Asia Sunday, March 17, 2019 09 India’s Modi launches Congress stakes fresh ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ campaign as polls near IANS claim to form Goa govt NEW DELHI GEARING up for the coming Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minis- Leader of oppn Kavlekar says Parrikar-led coalition ministry is in a minority and its number may ‘dwindle’ further ter Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the ‘Main Bhi Chowk- idar” campaign, calling every- one who were fighting corrup- tion, social evils and working Indian PM Narendra Modi. hard for the progress of India, as watchmen. that he was not alone, in a “Your Chowkidar is standing counter to Congress President firm and serving the nation. But, Rahul Gandhi’s “chowkidar I am not alone. Everyone who is chor hai” jibe. Bharatiya Jana- fighting corruption, dirt, social ta Party sources said the cam- evils is a Chowkidar. Everyone paign was launched as part of working hard for the progress its strategy to turn the tables of India is a Chowkidar,” Modi against Gandhi’s jibe as it did said in a series of tweets. “Today, in 2014 by aggressively coun- every Indian is saying. Main Bhi tering former Union Minister Chowkidar,” he added. Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “chai- With the tweet, the walla” jibe. Following Modi’s Prime Minister also shared a tweet, several BJP leaders also 3.45-minute video titled “Take used the #MainBhiChowkidar The Pledge”, urging people to hashtag and tweeted. join Modi on March 31 at 6 p.m. “I am proud to join #Main- for a video programme titled BhiChowkidar movement. As a ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar”. citizen who loves India, I shall In the video, Modi called do my best to defeat corruption, himself a watchman and said dirt, poverty and terrorism”. Christchurch killing: Indian relatives still await news IANS urch, waiting for the authorities (File photo) Parrikar was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in February 2018 and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and New York ever since. HYDERABAD to provide some information. Farhaj, a software engineer, IANS One Modi giving away crores to other Modis: Rahul allowed to continue even for a MORE than 24 hour after the was at Al Noor mosque for Fri- PANAJI moment. terror attack at two mosques day prayers when the terrorists DEHRADUN: Kickstarting Congress’ Lok Sabha campaign in Uttarakhand, party President Rahul Gandhi “It is, therefore, incumbent in New Zealand’s Christchurch opened indiscriminate fire on ON a day when reports sug- on Saturday upped the ante against Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioning why all the “Modis were upon you to dismiss the state city, a man from Hyderabad worshippers. gested that ailing Chief Min- getting money” from the one Modi at the helm. “Why is it that all thieves have their last name as Modi government led by the BJP to remains missing while another He used to regularly of- ister Manohar Parrikar’s only? Why one Modi is giving all the money to other Modis,” said Gandhi amid thunderous applause ensure that the Indian National who was shot at is recovering. fer Friday prayers at Al Noor condition has worsened, the and loud sloganeering “Chowkidar Chor Hai”. To buttress his claim, Gandhi took the names of Nirav Congress, which is the single- Mohammed Sayeeduddin as he lives in a nearby neigh- Congress in Goa on Saturday Modi, the key accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, and Lalit Modi, who was involved largest party in the august House was still waiting for informa- bourhood with his wife and staked claim to form the gov- in irregularities in the Indian Premiere League. Gandhi told the crowd at the Parade Ground rally here and is presently enjoying the tion about his son Farhaj Ah- two children. Like every day, ernment in the coastal state. that “all these Modis” have been absconding taking crores of rupees with them. He claimed the National majority, be called to form gov- san, 31, who remained missing. Sayeeduddin rang up his son, In a letter addressed to Goa Democratic Alliance government at the Centre gave lakhs and crores of rupees to just 15-20 people and ernment,” Kavlekar said. “We are still waiting for in- unaware of what was going Governor Mridula Sinha, Lead- did nothing for the welfare of farmers and the unemployed youths. Gandhi also claimed that lands were be- Earlier in the day, the Chief formation. He is still listed as on at the mosque. “We speak er of Opposition Chandrakant ing given to top business houses such as the Adanis in Uttarakhand in an apparent reference to the new Minister’s Office (CMO) was missing,” an anxious Sayeedud- to him over phone every day Kavlekar said that the Parri- MSME policy of the state according to which it has relaxed the tough norms in Land Acts. (IANS) forced to issue a statement din said on Saturday. around afternoon and to- kar-led coalition government is claiming that the health of Par- Farhaj’s wife and her un- day being Friday I rang him in a minority and its numbers party in the state Assembly–to the incumbent BJP-led state kar said in the letter. rikar, who is being treated at cle, who rushed from Australia, around 8 am but he did not may “dwindle”. He demanded form the government. government under the lead- “Also, we anticipate that his private residence for ad- were at a hospital in Christch- respond,” the father said. that she dismiss the incumbent “Consequent upon the sad ership of Manohar Parrikar, numbers of the BJP may fur- vanced pancreatic cancer, is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- demise of Francis D’Souza, which has long lost the trust ther dwindle,” he wrote to the “stable”, after media reports led dispensation and invite the MLA, who belonged to the BJP, of the people and now also lost Governor requesting that such said that his health conditions Congress –the single-largest it is humbly submitted that strength in the House,” Kavle- minority government be not has worsened. Pakistan’s military claims shooting Indian spy drone News Pakistan needs to be on alert till Indian polls end: FM TRIBUNE.COM.PK istered Kashmir on Febru- in brief ISLAMABAD ary 14. Prime Minister Imran TRIBUNE.COM.PK of the Indian pilot by Pakistan “Tension between Pakistan missing in the attack. Khan offered every possible ISLAMABAD also sent a positive message “Nine Pakistanis are miss- THE Pakistan Army on Satur- help in the investigation, but Six Pakistanis killed across the world. and India have eased. We ing after the incident and we day shot down an Indian spy India turned down the offer in Christchurch terror FOREIGN Minister Shah Me- “For the first time, India’s do not want to move ahead are in constant contact with drone over the Line of Control and whipped up war hysteria. attacks, confirms FO hmood Qureshi on Saturday state terrorism was men- with war but desire peace,” their families too. We will try (LoC), said a statement re- On February 26, the In- said that despite de-escalation tioned during a meeting of the FM Qureshi says and help them in every way leased by the military’s media dian Air Force violated Pa- ISLAMABAD: At least six in Pak-India tensions, the Organisation of the Islamic possible.” He also hoped that wing. The drone was brought kistani airspace. Pakistani citizens have died country will need to remain Countries (OIC) which was a mosques in European and down in the Rakhchikri sector The country’s top civil in the Christchurch terror- alert till national elections in big achievement.” terrorism never happened other countries would be pro- of the heavily militarised zone and military leadership de- ist attack, Foreign Office India conclude on May 19. The foreign minister added there. We hope the officials tected and remain open for after it intruded 150 metres clared the violation of air- confirmed on Saturday. Speaking to the media in Mul- that he was leaving for China will share details of the probe Muslims to prayers in a safe into Pakistani territory. space by Indian fighter jets Three other Pakistanis are tan, he said, “We [Pakistan] are on March 18 where he would soon.” environment. Replying to a Tensions escalated dra- “uncalled for aggression” still missing and yet to be thankful to the friendly coun- discuss the current situa- “All the victims of the ter- question regarding Dr Aafia matically between Pakistan and decided that the country identified, Foreign Office tries for the role they played. tion with the Chinese leader- ror attack have been identi- Siddiqui, who is imprisoned and India on February 14 would respond at a “time and Spokesperson Dr Muham- However, we still have to stay ship. Commenting on Friday’s fied. One injured Pakistani in the United States, Qureshi when a young man – a native place of its choosing”. mad Faisal said in a state- alert along the Line of Control New Zealand terrorist attack is undergoing treatment at rejected rumours circulating of Indian-administered Kash- On February 27, Pakistan ment on Twitter. Authorities in (LoC) and maintain vigilance in which at least 49 Muslims a local hospital in New Zea- about her release. mir rammed an explosives- announced it had shot down New Zealand have identified of Pakistan’s airspace”. died, the foreign minister land.” According to Qureshi, “There is no credibility in laden car into an Indian mili- two Indian fighter jets that at- Pakistani martyred as Sohail “Tension between Pakistan termed the increase in terror- Pakistan was in contact with the news circulating regarding tary convoy, killing at least 44 tempted to violate its airspace Shahid, Syed Jahandad Ali, and India have eased.