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Speaker keeps up suspense on Leader of Oppn in LS
NGOs slam IB report on anti-national activities
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Army Chief briefs PM on security preparedness
List steps taken to check rhino poaching: HC
India rebuts China’s remark on stapled visa
Govt to raise 35 more reserve battalions
Reduce farmers’ miseries: Modi
Ahead of Jaitley’s J&K visit, Pak pounds forward posts
Constituting Cauvery board mandatory: Jaya
Army to procure 9mm pistols for Infantry
53% elderly women face abuse: Survey
LPG prices won’t be hiked: Minister
Health Minister for free CT scan, MRI for poor
Maintain sanctity of LoC: Omar
Harish Rawat injured as
his plane hits turbulence Preity Zinta files molestation case against Ness Wadia
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Speaker keeps up suspense on Leader of Oppn in LS
New Delhi, June 13 Elected to the post unanimously a week ago, she says she would consult constitutional authorities, legal experts and “experienced persons” before deciding the issue ahead of the Budget session, expected to start on July 7. “Definitely we will have to think over it. There are rules and regulations. One says 10%, another says single largest group. And there are past precedents which I will have to study. Only after that will I be able to take a decision,” Mahajan told PTI in an interview. She was replying to a question whether it was necessary for a party to win a minimum of ten per cent seats of the 543-member House to get the Leader of the Opposition status. Mahajan appeared not impressed by the Congress argument that though it has secured 44 seats, the UPA, which is a pre-poll alliance, has secured 58 seats. “Rules say, If I am not wrong, whether a party has that many seats. They do not talk of a coalition. Leader of the Opposition belongs to the main opposition party and it is the party that is recognised, not the alliance”, she said. “Percentage of vote of a party may be large or small. It should not be neglected at all. We are living in democracy. Even one vote is important we know that. Two or three-member parties are also equally important to me. I cannot ignore in the House any small or large party,” she said. — PTI
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NGOs slam IB report on anti-national activities
New Delhi, June 13 On the other hand, the IB report “is a cock and bull story” commissioned by the previous UPA government and deliberately leaked out now by “authorities” to the media to gag the voices of people opposed to unsustainable projects such as nuclear power plants which posed a threat to their lives and the environment, they said. Among those who addressed the media on the report were MG Devasahayam, former chief secretary of Haryana; Admiral L Ramdas, retired Navy chief; KS Subramanian, ex-DGP; Dr SP Uday Kumar, anti-nuclear activist, and representatives from NGOs.
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Army Chief briefs PM on security preparedness
New Delhi, June 13 This was the Army Chief’s first substantial meeting with the PM that lasted nearly two hours. Besides the PM, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were present at the briefing conducted in the Military Operations room at South Block here today. It is in this room that all military contingency plans are discussed. Sources said the Army listed its priorities on equipment, infrastructure and explained why particular issues would need emergent attention and what all could form the short-term goals. The PM was briefed on operational readiness and challenges India could face on the western front and from China across the Himalayas. India’s assessment is that handling a two-front simultaneous war with Pakistan and China would be very tough. The Army needs artillery guns, rifles for infantry need to be replaced, air defence system of Soviet Union-era is 30 years old, Army aviation helicopters of the Cheetah need immediate replacement.
Meets his predecessor VK Singh
Army Chief General Bikram Singh paid a courtesy visit to General VK Singh (retd), now Minister of State for North East affairs. The meeting lasted 25 minutes at VK Singh's office in Delhi and was part of the visit any Chief would pay to important ministers. General Bikram Singh had succeeded General VK Singh after the latter's term ended on an acrimonious note over his date of birth.
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List steps taken to check rhino poaching: HC
Guwahati, June 13 A Division Bench of the High Court took notice of news reports regarding poaching and encroachment in the park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Forest Department filed an affidavit stating inter alia measures taken by the government to check poaching in the park. Nearly 20 one-horned rhinos have been poached so far this year while 40 others were killed last year. — TNS
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India rebuts China’s remark on stapled visa
New Delhi, June 13 “Grant of visa to an individual is a sovereign right of any nation. It is our duty to impress on them that there should be no discrimination against an Indian national on ground of domicile or ethnicity. After all, we are one people. It is a point we continue to make,” Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh said. She was briefing the media on the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bhutan on June 15-16, his maiden foreign trip after assuming the high office. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and the Foreign Secretary, among others. Apart from meeting the King and other high dignitaries in Bhutan, Modi will address a joint session of the National Assembly and the National Council of Bhutan.
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Govt to raise 35 more reserve battalions
New Delhi, June 13 After reviewing the work being done by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and plans to modernise police forces at a meeting, the Home Minister stressed that steps were needed to ensure that the raising of the force and recruitment should be in a time-bound manner. He reviewed the plans to raise forces, taking up vacancy positions in each of the CAPFs. The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his deputy Kiren Rijiju, who were briefed by officers about the contribution made by the CAPFs in internal security and border guarding duties in the country. The challenges being faced by the CAPFs which need to be addressed on priority were also discussed. Some of the core challenges and issues such as housing, enhancement of allowances for CAPFs, especially in the Left Wing Extremism affected areas, and rotational training in CAPFs because of the overstretching of the forces were also discussed at the meeting. The Home Minister appreciated the proposal on setting up the CAPF Institute of Medical Sciences and desired that it should be completed in a time-bound manner on priority. He said the issue of enhancing of number of scholarships to the wards of the CAPFs personnel with the Prime Minster would be taken up for the grant under the welfare schemes of Prime Minister’s Office
(PMO).
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Reduce farmers’ miseries: Modi
New Delhi, June 13 A statement issued by the PM's Office said Modi reviewed in detail issues related to agriculture, rural development, water resources, organic farming, fertilisers and chemicals, and animal husbandry. "The PM was briefed by secretaries of the various departments on plans for these sectors," the statement said. "He stressed particularly on the need to reduce farmers' distress and to boost rural economy," the statement said. Agriculture ministry, meanwhile, presented a contingency plan for 500 districts in view of the possibility of a poor monsoon. The meeting was a part of a series of review of various ministries, as the Prime Minister had mentioned in his meeting with secretaries. — IANS
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Ahead of Jaitley’s J&K visit, Pak pounds forward posts
Jammu, June 13 The gun fight then spread to
Mendhar, Hamirpur and Gambhir forward areas along the LoC in the two border districts. It was the first major ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops since the
BJP-led NDA regime came to power in May. “Heavy shelling that started around 7 am soon spread to nearly 25-km stretch to the north and south of Bhimber Gali (BG). Most of the Indian posts gave a fitting reply to the unwarranted and unprovoked act of Pakistan Army,” said a senior Army officer. Today’s incident comes a day after two “IED blasts” in Tarkundi area of Poonch district left a soldier dead and seven others, including a Major, wounded. Since January 1, there have been 28 truce violations by the Pakistan Army on the LoC to the south of the Pir Panjal range, in the two districts. “Besides automatic weapons and small arms, Pakistan Army troops fired 81 mm mortars, a battalion level area weapon at our posts drawing a similar response from our troops. Some of their mortars might have exploded close to our forward villages,” he said. However, there were no casualties or injuries to our troops or civilians, he added. “Heavy shelling by Pakistan caused panic among the people at
Rahallian, Lanjiote, Parote and Sandot villages in Mendhar and Balakote areas. There were reports of loss of cattle in some villages,” said an Intelligence source. Source said in the retaliatory fire by Indian troops, two Pakistan soldiers, a woman and a child were injured in Nakyal sector of PoK opposite Tarkundi area, the place where two blasts had occurred yesterday killing an Indian
jawan, besides injuring seven others, including a Major.
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Constituting Cauvery board mandatory: Jaya
Chennai, June 13 Apparently, irked by the statements of Uma Bharti, Jayalalithaa, who has been mounting pressure on Narendra Modi government to set up the CMB, today fired another letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressing for the state’s demand. “.. the Constitution of the Cauvery Management Board is not optional but an integral part of the final order itself,” Jayalalithaa said, rebutting the statement of Uma Bharti, who had yesterday said the proposal for setting up the Board was never there and there was no direction from the Supreme Court. — PTI
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Army to procure 9mm pistols for Infantry
Chandigarh, June 13 The handgun would be used as a secondary weapon both during conventional and sub-conventional operations. While the quantity of pistols to be procured has not been disclosed so far, sources estimate that the Army’s requirement could be around 50,000 pieces. In the Indian Army, pistols are primarily used by officers. Apart from Special Forces, the Military Police and a few select outfits, other ranks are not issued pistols with rifles and sub machine guns being their standard personal weapons. The Army’’s intention of using it as a secondary weapon could imply that it may be revamping its tables of equipment and authorisation of personal weapons. At present, the Army’’s primary sidearm is 9mm 1A semi-automatic pistol that is being licence manufactured by Ordnance Factory since 1977. This pistol has a magazine capacity of 13 rounds and a range of about 50 meters. Nearly five years ago, the Army had started procurement of new pistols for Special Forces, replacing the 1A with Austrian Glock 17 and Swiss SIG P226 handguns. The Army wants the new handguns to be lightweight, modular and have the ability to fix military grade add-on devices like silencer, laser aimer and tactical lights. The weapon should also have ambidextrous handling along with cocking and un-cocking functions, besides being ergonomic in usage, comfortable during carriage when inside the holster and smooth to draw from holster when bringing it into use for an operation.
50,000 pieces on shopping list
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53% elderly women face abuse: Survey
Chandigarh, June 13 Haryana Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice Vijender Jain today released the survey, which was conducted in seven states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharastra and New Delhi. As per the survey, the population of elders has increased from 23% in previous year to 50%.InTier I cities, Delhi ranks lowest with 22% population while Bengaluru highest with 75%. It reveals that maximum cases are of verbal abuse, followed by disrespect Helpage coordinator Bhuwneshwar revealed that the elders across cities were asked about abusers within their family. Categorically, the cases of abuses by daughter-in-laws are 61% and while by sons 59%, the survey said. — TNS
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LPG prices won’t be hiked: Minister
New Delhi, June 13 “LPG will be provided to the consumers at the same rate at which it is being made available now. No additional burden will be imposed on them. The subsidy and the number of subsidised cylinders that people are getting will be continued by our government,” Pradhan said. About petrol and diesel prices, he said the Central Government was paying attention to them. “The policy should be such that neither the government nor the farmers and poor should feel burdened,” he added.
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Health Minister for free CT scan, MRI for poor
New Delhi, June 13 During an inspection of Safradjung Medical College here, the Minister said certain services like CT scan and MRI should be made free along with medicines. He said the poor deserved free services as part of their treatment. Vardhan has been inspecting medical colleges in the capital days after he assumed the charge. He has already visited AIIMS and Ram Manohar Lohia hospitals over the past two days. Mincing no words about the lack of standards in medical colleges, Harsh Vardhan blamed the Medical Council of India for failing to do its duty.
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Maintain sanctity of LoC: Omar
Jammu, June 13 Interacting with mediapersons here, the Chief Minister observed that ceasefire was one of the biggest confidence-building measures that has been given to people of the J&K by governments of both India and Pakistan. “Ceasefire should be maintained for the peace in this region,” he said. — TNS
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Harish Rawat injured as
his plane hits turbulence
New Delhi, June 13 "He came with acute pain in the neck. Investigations revealed fracture in the neck vertebra. Immediate treatment stabilised the CM's condition. He is fine now but we would have to keep him here till all tests are conducted. An MRI will be done tomorrow," said AIIMS sources. — TNS
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Preity Zinta files molestation case against Ness Wadia
The 39-year-old actress filed the police complaint last night alleging that she was molested by Wadia (44) inside Wankhede stadium on May 30, police sources at Marine Drive Police station told PTI. On May 30, an IPL match between KingsXI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings was played in Wankhede stadium. — PTI
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New Delhi, June 13
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