Ahmedabad, Congress MPs from Gujarat today walked out of a meeting convened here by Chief Minister Narendra Modi to discuss state-related issues pending before the Centre ahead of the Budget session of Parliament.

The BJP government had called a meeting of all MPs and Union Ministers from Gujarat to discuss the state’s issues pending before the various Central departments and ministries.

However, according to a senior Congress MP, Modi tried to set the agenda against the Centre which they opposed.

“When the meeting began, Modi tried to convey the impression that the Centre is neglecting the Gujarat’s issues that are pending for long,” Patan MP Jagdish Thakor said, adding his party’s MPs opposed this move and left the meet.

“Our senior MP and Union Minister Dinsha Patel told CM to discuss specific issues rather than talking vaguely and indulging in bashing the Central government,” Thakor said. ( PTI )

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that Pakistan People Party had improved its relations with army for the first time, adding that Pakistan army had always supported democracy in the country.

In an interview today, Gilani said that the army had played its role in supporting democracy “and that is why Asif Ali Zardari became President.”

He said had the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani wanted he would have supported General Musharraf, “but he did not do so and backed the democracy,” Gilani said.

“Together we will have to dispel this wrong impression against the army chief,” he said.

To a query about Kerry-Logar bill, the premier said “army is with the government.”

He ruled out the impression that army has any connection with restoration of Chief Justice of Pakistan. “Army has no connection with CJ’s restoration.

He said “The ISI is working under my supervision. I am satisfied with its performance,” he added.

To another question, the prime minister said he was not in favour of imposing governor rule in Punjab.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that Balochistan leadership was onboard on the socio-economic uplift package of the province announced by the government in joint session of the parliament on Tuesday.

The premier said that many missing persons were recovered within 2-3 days of promulgation of the package. He pledged that the package would be thoroughly enforced with its letter and spirit.

He said some 5000 jobs had been would offered to Balochistan graduates.

Gilani said that a cabinet committee has been set up for enforcement of the announced package adding that parliament would fine-tune the package.

Gilani ruled out the impression that the package has been refused by Balochistan politicians, and added that it had been presented in the National Assembly to seek recommendations rather than the approval of the house.

“The government wants to initiate dialogues with the absconding leadership of Baloch nationalists either they are in the country or in abroad,” Gilani said. The government would take steps to bring the Baloch youth to national mainstream, he added.