Family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose have sought the help of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for declassification of all secret files concerning the iconic leader.         

 

"Netaji belonged to the entire nation, so we extend our appeal to you for your kind support in demanding from the prime minister that the central government must release in public domain all records to help unravel the mystery about his fate and bring a closure to the issue," read the letter written to Narendra Modi .         

 

Demanding declassification of secret files concerning Netaji's death, Netaji's grand-nephew and family spokesperson Chandra Bose had met Modi during his visit to Kolkata last week. The letter handed over to him is signed by Netaji's nephew D N Bose on behalf of 24 members of the family.         

 

"We are constrained to bring it to your notice because the central government's approach has been rather hostile. The report of the Mukherjee Commission, for instance, was dismissed by the UPA government without assigning any reason in the Action Taken Report tabled in Parliament," the letter said.         

 

It claimed that the Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry, set up in 2006, had concluded that Netaji did not die in a plane crash in 1945. "Modi was very receptive while receiving the letter, and he promised to help," the family said in a statement today, adding, they were constrained to approach the BJP leader after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee "completely ignored" their similar appeal made in December, last year.  

While reacting to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's veiled threat issued at JD-U's national executive earlier in the day over Narendra Modi's PM candidature, the BJP has reacted sharply and said that the NDA alliance partner must not dilute focus on ousting corrupt UPA government.  

 

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told mediapersons in New Delhi that the party rejected 'all unfounded inferences against Modi'.

Vice President Hamid Ansari today arrived in Dushanbe on a four-day "goodwill" visit to Tajikistan to discuss ways to boost their strategic ties in multiple sectors, including counter-terrorism, with the resource-rich central Asian nation.        

 

Ansari, a former diplomat, will hold high-level talks with top leaders of Tajikistan including its President Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade, among others, to discuss ways for further cooperation between the two nations.        

 

Ansari is the first Indian Vice-President to visit the nation. Ansari was received by Tajikistan's Deputy Prime Minister Davlatov Matlubkhon Sultonovich.

Angry over removal of hoardings installed by her party on B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary, BSP chief Mayawati today accused Samajwadi Party government in UP of indulging in political vendetta and said SP "goons" will be "taught a lesson" when she returns to power.        

 

The former chief minister said during her government land was leased to marginal farmers, but in the present regime it was being grabbed by SP "goons and party workers".        

 

"Jab hamari party ki sarkar banegi tab aise logon ko toda jayega aur aisa siddha karenge ki phir woh kabhi zameen par kabja nahi kar payenge (When our party comes to power, such people will be strongly dealt with and they will be taught a lesson so that they will not dare to grab land in future)," she said.

Former Uttar Pradesh minister Raja Ram Pandey, who was shunted out from the state Cabinet following his alleged sexist remark, today claimed that the allegations against him were baseless.  

 

"Whatever is being said about me is baseless, if media has any byte then it should show it and I will accept," he told reporters in Lucknow. The former state minister for khadi and village industry was sacked from the Cabinet last night after he allegedly said at a function in Pratapgarh district on Friday that roads would be constructed like the cheeks of actresses Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit.        

 

Pandey alleged that his statement has been distorted and said that his side of story should have been heard before the government's decision for his removal.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to maintain secularism as Bangladesh's state policy, amid countrywide celebrations today to mark the Bengali New Year, seen by right-wing Islamists as "anti-Islamic" practice.        

 

"Bangladesh will be a non-communal democratic country... Our country will be run in keeping with the spirit of the Madinah Charter of our beloved Prophet Mohammad" that charted out principles of religious harmony and co-existence, Hasina said in a statement on the eve of the Pahela Baishakh.        

 

Her remarks assume significance in the wake of recent large-scale protests by Islamist parties led by Jamaat-e-Islami demanding reinstatement of "absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah" in the constitution and capital punishment for those who would denigrate Islam and its prophet.        

 

Meanwhile, thousands of people turned out on the streets and parks to celebrate 'Pahela Baishakh' to welcome the Bengali New year 1420.

Nine fishermen from Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan navy when they were fishing in mid-sea today, officials said. It was not known where exactly the fishermen were fishing when they were arrested and taken by the Lankan Navalmen along with their two boats, officials and local fishermen association president Ramakrishnan said.    

 

After the arrest, tension prevailed in Jagadapattinam in the district, from where the fishermen ventured into the sea. Their arrest comes two days after 19 fishermen from Rameswaram island, who were arrested on March 13 and lodged in prison in the neighbouring country, arrived here after a Lankan court ordered their release.

Nitish also took a dig at Narendra Modi, saying many people claim development in an already-developed state. "We want the train to be on track, but if it derails, then who knows what will happen tomorrow,' the Bihar CM said when asked about the alliance issue.  

 

"Attempt to bring genetic modification will bring about negative results', Nitish said, alluding the impact of Modi's projection on the NDA.

When asked on NDA's future, Bihar chief minister and senior Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar, while addressing the party's national executive in New Delhi, said on Sunday, "We will take a decision if our voice is not heard'.   Nitish also snubbed party leaders on chorus for his PM candidature, saying the party doesn't believe in illusions.

NDTV: In a resolution adopted on the second and final day of the Janata Dal (United)'s national executive meet in Delhi, the party has strongly hinted that Narendra Modi will not be acceptable to them as the NDA coalition's prime ministerial candidate.

 

"It is up to the BJP to decide on a secular candidate who also looks out for the common man," said the party's Bihar unit president Vashista Narayan Singh. The JD(U) has also given its ally, the BJP, time till December to declare a prime ministerial candidate.

PTI: Narendra Modi may be on a campaign selling his model of governance but Gujarat is reeling under severe drought that has left Saurashtra and Kutch regions parched and people battling odds to get even a pot of drinking water.        

 

An estimated 10 to 15 per cent of the cash crops may have failed because of the drought this year that has come on the back of 11 normal monsoons. The water situation in half of the state has worsened with the onset of summer as big and small water reservoirs have dried up, forcing women in rural area to travel long distances, sometimes two to three kms, everyday for water.        

 

Modi had, in his speeches in the national capital and in Kolkata recently, made claims regarding supply of piped water for long distances, thanks to Narmada projects. But familiar scenes of people jostling to get a bucket of water when a tanker arrives once in a while in their village or urban area are common in Kutch, Saurashtra and some northern parts of the state.  

Sharad Yadav has been re-elected the Janata Dal-United president for the third consecutive time, PTI reports.

Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industry Minister Raja Ram Pandey, who triggered a controversy by allgedly promising to get roads in Pratapgarh district constructed like cheeks of actresses Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit, has been sacked.

"Governor B L Joshi in consultation with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has relieved minister Raja Ram Pandey from his post from this evening," a notification signed by chief secretary Javed Usmani said.

The Chief Minister, who is already holding charge of 61 departments, has been given the additional charge of Khadi and Village industry.

During his visit to Pratapgarh yesterday, Pandey had allegedly said roads would be constructed like the cheeks of actresses Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit.

The minister's statement evoked sharp criticism from political parties and social organisations. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday night met BJP chief Rajnath Singh at his residence where the two leaders were understood to have held consultations on NDA's strategy ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

Kumar is New Delhi to attend the two-day national executive and council meeting of JD(U) that began on Saturday in which a number of state chiefs of his party complained of being ignored and harassed by BJP, the lead NDA party.

During the dinner meeting, Kumar and Singh discussed ways to improve the coordination between the two parties.

Kumar was accompanied by party spokesperson K C Tyagi who earlier in the day said there was no question of aligning with "enemy" Congress by dispensing with "friend" BJP.

During the meeting, Kumar and Singh are learnt to have also discussed about NDA's plans to rope in other parties.

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