HEAD LINE:

• Stop evading, start probe: Pranab, India Still Awaiting Pak Response to Dossier, Says Govt (TOI)
• 26/11 accused should be tried in Pak, says UK (TOI)

LEAD:

The rhetorical battle between India and Pakistan is now fairly joined. After Pakistan PM Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that what India had given was "not evidence" but "information", he riled foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee as well. Talking tough yet again, Mukherjee said Pakistani leaders' statements "reinforce the already strong doubts which exist on Pakistan's stance on terrorism from Pakistan, and on its capacity and willingness to cooperate with other countries against terrorism". He added, "Pakistan must fully implement its international obligations under various legal instruments on terrorism." On Tuesday, Gilani said India had not provided any evidence, just information. "All that has been received from India is some information. I say information because these are not evidence," he had said. (TOI)

• New Delhi: He may not have started on Mumbai's mean streets as a shoeshine boy but the line made immortal by character actor Iftekar in the 1970s mega hit Deewar seemed apt enough for Gujarat CM Narendra Modi when industrialist Anil Ambani feted him as a "lambi race ka ghoda''. Ambani was not just referring to Modi's ability to last the course. Unusually for an industrialist referring to an Opposition politico, he saw in the Gujarat CM all the makings of a future PM. "People like him should be the next leader of the country,'' he said, quoting the late Dhirubhai Ambani on the "race'' imagery. If the younger Ambani brother batted for Modi, Bharti group's Sunil Mittal was not far behind. Speaking at the Vibrant Gujarat summit organized at Ahmedabad, as Ambani did, the telecom whiz said Modi was often compared to a CEO. "But he is not running any company or sector. He is running a state and is very much capable of running the whole nation,'' said Mittal. Congress was naturally upset, with party spokesperson Manish Tiwari flaying corporates for heaping praise on the Gujarat CM. "They should not forget the riots,'' said Tiwari, while charging that Modi's claims about 'Vibrant Gujarat' were derived from "fudged figures''.(TOI)
• Sadhvi files bail plea in Malegaon blast case: Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, one of the prime accused in the Malegaon blast case, has filed for bail saying the prosecution has not followed certain provisions of the MCOCA. The bail plea says she has spent 95 days in custody and the ATS is yet to file a chargesheet in the case. Under provisions of laws under IPC, cops get 90 days to file a chargesheet or else the accused is entitled to get bail.(TOI)
• New Delhi: Even as India keeps all its options open in the wake of 26/11, the Army is also gearing up for "fourthgeneration warfare'' to tackle the possibility of jihadi outfits arming themselves with "dirty'' nuclear bombs. This comes at a time when the prospect of jihadi outfits or "rogue'' state agents gaining access to Pakistan's enriched uranium, nuclear components or know-how is once again becoming a clear and present danger, with alarm bells clanging round the globe. On Wednesday, it was Army chief General Deepak Kapoor's turn to express the "hope'' that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal or technology would not fall into the wrong hands. "I wish it does not happen...nuclear weapons are a source of great worry all over the world. I hope their (Pakistan) weapons are as secure as that of any civilised country,'' said Gen Kapoor, speaking on the eve of the 61st Army Day. Pakistan's past track-record as a proliferator of nuclear technology to countries like North Korea, Iran and Libya, under the guidance of A Q Khan, is by now well-documented. What causes concern now are the continuing deep links between some elements of Pakistan's security and intelligence establishment and jehadi outfits like al-Qaida and Lashkar-e-Taiba.(TOI)
• New Delhi: Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday added yet another dimension to his political plans when he said he will not contest against BJP candidate for the PM's post but left himself open to being a consensus candidate. The former vice-president, who has caused a flutter in the BJP by announcing that he may contest the next Lok Sabha polls, was asked if he could be a consensus candidate should the NDA led by Advani fail to attract enough MPs for Govt formation. The 86-year-old leader acknowledged his popularity across the political divide and replied: "I will not do it without Advaniji's consent." Trying to take the sting off BJP's attack on him for alleged attempts to queer the pitch for Advani told PTI: "I will not contest against Advani for PM's post under any circumstances." "It is up to Advaniji," Shekhawat said when asked whether he expected the BJP's PM candidate to step aside if there was a consensus on his name. He claimed Advani was not on his mind when he declared at Kota recently about contesting the Lok Sabha elections, if people wanted it and his health permitted. (TOI)
• Congress MP from Northwest Mumbai Priya Dutt on Wednesday denied media reports that the announcement by the Samajwadi Party to field Sanjay Dutt from Lucknow Lok Sabha seat had led to a family feud even as SP general secretary Amar Singh targeted her for her reported remarks. Singh said Dutt junior had campaigned for the party even when his father, the late Sunil Dutt, was alive. Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Priya said her brother was free to contest the Lok Sabha elections from whichever party he wanted to and that his decision would never lead to any feud between them. There was, however, a faint hint of disappointment on Priya's part when she said she had not spoken to Sanjay about his seat selection. "Even when marriage happened, I came to know through the press. This time also, I am informed by the press. I am not the one to bring family feud into public domain." (IE)
• Hyderabad: Sebi's lawyer Pradyumana Kumar Reddy on Wednesday stirred a hornet's nest by saying that the judicial custody of B Ramalinga Raju was delaying the market regulator's probe into the case. Reddy's statement fuelled rumours already doing the rounds, with many alleging that Raju was arrested in haste to prevent/delay his interrogation by Sebi. It is being pointed out that it is Sebi, rather than the local police, which has the expertise required to carry out investigations. Reddy told TOI that Sebi's general manager Sunil Kumar, appointed as the investigating authority in the case, landed in Hyderabad on January 8, within 24 hours of Raju's confession of a Rs 7,000-crore fraud. While Sebi had issued summons to Raju to appear in Satyam's office on January 9 at 4.30pm, he did not turn up and had his lawyer S Bharat Kumar represent him. Raju surrendered to the police the same night.(TOI)

MANMOHAN SINGH & GOVT

With broadcasters raising the pitch against attempts at regulating them, the Govt has agreed to put on hold its proposed amendments to the Cable Television Network Rules for now. Responding to a letter written by editors of all major news channels to him, the PM on Wednesday assured that no move at regulation will be rushed through. "PM Manmohan Singh has received several representations from the media agencies regarding certain proposed changes in the Cable Television Network Rules currently under consideration. He has assured that the matter will be taken up for finalisation only after the widest possible consultation with all the stakeholders and eliciting their different points of view on the proposed changes," a statement issued by his office read.(IE)

BJP

The BJP is taking all possible precautions to prevent any distraction from its prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani. The latest in the line is the party's effort to play down the emergence of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi as the leading figure of the saffron forces. As the top corporate honchos participating in the Vibrant Gujarat 2009 meet in Ahmedabad virtually said in a chorus that they "wished to see Modi as country's PM," the BJP swung into action to divert and play down the issue. Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy put in the job to tone down the issue said on Wednesday: "The comment talks about the BJP as whole." And for him, "The fact that India Inc was seeking for Modi's leadership clearly indicated the overall national level competency of the BJP." He went on to add: "This is a positive indication showing that the BJP doesn't have dearth of leaders," said Mr Rudy. Of course, Mr Rudy also did mention about Mr Modi and his capabilities. "Choice for Narendra Modi is in itself a vindication of the positive leadership the party has at the state level," he said. Gujarat managed to bag investment commitments worth Rs 12 lakh crore despite global economic meltdown. (AA)

CONGRESS

Today, AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari said: "Instead of getting misled by mithya (falsehood), the Indian intelligentsia and capitalists should understand the reality of Gujarat. Indian capitalists are patting Modi on his back today. Similarly, in 1933, German capitalists were also fascinated by a fascist dictator. I do not want to go into the consequences of the episode on Germany and the rest of the world. His (Modi's) entire edifice rests on the dead bodies of innocent people." The spokesman said information obtained by the Congress under the RTI Act showed only 23.52% of MoUs signed by Gujarat had been executed. In December 2007, then Finance Minister P Chidambaram had told a press conference in Ahmedabad that Gujarat had a debt burden of Rs 94,000 crore, Tewari said. (IE)

• New Delhi: Congress is not shying away from returning SP fire, with an AICC leader recommending Amar Singh for a "checkup from neck up" a day after the top SP duo called on the PM with their protests. Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi on Wednesday said he always felt the SP general secretary required "mental treatment", adding that his "lowly stunts" were vitiating politics. The renewed offensive, hours after SP asked the PM to "demonstrate" that attacks from Congressmen did not have official sanction, is unlikely to comfort the UP-based outfit. And on the eve of the SP executive meeting, Congress is not backing out from the face-off triggered by SP unilaterally announcing its candidates for UP. Sources said AICC's UP managers were pushing for an early meeting of the CEC to clear a few candidates for the state. Congress is mulling the option of matching the Samajwadis by issuing its own Lok Sabha list partially. There is a strong feeling in AICC that SP requires the Congress as much as the latter SP's caution to only announce seats not claimed by the Congress is seen as a sign of its eagerness for a tie-up. Congress leaders on Wednesday announced in Pratapgarh that the party would contest the seat which is held by SP. Congress design to keep the foot on the gas, however, coincides with certain consternation in the leadership which feels grateful to SP for rescuing the govt at a tough time. If Congress brass has to "demonstrate" to SP that there is no official sanction to hostile comments from partymen, workers do not want it to go beyond mere expression of "gratefulness" and compromise the party strength in UP. AICC spokesman Manish Tiwari summed up the party mood by saying, "We are moving with the twin objective of sealing the deal with SP while ensuring that it strengthens the Congress in UP."(TOI)

STATES

BIHAR

The BJP on Wednesday distanced itself from the contention of actor-turned-MP Shatrughan Sinha that he is the saffron party's candidate from Bihar's Patna Saheb constituency in the general elections. The party maintained that nominees will be finalised only by this month-end. "In the BJP, the candidature is decided first by the state election committee and then forwarded to the Central Election Committee of the party which takes a final call on the matter," said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy. He said the candidate for Patna Saheb will be discussed by party's Bihar state election committee which is to meet on January 17. The election committee will then finalise candidates for the Lok Sabha elections by this month-end after getting inputs from states, Mr Rudy added. Mr Shatrughan Sinha, who has served two terms in the Rajya Sabha as a BJP MP from Bihar, was recently denied another term as the saffron party does not favour a third consecutive term in the Upper House.(AA)

JHARKHAND

In a last ditch effort to ensure that UPA retains power in Jharkhand, the Congress and RJD leaders from the state arrived here on Wednesday to choose a consensus candidate to replace outgoing CM Shibu Soren. Leaders from coalition partners RJD and Congress, besides some Independents, plan to meet senior UPA leaders here to hammer out a solution to the crisis after Mr Soren failed to get himself elected to the state Assembly within the stipulated six months after taking oath. However, in a clear indication of the growing rift among Jharkhand UPA constituents, no JMM leader accompanied them. The JMM chief took over the reins of the state in August last year and needed to be elected to the state Assembly by February 27. Mr Soren who lost in the key Tamar by-polls last week projected a JMM MLA Champai Soren has his successor after his defeat . a proposal shot down by both the Congress and the RJD. State Congress president Pradip Balmuchu, who is already camping in the national capital, on Wednesday met the party president Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the current political situation in the tribal state. "I am hopeful of a solution in a day or two," Mr Balmuchu told reporters. Mr Soren's deputy Stephen Marandi too aired similar views that a solution could be worked out in a couple of days and a consensus candidate could be found out. (AA)

J&K

J&K CM Omar Abdullah has urged the international community to play its role in easing the mounting India-Pakistan tension. Omar said this while speaking to visiting British foreign secretary David Miliband over the teleconferencing. "India-Pakistan relations have a great bearing on J&K and its people,'' an official spokesperson quoted Omar as saying. Omar also told Miliband that he would like to work with Britain in modernising technical education and skill development in J&K. "Tackling unemployment in the state is on top of my agenda and skill development would go a long way in creating employment,'' he said.(TOI)

UTTAR PRADESH

Courtesy BSP supremo UP chief minister Mayawati, her party would be richer by Rs 12 crore on January 15. Her 53rd birthday, to be celebrated as 'Arthik Sahyog Diwas' would see the party coffers swell, with functionaries from over 400 state assembly constituencies donating a minimum of Rs 3 lakh each as a mark of respect. Similar contributions are expected to come from BSP units in other states. Officially, each assembly constituency has been given a minimum target of collecting Rs 3 lakh from public. This time Behenji has not fixed targets for MLAs and MPs after party legislator Shekhar Tiwari was booked for murdering executive engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta in Auraiya. The EE was allegedly killed when he refused to pay the amount demanded by the MLA in the name of party donation.(TOI)

WEST BENGAL

A section of the CPI(M) in West Bengal may be rooting to bring back Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee into the party fold, but the veteran leader on Tuesday dismissed the reports as being "hypothetical" and said he would not appeal to the party for his return. The CPI(M) central leadership was similarly reserved about the issue, saying that it was not on its agenda and, like Chatterjee, professed lack of any knowledge on the matter. "I did not call for a review or reconsideration of the decision of the party which took the step (of expelling him last year after the trust vote for compromising the party's position). They have a right to take a decision," said Chatterjee, who had been associated with the CPI(M) for five decades. "I won't appeal," Chatterjee told PTI, saying he had not done anything to warrant such harsh action against him. He claimed he did not know anything about state Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty 's letter to state party secretary Biman Bose seeking his return to the CPI(M). "I just read about it in newspapers. Nobody told me anything about this." (IE)

EDITORIAL

Delhi, Kabul can cut off Pakistan: Union home minister P. Chidambaram has recently adverted to a view widely shared at senior levels in the external affairs ministry. His clear message in his interview to the London Times is that if Pakistan does not deliver on terrorism after the jihadist assault on Mumbai, this country can contemplate severing ties with its western neighbour. Exactly the same sentiments were expressed at the conference of our ambassadors in New Delhi last December, as highlighted in an exclusive report in this newspaper earlier this month. Mr Chidambaram is clearly expressing the view current at responsible levels in govt, although this may not have attained the status of an official decision yet. That the external affairs minister has not been pressed into service to communicate the message is only a matter of keeping up appearances. Pranab Mukherjee still has an official role to play vis-195160is Pakistan, at least for a time, and India is known for the correctness of its diplomatic conduct. Apart from the home minister's barely concealed public warning, it is more than likely that the implications of snapping ties with Pakistan were discussed with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan when he was here last Sunday. Mr Karzai's was a working visit in every sense undertaken in the context of the Mumbai strike and New Delhi and Kabul would certainly look to orienting their strategies to rebuffing Islamabad which nurtures terrorists that seek to upset the rhythm of progress in both countries. It will be logical in every sense if the evolution of a common content along these lines were to be jointly communicated to Washington when President-elect Barack Obama assumes office on January 20.(AA)