BJP activists attack minister's car in Jammu

Jammu: Members of the BJP attacked the car of the Finance Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Abdul Rahim Rather, in Jammu this evening. The minister's car was passing by the BJP office in the city when activists tried to damage it. The minister drove away unhurt.

The activists had just left the BJP office after being addressed by senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. Both leaders were released this morning after being arrested last evening as they crossed into Jammu yesterday from Punjab as part of their party's Ekta Yatra.

Their mission was to get to Srinagar's Lal Chowk to hoist the flag there - a location declared off-limits by the Centre and State government on the grounds that it could disturb the fragile peace in the Valley.

At the party office today, Ms swaraj and Mr Jaitely said that their arrest was unprecedented. Police sources say their comments provoked their party workers who spilled onto the street outside as the minister's car approached.

This morning, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called up Mr Jaitley and thanked him for ensuring that the Ekta Yatra had ended peacefully. Mr Abdullah says he invited the BJP leaders to join official Republic Day celebrations in either Jammu or Srinagar, but his offer was refused.

The BJP says Mr Abdullah's offer could not be taken seriously since its leaders were in custody at a local hotel at the time.

The party has also accused the State government of a "psychological surrender" to separatists by not allowing the BJP to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk.

In 1948, this is where Jawaharlal Nehru promised Kashmir a plebiscite. Separatists base their agenda on this.

The BJP says that by flying the national flag here on Republic Day, it wanted to send a clear message to the separatists that Kashmir is an integral part of India.




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Jayalalithaa attacks Prime Minister over fishermen killing

Pushpavanam, Tamil Nadu: The recent killing of two Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy is turning into an election issue in the state.

One of the victims, Jayakumar, was an AIADMK worker and the party's chief Jayalalithaa visited his widow at a village in Nagapattinam district.

On Sunday, the Centre under pressure from it's ally, the State's Chief Minister had called up Sri Lanka.

Today, Jayalalithaa who'll be contesting for the chief minister's post in a few months' time stepped up political pressure.

"The Central government should issue a stern warning to Sri Lanka that they will not dare to attack Indian fishermen. But that's not happening, because the PM is ineffectual. The PM should step down if he does not know what to do," said Jayalalithaa.

The fisherman, whose family Jayalalitha visited, was reportedly strung by the neck and dragged behind a boat in the sea. Sri Lanka has denied its Navy is responsible.

"My children have lost their father. This should not happen to any other child. I beg the government," said J Murugeswari, Jayakumar's wife.

Jayalalithaa promised protection to Tamil Nadu fishermen if she was voted to power in the upcoming assembly polls.

Fishermen in Tamil Nadu could change political fortunes in around 75 assembly constituencies. Analysts say Jayalalithaa is capitalising on this to woo the community.

While her visit here is to consolidate the AIADMK vote bank in coastal Tamil Nadu, she has been increasing her public appearances by the week.

Twenty four hours earlier she was seen wrapping up an alliance with the Left.

Certainly, this is another challenge for the ruling DMK - Congress in Tamil Nadu ahead of assembly polls besides the 2G spectrum scam and the price rise.



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