Clashes across Egypt leave at least two people dead

At least two people have been killed and dozens more injured as protesters held anti-government rallies in several cities across Egypt.

A female protester was killed as Egyptian security forces used tear gas and buckshot to disperse a rally in the city of Fayoum, just south of the capital Cairo on Friday.

Reda Ramadan was shot by a birdshot pellet in the stomach during clashes with security forces, a source in the National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy said.

The other victim was a 52-year-old man who suffocated by tear gas during clashes in Cairo.

The clashes erupted following Friday prayers.

Supporters of ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, and the Muslim Brotherhood movement were chanting slogans against the military-backed interim government as well as former defense minister, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s presidential bid.

Sisi led the overthrow of Morsi, suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament in July last year. He is also accused of leading a severe crackdown against the supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

The army-backed government has detained hundreds of students since Morsi was ousted. More than 500 people have also been handed death sentences and hundreds of others have been given lengthy jail terms.

Rights groups say at least 1,400 people have been killed in the political violence since Morsi’s ouster, “most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”

GMA/AB/SS

Israel troops raid Palestinian villages in W Bank

The Israeli military has reportedly raided two Palestinian villages in the West Bank, conducting door-to-door searches in the occupied Palestinian territory.

According to local sources, Israeli forces raided the Palestinian village of Deir al-Samet situated near the southern occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron) on Thursday evening and broke into the houses there.

Israeli troops also took a Palestinian away without any arrest warrant, according to the reports.

Meanwhile, local sources near al-Khalil said Israeli soldiers had also interrogated dozens of Palestinians there.

Israeli forces also launched a similar assault on the village of al-Ma’sara near the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem and searched the house of Palestinian activist Hasan Breijiyya, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Israeli separation Wall and Settlements.

The Israeli military reportedly made no arrests during the invasion.

The Israeli military regularly raids houses of Palestinians in the West Bank, arresting activists and civilians, mostly without any charges. Many Palestinians remain under detention in Israeli prisons, where they are given minimal access to their basic rights.

In February, Head of the Census Department at the PA Ministry of Detainees Abdul-Nasser Ferwana said the Tel Aviv regime is currently holding over 4,800 Palestinian inmates in seventeen prisons as well as detention and interrogation centers.

Palestinian sources say over 180 out of nearly 5,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails are under administrative detention.

MKA/NN

HRW raps Israel for shooting at Palestinians

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has slammed the Israeli regime for shooting at Palestinian civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a report issued on Friday, the rights group called on Tel Aviv to stop the shootings, and said four people have been killed near the Israeli separation wall since the beginning of 2014.

HRW also mentioned data by the United Nations which said more than 60 civilians were injured by Israeli gunfire near the wall.

The report highlighted seven incidents between January 2 and March 1, which left four people dead and five others injured, “none of whom posed a threat to the (Israeli) soldiers or others.”

“Month after month, Israeli forces have wounded and killed unarmed Palestinians who did nothing but cross an invisible, shifting line that Israel has drawn inside Gaza’s perimeter,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s Middle East and North Africa executive director.

The Israeli military frequently targets Palestinians along the border with the besieged enclave.

Israel launched a major military offensive against the besieged Gaza Strip on November 14, 2012, leaving over 160 Palestinians, including many women and children, dead and about 1,200 others injured.

The 1.7 million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip are living in what is called the world’s largest open-air prison as Israel retains full control of the airspace, territorial waters, and border crossings of the coastal sliver.

The Israeli military also frequently launches attacks in the coastal enclave, claiming they are conducted for defensive purposes. However, disproportionate force is always used, in violation of international law, and civilians are often killed or injured.

NT/MHB/MAM

Egypt police clash with al-Azhar students in Cairo

Egyptian security forces have clashed with students outside an al-Azhar University dormitory in eastern Cairo.

On Friday, police fired tear gas at students protesting against the presidential candidacy of the former defense minister, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The students also called for the release of all the detained students and the dismissal of police guards from universities.

Al-Azhar has seen almost daily anti-government demonstrations that frequently turn violent since the military ousted President Mohamed Morsi last year.

The latest protest rallies come after Sisi officially submitted his bid to run for president.

Sisi led the overthrow of Morsi, suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament in July last year. He is also accused of leading a severe crackdown against the supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Meanwhile, at least two people were killed and dozens injured during anti-government demonstrations in several cities across the country.

A woman was killed in the city of Fayoum, south of the capital Cairo. She was shot in the stomach with a birdshot pellet during clashes with the security forces. The other victim was a man who died after inhaling tear gas in Cairo.

Several international bodies and the United Nations Human Rights Council have expressed concern over the Egyptian security forces’ heavy-handed crackdown and the killing of peaceful anti-government protesters.

Rights groups say at least 1,400 people have been killed in the violence since Morsi’s ouster, “most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”

JR/MHB/MAM

Modi government didn’t utilize Rs 3,689 crore for dalit uplift

AHMEDABAD: At a rally in Muzaffarpur in March, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had stood beside dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party, and declared that the coming decade would be a “decade of dalits” and weaker sections of the country. Back in Gujarat however, over the last decade nearly Rs 3,689 crore of funds for targeted programmes to uplift dalits and economically and socially backward classes, went unutilized, according to dalit group Navsarjan.

Interestingly, Modi, who heads the high-powered committee for scheduled castes and backward communities, chaired its meetings only twice in the last decade. This information was brought forth in an RTI application by Navsarjan on Friday.

At a press meeting, Navsarjan member Kirit Rathod said: “Modi headed the high-powered committee that overlooks fund allocations under the schedule caste sub-plan. He chaired the review meeting twice, once in August 2003, when the committee was formed and in June 2004 — over the last decade,” says Rathod.

The reply also revealed that from 2007 to 2014, the government spent less, because of delays in releasing funds from the state government, than what was fixed for the year. “If in 2007 it was to spend Rs 1,097 crore, it spent Rs 554.16 crore. In 2013, if it was to spend Rs 4,095 crore, the amount spent was Rs 2,850 crore,” says Rathod. “This could have been avoided had the CM taken interest in reviewing the scheduled caste sub-plan fund allocations,” adds Rathod. Rathod’s application also revealed that most of the sub-plan allocation was made under major schemes and budgets like the Narmada canal system, roads and buildings, rural development, labour and employment department among others

Boro v Barnsley: Match report from the Riverside Stadium

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A QUICK response to a shock opener then a deadly final flourish earned Boro a 3-1 win in their final fixture of the season at the Riverside and relegated Barnsley.

Boro dominated the first half but failed to put away a string of chances then Barnsley took the lead early in the second as Jean-Yves M'Voto hooked home from a corner.

But Boro levelled within 60 seconds as Lee Tomlin drilled home then in a lively finish they went ahead in the final minute through unmarked Danny Graham before lively Tomlin wrapped it up deep in stoppage time.

Boro brought Jonathan Woodgate back into the centre of defence with Ben Gibson switching to left-back in place of injured George Friend.

Jacob Butterfield returned to midfield in place of Nathaniel Chalobah while Adam Reach – back from a loan spell at Bradford – started ahead of Emmanuel Ledesma and Lee Tomlin came in for Luke Williams.

Boro probed first in the second minute as a quick ball over the top from Gibson sent Reach storming towards the box but the keeper was out of his box quickly to beat him in a sprint and hoof clear.

Boro were pressing high up the pitch and forcing Barnsley into some nervous defending.

On six minutes Tomlin wrestled to win a ball in midfield then chipped over the top for Graham to chase down the inside right channel but again the keeper won the race to clear.

Boro's first real chance came on eight minutes as Reach was quickly in to steal the ball from sluggish M'voto and wriggled into the box on the left but his shot flew over.

Barnsley went close on 12 minutes as Pedersen swung a cross into the box and it clipped Kenneth Omeruo and squirted goalwards forcing Dimi Konstantopoulos to dive full length to save at the foot of the far post.

Boro were back on the attack soon after and after a touch on by Tomlin, former Barnsley man Butterfield blazed over from 25 yards.

And they went close on 17 minutes when Varga played a one two with Butterfield on the right then picked out Tomlin to push to the edge of the box for Graham and although his first touch was poor he recovered to drill a foot over.

Barnsley started to press forward tentatively and won a couple of corners which Konstantopoulos collected routinely.

Boro almost broke through on 28 minutes as Butterfield flicked into the path of Tomlin 20 yards out but he stumbled then turned into a defender and the moment was gone.

The visitors launched a rare raid down the right in the half-hour but McLaughlin cut inside and put in a weak long 20 yard angled shot that trickled towards Konstantopoulos.

Boro almost carved out the opened on 32 minutes as Reach cut in from the left and when his angled shot was blocked by defender Etuhu it fell for Tomlin who rifled in first time effort that came back off the keeper's chest.

A minute later Boro went close again as a Tomlin shot from the edge of the box on the right was parried by the keeper to Reach on the far side and his angled effort flew past the far post with Adomah coming in but just failing to connect.

And then on 35 minutes Graham did well to win a sliding challenge then tapped the loose ball back to Adomah who tricked to the edge of the box only to curl a weak shot to the far post that was routinely saved.

Then, as the pressure built, first Reach pulled back for Adomah to stab a shot that hit defender Kennedy's head then bounced back for Butterfield but his effort was charged down in a crowded box.

On 40 minutes Woodgate limped off with Daniel Ayala coming off the bench.

Boro continued to press and on 42 minutes went close as Tomlin laid a ball back for Reach to drill a sizzling 25 yard effort through the crowd that was parried.

Then a minute later lively Butterfield barged through a challenge 20 yards out to crack in low shot that sent the keeper full length to tip around the near post.

And on the stroke of half-time Butterfield crossed in for Ayala to stab goalwards but again Steele saved well.

HALF-TIME: BORO 0 BARNSLEY 0

Boro started on the offensive but they were guilty of over-elaboration as first they swamped the Barnsley box only to lay it back for Tomlin to put a long range low effort wide.

Then Tomlin slotted into Reach in a good position in the box but he checked inside and then back again before being closed down and playing it back for Graham to fire over.

Barnsley snatched a shock opener with their first attack on the half on 53 minutes.

When Ayala conceded a cheap corner Cranie sent it bouncing through the Boro box and when no-one attacked it JEAN-YVES M'VOTO casually hooked it goalwards and it bounced beyond the dive of Konstantopoulos.

But Boro hit back within 60 seconds as LEE TOMLIN seized on a loose ball on the edge of the box, took a touch and fired a low shot across the diving keeper and inside the far post on 54 minutes..

And Boro almost took the lead a minute later as they won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Graham sent it dipping a fraction over the bar.

On the hour Boro put on Nathaniel Chalobah for Butterfield while Barnsley introduced O'Brien and Proschwitz for Lawrence and Pedersen.

Barnsley had a long range effort on 65 minutes as O'Brien cracked straight at the keeper from 30 yards.

On 66 minutes Seb Hines came on for injured Omeruo.

Barnsley had a good chance on 78 minutes as a cross came in from the left for Proschwitz to fire over when he had time and space to pick his spot.

On 70 minutes Gibson was booked for handball.

Barnsley threatened again as a free-kick was scrambled away and M'Voto hooked it back into the crowd and keeper Konstantopoulos, crowded by two attackers, punched the ball high in the air then leapt to collect.

Then from a Kennedy corner M'Voto shrugged off Hines to power a header over.

There was a nasty clash of heads on 78 minutes as Ayala and M'Voto crunched each other challenging for a cross.

On 80 minutes Barnsley put on Rose for McLaughlin.

Boro broke forward quickly to threaten on 83 minutes as Tomlin got down the right and chipped to the far side to pick out the run of Graham but a defender stretched to just poke it away.

And they should have sealed victory on 85 minutes as Chalobah burst into the box and then squared for unmarked Tomlin but he took poor touch and when he belatedly drilled in an angled shot the keeper had charged out to block.

On 88 minutes Chalobah was booked for a foul on Dawson

But Boro sealed victory on 90 minutes when a cross into the box fell to Adomah aand when his 10 yard shot was blocked by the keeper it spun to DANNY GRAHAM who slammed home from eight yards out.

And Boro wrapped it up three minutes into stoppage time when Varga won a tackle and charged down the right then found LEE TOMLIN who played a one-two with Adomah then drilled home.

BORO (4231): Konstantopoulos, Varga, Omeruo (Hines 66), Woodgate © (Ayala 40), Gibson, Butterfield (Chalobah 60), Whitehead, Reach, Tomlin, Graham, Adomah. Subs: Steele, Main, Ledesma, Morris

BARNSLEY (442): Steele, McLaughlin (Rose 80), Kennedy, M'voto, Cranie, Etuhu, Dawson, Lawrence (O'Brien 60), Jennings, O'Grady, Pedersen (Proschwitz 60) Subs: Turner, Cywka, Mellis, Rose, Ramage.

Ref: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire)

Att: 14,867 (751 visitors)

World champ Tai Woffinden confident of regaining top form in Poland

World champion Tai Woffinden says “I expect to be in contention” as he battles to regain top form in the European Grand Prix at Bydgoszcz

World champion Tai Woffinden says “I expect to be in contention” as he battles to regain top form in the European Grand Prix at Bydgoszcz, Poland tonight.

The 23-year-old Brit travelled to the opening round in Auckland on April 5 carrying back and foot ligament injuries and fought his way to seven points.

Woffinden, whose dad Rob rode for Middlesbrough, is yet to pick up the blistering pace which saw him crowned the youngest ever Grand world champion last year.

But as he travels to Bydgoszcz, where he reached his first ever Grand Prix final in April 2013, Woffinden is far from panicking and confident he can get back to his best.

He said: “There was no way I was ever going to show world championship winning form right from the start of this season, was there?

“I feel fine, honestly I do. Yes, the scores haven’t been what I would have wanted, but I feel fine mentally and on the physical side I’m getting there too.

“I’m always disappointed when I don’t score the points for Wolverhampton because they need me as a powerful spearhead. I ran three lasts in a Polish League meeting for Wroclaw early on too which was more than the entire 2013 season!

“But I’m not ready to press the panic button. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about riding in Bydgoszcz.

“It’s an awesome place, an awesome race track and I’m going for it.

“I scored seven points in Auckland which was a steady start, not far off how I started last season, so if I can just keep it going and improve round-by-round, then I expect to be in contention.

“I know there’s a target on my back as champion, but I’m ready for that. I’m looking to keep my head down, work hard and have a good meeting in Bydgoszcz.”

Tykes can blow the rest away, insists skipper Andrew Gale

Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale believes there’s much more to come from his team

Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale believes there’s much more to come from his team.

The Tykes are second in the County Championship Division One table after opening their campaign with a draw and a win.

It was the destruction of newly-promoted Northamptonshire earlier this week that will have caused the rest of the division to sit up and take notice.

Yorkshire, who missed out on the title to neighbours Durham last season after setting the pace, won by an innings and 120 runs at Headingley.

And Gale, whose side take on Middlesex at Lord’s in their next Championship fixture, which starts tomorrow, knows there’s room for improvement within the squad.

“I thought we played to about 80 per cent of our potential,” he said, looking back to the Northants win. I think we’ve still got quite a lot in the tank.

“I think there’s more runs to come from the top order, and the difference with the bat really was Gary Ballance, who played superbly well.

“I thought there were periods where we bowled very well but still periods where we didn’t put the ball in the right areas consistently enough.

“We were probably striving for wickets too much when we got the sniff of a win and pushed too hard for it. So that will give us a kick up the backside.”

The match was particularly notable for former Northants favourite Jack Brooks, who claimed match figures of 8-112 including a five-wicket haul that helped Yorkshire bowl the visitors out for just 94 in their first innings.

“It’s never easy, I would imagine, playing against your old club because you always want to prove a point,” said Gale.

“Not that Jack left on bad terms. There were probably a few nerves around as well, so to perform in the fashion he did was superb.

“He can be a little bit more consistent and he knows that; he bowls a few full tosses and a few short balls at times but he also bowls wicket-taking balls.

“Jack’s a great asset for us and very effective at Headingley in particular.”

Gale’s opposite number at Durham isn’t quite so happy with life.

Paul Collingwood’s side, who don’t play this weekend, have drawn both of their games so far but have been a position to win both before being thwarted by committed batting from their opponents.

“We’re playing good cricket, not excellent cricket,” said Collingwood. “We are putting teams under pressure for long periods, but we are just not quite finishing them off.

Looking back to the home draw with Somerset, he added: “We didn’t score anywhere near where we should have in the first innings (Durham posted 308). We batted okay but I thought we could have got up to 350 or 400.

“I’m enjoying the positiveness in our batting and I think we can take that to the next level. But I don’t want that to be an excuse for not making big totals. David Warner, for example, plays positively but he still makes big hundreds because he has that determination.

“I think we do miss a Ben Stokes spell or a Mark Wood spell because they do give you X-factor when it comes to the crunch.

“The guys have been building pressure with partnerships but sometimes you do need that real one spell that takes the game away from the opposition. We just haven’t quite had that.

“So far we haven’t had a hundred or a five-for, so we need those match-winning performances.”

US official threatens to cut aid if Palestinian national unity government is formed

A senior US administration official said on Thursday that the United States would have to reconsider its aid to the Palestinians if the Fatah-led Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) forms a unity government with Hamas.

“Any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to non-violence, recognition of the state of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the parties,” the US official told Reuters on condition of anonymity, speaking of concessions that Hamas has long rejected as pre-conditions for talks.

“If a new Palestinian government is formed, we will assess it based on its adherence to the stipulations above, its policies and actions, and will determine any implications for our assistance based on US law,” the official said.

Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, and the PLO, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, announced on Wednesday that they have reached a reconciliation agreement, deepening the crisis in the faltering US-mediated peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Israel has since cancelled all immediate plans for talks.

The reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah, which comes after a long series of failed efforts and seven years of infighting, entails the formation of a unity government within five weeks and the holding of a general election six months later.

The US official told Reuters that the Obama administration would be closely “following reports about Palestinian reconciliation efforts”.

“We have been clear about the principles that must guide any Palestinian government in order for it to play a constructive role in achieving peace and building an independent Palestinian state,” he added

Teesside anglers urged to keep it legal and make sure others do as well

Teesside anglers are being reminded to obey the law - and to help the Envrionment Agency uphold it

Teesside anglers are being reminded to obey the law - and to help the Envrionment Agency uphold it.

Over Easter in Teesside, Northumberland, and Durham, Environment Agency enforcement officers caught34 people fishing illegally.

Spot checks were carried out on all of the north east’s major rivers and most large stillwaters over four days, ensuring that anglers were properly licensed and following seasonal rules.

Some 1,064 anglers were checked: A total of 27 were fishing without a licence, and seven close season bye-law offences were detected.

The weekend’s operation follows similar enforcement action that saw 11 anglers caught fishing illegally in the first three weeks of the close season, which began on March 16.

Kevin Summerson, fisheries enforcement team leader at the Environment Agency, said: “Over the Easter weekend we were targeting anglers who persist in using illegal baits in rivers during the close season.

“The close season in our rivers is important to allow migratory fish time to breed and spawn, and certain baits that are more attractive to coarse fish are banned at this time to reduce the opportunity of game anglers inadvertently catching freshwater fish.

“We also checked anglers at stillwaters and reservoirs to ensure they were fishing with a valid licence.

“This is important because the revenue from licence fees goes back into improving fisheries, be that water quality, habitat or compliance.”

Licences can be bought online or at post offices.

Anyone who suspects illegal fishing to be taking place should report the matter to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline, on 0800 807060.

Ton-up Dawson reaches landmark in Cleveland meeting

Chris Dawson reached a landmark at the Cleveland meeting, with his treble taking him to the 100 winner mark

Chris Dawson reached a landmark at the Cleveland meeting, with his treble taking him to the 100 winner mark in point-to-points and hunterchases.

The winners were Chris’s only rides of the day and there is no-one who rides the track at Morden, near Sedgefield, better.

He said: “I’ve ridden about 40 winners here. This is my home track so it’s very fitting that the 100 came here.”

Chris’s first winner came in the John Hellens Contractors Mens Open Race. The field were tightly grouped throughout with Mardood and Beggar’s Velvet making the running.

Chris (pictured), riding Yes I Can, stalked the leading pair throughout and kicked on for home at the top of the hill last time around, continually extending his lead to win by eight lengths for owner, trainer Maria Myco from Beggar’s Velvet and Drew Holmes who ran on for second.

The single win was quickly turned into a double in the Beaumont Accountancy Restricted Race.

A similar ride with Spozalizio held up in mid-field until the final run for home meant that the favourite duly obliged, but this time a slightly shorter winning distance of four lengths from Indalo Return and Phil Dennis, with course owner John Wade’s Newspage back in third for Chris O’Mahony.

Dawson followed up in the next race, the Collins (Seafoods) Ltd PPORA Club Members Race run over the extended distance of 3m5f.

Coming up the hill it could have been anyone’s race, however Chris’ mount Racing Ace kept finding more and was quietly pushed out to the line, winning by three lengths and easily fending off the efforts of the hard ridden Eyre Square who finished in second and Narciso who was third.

The crowd applauded as he crossed the line and there were big cheers when the pair were led into the winners’ enclosure.

Trout topics: Five-star Keith enjoys a great day at Lockwood

Keith Bunnett caught an 8lb 6oz rainbow from the jetty at LOCKWOOD BECK, one of five trout he caught on small black Klinkhamers

Keith Bunnett caught an 8lb 6oz rainbow from the jetty at LOCKWOOD BECK, one of five trout he caught on small black Klinkhamers.

Boat duo Peter and Ann Mclean caught six rainbows between them fishing out from the old slipway, Ann catching the biggest rainbow at 5lb 4oz on a small Pink Zonker.

Les Davison went afloat to catch five on Zonkers, attracting a fish every time he changed the colour of his lure.

Fish came to a lot of different patterns and methods, Colin Brown catching six to 3lb on Buzzers fished six to 12 inches under an indicator from the bottom of the wood side.

Michael Powell opted to fish on top and caught ten from the bottom of the moor side on Foam Beetles, while Paul Drummond caught ten to 3lb on Foam Beetles and small Shuttlecocks fished down the moor side.

Brian Gardiner caught a lovely 3lb brown from the overflow end of the dam on a GRHE, while Michael Powell caught a 7lb rainbow from the bottom end of the moorside.

It all goes to show how sport is livening up now that milder weather has arrived - though anglers sometimes need to be prepared to switch tactics and patterns to catch fish which can at times be hard to tempt.

A further 240 rainbows from 1lb 12oz to 6lb were stocked yesterday.

Next Saturday Lockwood hosts a British Float Tube Association demonstation day where anglers can learn about the technique and equipment.

On Sunday May 18 a heat of the Scierra Pairs Boat Competition takes place on Lockwood.

To book a place or for details visit http://ift.tt/1rwIhNy or ring Gordon Byers on 07973 779527 or 01287 660501.

EIGHT fish limits were plentiful in a lively week at SCALING DAM, with some anglers taking a second permit and catching a further limit.

A large variety of baits have been successful, and for fly anglers a range of wets have tempted trout.

Richard Hay from Saltburn was one of several anglers to catch fish of 3lb, with his being a fine blue trout, one of eight fish he caught from the dam.

Billy Patton, 12, from Guisborough netted a 3lb 4oz rainbow caught on White Gulp Eggs fished from the dam.

Jake Dale from Stokesley caught the biggest fish of the week a 3lb 8oz rainbow which fell for worm and Spring Green PowerBait cocktail.

All round angler Gerry Dewey from Redcar had a fantastic two hours on the jetty returning four rainbows caught on a Silver Invicta, then completing his limit by using just two Orange PowerBait Eggs.

Over the week 159 anglers caught 568 trout. A further 700 have been stocked.

AT WITTON CASTLE LAKES in the last week 110 anglers caught a total of 410 trout to 7lb.

Top patterns have been: Bloodworm, CDC, Buzzer and Damsel.

Steve Cochrane won the Troutmasters fish-off with a total catch of 8lb.

LOTS of trout of around the 3lb mark have been stocked at LEIGHTON RESERVOIR, which should keep up the rod average which was over five in the early weeks of the season.

Top patterns include: Cat’s Whisker, Dawson’s Olive and Orange Fritz, though Buzzers and Nymphs are starting to take more fish.

Other returns:

GRASSHOLME: 381 anglers caught 1,095 trout to 9lb 12oz. Bait: Orange PowerBait, Magic Dust, Toby spinners. Patterns: Black Fritz, Cat’s Whisker. 850 stocked.

HURY: 81 anglers caught 220 trout to 5lb. Patterns: Cat’s Whisker, Black Hopper, Orange Blob. 200 stocked.

DERWENT: 405 anglers caught 1,512 trout to 5lb 4oz. Bait: Pink PowerBait Eggs and Magic Dust. Patterns: Black Fritz, Humungus, Tadpole, Blue Zulu, Dawson’s Olive. 1,500 stocked.

FONTBURN: 292 anglers caught 1510 trout to 6lb. Bait: Ledgered Red Gulp or Orange PowerBait Eggs. Patterns: Dawson’s Olive, Orange Fritz, Black Fritz. 1,500 stocked.

KIELDER: 123 anglers caught 215 trout to 3lb 4oz. Bait: Pink PowerBait Eggs, ledgered worm and sweetcorn. Patterns: Bibio, Alexandra, Red Montana. 700 stocked.

Russian jets cross into Ukraine airspace

The war of words between the United States and Russia has heated up over Crimea and eastern Ukraine with US military officials now saying that Russian fighter jets crossed into Ukrainian airspace several times over the past 24 hours.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists about the issue, said on Friday that the Russian jets could have been checking Ukrainian radar system or making a show of force against the country.

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on March 17 and formally applied to become part of Russia following a referendum a day earlier, in which nearly 97 percent of the participants voted in favor of the move.

On March 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the documents officially making Crimea part of the Russian territory. He said the move was carried out based on international law.

On April 17, Russia, Ukraine, the US and the European Union agreed over steps to “de-escalate” the crisis in eastern Ukraine, where anti-Kiev protesters seized buildings in several towns and cities.

But, Ukrainian authorities have ordered a military offensive against the protesters, claiming that Russian special forces are fueling unrest in the country.

Putin has dismissed as “nonsense” claims that Russian special forces are fomenting unrest in eastern Ukraine.

This week, Russia began military exercises close to the border with Ukraine, saying the drills are in response to Kiev’s intensified crackdown on pro-Russia protesters in the east and south.

Moscow called on the US to force Kiev to halt its operation in Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. But, interim authorities in Kiev said they are ready to fight Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday accused the US of being behind the Ukraine turmoil and said Moscow would respond if its interests came under attack.

“There is no reason not to believe that the Americans are running the show,” RT television quoted him as saying.

On Wednesday, some 150 US Army troops arrived in Poland, the first of what will be a “persistent presence” of the US military in the country.

The US soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team were airlifted from Vicenza, Italy, and dropped in Swidwin, in the northwest of the country.

At least 450 more US troops will be deployed in the next few days in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

On Tuesday, Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby announced that the US will send 600 troops to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia over the coming days for joint military exercises.

In an interview with Press TV on Saturday, American political commentator Don DeBar noted that the US is “placing the military resources into the theater for an attack on Russia.”

He added that the Russians are apparently being encircled by the US military.

GJH/GJH

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude hails ground-breaking Teesside deal

Government minister Francis Maude announced the second wave of a ground-breaking national energy initiative during a visit to Teesside

Government minister Francis Maude announced the second wave of a ground-breaking national energy initiative during a visit to Teesside.

Tory MP Mr Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, was at the Air Products plant at Port Clarence yesterday to announce that the Government will repeat its Energy for Growth scheme - which uses Government buying power to save taxpayers’ money, support jobs and boost the UK energy industry.

Mr Maude said: “We are reforming Whitehall to get the best possible value for hardworking taxpayers, saving £10bn in 2012-3 alone.

“Before the last general election, Government failed to leverage its huge buying potential to negotiate a good price and support the UK energy industry.

View gallery

Minister Maude visits Air Products in Port Clarence

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“Energy for Growth ensures the security of our energy infrastructure - it’s good for the industry, good for taxpayers, and supports this Government’s long-term plan for a stronger economy.”

In last year’s pilot project, the Government agreed a 20-year deal with Air Products to buy electricity at a fixed price from 2016 - protecting against the fluctuations of the market, saving taxpayers an estimated £97m and helping to create up to 750 jobs on Teesside.

Electricity generators will shortly be invited to bid for a new contract in the second phase of the Cabinet Office’s scheme.

The deal secured with Air Products also ensured the company’s investment in the energy-from-waste Tees Valley 2 plant in Stockton, which is worth an estimated £320m.

Under the second project, bids will be invited for a similar deal for up to 15 years with renewable electricity generators. It is hoped the deal will deliver comparable savings and help unlock further investment in the renewable energy market.

The Government’s Crown Commercial Service - the UK’s largest energy customer - spends £1.6bn on gas and electricity every year, 3% of the total UK energy demand.

Redcar civic centre and sports complex opens to the public

After a 25-month construction period, Redcar's new civic centre and sports complex has been opened to the public

Redcar's new Leisure and Community Heart is officially beating.

After a 25-month construction period, the town’s new civic centre and sports complex was opening to the public today with a free family fun event.

And delighted council leader George Dunning predicts the £31m heart will set pulses racing when people experience it.

He said: “Delivering a project of this size and quality in these challenging times is nothing short of remarkable.

“Redcar and Cleveland now has the civic centre it deserves and one which will help drive the redevelopment of the borough.”

The impressive building, with its light and airy interior, is effectively split into two halves.

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Opening of the Redcar & Cleveland Leisure & Community Heart

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“One is full of civic and business facilities including a council chamber, mayor’s parlour, register services, meeting rooms and 44 business units, while the other is devoted to sport and leisure, with gym and fitness studios, a sprung floored sports hall and dance space and a well-equipped gym.

And for the first time since the old one closed in 1997, Redcar has a swimming pool again - a six-lane, 25m affair, as well as a variable-depth teaching pool with hydraulic adjustable floor and a beach style pool with play apparatus and water fountains. There’s also the FlowRider machine, which gives anyone over 42ins tall the chance to surf or bodyboard artificial waves, plus sauna and steam rooms.

Councillor Olwyn Peters, Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “This development provides the facilities for people to live healthy, active and fulfilling lives.

“It takes some believing that all this has happened in two years. Just to be standing here in such an amazing place shows Redcar and Cleveland’s vision. There were times we thought it wasn’t going to happen, but it has and we’ve delivered.”

But Mark Hannon, the council’s Cabinet member for economic development, stressed the new building was about more than just leisure. He said: “The commercial space provides entrepreneurs with an opportunity to nurture business ideas, develop new companies and create employment.

“We are committed to driving economic growth so that the entire borough can prosper.”

Stockton quizzer Clive Dunning crowned champion of Mastermind

When it comes to testing someone’s bottle and brains there isn’t anything quite like Mastermind

When it comes to testing someone’s bottle and brains there isn’t anything quite like Mastermind.

Notoriously challenging questions, an intimidating setting and a black leather chair lit by a solitary spotlight would be enough to push most people over the edge.

But Teesside quizzer Clive Dunning proved he not only had the right answers, but could also handle the pressure when he was last night crowned 2014 Mastermind champion.

And Clive wasn’t alone in proving our area has brains. He was joined in the final by civil servant Michael McPartland, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, who led the contest after the specialist subject round.

Clive, a 55-year-old English lecturer from Stockton said: “It was a totally surreal experience – I was nervous throughout, but the tension in the final was a completely different ball game,”

“When I won I thought I would be totally euphoric, but there was just this great sense of relief.

“For me, as somebody who loves quizzes, winning Mastermind is the ultimate accolade.”

Clive has always enjoyed quizzes and has been a regular at the Malleable Social Club, Stockton, weekly quiz for about 30 years.

But it was when he was made redundant from his job at Stockton Riverside College that he decided to take his hobby to the next level.

“When I was made redundant it was quite a blow, it was a job I loved,” said Clive, a dad to three daughters, who reached the semi-final of the Brain of Britain quiz on Radio 4 in 2013.

“So rather than stagnate, I thought I would give myself a focus.”

And to get a place on the BBC2 show, Teesside University graduate Clive beat more than 2,000 applicants before making it through to the final.

“The only questions I could remember after were the ones I should have got,” said Clive, who lives with partner Jean Dove.

“For the final you film a short piece about your chosen subject - mine being the life and poetry of Philip Larkin - and we went to Hull, where he lived the greater part of his working life. However I had originally suggested going to Haydon Bridge where he spent time at a holiday cottage.

“But in the final, one of the questions was where was the cottage and I couldn’t get it. It just showed the pressure of it all.”

But the tension didn’t stop there when at the end of the show, Clive and another contestant had scored the same numberof points.

The winner therefore had to be decided by the person who had made the least amount of passes. Thankfully, Clive had only passed once.

“When John Humphrys handed me the bowl he said ‘you look like a nervous wreck’ and I was,” said Clive, who is to start private tutoring.

“How I got through it I don’t know but it is a really proud achievement.”

How do you measure up? Test yourself against five of the general knowledge questions faced by Clive

1.  In international cricket matches, what does the technology DRS stand for?

2.  The siege of Troy by the Greeks was the setting for which Shakespeare play?

3.  Which mountain range, designated a national park in 2003, contains four of Britain’s five highest mountain peaks?

4.  Which band central to the psychedelic movement had fans knows at “deadheads”?

5.  For which 1996 film did Geoffrey Rush win a best actor Oscar for playing the gifted but troubled pianist David Helfgott?

Former drone pilot says US government could kill me

Former US drone operator Brandon Bryant says that he risks being killed by the US government if he decides to return to his country.

“They could kill me if they want to, but when I go back home, I’m homeless, like I’m a disabled homeless veteran. I have no income. I’m nothing,” he told in an exclusive interview with Press TV.

Bryant, who has operated drones from different US bases and flown them over several countries, attended a panel debate in Oslo which was followed by an exclusive pre-screening of a documentary about US drones.

The Norwegian-produced documentary, DRONE, is the latest film on the US covert drone war and will be released this month.

The documentary, which features Bryant and a human rights lawyer from Pakistan, shows how the US Army uses video games as tools to recruit young people at gaming conventions.

For about a decade, the United States has been running assassination drone programs in several countries.

The assassination drone strikes often result in civilian casualties.

Pakistani lawyer Shahzad Akbar is representing families of drone victims and survivors.

Akbar has filed charges of war crimes against the Central Intelligence Agency and has succeeded in getting a Pakistani court to rule the CIA drone strikes as illegal.

The US administration claims that its unmanned aircraft attacks target al-Qaeda militants, but local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the non-UN-sanctioned airstrikes.

AGB/AGB

George Friend: Boro are back from our lowest point

George Friend believes Boro have come a long way from their lowest point suffering defeat at the hands of Barnsley

The visit of Barnsley today offers Boro the chance to exorcise some ghosts.

Shell-shocked Boro were torn apart in a chaotic first half in the game at Oakwell in October and were three down as they were booed off at the break.

They fought back after the interval in the second half but the damage was done.

The red-faced side lost 3-2 and boss Tony Mowbray was axed within 48 hours.

Since then though Boro have come a long way, insists left-back George Friend.

“That was a real low point, definitely,” said Friend.

“That was the game that sadly lost Tony his job and there was a real sense of shame among the team about how we played and the manner of the defeat.

“Everyone expected Boro to beat Barnsley that day - we all did - and we failed completely. As a team we were very poor.”

Back then Boro were leaking goals at an alarming rate and slipping towards the danger zone but since the arrival of Aitor Karanka Boro have improved markedly.

“Since the last meeting with Barnsley we have changed as a team,” said Friend.

“We are more organised, we defend as a unit from the front and we have tightened up quite a bit at the back

“We have kept a lot of clean sheets and at times we’ve shown we can be a good team, particularly at home.”

But Friend admits some poor results against struggling sides remains an Achilles’ heel for Boro, last week’s disappointing home defeat to Millwall being a case in point.

“We have done well against the top sides but played worse against the lower teams this year,” said Friend.

“I can’t explain that but it has to be eliminated if we want to be a successful team.

“If you want to be up the top there’s going to be a lot of team lower than you.

“We have to start winning those games.

“We have to get the mentality right. No game is a gimme.

“There are phases where the other team is scrapping for dear life against us and we have to match that, we have to keep passing well, we have to stay on top and then take our chances.

“We have the players to be out-playing the likes of Millwall and it was bitterly disappointing that we fell short.

“Barnsley are in a similar position, fighting for survival, but we can’t have a repeat.

“And what happened down there in October can give us extra determination to give them a good thumping.

“I’d like nothing better than to set that straight and give fans a good celebration in the final home match this season.

“We have pride to play for too after poor displays and poor results against Millwall and then again at Reading.

“We know we have to do better to put things right.

“We should be beating teams like Barnsley and Yeovil and finishing on a high.

“It’s what the fans deserve. It is important to finish well. It sets the tone for summer.”

Meanwhile Boro’s Tony Bell is celebrating after being named Groundsman of the Year in the Championship for the second time in three seasons.

Tony heads a team of five who prepare the Riverside Stadium and Hurworth pitches.

Good Samaritan teens come to aid of injured elderly Stockton woman

Two teenage boys have been praised after they helped an elderly woman get to hospital after she fell in the street suffering a head injury

Two teenage boys have been praised after they helped an elderly woman get to hospital after she fell in the street suffering a head injury.

Liam Kay and Brandon Fahey came to the aid of the woman in Stockton High Street and called for an ambulance.

However when the ambulance didn’t arrive, the two schoolboys hailed a taxi for the distressed woman.

The 14-year-olds, who go to Bishopsgarth School in Stockton, were walking to the bus station when they saw the woman on the ground.

Liam, a first aider, said: “She had her face down towards the ground when we got to her. We tried to get her up and there was blood dripping from her face.

“She had a bad wound on her head. I called for an ambulance and was told that one would be there soon. We waited 15 minutes and it didn’t arrive. I rang them again and they said they would send one when they could.

“We were starting to worry as she was really pale and very distressed so we stopped a taxi and another woman, who had stopped to help, paid for it.

“We were disappointed an ambulance didn’t come. She was an elderly woman, who is in shock and bleeding a lot. She could have died, anything can happen whey they are that age. We were really worried. We just kept her talking and calm. But she really needed to get to a hospital.”

The incident happened last Saturday at about 5.45pm.

Liam’s mother Catherine Smith, from Roseworth, Stockton, said: “I am really proud of them. Teenagers don’t get very good press these days and I think what they did in that situation was admirable.”

The North East Ambulance Service also praised the efforts of the boys. A spokeswoman for the service said: “We’d like to say thanks to Liam and Brandon for showing concern for this lady following her injury. All too often we hear negative stories about young people, but these two are obviously very caring lads.

“As an emergency service, our top priority is always life-threatening incidents. Our average response times to these type of calls is just five minutes. We reach 80% of emergencies where people could die in eight minutes or less. If your injury or ailment means you are not at risk of imminent death there could be a delay while our crews deal with higher priority cases such as heart attacks, or serious trauma. Unfortunately, at the time of Liam’s call at 5.46pm, our paramedics were already committed to a number of emergencies where life could have been in danger. We received a follow-up call from the police 18 minutes after Liam had contacted us saying an ambulance was no longer required.”

Full impact of Stockton tidal surge revealed in special report

A special report has revealed the full impact that severe flooding last year had on Teesside homes and businesses

The full impact of the tidal floods that swamped parts of Stockton in December has been revealed in a special report.

At the peak of the severe flooding on December 5, around 250 residents were evacuated from Port Clarence and taken by bus to Billingham Forum, which had been set up as a rest centre.

A report to Stockton Council’s ruling Cabinet has now given a fuller picture of the damage and disruption from what was described as an “almost perfect storm” that tore through Teesside.

Up to 32 residential properties suffered severe internal flooding in Port Clarence, with a total of 140 properties affected. In addition 80 cars were written off.

The incident also hit 20 businesses in Port Clarence, Billingham Reach Industrial Estate and Seal Sands.

The flooding of three major highways, including the A66 and the closure of the Portrack interchange, increased the disruption.

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Previous flooding in Port Clarence, Skinningrove and Lustrum Beck

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The flood investigation report said the weather conditions on December 5 saw a strong offshore wind combine with a deep area of low pressure forming in the North Sea.

“It was this low pressure system that caused the positive surge, on top of the already high tide,” said the report.

The 4.09m high tide that day “exceeded previous historical events”.

Richard McGuckin, head of technical services at Stockton Council, told a meeting of the Cabinet the storm surge “was almost a perfect storm”.

A flood bank on the southern side of Greatham Creek, downstream of the A178, failed during the tidal event, leading “to a very significant breach in the defences”.

The Environment Agency mobilised immediately and engaged the military, as there was no access to the breach due to the widespread flooding.

As reported, the Environment Agency has been allocated £9m from the Flood Defence Grant to help deliver a flood alleviation scheme for Port Clarence and Greatham South. Work is due to start on site in March 2015.

The flood report recommends an appropriate scheme “which delivers the highest possible flood risk benefits to residents and businesses in the flood risk area”.

Other recommendations include Stockton Council and all risk management partners review their response to the incident and “identify any areas for improvement”.

The Environment Agency should work with local businesses to help with protection from future incidents, and residents at risk of flooding “should also consider how they can prepare for future incidents and how they could protect their properties.”

David Rose, Cabinet member for environment, believed Stockton Council went “above and beyond” its responsibilities on the day, “getting people out safely from what was a dangerous situation.”

Turkey welcomes Palestinian reconciliation agreement

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the Palestinian reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas signed on Wednesday in the Gaza Strip.

The Anadulo news agency quoted informed sources in the premier’s office as saying that yesterday Erdogan called the head of Hamas’ political bureau Khaled Mashaal who briefed him on the details of the reconciliation signed between Fatah and Hamas.

Erdogan is reported to have commended signing the agreement that would end years of internal division and achieve Palestinian national consensus.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to convey his country’s support for the agreement, the Palestinian state news agency WAFA reported.

WAFA said Davutoglu “stressed Turkey’s support for the agreement and full readiness to help the parties implement it.”

The Palestinian move sparked Israel to announce its intention to suspend peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement saying: “The Cabinet has unanimously decided to freeze talks with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas, a terrorist organisation calling for the destruction of Israel.”

The statement went on to say that “Israel will also respond by taking unilateral measures against the Palestinian Authority.”

Egyptians continue protests against Sisi candidacy

Supporters of Egypt’s Anti-Coup Alliance have held protests against the presidential candidacy of the former head of the armed forces, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

During the protests, the Anti-Coup Alliance called on supporters to hold demonstration across the country.

The demonstrators called for the release of thousands of political prisoners who have been arrested since July 2013, when Egypt’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, was ousted in a coup led by el-Sisi.

Clashes also broke out between supporters and opponents of Sisi and security forces in the capital, Cairo.

The protests come days ahead of the start of official presidential campaigning for Egypt’s presidential election, which is scheduled to be held next month.

Leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi is the only candidate running against Sisi.

Earlier this week, police fired tear gas at students protesting against the Sisi candidacy at al-Azhar University in Cairo.

Sisi suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament following the July ouster of Morsi. Sisi is also accused of leading a deadly crackdown against the supporters of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

According to human rights groups, at least 1,400 people have been killed in the political turmoil since Morsi’s ouster, “most of them due to excessive force used by security forces.”

SZH/HSN/HRB

G7 leaders agree on new Russia sanctions

US President Barack Obama and top European leaders are moving ahead on a new round of sanctions against Russia, US officials have said.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the Group of Seven nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and US – said that they will “move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia”.

“Given the urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine’s presidential elections, we have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russia’s actions,” the statement said

AFP news agency, citing a source close to the issue, reported that the US sanctions could be imposed as early as Monday. The source, a senior US official, added that each country “will determine which targeted sanctions they will impose”.

“These sanctions will be coordinated and complementary, but not necessarily identical,” the official said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said EU foreign ministers would meet soon to discuss the issue after speaking by conference call with Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

“Given the absence of progress, we have to think about – and not just think about, but act on – the option of new sanctions,” Merkel said.

“For this purpose, European Union foreign ministers will meet as soon as possible.”

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that Washington had been working in “lockstep” with the Europeans.

“It’s safe to say we’re in the stage of not just preparing but coordinating on sanctions and what’s next.”

Russian leaders blacklisted

It likely that the third round of sanctions against Russians and Ukrainians blamed for the unrest in the former Soviet satellite will again target individuals and entities, reported AFP.

Both US and EU officials have already blacklisted more than a dozen individuals including the breakaway leaders in Crimea, annexed by Moscow last month.

Obama said earlier Friday during a visit to Seoul that Washington had already lined up more targeted sanctions against Russia “that are ready to go”.

But he also signalled the new sanctions would not involve an attempt to target key areas of the Russian economy such as mining, energy and the financial sectors.

US officials have said those measures would only be considered if Russia sent its regular forces across the border into eastern Ukraine.

“The heads of state and government have called for a rapid reaction by the G7 and raised the prospect of new sanctions by the international community against Russia,” the French presidency said in a statement.

US lawmakers, including some who visited Ukraine in recent days, also called on Obama to follow through with his sanctions threat.

Earlier on Friday, Pentagon spokesperson Colonel Steven Warren said that Russian warplanes had violated Ukraine’s airspace several times in the past 24 hours

Source: Al Jazeera

Modi bypasses party, tells electorate ‘vote for me’

NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: The morphing of BJP into brand Modi seems complete, with Narendra Modi’s latest campaign pitch completely bypassing the party to showcase himself as candidate on every seat, telling voters that each vote would go directly to him.

In BJP’s radio spots aired on Saturday, Modi tells the voter : “Aaj khud apne liye vote maang raha hoon … meri appeal hai har gaali aur kuche se, aap ka vote seedhe, seedhe mujhe milega.(Today I am seeking a vote for myself. I want tell all voters that your vote will reach me directly)”.

The gambit takes Modi’s sales pitch to another level, erasing the already shrinking gap between BJP and Modi and putting the leader before the party as the Gujarat CM gambles on a perceived wave in his favour.

The strategy is also designed to deal with local irritants; chiefly micro-level caste divides and dissatisfaction with party’s candidates. Modi’s appeal hopes to overcome these glitches by audaciously arguing that the local candidate is not really relevant.

The poll line is reminiscent of Modi’s strategy during the 2012 Gujarat elections. With BJP rebel Keshubhai Patel’s party threatening to be a spoiler, Modi found it hard to replace several unpopular BJP MLAs who might have joined Patel.

Realising BJP could suffer if local incumbency became a deciding factor, he upped the stakes saying “I am your candidate on all 182 assembly seats. Every vote you cast for local BJP candidate is a vote for me.”

BJP has not used used Modi’s “no repeat” formula in Gujarat in the selection of LS nominees, and has prudently balanced assertiveness with indulgence of local notables However, the “play safe” attitude has not quelled local eruptions of dissidence, raising fears that outsize egos and unfulfilled aspirations may interfere with the larger project.

Besides, party has to contend with the absence of a stronger organizational apparatus: a worry which is forcing the party to be conservative about its prospects in UP and Bihar despite what it feels is a favourable scenario. By making himself the focus, Modi seems to be trying to get around these hurdles.

While the strategy is not new and has been used by other leaders too, Modi seems to have taken it to a different level with a relentless and centrally-monitored publicity offensive.

However, Modi’s I-am-the-candidate-everywhere” line carries its own risks. It provides more fodder to the opposition charge that BJP has become a one-man party having junked claims to being a cadre-based outfit. It also raises the stake for Modi to ensure unprecedented returns, eliminating the room for alibis and rationalizations in a post-poll inquisition.

Modi seeks support as a “sewak (servant)” rather than a “shasak (ruler)” and urges voters to consider elections as more than an occasion to punish an incumbent government. But the punch line is Modi’s exhortation that voters keep him in mind before pressing the button on the electronic voting machine.

BJP chief media coordinator Ravi Shankar Prasad did not find Modi’s sales pitch to be out of place. “Modi has explained his vision across the length and breath of the country. He is seeking support for the agenda he has outlined. His vision is our manifesto,” said Prasad.

BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said “There is a Modi wave and he is appealing to voters on the basis of that. The votes he seeks are as much for the party as for his agenda,” Naqvi said.

The BJP leader has upped the ante recently. Last week at a rally in Chandigarh he referred to himself as future prime minister. Thereafter he has asked voters to give him 300 seats in Lok Sabha so that he can deliver on his promised development agenda.

The strategy has invited criticism that BJP could be indulging in hyperbole reminiscent of the party’s similar claims in 2004 when it felt it would win 300 seats and ended up with 114 seats in Lok Sabha.

In Lok Sabha elections, Modi is attempting to not only make up for some compromises that are an unavoidable part and parcel of the ticket distribution process, but to also swing marginal seats and woo the floating vote.

He is well aware that the last mile is likely to prove the toughest challenge and a crucial addition of a 2-3% vote can make a significant difference to BJP’s final tally