MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Murli Deora passed away here this morning after prolonged illness.

He was 77 and is survived by his wife and two sons, including former MP Milind Deora.

Murli bhai as he was known as died at around 3.25 am. He had been unwell and admitted to a hospital. He had come home two days ago, family sources said.

Deora's mortal remains would be kept at the Mumbai Congress office, where party workers would pay their last respects from 12 noon to 2pm. His last rites would be performed at Chandanwadi Crematorium later in the day, the family sources said.

Deora, who held several important portfolios during his decades-long career, first contested the civic elections in Mumbai in 1975.

An economics graduate, Deora was Mayor of Mumbai from 1977 to 1978 and was later elected to the Lok Sabha four times from Mumbai South, a seat later held by his son, Milind, who is also a former MP and ex Union minister. Currently, he was serving his third term as a Rajya Sabha MP.

He held the portfolio of Petroleum and Natural Gas during the UPA–1 regime. The Congress veteran had also served as the Mumbai Congress President for 22 years.

He joined the Union Cabinet in 2006, shortly before he turned 70 and led oil diplomacy in Myanmar, Algeria and Egypt, and held talks with ministers from Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia and Comoros.

Deora also hosted the first India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference and Exhibition in November 2007. In July 2011, Deora became Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology. -PTI

SRINAGAR: The stage is set for the first of the five-phased Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir as 12 sitting MLAs, including seven ministers, are among 123 candidates trying their luck in 15 constituencies that will go to polls tomorrow in all three regions of the state.

While six constituencies in Jammu division will vote to elect their representatives, electorate in five segments in Kashmir and four in Ladakh will seal the fate of the aspirants in the polling that is scheduled to begin at 8 AM.

The Assembly segments going to polls tomorrow include Kishtwar, Inderwal, Doda, Bhaderwah, Ramban and Banihal (in Jammu division); Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Kangan and Ganderbal (in Kashmir), Nobra, Leh, Kargil and Zanskar (in Ladakh).

A total of 10,502,50 voters, including 5,49,698 males and 5,00,539 females, besides 13 transgenders are eligible to exercise their right to franchise in the first phase of the polls.

Bhaderwah has the largest number of 1,04,354 voters among the 15 constituencies, while Nobra constituency in Ladakh region has the lowest number with 13,054 voters.

Nearly 1900 polling stations have been set-up by the election authorities in these 15 constituencies.

While Bandipora, Ganderbal and Bhaderwah have the highest number of candidates, 13 each, in fray, Leh has the lowest number of candidates with a direct fight between Congress and BJP.

There are four candidates in fray in Gurez, seven in Sonawari, 10 in Kangan, six each in Nobra and Banihal, four each in Kargil and Zanskar, 10 in Kishtwar, 12 in Inderwal, 11 in Doda and eight in Ramban.

Seven ministers are seeking re-election in the first phase - Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi (from Gurez), Mohammad Akbar Lone (Sonawari), Mian Altaf (Kangan), Sajad Kichloo (Kishtwar), Abdul Majid Wani (Doda), Nawang Rigzin Joa (Leh) and Vikar Rasool Wani (Banihal). 

Besides the ministers who are all sitting MLAs, five legislators will be seeking a re-election in the first phase of polls.
PDP's Nizamudding Bhat (Bandipora), Congress candidates Ghulam Mohammad Saroori (Inderwal), Sharief Niaz (Bhaderwah), Ashok Kumar (Ramban) and National 

Conference's Tsetan Namgyal (Nobra) are the sitting MLAs seeking another term.

Many star campaigners, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi campaigned for their party candidates for the first phase of polls.

While Modi addressed a rally in Kishtwar, Rajnath tried to garner support for BJP candidates in Leh and Bhaderwah constituencies and party president Amit Shah campaigned in Ramban.

Sonia addressed two rallies in Bandipora and Ramban, while Bollywood actor-turned politician Raj Babbar addressed rallies in Bandipora, Sonawari and Ganderbal constituencies.

The other star campaigners include Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his party the National Conference (NC), PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti, Ambika Soni and Ghulam Nabi Azad for Congress.

The campaigning for the first phase remained by and large peaceful. However, there were minor clashes in Sonawari, when the PDP candidate Yasir Reshi was pelted with stones by some miscreants.

There was no militancy-related incident reported from any of the 15 constituencies going to polls tomorrow.

The separatist groups like all factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF have called for a boycott of the polls tomorrow and called for a general strike as well. –PTI

LUDHIANA: Taking serious note of the death of five newborn babies at a civil hosital here, Punjab government today suspended a gynaecologist and transferred a medical officer, as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ordered an inquiry and said those found negligent "would not be spared".

Punjab Health Minister Surjeet Kumar Jayani placed gynaecologist Dr Alka Mittal posted at Ludhiana Civil Hospital here under suspension with immediate effect and transferred Senior Medical Officer Dr R K Karkara.


Condoling the death of the newborns, the Chief Minister said he has asked officers to ascertain the causes and circumstances which led to the incident and submit an inquiry report at the earliest. Assuring prompt action, Badal said if laxity was found on the part of any public servant in dealing with this incident, he/she "would not be spared and brought to book as per the law of the land".


Three days after the inauguration of a mother-child wing at the hospital, four new-borns died yesterday during the time of delivery, which the families alleged were carried out by "class IV employees in the absence of gynaecologists".
Another death of a newborn was reported today, according to health officials. Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rajat Agarwal has been asked to hold a thorough inquiry and submit the report to the government within a week.


He has also been asked to constitute his own team of officers either from the head office or the district to hold an independent inquiry into the entire incident. 
Parents had accused the hospital staff of being negligent in their duties which led to the death of babies.


Dr Alka Mittal, who was already chargesheeted a few days back for negligence in discharging her duties, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect.


SMO R K Karkara has been transferred for not maintaining discipline in the medical institution, Jayani said.


Adding further, the Minister said that although a thorough probe has been ordered, infants' death was "natural as babies did not have any heartbeat" when mothers were brought to hospital.


He claimed that doctors present at the time of procedure did try their best to save lives.


Terming the incident as most regrettable in the history of Punjab, Jayani said it had happened when Punjab government was taking steps to strengthen the government medical institutions and was in the process of upgrading these institutions by providing adequate hi-tech infrastructure.


He said that after the inquiry report, if anyone from the health department was found guilty of carelessness or laxity in any manner, then the department would give Rs 1 lakh as compensation to the families of the children.


Congress termed the incident as "complete criminal neglect", and sought resignation of Jayani. -PTI

NEW DELHI: Putting a spanner in N Srinivasan's bid to get reinstated as BCCI chief, the Supreme Court today said it will look into 'conflict of interest' issue arising from his being head of the cricket board and owning an IPL team whose official is found to be involved in betting.

Observing that it is a "serious issue that can't be wished away", the apex court also made it clear that it will consider the conduct of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, an official of Chennai Super Kings, while deciding his plea to get back his post from which he had to step aside in June last year in view of the IPL-6 betting and spot fixing scandal.

"Please do not go by the report that you are not involved in the betting and spot fixing and scuttling the probe.

Despite all this your official is involved which will affect you," the bench comprising justices T S Thakur and F M I Kalifulla, told Srinivasan's counsel Kapil Sibal who pleaded that the report has nothing against him.
"Don't presume anything," the bench said, adding,"You are contesting the election by saying that you are not involved but somebody close to you is involved."

At the outset, the bench raised questions on how Srinivasan can own a team while being President of the Board. It said "the BCCI and IPL cannot be separated and is a creature or product or byproduct of BCCI".
"Some people who are in the BCCI now own a team. It has become a mutual benefit society. The ownership of team raises conflict of interests. President of BCCI has to run the show but you have a team which raises questions and it can't be wished away," it said.

Expressing serious concern over cricket being bowled by betting and spot fixing scandal in IPL 6, the bench said "cricket is a religion in the country and the purest form of the game must be restored".-PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday declined to reveal its stand on a bill that seeks to increase the cap on FDI in insurance, saying it will decide after a parliamentary panel gives its report.

"We will take a call on the insurance bill after the report of the select committee comes," party leader Kamal Nath told the media in parliament premises.

The bill was sent to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha during the last parliament session. The report is supposed to be tabled November 28.

Kamal Nath said the Congress will "cooperate with the government in the passage of key bills" and "will play a constructive role in parliament".

"There has to be a discussion on contentious issues before taking a final decision," he said on the bill, which seeks to raise the cap on FDI in insurance from 26 percent to 49 per cent.

"We will consult other opposition parties and form an opinion," he added. –IANS

JAMMU: In an overnight decision, the Election Commission has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from releasing its election manifesto Monday.

In a communication addressed to the PDP, the state's chief electoral officer (CEO) said that since campaigning for the first phase of the state assembly elections ended Sunday evening, the PDP cannot release its poll manifesto on Monday.

PDP had announced on Sunday evening that it would release its election manifesto in summer capital Srinagar Monday.

Election Commission sources said that the manifesto can, however, be released on Nov 26 after polling for the first phase ends Tuesday evening. -IANS

SRINAGAR: Radio has emerged as the most favoured medium for politicians in election-bound Jammu and Kashmir to woo voters as the first-phase of Assembly polls in the state draw closer.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is making its first serious bid to get into power in Jammu and Kashmir, is using an audio clip of Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's address at a rally in Kargil during the inauguration of a power project there.

"Jammu and Kashmir can become a model of development for the entire country," Modi says in the clip which is being repeatedly aired on a private FM radio station since elections were announced in the state last month.

Even in other media like newspapers, the BJP has made Modi the face of its campaign as it has embarked on its 'Mission 44+', a reference to the number of seats required for a simple majority in the state Legislative Assembly.

Congress is also using the same Radio station but instead of using any particular leader as the face of the campaign, the party which ruled the state in coalition with National Conference for last six years, is banking on development works to garner support for its candidates.

"Which party constructed the four-lane road from Lakhanpur to Ladakh? Congress. Which party constructed tunnels at Chenani and Zojila to provide round the year road connectivity in the state? Congress. My vote only for Congress," the Congress advertisement says.

Opposition PDP had so far not taken to radio advertisements at party level but some party candidates from the urban constituencies were using the medium to woo the voters. Khurshid Alam Wani, the PDP candidate from Khanyar constituency in Srinagar district, is making a pitch for votes on the promise of development of the old city. His campaign on radio is seeking a "vote for change".

The party candidate for Amirakadal constituency of the city Altaf Bukhari is also running the radio campaign along same lines.

However, the premier political party of the state - National Conference -- has been late in using the airwaves to drum up support for its candidates.

"We have submitted the campaign material to the Election Commission and we should be on air from today (Monday)," National Conference spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu told PTI.

Although Mattu did not cite any reasons for the delay, it seems the party wanted to hit the airwaves just in time ahead of the first phase of polling tomorrow.

National Conference had used the medium in 2008 Assembly elections with an aggressive campaign which was based around resolution of problems faced by the people.

Whether the radio campaign paid any dividends to the party six years ago cannot be quantified in the absence of an emperical study, National Conference managed to win 28 seats in the elections then, arresting the slide in party fortunes.

From more than 55 seats in 1996 elections, it had been reduced to 28 in 2002 polls.
In addition to radio, BJP has been targeting the mobile telephone subscribers through pre-recorded calls and SMSes as well.

However, there have been some complaints too about the unsolicited calls and SMSes from the BJP campaign as even those subscribers, who are registered for 'Do Not Disturb' service have been receiving the calls and SMSes.

"There has been some error and we will look into it to ensure that it does not happen again. We respect the privacy of the people," BJP spokesman for Kashmir Khalid Jehangir said. -PTI

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Monday refused to comment on Justice Mudgal Commitee's report on the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing and betting scandal.

Tendulkar, a Rajya Sabha member, said here that the Supreme Court will look into the case, and it was not wise for him to make a comment.

"The honorable Supreme Court is hearing the case. It wouldn't be wise for me to make a comment on it now," Tendulkar was quoted as saying by televison channels.

The Supreme Court's (SC) hearing of the Mudgal panel's report on the IPL spot-fixing inquiry resumes Monday.

The report confirmed sidelined Indian cricket board's president N. Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, a team official of Chennai Super Kings, was involved in betting.

The report, however, gave a clean chit to Srinivasan on both counts of spot fixing and betting. –IANS

SRINAGAR: Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and Leh, in Ladakh region, experienced the coldest nights of the season so far as the cold wave further tightened its grip in the state.

The mercury in Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night's minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, a spokesman of the MeT Department here said.

This was the coldest night so far this season, he said.

The minimum temperature in Leh dropped nearly three degrees to settle at minus 12 degrees Celsius as compared to the previous night's minus 9.3 degrees Celsius.
He said this was the lowest night temperature in the frontier town so far this winter and the town was the coldest recorded place in the state.

Kargil, also in Ladakh region, registered a low of minus 10.5 degrees Celsius as against last night's minus 10.0 degrees Celsius, he said.

The minimum in the tourist resort of Pahalgam, which serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath Yatra, settled at minus 4.4 degrees Celsius as compared to minus 4.2 degrees Celsius the previous night.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg registered a low of minus 1.8 degree Celsius as against minus 1.4 degree Celsius last night.

Qazigund, in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum in Kokernag settled at minus 1.5 degree Celsius.

Kupwara, in north Kashmir, registered a low of minus 2.0 degrees Celsius. –PTI

NEW DELHI: Parliament was adjourned on Monday after condoling the death of three sitting members, including former Union minister Murli Deora.

As soon as Rajya Sabha met for the day, Chairman Hamid Ansari mentioned the death of Deora in Mumbai today at the age of 77.

In the Lok Sabha, members condoled the death of sitting members Hemendra Chandra Singh (BJD) and Kapil Krishna Thakur (Trinamool Congress).

Singh's wife Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh (BJD) has won the Lok Sabha bypoll from Kandhmal.

Lok Sabha also condoled the demise of former members Amitava Nandy, M S Sanjeevi Rao, Avaidyanath, Saifuddin Choudhury and Sanjay Singh Chauhan.

Three of the five members, elected in the recent bypolls, also took oath in the House.

Ranjanaben Bhatt (BJP), who won from Vadodara, the seat vacated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who retained Varanasi, Pritam Gopinath Munde (BJP) from Beed in Maharashtra, the seat that fell vacant following death of her father and Union Minister Gopinath Munde, and Tej Pratap Yadav (SP), elected from Mainpuri, vacated by Mulayam Singh Yadav, who retained Azamgarh, took oath.

Modi then introduced his new ministers, who were inducted in the council of ministers on November 9.

In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said, "In the passing away of Shri Murli Deora, the country has lost a distinguished parliamentarian, an able administrator and a decided social worker."

Deora, who served as Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Corporate Affairs from January 2006 to July 2011, was a four-term Lok Sabha member and three-term Rajya Sabha member. He represented Maharashtra in the Upper House from April 2002 till his passing away this morning.

Ansari also condoled the death of yoga expert BKS Iyengar, and former members Lekhraj Bachani, Jagdev Singh Talwandi and S S Rajendran. -PTI

NEW DELHI: The wounds of the victims of one of the darkest periods of recent history haven't healed yet, and there is constant struggle to seek closure says an author-journalist whose latest novel has one of the many voices from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The novella, "Delhi 84" set between the assassination and cremation of then prime minister Indira Gandhi that claimed 3,000 lives is penned by Roopinder Singh, author of "Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings".

"One has a certain perspective of events one saw. I tried to bring out the broader picture of what happened during that time. What is a bit shocking is that the event hasn't found that much space in literary world," Roopinder Singh told IANS in an interview.

"I had a story to tell. It is not autobiographical, but many elements and characters are real people. For those of us who lived through it, it was impossible to understand how this could have been allowed to happen," he said.

This is the story of Gita, who is caught in the vortex that Delhi became between the assassination and the funeral. As the events unfold, she and her family members have a role to play. They witness what undoubtedly is one of the darkest periods of recent history.

Admitting that the wounds are still fresh who have lost their loved and near ones because the justice hasn't been delivered, Chandigarh-based Roopinder Singh said this void has led people to seek "closure".

"We often have this tendency to brush things under the carpet. This work of fiction is an attempt to unlock memories and to connect with the audience the story is woven around the facts," said the 54-year-old.

Roopinder Singh has released an e-book and is in the process of talking to the publishers to get it in print.

"Those who have read the book find it very powerful. So hopefully it will be received well," he concluded. –IANS