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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whom Advani has repeatedly targeted personally, counterattacked in Mumbai, saying Advani combined “strength in speech with weakness in action.”
“Mr Advani likes to call me a weak Prime Minister. I cannot help pointing out that when held to the fire during the Kandahar hijacking, the BJP’s iron man was quick to melt,” Singh said.
“Substance,” the PM said, “triumphs over style”. He taunted Advani: “Unlike the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate, I will not be found weeping in a corner while hoodlums tear down a centuries-old mosque. Nor will I be found wringing my hands in frustration when one of my chief ministers condones a pogrom targeted at minorities.
“And I will certainly not say things in Pakistan that offend every Indian and then abandon my stand when it becomes politically inconvenient within my party. Mr Advani has the unique ability to combine strength in speech with weakness in action. This is not the kind of strength we need.”
Addressing election meetings in Kerala, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi matched Singh’s rhetoric with some of his own.
At Nedumbassery near Kochi, Rahul brought up the Kandahar hijack episode, and Advani’s statement that he did not know that the flight to Kandahar carrying the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh also had the terrorists released from prison.
“How would Advani have been the Home Minister and not know something as fundamental as this?” Rahul asked.
“There are two possiblities: Advani is not saying the truth and he buckled under pressure, or his Prime Minister A B Vajpayee did not believe him... If somebody is Home Minister and the Prime Minister does not have faith in him, he should have resigned,” Rahul said.
Earlier, speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, Rahul said: “Manmohan Singh is a prime minister who thinks about the future, while Advani is living in the past. Singh, who has the mind of a youth, can competently lead the nation.”
At election meetings in Shillong, Itanagar and Silchar in the North-East, Congress president Sonia Gandhi reminded crowds that it was under a BJP-led NDA government that India was attacked in Kargil, blackmailed by hijackers in Kandahar and parliament was attacked by terrorists.
Sonia said the BJP practised “politics based on creating hatred among people of different faiths”. Recalling Kandhamal, Godhra and Malegaon, she asked: “Do you believe they can fight terrorism and uphold the secular nature of the country?”
The BJP returned the Congress’s fire.
At a function organised by the Friends of BJP, party leader Arun Jaitley said Manmohan Singh was suffering from an “inferiority complex” with regard to Advani. “Congress is envious of L K Advani’s image as a strong leader,” Jaitley said. “For the third time in the last two weeks, Manmohan Singh has started his speeches by saying that he is not weak. It seems that whenever he gets up to speak, L K Advani’s image comes up in his mind, and he ends up defending himself.”
The BJP also defended its handling of the Kandahar hijack, saying Congress Home Minister P Chidambram had admitted it was a “very difficult” decision.
According to BJP spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh, Chidambaram had said: “I do not know how I would have reacted if 150 families came to my door and pleaded that their loved ones in that aircraft must be saved. It is easy to criticise but if one is in that position, it is a very difficult decision.”
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Mr Singh has at last mocked at Advani with the cheapest remarks. Kandahar episode wanted such an action to save the more than three hundred victims. Mr Singh's givernment failed in preempting the Taj attack on 26/11.Singh has neither substance nor form and he is in office at the pleasure of Sonia. It is a shame for the PM to be in position without power.Advani is a leader and for decades has left an indelible impression as a right thinking person.Singh had no scruples when his own sikh brotheren were butcehered at Delhi by Congress and what he was doing then?
The congress leaders are trying to muddy the historical victory of the safe return of every single civilian hijacked passenger from Kandahar to their homes (Har Bharitya Jan ke Keemat hoti hai) and the then home minister Advani and then foreign minister Jaswant Singh handled the matter professionally and successfully. On the other hand, the attack in my birthplace Mumbai last November was botched during the congress raj. The audacity of 10 people to slip through the porous Indian shoreline and commit a disgusting carnage where over 180 people died and several injured will forever remain a bloody reminder of the incompetence of the Indian Government to keep its citizens and citizens of several other countries. The comparison of Kandhar with the Mumbai massacre is comparing a royal chariot to a donkey. I am not a big fan of Advani and I do admire ManMohan Singh but when politicians start distorting the truth and smearing their opposition based on lies and twisting history they seem bankrupted and they appear lesser human beings for engaging in such falsehood.
Its a well known fact that our PM responds to no such accusation very often.Mr Advani must have stopped these accusations and PM bashing long ago,now he is getting taste of his own poison and he surely must have understood how PM must have felt for so long.Comming back to the politicians,we can easily figure out who is going to take india forward in right direction.Broad minded congressians or communally narrow minded BJP.Development is ok with both parties,but the thin line lies in the way of presenting their agendas.BJP leaders still thinks that making hate speeches would garner them some votes.Almost all their leaders come to headlines making hate speeches every second day.The prosperity of any society is based on love and BJP is certainly not doing it.
Its a well known fact that our PM responds to no such accusation very often.Mr Advani must have stopped these accusations and PM bashing long ago,now he is getting taste of his own poison and he surely must have understood how PM must have felt for so long.Comming back to the politicians,we can easily figure out who is going to take india forward in right direction.Broad minded congressians or communally narrow minded BJP.Development is ok with both parties,but the thin line lies in the way of presenting their agendas.BJP leaders still thinks that making hate speeches would garner them some votes.Almost all their leaders come to headlines making hate speeches every second day.The prosperity of any society is based on love and BJP is certainly not doing it.
First we must all agree that without support of Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh is a political no-body. That is, if Sonia Gandhi decides that Rahul Gandhi takes over th ehelm of the government, MMS will go.Now to Kandhar to 26/11. These are not identical issues. Why Kandhar happened we do not know. Why 26/11 happended we do not know. What is known is that in one case 300-people were held hostage in a foreign country and in the other case there were no hostages. For Kandhar there was no way we could have sent NSG to fight the terrorists (and of course there will be variants to what I have said) but for 26/11 we know that NSG arrived 12-hours after the event because the Congress-led government in Maharashtra decided that a police action would suffice.So it is a pot calling the kettle black. Time is ripe for us to tell all that we watch silently and will react through the ballot.
Its really surprising that Advani is crucified over Kandahar episode,why everyone is silent when thousands of people gate crashed to PM Vajpayee's house during hijack episode,if people were calm
There is no truth in what they are telling about Khandaharepisode.In the all party meeting called by the NDA govt Congress party also clamoured for the safe return of the passengers.It was neccessary to take the prisoners by a senior minister so that the hijackers keep theirpart of the promise in release of the passengers.In fact Mr jaswanth Singh was bold enough to go along with the terrorist un armed to a hostile country to seek the release of the passengers.Remember no party criticized this action then.Had it vbeen the UPA govt they would have sent a beauracrat promising him some promotion.How they can compare this with Mumbai attack? here they came with a mission to maximise the killings and die as martyers which they did except MR Kasabwho was caught by the brave police force who had no armaryto match with the attackers. Because of this bravery we are able to pin down the Pakisthan govt and hence this Govt is now boasting iastead of ducking
Advani deserves to be exposed for the hollow lauh-purush he is. Whatever may be the faults of the Congress, a sinner does not automatically become good in comparison.
I have seen a Party with a family full of Politicians-DMK, another dynastic family ruled Party - COngress where even Rahul, Priyanka and their Children will become COngress presidents, one man party without any democracy - Lalu, Paswan, Mulayam, Jaya etc. Only parties which have real democracy are the BJP and Communist parties. In these parties, leaders rise from various spheres. Shivraj Chauhan, Raman Singh, Budhadev were not known much to the public, but they have emerged as good politicians. Only saluting to SOnia will bring up a COngressman and no other eligibility.
Can we as the electorate stop these personalised attacks and concentrate on the core issues? Where are the ideas on agriculture growth, development, urban infrastructure, physical
What is UPA? Sonia is the de-facto PM with absolete power.For each and every decision the our gentleman has to rush to 10 Janpath. The gentleman is just a constitutional face, but all the power remain with Sonia and her family and the power centre is neither accountable nor responsible answerable. There are some tutors who teaches the family and write the script, which are being delivered in the poll and other meeting. There is nothing sponteneous or innovative. How long, this will continue? Most deserving candidate for the post of PM from congress party is obviously Smti Sheila Dixit, unfortunately, her surname is Dixit, had her surname been Gandhi or so, she would have been a dynamic and glorious PM of the country. But, congress party is also a big handicap without the great family and minus the family, the party would just disintegrate. There are hundreds of leaders in the congress party, but none accept other as their leader except any member of the family. So let the dynasty rule the party and the country.
Sir, Advani is a liar, and we cannot have such a person sitting on India's finest chair. Advani claimed in his book, that he was not aware of Defence Minister Jaswant Singh accompanying three terrorists in the aircraft to Khandahar to secure the release of hostages on board Indian Airlines’ flight on December 24, 1999. But this claim was rubbished by his own colleauge Mr. George Fernandes (Coffingate), who clearly stated, that Advani was in the meeting when the decision was taken to release the terrorists.Not only they released top terrorists who later founded the terrorist outfit Jaish - e- Mohammad, but it was also revealed, that Rs.200 crore was paid as ransom for the release of hostages. No wonder why they sent BJP Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh in the same flight which carried top terrorists. Where is the RS. 200 crore. Is this the money which is being used by Al-Qaida and Dawood Ibrahim to destroy India?
ELECTION is a process of transformation which gives people the right to select their ACTUAL representative and hence participate construtively in making DEMOCRACY FUNCTIONAL.but it seems our POLITICAL LEADERS have not digested the concept of LEADERSHIP,democracy and the importance of elections.induldging in utterance of bad words,throwing mud on each others reputation etc etc are not expected from matured people.if such leaders are goin to lead india then even a child can tell that our country has no future.today india is facing acute problems-severe poverty,unemployment,terrorism,illeteracy-not allowing our country to become a DEVELOPED NATION.in such a scenario all our so called political leaders are concerned only about vote bank politics and of course in the war of becoming next PM.PLZ REMEMBER PM IS FOR COUNTRY ,COUNTRY IS NOT FOR PM.plz GROW UP
What a shameful congress "trinity"! Kandahar issue was discussed at all party meeting and the decision was unanimous by all party delegates! Even remember the comments of Madam Sonia, "the decision on this issue, I am with the government". Because it was the question of the life of 162 passengers on board. It cannot be compared to Afzal Guru and Bombay attack! Then what are you "trinity" crying foul now on the Kandahar issue! It will only damage your own reputation on committment to people safety and security!
Day to day running of the country is in the hands of professionals and not politicians. Politicians make policy. professionals impliment them. Your mentality make politicians out to be like Gods and you worship them. Let them state their policies and explain how they plan to impliment them. 26/11 was a failure because our professionals were sub standard. I mean illequiped,poorly trained and slow to act. But brave. Build up top class professional organisations.Politicians do not go down and fix things when they go wrong. But they are ready to take the credit when there is success.
Prime Minister said yesterday that his response to Kandhar would have been like the response to 26/11 in Bombay. The Government role in managing 26 / 11 was “so good” that home minister and chief minister had to resign after that. Hostage situation is to be handled depending on situation. Kandhar was pre 911 and BJP should be proud that the loss of life was to minimum. Even a country like Israel, exchanges thousands of prisoners to get one captured soldier back.BJP government did things in 6 years which Congress did not do in 40 years. For example lower interest rates, high GDP growth, privatization of public sectors without any protests, lower deficit, resolving issues like Jharkhand and creating states like Uttarakhand, Chattisgadh without fuss, increase in foreign exchange, not dissolving state Governments except one bad episode in Bihar, respecting common minimum program and not attempting to build temple in spite of pressure by RSS,The current Government for four and half years was a complete failure. Look at assembly episodes of Goa and Jharkhand, promising TRS a separate state but not keeping the promise, populist majors like waiving of farmers loan and not raising fuel prices when crude prices were going up resulting in huge deficits, inflation, bringing back strikes in vogue, tolerating violence by MNS and serial terror incidents. Prime minister should ask votes on his performance and not on unending theme that BJP is communal. This is crucial election for India . Either, Congress will be voted back to power resulting in India being back to single party / formation politics of post independence era or BJP will be voted to power signaling to political parties, vote bank politics only is not going to work and country migrates to politics of performance.
It appears that PM and Rahul has no other issues other than to discuss and question Mr.Advani. At least they should pay heed to what Priyanka advises to Modi" Instaed of Buriya and Gudiya" there are issues like poverty, development and Terrorism.
As a man of action and inegrity Mr Advani has nothing much to show,be it a new economic policy,reforms,computerisation,nrega,farm loan waiver,direct tax reforms.Sad as it is 1992,gujrat,kandhhar,parliment,and secular jinnah.Mr Advani has the wrong side of history with him.
Kandhar kandhar Kandhar...What whould you do when more than 150 people of your Country kiddnaped and held in a terorist country where you have no chance of millitery action.Advani did the right at that time.Mr.MMS tell us what you have done after 26/11 till now except to praise minourities(Muslims) in India?
Digging of Kandahar episode will not elevate the prestige of our country and the dignity of congress party Trinity as well. Why these congress leadres raking up the forgotten wounds which will make them cheaper. And moreover PM should not indulge in personal attack as they are not ready for any constructive debate with Mr. Advani so they are taking him personally. Does the PM think whether this enhances his prestige.With this he is trying to appease his Congress colleagues. For Sonia if she talks less then it is better. She is not a right person. She knows only excersing the authority that is taken from PM indirectly. And Mr. Rahul has to learn before making any comments on elderly people. That is the respect the Hindu commuity and India will give to the elders. What is the greatness of Rahul and Priyanka except with qualification that they are Indira family and keeping a tag Gandhi. Please remove the Gandhi tag from your names and come into the public and give the best services to the countrymen so that you people get acceptance from all the parties and the citizens.
Even a child in India knows that MMS government survived by paying huge bribes to MPs at the time of the recent Vote of Confidence. So much for an "honest" P.M.
What is this mud slingingh, going on beteween rival politicians and supporters going to do for the country and its future. Get your politicians to talk of their plans for the future and how they propose to impliment them and how will they benifit the country. Most of all how they propose to pay for them Ask them how they plan to fight terror and what plans they have for a nationwide anti terrorist force and its set up.
This so called Trinity in congress is a joke. They are there only to retain their hold on the Delhi throne, by hook or by crook. Mostly by crook. As one post says, he was partying in a farm house whole night when HUNDREDS OF people were being mowed down by Kasab and company. By the way, Rahul Gandhi was arrested at Boston's Logan airport in the company of a friend and with US dollars 1,60,000/= in his pocket, undeclared to the customs of course, which is a criminal offence in the US! what kind of a PM will this wimp of a man make?
Saving the hostages was an ALL PARTY decision .NO ONE OPPOSED . Even in 04 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS it was not an issue . Now to counter the criticism against `compromised' actions like delaying execution of Supreme Court's order in Afzal Guru's case for the fear of losing muslim votes and the 26/11 mess up , party in power is trying to take advantage of shortness of public memory . Besides the first-time voter wouldn't have been reading newspapers when the episode occurred. CHIDAMBRAM the present Home Minister has not fallen for the rhetoric of the `Congress Parivar' probably because he is not a dyed in wool congressite.
My simple question to MMS is why is there an unanimous perception that he is a puppet P.M. and that Sonia wields real power. Why did none of the journlists ask him this qustion in the Mumbai press conference?