NEWS
- Supreme Court convicts AIADMK ad-hoc General Secretary VK Sasikala to four year jail term in disproportionate assets case; DMK, BJP and PMK welcome the verdict.
- Sasikala faction elects E Palaniswamy as new legislature party leader; O Paneerselvam removed from the party.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, three soldiers martyred in an encounter with terrorists in Bandipora district.
- Elaborate security arrangements in place for tomorrow's single-phase Assembly elections in Uttarakhand and second phase in Uttar Pradesh.
- Police arrests Jagran.com editor Shekhar Tripathi on the charges of poll code violation.
- Apex Court clarifies that people are not obliged to stand up when National Anthem is played as part of a film or documentary.
- Countdown begins for the launch of ISRO's PSLV C-37 carrying a record 104 satellites.
- In United States, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigns over his contacts with Russia.
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The Supreme Court today convicted AIADMK ad-hoc General Secretary VK Sasikala in a 19-year old disproportionate assets case that also involved late former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. In the court's verdict in the case, Ms Sasikala and her two relatives were found guilty under Prevention of Corruption Act. A bench of justices PC Ghose and AK Roy directed them to surrender forthwith to the trial court in Bengaluru and serve the remaining part of the four year jail term. The AIADMK General Secretary cannot also contest elections for the next 10 years. The bench, however, abated the appeal proceedings against Ms Jayalalithaa owing to her death.
The apex court set aside Karnataka High Court's order which had, in May 2015, overturned a trial court's verdict exonerating Ms Jayalalithaa and Ms Sasikala. Karnataka government had challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court. Today's verdict disqualifies Sasikala from becoming a legislator, and she can't be the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister either.
Following the verdict, the VK Sasikala faction elected the serving PWD minister Edappadi Palaniswamy as the new Legislature Party Leader. He was elected by MLAs owing allegiance to Ms Sasikala in a meeting held at the Kuvathur resort near Chennai. Ms Sasikala was also present in the meeting. The letter endorsing Mr Palaniswamy as the new legislature party leader has been sent to Governor Vidyasagar Rao.
The legislators also removed O. Panneerselvam from the primary membership of the party.
Meanwhile, Mr Panneerselvam has appealed to all AIADMK MLAs and cadres to unite together in the prevailing situation to continue the works left by Ms Jayalalithaa.
Heavy posse of police personnel are deployed near the beach side resort where Ms Sasikala and her party MLAs are staying.
Principal opposition party the DMK’s working president MK Stalin has welcomed the apex court verdict saying justice has been done in the case. PMK founder Dr Ramadoss has said Tamil Nadu has been spared from a possible political mishap.
The VCK chief Thol. Tirumavalavan has favoured fresh elections to the state Assembly.
BJP has termed the verdict as historic. Talking to AIR, party General Secretary Murlidhar Rao said, the verdict will have consequences for Tamil Nadu polity and will also have an impact on national politics. Mr Rao said BJP will support any constructive move in the interest of Tamil Nadu.
"Now AIADMK has to take introspection. The have to seek and decide the leader how can provide clean politics and clean administration. This is imperative. BJP will support any constructive move in the interest of the Tamil Nadu."
Congress has said, the Tamil Nadu Governor must call a special assembly session and both the AIADMK factions. Talking to media, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, this is the only way forward. More from our correspondent
"While the loyalists of Mr O.Panneerselvam are celebrating the Supreme Court verdict throughout the state by distributing sweets, gloom has befallen in the Sasikala camp. The new Legislature Party Leader from the side of the Sasikala faction, Mr Edappadi Palaniswamy has said his election was unanimous and the letter endorsing him by the MLAs has been faxed to Governor. He said once he receives invitation from him, he would submit the letter of support in person. Meanwhile, two more MLAs joined his camp this morning. The opposition DMK has already made its stand clear that it is in favour of a stable government saying it would not support any of the AIADMK factions politically. Jayasingh, AIR News, Chennai.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, three soldiers were martyred in an encounter with terrorists in Hajin area of Bandipora district today. Defence spokesman told AIR that five others personnel were also injured in the gun battle that began in the wee hours.
"An unidentified militant believed to be Lashkar e Toiba cadre was also killed in the encounter. A civilian was reported injured after protests erupted near encounter site. Security forces had a tip off about presence of at least three militants in the area. However, two militants are reported to have escaped from the area. On 10th of last month, a Lashkar e Toiba militant was killed and an army man injured in the gunfight in the same area. TARIQ RATHER, AIR NEWS, Srinagar.
BSF today said, it has detected yet another tunnel in Ramgarh sector along the Indo-Pak International border in Samba district of the Jammu region. BSF sources told AIR that with the timely detection of tunnel having an opening on Indian side, a major infiltration bid has been foiled.
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The Supreme Court today clarified that people are not obliged to stand up when the National Anthem is played as part of a film or documentary. This comes months after the apex court had ordered that National Anthem must be played in all the cinema halls across the country. Earlier, the court had also modified its order to exempt physically challenged or physically handicapped persons from standing up in cinema halls when the anthem is played. The apex court had, in November, ordered cinema halls to mandatorily play the anthem and directed all those present there to stand up to show respect.
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The Supreme Court today said, it will frame issues relating to Triple Talaq on Thursday. The court asked all parties to place the agreeable points by tomorrow. The apex court made it clear that it will only deliberate on legal propositions relating to Triple Talaq. It said, it will not decide whether divorce under Muslim Personal Law should be supervised by courts.
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Elaborate security arrangements have been made for tomorrow's polling for single-phase Assembly elections in Uttarakhand and second phase in Uttar Pradesh.In Uttarakhand, voters will exercise their franchise to elect 69 members of the 70-member Assembly.Our correspondent reports that about 75 lakh voters will tomorrow decide the political fate of 628 candidates in the fray.Our correspondent reports that polling for the Karanprayag assembly seat has been rescheduled for March 9, after the death of the BSP candidate.
"Election Commission has setup 10 thousand 685 polling booths in the state. Dumak village of Badrinath constituency is the remotest polling booth in the state where the polling party will have to cover 24 kilometer on foot. There are 10 other polling booths in the state which are located more than 15 kilometer away from the road point. As many as 2 thousand 515 polling parties left for their destination till yesterday, while rest of the polling parties are being dispatched today, Meanwhile Election Commission has issued a notice to Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for violating model code of conduct as they were found electioneering after the set time limit. With OP Meena, this is Sanjeev Sundriyal, AIR News Dehradun.
In Uttar Pradesh, polling for the second phase will be held in 67 constituencies spread over 11 districts. Election for the Alapur constituency, which was postponed following SP candidate Chandrashekhar's death, will also be held on the 9th of next month. The districts going for polls in the second phase include Saharanpur, Bijnore, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri and Badayun. Barricades have been erected at the entry points of districts where round the clock intense search of vehicles is being carried out by security forces. The Indo-Nepal border and the boundaries connecting to Uttarakhand have been sealed. Special instructions have been given to check illegal money and liquor.
"Polling parties with EVM machines are being sent to the concerned poll booths under tight security since this morning here. At Bareilly and Ramapur districts nearly 47 lakhs voters including 20 lakhs women will decide the fate of 176 candidates in 14 assembly segments. Though this is cane harvesting season and locales are quite busy but they were seen talking to cast their vote tomorrow. With Nazia Anjum, this is MS Yadav, AIR News, Bareilly.Meanwhile, campaigning has intensified in areas going to polls in remaining 5 phases of 7-phase polls in the state.
Today is also the last date for filing of nominations for the sixth phase, in which 49 constituencies will go to polls on the 4th of next month. Uttar Pradesh has a 403-member Assembly.
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In Manipur, today is the last date for filing of nominations for the first phase of Assembly elections. 38 constituencies will go to polls in the first phase on the 4th of next month.
"As many as 96 candidates have filed their nomination papers by the last evening for the first phase of the state assembly elections. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held day after tomorrow. The last date of nomination for the second phase of the state assembly elections will be on the 16th of this month. So far, 14 candidates have filed their nomination papers for 22 assembly constituencies which will go to polls on the eighth of the next month. Ibomcha Sharma, AIR NEWS, Imphal."
The 60-member Manipur Assembly will go to polls in two phases. Voting for 22 constituencies in the second phase will take place on the 8th of next month.
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In Uttar Pradesh, the police arrested Jagran.com editor Shekhar Tripathi from Ghaziabad on the charges of poll code violation. Following a direction from Election Commission, cases against managing editor and editor of Dainik Jagran and the poll analysis organisation Resource Development International (RDI) were lodged in all fifteen districts of Uttar Pradesh which underwent polling in the first phase. Kavinagar police of Ghaziabad made the arrest, sources said.
Our correspondent reports that on the website of Dainik Jagran, 'Jagran.com' an exit poll was published just after the completion of first phase poll for 73 seats in the state.
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The countdown for ISRO's tomorrow's launch of a record 104 satellites on PSLV C-37 in a single mission from Sriharikota is progressing smoothly. Our correspondent reports that the 28-hour long countdown began at 5:28 this morning.
"This will be the first time that more than hundred satellites are to be inserted into space in a single launch by ISRO. PSLV. C 37 will carry Cartosat - 2 series satellite and two more nano satellites weighing below ten kilogram in satellites from other countries, the maximum are from 96 from the United States and one each from Israel, Kazhaksthan, the Nederland, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Through this mission, India will be second to none in the world beating all records. JOY, AIR NEWS, CHENNAI."
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In Benguluru, 11th biennial edition of the International Aerospace and Defence exhibition - Aero India began at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka today. Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the five-day event. On the occasion, Mr Parrikar said, defence aviation and electronic public sector majors HAL and BEL will together contribute initially to the innovation and technology fund in the defence sector to promote start-ups.
"The inaugural function concluded with a flying display by various aircraft including separate Made in India series. Various aircraft designed, developed and manufactured by HAL took part. The aircraft which made flight display included Tejas, Light combat aircraft, Light Combat Helicopter, Advanced Light helicopters Dhruv and Rudra, basic trainer HTT-40, Sukhoi, Rafael, Grippen, besides aerobatic flying teams of Surya Kiran, Sarang and those from Britain and Sweden. The five day event is being organised and conducted by the Defence Exhibition Organisation. Nearly 270 Indian and 279 foreign companies are taking part in the expo. It is expected that two lakh business visitors will attend the show. With R. MURTHY's report from BENGALURU, this is Shweta Shamari for AIR NEWS."
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In the United States, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned over his contacts with Russia. Mr Flynn is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with the Russian Ambassador before President Donald Trump took office. In his resignation letter, Mr Flynn said he had inadvertently briefed the Vice-President elect and others with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. US media had, earlier, reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House about Mr Flynn's contacts with Russia.
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The Indian team for the first two Tests of the upcoming home Test series against Australia was announced today. The series begins in Pune on the 23rd of this month. Injured leg-spinner Amit Mishra was the lone change. The national selectors retained the other members of the squad, which hammered Bangladesh in the one-off Test yesterday.
