Gujarat state chief minister Narendra Modi, standing left on vehicle, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh wave to supporters during Foundation Day celebrations of the party in Ahmadabad, India, Saturday, April 6, 2013. The main opposition Hindu nationalist party last week elevated Modi, a deeply divisive figure in Indian politics, to the party's top decision-making bodies, with his supporters believing he could become prime minister in national elections next year.
US Ambassador to India Nancy Jo Powell (L) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh (R) pose at his residence in New Delhi on March 25, 2013. Powell congratulated Rajnath Singh upon his recent election as BJP president.
New Delhi: BJP President Rajnath Singh today demanded that the two Italian marines involved in the killing of Indian fishermen should be declared absconders and efforts should be made to apprehend them with the help of Interpol.
The two Italian marines who had killed two innocent Indian fishermen on the Kerala coast should be declared absconders by our government. India should also make efforts to arrest them with the help of Interpol as they have broken the law and should be brought to book, Singh told PTI.
6.51 pm: Rajnath Singh questions Prime Minister's aggression
Grudging respect from BJP President Rajnath Singh for the Prime Minister? In the last nine years I have never seen so much attacking sentiment from the Prime Minister, he said.
Ah but no. I believe that before a flame goes out it burns brightest. Indicates his govt is to come to an end soon he adds. Nice counter but Manmohan Singh still takes the day. To be honest, the attack from the usually placid Prime Minister must come as such a surprise that no one can really counter him effectively.
Is it the desperate aggression of a cornered man with his back to the wall, or is this a fighting speech from someone who will lead his party to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and is no ones 'night watchman'?
The pundits are out, but only time will tell.
In the meantime the Prime Minister will undoubtedly bask in this unexpected triumph.
Overheard in the newsroom: Maybe he saw #Breakthestereotype trending on Twitter!
6.50 pm: Kuch to majburiya rahi hongi, warna koi yuhi bewafa nahi hota,says Sushma
A stung Sushma Swaraj rises to counter the Prime Minister with two poems. We didn't catch the first poem, but the second one said, Kuch to majburiya rahi hongi, warna koi yuhi bewafa nahi hota.
The only comment by speaker Meira Kumar is that with Swaraj's two poems, the Prime Minister is now one short, prompting much laughter and thumping of benches.
Fearing another poetry session perhaps, Kumar disallows other MPs from countering the PMs speech much to their anger. Lots of protests punctuated by 'bhaith jaiye' - a good session all round we say.
6.40 pm: New leaders of China want to strengthen relations with China says PM
Sri Lanka done with, the Prime Minister turns to China.
Boundary disputes should not come in the way of relations for mutual benefit with China.New leaders of China have told me that they would like to strengthen relations with India. The government is working in this direction.We have raised concerns over dams with China at every level. Have begun dialogue with China on trans-border rivers, he said.
Camera pans to Sushma Swaraj who looks disbelieving.
6.35 pm: PM says final decision on UNHRC vote against Sri Lanka will depend on final text
The Prime Minister brings up Sri Lanka, but still no word on whether or not the Indian government will vote for the resolution. Our final decision will depend on the text of the resolution, he said.
Strangely no catcalls or booing from the Tamil parties who have been clamouring for the centre to take a tough stance against the neighbouring country. Maybe they have already left for the day, or they were simply not listening?
The premier added that India had consistently asked for the implementation of the 13th amendment in Sri Lanka and the suggestions brought forward by the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission. I conveyed these sentiments to President Rajapaksa in September, he said.
Singh said that India would continue to remain engaged with Sri Lanka and take forward the process.
6.30 pm: PM pledges to ensure security of all women
The security of women which President Pranab Mukherjee paid special attention to during his speech has also found mention in Manmohan Singh's reply. Let me reiterate in this House the commitment of our govt. to ensuring the dignity, safety and security of every woman of this country.The Nirbhaya Fund of 1000 crore announced by the Finance Minister is further testimony of our Government's commitment.
Real and effective change in the status of women in our country can come only if there is a change in our societal values, he added.
6.23pm: Drama over, PM turns to the more serious subject of agriculture
The excitement over, the Prime Minister turns to his prepared speech. The fact that all this came extempore is even more amazing. The BJP national council meeting clearly affected him! Remember Narendra Modi called him the night watchman for Rahul Gandhi during the meet.
He turns his attention toagricultural growth and food storage capabilities. If we look at the MSP across various commodities, they have increased by 50 to 200 percent since 2004-05.
6.15 pm: PM slams 'arrogant' BJP and 'disastrous' India shining
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has found a voice and is slamming the main opposition party, the BJP in Parliament!
At first the premier lambasted the language used at the BJP National Council meeting against the meeting and said, I do not wish to reply in the same language.
Jo garajte hai, woh baraste nahi.We are not seeing this arrogance of the BJP for the first time. In 2004 the India Shining campaign yielded disastrous results, he added. Unsurprisingly this yielded roars of approval and table thumping from the treasury benches, while the opposition seems to be sitting in stunned silence. He added that the NDA would see a similarly disastrous performance given its continuing address.
Overheard in the newsroom: What was in his tea today?!!!
He added that the UPA economic performance had far exceeded that of the NDA tenure. On economic growth, the record is clear. The UPA Government, has delivered an average growth rate of 7.9% since it took office in 2009. This is the highest growth rate ever achieved by any Government over its tenure Even if the comparison is limited to the six years of the NDA Government, the growth was only 6 percent.
Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi President Vijaya Goyalo (L) garlands BJP President Rajnath Singh during a BJP National Council meeting in New Delhi on March 2, 2013. The two day BJP party meeting was held for the party to deliberate its road map in the run up to the next general elections in 2014, besides discussing the political and economic issues confronting the country.
India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh (L) garlands BJP Senior Leader Lal Krishna during a BJP National Council meeting in New Delhi on March 2, 2013. The two day BJP party meeting was held for the party to deliberate its road map in the run up to the next general elections in 2014, besides discussing the political and economic issues confronting the country.
