Give up path of confrontation: Chidambaram tells BJP

As the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Ekta Yatra enters the final stage, Home Minister P. Chidambaram appealed to BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj to give up the “path of confrontation” and not push any “political agenda” that will affect peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Home Minister noted that the Jammu and Kashmir government has made it clear that it would neither let any yatra to Srinagar nor would it allow any assembly at Lal Chowk.

“The BJP leaders should respect the orders passed by the state government. It would be most unfortunate if the BJP leaders defy the restrictions placed by the state government or deliberately cause a breach of peace. There is no justification whatsoever to push a political agenda that will certainly affect peace and law and order in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said in a statement.

Mr. Chidambaram said the state government has also made it clear that it would not allow the BJP leaders to cross the bridge connecting Madhopur and Lakhanpur and enter Jammu and Kashmir.

Drawing the attention of the BJP leaders to the statement made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh January 22, Mr. Chidambaram said the Republic Day is a day of celebration and is not an occasion for divisive politics.

“I would request the two Leaders of the Opposition (in Parliament) and their colleagues to give up the path of confrontation, return to Delhi and join the celebrations in Delhi on Republic Day,” he said.

The Home Minister said he had spoken to Mr. Jaitley and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday. During the conversation with Mr. Jaitley, Mr. Chidambaram had told him that he and his colleagues had made their point and that they should not defy the orders of the state government which was the best judge to decide whether there was a threat to law and order and public peace.

“I requested them to return to Delhi. The BJP leaders were also offered an opportunity to address a press conference at Jammu airport and, thereafter, leave Jammu and Kashmir.

Regrettably, they turned down the offer,” he said.

In the circumstances, the state government had to remove the BJP leaders and take them to Madhopur in Punjab.

They were lodged for the night in a rest house in Madhopur, he said.

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Sen. Joe Lieberman: Extend all tax breaks

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) broke with the Obama administration message on the Bush tax cuts Monday, calling for an extension of all breaks — including those for the top 3 percent of American money earners.
Lieberman, who caucuses with Senate Democrats, expressed his "strong" support for the temporary extension of the across-the-board tax cuts in a speech to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce in Connecticut. His support for the Republican position of not raising any taxes in the midst of a recession highlights the intense battle set for Congress as lawmakers return to Washington Monday.

"I don't think it makes sense to raise any federal taxes during the uncertain economy we are struggling through," Lieberman said. "In our current economic situation, we cannot risk the economic headwinds that would be caused by tax increases. We need to keep as much money as possible in people's pockets and business's bank accounts."

Lieberman's speech Monday came only a day after House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) softened his stance on the tax cuts, which are set to expire Jan. 1, by telling CBS News he would vote in favor of a more tailored extension of the cuts, not including the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans, if it becomes the "only option" he has.
But the battle over if — and how — to extend the Bush tax cuts, given the political climate and the burgeoning deficit, could be even more dramatic in the Senate, where it would take only a few senators, such as Lieberman or Ben Nelson of Nebraska on the Democratic side or conservatives like Jim DeMint of South Carolina on the Republican side, to block action if the tax extensions aren't granted to all Americans.
"I know that many people, including the president, have argued that the tax cuts should not be continued for people making more than $200,000 a year, but to me these are the people we need to be using their income to spend and invest to spur growth and job creation," Lieberman said. "The fact is that the top 3 percent of American income earners account for 25 percent of the consumption in our economy.
"I want the top income earners in our country to have the confidence and the money to spend and invest over the next year, rather than worrying about paying more in taxes to the federal government," Lieberman said.
A GOP aide said the Lieberman speech shows Democrats are fracturing a bit on the issue.
"Going the next step, and sending out a press release, to promote your position, that shows you a lot about where the politics are on this issue," a GOP aide said.

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