1400 HRS
23rd January, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• Rajnath Singh takes over as new BJP President; Elected Party Chief, unopposed, for a three-year term.

• Two Karnataka Ministers CM Udasi and Shobha Karandlaje resign to join Yeddyurappa led-Karnataka Janata Party.

• Sensex trades flat in afternoon trade.

• Polling is underway in Jordan to elect a new Parliament.

• England were 108 for 1 against India in Mohali One Dayer, a shortwhile ago.

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Rajnath Singh has taken over as the new BJP President. He was elected party chief unopposed today for a three-year term. The formal announcement was made by the Central Election Officer Thawar Chand Gehlot at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

"Mr. Rajnath Singh has been unanimously elected President of the BJP for 2013-2015 . I announce his unopposed election as the National President of the BJP for 2013-2015."

BJP Parliamentary Board that met earlier in the day had endorsed the candidature of Rajnath Singh for Party Presidentship. Briefing newsmen Party leader Ananth Kumar said, the Chairman of the Parliamentary party, Mr. L.K Advani moved a resolution appreciating the good work done by the outgoing Party president Nitin Gadkari in the last three years. He said all the senior leaders including Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley were present and the resolution was unanimously accepted by the party leaders.

Rajnath Singh a former National President of the BJP has also served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and was a Cabinet Minister during the NDA regime.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari resigned from the party post last evening. In a statement issued last night Mr.Gadkari opted out of the race from the post of party President. He said, he did not want the allegations against him to adversely affect the interests of the party in any way.

After taking over as the BJP President for the second time, Rajnath Singh said, he is accepting post as a new responsibility.

"Today the post of party President which has been given to me, I am accepting it not for its position, but as a responsibility, and as our respected leader Shri. L.K Advani has attached his hopes on us, I will try to fulfill them definetely under his guidence."

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He said, the entire party will stand by Nitin Gadkari in his fight against injustice. Mr. Rajnath alleged that, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's statement on Hindu terror brings to fore the fact that the government is not serious in the fight against terrorism. He blamed Congress for the adverse situation of the economy and security, situation in the country.

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In Karnataka, Public Works Minister CM Udasi and Power Minister Shobha Karandlaje have submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Jagadish Shetter. Speaking to media persons, Udasi said they have resigned as ministers and will submit their resignation as Members of the Legislative Assembly to the Speaker. He said, they are resigning to join B S Yeddyurappa's led-Karnataka Janata Party. When asked whether more ministers and MLAs will resign today to join the Karnataka Janata Party, Udasi said, it will be decided in the meeting of the BJP later today.

Our Correspondent reports that high drama prevailed outside the assembly secretariat when 13 BJP MLAs including two Ministers loyal to BS Yeddyurappa reached there to submit their resignation and the Speaker was not present. The Joint Secretary in the Speaker's Secretariat Jayathirtha Galagali informed the MLAs that resignation letters cannot be accepted in the absence of the Speaker. Speaking to reporters, Karnataka Janata Party President BS Yeddyurappa said that the BJP government has lost majority in the House and should resign.

"The absence of the Speaker has enraged the MLAs loyal to Yeddyurappa. Angry over the absence, Yeddyurappa said they will meet the Governor and go to court at the attitude of the Speaker. He charged that it is a deliberate attempt to save the Government. The Joint Secretary’s statement that he cannot accept the resignation in the absence of the Speaker did not satisfy the MLAs, who insisted that the said statement should be given in writing. The stalemate continues in the Speaker’s chamber, as different groups are seen engaged in seeking legal opinion on future course of action." Sudhindra AIR news Bangalore.

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The three-member committee headed by former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma constituted to review anti-rape laws following the Delhi gang rape case will submit its report to the home ministry this afternoon. The Verma Committee was constituted to give recommendations on amending laws to provide speedier justice and enhanced punishment in sexual assault cases. It had earlier sought suggestions from the general public, experts, women's groups and civil society on providing quicker justice and stringent punishment for crimes against women. Former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Rtd. Leila Seth and the former Solicitor General of India, Gopal Subramanian were the other two members of the panel.

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The Tamilnadu Assembly session is being convened on the First of February with Governor Dr. K.Rosaiah's address.

A notification to this effect has been issued by the Assembly secretariat.

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In Uttar Pradesh, the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Rajya Sabha has expressed displeasure over low oxygen content and pollution in the rivers of the state including the Ganga, Yamuna and Gomti. The committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests comprising five members was in the state capital to review the pollution level of the Gomti. The members included chairman of the committee, T Subbarami Reddy, Prof Ranjan Prasad Yadav, Rabi-Narayan Mohapatra, Alok Tewari and Pradeep Tamta.

The committee discussed the existing problems regarding availability of water with the chief secretary Javed Usmani and other senior officers. Senior BJP leader and MP from Lucknow, Lalji Tandon was also present at the meeting.

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An FIR has been registered against three BSP MPs and its candidate for Bhatpar Rani by-elections for allegedly violating the model code of conduct, officials said in Utter Pradesh Deoria today. The FIR was registered at Khampur police station yesterday after the matter came to light, Returning Officer R D Pandey said. The by-election to the seat was necessitated after the death of the Sports Minister Kameshwar Upadhyay on Oct 29, last year.

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 72 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 20,054 in early trade, this morning. But later, in afternoon deals, the Sensex surrendered all of its initial gains, to stand 21 points, or 0.1 per cent in negative territory, at 19,960, a short while ago.

Key stock indices in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia and South Korea were down by between 0.1 percent and 1.5 percent, today. But the US Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.5 per cent higher in yesterday's trade.

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The rupee today failed to maintain initial gains, but was still quoted higher by three paise to 53 rupees 79 paise against the US dollar in late morning trade. The rupee resumed higher at 53 rupees 68 paise per dollar as against yesterday's closing level of 53 rupees 81 paise at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market on mild selling of dollars from banks on the back of persistent capital inflows amid weak global cues.

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Jordan votes to elect its 17^{th parliament today. Polling stations opened at 4 AM GMTwhich is 9.30 am India time and will close at 9.30 pm in India. Counting of votes begin two hours later and full official results are expected tomorrow. Amidst a poll boycott call by the Islamist opposition, the election is confined to mostly tribal and conservative independents with around 60 candidates from the political parties in the fray this time. Jordan’s King Abdullah has said that the new parliament will be a reflection of democratic aspirations of the people.}

Out of the total population of 6.5 million, nearly 3 million voters have registered for the elections and are eligible to vote 1,484 candidates are in the fray for 150 seats. Among these, 27 seats are allocated for the national electoral lists and 15 to women, based on the quota system. The Independent Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to ensure free and fair polls. The European Union has sent a team of Observers to monitor these elections.

The Islamist opposition led by the Muslim Brotherhood has boycotted the polls seeking more democratic reforms. It has alleged that the election laws have been amended to benefit pro- Government businessmen , rural and tribal groups and independent candidates at the cost of political parties. The urban areas and cities are considered to be the stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood.

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In Israel, Exit polls have reported a narrow win for Prime Minister Netanyahu led coalition in the parliamentary elections. His coalition is expected to bag 61 seats against 57 by his centre left rivals. The exit polls have predicted big gains for first timer and the centrist Yesh Atid party and the religious Jewish Home party with an improved performance by the left leaning Labour party.

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The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has warned against direct logistical support by the UN for military campaign against Islamist militants in Mali. He said, it could put the organisation's workers at risk and undermine their abilities in carrying out their tasks in the region. In December, the Security Council gave its authorization to the mission that had asked Mr. Ban to set up his proposals on how to finance it. The 15-member Security Council will make a final decision on UN support for the African force which is just starting to assemble as France pursues its military operation.

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In Pakistan, at least 13 people, including a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz office bearer along with his son, were shot dead in the latest spate of violence in the port city of Karachi. A Senior Police official said unknown armed men opened fire on a vehicle killing two people. He said that the slain persons were identified as Mian, a local PML-N leader, and his son. Till midnight at least 11 people fell victim to targeted killings in different parts of the city.

In Peshawar, unknown gunmen killed four persons after they ambushed a house this morning.

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The UN agencies have expressed grave concern over the humanitarian situation in Yemen. They have urged the international community to release 716 million dollars aid for the impoverished nation. Releasing the latest report on the humanitarian situation in Yemen in Dubai, the Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen, Trond Jensen warned of high malnutrition rates in the country.

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Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the UNP, has welcomed the proposed Indo-Lanka discussions on a special economic partnership between the two countries. The announcement was made in New Delhi at the 8th India-Lanka Joint Commission meeting yesterday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Salman Khurshid, Minister of External Affairs of India and Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka.

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Minister of State for Commerce, Industry & Textiles Dr. D Purandeswari has said that bilateral trade between India and Sri Lanka can grow faster with closer public-private partnership.

Dr. Purandeswari, who is heading an Indian trade delegation to Sri Lanka, said that the problems faced by exporters should be addressed quickly to achieve the target of 10 billion dollars bilateral trade by 2015.

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England were 127 for 1 against hosts India in the fourth ODI Cricket match being played at Mohali when reports last came in. Earlier, India won the toss and elected to field. All India Radio is broadcasting live the commentary of the match alternately in Hindi and English. The commentary can be heard on AIR Delhi and FM Gold channels. At present, India leads the five-match series 2-1.

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