Political News – Newsletter for January 23, 2011

PM’s remark on flag hoisting a ‘psychological surrender’: BJP

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of “psychologically surrendering” to Kashmir separatists by describing the party’s decision to hoist the national flag in Srinagar as “divisive”.

Addressing media persons here, BJP senior leader Arun Jaitley said: “When two people speak in New Delhi about the segregation …. Read the original article  : here.

Pakistan cabinet to be ‘rightsized’

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan cabinet is going to be “rightsized” and the restructuring of the cabinet will lead to some ministers being shunted out, a media report said Sunday.

The Nation reported that some ministers in the federal cabinet are being removed as part of rightsizing, apparently to meet a demand of the Pakistan Muslim …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pakistan cabinet to be ‘rightsized’.

UK hate cleric urges Muslims to ‘issue fatwas’ against Cameron, May

LONDON – London based hate cleric Anjem Choudary has urged Muslims to issue a ‘fatwa’ against British Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May.

Choudary branded both leaders as the biggest enemies of Muslims in government because of their opposition to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : UK hate cleric urges Muslims to ‘issue fatwas’ against Cameron, May.

Milan model had sex with Berlusconi ‘to thank him’

LONDON – For the first time, one of the women named in the Milan prostitution investigation has admitted that she had sex with the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Maria Ester Garcia Polanco is the first of the so-called “bunga bunga” girls – a group of 14 women whom Milan prosecutors allege …. Read the original article  : Milan model had sex with Berlusconi ‘to thank him’.

BJP workers taken for a ride – back home

AHMEDNAGAR – Police and railway officials here hoodwinked Bharatiya Janata Party activists headed to Jammu and Kashmir for the Republic Day flag hoisting and shunted their special train back to Karnataka early Sunday.

The Bengaluru-New Delhi Karnataka Express, whose 18 bogies were full of Karnataka BJP youth activists, arrived at Sarola station in the district … Read : BJP workers taken for a ride – back home.

Sargent Shriver Funeral Attended By Hundreds

POTOMAC (GaeaTimes.com)- As the former Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Robert Sargent Shriver’s body was laid to rest on Saturday, hundreds had gathered at the Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Potomac, Maryland to pay their tribute to the great man. His funeral ceremony witnessed the presence of U.S First Lady Michelle Obama along with Vice- President Joe … Read more >>.

Bal Thackeray turns 85, but no birthday bash

MUMBAI – Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray turned 85 here Sunday, but there was no birthday bash or beating of drums by party activists.

All roads leading to Matoshree, the Thackerays’ residence in Bandra east, were barricaded, and barring locals or authorized people nobody was permitted to enter the vicinity.
The tight security arrangements were … Original article on : Bal Thackeray turns 85, but no birthday bash.

Italian porn star applauds Berlusconi for his sexcapades

LONDON – Former French porn star Rocco Siffredi has claimed that he has less sex than Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi but at the same time praises his love of sex.

“I have sex one half of a half of a half of the times he does,” the Observer quoted him …. Source article  : Italian porn star applauds Berlusconi for his sexcapades.

Should Lenin’s body be buried, asks poll

Moscow, Jan 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A political party in Russia has launched an online poll asking whether the body of revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin should be buried.

Lenin died Jan 21, 1924, and his corpse was embalmed and placed in a specially-built mausoleum in Moscow’s Red Square.
The pro-Kremlin United Russia party launched the poll … Read more >>>.

Kashmir could resort to force to stop BJP flag-hoisting

JAMMU – The Jammu and Kashmir government has conveyed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that it will be “forced to use force” in case the party goes ahead with its plan to hoist the national flag in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on Republic Day, an official source said.

It has been conveyed to the BJP …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Land acquisition: Mamata gets dose of her own medicine

KOLKATA – Only a few years ago Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had used her intense protests against forcible land acquisition to revive her electoral fortunes in West Bengal. But now the railway minister seems to be getting a taste of her own medicine with political rivals in a tit-for-tat strategy agitating against her on …. Source  : Land acquisition: Mamata gets dose of her own medicine.

Russia wants to bury Lenin?

Moscow, Jan 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The ruling United Russia party has launched a website announcing an online poll on the burial of Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin.

The poll of the goodbyelenin.ru website launched Saturday has only one question: “Do you back the idea of burying the body of Vladimir Lenin?” The question requires a … Read more »»».

Somnath condemns Netai killings, political violence

KOLKATA – Former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee Saturday condemned the political violence in West Bengal and said murder of any person was “unfortunate”.

Murder of any person is unfortunate. Can anybody say that violence is good? Chatterjee told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
At least nine people were killed and …. Read the original article  : Somnath condemns Netai killings, political violence.

BJP’s youth wing firm on hoisting flag in Srinagar

HOSHIARPUR – The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) youth wing was firm on its stand on hoisting the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s appeals of not disturbing peace in the “sensitive” Jammu and Kashmir, a party leader said Saturday.

The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) had …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : BJP’s youth wing firm on hoisting flag in Srinagar.

Congress backs Omar’s measures to deal with BJP’s flag march

NEW DELHI – Backing the measures of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to deal with the march of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) youth wing to Srinagar, the Congress said Saturday that the state administration was fully empowered to deal with the situation.

“Whosoever from any quarter, irrespective of ideology, religion, or political affiliation, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Congress backs Omar’s measures to deal with BJP’s flag march.

PM warns against divisive agendas, BJP dismisses appeal

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janta Party Friday dismissed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s appeal to refrain from “promoting divisive agendas” on Republic Day, saying they were “dismayed” by his statement, terming it as support for those “voicing anti-India sentiments”.

“It is not an occasion to score political points, to embarrass the state and local administrations, …. Read the original article  : here.

Chhattisgarh ministers violated poll code: Congress

RAIPUR – The Congress’ Chhattisgarh unit Saturday filed a complaint against two senior ministers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for violating the model code of conduct imposed by the poll panel for the assembly by-poll in Durg district.

“We have complained against Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar and PWD Minister Brijmohan Agrawal to district … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chhattisgarh ministers violated poll code: Congress.

Mamata Banerjee meets Sonia Gandhi to discuss petrol price hike

NEW DELHI – Union Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Saturday met United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath in the national capital.

According to Trinamool Congress sources, the two leaders had a discussion …. Source  : Mamata Banerjee meets Sonia Gandhi to discuss petrol price hike.

PM asks parties not to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DELHI – With the BJP’s youth wing planning to hoist the national flag in Srinagar on Republic Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday asked all political parties to refrain from “promoting divisive agendas” and stressed that peace should not be disturbed in the “sensitive” Jammu and Kashmir.

“It is not an occasion to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : PM asks parties not to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Will stall budget session for JPC, Bhardwaj’s recall: BJP

CHENNAI – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said it would stall the coming budget session of parliament over the demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe in the 2G scam and to force the recall of Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj who is behaving like a “Congress agent”.

“The impasse is not over as … Read : Will stall budget session for JPC, Bhardwaj’s recall: BJP.