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Paid news should attract disqualification, says CEC
Govt preparing comprehensive policy on Kashmir, says Rajnath
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Sikh-Americans urge PM to resolve visa issues
Modi meets eminent bizmen in New York
‘Indians in Oz helped Amritsar brothers in laundering drugs money’
HC rap for KCR govt on order to determine people’s nativity
RBI ‘unlikely’ to cut rates as inflation high
Jaya is now prisoner No. 7402
Maharashtra goes under Prez Rule
Govt, people must work in tandem to tackle health issues: Vardhan
Experts look into factors leading to blood clotting at high altitude
4 militants gunned down in Assam
Omar to ‘step down’ if J&K goes to polls now
NIA wants membership of 27 working groups
on counter terrorism
UP private bus blast toll reaches 29
Lucknow metro rail project gets underway
CISF upgrades 59 airports’ security
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Paid news should attract disqualification, says CEC
New Delhi, September 28 He also said that there is a “crying need” for a “well defined legislation” governing expenditure of political parties during elections as its absence was allowing them and their candidates to circumvent the rules. Sampath, who was speaking at a session organised by the Law Commission, said that when the Election Commission looked into whether it had the powers to deal with paid news
it found the “answer was negative.” He said that ‘paid news’ in whatever form or nomenclature is presently not even an electoral offence. “If it is an electoral offence, it can eventually lead to the disqualification of the candidate. Whatever the difficulties of implementation, the very fact that if it is listed as electoral offence, it would act as a deterrent against people using it in the elections,” he said. The CEC said that a recommendation in this regard has been made to the Law Ministry. He even wondered why the government advertisements during elections should not be considered as paid news. Paid news not being an electoral offence, he said, the EC now tries to check this menace by invoking its powers related to candidates’ spending. He said that if a candidate is caught, the amount is added to the candidate’s expenditure. He, however, claimed that when caught, the candidates have found their own way to wriggle out of it. “When they (candidates) file their expenditure returns, they always build a cushion for this kind of things. If Rs 40 lakh those days was the limit, invariably no candidate would file a return for more than Rs 25 lakh. That 15 lakh will be the cushion for this,” Sampath said. He said that the EC catches instances of paid news but it is like “they were paying some traffic fine, and they will do that and continue with the journey merrily”.
— PTI
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Govt preparing comprehensive policy on Kashmir, says Rajnath
New Delhi, September 28 Asked whether there is any proposal to appoint an interlocutor for having dialogue with various stakeholders like those named for the northeast, Singh said there was no such move. “I am not in favour of appointing interlocutors for J&K,” he said. The Home Minister had recently said the past practices of appointing interlocutors for J&K must be discontinued as it were non-productive. “Now the time has come to have a rethink on appointing interlocutors. Having said this, let me clarify that I am not averse to talks. But I am also not in favour of non-productive talks which are carried out by anti-nationals to burnish their own political image in either J&K or the North-East,” he said. Academician Radha Kumar, veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar and M M Ansari had been interlocutors on Kashmir during the UPA regime. Singh said the level of infiltration into J&K has come down to a great extent and security forces were strictly guarding the international border and LoC. The Home Minister earlier had asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to identify “suitable land” for the rehabilitation of some three lakh Kashmiri Pandits who migrated from the Kashmir valley in the early 1990s due to militancy. The Narendra Modi government has committed itself to the return of some 62,000 Kashmiri Pandit families with “full dignity” to their homes in the valley and has earmarked Rs 500 crore for this in the 2014-15 Union Budget. Singh wrote to chief minister Omar Abdullah for allocation of “suitable” land for creating dwelling units for these families under the government’s plan for implementation of the rehabilitation scheme for migrants. "Now, the time has come to have a rethink on appointing interlocutors. Having said this, let me clarify that I am not averse to talks. But I am also not in favour of non-productive talks which are carried out by anti-nationals to burnish their own political image in either J&K or the
northeast" Rajnath Singh, Home minister
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Navratri a dampener for poll campaigning
Mumbai, September 28 BJP workers who are out distributing pamphlets say they have to do much of the work on Sunday. “We cannot contact people at night as they are out playing dandiya. Early in the day they are tired and are sleeping,” says a BJP worker in suburban Borivali. With the break in the alliance with the Shiv Sena, BJP workers say they are having a lot of explaining to do. The nine nights of dandiya raas where revellers stay out late dancing is a major festival in the city’s Gujarati-dominated neighbourhoods. BJP workers are trying to make the most of it since Gujaratis are the party’s core vote-bank. In neighbourhoods like Borivali, Kandivali, Vile Parle, Juhu and Santa Cruz, which have heavy concentration of Gujaratis, BJP workers and are out on the streets mingling with people though they are careful not to venture too close to garba pandals. “The Navratri festival is followed by long weekends and public holidays because of which many people have gone out of Mumbai for their holidays,” says Ashok Sahasrabuddhe, a BJP worker in suburban Mumbai. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena’s cadres seem to be having an easier time. The party is reaching out to voters through street-corner Durga Puja pandals. Typically, its workers have put up stands on street corners to dish out glasses of water to revellers. In comparison, the Congress and the NCP are almost absent and seem yet to recover from the break in their alliance. According to Congress leaders, most of its candidates in Mumbai will have a very short window for campaigning. Campaigning will peak from October 7 to October 14, say political leaders here.
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Sikh-Americans urge PM to resolve visa issues
New York, September 28 “The NRI Sikh community feels alienated as Indian embassies refuse them visas or do not renew their passports, depriving them of visits to their families in India because they applied for political asylums during the turbulent times in Punjab,” a 29-member delegation of the Sikh-American community said in a memorandum to the Prime Minister yesterday. “We are hopeful that the Prime Minister would consider our request,” said Jasdip Jesse Singh, who led the delegation. The hour-long meeting discussed various other issues faced by the Sikh community. “It was a historical visit as NRI Sikh delegation met any visiting PM from India after decades. Modi has renewed faith and hope in the NRI Sikh community that their issues, as mentioned in the memorandum, will be resolved,” Singh said. The memorandum states that NRI Sikhs are still being punished for applying for political asylum in order to legalise their status three decades ago. The Sikh-American community also raised the issue of 1984 Sikh riots and the Sikh farmers in Gujarat. Some members of the delegation expressed concern over the spread of drug abuse among youth in Punjab. The Prime Minister shared their concern and said the government would study the issue carefully and try to resolve it.
— PTI
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Modi meets eminent bizmen in New York
New York, September 28 In the over one hour-long meeting at a hotel where Modi is staying, the distinguished Indian-Americans discussed with him ways to enhance their contribution in human resource development and research activities. Sources said the group of nearly 10 top Indian-Americans were upbeat about opportunities for growth in India and made various suggestions about possible avenues for consideration. They also spoke about usual requirements for stable business environment and need for investing in human resources in India. Emphasising on his 'Make in India' and 'My Govt Digital Platform' projects, Modi spoke about the importance he places on digital initiatives and research.
— PTI
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‘Indians in Oz helped Amritsar brothers in laundering drugs money’
New Delhi, September 28 Sources in the ED said the modus operandi was that the operators approached Indian students studying in Australia to get in touch with people there who would give them money suspected to be collected through sale of drugs/narcotics Down Under by a syndicate. These students were told to deposit the collected amount in under Australian $10,000, to avoid detection, and transfer it to a few bank accounts in Hong Kong. The students, majorly unaware of the nature of money they were dealing in, were paid some commission. ED suspects the student couriers must be more than 100 and mostly from Punjab. From Hong Kong, the money was used to settle invoices raised by two trading firms for fake exports to India and Australia, which, investigators suspect, was an elaborate cover to route the money for further transfer. The ED, in a joint operation with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), had arrested the purported crime accused Paramdeep Singh Arora and his brother Gagandeep Singh Arora from Amritsar along with their Delhi-based alleged associate Gaurav Gupta. The trio is being interrogated in custody. Gulshan, one of the alleged associates of the accused in Canberra who was questioned by the AFP, used the sobriquet “Singh is King” to describe the Amritsar brothers. Students from Punjab ‘main link’ in Australia
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HC rap for KCR govt on order to determine people’s nativity
Hyderabad, September 28 The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government had issued the GO in July this year, replacing the earlier fee reimbursement scheme for poor students with FAST. The scheme will be applicable to only those students whose parents had settled in Telangana on or before November 1, 1956 when Andhra Pradesh, the first linguistic state in the country, was formed. The college fee of only such students will be reimbursed, according to the controversial order. Students pursuing post-matric courses and those seeking admission into similar courses for the 2014-15 academic year will come under the purview of the scheme. However, the Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, disapproved of the contents of the GO and said, "If we allow this GO, it will result in secessionist and anti-integrationist acts. We have to strive to protect the integrity of this country." Advocate General K Ramakrishna Reddy submitted that the GO was issued only to work out modalities and a final decision was yet to be taken. He cited financial constraints to defend the move. The Chief Justice observed, "If the government has financial difficulty, it has the power to scrap the scheme, but has no power to put such barriers which are unconstitutional." The court directed the government to file a counter affidavit to justify the GO. The matter was posted for further hearing after six weeks. Orders stay on scheme
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RBI ‘unlikely’ to cut rates as inflation high
The consumer price index (CPI) based retail inflation eased to 7.8% in August from 8.59% in April. The wholesale price index (WPI) inflation has also eased to 3.74% in August from 5.55% at the start of the current fiscal. The RBI headed by the monetarist-inclined Governor Raghuram Rajan has set a target for CPI inflation at 8% by January 15 and 6% by January 2016. The RBI left key interest rates unchanged in its third bi-monthly monetary policy review early August, saying near-term tightening is not expected if inflation continues to ease. “The RBI will continue to monitor inflation developments closely, and remains committed to the disinflationary path of taking Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation to 8% by January 2015 and 6 % by January 2016,” Governor Rajan had said in his policy statement. “While inflation at 8% in early 2015 seems likely, it is critical that the disinflationary process is sustained over the medium-term,” Rajan said. The repo rate, or the interest that banks pay when they borrow money from the RBI to meet their short-term fund requirements, was left unchanged at 8%. The reverse repo rate, or the interest that the RBI pays to commercial banks when they park their surplus short-term funds with the central bank, had been adjusted to 7%. The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) was left unchanged at 4%. The marginal standing facility rate and the Bank Rate were also kept unchanged at 9%. The statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), the mandatory amount of bonds lenders must keep with the RBI, was cut by 0.5% to 22% of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) with effect from August 9, 2014. The Care Rating said the RBI may not cut SLR Tuesday, but even such a cut would not come as a surprise. “It (SLR cut) could probably be a part of the long term goal of lowering the SLR rather than a short term measure,” the agency said. Indian Banks Association chief executive MV Tanksale said there was no need for an SLR cut because credit pick-up was slow and there was also no urgent need of liquidity. — IANS Bi-monthly policy review on Tuesday
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Jaya is now prisoner No. 7402
Bangalore, September 28 Jayalalithaa, who is now prisoner number 7402 at the Parappana Agrahara central prison here, began her day around 5:30 am, and took a stroll within the premises of the jail, prison sources said. The 66-year old three-time Chief Minister read three Tamil and two English newspapers followed by breakfast brought from outside the jail, they said. Jayalalithaa has been allotted VVIP cell number 23 of the prison which is next to the women’s barrack. Sources said ministers and leaders of the party were not allowed to meet Jayalalithaa as today being Sunday no visitors are allowed inside the prison. Jayalalithaa was served dinner last night by the jail authorities, but she is said to have refused it and took fruits instead, said sources. Other convicts Sasikala Natarajan, Illavarasi and Sudhakaran have been given prisoner numbers 7403, 7404 and 7405, respectively. Sudhakaran has been allocated a VIP cell next to former Karnataka Tourism Minister and Mining baron G Janardhana Reddy. A group of Jayalalithaa supporters and party workers marched towards the jail seeking an opportunity to meet their leader but they were stopped by police officials on their way. On being asked about Karnataka being blamed for Jayalalithaa’s conviction by some quarters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Karnataka has nothing to do with it (judgment). The case proceedings against Jayalalithaa took place in Karnataka following the judgment from the Supreme Court.” “Adequate security arrangements and police bandobast have been made to see that no untoward incident takes place. We will see to it that there is no incident of violence,” he added. DMK chief Karuna, Stalin booked for clashes
DMK president M Karunanidhi and his son and party treasurer MK Stalin have been booked in connection with clashes between their supporters and AIADMK workers following the conviction of Jayalalithaa in the assets case. Three FIRs were filed at the Royapettah police station against the two and several others here last night based on the complaint of some AIADMK workers who alleged that a group of DMK workers attacked them with ‘deadly weapons’ near Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence here, the police said.
— PTI Starts Day 2 in jail with a walk
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Maharashtra goes under Prez Rule
Mumbai, September 28 Governor C Vidyasagar Rao recommended President’s Rule in Maharashtra after the rival parties in the state said they were unable to form a government. BJP leader Eknath Khadse told reporters here that Governor Rao had contacted him and asked him if his party was in a position to form the government. Similar letters were sent to the Shiv Sena leadership as well. “The Governor had sent us a letter asking we could form the government with the BJP,” said Shiv Sena leader Subash Desai. However, with the Shiv Sena and the BJP breaking up just before NCP’s withdrawal of support, it was not possible for both of them to cobble together a government for just over a fortnight. “I told the Governor we will form the government after winning the elections,” Desai told reporters. Observers say, the NCP was waiting for the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance to break before toppling Chavan’s government. Party supremo Sharad Pawar did not want to see a Shiv Sena-BJP government even for a short period, analysts said.
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Govt, people must work in tandem to tackle health issues: Vardhan
He said these campaigns would involve NGOs, religious organisations, educational institutions, medical professionals of the government and private sectors, and clubs. “We will use such occasions to communicate with citizens on how to deal with diseases at the prevention and curative levels, the importance of timely check-ups and other matters,” Vardhan said. “A specific day in a year will be dedicated to awareness building on a particular disease. For instance, November 7 will be observed as National Cancer Awareness Day, apart from February 4 which is already marked as World Cancer Day,” Vardhan said. He said the government has planned to mark special days for diabetes, anaemia, hyper-tension, blindness, deafness, malnutrition, obesity, mental conditions and issues related to infant and maternal mortality. Vardhan emphasised the need for social mobilisation and how every human can become a stake-holder in the country’s health system. “If everybody can be kept healthy through a balanced diet, avoidance of smoking, drinking and substance abuse and by exercising and walking every day, then the entire disease burden of the country would drop dramatically and the Health Ministry’s budget would be optimally utilised,” he said. Vardhan also appealed to all doctors, health workers and NGO activists to work harder to conscientise people to the dangers of cardio-vascular diseases - the single biggest cause of pre-mature death. “Heart diseases and strokes are becoming more common in our society than before. I see younger and younger people falling victim to this killer. There is widespread ignorance of the simple fact that it is preventable,” he said. “NGOs need to dedicate some of their energies to training neighbourhood people with knowledge in how to administer Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).” The CPR is an emergency procedure performed to manually preserve brain function, during a cardiac arrest, until he/she is in given proper medical care. He also urged the Delhi Medical Association, residents’ welfare societies (RWAs) and like-minded groups to conduct camps to train people in CPR.
— IANS
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Experts look into factors leading to blood clotting at high altitude
Chandigarh, September 28 Based on a detailed clinical and laboratory examination, including coagulation studies, doctors from the Armed Forces Medical Services and scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are seeking to identify a high-risk group amongst otherwise healthy soldiers. Over the last two decades, with the advent of sophisticated imaging and diagnostic systems, military doctors have realised that several healthy young soldiers were being afflicted by this malady at extreme high altitude (above 18,000ft). Following clearance by the Vice Chief of Army Staff Committee, a first-of-its-kind study in the world —- “Epidemiology of venous thrombotic disorders in lowlanders at high and extreme high altitude”—- was commissioned by Director General Armed Forces Medical Services Air Marshal DP Joshi to describe the epidemiology, seek causative factors and suggest preventive strategies for the ailment. Major General Velu Nair, Deputy Commandant of AFMC, Pune, and an eminent haematologist, was selected to conceptualise and conduct the study. This multi-centric study, which started in June 2012, is being conducted by a multi-speciality research team comprising investigators from the AFMC, Army Research and Referral, New Delhi, High Altitude Medical Research Centre, Leh, 153 General Hospital, Leh, 303 Field hospital and 403 Field Hospital, in collaboration with the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, a DRDO laboratory. A group of more than 600 soldiers have been studied longitudinally, first in the plains and then at 12-14,000 feet prior to ascent to heights above 18,000 feet. 600 soldiers under observation
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4 militants gunned down in Assam
Guwahati, September 28 The forces recovered an AK-56, three pistols and hand grenades from them. The slain militants include a self-styled second in command of the outfit, Muhar Basumatary. Assam Police Inspector General (BTAD) L R Bishnoi said the other ultras were identified as Domsatorong, Loharun and Maisaran. Security forces stepped up patrolling in the remote areas of Kokrajhar and Chirang districts in the wake of ‘NDFB(S) Raising Day’ of National Democratic Front of Bodoland on October 3. The Army Intelligence says the NDFB(S) was trying to carry out a major strike on forces and also target minority communities in retaliation to the apprehension of their five hardcore terrorists in Chirang district on August 20. Security forces had apprehended five terrorists of a newly-formed Nepalese terrorist organisation, United Gorkha Peoples Organisation, in Parbatjhora area of Kokrajhar district on September 13. The Army spokesman claimed the NDFB(S) had outsourced the outfit to carry out operations in Kokrajhar district because of proactive operations and pressure exerted by the security forces.
— PTI Cache of arms recovered
The forces recovered an AK-56, three pistols and hand grenades from the
terrorists. The slain militants include a self-styled second in command of the outfit, Muhar
Basumatary.
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Omar to ‘step down’ if J&K goes to polls now
While several political quarters, particularly the BJP riding high on the success of the parliamentary elections in J&K and the Congress that is afraid of the increasing influence of the BJP in its erstwhile bastion of the Jammu region, are pushing for the elections, the Chief Minister “sees it as a design to halt the relief operations in the state”. The term of the Omar Abdullah’s government ends on January 19, 2015. Sources say if the Assembly elections are imposed at this stage, the model code of conduct will come into force in two weeks, rendering the government helpless in the situation. “The government will not be able to carry on with the relief work the way it has planned. Instead of heading this kind of dispensation, Omar will prefer to step down,” a source said. Kashmir watchers feel that holding of the Assembly elections as per the original schedule of this year-end will definitely hamper the relief work. The revenue staff, teachers and others, who are engaged in the assessment of losses and damage to private and public property, are the same people who perform election duties. They cannot do both the things. On the one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the floods in Kashmir and helping the flood-affected population in J&K in the United Nations and on the other hand forcing of elections would send quite a contrary message. Initial estimates indicate that in each of the 20 flood-affected districts, at least two to three polling stations in more than 40 constituencies are affected. This will deprive around 1 lakh voters of their right to exercise their franchise. Those arguing in favour of the polls on time put forward three points. First, the worst affected are two of the 87 Assembly segments and that too in Srinagar district; second - the people want early reconstruction of the damaged houses and infrastructure and that can be done only when a government with certain term is in place and the third - election is the only antidote with India to rebuff Pakistan’s noises on Kashmir. Even though main opposition Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has ridiculed the idea of the polls at this point of time, her assertion in an interview with The Tribune that each moment of the current National Conference- Congress government is inflicting miseries on the people, clearly implies that she and her party want a new dispensation in place.
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NIA wants membership of 27 working groups
on counter terrorism
New Delhi, September 28 The NIA was created on the enactment of the NIA Act on December 31, 2008. And the irony is that the NIA, India’s primary counter-terror investigation agency, is not a member of the Joint Working Groups (JWGs). It is mainly the intelligence and ministerial officials who are sent to the JWGs. The matter was discussed with the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to the NIA Headquarters in Delhi earlier this month. Sources in the MHA said the minister had assured the NIA of looking into the matter. India has JWGs on counter-terrorism with 25 countries, including the US, Pakistan, China and UK and two regional organisations, including the European Union. A JWG provides a platform to international counter-terror organisations to share information and discuss the investigations in terror cases, the sources said. “We (Indians) believe in sharing dossiers and intelligence reports that contain intelligence inputs on a terrorist or terrorist organisation. These two things are rejected by the developed countries at such forums, because they ask for evidence gathered through the investigations. The Western developed nations give more impetus to the investigation-based dossiers, detailing material evidence and court documents such as FIRs," said the sources. Other countries used to send representatives of their terrorism investigating agencies to such forums, but an NIA official is hardly sent to a JWG meeting, the sources said.
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UP private bus blast toll reaches 29
Lucknow, September 28 In the accident that occurred on September 22, at least 76 passengers had received burn injuries, including several children. The bus was on the way to Jahangirabad from Khurja and the entire bus roof was blown off in the blast. Almost all passengers travelling in the bus received burn injuries in the blast. The blast took place when a passenger lighted a cigarette that led to a leaking LPG cylinder burst in the bus.
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Lucknow metro rail project gets underway
Lucknow, September 28 Getting slightly emotional, Yadav recalled how till recently he had been projected as the worst ever Chief Minister and his government a failure on all fronts. “I was termed as the worst CM. Some consider me too young to be the CM of Uttar Pradesh,” he said. He said the Assembly bypoll results have proved his critics wrong.
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CISF upgrades 59 airports’ security
New Delhi, September 28 The Chief Airport Security Officers (CASO) of the 59 airports or CISF officers, officials of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Airports Authority of India and the Intelligence Bureau discussed operational matters of the airports during workshops organised by the CISF in Delhi on July 10, 17 and August 4. CISF Director General Arvind Ranjan said officials discussed bringing uniformity in the security system and preparedness of the security personnel at the airports during the workshops. CISF sources said the Director General had permitted the unit commanders at the airports to make changes in the tactical deployment according to a situation and a threat perception. Besides the security changes, recommendations for the better passenger facilitation at the airport was also discussed at the workshops.
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New Delhi, September 28
New Delhi, September 28
Srinagar, September 28