- प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा भ्रष्टाचार सुशासन के लिए सबसे बड़ा खतरा। भ्रष्टाचार को उखाड़ने के लिए डा० मनमोहन सिंह का कारगर और त्वरित कार्रवाई पर जोर।
- मिस्र के राष्ट्रपति हुस्नी मुबारक ने कहा - पद छोड़ने पर अराजकता फैलेगी। भारत ने काहिरा में पत्रकारों पर हमले की निंदा की ।
- प्रवासी भारतीयों को मिला देश में वोट देने का अधिकार।
- असम में पंचायतों में महिलाओं को पचास प्रतिशत आरक्षण का राज्य सरकार का फैसला। असम विधान परिषद के गठन को भी मंजूरी।
- उत्तरप्रदेश विधानमंडल के बजट सत्र के आरंभ में राज्यपाल के अभिभाषण के दौरान विपक्षी दलों का विरोध।
- सेंसेक्स, दोपहर बाद के कारोबार में ढाई सौ से अधिक अंक लुढ़का। एशियाई बाजारों में तेल की कीमतें बढ़ीं।
आंतरिक सुरक्षा की स्थिति की चर्चा करते हुए प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि माओवादी उग्रवाद से प्रभावित क्षेत्रों और कश्मीर घाटी में हिंसा का स्तर काफी अधिक है, जिसे स्वीकार नहीं किया जा सकता। डॉ० मनमोहनसिंह ने कहा कि कानून और व्यवस्था को बनाए रखने की जिम्मेदारी राज्यों की है। लेकिन प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि माओवादी उग्रवाद, सीमापार से आतंकवाद और धार्मिक कट्टरता के मद्देनजर केन्द्र और राज्यों के बीच लगातार सार्थक बातचीत होनी चाहिए, ताकि इनसे कारगर ढंग से निबटा जा सके। उन्होंने कहा कि केन्द्र इन क्षेत्रों में राज्य सरकारों को हरसंभव सहायता देने के लिए वचनबद्ध है, लेकिन राज्यों को भी कारगर कदम उठाने होंगे। डॉ० सिंह ने कहा कि इसके लिए पैसे की कोई कमी नहीं है, क्योंकि १३वें वित्त आयोग ने राज्यों के लिए काफी बड़े अनुदान की सिफारिश की और केन्द्र सरकार राज्यों के संसाधन बढ़ाने के लिए लगातार अपना योगदान देती रहती है।
डॉ० मनमोहनसिंह ने बढ़ती कीमतों पर काबू पाने के लिए मण्डी, चुंगी और स्थानीय कर समाप्त करने का पक्ष लिया। उन्होंने कहा कि इन करों को प्राप्त करने की प्रक्रिया से आवश्यक वस्तुओं की सुचारू आवाजाही पर असर पड़ता है। उन्होंने कहा कि बढ़ती मुद्रास्फीति विकास की गति के लिए गंभीर खतरा है, जिसका असर गरीब और कमजोर वर्गो पर पड़ रहा है। प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि विभिन्न वस्तुओं की उपलब्धता में सुधार के लिए संस्थागत व्यवस्था में परिवर्तन किये जाने की जरूरत है, ताकि बढ़ती घरेलू मांग पूरी की जा सके। प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि गरीबी दूर करने के प्रमुख कार्यक्रमों को काफी सफलता मिली है, लेकिन उनका क्रियान्वयन उम्मीदों के अनुरूप नहीं हो रहा है।
समूचे विपक्ष ने महंगाई, गिरती कानून व्यवस्था, महिलाओं के खिलाफ हिंसा, आवश्यक वस्तुओं की कालाबाजारी और मुनाफा खोरी और भ्रष्टाचार जैसे मुद्दों पर मायावती सरकार के खिलाफ जम कर नारेबाजी की। राज्यपाल ने ज्योही सदन में प्रवेश किया पूरा विपक्ष नारेबाजी करते हुए खड़ा हो गया। राज्यपाल द्वारा व्यवस्था बनाए रखने के लिए बार-बार अनुरोध का विपक्षी सदस्यों पर कोई असर नहीं पड़ा। राज्यपाल ने अपने अभिभाषण का पहला और अंतिम पैराग्राफ पढ़कर संबोधन की औपचारिकता पूरी की और सदन से चले गये। मुख्यमंत्री ने विपक्ष खासतौर से समाजवादी पार्टी पर लोकतांत्रिक मर्यादाओं के विरूद्ध आचरण करने का आरोप लगाया है। उन्होंने कहा है कि विपक्ष के पास उनकी सरकार के खिलाफ कहने के लिए कुछ भी नहीं है।
दूसरी ओर विधानसभा में विपक्ष के नेता शिवपाल सिंह यादव ने कहा कि मायावती सरकार को बर्खास्त कर देना चाहिए, क्योंकि उन्होंने आम आदमी के बीच विश्वास खो दिया है।
इस मीटिंग में दोनों नेताओं ने राज्य की सुरक्षा व्यवस्था से जुड़े सभी मामलों का जायजा लिया। बैठक में विकास से संबंधित परियोजनाओं पर भी चिदम्बरम और उमर अब्दुल्ला के बीच चर्चा हुई। इस महत्वपूर्ण बैठक के बाद केन्द्रीय गृहमंत्री और राज्य के मुख्यमंत्री को राज्य पुलिस और अर्द्धसैनिक बलों के वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों ने राज्य के मौजूदा हालात और सुरक्षा व्यवस्था के बारे में अवगत कराया। इसके अतिरिक्त राज्य में कानून व्यवस्था और अमन बनाए रखने के लिए उठाए जा रहे कदमों के बारे में भी दोनों नेताओं को जानकारी दी गयी। इस उच्चस्तर बैठक में राज्य के उप मुख्यमंत्री श्री ताराचंद ने भी हिस्सा लिया।
इसके बाद श्री चिदम्बरम, मुख्यमंत्री के साथ पांच जिलों ऊधमपुर, डोडा, किश्तवाड़ और रियासी जिलों की सुरक्षा स्थिति का जायजा लेने किश्तवाड़ के लिए रवाना हो गए।
प्रवासी भारतीय अब अपने निर्वाचन क्षेत्र. में मतदान कर सकंेंगे। सरकार ने इस इस बारे में अधिसूचना जारी कर दी है। प्रवासी भारतीयों को मतदाता के रूप में अपना नाम दर्ज कराना होगा और उन्हें मतदान के दिन अपना वोट देने के लिए पासपोर्ट के साथ मतदान केन्द्र पर उपस्थित होना होगा। अब डाक से मत भेजने का कोई प्रावधान नही है। हमारे संवाददाता ने बताया है कि प्रवासी भारतीय मतदाता अब अपने प्रार्थना-पत्र सीधे संबंधित निर्वाचन क्षेत्र के पंजीकरण अधिकारी को भेज सकते हैं।
इस अधिसूचना के जारी होने से प्रवासी भारतीयों का सरकार चुनने में हक का सपना साकार हो गया है। लो प्रतिनिधित्व कानून के अनुसार जैसे ही कोई व्यक्ति मताधिकार का हक प्राप्त कर लेता है वह स्वतः ही चुनाव लड़ने का अधिकारी हो जाता है। अब अगर कोई प्रवासी भारतीय जन प्रतिनिधि बनना चाहता है तो उसका सपना साकार होगा। लोक प्रतिनिधित्व कानून के अंतर्गत् अब प्रवासी भारतीयों को बाहर रहने वाला माना जाता था और मात्र उनके मकान या जमीन को देश का निवासी होने का अधिकार नहीं माना जाता था। अब संशोधन के पश्चात कानून ने इसकी व्याख्याा करते हुए कहा है कि प्रवासी भारतीयों द्वारा मतदान की मांग उनका वैधानिक अधिकार है और उनकी मांग को पूरी कर देश में प्रजातांत्रिक सरकार की जड़ों को मजबूत किया जा सकेगा। यह मद राष्ट्र निर्माण में सहायक सिद्ध होगा।
अमरीका ने मुबारक सरकार से जल्द सत्ता परिवर्तन का आग्रह किया है। व्हाइट हाऊस से जारी एक बयान में उपराष्ट्रपति बिडेन ने कहा है कि मिस्र के लोगों की आकाक्षाओं के अनुरूप वहां शीध्र की लोकतांत्रिक सरकार का गठन किया जाना चाहिए। मिस्र की स्थिति की ताजा जानकारी देते हुए हमारे संवाददाता ने बताया है कि मिस्र की जनता की मांग और विश्व नेताओं की राय सत्ता बदलने के पक्ष में है।
भारी संख्या में प्रदर्शनकारी आज के दिन को मुबारक सरकार के लिए प्रस्थान का दिन घोषित करते हुए काहिरा के तहरीर स्क्वायर पर जमा हो रहे हैं और मिस्र में भारी तनाव कायम है। विरोधप्रदर्शन तेज होने के साथ ही राष्ट्रपति मुबारक पर पद छोड़ने का दबाव बहुत बढ़ गया है और विश्व नेताओं की राय उनके इस्तीफे के पक्ष में है। रिपोर्टों के अनुसार ओबामा प्रशासन मिस्र के अधिकारियों से राष्ट्रपति मुबारक के तुरंत इस्तीफे के प्रस्ताव पर बातचीत कर रहा है, जिसके अंतर्गत उप राष्ट्रपति के नेतृत्व में और सेना के सहयोग से एक कार्यवाहक सरकार को सत्ता सौंपी जा सके। इस बीच संघर्षों के बाद सरकार विरोधी प्रदर्शनकारियों का तहरीर स्क्वायर पर कब्जा है। हालांकि उन्हें अपनी उपस्थिति की कीमत निर्दोष लोगों की जानों से चुकानी पड़ी।
मिस्र के स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय ने कहा है कि विरोध प्रदर्शनों के दौरान हुई हिंसा में अब तक १२ लोगों की मौत हो गई है और एक हजार दो सौ से भी ज्यादा घायल हुए हैं। उपराष्ट्रपति उमर सुलेमान ने प्रदर्शनकारियों से तहरीर से वापिस चले जाने को कहा। कल शाम सरकारी टेलीविजन पर अपने सम्बोधन में श्री सुलेमान ने मुस्लिम ब्रदरहुड पार्टी को सरकार और विपक्ष के बीच शांति बहाली के लिए चल रही बातचीत में शामिल होने का न्यौता दिया। मिस्र के प्रधानमंत्री अहमद शफीक ने प्रदर्शनकारियों और मुबारक समर्थकों के बीच हिंसक झड़पों के लिए माफी मांगी और घटना की जांच कराने का वायदा किया।
इस बीच मिस्र में प्रदर्शनकारियों और सरकार समर्थकों के बीच कल लगातार दूसरी रात भी झड़पें जारी रही। तहरीर चौक के पास एक अज्ञात विदेशी को पीट-पीट कर मार डाला गया और काहिरा में एक बड़े बाजार को आग लगा दी गयी। खबरों के मुताबिक पत्रकारों के साथ भी बदसलूकी की गयी। अमरीका के विदेश विभाग के प्रवक्ता रॉबर्ट गिब्स ने कहा है कि पत्रकारों को निशाना बनाना गलत है।
झड़पों के बावजूद प्रदर्शनकारी अभी भी उनके इस्तीफे की मांग को लेकर तहरीर चौक पर जमा हैं। झड़पों को रोकने के मद्देनज+र सेना ने मुबारक समर्थकों और विरोधियों के बीच रूकावटें खड़ी कर दी है। मिस्र के अन्य शहरों में भी सरकार विरोधी प्रदर्शनों की खबर है।
दिल्ली में प्राप्त खबरों के अनुसार विदेशी पत्रकार, उपद्रवी भीड़ विशेष रूप से राष्ट्रपति हुस्नी मुबारक के समर्थकों को निशाना बन रहे हैं। इन पत्रकारों के साथ मारपीट की जा रही है और उन्हें परेशान किया जा रहा है। खबर है कि हिंसा की घटनाओं को कवर करने का प्रयास कर रहे चार इस्राइली पत्रकारों को गिरफ्तार कर लिया गया है।
नेशनल स्टॉक एक्सचेंज का निफ्टी भी ८३ अंक गिरकर ५ हजार ४४३ पर आ गया।
अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय मुद्राबाजार में डॉलर के मुकाबले रूपये की कीमत में ४ पैसे की गिरावट आई। एक डॉलर ४५ रूपये ६५ पैसे का बोला गया।
उधर मिस्र में जारी सरकार विरोधी प्रदर्शनों के मद्देनजर एशियाई बाजारों में कच्चा तेल आज भी महंगा रहा। न्यूयार्क का लाइट स्वीट क्रूड ५ सेंट महंगा होकर ९० डॉलर ९१ सेंट प्रति बैरल हो गया। लंदन के ब्रेंट नॉर्थ सी क्रूड के भाव में भी २५ सेंट की वृद्धि हुई और एक बैरल का भाव १०२ डॉलर बोला गया।
MIDDAY NEWS
1400 HRS
04 FEBRUARY, 2011
THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister says corruption strikes at the roots of good governance; Dr. Singh calls for a quick and systemic response to reduce opportunities for corruption.
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says, chaos would follow, if he were to step down; India condemns attacks on journalists in Cairo.
- NRIs can now vote in their home constituencies, Centre notifies rules in this regard.
- Assam Cabinet approves 50 per cent reservation of Panchayat seats for women and formation of an Upper House in the State Legislature.
- Opposition protests mar Governor's address in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on the opening day of the budget session.
- Sensex drops more than 250 points in afternoon trade; Oil prices remain high in Asian trade.
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The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today spoke out strongly against the corruption saying it strikes at the roots of governance. Addressing the two day state Chief Secretary's conference in New Delhi , he added that the menace dents the country's international image and demeans the system before its own people.<<<>>>
Referring to the group of ministers headed by the Finance Minister Mr. Pranab mukherjee, he said it has been set up to look into all legal and administrative measures to tackle this menace. Dr. Singh said that two bills have already been introduced in Parliament relating to judicial accountability and protection of whistle blowers. He advocated revamping the administrative practices and procedures on a fast track and called for a systemic response to reduce opportunities for corruption. Dr. Singh said serious concern has been expressed in many responsible circles about the lack of ethical conduct and probity in public life. The Prime Minister said that the introduction of competition, greater choice and modern technology will cut down the opportunities for corruption in a meaningful manner. Seeking support of the bureaucracy in bringing about improvements in governance he said delays in the decisions could be addressed to a large extent by effective decentralisation and delegation of powers and responsibilities. Delays he added, are a major cause of corruption.
Referring to the internal security situation he said there has been unacceptably high level of violence in the areas affected by left wing extremism, and in Kashmir valley. Dr. singh said the responsibilities of maintenance of law and order rests with the states. The Prime Minister however said in view of left wing extremism, cross border terrorism and religious fundamentalism, continuous and meaningful interaction between the centre and the states is essential to deal with them effectively. The Prime Minister said the centre is committed to assist states in all possible ways in these areas but states have to take meaningful and effective steps. Dr. Singh said that funds are not a constraint as 13th finance commission has recommended substantial grants for the states and the central government continues to make its contribution to augment their resources.
Dr.Manmohan Singh favoured waiving mandi, octroi and local taxes to tackle rising prices .He said the process of receiving these taxes impedes the smooth movement of essential commodities. He that inflation posed a serious threat to the growth momentum affecting the poor and vulnerable sections. The Prime Minister said there is a need for a paradigm shift in the institutional arrangements, for improving the availability of various commodities to meet the higher levels of domestic consumption. The Prime Minister said though major anti-poverty programmes have achieved considerable success, the quality of delivery has not been as per expectations.
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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said that he would like to step aside, but feared the country would be engulfed in chaos. In an interview to ABC television yesterday, Mr. Mubarak said that he cares about his country, and was unhappy about the violence and his government is not responsible for it. The interviewer said that President Mubarak warned that the Muslim Brotherhood party would fill any power vacuum, if he were to step down.
In a related report, the New York times says the Obama administration is discussing with Egyptian officials a proposal for President Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately, turning over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman, with the support of the Egyptian military.
The United States has urged the Mubarak government to take immediate steps towards a political transition. A White House statement said that Vice President Biden urged that credible, inclusive negotiations begin immediately in order for Egypt to transition to a democratic government that addresses the aspirations of the Egyptian people.
Egypt's Health Ministry has said that 12 people were killed and more than 1200 injured in the fighting so far. The Country’s Vice President Omar Suleiman has urged protesters to leave Tahir Square saying their demands had been met. In his address on State television last evening, he slammed their demands for Mubarak's ouster as a call for chaos adding that violence against protesters in the square could have been the result of a conspiracy. Suleiman also invited the Muslim Brotherhood to join talks between the government and the opposition aimed at ending the protests.
Meanwhile, fighting between protesters and government loyalists continued for the second night, with an unidentified foreigner beaten to death in the square and a hypermarket torched in a Cairo suburb. Reports say that journalists were manhandled. US state department spokesman Robert Gibbs said the systematic targeting of journalists was unacceptable. The US Secretary of State, Ms. Hillary Clinton condemned the attack on journalists.
Anti-Mubarak protesters are still at Tahrir square demanding resignation of President Mubarak. The Military has created a barrier between Pro and anti Mubarak protestors to avoid further clashes. AIR West Asia Correspondent reports that demonstrations in several other cities have also been reported against government.
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The situation in Egypt is extremely tense as large numbers of people are gathering at Tahrir Square today calling it the day of departure for President Mubarak. As protests intensify, President Mubarak in under heavy pressure to resign and opinion of world leaders is that President Mubarak should step aside before Egypt descends in to more Chaos. Some reports even suggest that the Obama administration is discussing with Egyptian officials a proposal for President Hosni Mubarak to resign immediately, turning over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman with the support of the Egyptian military.Meanwhile, anti-government protesters kept a grim grip on the Tahrir square after clashes, however, their continued presence in Square came at the cost of innocent lives.
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India has condemned the detention of journalists in Egypt.Reports say,they were attacked in Cairo while covering the political turmoil . Terming them as unacceptable, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna demanded that such incidents must stop immediately and the detained media persons should be released forthwith.
The minister said the External Affairs Ministry is in touch with Indian journalists in Cairo.The Ministry also issued an advisory for those intending to cover the protests, including obtaining State Information Service accreditation.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mrs. Ambika Soni has said that the government is making all efforts to help journalists stranded there.
According to media reports reaching Delhi, foreign journalists have become targets of rampaging mobs, mostly aligned with embattled President Hosni Mubarak. Four Israeli journalists have been reportedly arrested in Egypt while trying to cover the escalating violence.
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Indians in Egypt numbering 3600 are safe. The Indian embassy in Cairo is in constant touch with them to monitor their well-being in the wake of violent protests against President Hosni Mubarak's rule. The Indian embassy said in a statement that a 24-hour Control Room has been operating in the mission since January 28 to assist the Indian nationals.
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Non-resident Indians (NRIs) can now cast votes in their home constituencies. The Centre has notified rules in this regard NRIs would have to register as voters and be physically present with their passport on polling day to exercise their franchise. There is, however, no provision for postal balloting. The notification prepared in consultation with the Election Commission clarifies that NRI voters now can submit the application directly to the electoral registration officer of the constituency within which the place of residence is mentioned in the passport. Our correspondent reports, the application can either be submitted directly or sent by post.
This meets the longstanding demands of the NRIs and fulfills the promise made by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at last year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in New Delhi. According to the Representation of the People Act, once a person is registered as a voter, he automatically gets a right to contest polls also. Now, if any NRI has a political ambition to be elected as peoples's representative, he or she can fufill that aspiration also. As per the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2010, so far a person who has gone out of the country for business or employment should be treated as having moved out of that place. Mere ownership or possession of a building or other immovable property did not bestow on the owner, the residential qualification. The Amendment Act says, there are a large number of citizens of India residing outside India due to various reasons. The Act says the right to vote as demanded by the citizens of India living abroad is their legitimate right. Conferring such right will enable them to participate in the democratic process of elections in their motherland and will also boost their involvement in the nation building.
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Department of Posts has joined hands with Unique Identification Authority of India,UIDAI to provide Unique Identification Number, 'Aadhaar' to the people. A statement of Intent to this effect was signed between Department of Posts and UIDAI in presence of Union Minister of Communications and IT, Mr. Kapil Sibal and UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occassion, Mr Sibal said that this will also help provide people the facility of enrollment and updations in post offices. He said that more than 3700 post offices across the country have been identified for providing enrolment facility.
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The Union Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram currently on a two day visit of Jammu and Kashmir had a breakfast meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at his residence in Jammu today.
During the meeting which lasted nearly about an hour, the two leaders discussed matters pertaining to the security scenario in the State. The issues relating to the development projects were also taken stock of in the meeting. Later, the Union Home Minister and Chief Minister got appraisal of the security and law and order and reviewed the measures in place to maintain peace and tranquility in the State. Besides, the top bass of security forces and J&K Police, the meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Tara Chand. Later Mr. Chidambaram along-with Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah flew to Kishtwar where he took stock of the security situation of the five districts of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban with senior Civil and Police officers of these districts.
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The Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari today underlined the need to integrate geosciences into secondary and tertiary education. He emphasised the need to make geoscience available as a core academic discipline. Speaking at a function in New Delhi after presenting the National Geoscience Awards 2009, Mr Ansari said geoscience should be central to our energy and climate change policies. He said geoscientists can help us to monitor earth processes, undertake risk assessments and be better prepared for tackling natural and even man-made disasters. Mr Ansari stressed on the need to develop our scientific human resources to meet the demand in terms of numbers and breadth of scientific disciplines.
Mr Ansari presented lifetime achievement award to Prof Ashok Sahni for popularising science among school children.
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The Assam Cabinet has approved reservation of 50 per cent Panchayat seats for women. The Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr. Tarun Gogoi has also approved formation of an Upper House in the State. The Cabinet meeting held at Dispur last evening has decided to hike the Grade Pay of third and fourth grade employees of the State Government. It approved a proposal for setting up a Cabinet Sub-Committee for time-scale promotion to its employees. The Sub-Committee has been asked to submit its report to the Government by the 15th of this month. Around 3 lakh teachers and non-teaching staff of the State are to be benefited from the decision of the Cabinet.
The Cabinet further approved the State Sports Policy and decided to increase the sports pension from 1,500 rupees to 3,000 rupees. The All Assam Employees Union has welcomed the decision of the State Cabinet.
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In Uttar Pradesh, the opposition did not allow the Governor to address the joint sitting of both the houses of the State Legislature on opening day of the budget session.
The members of the main opposition wore black clothes in protest against the Mayawati Government. They were carrying anti government banners and placards.
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In Uttar Pradesh as it was expected whole opposition raised slogans against the Mayawati Government on different issues including price rise, deteriorating law and order, black marketing and hoarding of essential commodities, violence against women and corruption. As soon as Governor BL Joshi entered in the house to address the joint sitting all opposition members were on their feet raising slogans and showing banners and cards. His repeated request for normalcy in the house was not headed by the members. Reading only first and last paragraphs of his address he completed formality of his address. Raising slogans go back opposition members also hurled paper missiles to the Governor when he was trying to read out his address amid protests from the opposition members. Chief Minister Mayawati alleged opposition especially Samajwadi Party behaving against the democratic norms. She claimed opposition has nothing to say against her government as performance of her government was well appreciated by all. At the other hand leader of the opposition in state Assembly Shivpal Singh Yadav demanded that Mayawati government must be sacked as it has lost the confidence of common men. Sunil Shukla, AIR News Lucknow.
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Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is on a two day visit to Raebareli. She is taking part in different programs related to various development activities and projects in her constituency. Mrs. Gandhi will lay the foundation stone of Navodaya Vidyalya Sports Complex in Raebareli this afternoon .The modern sports complex will cost over 30 crore rupees.
Earlier, Mrs. Gandhi inaugurated newly constructed building of Nagar-panchayat in Lalganj areas.
It is also expected that the UPA Chairperson will visit the exhibition organised by the different media Units of the Ministry of information and Broadcasting as part of Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign .
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In Nepal, CPN (UML) Chairman and Prime Minister-elect Jhalanath Khanal today said that his priority will be to ensure completion of the peace process and writing of the new constitution within the stipulated time. Talking to newsmen this morning following his election to the post of Prime Minister in parliament last evening, Khanal said his priority will also be to improve the security environment and take forward the development process. Prime Minister-elect Khanal is likely to be sworn-in on Sunday after the return of President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav from his India tour.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has congratulated Jhalanath Khanal, his newly-elected counterpart in Nepal, for being chosen as the next head of the government of the neighbouring country. The Prime Minister called Khanal last evening, soon after he was elected by Nepal's Constituent Assembly as the next prime minister, ending a seven-month deadlock over the formation of a new government.
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Tri services parade, 21 gun salute and colourful cultural paegeantry marked the 63rd Independence Day celebrations in Sri Lanka today. The celebrations were held at the holy town of Katargama, which is sacred to both Tamils and the Sinhalese. The shrine of God Kataragama has been a symbol of unity for centuries in the country. Addressing the nation on the occasion, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasized on the need of enormous attitudinal change to achieve national development.
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Snapping two-days of gains, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange opened 58 points lower, at 18,391, this morning, on profit-booking by investors. Later, selling pressure intensified, and the Sensex had lost as much as 284 points, or 1.5 percent, to 18,166, in afternoon trade, a short while ago.
Elsewhere, Japan's main stock index rose 1.2 percent, while the markets in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore remained shut for the Lunar New Year holidays.
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And the Rupee depreciated by 4 paise to 45.65 rupees against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market today. It had closed at 45.61 against the US currency yesterday.
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World oil prices remained high in Asian trade today. New York's light sweet crude was up five cents to 90.91 Dollars per barrel. Brent North Sea crude gained 25 cents to 102.01 Dollars per barrel.
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Oil giant Shell has dropped plans to drill in waters off the coast of the American state of Alaska this year after it was refused necessary government permits. The multi-billion dollar plan was shelved after the Obama administration called a temporary halt to off shore drilling following the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year. Environmentalists say Alaska cannot withstand a similar disaster.
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Today is World Cancer Day. Several functions are being organised today to mark the occasion. This year, the theme is ‘Teaching children and teenagers to avoid UV exposure by being sun smart’. The World Health Organisation estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without adequate treatment. We spoke to the Chief of the Cancer centre of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. G.K. Rath on the enormity of the issue in India.
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The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says, the global food prices reached a new record peak in January. In an update of its Food Price Index, the FAO warned that food prices have been steadily rising since the last seven months. The food price index averaged 231 points in January, up 3.4 per cent from December 2010. The rise, the highest since FAO started measuring food prices in 1990, was mainly due to surging international wheat and maize prices amid tightening supplies.
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At the ongoing ATP South Africa Tennis Open championship in Johannesburg, Inidia's Somdev Devvarman and his partner David Martin have stormed into the doubles quarter finals. They pair defeated Austria’s Martin Fischer and Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-3, 6-4. The Indo-American pair will next face Karo Beck of Slovakia and Dudi Sela of Israel.
Meanwhile, in the singles competition, Somdev, who has already beaten Jesse Huta Galung in the second round, will play the quarter-final match against Rik De Voest of South Africa today.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to retain Shahid Khan Afridi as captain to lead its team in the cricket World Cup, starting from February 19 in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam disclosed this while talking to media after Pakistan won an ODI series against Kiwis by 3-1 after 17 years in New Zealand. The PCB has already announced its 15-man squad for the event.
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The national capital continues to experience warm weather with bright sun shine during the day. The mercury levels also are also on the rise with the minimum temperature rising to 9.6 degrees Celsius this morning. The Maximum temperature recorded yesterday was 26 degree celsius.
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