state news

Stormy start to UP Assembly Budget Session

Feb 14 Budget session of Uttar Pradesh legislature started amid uproar today. Governor B. L. Joshi could not complete his address to the joint session as main opposition party BSP started fierce slogan shouting against alleged failure of the state government on all fronts. As soon as Governor left the house, opposition parties led by BSP walked out of the house. BJP already had decided to boycott the governor's address. AIR correspondent reports that when the house resumed in second session once again opposition BSP walked out of the house boycotting the proceedings. Meanwhile government tabled five amendment bills in the Legislative Assembly. Both the houses will not meet on 18th of February and Chief Minister Akhilesh will table the budget on 19th February. Budget Session of Odisha Assembly begins today Feb 14 The budget session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly (OLA) is beginning from today. The session will commence with the address of Governor MC Bhandare. It will have 30 sittings in two phases and will come to an end on 6th of April. The budget session is likely to be a stormy one as the Opposition, Congress and BJP, will raise the deteriotating law and order situation, farmers' plight, distress sale of paddy, crop insurance and proposed hike in electricity tariff. The ruling Biju Janata Dal has decided to counter the opposition by raising alleged Central negligence towards Odisha, special category status and special package to the state. This may be the last full-fledged budget session of the OLA as Odisha is going to polls early next year. Curfew relaxed in major towns in Kashmir valley Feb 14 In Jammu and Kashmir, curfew has been relaxed in almost all major towns in the valley. However, Police say curfew continues in Sopore, Kangan, Pulwama and Baramullah. All arrangements made for third Shahi Snan at Kumbh Feb 14 All arrangements for fourth important bathing festival of Basant Panchami of Maha Kumbh Mela have been completed. Mela administration has prepared a comprehensive planning to avoid crowd at bathing Ghats, railway stations and bus stands. Allahabad Divisional Commissioner and Nodal Officer of the Mela, Devesh Chaturvedi has said our correspondent that Railways will be running above 70 special trains to ferry the pilgrims for three days. Similarly 15 hundred additional buses will be pressed into service by UP roadways. He said in Allahabad city seven shelter places are being set up to hold the crowd of pilgrims adjoining to Allahabad. Arrangements are also being done setting up a network of Public Address System in the city area to inform the pilgrims about movements of special trains. Seven ambulances will be parked at sensitive places in the city as reserve. Our correspondent reports that all departments involved in to conduct Kumbh Mela successfully are not leaving any stone unturned for third Shahi Snan of Akharas and fourth bathing festival of Kumbh Mela event free in view of stampede at Allahabad railway station on last Sunday claiming 36 lives. Astrologers have said that pious period for Basant Panchami bathing begins from today but festival will be celebrated tomorrow as traditionally people treat the auspicious day with sun rise. Jeep carrying Kumbh pilgrims falls into ditch in MP;eight killed Feb 14 In Madhya Pradesh, at least 8 devotees including three women were killed on the spot and six others injured when their jeep, fell from a bridge into a 20-feet-deep ditch under Gulganj of Chhatarpur district . The accident occurred this morning when the jeep carrying 15 passengers was going from Vidisha to Kumbh Mela in Allahabad .The cause of the accident is said to be overloading of passengers. The injured have been admitted to local Government Hospital . K’taka Urban local bodies election to be held on 7th March Feb 14 The State Election Commission in Karnataka has announced election to Urban local bodies on March 7th. Briefing the media persons in Bangalore on Thursday, the State Election commissioner C.R. Chickmath said elections will be conducted in seven city corporations, 43 City Municipal Councils, 65 Town Municipal Councils and 93 Town Panchayats where over 85 lakh voters in 4976 wards will cast their votes. The results would be announced on March 11. The code of conduct for the elections will come into effect from Friday morning and the elections will be held based on the 2007 ward-wise reservation. The Karnataka State legislative Assembly and the Council had unanimously amended the Karnataka Municipalities and Certain other Law(Amendment) Bill seeking the State Election Commission to fix the date of the election after consulting the House, but the Governor had rejected the amendment on Wednesday. The Supreme Court too had directed the State Government to Co-operate with the Election Commission to conduct the elections. The elections would be overseen by 46,120 personnel, including 11,500 presiding officers.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley releases party manifesto for Meghalya polls

Feb 14
In Meghalaya, BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Thursday released the party manifesto ,Meghalaya- Vision 2025 .

Releasing the party’s vision statement in Shillong before Meghalaya goes to the poll on February 23rd, Jaitley said the problem of influx from neighbouring countries should be immediately stopped by completing the boundary fencing along the international borders. He also said that infrastructure should be developed in Meghalaya in order to ensure development in the State.

Assam violence:toll rises to 21 in Goalpara district

Feb 14
In Assam, the death toll has risen to 21 in violence hit areas of Krishnai and Mornoi in Goalpara district. Curfew is still continuing in both the areas. Last night some miscreants tried to burn down houses, but could not succeed due to timely intervention of security people. Ferrying of boat on the river Brahmaputra has been restricted from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily by district authority until further orders due to the prevailing situation.