Narendra Modi writes to chief ministers to reject anti-communal violence Bill.

Reject anti-communal violence Bill, Narendra Modi writes to chief ministers

FIle photo: Narendra Modi at an election rally in Jammu. (AFP)

Deepshikha Ghosh | NDTV | New Delhi | December 06, 2013::   Narendra Modi has written to Chief Ministers urging them to oppose the Centre's Bill to check communal violence, on a day the Prime Minister rebutted his criticism and asserted that the proposed law was not a "vote-catching gimmick."

"It is important for all chief ministers to rise beyond political affiliations and come together to oppose the Bill, which is nothing but a blatant attempt by the Centre to interfere with the powers of state governments," Mr Modi, who is running for Prime Minister, appealed to chief ministers including Maharashtra's Prithivraj Chavan, who belongs to the Congress.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh defended the Bill, saying it would "help control aberrations created by communal strife."

Dr Singh was reacting to the Gujarat Chief Minister's letter to him, which described the Bill as a "recipe for disaster". Mr Modi's BJP alleges that the Bill is being rushed by a government motivated by vote-bank politics ahead of the national election due by May.

A revised version of the bill, circulated among parties, no longer assumes that only a member of a minority group can be the victim of communal violence, a provision that the BJP had opposed strongly, saying it was biased against one community. 

The Bill had been opposed by states who called it an infringement on their rights, as it allows the Centre to directly intervene in riot-hit areas. Many regional parties say even the new version of the Bill impedes the right of state governments to maintain law and order. 

After Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and Mr Modi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also written to the Prime Minister opposing the anti-communal violence Bill.

The government plans to introduce the Bill in this session of parliament, which ends on December 20 and is seen as the last window to push through important legislation before the general election. [Courtesy: NDTV , AFP].

2014 polls: Narendra Modi is a challenge, says PM, Manmahon Singh.

2014 polls: PM says he is taking Narendra Modi's challenge very seriously

PTI | New Delhi | December 6, 2013:: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday disagreed with those in the Congress who were dismissive of the challenge posed by Narendra Modi but asserted that the party would approach the 2014 Lok Sabha polls with self-confidence, irrespective of the results of the just concluded elections in five states.

"As it is an organised party, we cannot underestimate the power of Opposition to unsettle the ship of the state.

Therefore, I am one of those who take very seriously our opponents. There is no room for complacency," he said.

The Prime Minister was answering questions after delivering the keynote address at an event in Delhi.

Earlier in his address, Singh also criticised those who try to accuse the entire political class of being corrupt and spread cynicism.

"Over the past two years, some well meaning and concerned citizens tried to spread cynicism by accusing the entire political class of being corrupt and anti-people. Many began to suggest that democracy had not served India well. They attacked the institution of Parliament by refusing to respect Parliament's judgement," he said while asking the people to look at the "big picture".

Exit polls have predicted rout for Congress in the assembly polls to Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh when counting of votes takes place on Sunday.

Counting of votes for Mizoram will also take place the same day.

Notwithstanding the poll projections, the Prime Minister said, "Congress party is going to the elections with the spirit of self-confidence and that should not be mistaken whatever may be the outcome of the provinical elections.

He was asked about different views among his cabinet colleagues, one of whom has stated that the challenge posed by Modi should be taken seriously while another has dismissed the challenge posed by BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

Read the full report. Click Here>> Courtesy: India Today.

Modi a challenge, says PM

GAURAV VIVEK BHATNAGAR | The Hindu | NEW DELHI | December 6, 2013:: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi did pose a challenge to the Congress and “there is no room for complacency.”

Dr. Singh was responding to a query if Mr. Modi is indeed a challenge the Congress should take very seriously, during the “Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here.

“As an organised political party, we cannot underestimate the power of opposition to unsettle the ship of the State. Therefore I am one of those who take very seriously our opposition, there is no room for complacency,” he said.

The Congress, he said, “is going into elections with a spirit of self-confidence and that should not be mistaken whatever may be the outcome of the Assembly elections.”

To a query on the need for and timing of the Communal Violence Bill, Dr. Singh said: “it is not a vote catching gimmick.” He declared that it was a bill “whose time had come.” He noted how in the last five or six years, the country was grappling with the problem of communal riots in one or the other part. In particular, the Prime Minister made a mention of the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar. “It was a reminder that although as a country we can take pride in our ability to protect all people of our country, yet there are times when that did not happen,” he said.

Read the full report. Click Here>> Courtesy: The Hindu.