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will be acceptable to BJP's allies as a prime ministerial candidate in 2014. He added, "Gujarat cannot be<br />
a template for other states. Mercifully, much of India, unlike Gujarat, is not polarized," he added. Many<br />
see Modi's win and his possible rise in national politics as a threat to India's secular ethos. "Now<br />
communal and fascist forces will be emboldened. It is a wake-up call to the minorities and all those who<br />
swear by secularism," said Mohibul Haque, a political scientist at Aligarh Muslim University. (Times of<br />
India 21/12/12)<br />
Samjhauta blast link in murder of RSS pracharak (26)<br />
New Delhi: Rajendra Pehelwan alias Samandar, who allegedly planted one of four bombs in Samjhauta<br />
Express train, is emerging as a prime suspect in the murder of former RSS pracharak Sunil Joshi.<br />
According to sources, Joshi was murdered in December 2007 to keep a lid on the whole right-wing terror<br />
conspiracy. Samandar was arrested last Saturday by the NIA from Nagda in Ujjain district of Madhya<br />
Pradesh. NIA officials are tight lipped on the interrogation of Samandar. Sources told HT that he may<br />
have killed Joshi who had boasted of leading the group of right-wing extremists that carried out a series of<br />
bomb blasts in Malegaon (September 2006), Samjhauta Express (February 2007), Mecca Masjid (May<br />
2008), Dargah Ajmer Sharif (October 2007) and simultaneous blasts at Malegaon and Modasa in<br />
September 2008. "Joshi was boasting too much about successes of the group after the Ajmer Sharif<br />
blast. His co-conspirators were feeling insecure. He had also mediated with local feuds in Dewas (MP) to<br />
generate money. He wanted to open a liquor shop and was also dabbling in commodities exchange.<br />
Witnesses have already indicated that Samandar may have murdered Joshi," said a source. Investigators<br />
say Samandar may have been involved in many murders in Mhow. He has confessed to his involvement<br />
in Samjhauta blast, Mecca Masjid blasts and Malegaon blast of 2006, said sources. "There have been a<br />
few instances of bike riders getting shot in a similar manner in which Joshi was also murdered. These<br />
murders took place in and around Mhow. The NIA will have to join dots before a conclusion can be<br />
drawn. A mere confession of Samandar in this regard will not stand in court," said a senior home ministry<br />
official. (Hindustan Times 24/12/12)<br />
Narendra Modi takes oath today, RSS and VHP leaders on guest list (26)<br />
Ahmedabad: As Narendra Modi takes oath of the Chief Minister’s office for the fourth time, invites for<br />
Wednesday’s function have gone out to a large number of RSS and VHP veterans, besides prominent<br />
industrialists and <strong>Indian</strong>s settled overseas. The guest list includes <strong>Indian</strong>-American Bishma Agnihotri, who<br />
was the ambassador-at-large during former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government. At<br />
present, Agnihotri is the chairman of Bharat Swabhiman Overseas, a US-based NGO said to be inspired<br />
from Bharat Swabhiman Yatra started by yoga guru Ramdev during last year’s anti-corruption campaign.<br />
Apart from Modi’s personal invites to a few industrialists, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and religious<br />
heads, formal invites have also been sent to former chief ministers and recently elected MLAs<br />
Shankersinh Vaghela and Keshubhai Patel. Vaghela and Patel are not expected to attend the ceremony,<br />
to be held at Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad. Bhailal Patel, founder of Vishwa Bharatiya Samaj from<br />
Chicago, who was one of the organisers of Modi’s video address to NRIs in the US at the ‘Chaalo<br />
Gujarat’ event on the foundation day of Gujarat in May this year, is likely to attend the swearing-in<br />
ceremony. C B Patel, a UK-based publisher and editor who was among those said to have lobbied to end<br />
the UK’s boycott of Modi, told The <strong>Indian</strong> Express, “Several industrialists and members of political groups<br />
will attend the function. Besides, there are people looking at investments. I can say there is enormous<br />
optimism among <strong>Indian</strong> communities abroad who support Modiji.” (<strong>Indian</strong> Express 26/12/12)<br />
7 lakh Muslims have signed up for revoking Art 370: RSS outfit (26)<br />
Bhopal: Muslim Rashtriya Manch, an organisation floated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, on<br />
Friday said more than seven lakh Muslims have become signatories to a campaign to revoke Article 370<br />
and to scrap the report of Centre’s interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir. Madhya Pradesh, which is ruled
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