The Narendra Modi government has claimed credit for the industrial development and continued foreign investments in the state, but the Congress argues that Gujarat had been at the forefront of economic progress well before the BJP came to power in the mid-1990s. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat for taking credit for the state's economic development, and said Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had given sufficient attention to Gujarat.

UPA had provided a fair share of funds to Gujarat during its rule and there had been a sizeable amount of funds which went for various developmental schemes during the last five years.

To whom the credit for development of Gujarat should go to: BJP and Narendra Modi or the UPA?

Should Gujarat be considered as role model for all other states in the country?

Incredible though it may sound, at least 193 millionaires were in the race to enter the 15th Lok Sabha in the first phase held on 16 April, says a report by the independent body, Association of Democratic Rights (ADR). 288 candidates with assets in crores have contested election in the April 23 round. A poor state like Orissa has as many as 65 crorepatis,including two ultra-rich persons having property of over Rs 100 crore, in the fray for the second phase assembly elections on April 23.Congress candidate from Pilibhit seat V.M. Singh has emerged as India's richest candidate so far with assets worth Rs. 631 crore. Deepak Bhardwaj of the Bahujan Samaj Party, who is fighting from West Delhi, has declared assets worth Rs 600 crores. A contestant from Gujarat, Khimjibhai Patadia, has declared assets worth over Rs 500 crores.

365 crorepatis contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2004.

A poor candidate cannot serve the poor and and look after development work. Therefore richer candidates should be given more chance to contest elections. Do you agree?

Do you think politics is India's most lucrative profession?

After taunting the Congress by likening the 125-year-old party to an old woman, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi then said he would now call the party "gudia (doll) Congress" instead of a "budhia" following a sharp riposte from Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra. Priyanka asked voters, "Does Sonia Gandhi (Congress president and her mother), Rahul Gandhi or I look old to you?" Congress has also dismissed Modi's 'Gudiya' comments as 'ridiculous.' Reacting to Modi's political barbs, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi has demanded that Modi apologise to the elderly and to all women for terming the party a 125-year-old budhiya and saying it was a burden on the country. He also said Modi had "lost his balance."

Do you term these as derogatory and disparaging remarks or just a campaign gimmick?

Whether political leaders should talk of economy and development instead of discussing 'budhiya' and 'gudiya'?

Enraged by the CBI's decision to give a clean chit to Congress leader Jagadish Tytler in 1984 anti-sikhs riot case, a journalist on Tuesday threw a shoe at Union Home Minister P Chidambaram during a press conference at Congress Headquarter in New Delhi. Chidambaram deftly swerved to a side to avoid the shoe. The journalist, who was identified as Jarnail Singh of a hindi daily was taken out from the conference room by the Congress members from the press conference. The incident took place when Chidambaram was answering a question related to the clean chit given by the CBI to Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The journalist was taken away by police but was later let off and no case was registered against him. While being taken he said that he wanted to protest the injustice meted out to the Sikhs by Government. Praising the Delhi journalist in hurling a shoe at Home Minister Sikh political party Shiromani Akali Dal has announced a cash reward of Rs.200,000 for him.

Do you believe the shoe throwing incident reflect the feelings of all the Sikhs of the country?

Will you term Jarnail Singh's act as "courage and bravery" in hurling a shoe at Home Minister?

Washington views India as a 'critical partner' in helping to deal with the challenges of the 21st century, President Barack Obama said on Thursday. Obama said this after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in London. Obama, describing the Prime Minister as a 'wise and decent man' also said he admired Singh for his economic policies that unleashed India's economic power.

Manmohan Singh returned the US president's compliments by saying India greatly admires Obama. "Under your leadership we will face challenges such as climate change," the PM told Obama.

Apart from the global financial meltdown, the two leaders discussed an entire array of bilateral and global issues, including terrorism, climate change and the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Do you agree with Obama that India is a crucial U.S. Partner?

Do you think Obama's appreciation for Dr. Singh may worry the Left parties and the BJP?

Taking a strong line against the incidents of violence and rowdyism in Pilibhit on last Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh Government imposed the National Security Act (NSA) on the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Varun Gandhi . The decision to charge Varun under the NSA has been made on the eve of his case coming up for hearing in the Chief


Judicial Magistrate's court in Pilibhit. The UP Police said Mr. Gandhi has been charged with inciting communal tension through his speeches at election rallies held in Pilibhit district on March 7 and March 9. Another charge levelled against him was that he incited his supporters to resort to violence. BJP described the Maywati government's action as "the worst kind of vendetta politics as this is not emergency days. The maximum period of detention under the NSA is one year with no provision for bail.

Do you think UP govt has overreacted by slapping serious law like NSA on Varun?

Do you rate Varun as a terrorist?