Election Commission reviews
preparedness of States and Union Territories for the smooth conduct of
forthcoming General Elections; issues guidelines to political parties asking
not to make undue promises in manifestos.
Aam Aadmi Party moves Supreme
Court challenging imposition of President's rule in Delhi
In Pakistan,40 militants killed
in air strikes in the northwest tribal
region.
Facebook acquires mobile messaging company WhatsApp for
a whopping 1 lakh 20 thousand crore rupees.
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The Election Commission has reviewed the preparedness of
the States and Union
Territories for the
smooth conduct of forthcoming General Elections. The Commission held a meeting
with Chief Secretaries, DGPs, Chief
Electoral Officers and other officials in New
Delhi in this
regard yesterday. The Commission reviewed the status of compliance to its recent instructions regarding transfers
and postings, filling up of election related critical vacancies and Budget provision for elections. It also took
feedback about the law and order
situation and State-specific areas of concerns. In the meeting, the Commission
emphasized the need for inter-State coordination to ensure free and fair
elections across the country. It
also asked the officials to carry out Vulnerability Mapping exercise to
identify vulnerable areas and take advance precautionary measures.
The
Commission has issued guidelines to political parties on manifestos, asking
them not to make such promises which disturb the level-playing field and
vitiate the atmosphere or exert undue influence on voters. The Commission has also incorporated views of
political parties in the guidelines. The poll body has included them as part of
the Model Code of Conduct. The guidelines say political parties or candidates
should explain the rationale for the promises made and broadly indicate the
ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it. The Commission said
that trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible
to be fulfilled. It said, the manifesto shall not contain anything repugnant to
the ideals and principles enshrined in the constitution. It said the manifesto
must be consistent with the letter and spirit of other provisions of the Model
Code of Conduct.
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The Aam
Aadmi Party has moved the Supreme Court challenging the imposition of President's rule in Delhi. The party filed a petition in the Apex Court
yesterday against the Centre’s decision not to dissolve the Assembly and keep
it in suspended animation. In its petition, the party described the decision as
malafide and unconstitutional. President’s Rule was imposed in the national capital
following resignation of the Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government.
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The Supreme
Court has taken serious view of the Sahara
group not refunding 20,000 crore rupees of investors money despite its order.
The Apex Court yesterday asked Sahara Chief Subrata Roy to
be personally present before it and allowed SEBI to go ahead with the sale of
companies' properties to recover the funds. A bench of Justices K S
Radhakrishnan and J S Khehar also directed three directors of the Sahara Group
Companies to appear before the court on the 26th of this month. The apex
court in its judgement of August 31, 2012, had directed SEBI to attach
properties and recover the money.
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Parliament has passed the Andhra
Pradesh Reorganization Bill-2014 to create separate Telangana state. The Rajya
Sabha approved it by a voice vote yesterday. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill
on Tuesday. CPI(M) staged a walk-out in the Rajya Sabha as its demand for
voting was not accepted. The main opposition BJP said though it was not fully
satisfied with the provisions of the Bill, it is extending support to it in the
interest of the people of Telangana. All the amendments moved by the opposition
parties including the BJP were negated.
Intervening in the discussion
the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced grant of special Category
Status to 13 districts of Seemandhra for a period of five years to put the
state's finances on a firmer footing. He assured the House that the Centre will
execute the Polavaram multi purpose project and will make further amendments if
needed for Rehabilitation and Resettlement under the project.
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In Andhra
Pradesh, celebrations broke out in Telangana region as Parliament approved the
Bill. Our correspondent reports that hundreds of activists and leaders took out
processions to Telangana Martyrs Memorial near the state Assembly and paid
tributes.
People came to streets in joy
soon after the Rajya Sabha approved the historic Bill for the state
bifurcation. In Hyderabad,
the supporters of Telangana across the party lines danced in joy, distributed
sweets and burst crackers at different places. Celebrations broke out at the
offices of political parties and also at the Osmania University,
the nerve centre of the agitation for separate state. Lakshmi, AIR News, Hyderabad
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In Pakistan,
40 militants have been killed in air strikes in the northwest tribal region. A
Peshwar based report said that fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in the
lawless Mir Ali area of North Waziristan Agency yesterday, killing the
militants including many foreigners. Air strikes were also carried out in
Khyber Agency. A factory, making explosives and IEDs was reportedly destroyed
in the area. The strikes come soon after the government suspended talks with
the Taliban after militants executed 23 Pakistani soldiers. The air strikes
were sanctioned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself.
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In Turkey, at least 24 people were
killed and many others injured late last night in an explosion near the Syrian
- Turkish border in the southern province
of Kilis. A media report
said, about 20 people were killed at the blast scene and four injured died on
the way to a nearby hospital.
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The European Union, EU in an emergency meeting in Brussels has decided to impose sanctions against those
held responsible for the violence in Ukraine. The sanctions include a
ban to travel to the 28-nation bloc and the freezing of assets held in EU
countries. Canada has also
decided to impose sanction against Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych
and his ministers linked to the violence against protesters. In addition to an
expanded travel ban on the regime's senior leaders, Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper announced new economic sanctions against Yanukovych and his
supporters.
The US has also expressed outrage over yesterday's
violence in Ukraine
in which at least 70 people were killed and over 500 injured. Meanwhile,
Ukrainian President told European Union envoys that he was willing to hold
early elections this year.
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Social
media giant Facebook has announced that it has purchased popular mobile
messaging company WhatsApp for a whopping one lakh 20 thousand crore rupees. It
is the largest acquisition by the Mark Zuckerberg-led firm so far that will
give it a stronghold in the market for messaging. WhatsApp has more than 4.5 crore monthly users. Under the agreement, WhatsApp co-founder and
CEO Jan Koum will join Facebook Board of Directors. Facebook said the
acquisition will not impact the WhatsApp's brand, which will be maintained and
the company's headquarters will remain in California's
Mountain View.
WhatsApp's core messaging product and Facebook's existing messenger app will
continue to operate as standalone applications.
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International
Monetary Fund, IMF has projected a higher 5.4 per cent economic growth for India in
2014-15. The IMF yesterday suggested strengthening of inflation management
polices and doing away with supply bottlenecks for better GDP. The IMF
also sees inflation, driven by food prices, remaining near double digits in
2014-15. Though it said tight monetary policy is likely to slow growth
recovery.
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The
Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched an online shopping portal
for the sale of authentic tribal products that will seek to create a 'niche'
market for indigenous artisans. The e-commerce portal, which features 69 tribal
products like textiles, metal artifacts and jewellery, was launched by Union
Minister of Tribal Affairs Raj Kishore Chandra Deo yesterday.
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World
Number One Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Alize Cornet
have entered the Singles Semi finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis
Championship. Serena Williams will take on French Alize Cornet today while
Venus Williams will face Caroline Wozniacki to book a place in the final .
The
reigning World number Serena Williams has made her way to the Semi-final
defeating Jelena Jankovic 6-2,6-2 in straight sets. She plays against Alize
Cornet of France who beat Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5,6-3. Making a
comeback, the former tennis queen Venus Williams demolished the challenge of
tournament qualifier Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 7-5. Her opponent is another former
World number one, Caroline Wozniacki who had an easy win over Soren Cirstea
6-2, 6-1. It is hard to make predictions, but if the tennis pundits are to be
believed, Williams Sisters-Serena and Venus
may be seen in action for the title clash against each other in Dubai. Atul Tiwary, AIR
News, Dubai
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A LOOK AT TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS,
- Rajya Sabha passing the
Telangana Bill amid protests and chaos is the lead in most papers. 'Union gets 29th state' writes the Indian Express.
'Sweetener for Seemandhra' says the Hindustan Times, of the PM's six
point plan for it, including a mega financial package.
- A news item on the front page
of the Hindu says '2014 Lok Sabha polls will see most first time
voters', and that 2 to 3 crore people in 18 to 19 age bracket have been
enrolled to vote.
- Asian Age reports that Anna Hazare is all set to campaign against
Arvind Kejriwal in the Lok Sabha elections.
- The Supreme Court staying the
release of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins and ordering status quo till the hearing on
6th of March is covered prominently by the press.
- Facebook buying WhatsApp for 19
billion dollars finds front page coverage in most papers. The Economic Times
reports of VP (business development) Neeraj Arora who played a key role in the
rise of Whats App.
- 'End of Gurgaon toll takes
toll on Delhi'
writes the Pioneer, as it reports of massive traffic snarls on RTR
flyover, Rajokri, Dhaula Kuan and Vasant Vihar.
- Niira Radia being let off?
Seems like that, as the Times of India writes that the CBI is likely to
seek closure of the probe, as it has not found any criminality in the 14 preliminary
enquires registered on the bases of the intercepted conversations,
