion

where in the island of memories or

such as like

once hot summer's afternoon of June

I feel warmth of your that touch

even now feeling that at this moment...

-Firdaus Khan

My Love...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:59:54 PDT

My love!
in the age of
such a fiery noon
you are
the shadow of thick and fleshy tree…

In a burn up lonely night
you are the moonlight
silvery cool and calm...

In a life
like the wasteland
you are
the ocean of ever flowing
aabe zam-zam…

I am the earth
thirsty of years and years
you are
my immense rainy season...

You are the idol
My love
incarnates in my soul

At all
look at the inhibited dreams of mine
as I worship you for years and years
hiding of everyone...

-Firdaus Khan

My Love...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:59:54 PDT

-Firdaus Khan

My Love...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:59:48 PDT

-Firdaus Khan

I am your love...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:55:21 PDT

Oh my Prince !

I will be waiting for you

through out the life...

You have stolen

all the dreams of my eyes.

My soul misfits

in unknown city

It looks for you quite often

lost here in an alien way...

Feel afraid being lonely

in this desert path

Pull me out of

the agony of separation...

Invite me in your land

if you can't come here...

Please don't torment me

I am your love...

-Firdaus Khan

Why you go away...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:53:25 PDT

Oh' Friend
Why you go away
Far, far from me
Often, that time
When
I need you
Very much...
Oh' Dear
Why you go away...
-Firdaus Khan

Union Budget 2012-13 Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:26:54 PDT

Firdaus Khan

Budget identifies five objectives relating to growth recovery, private investment, supply bottlenecks, malnutrition and governance matters
GDP growth to be 7.6 per cent (+ 0.25 percent) during 2012-13
Amendment to the FRBM Act proposed as part of Finance Bill. New concepts of “Effective Revenue Deficit” and “Medium Term Expenditure Framework” introduced
Central subsidies to be kept under 2 per cent of GDP; to be further brought down to 1.75 per cent of GDP over the next 3 years.
Proposed: Mobile based fertilizer management system; LPG transparency portal; scaling up and rolling out of Aadhar enabled payment for government schemes in at least 50 districts.
Rs. 30,000 crore to be raised through disinvestment
Efforts to reach broadbased consensus on FDI in multi-brand retail
Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme: to allow income tax deduction to retail investors on investing in equities
Rs. 15,888 crore to be provided for capitalization of public sector banks and financial institutions
A central “Know Your Customer” depository to be developed
Swabhimaan: remaining habitations to be covered; to be extended to more habitations; ultra small branches to be set up in Swabhimaan habitations
Investment in 12th Plan in infrastructure to go uptoRs. 50,00,000 crore; half of this is expected from private sector
Tax Free Bonds of Rs. 60,000 crore to be allowed for financial infrastructure projects
Allocation of Road Transport and Highways Ministry enhanced by 14 per cent to Rs. 25,360 crore
Financial package of Rs. 3,884 crore for waiver of loans to handloom weavers and their cooperative societies; mega handloom clusters in Andhra, Jharkhand; weaver service centres in Mizoram, Nagaland and Jharkhand ; powerloom mega cluster in Maharashtra; Rs. 500 crore pilot schemes for geo-textiles in North-Eastern region
Rs. 5,000 crore India Opportunities Venture Fund to help small enterprises
Allocation to agriculture enhanced; RKVY gets Rs. 9,217 crore; BGREI gets Rs. 1,000 crore; Rs.2242 crore project to improve dairy productivity; Rs. 500 crore for coastal aquaculture
Various other agricultural activities merged into 5 missions
Target for agricultural credit raised to Rs. 5,75,000 crore
Interest subvention for short-term crop loans to farmers at 7 per cent interest continues; additional 3 per cent for prompt paying farmers
Rs. 200 crore for awards to incentivise agricultural research
Provisions under rural housing fund increased to Rs. 4,000 crore from Rs. 3,000 crore
Interest subvention of 1 percent on housing loans uptoRs. 15 lakh extended for one more year
AIBP allocation raised by 13 per cent to Rs. 14,242 crore
National Mission on Food Processing to be started in cooperation with State Governments
Scheduled Caste Sub Plan allocation increases by 18 per cent to Rs. 37,113 crore; Tribal Sub Plan by 17.6 per cent to Rs. 21,710 crore
Multi-sectoralprogramme to address maternal and child malnutrition in 200 high burden districts
58 per cent rise in allocation to ICDS, at Rs. 15,850 crore
Rural drinking water and sanitation gets 27 per cent rise in allocation to Rs. 14,000 crore; PMGSY gets 20 per cent rise to Rs. 24,000 crore
Projects covering length of 8800 km to be awarded under NHDP against 7,300 km during 2011-12
RTE-SSA gets Rs. 25,555 crore allocation, showing an increase of 21 per cent; 6000 schools to be set up at block level as model schools in the 12th Plan; Credit Guarantee Fund to be set up for better flow of credit to students
National Urban Health Mission is being launched
34 per cent increase in allocation to National Rural Livelihood Mission, to Rs. 3915 crore
Rs. 1000 crore allocated for National Skill Development Fund
Bharat Livelihood Foundation to be established to support livelihood interventions particularly in tribal areas
Widow pension and disability pension raised from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 per month
Grant on death of primary breadwinner of a BPL family in the age group 18-64 years doubled to Rs. 20,000
Defence services get Rs. 193407 crore; any further requirement to be met
4000 residential quarters to be constructed for Central Armed Police Forces
UID-Aadhar to get adequate funds for enrolment of 40 crore persons, in addition to the 20 crore persons already enrolled
White Paper on Black Money to be laid in the current session of Parliament
Tax proposals mark progress in the direction of movement towards DTC and GST
Income tax exemption limit raised from Rs.1,80,000 to Rs.2,00,000; upper limit of 20 per cent tax slab raised from Rs.8 lakh to Rs.10 lakh
Interest from savings bank accounts deductible upto Rs.10,000; deduction of upto Rs.5,000 for preventive health check-up
Senior citizens without business income exempt from advance tax
Investment linked deduction of capital expenditure enhanced for certain businesses; new sectors eligible for investment linked deduction
Turnover limit for compulsory tax audit for SMEs raised from Rs.60 lakh to Rs.1 crore
STT on cash delivery reduced by 20 per cent to 0.1%
General Anti Avoidance Rule being introduced to counter aggressive tax avoidance
A number of measures proposed to deter generation and use of unaccounted money
All services to attract service tax except those in the negative list
Central Excise and Service Tax being harmonized
Standard rate of excise duty raised from 10 per cent to 12 per cent; service tax rates raised from 10 per cent to 12 per cent; no change in peak customs duty of 10 per cent on non-agricultural goods
Relief in indirect taxes to sectors under stress; agriculture, infrastructure, mining, railways, roads, civil aviation, manufacturing, health and nutrition, and environment get duty relief
Certain cigarettes and bidis attract higher excise duty; large cars attract higher customs duty
Excise imposed on unbranded jewellery also; measures to minimize impact on small artisans and goldsmiths; branded silver jewellery exempted from excise duty
Net gain of Rs.41,440 crore due to taxation proposals
Total expenditure budgeted at Rs. 14,90,925 crore; plan expenditure at Rs. 5,21,025 crore – 18 per cent higher than 2011-12 budget; non plan expenditure at Rs. 9,69,900 crore
Fiscal deficit targeted at 5.1 per cent of GDP, as against 5.9 per cent in revised estimates for 2011-12
Central Government debt at 45.5 per cent of GDP as compared to Thirteenth Finance Commission target of 50.5 per cent
Medium-term Expenditure Framework Statement to be introduced; will set forth 3-year rolling target for expenditure indicators

Union Budget 2012-13

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:19:44 PDT

Firdaus Khan
The Union Budget 2012-13 presented by the Finance Minister ShriPranab Mukherjee in LokSabha today identifies five objectives to be addressed effectively in the ensuing fiscal year. They include focus on domestic demand driven growth recovery; create conditions for rapid revival of high growth in private investment; address supply bottlenecks in agriculture, energy and transport sectors particularly in coal, power, national highways , railways and civil aviation; intervene decisively to address the problem of malnutrition especially in the 200 high-burden districts and expedite coordinated implementation of decisions being taken to improve delivery systems , governance, and transparency; and address the problem of black money and corruption in public life.

ShriPranab Mukherjee said that India’s GDP growth in 2012-13 is expected to be 7.6 per cent +/-0.25 per cent. He said that in 2011-12, India’s GDP is estimated to grow at 6.9 per cent after having grown at the rate of 8.4 per cent in each of the two preceding years. He said though the global crisis had affected India, it still remains among the front runners in economic growth. Shri Mukherjee said the slowdown is primarily due to deceleration in industrial growth. Stating that the headline inflation remained high for most part of the year, the Finance Minister expressed hope that it will moderate further in the next few months and remain stable thereafter.

Shri Mukherjee laid emphasis on striking a balance between fiscal consolidation and strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals. He announced introduction of amendments to the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 (FRBM Act) as part of the Finance Bill 2012. He said that concept of “Effective Revenue Deficit” and “Medium Term Expenditure Framework” statement are two important features of Amendment to FRBM Act in the direction of expenditure reforms. This statement shall set forth a three year rolling targets for expenditure indicators.

The Finance Minister called for a need to have a close look at the growth of revenue expenditure, particularly, on subsidies. He announced that from 2012-13 while subsidies related to food and for administering the Food Security Act will be fully provided for, all other subsidies would be funded to the extent that they can be borne by the economy without any adverse implications. He said that the Government will endeavor to restrict the expenditure on central subsidies under 2 per cent of GDP in 2012-13and over the next three years, it would be further brought down to 1.75 per cent of GDP.Shri Mukherjee said that based on recommendations of the Task Force headed by ShriNandanNilekani, a mobile-based Fertilizer Management System has been designed to provide end-to-end information on movement of fertilizers and subsidies which will be rolled out nation-wide during 2012. He said that transfer of subsidy to the retailer and eventually to the farmers will be implemented in subsequent phases which will benefit 12 crore farmer families.

On the tax reforms, the Finance Minister said that the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill will be enacted at the earliest after expeditious examination of the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee. He said drafting of model legislation for Centre and State Goods and Services Tax (GST) in concert with States is under progress. He added that the GST network will be set up as a National Information Utility and will become operational by August 2012.

On the disinvestment policy, Shri Mukherjee said that the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are being given a level playing field vis-à-vis private sector with regard to practices like buy-backs and listing at stock exchange. Stating that while in 2011-12, the Government will raise about Rs.14,000crore from disinvestment as against a target of Rs.40,000 crore, the Finance Minister proposed to raise Rs.30,000 crore through disinvestment in 2012-13. He said at least 51 per cent ownership and management of CPSEs will remain with the Government.

Calling for strengthening investment environment, Shri Mukherjee said that efforts are on to arrive at a broad-based consensus in respect of decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail up to 51 per cent. He proposed to introduce a new scheme called Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme to allow for income tax deduction of 50 per cent to new retail investors who invest up to Rs.50,000 directly in equities and whose annual income is below Rs.10 lakh. The scheme will have a lock-in period of 3 years. Regarding capital markets, the Finance Minister proposed to allow Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) to access Indian Corporate Bond market. He also proposed simplifying the process of Initial Public Offer (IPO).

ShriPranab Mukherjee said that the Government is committed to protect the financial health of Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions. He proposed to provide Rs. 15,888 crore for capitalization of Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks and other financial institutions including NABARD. He added that a Central Know Your Customer (KYC) depositary will be developed in 2012-13 to avoid multiplicity of registration and data upkeep.

The Finance Minister informed that out of 73,000 identified habitations that were to be covered under “Swabhimaan” campaign for providing banking facilities by March 2012, about 70,000 habitations have been covered while the rest are likely to be covered by March 31, 2012. He added that as a next step Ultra Small Branches are being set up at these habitations. In 2012-13, Swabhimaan campaign will be extended to more habitations.

Emphasizing on infrastructure and industrial development, Shri Mukherjee said that during the 12th Plan, infrastructure investment will go up to Rs.50 lakh crorewith half of this expected from private sector. Stating that in 2011-12 tax free bonds for Rs.30,000 crore were announced for financing infrastructure projects, he proposed to double it to raise Rs.60,000 crore in 2012-13. The Minister proposed to allow External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) to part finance Rupee debt of existing power projects.

The Finance Minister ShriPranab Mukherjee announced a target of covering 8,800 km. under NHDP next year and increase in allocation of the Road Transport and Highways Ministry by 14 per cent to Rs.25,360 crore in 2012-13. He proposed to permit ECB for working capital requirements of the Airline Industry for a period of one year, subject to a total ceiling of US dollar 1 billion to address the immediate financial concerns of the Civil Aviation Sector. He added that a proposal to allow foreign airlines to participate up to 49 per cent in the equity of an air transport undertaking is under active consideration.

Expressing concern over shortage in housing sector, the Finance Minister proposed various measures to address the shortage of housing for low income groups in major cities and towns including ECB for low cost housing projects and setting up of a Credit Guarantee Trust Fund.

Regarding textile sector, the Finance Minister announced setting up of two more mega clusters, one to cover Prakasam and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh and other for Godda and neighboring districts in Jharkhand in addition to 4 mega handloom clusters already operationalized. He also proposed setting up of three Weavers Service Centres, one each in Mizoram, Nagaland and Jharkhand. The Minister proposed aRs. 500 crore pilot scheme in twelfth plan for promotion and application of Geo-textiles in the North East. A powerloom Mega Cluster will be set up in Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra.

The Finance Minister proposed to set up a Rs.5000 croreIndia Opportunities Venture Fund with SIDBI to enhance availability of equity to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

Stating that agriculture will continue to be a priority for Government, Shri Mukherjee proposed an increase by 18 per cent to Rs. 20,208 crore in the total Plan Outlay for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in 2012-13. He said that the outlay for RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY) is being increased to Rs. 9217 crore in 2012-13.

Underlining importance of timely access to affordable credit for farmers, the Finance Minister proposed to raise the target for agricultural credit to Rs.5,75,000 crore, which represents an increase of Rs. 1,00,000 crore over the target for the current year.. He said that a short term RRB Credit Refinance Fund is being set up to enhance the capacity of Regional Rural Banks to disburse short term crop loans to the small and marginal farmers. He added that Kisan Credit Card Scheme will be modified to make it a smart card which can be used at ATMs.

The Financed Minister said that in order to have a better out reach of the food processing sector, a new centrally sponsored scheme titled National Mission on Food Processing will be started in cooperation with the States in 2012-13.

The Finance Minister proposed an increase of 18 per cent to Rs.37,113crore for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan and an increase of 17.6 per cent to Rs.21,710 crore for Tribal Sub Plan during 2012-13.

Regarding food security, Shri Mukherjee said that National Food Security Bill 2011 is before Parliamentary Standing Committee. He said a multi-sectoralprogramme to address maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high burdened districts is being rolled out during 2012-13. He further said that an allocation of Rs.15,850 crore has been made for ICDS scheme which is an increase of 58% and Rs.11,937 crore for National Programme of Mid-Day Meals in schools for the year 2012-13. He added that an allocation of Rs.750 crore is proposed for Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, SABLA.

The allocation for rural drinking water and sanitation is proposed to be increased by over 27 per cent to Rs. 14,000 crore and for PradhanMantri Road SadakYojana by 20 per cent to Rs. 24,000 crore in 2012-13. He proposed to enhance the allocation under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to Rs. 20,000 crore with Rs.5,000 crore exclusively earmarked for .creating warehousing facilities.

The Finance Minister proposed an increase in allocation by 21.7 per cent for Right to Education – SarvaShikshaAbhiyan to Rs.25,555 crore and by 29 per cent for RashtriyaMadhyamikShikshaAbhiyan to Rs. 3,124 crore, He proposed to set up a Credit Guarantee Fund to ensure better flow of funds to students.

Regarding health sector he proposed an increase in allocation for NRHM to Rs.20,822 crore in 2012-13. He also said that National Urban Health Mission is being launched.

The Finance Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has had a positive impact. He proposed an allocation of Rs.3915 crore for National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) which represents an increase of 34 per cent. He proposed to provide Rs.200 crore to enlarge the corpus to Rs.300 crore of the Women’s SHG’s Development Fund. He said the fund will also support the objectives of Aajeevika i.e. NRLM and will empower women SHGs to access bank credit. He also proposed to establish a Bharat Livelihoods Foundation of India through Aajeevika which will support and scale up civil society initiatives and interventions particularly in the tribal regions covering around 170 districts.

Allocation under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is proposed to be raised by 37 per cent to Rs. 8447 crore. Under the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme for BPL beneficiaries, the monthly pension amount per person is being raised from Rs. 200 to Rs.300.

The Finance Minister announced a provision of Rs.1,93,407crore for Defence Services including Rs.79,579 crore for capital expenditure. He said the allocation is based on present needs and any further requirement would be met.

Addressing Governance related issues, Shri Mukherjee said adequate funds are proposed to be allocated to complete enrolments of another 40 crore persons under UID Mission. Outlining the steps taken by the Government to address the issue of black money, the Minister proposed to lay a White Paper on Black Money in the current session of Parliament.

In the Budget Estimates for 2012-13, the Gross Tax Receipts are estimated at Rs.10, 77,612 crore which is an increase of 15.6 per cent over the Budget Estimates and 19.5 per cent over the revised estimates for 2011-12. After devolution to States, the net tax to the Centre in 2012-13 is estimated at Rs. 7,71,071crore. The Non Tax Revenue Receipts are estimated at Rs.1,64,614crore and Non-debt Capital Receipts at Rs.41,650 crore. The total expenditure for 2012-13 is budgeted at Rs.14,90,925 crore. Of this Rs.5,21,025crore is the Plan Expenditure while Rs.9,69,900 crore is budgeted as Non Plan Expenditure.

The tax proposals are guided by the need to move towards the Direct Tax Code(DTC) in the case of direct taxes and Goods & Services Tax (GST) in the case of indirect taxes.

Individual income upto Rs.2 lakh will be free from income tax; income upto Rs.1.8 lakh was exempt in 2011-12. Income above Rs.5 lakh and upto Rs.10 lakh now carries tax at the rate of 20 per cent; the 20% tax slab was from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.8 lakh in 2011-12. A deduction of upto Rs.10,000 is now available for interest from savings bank accounts. Within the existing limit for deduction allowed for health insurance, a deduction of upto Rs.5000 is being allowed for preventive health check-up. Senior citizens not having income from business will now not need to pay advance tax.

While no changes have been made in corporate taxes, the budget proposes a number of measures to promote investment in specific sectors. In order to provide low cost funds to some stressed infrastructure sectors, withholding tax on interest payments on external borrowings (ECBs) is being reduced from 20 percent to 5 per cent for 3 years. These sectors are - power, airlines, roads and bridges, ports and shipyards, affordable housing, fertilizer, and dam.

Investment linked deduction of capital expenditure in some businesses is proposed to be provided at 150 per cent as against the current rate of 100 per cent. These sectors include cold chain facility, warehouses forstoring food-grains, hospitals, fertilizers and affordable housing. Bee keeping, container freight and warehousing for storage of sugar will now also be eligible for investment linked deduction.

The budget also proposes weighted deduction for R&D expenditure, agri-extension services and expenditure on skill development in the manufacturing sector.

For small and medium enterprises (SMEs) the turnover limit for compulsory tax audit of accounts as well as for presumptive taxation is proposed to be raised from Rs. 60 lakh to Rs. 1 crore. In order to augment funds for SMEs, sale of residential property will be exempt from capital gains tax, if the proceeds are used for purchase of plant and machinery, etc.

A General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) is being introduced in order to counter aggressive tax avoidance. Securities transaction tax (STT) is being reduced by 20 per cent on cash delivery transactions, from 0.125% to 0.1%. Alternative Minimum Tax is proposed to be levied from all persons, other than companies, claiming profit linked deductions.

The Finance Minister has proposed a series of measures to deter the generation and use of unaccounted money. In the case of assets held abroad, compulsory reporting is being introduced and assessment upto 16 years will now be allowed to be re-opened. Tax will be collected at source on trading in coal, lignite and iron ore; purchase of bullion or jewellery above Rs. 2 lakh in cash; and transfer of immovable property (other than agricultural land) above a specified threshold. Unexplained money, credits, investments, expenditures etc. will be taxed at the highest rate of 30 per cent irrespective of the slab of income.

The Finance Minister has made an effort to widen the service tax base, strengthen its enforcement and bring it as close as possible to the central excise. A common simplified registration form and a common return are being introduced for central excise and service tax.

All services will now attract service tax, except those in the negative list. The negative list has 17 heads and includes specified services provided by the government or local authorities, and services in the fields of education, renting of residential dwellings, entertainment and amusement, public transportation, agriculture and animal husbandry. A number of other services including health care, and services provided by charities, independent journalist, sport persons, performing artists in folk and classical arts, etc are exempt from service tax. Film industry also gets tax exemption on copyrights relating to recording of cinematographic films.

Service tax rate is being increased from 10 per cent to 12 per cent, with consequential change in rates for services that have individual tax rates. The standard rate of excise duty for non-petroleum goods is also being raised from 10 per cent to 12 per cent. No change is proposed in peak rate of customs duty of 10 per cent on non-agricultural goods.

The Budget offers relief to different sectors of economy, especially those under stress. Import of equipment for fertilizer projects are being fully exempted from basic customs duty of 5 per cent for 3 years. Basic customs duty is also being lowered for a number of equipment used in agriculture and related areas.

In the realm of infrastructure, customs relief is being given to power, coal and railways sectors. While steam coal gets full customs duty exemption for 2 years (with the concessional counter-veiling duty of 1 per cent), natural gas, LNG and certain uranium fuel get full duty exemption this year. Different levels of duty concessions are being provided to help mining, railways, roads, civil aviation, manufacturing, health and nutrition and environment. So as to help modernization of the textile industry, a number of equipment are being fully exempted from basic customs duty, and lower customs duty is being proposed for some other items used by the textile industry.

Customs duty is being raised for gold bars and coins of certain categories, platinum and gold ore. Customs duty is to be imposed on coloured gem stones. Excise duty on certain categories of cigarettes and bidis, pan masala and chewing tobacco is being increased. Customs duty is being increased on completely built large cars/ SUVs/ MUVs of value exceeding $40,000.

Silver jewellery will now be fully exempt from excise duty. Unbranded precious metal jewellery will attract excise duty on the lines of branded jewellery. Operations are being simplified and measures taken to minimize impact of this provision on small artisans and goldsmiths.

While direct tax proposals in the Budget will result in a net revenue loss of Rs.4,500crore, indirect taxes will result in a net revenue gain of Rs.45,940 crore. Thus, the tax proposals will lead to a net gain of Rs.41,440crore.

Heritages and History of Cities

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:21:46 PDT

Firdaus Khan

New Delhi. The Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V. Narayanasamy has said that Ancient monuments of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which have been in existence for not less than 100 years are protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958 and Rules, 1959. So far 3675 such monuments/sites have been notified for Central-protection. In addition, about 3500 monuments/sites are under the protection of the various State Governments under their respective legislations. The Town and Country Planning Acts of the States empower their urban and rural local bodies to protect monuments/sites in their respective jurisdictions which are neither under Central nor under State protection. In spite of these legal instruments, a large number of monuments/sites running over a lakh, are unprotected due to various constraints.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, some of the built heritage and antiquarian remains have already disappeared due to hostile weather conditions and pressure of urbanization. As no comprehensive survey/documentation of all monuments and heritage-sites was undertaken in the past, it is difficult to say as to how many of them have been lost. However, in order to prepare a comprehensive documentation and database of all the protected/unprotected monuments and antiquities, the Central Government has launched a National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities. Further, a National Commission for Heritage Sites Bill, 2009 has been introduced in the Parliament with the objectives to fully meet the obligations cast by the UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention, 1972 as well as to protect even the modern architecture of heritage value.

The Minister said, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the Ministry of Urban Development in conjunction with the State Governments concerned has identified 63 cities for the development of basic infrastructure facilities and urban services that also include development of heritage sites. A list of the 63 cities is at the Annexure.

List of cities identified by JNNURM for the development of basic infrastructure facilities and urban services

Sl. No.	City	State
1.	Hyderabad	Andhra Pradesh
2.	Vishakhapatnam	-do-
3.	Vijayawada	-do-
4.	Guwahati	Assam
5.	Itanagar	Arunachal Pradesh
6.	Patna	Bihar
7.	Bodh Gaya	-do-
8.	Raipur	Chhattisgarh
9.	Chandigarh	Chandigarh
10.	Delhi	NCT of Delhi
11.	Ahmedabad	Gujarat
12.	Vadodara	-do-
13.	Surat	-do-
14.	Rajkot	-do-
15.	Panaji	Goa
16.	Shimla	Himachal Pradesh
17.	Faridabad	Haryana
18.	Jamshedpur	Jharkhand
19.	Dhanbad	-do-
20.	Ranchi	-do-
21.	Jammu	Jammu & Kashmir
22.	Srinagar	-do-
23.	Bangalore	Karnataka
24.	Mysore	-do-
25.	Cochin	Kerala
26.	Thiruananthapuram	-do-
27.	Bhopal	Madhya Pradesh
28.	Jabalpur	-do-
29.	Indore	-do-
30.	Ujjain	-do-
31.	Greater Mumbai	Maharashtra
32.	Nasik	-do-
33.	Nanded	-do-
34.	Nagpur	-do-
35.	Pune	-do-
36.	Shillong	Meghalaya
37.	Imphal	Manipur
38.	Aizawal	Mizoram
39.	Kohima	Nagaland
40.	Bhubaneswar	Orissa
41.	Puri	-do-
42.	Pondicherry	Pondicherry
43.	Ludhiana	Punjab
44.	Amritsar	-do-
45.	Jaipur	Rajasthan
46.	Ajmer-Puskar	-do-
47.	Gangatok	Sikkim
48.	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
49.	Madurai	-do-
50.	Coimbatore	-do-
51.	Agartala	Tripura
52.	Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh
53.	Varanasi	-do-
54.	Agra	-do-
55.	Kanpur	-do-
56.	Allahabad	-do-
57.	Mathura	-do-
58.	Meerut	-do-
59.	Dehradun	Uttarakhand
60.	Nainital	-do-
61.	Hardwar	-do-
62.	Kolkata	West Bengal
63.	Asansol	-do-

Country cannot surge ahead without development in UP : Rahul Gandhi

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:26:26 PST

Star News Agency
Rampur (Uttar Pradesh). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing a mammoth election rally in Rampur as part of his campaign for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, reiterated that the country cannot surge ahead if the state of UP is not developed. “This state is the biggest state in the country. If UP will not progress our nation cannot progress,” said Rahul Gandhi.
He asked the crowd, “You have been experiencing the regime of different parties – BJP, BSP and SP - in the state for the past 22 years. Are you happy with them?” The crowd responded loudly with ‘no’.
“During elections leaders like Mulayam Singh and Mayawati come to you and shower promises. The poor labourers and farmers shed their sweat and blood and develop the country. But these leaders do not respect them. They loot your money. Ahead of elections they come to you and make tall promises. After coming to power, they forget the people. This has been happening for the past 22 years in UP,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in U.P. He was the Chief Minister thrice. Was the electricity available then?” he asked and quickly added “The electricity was available only for 2-3 hours a day. But now he promises free electricity. There is no power house built in the past 22 years and so how can he provide free electricity? Will it fall from the sky?”
Referring Mulayam Singh’s poll promise Rahul Gandhi continued “Mulayam Singh Ji also promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. No one in Bundelkhand wants Israel. They want electricity, water and sufficient food. He was the Chief Minister for three terms. What did he do for them? Where was he when people of drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for help? I had gone to different villages in the region. I could see neither Mulayam Ji nor Mayawati Ji there,” asserted the Congress General Secretary. “The Congress-led Government at the Centre approved a package of Rs. 8000 crore for Bundelkhand” he informed.
Addressing the Bunkar’s issues he said “When we knew about the difficulties faced by the Bunkars in UP, we approached the Prime Minister and he without any delay approved a relief package for them. Neither SP nor BSP had helped them. The Bunkars again came to us with a request not to distribute the funds through the state Government sources as they feared that the amount would be eaten up by the ‘elephant’ of Mayawati in Lucknow. We therefore redrafted the policy so that the funds will go directly to the person’s account”
“When I intervened in these issues, Mayawati and Mulayam term it as a drama of Rahul Gandhi,’ he quipped. “The responsibility of a Government and leaders are to help the people and not to loot them or make hollow promises” reminded Rahul Gandhi.
“We are here to help you” he assured and added “We fought for Bundelkhand, Bunkars, introduced policies like MNREGA - by which every poor is assured with a minimum of 100 days of jobs @ 120/- per day. Now we are ready with the food security bill to ensure that no one in our country lives in hunger”.
Repeating that non-Congress parties did nothing except giving tall promises, the Congress General Secretary said, “For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. These parties promise free electricity, water and jobs, but do nothing after the polls. But when we do something they call it as drama”
“When the country develops, the Centre gets funds. The country has been developing because of your blood and sweat. We just give back this money to the people”, said Rahul Gandhi.
Attacking Mulayam Rahul Gandhi further said, “Mulayam Ji calls himself as a leader of the Muslims. Did Mulayam Singh Ji do anything for the Muslims in the past 22 years? Did you get proper education or health under his regime?” Rahul Gandhi added, “But Congress implemented Sachar Commission’s recommendations. When we sent huge funds for scholarship to Uttar Pradesh that got vanished in Lucknow. The funds reach Kerala and Assam properly though these places are far away from Delhi. But the same is not able to reach the people in UP which is only at a stone throwing distance from Delhi.”
“When media persons had asked Mulayam Ji about his stand on reservation, he had not uttered any word. But when Congress implemented the reservation, he complained that it was inadequate. He was the Chief Minister in UP thrice. Why did not he do anything then?” said the Congress leader questioning the double speak of SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of Muslim reservation.
Rahul Gandhi did not spare Mayawati too. “Mayawati Ji says that she had written to the Prime Minister on reservation. What is the need of a letter? The Governments in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana and Delhi had not written any letters but just implemented the reservation policy,” he added.
“After doing nothing for the people during their rule, these leaders again come to you now with promises. If you trust them again, this bad state of affairs in UP will continue,” he warned.
“I am here not to make promises but to respect your knowledge and strength and to fight with you for a better Uttar Pradesh. You have a Congress Government at the Centre. Congress made MNREGA, approved packages for Bundelkhand, farmers and Bunkars. These were not our poll promises but are the examples of our commitment. Acknowledging our good performance, the people re-elected us again in 2009. Congress believes in action, not in promises” reiterated Rahul Gandhi.
“In UP these parties – SP, BSP and BJP – divide people in the name of caste and religion. As a result there is no progress in the state. Your people are forced to go to Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Assam for jobs. All these states are developing because of you. The shining metro in Delhi was built by you. Your people help Haryana and Punjab to produce crops” said the MP from Amethi.
“Congress gave you jobs through MNREGA but SP promises un-employment allowance” he added.
“We should change this. Only the aam aadmi can change this pathetic situation. Leaders can just support you and stand by you. I am here to fight with you to bring back the lost glory of Uttar Pradesh. You have the strength. Stand up and let us together transform Uttar Pradesh” urged the Congress General Secretary.
You will see Rahul Gandhi amongst the farmers, workers and poor in the villages till U.P. stands on its own feet. Support Congress and elect Congress candidates to take back UP on the track of progress. I am here to fight for you and I will not leave you till development takes place in UP. Thank you very much for giving me a patient hearing,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.

The People of Uttar Pradesh Have Been Looted For 22 Years : Rahul Gandhi

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:30:04 PST

Star News Agency
Bareilly (Uttar Prdesh). Congress General Secretary Shri Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that the non-Congress governments in Uttar Pradesh had looted the common people over the past twenty two years. "During the past seven years wherever I had gone, people in villages of Uttar Pradesh told me they had been looted by the state government," said Shri Gandhi.

Addressing an election rally in Bareilly, Shri Gandhi said that the biggest problem in UP was that its leaders did not reach out to the people. “They think they know everything whereas the truth is that the common man has more knowledge than the leaders. Have you ever seen Mayawati or Mulayam Singh in your village? Do they ever talk to you?” he asked the large gathering who had come to hear him.

Shri Gandhi said that Bareilly was known for its Zari work but the SP and BSP governments have not done anything to promote the industry over the years. "These leaders promise to do everything but do not do anything. You need a bridge in Sirauli but your demand is pending since the past 20 years,” he said.

Shri Gandhi said that the Congress launched MNREGA for the people so that everyone could get employment. The Congress brought the loan waiver scheme worth Rs 60,000 for farmers and then for the weavers the Congress Party brought a loan waiver scheme, gave them subsidy on thread and also a weaver credit card, apart from easy loan.

Shri Gandhi said that now that the elections are on, the Samajwadi Party is promising free electricity and Mulayam Singh Yadav is claiming that he will turn Bundelkhand into Israel. He has been chief minister thrice, why did he not do this then, asked Shri Gandhi.

Shri Gandhi said that when the people of Bundelkhand came to him during the drought, the Prime minister immediately gave them a package but the money did not reach them because the "magic" elephant in Lucknow swallowed it all.
He said that people from UP go to other states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana and work there. They develop those states with their work because they do not get work in UP.

Shri Gandhi pointed out that the Congress government at the centre has given MNREGA, package for Bundelkhand and another package for weavers under which they will get subsidized thread, weavers’ credit card, and a loan up to Rs. two lakhs.

He said that the Congress was now preparing to give right to food under which every poor family will get 35 kgs of food grains every month. “We will send the money for this scheme but it will not reach you because the magic elephant in Lucknow will swallow it up,” he said.

Shri Gandhi said that the Congress could run the centre but not the state government. "Our job is to send money for development but the money does not reach you because of the "magic" elephant in Lucknow which gobbles up all central funds", said Shri Gandhi.
He said that Mayawati had removed 22 ministers on charges of corruption. Her ministers like Babu Singh Kushwaha and Naseemuddin Siddiqui looted the state for five years-- this money did not belong to the Prime Minister or Sonia Gandhi or the state government. It belonged to the common man.

He said that Mulayam Singh Yadav claims to be a leader of Muslims but he has done nothing for the minorities while he was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh on three occasions. On the other hand, the Congress party set up the Sachchar committee and implemented its recommendations. The centre sent money for scholarships of children in minority communities but the money went missing in UP even though it reached the minorities in Kerala, Assam and Andhra Pradesh.

Similarly, Shri Gandhi said, that when the Congress Party gave 4.5 per cent reservation to backward Muslims, Mulayam Singh and Mayawati were critical. Mulayam Singh termed it as insufficient but why did he not provide for similar reservation when he was chief minister. Mayawati said she had written a letter to Prime Minister but she is chief minister and could have announced reservation in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress General Secretary promised the large gathering that he would stand by the people of UP until they began to change the state. Shri Gandhi said he would not make any tall promises, but he would not leave Uttar Pradesh before the state began to change.
Shri Rahul Gandhi asked the people to give the Congress Party five years and see what changes the Congress Party brings to the state.

Support Congress to form a Government of youth and aam aadmi in UP : Rahul Gandhi

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:35:33 PST

Star News Agency
Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh). All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing a mammoth election rally at Pilibhit on Monday urged the people to help Congress to form a Government of the youth and the aam aadmi that works for all sections of the people.
Expressing his concern over the bad state of affairs in U.P, Rahul Gandhi said, “This is election time in Uttar Pradesh. Normally elections bring in changes at every place. It brings in new concepts too. In U.P too, we have been experiencing elections for the past 22 years. You expected positive changes and fresh concepts after every election. You had supported the Cycle as well as the Elephant. But the state of Uttar Pradesh remains the same without any development”.
“During every election, these parties came to you with lots of promises. For the past 22 years, you have been hearing only promises. After coming to power they forget the promises and loot the public money,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“We too run a Government at the Centre, since 2004. We had not showered promises but assured only one thing – a government of aam aadmi that works for poor, farmers, minorities, women, dalits, Christian, Muslims, Hindu and adivasis. We had told you that our Government will come to you, hear your problems and will support all sections of the people and we delivered it. In 2009, you gave us mandate again, with a better margin,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“It is easy to make promises like free electricity, water and education. But there is a huge difference between what you tell and what do you deliver,” he said.
Referring to the poll promise of the SP, he said, “Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in the entire U.P. He was the Chief Minister thrice. There is no power house built in the past 22 years and so how can he provide free electricity?”
“They wasted your 22 long years but keep making promises. Mulayam Singh Ji also promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. No one in Bundelkhand wants Israel. They want electricity, water and sufficient food. But he talks about Israel,” asserted the Congress General Secretary.
Addressing the crowd, Rahul Gandhi continued, “You people put in hard work and develop the country. The development we witness is the result of your blood and sweat. We all know very well that blind promises cannot bring in changes. Mayawati Ji had promised that she will put an end to crimes. But the atrocities against women and corruption still continue in UP”.
“Did Mayawati come to you in the past five years? Did Mulayam do so?" asked Rahul Gandhi and the crowd responded loudly with a ‘no. “How can they tell that they will bring in changes if they do not go to the people and realize their difficulties?” Rahul Gandhi asked.
“I had gone to Mayawati’s house when Kanshi Ram Ji passed away. There is a huge wall built around her house. She doesn’t come to you and the people cannot go to her house too,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi then shared one of his experiences with the crowd. “I went to a hospital in UP where some painting and renovation works were going on. I went inside. There were no doctors, patients or nurses. Dogs were scampering inside. I asked them what is going on. They said that Mayawati is on a tour to this area and she will be visiting the hospital and therefore the renovation. As she was expected to take the road route so the roads were being repaired and the hospital building was being painted,” he said and added “This is the situation in the state”.
“These leaders do not want to go to the villages, meet the people, share their meals or drink water from their huts. They think that the duty of the leaders is to talk to the media, give lectures and make promises. But a true leader will go to the people, talk to them and enquire about their issues,” Rahul Gandhi told the crowd.
“We have a Planning Commission in Delhi. The bureaucrats there think that they are the epitome of knowledge about development. I have interacted with them and I have also interacted with the farmers and aam aadmi. If you want to gather information about agriculture, go to the farmers. Or if you want to know about the roads, talk to the workers. The women and the youth in our country possess tremendous knowledge. But these leaders are not interested to gather the same because they are not keen for development,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
“They do not want to listen to you or solve your difficulties. They think that they can fool you by just showering promises on you. This has been happening for the past 22 years,” he continued.
Rahul Gandhi then commented, “The people are also responsible for this. In the last 22 years, you have been electing Governments which never bothered about the people”.
“We (Congress) also run a Government at the Centre, since 2004. We came to you and enquired about your difficulties. When we realized the problems of the farmers we designed a policy to waive-off the loans for them worth Rs. 60000 crore. We fought for the farmers in Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul. What did the Mayawati or Mulayam do for the farmers? They grabbed their lands. When the poor farmers demanded adequate compensation, they received bullets. Mayawati is the Chief Minister, but she never went there. Mulayam Singh Ji now promises to help farmers but he never found it necessary to visit the aggrieved farmers. When I went there, Mayawati Ji and Mulayam Ji call me mad,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
“No farmers are against development. They are ready to give their lads for roads or any other infrastructure,” he quipped.
“If you want development, your leaders should come to you, hold your hands and interact with you,” reiterated the Congress General Secretary.
“There is no fault with the people of Uttar Pradesh. Your people go to Haryana, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab and Maharashtra and develop those places. The shining metro in Delhi was built by the people of UP though they can’t afford to travel by it. It is very sad that there are no jobs available for the youth in Uttar Pradesh,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“What do you want; jobs or unemployment allowance?” Rahul Gandhi asked. Taking a dig at Mulayam Singh Yadav’s promise to give an unemployment allowance, he added “Mulayam Singh Ji, when he was the Chief Minister, did not properly implement the Central Government’s MNREGA scheme, which assures a minimum of 100 days jobs to every poor. But now during elections he promises unemployment allowance. Had he implemented the scheme in the required manner there would have been no unemployment here”.
Rahul Gandhi further said, “Mulayam Singh Ji calls himself a leader of the Muslims. Did Mulayam Singh Ji do anything for them in the past 22 years? No one was benefitted. They were not included in the process of development under his regime. But now during elections he showers promises. He was Chief Minister thrice but did nothing for the Muslims. Ahead of the last general elections he embraced Kalyan Singh for narrow political gains.”
Rahul Gandhi added, “Congress implemented Sachar Commission’s recommendations. When we sent the money for scholarship to Uttar Pradesh that vanished in Lucknow. The funds reach Kerala and Tamil Nadu but the same did not reach the people in UP.”
“When media persons had asked Mulayam Ji about his stand on reservation, he did not utter any word. But when Manmohan Singh Ji went ahead with reservation, he complained that it was inadequate. He was the Chief Minister in UP thrice. Why did not he do anything then? When Rasheed Masood Ji talked about reservation he was expelled from SP,” said the Congress leader, questioning the double speak of SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of Muslim reservation.
“I am here not to make any promise but to fight to bring in positive changes in UP,” Rahul Gandhi reiterated.
Addressing the youth, he said, “The time has come for a change; so stand up, fight to bring in positive changes in UP. You have been tolerating the bad state of affairs for the past 22 years. Now stop tolerating and fight for a change. Let us form a Government of youth and aam aadmi”.
Rahul Gandhi then told the good number of Sikhs present in the crowd, “You put in your hard work and developed Punjab. You gave us a Sikh Prime Minister. Now please help us to transform UP too.”
"A Congress Government will bring back progress in Uttar Pradesh. Do not think about caste or religion and talk about development of the entire section of the people. Give Congress 5 years; the changes will be visible in five years and in ten years you will not recognize your own state,” concluded Rahul Gandhi,
urging the people to support Congress and elect Congress candidates in the ongoing assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Non-Congress parties want to divide the people, not to unite them : Rahul Gandhi

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:32:52 PST

Star News Agency
Dadri, Gautambudh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has said that the non-Congress parties which ruled UP in the last 22 years wanted to divide the people.
“These parties want to divide the people, not to unite them,” said the Congress General Secretary amidst loud applause at a mammoth election rally in Dadri on Sunday. The rally was part of his campaign for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
He asked the crowd, “You have been experiencing the regime of different parties – BJP, BSP and SP - in the state for the past 22 years. Did you get anything? Is UP developing?” The crowd responded loudly with a ‘no’.
“Since 2004, the Congress also runs a Government at the Centre. We came to you and enquired about your difficulties. When we realized the problems of the farmers, we designed a policy to waive-off the loans for them worth Rs. 60000 crore. We fought for the farmers in Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul. What did the state Government do for the farmers? It grabbed their lands and sold it to the rich builders. When the poor farmers demanded adequate compensation, they received bullets. No one from BSP or SP visited them. But when I went there, Mayawati Ji and Mulayam Ji called me mad,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
Highlighting the rampant corruption in UP, Rahul Gandhi said, “When the Centre sanctioned a relief package for the Bunkars, the representatives of the Bunkars came to me and requested me not to send the money to Lucknow as they feared that it would be gobbled up by the elephant there. We therefore took steps to credit the fund directly to their account. The funds for aam aadmi and for Bundelkhand also vanished in Lucknow.”
“Every person in UP will admit that the welfare funds are being looted in the state. The amount meant for roads, heath and education were also pocketed by the BSP leaders and ministers,” he added.
“Why are your people forced to migrate to other cities,” Rahul Gandhi asked and commented, “because there are no jobs are available in UP. You go to Haryana, Delhi and Maharashtra, put in your hard work and develop those states”.
Rahul Gandhi said, “Mulayam Singh Ji calls himself a leader of the Muslims. Did Mulayam Singh Ji do anything for them in the past 22 years? But now during elections he showers promises. He was Chief Minister thrice but did nothing for the Muslims.”
Rahul Gandhi added, “Congress implemented Sachar Commission’s recommendations to make sure that the minorities also take part in the process of development. When we sent the money for scholarships to
Uttar Pradesh, that disappeared in Lucknow. The funds reach Kerala and Tamil Nadu but the same do not reach the people in UP.”
“When media persons had asked Mulayam Ji about his stand on reservation, he did not utter any word. But when Congress, Manmohan Singh Ji and Sonia Ji went ahead with reservation, he complained that it was inadequate. He was the Chief Minister in UP thrice. Why did not he do anything then? When Rasheed Masood Ji talked about reservation he was expelled from SP,” said the Congress leader questioning the double speak of SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of Muslim reservation.
Taking on Mayawati, Rahul Gandhi continued, “Mayawati says that she had written to the Prime Minister on reservation. But what is the need of a letter? She has been in power, She could have taken positive steps in this regard,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“The reality is that these people do not want to do anything for the minorities and it is sure that they will not help them. They will come during elections, make big promises and vanish after that,” argued the Congress General Secretary.
“All the Congress-ruled states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Assam are surging ahead. But UP remains the same for the past 22 years. These non-Congress parties come to you and promise water, electricity and jobs, but deliver nothing”, he argued.
“But Congress is committed for development. It does not cheat people by giving promises. We want to bring back progress in UP. I am here to fight for the future of the youth in Uttar Pradesh. Free your arms and help Congress to form a Government in Lucknow,” urged Rahul Gandhi.
“I am here not to shower promises. You will see Rahul Gandhi amongst the farmers, workers and poor in the villages till development is visible in U.P. I will not leave this place till the state of U.P stands on its own feet and the youth start getting jobs here,” he declared concluding his address and the crowd acknowledged it with cheers.

Sonia Gandhi in Saharanpur : Congress does not cheat people by giving hollow promises

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:29:35 PST

Star News Agency
Saharanpur (Uttar Pradeh). Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while addressing a well-attended election rally in Saharanpur said that Congress does not cheat the people by giving promises like the non-Congress parties – BJP, SP and BSP.

“Congress does not cheat people by giving promises. That can only be done by BJP, SP or BSP. They make tall promises but do nothing,” she told the crowd.

“This is a land of a number of brave freedom fighters. Many people from this historic place had played an important role in the nation building. I salute those great people,” said Sonia Gandhi, striking an emotional chord with the people in Saharanpur.

“Every sincere person wants development and upliftment of the weaker sections. For the past 22 years, parties like the BJP, SP and BSP have been betraying the people in Uttar Pradesh. There is no place for ideals and principles at present in UP. You have been tolerating this and the state has been suffering,” she said.

“What did the people here get in the past 22 years?" Sonia Gandhi asked. “Did you get proper electricity and water? Do you have proper roads here? Are your children able to get proper education? Are the fertilizers and seeds available for farmers? Has any new Industry come up in UP? How many youth in the state are able to get a job here? Are you happy with the law and order situation in UP?" Sonia Gandhi kept on asking and the crowd responded to every question with a roaring ‘no’.

Even the state Government will not be able to give me answers, argued the Congress President. “These parties – BSP, BJP and SP – indulged in corruption and other misdeeds. These parties never bothered about the people but work only to protect their own interests. They can go to any extent to grab the power,” warned the UPA Chairperson.

“No one took any step like the Congress to curb corruption. The present BSP government is a synonym for corruption. All these parties attack Congress whenever we take any step against graft. Because these parties encourage corruption, atrocities and divisive ideology,” said Sonia Gandhi.

“We send lakhs of crores of rupees to the state of Uttar Pradesh. We had sent Rs. 9000 crore under the National Rural Health Mission to provide adequate health facilities for the poor. But these funds were swindled in corruption and scams by the present BSP government and they now try to protect the culprits. The same has happened with the MNREGA funds too,” she said.

“I know that the people in UP are angry with these parties and this is the opportunity to teach them a lesson,” reminded Sonia Gandhi.

Referring to various welfare scheme of the Congress-led UPA Government, Sonia Gandhi continued, “Congress has been serving the nation sincerely and honestly. UPA Government has made a number of welfare schemes and policies for the people. The Congress- led UPA framed policies like Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to ensure house, water and roads, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan to ensure that every children in the age group of 6 to 14 get proper education, Mid-day meal scheme to ensure food to every children in the schools, Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana, loan facilities for the women under Self Help Group scheme and implemented Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Scheme to provide electricity at every place. We also had doubled the wages of the Anganwadi workers and sanctioned a relief package worth more than Rs. 70000 crore to waive-off the loans of the poor farmers ”.

Sonia Gandhi added, “We increased the procurement prices to help the farmers. There is no shortage of fertilizers at the Centre and it sent fertilizers to UP, too. But because of the corrupt policies of the state Government, the farmers in UP could not avail any benefit.”

“There are some parties which try to spread the ill-will among different sections,” said the Congress President.

Referring to the policies by the Centre for minorities, Sonia Gandhi said, ““The Congress-led Government at the Centre had introduced policies for the welfare of Dalits, Adivasis and minorities. Congress implemented the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. For the first time in the history, a separate ministry for the minorities was formed. We also gave loan worth five lakh crores of rupees under the Prime Minister’s fifteen point programme for minorities. Under Sarva Shiksha Abiyan, several new schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas were opened at various minority dominated areas. We also increased the budget for the Maulana Azad Foundation to provide financial assistance for the modernization of the madrasas. We also granted 4.5 percentage reservation for the backward Muslims”.

“The opposition is very much troubled to see these policies of the Congress. They know very well that they have been doing nothing for the poor other than making hollow promises during elections,” commented Sonia Gandhi.

Focusing on the issues of Saharanpur which is internationally famous for its wood carving cottage industry, Sonia Gandhi said, “Apart from various other issues, we also understand the problems being faced by the people here. Our election manifesto has addressed this issue and we will work towards finding a solution. We will work with commitment and devotion to fulfill our promises. I am here to seek your support to accomplish the mission of Congress to change the state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh”.

She exuded confidence that the electorate would pay attention to these issues and vote for her party in the coming elections. “I request you to support the Congress and ensure every single vote in the favour of Congress,” said Congress President Sonia Gandhi while concluding her address.

The mission of the non-Congress has been to loot the public money : Rahul Gandhi

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:25:20 PST

Star News Agency
Hapur (Uttar Pradesh). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing a massive election rally in Hapur as part of his campaign for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, said that the mission of the non-Congress parties which ruled UP in the last 22 years has been to loot the public money meant for the poor.

“These non-Congress parties do not talk about farmers, poor or workers; they are not bothered about electricity, water or jobs for the people. They think only about amassing wealth. They have got only one mission – to loot the public money of the common man,” said the Congress General Secretary amidst loud applauds.

He asked the crowd, “You have been experiencing the regime of different parties – BJP, BSP and SP - in the state for the past 22 years. Did you get anything? Is UP developing?” The crowd responded loudly with ‘no’.
“The entire world appreciates that India is developing very fast. Every state in India is developing. But the biggest state Uttar Pradesh is slipping back. There is no fault with the people of Uttar Pradesh. Your people go to Haryana, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra and develop those places. But why is UP not developing?” Rahul Gandhi asked.

“The reason is that the present leaders in UP are not bothered about the people. After coming to power they do not go to the people or talk to the farmers, labourers and poor to know their problems. The people here put in their hard work in the sugar mills and potato fields. But there was a Rs. 2000 crore scam in the sale of sugar mills in UP,” he reminded.

“This money is yours. This money is the result of your hard work. The mill was of the people,” asserted Rahul Gandhi.

“We (Congress) also run a Government at the Centre, from 2004. We came to you and enquired about your difficulties. When we realized the problems of the farmers we designed a policy to waive-off the loans for them worth Rs. 60000 crore. We fought for the farmers in Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul. What did the state Government do for the farmers? It grabbed their lands and sold it to the rich builders. When the poor farmers demanded adequate compensation, they received bullets. No one from BSP or SP visited them. But when I went there, Mayawati Ji and Mulayam Ji call me mad,” argued Rahul Gandhi.

“We gave you MNREGA, relief packages for farmers and now we are ready with the Food Security Bill, by which every poor family is assured with 35Kg of food grains. We also fought for the rights of the Bunkars and approved a relief package for them too including waiving off loans and Bunkars’s credit cards,” he informed.

Rahul Gandhi further said, “Mulayam Singh Ji calls himself a leader of the Muslims. Did Mulayam Singh Ji do anything for them in the past 22 years? But now during elections he showers promises. He was Chief Minister thrice but did nothing for the Muslims.”

“Mulayam Singh Yadav promises free electricity in the entire U.P. He was the Chief Minister thrice. I still remember that the people used to receive hefty bills, though there was no adequate electricity,” he remarked.

Referring to Mulayam Singh’s poll promise, Rahul Gandhi continued, “Mulayam Singh Ji also promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. No one in Bundelkhand wants Israel. They want electricity, water and sufficient food. But he talks about Israel. He was the Chief Minister for three terms. What did he do for them? When people of drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for help where was he? I had gone to different villages in the region. I could see neither Mulayam Ji nor Mayawati there. Mayawati Ji was the Chief Minister, but never visited Bundelkhand,” asserted the Congress General Secretary.

Rahul Gandhi added, “Congress implemented Sachar Commission’s recommendations. When we sent the money for scholarship to Uttar Pradesh that got vanished in Lucknow. The funds reach Kerala and Tamil Nadu but the same did not reach the people in UP.”

“When media persons had asked Mulayam Ji about his stand on reservation, he did not utter any word. But when Congress, Manmohan Singh Ji and Sonia Ji went ahead with reservation, he complained that it was inadequate. He was the Chief Minister in UP thrice. Why did not he do anything then? When Rasheed Masood Ji talked about reservation he was expelled from SP,” said the Congress leader questioning the double speak of SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of Muslim reservation.

He did not spare Mayawati also. “Mayawati says that she has written to the Prime Minister on reservation. Nothing is going to happen with letters. She has been in power, but took no steps in this regard,” said Rahul Gandhi
.
“The leaders in Uttar Pradesh do nothing. It is the people here who work hard. The poor labourers and farmers shed their sweat and blood and develop the country. But the leaders do not respect them. They loot the money, meant for the poor. During election time they come to you and make tall promises. After coming to power, they forget the people and loot their money. This has been happening for the past 22 years in UP,” said the Congress General Secretary.

“We also have a Government at the Centre. We are committed to serve the poor and aam aadmi. We fight for them” he claimed. “You need a similar Government in Lucknow too. Please support Congress and elect its candidates. Free your arms and help Congress to form a Government in UP” urged Rahul Gandhi.

“You have been tolerating the misdeeds of these parties since 22 years. Now stop tolerating and remove these parties and elect Congress. The development will start in five years and in ten years you will not be able to recognize the state,” assured the Congress leader.
Rahul Gandhi then addressed the youth and said “The time has come for a change; so stand up, fight to bring in positive changes in UP. All industries go to Haryana and your people go there for jobs. You are forced to migrate to the places like Delhi and Maharashtra”.

“A Congress Government will ensure jobs for the youth in Uttar Pradesh itself. We also will ensure proper health and education facilities in your state. Do not think about caste or religion and talk about development. Changes can be brought in and I assure that we will transform UP,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi in Noida : SP, BSP loot money of the poor like we extract juice from sugar cane

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:22:23 PST

Star News Agency
Noida (Uttar Pradesh). Addressing a well-attended election rally in Noida Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said that BSP and SP squeezed public money like we extract juice from the sugarcane. He visited Noida campaigning for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
“Have you not seen the extractors that are used to take out juice from the sugar cane?” When the crowd responded in affirmative Rahul Gandhi said that the BSP has installed the sugar cane extractors in Uttar Pradesh to extract money meant for the poor. Before the BSP, even the SP government too had done the same. For the past 22 years this has been going on in UP. You have been hearing only promises. Amid loud applauds he also said that the concept of Noida was the brainchild of Congress.
“Congress also runs governments in Delhi and Haryana. You can experience the developments in those states. People get proper safety and security there. But in UP there is no development. Only crime and atrocities have been on the rise,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“UP is the biggest state in the country. There was a time it used to show the path to others. This state was a model for development. But today this state is lagging behind. The youth from Uttar Pradesh forced to migrate to other parts of the country as there are no jobs available in UP. During this period Mulayam was the chief minister of the state thrice while Mayawati government was in power for four terms. BJP too ruled the state. But in the past 22 years UP remains the same,” said Rahul Gandhi expressing his concern over the bad state of affairs in UP.
“In 2004 Congress had promised only one thing – a government of aam aadmi and we delivered it. We sent huge funds under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for roads. This is your money. This money is the result of the hard work put in by the poor in the country. It is the result of their sweat and blood. But it is being looted in UP. These people do not respect you. They therefore make toll promises,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in the entire UP. He was the Chief Minister thrice. I still remember that the people used to receive hefty bills, though there was no adequate electricity. There is no power house built in the past 22 years and so how can he provide free electricity?” he questioned.
Referring Bundelkhand Rahul Gandhi continued, “When the people in drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for relief neither Mulayam Singh Ji nor Mayawati Ji went there. I had gone to different villages in the region. The Centre had sanctioned a relief package for the region. But that money was also plundered by the BSP ministers. The money meant for well and water went to their pockets,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Just ahead of the assembly elections, Mayawati sacked her ministers on the charges of corruption while she allowed them to loot the people for the past five years. Mayawati axed the ministers and the BJP embraced them. BJP inducted the corrupt Kushawaha into its fold but talks loudly against corruption,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Taking a dig at Advani Rahul Gandhi said, “BJP’s senior leader undertook a nation-wide rath yatra against corruption. But the corruption in the BJP ruled states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was not visible for him.”
He then questioned the doublespeak of BJP on corruption again and said, “when Congress brought a strong constitutional Lokpal bill in the Parliament – like Election Commission - BJP blocked it by saying that such a bill was the dream of Manmohan Singh Ji and Sonia Ji. But it is the dream of aam aadmi”.
Rahul Gandhi then referred to the anti-farmer policy of the BSP Government, “the lands of the poor farmers in Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul were forcibly grabbed by the BSP Government and sold to the rich builders. When the farmers demanded adequate compensation they got bullets.”
Repeating that non-Congress parties did nothing except for making tall promises, the Congress General Secretary said, “During every election these parties – BSP, SP and BJP - came to you with a list of promises. For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. They promise free electricity, water and jobs, but do nothing after the polls.”
“The state of affairs in UP at present is pathetic. We will have to change this. It is not difficult. The moment your leaders come to you, hold your hands and enquire about your problems, development will start in UP again,” he assured
“I am here not to make to shower promises. I am here to fight for you. I have enough time as I am only 41 years old. I am not in hurry. We together can transform Uttar Pradesh and this will definitely take place,” he declared.
“UP is the biggest place and there was a time when this state used to show the path to others. We can bring back Uttar Pradesh back to the top position if the youth in the state stand up and fight for a change. You go to other states, work there and contribute for development there. I am here to fight for you and let us together transform UP,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi in Moradabad : BJP, SP and BSP follow divide and rule policy

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:19:31 PST

Star News Agency
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh). Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while addressing a mammoth election rally in Moradabad said that the non-Congress parties – BJP, SP and BSP – follow the divide and rule policy like the British. “For the past 22 years parties like BJP, SP and BSP, have been trying to divide the people in the name of caste and religion. They are following the policy of divide and rule,” said Sonia Gandhi.
“There is a glorious past for this historic place where a number of people sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggle. There was a time when all materials were imported from outside to India. But after the Independence Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru along with our other great national leaders helped the country to stand on its own feet. The entire people in our country also played a crucial role in it, especially the people of Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh was the pride of our country then,” said the Congress President, striking an emotional chord with the people.
“But now what is the situation in Uttar Pradesh?,” she asked. “Because of the divisive polices of the parties like BJP, SP and BSP the state of UP has now lost its way. How long will you tolerate this?” she asked again. “Now the time has come to put an end to this mayajaal of divide and rule policy,” asserted Sonia Gandhi.
“Now we should change this state of affairs. Congress is fighting this election with an agenda of bringing back development in the state. The long history of service and commitment of Congress is well known. Congress had lost elections in the past. But the people re-elected Congress without much delay as they acknowledge our performance. You know that the Congress led UPA Government under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh has been in power at the Centre since 2004,” added the UPA Chairperson.
Referring various welfare scheme of the Congress led UPA Government Sonia Gandhi continued, “Despite all the problems, UPA Government has done a number of welfare schemes and policies for the people. We implemented Mahatma Gandhi NREGA policy to address the issue of unemployment in the villages by which every poor is guaranteed for a minimum of 100 days’ job every year. The UPA framed policies like Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to ensure house, water and roads, National Rural Health Mission to provide adequate health facilities for the poor, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan to ensure that every children in the age group of 6 to 14 get proper education, Mid-day meal scheme to ensure food to every children in the schools, Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana, opened up new Universities and implemented Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Scheme to provide electricity at every place”.
She said that the Centre made a number of schemes for the development of U.P and sent thousands of crores of rupees to the state under various schemes. “The Government at the Centre sent more than one lakh crore rupees to Uttar Pradesh. But it is a matter of great concern that the people of Uttar Pradesh could not avail the benefits. All these funds were swindled out in corruption and scams. There are reports of corruption in MNREGA and NRHM schemes,” she concerned.
“The people in UP have been witnessing the rule of criminals and a politics of hatred. There are some parties which try to spread the ill-will among different sections,” said the Congress President.
Referring the policies by the Centre for minorities Sonia Gandhi said, “It was Congress which implemented policies for the minorities. Congress implemented the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. For the first time in the history, a separate ministry for the minorities was formed. We also gave loan worth five lakh crores of rupees under the Prime Minister’s fifteen point programme for minorities. Under Sarva Shiksha Abiyan several new schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas were opened at various minority dominated areas. We also increased the budget for the Maulana Azad Foundation to provide financial assistance for the modernization of the madrasas. To help our sisters in the minorities we designed an easy-loan scheme for those who want to start their own business. We also granted 4.5 percentage reservation for the backward Muslims. I can name a number of such policies which clearly prove our commitment”.
Sonia Gandhi then explained the various policies for women and said, “I am sure that it was Congress which implemented more policies for the welfare of Dalits, Adivasis, backward class and minorities than anyone else. We are also concerned for the growing atrocities and crime against our sisters. We, therefore, granted 50% reservation for the women in the Panchayats and municipalities to empower them and to make them self reliant. We also helped them by way of Self Help Groups and by doubling the wages of the Anganwadi workers. We introduced the Janani Suraksha Yojana to ensure proper health for the women and children.”
“SP, BJP and SP always talk about clear administration. But we witnessed rampant corruption, loot, and injustice under their misrule. They are now coming again to the people with toll promises. Do not be misled by the campaign of these political parties,” she warned.
“Congress treats everyone equally,” said Sonia Gandhi and added, “When the poor farmers were struggling because of huge debts, the UPA Government helped them with a scheme to waive off their loan worth more than Rs. 70,000 crore. But due to the wrong policies of the state Government the farmers in UP could not avail its benefits. We increased the procurement prices to help the farmers. There is no shortage of fertilizers at the Centre and it sent fertilizers to UP, too. But because of the corrupt distribution system by the state Government, the farmers are not able to get adequate fertilizers in UP.”
“We will have to change this situation. We should bring back the lost glory of Uttar Pradesh. We want to ensure a good future for the youth in the state. We want to free Uttar Pradesh from the evils of corruption, crime and injustice. We want the youth in the state live with pride,” asserted Congress President..
Addressing the people in the city, famous for its famous brass industry – which is also called "Brass City" or Peetal Nagri, Sonia Gandhi said, “Apart from various other issues, we also understand the problems being faced by the people engaged in the brass and carving business. Our election manifesto has addressed this issue and we will work towards to find a solution. We will work with commitment and devotion to fulfill our promises. I am here to seek your support to accomplish the mission of Congress to change the state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh”.
She exuded confidence that the electorate would pay attention on these issues and vote for her party in the coming elections. “I request you to support the Congress and ensure every single vote in the favour of Congress,” said Congress President Sonia Gandhi while concluding her address to the mammoth rally here.

Rahul Gandhi in Moradabad : Mere promises will not bring on changes

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:16:44 PST

Star News Agency
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing a well-attended election rally in Moradabad as part of his campaign for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, repeated that the people whose intention is clear, need not make any promises.
He asked the crowd, “You have been experiencing the regime of different parties – BJP, BSP and SP - in the state for the past 22 years. Are you looking for a change?” The crowd responded loudly with ‘yes’.
“Changes will not take place by mere promises,” said Rahul Gandhi. “If I come here and give you 10-15 promises, nothing is going to happen. This is election time. Leaders like Mulayam Singh and Mayawati come to you and shower promises. I will not do so. People with noble intentions never make promises, they just act,” he added.
“The leaders in Uttar Pradesh do nothing. It is the people here who work hard. The poor labourers and farmers shed their sweat and blood and develop the country. But the leaders do not respect them. They loot the money, meant for the poor. During election time they come to you and make tall promises. After coming to power, they forget the people. This has been happening for the past 22 years in UP,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in the entire U.P. He was the Chief Minister thrice. I still remember that the people used to receive hefty bills, though there was no adequate electricity. There is no power house built in the past 22 years and so how can he provide free electricity? “Will it fall from the sky?,” he remarked.
Referring Mulayam Singh’s poll promise Rahul Gandhi continued “Mulayam Singh Ji also promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. No one in Bundelkhand wants Israel. They want electricity, water and sufficient food. But he talks about Israel. He was the Chief Minister for three terms. What did he do for them? When people of drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for help where was he? I had gone to different villages in the region. I could see neither Mulayam Ji nor Mayawati there. Mayawati Ji was the Chief Minister, but never visited Bundelkhand,” asserted the Congress General Secretary.
Repeating that non-Congress parties did nothing except giving toll promises, the Congress General Secretary said, “During every election these parties – BSP, SP and BJP - came to you with a list of promises. For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. They promise free electricity, water and jobs, but do nothing after the polls.”
“The lack of development in Uttar Pradesh is not only harming UP, but the entire country also suffers because of this. There was a time when the state of Uttar Pradesh used to show the path to others. This is the biggest state in our country. The moment UP stands up, entire country will acknowledge it,” he said.
“There is a Congress Government at the Centre from 2004. We came to you and enquired about your difficulties, you told us that there are no jobs available in villages. That is how Mahatma Gandhi NREGA came into existence. Every poor is guaranteed with hundred days of job at a daily wage of Rs. 120,” said Rahul Gandhi. “This was the concept of the people. We just implemented it. This scheme is not meant for any particular caste or religion, but for the entire poor,” he added.
“You go to any of the Congress ruled states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala or Haryana and ask anyone in the villages about MNREGA. They will admit that they have been benefitted by this scheme. But the people of UP could not avail its benefits. Mayawati Ji says that this policy is not beneficial for UP. SP and BJP ask from where we will have the money for the same. This money is the result of the hard work put in by the poor in the country. It is the result of their sweat and blood. But it is being looted in UP. They don’t think about the people”, said Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.
“We realize the strength of the farmers as well as their pain. We are aware of their hard work. So we went to them. They informed us that the doors of the banks are closed for them and also that they carry the burden of heavy debts. We, therefore, approved a relief package worth Rs. 60,000crore for them and opened the doors of the banks for the farmers,” said Rahul Gandhi, referring to the relief package for the farmers.
“Similarly we approved a relief package for Bunkars too. The state government in UP did not do anything for them. Is it not the duty of the state Government to help the farmers and Bunkars? When the poor farmers in Tappal and Bhatta-Prasual demanded adequate compensation for the land forcibly acquired by the state Government, they received bullets. Women were assaulted. Neither Mayawati Ji nor Mulayam Ji went there. But now they give promises that they would help the farmers,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul further said, “Did Mulayam Singh Ji do anything for the Muslims in the past 22 years? Did the youth get proper education?” Rahul Gandhi added, “But Congress implemented Sachar Commission’s recommendations. When we sent the money for scholarship to Uttar Pradesh that got vanished in Lucknow. The funds reach Kerala and Lakshadweep properly though these places are far away from Delhi. But the same is not able to reach the people in UP which is only at a stone throwing distance from Delhi. The magic elephant in Lucknow gobbles up the entire funds.”
“When media persons had asked Mulayam Ji about his stand on reservation, he did not utter any word. But when Congress, Manmohan Singh Ji and Sonia Ji went ahead with reservation, he complained that it was inadequate. He was the Chief Minister in UP thrice. Why did not he do anything then? When Rasheed Masood Ji talked about reservation he was expelled from SP,” said the Congress leader questioning the double speak of SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of Muslim reservation.
He again went on to say, “In 2009, Mulayam Singh Ji embraced Kalyan Singh ahead of 2009 elections. He had approached us for an election tie-up. But we refused to do so. We told them that we would have alliance only with the people of Uttar Pradesh. We would secure more seats than SP.”
“We are not going to ally with anybody else, except the people of Uttar Pradesh,” repeated the Congress General Secretary. “We will take the voice of the people to Lucknow,” he assured.

“I am here not to make to shower promises. You will see Rahul Gandhi amongst the farmers, workers and poor in the villages till the state of U.P. stands on its own feet. I have enough time as I am only 41 years old. I am not in hurry. I have the trust of people and I do not need anything else. We together can transform Uttar Pradesh and this will definitely take place,” he declared.

“I am here to fight for you and I will not leave you till development takes place in UP. I have no promises for you, as my intention is pure. Thank you very much for giving me a patient hearing,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi strikes chord with the youth in Bulandshahar

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:13:46 PST

Star News Agency
Bulandshahar (Uttar Pradesh). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing a mammoth election rally in Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh struck an emotional chord with the youth on Tuesday. “I am very happy to see the youth in large numbers here,” said Rahul Gandhi starting his address.
He asked the youth, “You have been experiencing the rule of different parties – BJP, BSP and SP - in the state for the past 22 years. Are you happy with them?" The crowd responded loudly with a ‘no’. Rahul Gandhi then asked a youth his age. When he replied ‘20 years’, the Congress General Secretary quickly commented, “These parties wasted your entire life. They wasted 22 long years of Uttar Pradesh”.
“You go to Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi, Haryana or Assam. All these states are developing fast. The entire country has been progressing. The entire world is surprised to see the growth of our nation. But while the entire country is surging ahead, our Uttar Pradesh is slipping back. For the past 22 years, this state remains the same,” he pointed out.
Rahul Gandhi continued, “The youth from Uttar Pradesh go to Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana and work there leaving behind their family in Uttar Pradesh. All these states have been developing because of your blood and sweat. You are putting in your hard work in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra. The people in Uttar Pradesh have very strong hands. The entire country is progressing because of you. Those hands are tied in U.P. Now, UP needs your hands. For the past 22 years you got only promises and nothing changed here. We should change this”.
Repeating that non-Congress parties did nothing except giving tall promises, the Congress General Secretary said, “During every election these parties – BSP, SP and BJP - came to you with a list of promises. For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. They promise free electricity, water and jobs. But after coming to the power, they just sit in Lucknow, build big walls around their houses and forget the people”
Rahul Gandhi said that Congress is different from these parties and added, “See the difference between Congress and other parties. We win elections, perform our duty properly, then face polls and people elect us again”.
“The states like Haryana, Delhi and Assam witnessed developments after elections. But in U.P there have been no positive changes in the past 22 years. You are forced to migrate to other cities like Maharashtra and Delhi for jobs. This is the question of your future. This is the question of the future of the youth here. Will you continue going to other places like this? Don’t you have the right to work in your own state?” Rahul Gandhi asked.
“Even people from other parts of the world come to India for jobs. The flights from America to India are always crowded. Even the people from America come to India for jobs as there are no sufficient jobs available in America. But in Uttar Pradesh, no jobs are available for the youth. This is mainly because of the magic elephant in Lucknow, which eats up the funds meant for the poor," he added.
Referring to the Land-acquisition Bill, Rahul Gandhi said, “When we introduced the land acquisition bill in the Parliament, the opposition parties like BJP, SP and BSP are trying to block the same. But Congress will ensure the passage of the Bill”.
“When we went to the people they told us that they are not having sufficient food to survive. The Centre, therefore, is now ready with the Food Security Bill by which every poor family is assured with 35Kg of food grain every month. Mayawati Ji and Mulayam Ji say that this is a drama. Is sending food grains for the poor a drama? We are sending huge funds to Uttar Pradesh under various schemes. Is it a drama?" Rahul Gandhi asked.
“Some of the Muslim brothers had told me that though there are more than 70 districts in the state, there is only one Muslim DM. When Manmohan Singh Ji granted reservation to the Muslims, Mulayam Singh Ji says that it is not sufficient. He was the Chief Minister in UP thrice. Why did not he do anything then? When media persons had asked Mulayam Ji about his stand on reservation, he did not utter any word. But when Congress went ahead with reservation, he complains that it is inadequate,” said the Congress leader, questioning the double standard of SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of Muslim reservation.
He again went on to say, “In 2009, Mulayam Singh Ji embraced Kalyan Singh. Mulayam considers himself as a leader of Muslims, but when he joined hands with Kalyan Singh ahead of the 2009 elections, he did not remember the Muslims”.
Taking a dig at Mulayam Singh again, the Congress General Secretary said sarcastically, “This is election time. You please go to Mulayam Singh Yadav and ask him to paint the blue sky with green. He will immediately agree for that too”.
“I am here not to shower promises. You will see Rahul Gandhi amongst the farmers, workers and poor in the villages, Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul till development is visible in U.P. I will not leave this place till the state of U.P stands on its own feet and the youth start getting jobs here. Some leaders say that Rahul Gandhi is enacting a drama by going to the people. I like this drama very much and I will continue this throughout my life,” he declared.
“I am here to fight for you and my fight is to transform Uttar Pradesh. People with noble intention never make promises,” he asserted.
“Support Congress and elect our candidates; Bring in a Congress Government in Lucknow. Let us form a Government of the youth,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.

Only the youth can bring in changes in Uttar Pradesh : Rahul Gandhi

noreply@blogger.com (Star Web Media) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:10:11 PST

Star News Agency
Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh). Only the youth and the aam aadmi of the state can bring about changes in Uttar Pradesh, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has said. He was addressing a mammoth election rally in Kanpur on Monday, soon after an impressive road show.
“Rahul Gandhi alone cannot change U.P. I can stand by you and extend all my support to you. Only the youth and aam aadmi can bring in changes here,” said Rahul Gandhi, striking an emotional chord with the youth in the region.
“You have been witnessing the rule of different parties in the state for the past 22 years. Did any one of you get any benefit during this period? You please tell me if you noticed anything,” he asked and the crowd responded loudly with ‘nothing’.
“Uttar Pradesh is the biggest state in the country. And it has the maximum strength. Only five countries in the world are bigger than this state. But people are forced to go to other states for jobs. The youth from Uttar Pradesh go to Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana and work there. All these states have been developing because of your blood and sweat. Your hands are tied in U.P. But you are putting in your hard work in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra. While all these states are surging ahead, U.P is slipping back”.
Expressing his concern over the bad state of affairs in U.P, Rahul Gandhi said, “Normally elections bring in changes at every place. In U.P too, you have been experiencing elections for the past 22 years. After every election you expected development in U.P. But it still remains the same.”
“During every election these parties – BSP, SP and BJP - came to you with a list of promises. But please tell me what did you get in the past 22 years? What changes did you observe during this period? For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. You trusted SP thrice. You gave four opportunities to BJP and BSP to rule. But nothing changed. You kept on experimenting with these parties. Uttar Pradesh wasted 22 long years,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“In Delhi, Congress is in power for the successive third term. The same is the case in Andhra Pradesh too. People elected Congress continuously because they know that we do not make hollow promises, but perform,” claimed the Congress General Secretary.
Referring to the poll promise of the SP, he said, “Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in the entire U.P. He was the Chief Minister thrice. I still remember that the people used to receive hefty bills though there was no adequate electricity. There is no power house built in the past 22 years and so how can he provide free electricity? “Will it fall from the sky?”
"Mulayam Singh Ji also promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. No one in Bundelkhand wants Israel. He was the Chief Minister for three terms. Why did not he convert Bundelkhand to Israel then? When the people of drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for relief, where was he? I had visited the region and talked to various people there. I could not see Mulayam Ji or Mayawati Ji anywhere. I had even requested Mayawati Ji to pay a visit to the place,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“Mayawati, being the Chief Minister, did not find it necessary to visit Bundelkhand. No one was there to help them. I took a delegation to the Prime Minister and without any delay he approved a package of Rs. 8000 crore for the relief of the region. But that amount was looted by the Mayawati Government. The tractors sent for the farmers went to the Minister’s kids. This money was the result of your sweat and blood,” asserted the Congress General Secretary.
Referring to the package for the weavers Rahul Gandhi continued,“Bunkars also had approached us. They said that neither SP nor BSP listens to their problems. We, therefore, took them to the Prime Minister. Our Prime Minister immediately sanctioned a relief package for them too. We extended them maximum help by way of waiving off loans and Bunkar’s credit card”.
He continued, “But Bunkars approached us again with another request. They told us not to send the money meant for them to Lucknow as they feared that those funds also will be looted by the state Government”.
“There is a Congress Government at the Centre. In 2004, we came to you and enquired about your difficulties, you told us that there are no jobs available in villages. That is how Mahatma Gandhi NREGA came into existence. Every poor is guaranteed with hundred days of job at a daily wage of Rs. 120,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“We realize the strength of the farmers as well as their pain. We are aware of their hard work. So we went to them. They informed us that the doors of the banks are closed for them and also that they carry the burden of heavy debts. We therefore approved a relief package worth Rs. 60000 crore for them and opened the doors of the banks for the farmers,” said Rahul Gandhi, referring to the relief package for the farmers.
He also informed, “Now we are ready with the right to food legislation. We want no one in our country should live in hunger. By this policy every poor family is assured with 35kg of food grain”.
“It is the people who give us ideas, we just implement it. From 2004, I have been visiting various villages, meeting the people, sharing their meals and drinking water from them. I go to the people to realise the strength of the people. Only the people in the villages can bring in changes,” said Rahul Gandhi amidst loud applause.
“Your leaders here do not realize this enormous strength in the people. They do not trust you and so do not come to you. Did Mayawati come to you in the past five years? Did Mulayam do so?" asked Rahul Gandhi. “They will not do so. They just think that they can fool you by just showering promises on you during elections,” reminded Rahul Gandhi.
“I am here not to make any promise. You have reposed faith in me and I respect that. I respect your knowledge as well as your strength. These parties (BJP, SP and BSP) come to you and make hollow promises because they have no respect for you,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
“If you want to hear promises only, then please go to Mayawati Ji or Mulayam Ji. You have been hearing their promises for the past 22 years. But I will assure you only one thing, that I will not leave this place till UP stands on its own feet”.
“The problem in U.P is that there is no government of the people. Here the Government works for a particular caste which represents only 10% of the population. The rest 90% are ignored. What did the dalits and people from backward classes get in the past 22 years?” Rahul Gandhi asked.
“States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi are surging ahead. But there is no progress in U.P. We should change this,” he urged.
Encouraging the youth, Rahul Gandhi told them to stand up and change the bad state of affairs in the state. “We (Congress) changed Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala, Haryana and Assam. We can transform UP too. I am here to support you. Your fight for development is my fight too”.
He then reiterated, “You will see Rahul Gandhi amongst the farmers, workers and poor till development starts in U.P. I want the voice of the people to reach Lucknow”.
“The moment your voice starts reaching Lucknow and when the leaders start coming to the people, development will start in U.P. You have the strength and knowledge and you can bring in change. Support Congress and elect our candidates,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.