Amidst mounting pressure, Deshmukh offers to quit

Monday, December 01, 2008(Mumbai) : As the pressure over government mounts after Mumbai attacks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has offered to quit.

According to sources, he has sent his resignation to party high command, but not to the Governor, which is the norm.

Thus, the process could take a few days as there is no formal acceptance yet.

As the reports of Deshmukh's ouster gains ground, three names are doing rounds who may replace him -- Prithviraj Chavan, Sushil Kumar Shinde and the dark horse Ashok Chavan.

However, there is some confusion on the issue of successor as according to reports, NCP is objecting to Prithviraj Chavan's name.

According to sources, Deshmukh's visit to the Taj along with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma made the Congress leadership furious leading to this juncture.

Earlier, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who was in the cross hairs in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, also resigned on Monday.

"I have submitted my resignation letter to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. I have gone by my conscience and decided to take this step," Patil said.

On Sunday, Shivraj Patil who had been under tremendous pressure to quit, both from within and outside the party, resigned as Home Minister.

India to maintain growth of 7.5 % despite recession: PM

Jaipur, Dec 01: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said despite economic recession and the difficult situation in western countries, India's growth rate would be maintained at around 7.5 percent in 2008-09.

The last quarter's report of the current FY has indicated that India recorded 7.6 percent growth, the Prime Minister told a gathering of intellectuals, businessmen, academicians and the media, organised on the eve of the assembly polls at the Subodh College ground here.

Economic crisis was looming all over the world due to the recession that started in the US and Europe, and India was not an exception to it, the PM said, adding "we are not untouched by (the) economic crisis".

Some western countries' economic growth rate was negative and recession was hovering there, Singh said, adding the Central government had taken measures to face the crisis.

"Our export, industry and credit availability would bear the minimum effect due to the Centre's steps to face the economic challenge and recover from it," he said.

"In such a tough situation, you need a government that understands economic issues better," he said, adding it was only the Congress that had the experience and capability to handle "complex economic issues".

"You may recall that in the 1990s the Centre faced the challenge of economic crisis successfully ... in the present situation too we have controlled inflation ... I believe while casting your vote you will remember this factor too," he appealed.

Govt. will respond to threats with determination: Chidambaram

New Delhi: Taking over as Home Minister in the aftermath of the country's worst terror strikes in Mumbai, P Chidambaram on Monday said the Government would respond with "determination and resolve" to the "grave threats" posed to the country.

"This is a threat to the very idea of India, the very soul of India that we know, that we love -- secular, plural, tolerant and open society. I have no doubt that ultimately the idea of India will triumph," he told reporters soon after assuming office.

Chidambaram, who succeeds Shivraj Patil and comes back to the Ministry after two decades, parried all questions saying he would hold a full-fledged press conference before weekend once he settles down.

"I want to assure the people of India that we will respond with determination and resolve to the grave threats posed to the Indian nation," he said.

Chidambaram, who was the Finance Minister in the UPA government since May, 2004, opened his brief interaction with the press saying he recognised that there was a "sense of anguish and deep shock" among the people of India.

"Like everyone I have heard the anguished voice of India over the last few days," he said noting that all political parties have separately and together declared that there is and there will be unity of purpose in dealing with the situation.

"I welcome the sense of purpose displayed at the all party meeting summed up by the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh)," he said.

On his first day as the Home Minister, Chidambaram held meetings with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and senior officials of the Ministry.

He said in the next day or two he would familiarise himself with various issues pending in the Ministry and sought cooperation, help and support of the people of India, state governments and various organisations.

To a question how he looked at his first stint in the Home Ministry handling internal security during the Rajiv Gandhi government and the prevailing security situation, he said "I am older today. Whether I am wiser, it is for you to say..."

Asked whether India had lodged a protest with Pakistan in the aftermath of Mumbai terror strike, Chidambaram said he could not answer the specific question.

Congress not politicising terror: PM

Hanumangarh (Raj), Dec 01: Emphasising that Congress is not into "politicising" terror, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday sought cooperation of all political parties in fighting the "serious problem" of terrorism.

Addressing an election rally here, the Prime Minister asked countrymen to rise above religious and linguistic differences to fight the menace.

"I want to tell you that Congress will not indulge in politicising of terrorism. I wish all parties should join hands to help fight terrorism," Singh said.

Noting that terrorism is a "serious problem" faced by the country, he said this was the time for the country to think above religious, linguistic and regional differences.

"This is the time to prove that no matter whichever state we are from, whichever religion we belong to, whatever is our language and whatever our customs and practices, we are first Hindustanis," the Prime Minister said.

Ashok Todi sent to judicial custody till Dec 12

Kolkata, December 01, 2008: Prime accused in the Rizwanur Rahman death case, Ashok Todi, on Monday was sent to judicial custody till December 12 after he surrendered before a city court in Kolkata on the direction of the Supreme Court.

Todi, who had allegedly been evading arrest for some time, had moved the Supreme Court challenging an arrest warrant issued by the metropolitan magistrate at Bankshall Court. The apex court had directed him to surrender before the magistrate.

Todi's counsel Pradip Ghosh prayed for bail plea before magistrate Madhumita Roy claiming that he was ill and had been exonerated of any accusation by Rizwanur, whose body was found beside railway tracks in September last year, a month after he married the industrialist's daughter, Priyanka.

He stated that as per the last letter of Rizwanur before his alleged suicide, the computer graphics teacher had stated "I forgive my father-in-law Ashok Todi because he is a father."

CBI counsel Partha Tapaswi opposed the bail plea submitting that Todi was the main accused and as such should not be given bail.

Appearing for Rizwanur's mother, Kishwar Jahan, counsel Kalyan Banerjee made an impassionate plea opposing the bail petition.

The magistrate, on conclusion of the arguments, reserved her judgement and is likely to pass the order later in the day.