Narendra Modi's election campaign kicks off on Advani's rath today

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will begin his month-long yatra from the religious town of Becharaji in north Gujarat today, which will cover major parts of the state.

Interestingly, the name of Mr Modi's yatra is Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra, which will begin on the day when spiritual leader Swami Vivekanada made his historic speech at the Chicago Conference of World Religions, 150 years ago.

Billed as a beginning of his electoral campaign, the rath yatra will cover all the districts of the state. Interestingly, Mr Modi will move in the same rath which was used by senior party leader LK Advani during last year's jan chetna yatra.

Mr Modi is seen as a favourite to win yet another election, but this time around he faces numerous issues including the emergence of Gujarat Parivartan Party, led by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, and also the huge response to Congresses free housing scheme for women which seem to have rattled the chief minister.

Becharji has been chosen as a starting point as Maruti will construct its new car plant near the temple town and the yatra will also talk about development of the state, BJP spokesperson Vijay Rupani said.

The last time Mr Modi undertook a similar exercise was in 2002 when he took out his Gaurav Rath Yatra, ahead of the Assembly polls and after his resounding victory in the post-Godhra riots case. He returned to power with a thumping majority.

(With PTI inputs)

Nitish Kumar vs Narendra Modi heats up for Gujarat elections

Ahmedabad: In the elections in Gujarat, the BJP will find itself in competition in 100 seats against its own ally, Nitish Kumar's party, the Janata Dal United or JD(U).

"There are some districts where we will contest on our own," said the JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav, in what will be seized by many as the latest installment of tension in an increasingly-unsteady partnership. In the last elections in Gujarat, the JD(U) contested 30 seats. This time, it will put up its own candidates in 100 constituencies. Mr Kumar dodged questions today about whether he will campaign in Gujarat, a move that would pit him against his counterpart there, chief minister Narendra Modi.

In Bihar, Mr Kumar runs the government with the BJP, but his thinly-veiled opposition to Mr Modi has been peaking lately amid discussions about the next general election. Mr Modi, who is up for re-election soon, has prime ministerial ambitions and is often seen as one of the most popular leaders of the BJP. In a series of interviews, Mr Kumar has said that his party will not support any candidate for PM who does not have secular values.

In the last state and general elections in Bihar, Mr Kumar made it clear to the BJP that Mr Modi could not be brought in for rallies and campaigns. 18% of Bihar's population is Muslim, a vote-bank loyal to Mr Kumar.

The BJP has vacillated between talking tough with Mr Kumar, and suggesting that his opinion will be taken into account before the party decides on its choice for Prime Minister. While some leaders have said Mr Kumar's advise and assessment of secularism is not needed, BJP president Nitin Gadkari told NDTV recently that the party has not yet decided on its nominee for Prime Minister.

Over the weekend, the Shiv Sena, one of the BJP's oldest allies, said it favours the BJP's Sushma Swaraj for Prime Minister, a surprise announcement that is likely to add to the much-discussed infighting within the BJP's senior ranks.

From: NDTV

Naroda case: Quantum of sentence to be pronounced today

Ahmedabad: A special court will pronounce the quantum of punishment for 32 convicts in the 2002 post-Godhra Naroda Patiya riots case today.

BJP MLA and former minister in the Narendra Modi government Maya Kodnani and Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi are among the 32 people convicted by a special court in the Naroda Patiya riots case on Wednesday, in which, 97 people belonging to the minority community were killed.

Special court judge Jyotsana Yagnik convicted them on charges of conspiracy and murder in the case, even as 29 other accused were acquitted.

 Ms Kodnani, a three-time MLA from Naroda area, who was considered to be close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is the first woman and first MLA to be convicted in a post-Godhra riots case.

Ms Kodnani and Mr Bajrangi were held guilty under sections 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC and the prosecution sought the maximum punishment of death sentence for all the convicts.

During the arguments on the quantum of sentence, lawyers of Ms Kodnani and other convicts had sought leniency from the court.

Among the 2002 riots cases probed by the Special Investigation Team or SIT, in which rulings have come, Naroda is the only case, where convicts (32) outnumber those acquitted (29).

In the Godhra train carnage case, court had convicted 31 and acquitted 63. In Sardarpura case, court had convicted 31 and acquitted 42, while in Dipda Darwaja case 22 had been convicted and 61 acquitted.

From: NDTV

Naroda Patiya riots case: Former BJP minister Maya Kodnani among 32 convicted

Ahmedabad: Ten years after a mob killed 95 people in Naroda Patiya, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad during the 2002 riots, a special court today convicted 32 people, including former BJP minister Mayaben Kodnani and Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, for the carnage. The special court in Ahmedabad also acquitted 29 people. The quantum of sentence will be announced on Friday.

Ms Kodnani and Mr Bajrangi have been held guilty of murder under Section 302, and of criminal conspiracy under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The maximum sentence under these sections is the death penalty. This is the first time that a former minister has been convicted in a Gujarat riots case.

"It's a great verdict, we would have liked many more convicted but let's hope that truth and justice will finally prevail," said one of the victims.

 Public prosecutor Akhil Desai said the charge of criminal conspiracy has been proved and no leniency should be shown to the guilty. Mr Desai told reporters that the guilty were charged for rioting, murder, arson and attack on a religious structure, adding that he would argue for "imprisonment for life" for the guilty.

Welcoming the verdict, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said the judgement enhances faith of the people in the legal system. "Every time this kind of inhuman act is made accountable, people who are responsible should feel a sense of reprimand. Those who wait for justice want to hear that the scales of justice have finally shown that rule of law prevails in the country," Mr Khurshid  told reporters in New Delhi.

"It has been proved now that BJP's minister and officials were involved in the Gujarat riots. Everything that happened was at the behest of Narendra Modi," said Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

The conviction of Ms Kodnani, believed to be close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has left the state's BJP government on the defensive, just months ahead of assembly elections.  "An MLA is not a state government functionary as you are trying to say. Maya was not a minister when this incident took place. We don't have the judgement before us, so won't be able to say anything. She is a party functionary. The moment she was summoned for interrogations, she ceased to be a minister. And at the time it took place, she was not a minister," said Gujarat Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas.

A practising doctor, Ms Kodnani was the Minister for Women and Child Development in the Narendra Modi-government between 2007 and 2009 when she was arrested by  the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

On February 28, 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning incident, a rioting mob had attacked Naroda Patiya with guns, bombs and machettes, killing 95 Muslims. The incident took place during a bandh call given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The case was first investigated by the Gujarat Police, but in 2009, the Supreme Court appointed a SIT to probe ten cases, including the Naroda Patiya incident. The SIT registered cases against many of the accused, including the then Minister of Women and Child Development Mayaben Kodnani. Witnesses in Naroda Patiya have made statements alleging that Ms Kodnani had incited mobs.  Babu Bajrangi, the Bajrang Dal leader, was accused of leading the mob that attacked the Naroda Patiya victims.

As many as 327 witnesses were examined by the court. Of the 64 people accused in the case, three died during trial. The remaining 61 accused were tried for murder, arson and rioting. Most of them were out on bail.

(With inputs from Agencies)

2002 Gujarat riots: Verdict in Naroda Patiya case likely today

Ahmedabad: Almost a decade after 95 people were killed in one of the worst 2002 Gujarat riots cases, a special court in Ahmedabad is expected to deliver its verdict today in the Naroda Patiya case against the 61 accused, including former BJP minister Maya Kodnani and former Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi.

On February 28, 2002 during the bandh call given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a rioting mob had attacked Naroda Patiya, killing 95 Muslims.

"What was the fault of people of Naroda Patiya? What wrong had small children done that they were killed mercilessly?" questions Shakeela Bano, a Naroda Patiya riot victim, who is still haunted by images of her children being brutally murdered.

With communal riots were fast spreading across Gujarat, a day after a coach of the Sabarmati Express was set on fire, Shakeela, her husband, her mother, two children and others were praying the mayhem would not reach Naroda Patiya in Ahmedabad.

Then, during the VHP sponsored bandh, a murderous mob attacked the area. For almost the entire day they tried escaping the mob's fury, pleading for mercy. But they weren't spared; eight members of her family were killed.

"We only want those who have committed this heinous act should be punished. Imagine how innocent people were killed mercilessly. What was their fault? Punish those who were responsible for Godhra, be it Muslims or Hindus," said Shakeela.

95 innocent lives were lost in the carnage. Many were burnt alive.

Shopkeeper Nazeer Mohammad was lucky, but he is still trying to piece his life together. His family managed to escape the rioters, but their home, business and all their savings were gone in the anarchy that followed.

"They first took away whatever they could lay their hands on. My wife used to sell bangles from home... that was also looted... all valuables were taken away before they set the house afire," recalls Nazeer.

The case was first investigated by the Gujarat Police, but in 2009, the Supreme Court appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe ten cases including this incident.

The SIT registered cases against many accused including the then minister Mayaben Kodnani and arrested her. This was the first time a minister was arrested in a riot case. The Naroda Patiya victims had given statements stating that Ms Kodnani had incited mobs.

Of the 64 people accused, three died during trial. The remaining 61 accused were tried for murder, arson and rioting - most of them are out on bail.

Now, 10 years on, it's judgement day. And the victims of Naroda Patiya are hoping, justice will bring some closure.

From: NDTV

In Gujarat, government's promise for affordable housing triggers chaos

Ahmedabad: Chaos prevailed after thousands turned up at the Gujarat Housing Board (GHB) office in Ahmedabad on Moday morning to collect forms for its various housing schemes for lower and middle income groups at affordable rates.

The mad rush, triggered by the board officials promise to distribute forms, went out of control as the crowd gathered outside the office refused to leave without a clarification. Cops had to be called in to bring the situation under control.

Denying reports that the forms were to be distributed on Monday, the GHB officials said the distribution was still some days away. One of the officials said, "In the first phase, tenders will be floated for construction of over 6000 such units for lower middle income groups. Only after that the forms will be distributed."

But it failed to convince the people. One of the aspirants said, "If the report was incorrect they should have issued a rejoinder. They have cheated us. We had taken out time from our work and come here."

Both the ruling BJP and Congress have offered low cost housing scheme in the state ahead of the assembly polls next year. In an attempt to stop Narendra Modi's applecart, the Congress has launched a similar housing scheme for the poor women if they come to power next year. The BJP, looking for a third consecutive victory in the assembly polls, has raised questions over the legitimacy of such sops to win election. Ironically BJP too had promised free housing in their election manifesto in 2007, but it never materialised.

From: NDTV