Parl adjourned for day on coal blocks allotment & 1984 Delhi riots

May 3,  4:12 PM BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal members forced the adjournment of both the Houses of Parliament today. While BJP members were demanding the Prime Minister's resignation on the coal block allotment, Akali Dal members wanted the reopening of the 1984 Delhi riots case. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day at noon after an hour-long adjournment as soon as it met. Both the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal members trooped into the well, raising slogans in support of their demands. Following uproarious scenes, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House for the day. The Rajya Sabha, which witnessed two adjournments on the coal block issue, was adjourned finally for the day as there was no quorum. Secretary General Shumsher K Sheriff adjourned the House at 2.35 PM on the direction of Deputy Chairman Prof. P J Kurien. Both the Houses will meet on Monday. Sarabjit cremated with state honours May 3,  4:56 PM The mortal remains of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who died after being brutally assaulted in a Pakistani jail, were today consigned to flames in his village with full state honours amid emotional scenes. A contingent of Punjab Police reversed their arms and then fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to 49-year-old Sarabjit, who died yesterday in a Lahore hospital. A large crowd comprising villagers and VIPs, including Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and representatives of other political parties bid a heartfelt adieu to Sarabjit, whose body was brought to Bikhiwind late last night, 23 years after he inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan. Wrapped in the tricolour, the boday had been placed at a school ground for the people to pay their last respect. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur were among others present. Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, has demanded action against all those who played a role in the assault on Sarabjit Singh. The commission called upon Islamabad and New Delhi to take urgent measures to prevent the incident from undermining bilateral ties and to improve the lot of detainees from the other country in each other’s prisons. Amnesty International has said, Pakistan must protect Indian prisoners from violence in the country's jails. Polly Truscott, Amnesty International's Deputy Asia Pacific Director said, Pkistan must now carry out an impartial, public investigation into this horrific attack on Sarabjeet and ensure that those responsible are promptly prosecuted in fair trials - including prison staff. 49-year-old Sarabjit, the second Indian prisoner to die in notorious Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore this year, was brutally attacked on Friday by six fellow inmates as he and other prisoners were brought out of their cells for a break. Another Indian prisoner Chamel Singh also died in the same jail in January. Sarabjit was convicted of alleged involvement in bomb attacks in Punjab province that killed 14 people in 1990 and spent about 22 years in Pakistani prisons. His mercy petitions were rejected by the courts and former President Pervez Musharraf. Today is World Press Freedom Day May 3 Today is the World Press Freedom Day. On the eve of the day Afghan National Journalists Union has honored two journalists with this years Ajmal Naqshbandi Media Award. Ali Akbar Rostami, a reporter with the Hasht-e-Subh daily and Sayed Jan Sabawoon a freelance photojournalist and documentary maker are the first recipients of the award. Mr. Rostami has been given the Award for writing a number of investigative reports, which is significant in the budding Afghan media industry, while the award recognized the another recipient, Mr. Sabawoon, for making significant efforts in going to difficult places despite being harassed and abused to take photos and shoot videos. Ajmal Naqshbandi Media Award was instituted this year by the Afghan National Journalists Union for recognizing exceptional bravery shown by journalists in news reporting. The award is named after Ajmal Naqshbandi who was killed by the insurgents in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan in 2007. According to the data compiled by Afghan journalists organizations 34 journalists including 12 foreigners have been killed discharging their professional duties in the country since 2001. Afghan media has made robust growth in the past decade and contributing in the development of the nation. K’taka polls: Campaigning comes to end May 3 The campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly election has come to an end this evening. The election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the polling day on Sunday, with extensive security arrangements in the state. Interacting with media persons in Bangalore today, the Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha said that district administration has been strictly instructed to follow the guidelines of the Election Commission without any fear or favour. The physically challenged and visually impaired voters will be allowed to vote on a priority basis. The polling officials have been told to arrange drinking water at booth level in view of peak summer. The voting process will begin at 7.00 am and conclude at 5.00 pm. This time the Election Commission has made arrangements to distribute voters slip with photograph for the convenience of the voters. Mr.Jha appealed to voters to participate in large numbers and hoped that polling percentage will improve in the state in this election. Over one lakh 35 thousand security personnel will be deputed for the Assembly election in the state. The Additional Director General of Police Bipin Gopalakrishna Hosur informed media persons in Bangalore today that 9954 hyper sensitive, 14,209 sensitive and 149 naxal prone polling booths will be provided extra protection. As a precautionary measure, 85,338 licensed guns have been deposited with the police stations. The check posts and flying squads have been put on alert to prevent appeasement of voters.