NEWS
1st February, 2014
THE HEADLINES:
- Uttarakhand set to get new Chief Minister today; Union Minister Harish Rawat is front runner.
- Protest Demonstrations over death of Arunachal student Nido Tania held in Delhi and Itanagar.
- Maharashtra and Bihar implement Food Security Scheme.
- India's first Mono Rail Service starts in Mumbai today.
- Somdev Devvarman takes India to 2-0 lead in Davis Cup Tennis.
<><><>
Union Minister Harish
Rawat, expected to become the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, reached
Dehradun this morning from New Delhi.
Soon after his arrival, Mr Rawat met acting state party chief Yashpal Arya and
Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj, in a bid to ensure smooth conduct of the
Congress Legislative Party meeting. The CLP meeting being held in the presence
of central party observers Ambika Soni, Janardan Dwivedi and Ghulam Nabi Azad,
is expected to finalise Mr Rawat's name as the new Chief Minister, after which
he would take oath at Raj Bhawan.
<><><>
The Delhi Police will
submit a detailed report today to the Home Ministry over the incident leading
to the death of an Arunachal Pradesh student in Delhi. Nido Tania, a student, was allegedly
beaten to death by some shopkeepers following an altercation at Lajpat Nagar on Thursday.
DCP- South East, P
Karunakaran told AIR that the report is likely to be submitted by 3 PM. He
said, police has registered murder case at Lajpat Nagar police station and
three persons have been detained for interrogation so far. The Delhi Government
had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death yesterday.
Our correspondent reports
that people from the north eastern region residing in the city are agitated
over the incident. Their representatives protested in South
Delhi where the incident took place and demanded stern action
against the culprits.
In Arunachal Pradesh
capital Itanagar, hundreds of students and members of the civil society today
took out a protest rally against the killing of Nido Tania. More from our
correspondent:-
The protestors
demanded immediate arrest of the persons involved in the incident and fitting
punishment to them within the shortest possible time through fast track court.
The protesters said such quick action of the Delhi and NCR administrations could earn the
trust of the North Easterners who have by and large lost confidence in them.
They also urged the state Govt to take up the matter with the Centre and Delhi Govt seriously for
prompt delivery of justice so that instances of racial discrimination do not
recur in the mainland in future. Family members, hundreds of students and
sympathizers are now waiting eagerly with teary eyes at the Naharlagun Helipad
for the arrival of the body of Nido Tania who is the lone son of the Arunachal
MLA. This is Sonikumar Konjengbam for AIR News Itanagar.
<><><>
Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal has questioned the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission,
DERC, for raising the power tariff on the demand of power distribution
companies.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, today Mr
Kejriwal said, why are power distribution companies opposed to the CAG audit if
they are facing financial difficulties. He said the audit will make it clear
where exactly the money received from consumers is going.
There are
several question marks in their accounts. We should wait for the CAG report. If
they continue in this manner, then the government will not hesitate to cancel
their licence, and bring in new companies.
Yesterday, DERC, had
decided to increase power tariff in the national capital region by up to eight
per cent.
Meanwhile workers of BJP
Delhi unit staged protest in some parts of East Delhi
against the power hike and power distribution company's threat to resort to
load shedding. Party Delhi
unit president Vijay Goel said the AAP government has completely failed to
fulfill its promises relating to reduction in power and water tariffs.
This government
had promised to bring down the electricity rates by fifty per cent. Now instead
of bringing down the rates by fifty per cent. The rates have gone up by 8 per
cent and water has become costlier by ten per cent.
Our correspondent
reports, power supply in east and central Delhi
is reported to be normal and the power companies have not issued any power
shedding schedule so far.
<><><>
The National Food
Security Scheme which guarantees Right to Food through subsidized food
grains,
is being implemented in Maharashtra from
today. Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar launched the ambitious Scheme
in Maharashtra in Navi Mumbai yesterday. Maharashtra is the
8th state in India to
implement this scheme after Delhi, Haryana,
Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab,
Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. Details from our Mumbai correspondent:
The
National
Food Security Act each entitled person will receive 5 kg of food grains
per
month which includes rice at Rs 3, wheat at Rs 2 or coarse grains at Rs
1.
While, the poorest of the poor will continue to get 35 kg food grains
per
household per month under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana; the scheme has
additional
advantage for pregnant women and lactating mother, who will get
maternity
benefit of Rs. 6000. Apart from a robust grievance redressal system, the
scheme
also provides for increased role for Panchayati Raj institutions and
women’s
self help group in monitoring and social auditing of public distribution
systems. More than 7 crore people are expected to benefit from this
scheme in Maharashtra. NIVEDITA ABHISHEK KUMAR, AIR NEWS, MUMBAI.
In Bihar also the UPA government's Flagship food
guarantee scheme has been formally launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
today. For the better implementation of the scheme a Call Centre and Electronic
Public Distribution Supply Management system have been launched on this
occasion. The Act covers nearly eight crore beneficiaries in the state. Bihar is the ninth state in the country to implement the
National Food Security Act, NFSA.
<><><>
In Assam, security
forces have apprehended 6 cadres of militant outfits in two separate incidents
in Karbi Anglong district today. Karbi Anglong SP, Mughdya Jyoti Mahanta said 4
cadres of banned outfit National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit
faction) were arrested at Khatkhati area. In another incident, the self-styled
Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of United Karbi People’s Force were arrested at
Diphu. Our correspondent reports of late, security forces have intensified
operations against militant outfits:
The police said,
three of them had obtained trainings in Myanmar and involved in subversive
activities at Hamren sub-division of Karbi Anglong district. On the basis on
their information, police also recovered arms and ammunitions. In another
incident, the self-styled Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of United Karbi People’s
Force were arrested at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district. The arrested leaders of
the little known outfit were trying to recruit cadres’ .But the police
successfully able to thwart their nefarious designs.
Manas
Pratim Sarma, AIR NEWS, Guwahati.
<><><>
India’s first monorail service is being
flagged off today in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan will
inaugurate the first phase of Mumbai Monorail comprising the 8.9 km long
Wadala-Chembur section. More details from our Mumbai correspondent.
Mumbai is all
set to get India’s
first monorail service today. With the commercial operations to commence from tomorrow,
Mumbai Monorail service will initially operate between 7 am and 3 pm at an
interval of 15 minutes. The fully air-conditioned monorail’s minimum fare will
be five rupees while maximum fare will be twenty rupees. The first phase,
constructed at the cost of Rs. 1,900 crore will have seven stations. The
service connecting Mumbai’s central and eastern suburbs is expected to reduce
the travel time between Wadala and Chembur from 40 minutes at present to nearly
21 minutes. As MMRADA officials declared mono rail has the glittering features
like advanced passenger driven communication, CCTV cameras and it will use
regenerative braking system thus enabling about 25% saving in power
consumption. NIVEDITA/DEVAPRIYO BHATTACHARJEE, AIR NEWS, MUMBAI.
<><><>
In Karnataka, UPA
Chairperson Sonia Gandhi inaugurated ESI Super Speciality hospital and Medical
college in Gulbarga
today. The 500 bed hospital and MBBS college with 100 seats was built at a cost
of 893 crore rupees. A nursing and dental college is also attached with the
facility. The AICC president thereafter participated in a public rally where
she was felicitated for introducing Article 371J amendment to usher in
development in the backward regions of Hyderabad
- Karnataka region. It provides reservation in education and employment for
youth in this region.
<><><>
NEWS FROM ABROAD,
UN Special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar
Brahimi has said efforts are on to bridge the gap between the Syrian Government
and the opposition for a second round of talks. The first round of direct talks
between the two sides aimed at finding a comprehensive political solution to
the crisis in Syria ended
after eight days of intense negotiations in Geneva yesterday. More from our West Asia Correspondent:
After the first
round of direct talks in three years between the Syrian Government and the
opposition in Geneva,
UN Special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi admitted there is a wide gap between the two
sides. However, he has found 10 areas of possible common ground and both sides
have engaged in talks which is a modest beginning. Brahimi said the opposition
has committed to join a second round of talks in Geneva on February 10. Syrian opposition chief
Ahmad al-Jarba said his side was committed to more talks and insisted on
setting up of a transitional ruling council with full executive powers to run
the country. The Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said he would report
back to the Syrian President Assad on what took place during the talks. Then it
would be decided when to return to Geneva
to meet again with the opposition. He also dismissed the opposition's demand
for a new governing body to transfer power from President Assad. Atul K Tiwary,
AIR News, Dubai.
<><><>
European Union Foreign
Policy chief, Catherine Marie Ashton will hold a meeting of the Quartet
involved in the initiation of the Middle East peace process in Munich today. She will
meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former British Prime Minister Tony
Blair on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
<><><>
US officials say the first of two American warships heading
into the Black Sea ahead of the Olympic Games has sailed from Italy. The FBI
says at least two dozen agents are going to Sochi , Russia
to protect Americans at the Winter Games. Islamic militants have threatened to
derail the Winter Games, which will be held from 7th February to 23rd February.
<><><>
India's top-ranked
singles player Somdev Devvarman today won the second singles match against
Chinese Taipei's Ti Chen, to give India a 2-0 lead in the Asia-Oceania Group-I
Davis Cup tie at Indore. After play was suspended due to fading light
yesterday, Somdev today defeated Ti Chen, 6-7, 7-6, 1-6, 6-2, 9-7. Yesterday,
Yuki Bhambri gave India a
winning start, as he battled past Taipei's
No.1 Tsung Hua Yang 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.
<><><>
In Haryana, the 28th
International Surjkund crafts Mela started today at Surajkund in Faridabad district. This
fortnight long festival of craft will continue till the 15th of this month.
Beside craftsmen of Indian states, craftsmen of 20 countries are also
participating in this festival. This year Goa
is the theme state. In the Mela area of 40 acres more than 750 stalls are being
put up by craftsmen. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda inaugurated
the fare in the presence of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
<><><>
In
Puducherry, normal life is partially affected due to the 10 hour Bandh call
given by the Pradesh Congress Committee. About 100 youth Congress workers who
staged a dharna near the New Bus Stand, Puducherry were arrested. Security has
been beefed up and police pickets have been put up at all important junctions.
No untoward incident has been reported so far. The bandh has been called to
protest against poor maintenance of law and order and to seek the arrest of
culprits involved in planting a powerful bomb in a car parked outside Union
Minister Mr.V.Narayanasamy's residence on the 29th of January.
<><><>
A goods train has
derailed a few hours ago at Gangaghat near Ranchi railway station. This has affected
railway traffic between Ranchi
and Muri section. Railway sources told our Ranchi
correspondent that routes of five trains arriving Ranchi has been cut short. Meanwhile, the
accident relief train has reached the spot and work to clear the track has
begun.
<><><>
In West
Bengal, train services have been partially affected in Sealdah
division today following derailment of a local train. According to Railway Sources,
four bogies of the Sealdah bound Ranaghat local were derailed this morning.
However, there is no report of any causality or injury.
<><><>
No comments:
Post a Comment