Cong 'sneaks' into every govt in J&K: PM Modi

Cong 'sneaks' into every govt in J&K: PM Modi

KATHUA: Projecting BJP as a fresh option in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Congress "sneaks" into every government that is formed in the state but attacks these dispensations just before elections.

Blaming Congress, NC and PDP for the problems in the state, he asked people to punish all "three offenders" in the assembly polls.

Addressing a poll rally here, Modi had a dig at Congress saying the party "jumps" into every government that is formed in the state, be it led by PDP or NC, but withdraws from it just before the elections and starts attacking these dispensations.

"If you punish them once, they will realise their mistakes. Has BJP ever formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir? Did we ever commit any mistake? Don't you know who are the first, second and third offenders," he asked the people who cheered back in response.

Maintaining that the people of the state knew who the "three offenders" were, Modi said they would not mend their ways unless they were punished by the voters.

"Congress sneaks into the government whenever one is formed and gets away with all the benefits. Then they say that they are against this government and that the government has done all wrong.

"Whether PDP comes or NC to power, they join hands with them and come out of the government whenever elections near."



Attacking the National Conference and PDP for "dynastic politics and nepotism", the Prime Minister asked the people: "Are there no more sons and daughters in J and K? Will only one father-son and father-daughter run the governments here? Do you have to always remain in their tangle?"

"Don't look at those father-son, father-daughter duos. Look at your own sons and daughters. Herein lies your benefit."

Holding that dynastic politics and nepotism can never be the voice of democracy, Modi also compared the politics of Congress, NC and PDP with BJP, saying "see the power of BJP's democracy that a tea-seller became the Prime Minister."

The Prime Minister said the entire world was now accepting India's status as a powerful nation.

"Is the entire world now talking about India? It is not an easy thing that within six months, the entire world accepts the power of our country. This is not happening due to Modi. This is happening due to you," he said.

The Prime Minister has gone on a blitzkrieg campaign in the Valley where the BJP is making a serious bid to come to power in the Muslim-dominated state for the first time since independence.

The party plans to accomplish its 'Mission 44' in the 87-member assembly. Out of the 87 seats in the state, 59 have a majority of Muslim

Who is Mehdi Masroor Biswas?

Who is Mehdi Masroor Biswas?

NEW DELHI: Intelligence agencies are scanning the employee records of a leading Indian software company headquartered in Bengaluru, to identify the man behind @ShamiWitness, an ISIS propaganda Twitter account.

READ ALSO: 'Mehdi was confident his identity won't get revealed'

This follows a Channel 4 report that claimed that one "Mehdi" was running what was "perhaps ISIS's most influential Twitter account". Who is this mystery man? Here are some of the important things we know about Mehdi Masroor Biswas:

*The main identified as Mehdi Masroor Biswas, intelligence sources say, works for a top corporate.

READ ALSO: Two-thirds of foreign jihadists on Twitter followed Mehdi

*Intelligence sources think that Mehdi Masroor Biswas is a native of Bengal.

*Mehdi Masroor Biswas joined the software company in Bengaluru, lived in the city with his family.

* Intelligence agencies are yet to trace the IP address of Mehdi's Twitter handle.

*Apart from the @ShamiWitness, Mehdi used another Twitter handle @ElSaltador.

*Mehdi interacted on Twitter with key ISIS figures.

*He was in touch with UK jihadists.

READ ALSO: My son not linked to any jihadi activity: Mehdi Masroor Biswas's father

*Mehdi Biswas retweeted five times news that the ISIS had beheaded US aid worker Peter Kassig.

*Mehdi had over 17,700 followers and got about two million hits a month.

*Mehdi's Twitter account was followed by two-thirds of all foreign fighters on the microblogging site.

Mehdi Masroor arrested, confesses to operating ISIS Twitter handle: Cops

Mehdi Masroor arrested, confesses to operating ISIS Twitter handle: Cops

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: Bengaluru police on Saturday confirmed the arrest of ISIS Twitter Mehdi Masroor Biswas.

"Mehdi Masroor has confessed that he was operating the ISIS Twitter account, @ShamiWitness, Karnataka DGP Pachau told mediapersons in a press conference.
Earlier, the father of alleged handler of the Islamic State Twitter account, @ShamiWitness, has told Times Now that his son was not linked to any jihadi activity.

"I don't believe my son is linked to any jihadi activity, his email account has been hacked," he told Times Now.

"I stayed with my son for so many months. He had no times for such activity," the father of man who was alleged to operate Twitter handle @ShamiWitness told Times Now.


READ ALSO: Two-thirds of foreign jihadists on Twitter followed Mehdi
Operator of ISIS Twitter handle fears for his life



Bengaluru Police were on the hunt for "Mehdi" who was reported to be working as an executive based out of Bengaluru. Britain's Channel 4 News had aired the report regarding the country's IT capital's link with the Twitter account that is followed by foreign jihadis.

The British news broadcaster did not reveal his full name as he said his life would be in danger. A total of 39 Indian workers are still under the captivity of the deadly IS.

The account was shut down after the report surfaced. In its report, 'Channel 4' on Friday said that the man operating the account is an executive in the city working for an Indian conglomerate and had been able to remain anonymous "until now" and avoiding questions about his role in the Islamic State's propaganda war.




Channel 4 News had said its investigation had however revealed that the man operating the account is called Mehdi and he is an executive in Bangalore working for an Indian conglomerate.

"His tweets, written under the name Shami Witness, were seen two million times each month, making him perhaps the most influential Islamic State Twitter account, with over 17,700 followers," it said.

Bangalore police commissioner M N Reddi had said they have asked the crime branch to look into the veracity of the report and were in contact with central agencies like NIA and IB.

There are images of PM with Sahara chief, should we arrest him? Mamata asks

There are images of PM with Sahara chief, should we arrest him? Mamata asks

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday hit the streets to protest the arrest of her minister Madan Mitra in the Saradha scam, and wondered if Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be arrested for the Sahara scandal as he was photographed with the Sahara group chief who is now behind bars.

"A red diary was obtained after raiding the Sahara office. It had several big names. Empty vessels make more noise. There are images of the Prime Minister with the Sahara chief (Subrata Roy). Should we arrest the Prime Minister?" Banerjee asked, as she led a demonstration protesting against the arrest of Bengal transport and sports minister Mitra.

READ ALSO: Madan Mitra had direct hand in Saradha scam, Left Front says

Mamata 'biggest beneficiary' of Saradha scam, Kunal Ghosh says

"There are images of several CPM leaders with chit fund owners. If an image is a proof of criminal conspiracy, then the Prime Minister should be arrested for the Sahara scam," Banerjee said, in a reference to video footage of Saradha group programmes where Mitra was seen praising purported graft mastermind Sudipto Sen.

Attacking the BJP, Banerjee said: "The BJP knows it cannot fight Trinamool politically. They are using the CBI to counter us. Common people have hit the streets today to protest against the politics of vendetta by the BJP."

In an apparent indication of the pressure the Trinamool was facing after Mitra's arrest by the CBI, Banerjee said,"Time does not wait for anyone. We have to act as per the need of the hour."

Issuing a warning to the BJP-led central government, Banerjee said: "I must tell those who are in power stay within your limits or you will face the music."



Trying to whip up local sentiments, Banerjee accused the BJP and the CBI of efforts to "destroy the sports infrastructure in Bengal" by targeting the iconic football clubs.

The chief minister said culture and sports in Bengal were under threat.

"Mohun Bagan, East Bengal are under threat. It is time to hit the streets. I ask the sportspersons to hit the streets. Our support is with you," she said.

READ ALSO: BJP says Mamata pressing panic button

The CBI has arrested East Bengal official Debabrata Sarkar and Trinamool Congress parliamentarian and Mohun Bagan assistant general secretary Srinjoy Bose.

The probe agency also questioned other office bearers of the two clubs, besides closing some bank accounts of the two football outfits.

The protest rally started at 1pm at the base of the statue of legendary footballer Gostho Pal. Several prominent sportspersons were present.