PM’s post not vacant at the moment: Digvijay to Mayawati

New Delhi: Responding to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati's remark that Congress will make either Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar or Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde the Prime Minister to split the Dalit vote ahead of the UP assembly polls, party general secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday said that the PM's post is not vacant at the moment.

Talking to media persons, Digvijay Singh slammed Mayawati for her Rs 685  cr magnum opus park, which was inaugurated by her in Noida today, and said that the chief minister has wasted huge amount of public money.

Earlier, Mayawati accused the Congress of  trying to split the Dalit vote.

"Congress is trying to split the Dalit vote but they are unable to do anything. The party, despite Babu Jagjivan Ram being the right candidate for the Prime Minister, did not make him...

"Afraid of BSP's mass base, Congress may make either Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar or Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde as Prime Minister before the Assembly elections," she said inaugurating the controversial Dalit icon park.

Mayawati accused the Congress-led coalition at the Centre of not paying heed to the development of Uttar Pradesh as also her proposal to carve out separate states of Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal and Western Uttar Pradesh.

She also alleged the Centre was not providing the state's share from the central fund.

"Between 2007-08 to 2010-11, a total of Rs 21,385 crore is due with the central government, due to which many projects are stalled," Mayawati said, adding "even a special package demanded by me has been turned down by the Centre".

In 2007 UP assembly elections, Mayawati single handedly won the politically key state. The UP Chief Minister has never made secret of her ambition to become the first Dalit Prime Minister.

Rahul Gandhi special and only guest at Bhutan royal couple's reception

Thimphu: Two days after their fairy tale wedding, King Jigme Khesar Nagyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema were today accorded a ceremonial reception by the Royal Bhutan Army on their first visit post-marriage to the seat of government here, an event where Rahul Gandhi was the only guest.

As the dawn broke in the tiny Himalayan kingdom, the newly-wed walked hand-in-hand to the TashichhoDzong, the office of the King, along with a ceremonial procession of over 100 people, including traditional artistes and red-robe monks.

The couple got married on Thursday in a traditional Buddhist ceremony at an imposing monastic fortress in Punakha, 71 km from here, with Wangchuck crowning his childhood sweetheart Pema, who was educated in India.

Upon their arrival at the Dzong, the royal couple were received by the King's father Jigme Singye Wangchuck and chief monk of the country Je Khenpo. The 'Grand National Flag' was unfurled and the Guard of Honour presented.

The King and his Queen look fresh and relaxed despite making most of their 71-km journey from Punakha to Thimphu on foot yesterday as thousands of people lined up along the roads to greet them.

As thy ascended to the dais, around 50 soldiers of the Royal Bhutan Army marched and accorded Guard of Honour and presented the national flag to the royal couple, who touched it with their both hands.

The ceremony, as part of the royal traditions, was strictly a family and government affair except for the participation of Gandhi, the Congress MP from Amethi, whose family shares a close relationship with the Bhutan royals.

The importance that the royal family attached to the Nehru-Gandhi clan was evident from the fact that Rahul was accompanied to the huge monastic fortress by none other than the present King's father.

Rahul, whose father Rajiv Gandhi was a close friend of the present Bhutan King's father, was introduced to chief monk Je Khenpo and taken near the dais, where members of the royal family had been waiting for some time.

Clad in his trademark white kurta with a black jacket, the 41-year-old Congress leader welcomed the King and the Queen with a 'namaste' and even bowed for a while along with the members of the royal family as a mark of respect to the couple.

With a grand painting depicting Lord Buddha in different manifestations forming the background, the Bhutan army soldiers stood in attention as prayers were held and a ceremonial reception accorded to the couple.

After the brief ceremony, the couple were escorted to the Royal Chambers where the King ascended the Golden Throne and wore the Raven Crown followed by a series of prayers led by monks.

Throughout the nearly 30-minute ceremony, the young Nehru-Gandhi scion stood along with the members of the royal family and was seen chatting with them for almost 20 minutes as they waited for the couple to arrive.

Members of the royal family introduced Gandhi to senior government functionaries and others.

Attack on Prashant Bhushan a conspiracy, role of police should be probed: Kejriwal

New Delhi: Clarifying that Kashmir was an integral part of India and Team Anna’s focus is only on the issue of corruption, Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the Kashmir issue was used as a smokescreen for attacking senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

Bhushan was attacked inside his Supreme Court chamber a couple of days ago by three men, who claimed to be members different right wing organisations.

Talking to mediapersons here, Kejriwal said that the attack on Bhushan and the scuffle between Team Anna members and supporters of the three attackers outside the Patiala House Court on Thursday was part of a conspiracy to distract the attention of the peopke from the issue of corruption.

“Kashmir is an integral part of India. The Kashmir issue is a complicated one and should be resolved according to the Constitution,” Kejriwal said.

Denying any rift in Team Anna, Kejriwal rejected reports of Prashant Bhushan’s exit from Anna’s team and said that the lawyers remains an important part of the squad.

He also questioned the role of Delhi police during the whole Bhushan attack episode and demanded a probe into the matter.

Meanwhile, the three men who had launched an assault of Bhushan were granted bail by the court on Friday.

Shiv Sena's ultimatum to Team Anna: Sack Prashant Bhushan in 24 hours

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Friday demanded that Team Anna "sack" senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan for his "anti-India remarks" within 24 hours, a party official said.

Party spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut told media-persons that Bhushan’s "treacherous" statements on Jammu and Kashmir cannot be tolerated and Team Anna should first sack him from its organization. “After this, the union home ministry should book him for treachery and initiate appropriate proceedings against him,” Raut demanded.

His statement came after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray lauded the persons who assaulted Bhushan in his Supreme Court chamber last Wednesday. The attack was in retaliation to Bhushan’s comments advocating ‘plebiscite’ in Kashmir, which has raked up a controversy. Thackeray also said that if Bhushan is a lawyer why is he ‘representing’ Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

The 74-year old Anna Hazare responded by distancing himself from Bhushan’s controversial comments and reiterating that Kashmir was “an integral part” of India.

“Kashmir is an integral part of India. Bhushan has given his personal opinion and Team Anna is not in agreement with the views,” Hazare told media-persons in his native village Ralegan-Siddhi.

Later, Team Anna, while stressing that Bhushan was airing his personal views on Kashmir, denied any moves to remove him from the anti-corruption panel.

Kashmir integral part, Prashant Bhushan too: Anna Hazare

New Delhi: Terming his team member Prashant Bhushan’s views on Kashmir as “wrong”, Anna Hazare said Kashmir is an integral part of India.

Reiterating Hazare’s view that the senior advocate’s remarks on Kashmir were his own, Team Anna cleared said Bhushan is an “integral” and “inseparable” part of their group.

They also hinted at possibility of a deeper “conspiracy” behind attack on Bhushan on Wednesday which was followed by bashing of their supporters outside a Delhi court on Thursday. They said it needs to be probed in detail and these actions could be to divide their team and affect the Lokpal movement.

“Today our core committee met and we discussed several issues including our member Prashant Bhushan’s remark on Kashmir. He is an inseparable and integral part of our team. However, his views on Kashmir are his personal views,” team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal said through Anna Hazarewas not present in  the meeting physically, they were talking to him on phone constantly.

Asked about their view on whole issue including Kashmir, Kejriwal read a statement which said: “IAC stands for unity and integrity of India. We believe Kashmir is an integral part of India. Kashmir is a complex problem and should be solved through peaceful means and dialogue within the four walls of our constitution.”

A controversy over Bhushan’s continuance in the team broke out when Anna while talking to mediapersons in Ralegan Siddhi said Bhushan’s remarks were his own and the team doesn’t agree with it. “Woh aage jaake hum log tay karenge, rakhna (hai) nahi rakhna (We will decide later whether he will be in the team),” Hazare told reporters. Kejriwal said the confusion started because during this interaction some one asked him if Bhushan would be removed from the team.