Controversey surrounds Rahul Gandhi’s MPhil

The Congress party on Thursday served a legal notice to The New Indian Express for publishing what it called “wild allegations and sly insinuations” on the educational qualifications of party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.

“Deeply distressed by your wild allegations, sly insinuations and self-serving innuendos, all premised on complete falsehoods and steeped in malice, a notice is being issued,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters at the AICC headquarters in the capital.

LS Polls 2009: One pricey affair!

The world, including India, maybe facing a severe economic crisis but it seems that the Indian political parties are immune to the global economic slowdown. According to a recently released survey of Centre for Media Studies, around Rs 10,000 crores (USD 2 billion) will be spent on Lok Sabha Polls 2009. This does not include the cost of conducting assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

What is surprising here is that the amount to be spent (USD 2 billion) is more than what US President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates spent on their campaigns.

Biggest ever loot of hard earned public money

Does it appeal to reason that against Rs. 700 crore of investment the nation should pay over Rs. 24,000 crore?

If such are the rates, it will be better that Govt make lumpsum payment to the contractor by levying another cess of a rupee or two on every litre of petrol/diesel sold in the NCR to defray these expenses.

Historical photos of Nehru’s US visit

Photograph of President Truman shaking hands with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India upon Nehru’s arrival at Washington National Airport, while Indira Gandhi disembarks from the President’s airplane, “The Independence”.

Uma Bharti’s letter to Advani

Bharatiya Janashakti Party leader Uma Bharti declared last week that she wholeheartedly supported BJP leader L K Advani’s bid to become the next prime minister.

In a letter to the veteran BJP leader, Bharti wrote that in the context of present political scenario, internal and external challenges that India faces, he is the best suited person to lead the country.

Sardar Patel’s letter to Nehru on Tibet

There are different views on the Indian policy towards China and the Tibet issue. I will write more on that some other day. I have reproduced here the letter written by then Deputy Prime Minister of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on November 7, 1950 on Tibet issue.

The letter throws light on the thought process of the Indian government vis-a-vis Tibet and China in the initial years after the independence.

Sharif’s US visit during Kargil conflict

On July 2, 1999 Sharif called President Clinton and requested him to intervene. The President also consulted with then Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee who clearly stated that India will not negotiate “under the threat of aggression” and that withdrawal of Pakistani forces was essential.

Sharif again called President Clinton on July 3 and told him that he was ready to come to Washington. The President warned him that without agreeing to withdraw Pakistani forces behind the LoC, the visit will not yield any results. Sharif told him that he was coming to the US on July 4.