BJP allege pressure tactics from NCP

Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused Nationalist Congress Party of threatening voters by cutting water and electricity connections.

"In areas which did not vote for NCP, the State government is cutting the water connections in selective localities," alleged Madhav Bhandari, chief spokesperson for BJP’s Maharashtra unit.

The assembly elections in the State are likely to be held in October this year. Following a disastrous performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where the saffron alliance won 42 seats out of 48, the Congress-NCP government is facing a tough battle. As per the election results, the saffron alliance was ahead in over 220 assembly constituencies out of 288.

Mr. Bhandari said that people in parts of Satara, Sangli and Palghar constituencies are facing water and electricity cuts for over three days. "The housing societies dominated by Gujarati and Marwari communities are too facing the same problem," he claimed in a press conference.

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar was caught in a controversy before elections, after an audio clip he was heard threatening villagers. He had warned the villagers to vote for NCP candidate Supriya Sule or else to face water cuts.

Chopper scam: Governors facing controversies should quit, says Goa BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Goa on Friday demanded that the Governors who are facing questionable situations and have needle of suspicion pointed at them must voluntarily quit their posts.

Spokesperson of Goa BJP and a senior leader Dr. Wilfred Mesquita said that Governors must appreciate that they are not politicians and as such they are not considered “shameless” by public.

“The Governors who are facing any controversies should go by the call of their conscience and quit on their own to uphold the Constitutional sanctity of their posts,” said Dr. Mesquita.

Recently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had communicated to the Union Law Ministry that it wants to questions two Governors, M. K. Narayanan of West Bengal and B. V. Wanchoo of Goa as witnesses in connection with its probe in the VVIP helicopter deal. The investigation pertains to Rs. 360 crore bribe in the deal that was scrapped by the Government last year.

The BJP demand becomes significant in the contest of change of Government at the Centre and on the backdrop of latest information that Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran has cautioned the CBI against questioning the Governors even as witnesses pointing out that they enjoy constitutional immunity.

When asked if he is asking for Goa Governor Wanchoo to relinquish his post in that context, Dr. Mesquita told The Hindu on Friday morning, “I am not gunning for anybody, my observation is based on Supreme Court observations and all the information coming in the media about some Governors,” he said.

“Our party position is that gubernatorial positions are political appointments to non- political positions, and therefore, if there is something against them in public domain, they must not continue to occupy these positions,” he said.

Mr. Wanchoo took over as Goa Governor on May 4, 2012, soon after Bharatiya Janata Party-led government came to power in Goa in March, 2012.

Agusta guarantees: Defence Ministry to take steps to recover amount

After an Italian court partially lifted the freeze and allowed India to encash bank guarantees worth Rs. 1,818 crore deposited by AgustaWestland in the VVIP chopper deal, the Defence Ministry on Sunday said it will take “immediate steps” to fully recover the amount.

The Italian court on May 23 allowed India to recover Rs. 1,818 crore of the Rs. 2,217 crore deposited in Italian banks by AgustaWestland in the chopper deal.

“The Milan court, in its judgement has substantially upheld the claims of Indian government against AgustaWestland International Ltd (AWIL), AW Spa and Deutsche Bank, Italy on the encashment of bank guarantees and performance bond in the VVIP helicopter case.

“The court also ordered AWIL and A W Spa to reimburse legal costs of Government of India. The Defence Ministry is studying the order and will take immediate steps to recover the amounts fully,” a Defence Ministry release said.

After the Rs. 3,600 crore deal was cancelled on January 1 this year, India had initiated the process to seize bank guarantees deposited in banks in Italy and India.

While the money deposited in Indian banks was encashed, the Italian court had stayed the process of seizure in that country.

India has been working on procedures to claim more than  € 650 million (about Rs. 5,470 crore) from the company in the form of seizure of bank guarantees and imposing penalties.

India scrapped the contract on January 1 over allegations of bribery and payment of kickbacks in the contract worth Rs. 3,600 crore for supplying 12 AW-101 choppers.

The Defence Ministry had also initiated the process to blacklist the firm but the Solicitor General advised it to “wait” before taking any action in this regard in view of the ongoing probes in the case in both India and Italy.

Naidu meets Modi

TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday met Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi as government formation talks continue before the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow.

Amid reports that Mr. Naidu is seeking cabinet berths for his MPs, the TDP met Mr. Modi here in Gujarat Bhawan and the meeting lasted for over 30 minutes after which Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister-designate left without talking to media.

Mr. Naidu had yesterday met BJP President Rajnath Singh at his residence.

“We are joining the government. TDP was part of four non-Congress governments at the Centre. We would be part of NDA as well,” he had stated, but did not say how many cabinet berths his party would get in the central government to be headed by Mr. Modi.

Leaders of NDA allies like TDP, Akali Dal and LJP, are also likely to be included in the Council of Ministers.

TDP, which faced the elections in alliance with BJP, won 16 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh. The party is also forming the government in residual Andhra Pradesh.

Pakistan frees 59 Indian fishermen ahead of Sharif’s Delhi visit

In a goodwill gesture, Pakistan on Sunday freed 59 Indian fishermen, a day ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to India to attend Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.

Syed Nazir Hussain, the superintendent of the Malir jail in Karachi, told PTI that the Indian prisoners were released on written directives of the interior and foreign ministries.

“Most of these prisoners are poor Indian fishermen who were arrested and brought here for trespassing into Pakistani territorial waters,” he said.

The freed prisoners were taken in an air-conditioned bus from Karachi to Wagah border in Lahore from where they will be handed over to Indian authorities.

Some of the freed prisoners told Geo News channel that they were delighted to be going back to their families.

“We were treated well and not as serious criminals but everyone wants to go home to their families,” one prisoner said.

Initial reports had said around 150 Indian prisoners would be freed.

Last year in August, Pakistan had released around 337 Indian prisoners from jails. Later on Diwali also, 15 Indian fishermen were released as a goodwill gesture.

Pakistan maritime security forces frequently arrest Indian fishermen and seize their boats for fishing in its territorial waters.

According to Indian activists, at present around 229 Indian fishermen and about 780 Indian boats are in the custody of Pakistan.

In addition to this, 23 boats of Indian fishermen had been confiscated just during the ongoing fishing season.

Similarly, around 200 Pakistani fishermen with 150 boats were with India, according to compiled figures.

Uncertainty on TMC, CPI(M) attending Modi’s swearing-in

The question that is getting debated in the local media and inside the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is whether the Chief Minister or any of her envoys will attend the oath taking ceremony of BJP leaders on May 26 in New Delhi. When contacted, TMC general secretary Mukul Roy told The Hindu here on Wednesday that "the party is yet to decide on whether to attend the ceremony or not.”

TMC chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces a two way compulsion over the issue of her party’s attendance in Narendra Modi’s oath taking ceremony. Observers of Bengal politics feel, Ms. Banerjee is stuck between the proverbial "devil and the deep blue sea." Ms. Banerjee needs financial assistance from the Center owing to poor health of State's economy and she has reasons to visit Delhi and attend the ceremony. On the other hand TMC may face the risk of loosing the minority votes in the upcoming civic polls, if the party chief shares "public space", commentators feel.

TMC’s final decision in this regard may have some repercussion on the future of the State’s relation with the Centre. Ms. Banerjee has repeatedly claimed over last several months that her party will be a determining factor in the formation of the next government at the Centre and West Bengal will not go to New Delhi for financial help and "instead Delhi will come to West Bengal." But with the BJP getting a majority on its own it is rather unlikely that TMC will have any role to play at the Centre. BJP President Rajnath Singh however said that if the BJP forms the government it would provide a special financial package to West Bengal in tune with Ms. Banerjee’s long standing demand. In this context it remains to be seen what decision TMC takes in this regard.

The CPI(M) also is yet to decide whether to attend the oath taking ceremony or not. When contacted CPI(M) Central Committee member and the party’s MP from the Raiganj constituency said “we have not yet deliberated on the matter yet. The party will probably discuss it tomorrow (Thursday).”

BJP delighted at Sharif’s nod, Congress wants terror issues raised

BJP on Saturday expressed “delight” at Nawaz Sharif’s decision to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, while Congress asked the new government to raise issues such as cross-border terrorism, slow pace of trial of 26/11 attacks and handing over of Dawood Ibrahim with the Pakistan premier.

“This is a delightful piece of news that Pakistan Prime Minister has accepted Narendra Modi’s invitation...this is the beginning of a new relationship. It is good news,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said here.

Congress, on the other hand, reacted cautiously to the development.

Outgoing Union minister Manish Tewari reminded that BJP has maintained all along that terror and talks cannot go together.

He hoped that after assuming office, the BJP government would raise the issue of slow pace of trail of 26/11 attacks — an issue “which had been troubling them.”

He added that the issue of people like Hafiz Saeed should also be raised.

“They have also periodically been raising the issue of the return of Dawood Ibrahim, who allegedly is being sheltered by the establishment in Pakistan. So, we hope that BJP remains true to the position it has taken over the past ten years and raises these issues with the Prime Minister of Pakistan when he comes to India,” Mr. Tewari said.

Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said, “Photo opportunities are okay, but in the euphoria of coronation, Modi should not compromise national interest.

“According to BJP, terror modules and Dawood are still active in Pakistan,” he stated.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted welcoming the Mr. Sharif’s decision.

“Very glad to hear Pak PM has accepted invite, shows that he can prevail over forces inimical to good relations with India,” he said.

But at the same time, he said he couldn’t help feel sorry for others taking oath or attending the ceremony “because the only photo-op that will matter now will be the Modi-Sharif handshake.”