Rahul’s focus to woo tribal voters in State

--Focus 2014 poll--

BHUBANESWAR: All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi while discussing with the MPs of Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand at the Parliamentary party office in New Delhi on Thursday advised the latter to concentrate on the tribal issues to woo the voters. During his one and a half hour brainstorming session with the MPs, the Gandhi scion emphasised on the tribal voters to revive their faith on the party.

Rajya Sabha member Ram Chandra Khuntia said the meeting was a routine work of the party regarding the strengthening of party for the coming 2014 general election. Rahul stressed on proper delivery of Government facilities and programmes for the welfare of the tribals, he added.

Sundergarh Congress MP Hemananda Biswal said that their vice president talked about the core issues of the tribals related to much-discussed land disputes. A two-member committee from each State would submit a ground report on the tribal issue to Rahul and then he would prepare the agenda, Biswal added.

Rahul called upon the MPs to reach out to the tribals leaders and to sensitise them about various programmes, schemes and plans for the welfare of the community is needed in this point time before the coming election. He also set his goal for the organisational development in the party.

Recently, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Union Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo had visited Sunabeda, Kalahandi and Niyamgiri like tribal areas to announce their plans and programmes for the development of the area which shows the ‘focus tribal’ policy of the Congress before the upcoming general election.

D’nal dalit rape, murder: Main accused arrested

--Cong, SP demand exemplary action against culprits

DHENKANAL/BHUBANESWAR: Police arrested the principal accused in connection with the sexual assault and killing of 17-year-old dalit girl of Mathatentulia village under Gondia police limits in Dhenkanal district on Tuesday. Police have started man hunt to nab the other accused who are absconding.

The accused was identified as Shibaji Nayak of Mathatentulia and his other four friends sexually assaulted and then burnt her alive in the house in the absence of her parents late on Tuesday night. The criminals after sexually assaulting the minor girl had locked the door from outside and set her on fire.

The Dhenkanal police are investigating into the matter after lodging a rape and murder case. “We are searching the other accused. Very shortly we would arrest the aide of mastermind Nayak who have gone underground,” said Dhenkanal SP Manoranjan Mohanty.

Meanwhile, the heinous act has created a hue and cry in the political sphere. The main opposition party Congress raised voice against the incident. Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik condemned the horrid act as a barbaric and mindless which would put entire humanity in shame. “I request the State Government to take immediate steps to arrest the culprits and try them through a special fast track court,” said patnaik.

He said the security and safety of women has been a serious concern and they have raised the issue with the incumbent Government time and again. “We should collectively work towards creating a system which guarantees security to our sisters and mothers and ensure their dignity is protected,” he added.

Similarly, a delegation led by Samajwadi Party State Committee president Rabi Behera handed over a memorandum to the Governor demanding termination of the local police officer for negligence of duty and immediate arrest of all the accused persons involved in the case. The party also demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased and to give exemplary punishment to the accused through trial in a Fast Track court within 90 days.

NCP supporters gherao speaker’s residence

--NCP MLAs’ merger issue--

BHUBANESWAR: The supporters and workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gheraoed the residence of Assembly speaker Pradip Kumar Amat here on Thursday demanding immediate action on NCP MLAs’ merger with BJD issue.

The NCP supporters staged demonstration in front of the speaker’s residence flaunting placards bearing slogans demanding the speaker to take a fair and unbiased decision regarding the matter. They also demanded that the speaker should show respect to the Supreme Court and High Court’s order.

During agitation, the police took the activists into preventive custody while they were trying to enter to the residence.

According to NCP leader Srikant Samantray, we have filed contempt of court case against the speaker. “Being a speaker, working for the party purpose is unfortunate,” said Samantaray, adding, “Amat should resign from his post on the moral ground.”  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday had set aside the review petition of Amat regarding the controversial merger of the four NCP MLAs.

No tie with BJD, OJM, reiterates KV

--Singh Deo assumes charge of BJP State chief

BHUBANESWAR: “State BJP will not seek the support of the rulling BJD or the Odisha Jan Morcha on the coming 2014 general election,” reiterated newly elected BJP State president Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo while addressing the party workers here after formally taking the charge of the State BJP.

In his speech at the felicitation ceremony, Singh Deo said the BJP would be the alterative to the BJD and Congress party in the State. They would contest the coming elections on their own strength, he added.

The party president came down heavily on BJD Government by citing the instances of various corruptions and scams continuing in the State. He alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is involved in the disputed Sainik deal. “Patnaik would also face the same condition what Jharkhand’s former Chief Minsiter Madhu Koda had faced,” he said, adding, “Patnaik would sit at the adjacent cell of Koda in the jail in future.”

Singh Deo further said his party is on a sincere mission for development of the people of the State unlike the Congress and the BJD. “We believe in a sustained development, not at the cost of poor farmers’ land,” said Singh Deo, adding, “We will usher in a qualitative change in the scenario of the State politics.”

The party leaders including national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, national executive body member Bijay Mohapatra, senior leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, former State presidents Suresh Pujari, Bimbadhar Kuanra, Manmohan Samal, Jual Oram and other senior leaders lashed out at the State Government and refuted the allegation of any conflict and groupism inside the party.

Around three thousands of party workers across the State attended the felicitation ceremony. At first the workers welcomed Singh Deo at the airport and took out with a bike procession up to party office. Leaders of the party and presidents of the district committees felicitated the newly elected State chief with mammoth garlands.

    

      

Rahul to meet State Cong MPs in Delhi

BHUBANESWAR: Newly elected Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would meet State Congress MPs at the Parliament party office in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss about the present status of the party in the State. After February 18 Odisha visit of the vice-president, it would be the second formal meeting with the Congress leaders, party sources said.

Everybody’s eye on the meeting of Rahul with MPs as what would be the outcome of the discussion and what they would discuss in the meeting. The State Congress leaders are also waiting for the result of the meeting.

“I’m really very happy that Rahul Gandhi is discussing with everyone from the grassroots level instead of holding discussions with a few selected leaders. It is a welcoming step of our national vice-president,” said Rajya Sabha member Ramchandra Khuntia.

MP Pradeep Majhi said that their leader would discuss about the strengthening of the party from the Panchayat level to State level, while Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said that it is a routine meet with their central leader.   

After being elevated as the AICC’s second in command, the Gandhi scion had visited Odisha for two days on February 18 and 19 to rejuvenate the party in the State ahead of the next general election by meeting the grass root level workers and block level leaders to know their problems. As a part of his promise to give a new dimension for the party within three months, he had started the brainstorming sessions with the leaders regarding advantages and drawbacks of the party.

After ten days of Rahul’s visit, AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistry had visited here to discuss with the presidents of the districts regarding the listing of aspirants of MPs. Earlier, two central observers had taken opinions from the leaders of the total 21 organisational districts in the State.   

 

Aam Aadmi Party to launch State unit on Mar 17

BHUBANESWAR: India Against Corruption chief campaigner Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would officially launch its Odisha unit on March 17 a day after holding a State level public meeting at the Lower PMG here. It would be the first public meeting in the State after formation of the party, party sources said.

Party’s national executive members including Prof Ajit Jha would attend the State level convention on March 16, said AAP State coordinator Nishikant Mohapatra. “We are expecting around 3000 volunteers and supporters to attend the convention. Party has received an excellent response from people across the State,” said Mohapatra at a Press meet.

He said that they have already formed committees in 17 districts in the State and they have strengthened their position in 25 districts. “Our party’s main agenda include Janlokpal, Right to Recall, Right to Reject, Right to Justice and Swaraj,” said Mohapatra, adding, “We are also working on various local issues across the State.”

Recently, the party has organised a State level preparatory meeting where 19 districts have participated and shared their progress and development done in respective areas.

       

        

Man hunt for Maoist Sabyasachi intensified

-- Panda calls for Odisha bandh to protest Pradip’s killing

BHUBANESWAR: Following the death of Pradip Majhi, military in-charge and close aide of Odisha Maovadi Party chief Sabyasachi Panda, the police have started man hunt to nab Panda. They have intensified combing operations in the Ganjam-Gajapati border forests where Panda is suspected to be hiding, the police sources said.

The police believe that Panda might have hidden in the 2 km long Gudi Sahi jungle nearer to the Karanjadua forests of Gajapati district’s Mohana police limits where the police killed his aide on Monday.   

                                               

Panda on Tuesday released an audiotape in which he condemned the Odisha Police for killing Majhi in fake encounter. He also called for Odisha bandh on March 14 in protest of the killing of his aide in police encounter.

The Maoist leader once again rejected the call for surrender from police DG Prakash Mishra who had appealed to Panda to surrender and join the mainstream of society. “If he does not give up arms, he knows what consequence awaits him,” Mishra had said.

Panda’s wife Subhashree said that the Government is unnecessarily targeting such Maoists who are not indulged in violent activities.