Guj govt merchants of death: Sonia
Palash Biswas

Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
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Guj govt merchants of death: Sonia
Navsari: Describing Gujarat's BJP Government as "merchants of fear and death", Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday questioned the saffron party's claim that the poll-bound state had witnesses development under its rule.
"The crime against women are increasing and anti-social elements feel secure as they are getting state protection. Today the rulers of Gujarat are merchants of fear and death," she said.
Addressing a public meeting at village Jamanpada in Chikli (ST reserved) Assembly constituency in this district, Congress President Sonia Gandhi made an indirect dig at the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi when she said that a state does not progress through printing of advertisements and display of coins.
People of Gujarat want a government that does not break hearts but works to join them. "I know that the people in Gujarat are impatient for a change. A sensitive government is needed in Gujarat that can take care of all sections of people, including adivasis. I have come to seek your mandate (janadesh) so that Gujarat is once again a peaceful and progressive state," Sonia Gandhi said.
This is the only chance where you can cast your vote and bring peace to Gujarat to make it a state of prosperity and equality, Sonia said. "I am sure on the day of elections Congress would get majority and will usher in a new future for Gujarat." The Congress President arrived at the venue of the rally in a helicopter.
She was accompanied by Union Textiles Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, Gujarat Pradesh Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki and Opposition Leader in the Assembly Arjun Modhavadia.
Tehelka expose claims a victim in BJP
Calcutta News.Net
Friday 30th November, 2007 (IANS)
The Tehelka expose on the Gujarat violence seems to have taken its first toll in the run up to the assembly elections in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Godhra BJP legislator Haresh Bhatt has been denied the party ticket to contest the December ballot. Besides facing anti-incumbency and rebellion in the local unit, Bhatt was one of the prominent faces caught on the Tehelka tapes released in October.
Bhatt had reportedly talked about manufacturing and acquiring arms for use against Muslims in the riots that followed the burning of the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express Feb 27, 2002, at Godhra.
The BJP has nominated a state minister, Prabhatsinh Chauhan, to contest from Godhra, which has a lot of symbolic political relevance. Bhatt has been a former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader.
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BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu is known for his attacking batting style and also for his one-liners known as 'Sidhuisms'.
The MP from Amritsar has often raised the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots while campaigning in the western lands of Saurashtra.
Swinging an imaginary cricket bat as if he is about to send the opposition for a six, he makes liberal use of 'Sidhuisms' as was seen in Amreli district.
He has particularly been harsh on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, whom he refers to as 'Rahul Baba'. Sidhu has been saying: 'Rahul Baba says the Gujarat riots would not have taken place had there been a Gandhi ruling Gujarat at that time. I say the 1984 riots would never have taken place had there been an Atal Behari Vajpayee ruling India at that time.'
Sidhu praises Chief Minister Narendra Modi sky high. 'Modi has led Gujarat like a true leader over the last seven years and he is sure to lead the state for at least 17 more years.'
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Do minority votes count? In Gujarat they definitely seem to be counting a lot. The reason is that a very large number of Muslims will be going for Haj when the elections take place Dec 11 and 16.
According to reports, at least 1.6 million devout Muslims will be flying to Jeddah from Gujarat over the next 10 days. A large number of them are voters. It is a good guess as to who will be losing those precious votes.