First-time politicians most searched

In the last week, more people have searched online for Sanjay Dutt in Pakistan than in India. He is also virtually more popular in Bhopal than in Mumbai.

First-time politicians are grabbing more eyeballs virtually than young Turks. Google Trends shows that apart from political bigwigs, like L.K.Advani and Sonia Gandhi, new entrants are topping search lists. Shashi Tharoor, Chiranjeevi and Sanjay Dutt are among the top 10 most-searched politicians in the latest update.

Also on the list are Manmohan Singh, Mayawati, Narendra Modi, and Varun Gandhi.

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Sonia’s Lok Sabha campaign to start in Karnataka

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will launch the party’s Lok Sabha election campaign from Davangere in BJP ruled Karnataka next Monday, March 23, a day after the Congress releases its manifesto in New Delhi on March 22.

This was confirmed by Karnataka PCC president R.V. Deshpande. Congress strategists have chosen Karnataka for her first rally to give a befitting reply to the Third Front, which chose Dobbespet near Tumkur for its inaugural rally on March 12. The Congress is convinced that the new front will be a nonstarter.

The new front has strong supporters in neighbouring states — Andhra (TDP, TRS), Tamil Nadu (AIADMK) and Kerala (Left, besides the JD-S in Karnataka.

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Sonia invokes Indira to warn Pakistan: Don’t test our patience

Accusing Pakistan of aiding and abetting terrorist activities in India, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today invoked the name of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in an apparent reference to the 1971 war that led to the break-up of Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh, to send Islamabad a stern warning over its failure to act against terror.

“I have said it before and I am saying it again. Nobody should construe India’s patience as weakness. Those who are aiding and abetting terrorism from across the border will get a fitting reply. Our inspiration is Indiraji,” Gandhi said in her address at the national convention of district and block Congress committee presidents in New Delhi.

Her warning to Pakistan was accentuated by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s remark that “all our options are open”. Home Minister P Chidambaram reiterated the government’s policy of “zero tolerance” towards terrorism and also disapproved of those who think “Hindu militancy is the way to go and defend India”.

Claiming that the Congress is the “only party” that can fight against terrorism with support and strength from all sections of the society, Gandhi made a blistering attack on the BJP for seeking to make political capital out of terror by trying to “incite” public sentiments and by “deliberately” delaying important legislation's through disruptions in Parliament.

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Sonia helps Pak boy undergo liver transplant in Delhi

A month ago, fourteen-year-old Mobeen Ahmed, the son of a Lahore cook, was admitted to the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi. He was lethargic, undernourished and down with liver cirrhosis. Today, the boy left Delhi with a healthy liver after a successful transplant and dreams of becoming a cricketer. But before he set out for Pakistan, he said a big thank-you to the one person who helped him out — UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

On being told about Mobeen’s love for cricket and movies, Gandhi gifted him a cricket kit and CDs of Shahrukh Khan movies. Asked what sort of help did she extend, Gandhi’s office did not go into details except to say it was monetary assistance.

“We don’t know if this is a big or small move, we only hope it contributes to smoothening ties between the two countries. We usually try and help anyone we can but in this case the child was quite unwell and had come a long way from Pakistan, hoping for better health.

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