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1400 HRS.
12th January,
2014
THE
HEADLINES
- Prime Minister
urges people to be respectful to all religions and dedicate themselves to the
country's development.
- Coal Ministry
seeks suggestions from stakeholders on draft bid documents relating to
auctioning of coal mines in order to ensure transparency.
- Indian flyers
will not be required to fill immigration forms while returning from abroad from
March 1st.
- In Meghalaya,
four armed militants killed in an encounter with the police in West Garo Hills
district.
- Sri Lanka says, the decision on release of Indian fishermen
to be based on the outcome of the delegation level talks with New Delhi.
- Srinagar-Jammu
national high way opens for traffic today.
- Indian
cricket team leaves for New
Zealand for 5 one day and two test series.
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Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh has urged people to be tolerant, respectful of all religions
and dedicate themselves to the development of
the
country. Addressing the closing ceremony of the commemoration of Swami
Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary in New Delhi today, Dr. Singh said human
society would have been far more advanced than it is now had it not been for
horrible demons of sectarianism and fanaticism.
His
truly great message for us which is of great relevance to our country and our
sub-continent, was that true religion and true religiosity cannot be the bases
of hatred and division, but of mutual respect and tolerance for the faiths and
beliefs of all.
Quoting
Swamiji's one of the most important messages, the Prime Minister said India’s
true liberation would come only when every citizen feels liberated from the
scourge of poverty, ignorance and disease.
Speaking on the
occasion, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said all must rise above politics and
pay heed to Swami Vivekananda's teachings of wisdom and tolerance. Stating that
religious fanaticism threatens peace in the region, Mrs. Gandhi said the youth
must imbibe the teachings of Swamiji to shape their future in the 21st century.
The India of the
21st century is a known society with a young population. A population with high
expectation and aspiration. They want to be educated better, they want to be
governed better . They want to find employment that meets their aspirations. We
should not and cannot fail them.
Recalling the
preaching of Vivekananda in relentlessly championing the cause of gender
equality and communal harmony, Mrs Gandhi said he has become more relevant with
the passage of time.
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The Coal
Ministry has sought suggestions from the stakeholders on the draft bid document
pertaining to coal mines to be auctioned in order to ensure greater
transparency. The development comes in the backdrop of the government drawing
flak from various quarters for irregularities in mines allocation. A Coal
Ministry document said the government proposes to allocate area containing coal
blocks through auction by competitive bidding.
The Ministry
further said comments and suggestions are invited from stakeholders on the
draft Request for Proposal to be sent by January 20, 2014. The government
watchdog CAG had in 2012 estimated a 1.86 lakh crore rupees presumptive loss to
the exchequer on account of allotment of 57 coal blocks without competitive
bidding.
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New customs
rules under which Indian flyers will no longer be required to fill immigration
forms when they return from abroad. It is applicable from March 1 at international
airports in the country. A notification issued by Finance Ministry has said
under the new Customs Baggage Declaration Regulations, 2013, an Indian citizen
would need to fill up the immigration form only when he or she goes out of the
country. These regulations were to come into force from January 1 but now the
date to implement them has been set ahead by two months.
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Centre says
government departments should not insist on seeking address of an RTI applicant
if a post box number is being provided to them for communication. The Ministry
of Personnel has written to all central government ministries or departments,
who act as public authorities mandated with providing information on RTI
applications made to them, citing a judgement by Calcutta High Court in this
regard. The DOPT said in case the authority would find any difficulty with the
post box number, they may insist upon personal details. The order had come
following a writ petition by an individual who sought court's direction that
authority should not insist upon the detailed address of the applicant as and
when any application is made under the RTI Act.
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The President
Mr Pranab Mukherjee today inaugurated Andaman and Nicobar Tribal research and
Training Institute at Port Blair. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed the
need for setting up a museum to preserve the unique culture of the most
precious tribes of the islands. More from our Correspondent:
Inaugurating
the Tribal Research Institute ANTRI at Port Blair this morning, the President
called upon the anthropologists of the institute to formulate a new policy for
the tribal integration with the developed society, but in their own way and own
environment without disturbing their distinct identity and unique culture.
Expressing concern over the dwindling population of the vulnerable tribal groups,
particularly Jarawas, Sentenalese, Onges and Shompens, the President asked the
institute to conduct a detailed study to ensure their welfare and protection
effectively. He also emphasized the need for a tribal museum by the tribes
themselves to preserve their unique culture, tradition and rare artefacts for
the future generations. The President will visit Havelock Island
this afternoon. A DHANASEKARAN/ AIR NEWS/PORT BLAIR.
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Samajwadi Party
chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has asked his partymen to toil hard to bring the
party at the centre stage in next Lok Sabha elections. He is holding a meet of
the party workers today in Lucknow.
Our Lucknow
correspondent reports that Mulayam Singh has already expressed his desire to
fight for the the post of prime minister-ship in next Lok Sabha polls. On the
matter of extending support to form a coalition, the SP supremo said the party
would weigh issues related to poor, farmers and youths with like-minded
parties.
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Aam Aadmi Party
leader Kumar Vishwas was today shown black flags by a group of people, who were
protesting against for his alleged anti religious poems, while he was heading
to address a rally in Rahul Gandhi's Amethi parliamentary constituency. Stones
and eggs were also thrown at two buses ferrying party supporters to the rally
venue, in Gandhi Chowk area of the city. When asked about the protests, Vishwas
said these were sponsored. He is to address Jan Vishwas rally at Ramlila ground
in Amethi this afternoon. Meanwhile, Congress Party has criticised Kumar
Vishwas, saying that he is yet to be nominated by his party for any Loksabha
seat but still trying to create unwanted commotion in the state.
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In Meghalaya,
four armed militants were shot dead in an encounter with the police in West
Garo Hills district. West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Mukesh Singh told
a news agency that the incident took place late last night on the road to
Kerapara on the outskirts of Tura town, the district headquarters. He said the
militants fired randomly at the police team and four militants were shot dead
in retaliatory fire which lasted for nearly an hour. A huge cache of weapons
were recovered from them.
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Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne has said
that the decision on release of Indian fishermen from custody will be taken on
the basis of the outcome of the delegation level talks between the two
countries in New Delhi.
Our correspondent reports that Mr Senaratne will be leading a high powered
delegation to New Delhi
later this week to discuss the fishermen’s issue with an Indian team headed by
Agriculture Minister Sharard Pawar.
Sri
Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne says he would focus on the
sanctity of the International Maritime Boundary between the two countries when
he gets down to discuss with New Delhi the issue of fishermen’s plight on both
sides of the Palk Straits. Mr Senaratne referred to close historical ties
between the two countries and hoped that a lasting solution would be found soon
to this irritant in the relationship.ABHISHEK DAYAL/ AIR NEWS/COLOMBO.
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Egypt’s army chief Abdel Fattah El Sisi has said that he
would run for Presidency if the people demand it and the military supports him.
In his address to officials in Cairo,
Gen El Sisi urged the public to assume their national responsibility of
participating in the referendum. More from our West Asia
Correspondent:
Two
days ahead of the nationwide referendum on the new constitution, remarks by the
Egyptian strongman, General Sissi have fueled speculations that he might
eventually run for the top job in the country. At a meeting with the Egyptian
officials in Cairo,
he said that his nomination must be based on a popular demand and have the
mandate from the army. Military officers have already indicated their support
if he contests the election scheduled to take place this year. Gen El Sisi has
been the most popular leader in Egypt
since the ouster of Islamist regime led by Mohammed Morsi in July. Atul K
Tiwary/ AIR NEWS/Dubai.
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India 360 an eight-minute programme on AIR FM Gold and
additional frequencies, will be launched from January 26th by the News Services
Division (NSD) with inputs from the External Publicity (XP) Division of the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It will profile a country each week and its
relations with India.
It aims to give listeners an audio picture of the country in focus with
information on the people, culture, cuisine, trade, sports and other aspects of
the region. Indian ambassadors to these countries will talk about important
aspects of bilateral relations like trade, people to people contact and the
Indian diaspora there. There is a quiz question at the end of the programme for
generating listeners’ interest in countries and cultures and their ties with India. The
programme will also be publicised through the Social media platforms of All
India Radio like its Facebook, Twitter page and Website. The programme will be
launched with focus on Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is Chief Guest at this year's Republic Day
Parade.
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Four toll plaza
booths were vandalised in Maharashtra's Kolhapur
on Sunday
after a dispute over collection of toll tariff. The hooligans in large number
vandalised the booths and burnt down the toll plaza property. The agitators
claim that since roads are poorly constructed, there is no question of paying
the toll.
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The Odisha
government has proposed to set up a Women’s University during the 12th Plan
period under the Rastriya Ucchattara Sikhya Abhiyan. The process has already
been started to short list the government and government-aided women’s colleges
in the state for recommending to the Union Ministry of Human Resource
Development for clearance of the proposal. More from our correspondent:
If
Odisha is selected as one of the states to have a Women's University, the state
government will receive funds from the Rastriya Ucchattara Sikhya Abhiyan to
boost the research and innovation in the proposed Women's University. The Rama
Devi Women’s College at Bhubaneswar
has the infrastructure to get the status of a university exclusively for the
women. As funds would be available under the Rastriya Ucchattara Sikhya Abhiyan
for setting up Women’s University, the State government is also considering
providing land and other infrastructure at a suitable place for a new one
without upgrading any existing one. The State government will also provide
funds to help establish the proposed university. Prakash Dash/AIR NEWS/Odisha.
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The
Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which connects Kashmir Valley
to the rest of the country, was today opened for traffic after remaining cut
off for two days due to snowfall. Traffic on the 294-km arterial road was
stopped on Friday
following snowfall in the areas around Jawahar Tunnel.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.0 degree
Celsius last night. A MET Department statement said the mercury in Qazigund,
the gateway town to Kashmir
Valley, decreased over
four degrees to settle at a low of minus 7.6 degree Celsius.
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In Punjab and Haryana, a thick blanket of fog disrupted
normal life at many places as there was no let up in the cold wave conditions
in both the states for last several days.
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The National
Capital, Delhi,
will have a clear sky today though it was foggy in the morning. The minimum
temperature recorded was 6.3 degrees Celsius, one degree below average and the
maximum is expected to hover around 19 degrees Celsius.
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The Indian
cricket team today left for the tour to New Zealand. The Indian team led by
MS Dhoni are scheduled to play 5 one day international matches from the 19th of
this month, followed by a 2-match Test series. The ODI squad left from Mumbai
today, while Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav, who
figure in the Test squad, will leave later. The first ODI will take place at
the McLean Park at Napier. This is India's ninth visit to New Zealand for
a bilateral contest, and their first since 2008-09 that they won 1-0.
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In its
endeavour to make road safety a social movement, Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways today organized a Road Safety Walk in New Delhi. The walk was organized as part of
the ongoing 25th Road
Safety Week which began yesterday. The theme of the week this year is 'When on
road, always say Pehle Aap'.
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