2100 HRS

04-08-2013

THE HEADLINES

• Food security Ordinance among 23 bills listed for discussion in Monsoon session of Parliament beginning tomorrow; Prime Minister hopes the session will be productive.
• Centre seeks report from Uttar Pradesh government on suspension of Gautam Buddh Nagar SDM Durga Shakti Nagpal.
• Demonstrations in favour of unified state intensify in Rayalseema and Coastal Andhra regions.
• Curfew relaxation period passes off peacefully in violence hit areas of Assam; No untoward incident reported from Darjilling Hills of West Bengal.
• Flood alerts issued in several districts of Tamil Nadu as Mettur Dam reaches full reservoir level.
• Hassan Rouhani sworn in as the new president of Iran.
• India defeats England 3-2 to win its first ever Bronze Medal in Junior Women Hockey World Cup.

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Food Security Ordinance is among several important bills to be taken up for discussion and passage in the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning tomorrow. The session has 16 sittings. Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, Direct Taxes Code Bill 2010 and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill 2011 are among the 23 bills that have been listed for consideration and passing by the Lok Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha will take up for consideration and passing of the Companies Bill 2012, Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011 and the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011. A total of 14 bills are listed for introduction in the current session.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh hoped that the session will be constructive and productive. He said a lot of legislative agenda is pending and all sections have assured their cooperation for smooth functioning of Parliament. Dr Singh said that the government is willing to discuss any issue which may agitate the opposition.

The brief monsoon session is beginning in the backdrop of the announcement to create a separate state of Telangana and the death of children in the mid-day meal tragedy in Bihar. The UPA government will seek Parliamentary approval on several key decisions like raising the FDI cap in telecom and defence sectors and relaxing the sourcing and investment norms for multi-brand retail. Although the main opposition BJP has agreed to support routine and necessary financial business, it also indicated that it will continue to oppose further opening of insurance and pension sectors to FDI. Chinese incursions, the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lanka are among several issues which are likely to be taken up in the session.With V Mohan Rao/ Zakir Malik, AIR News, Delhi."

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The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will raise the issues of Uttrakhand flood tragedy, deprecation of rupee, current economic situation, alleged rift between CBI and IB and Chinese incursion in the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning tomorrow. Briefing reporters after the NDA floor meeting in New Delhi today, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that NDA will fully co-operate in the smooth functioning of parliament at the same time it will also raise the issues related to common people. He said that NDA will support Food Security Bill in principal but it will also raise the issue of wastage of food grains without proper storage in the country.

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On the eve of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the News Services Division of All India Radio will bring you a special programme "Issues Before Parliament.". This can be heard tonight on Rajdhani channel, and additional frequencies from 9.30 p.m.

The Hindi version "Sansad ke Samaksh Mudde" can be heard at the same time on Indraprastha and FM Gold Channels and also on additional frequencies from 9.30 p.m.

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The Centre has sought a report from Uttar Pradesh government on the suspension of sub-divisional magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar district Durga Shakti Nagpal. Media reports say, Nagpal had undertaken a drive against illegal sand mining in the district. Earlier, in a letter to the Prime Minister, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has asked him to ensure fair treatment for Nagpal. Her suspension has evoked sharp reaction from opposition parties, including BJP and BSP, which have alleged that the Sub-Divisional Officer was removed for her crackdown on the sand mafia operating in Gautam Budh Nagar area of the state.

Meanwhile, Congress today criticise Samajwadi Party for attacking party president Sonia Gandhi for her support to suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh is trying to hide what is essentially a case of corruption and illegal mining.

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Protest demonstrations in Rayalseema and Coastal Andhra regions intensified with employees from more departments joining the movement in support to the unified state. The AP State Non-Gazatted Officers Association has decided to boycott duties for 72 hours protesting against bifurcation of the state. Association President Ashok told this to reporters after holding an office bearers meeting in Vijayawada today. The hunger strike started by students in Visakhapatnam and some other places continued on the sixth day today. Meanwhile, road transport services continued to be hit due to demonstrations at several places in the Seemandhra regions in support of the united state.

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In Assam, the situation is slowly returning to normalcy in violence hit Karbi Anglong district. Additional DGP (Law and Order) A P Rout said that curfew was relaxed at Diphu for 4 hours and Dongkamokam for 3 hours as barring few stray incidents no fresh violence has been reported today. Senior ministers of the state and leaders of opposition Asom Gana Parishad are camping in the district to take stock of the situation. District administration has also formed a peace committee and appealed all to maintain peace and shun violence. Meanwhile, train services have been resumed after 2 days between Lower and Upper Assam.

Adequate security arrangement has been made for the smooth running of long distance trains. Four companies of SSB, 2 companies of Government Railway Police along with Assam police have been deployed to keep an eye on railway tracks. Apart from it, escorts are being provided in some important long distance trains. On the other hand, Bodoland People’s Front, BPF the coalition partner of ruling Congress has organized a mass gathering in Kokrajhar to intensify their demand for a separate Bodoland state. The Chief of the party Hagrama Mahilary urged the Centre to consider their demand. Manas Pratim Sarma/AIR News/Guwahati

Meanwhile, the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today asked protesters to shun violence who are demanding separate states . Mr Gogoi said that the Assam government is ready to hold discussion with all on their demands.

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No untoward incident has been reported on the second day of the indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in Darjeeling hills of West Bengal. District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan said that twelve persons have been arrested on charges of violation of law. He said that Central Reserve Police Force and India Reserve Battalion have been deployed in different parts of Darjeeling hills to maintain law and order. Supporters of GJMM have staged dharna in various places demanding Gorkhaland.

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In Tamil Nadu district administrations in Salem, Erode, Namakkal Tiruchirapalli, and delta districts have issued flood alerts as water is being released from Mettur Dam. The dam has almost reached its full reservoir level of 120 feet.

People living in low lying areas near the Cauvery river in 11 districts including Salem, Erode, Namakkal and Tiruchirapalli have been warned to shift to safer places. Flood alert has been issued to those who live in low lying areas near Coleroon river in Tiruchirapalli as water is released from Mukombu. Water has seeped into many houses in Erode district. Heavy rain in Cauvery catchment areas in Karnataka has led to release of more than one lakh fifty thousand cusecs of water from Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar dams. At present the level of Mettur dam is 119 fee out of its full capacity of 120 feet .More than 80,000 cusecs of water is released from the dam. K DEVI PADMANABHAN, AIR NEWS, TIRUCHIRAPALLI

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The flood situation continues to remain grim in Uttar Pradesh as rain swelled rivers causing displacement of lakhs of people. According to the reports, almost one million hectare of cultivable land has been damaged across 15 districts of the state. In Varanasi, several ghats are still under the water as the water level in Ganga continued to rise.

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Mr. Hassan Rouhani was sworn-in as new Iranian President at a glittering ceremony at the Iranian Parliament Majlis, in Teheran this afternoon. Vice President Hamid Ansari represented India at the swearing-in ceremony. Mr. Rouhani was sworn-in following endorsement of his appointment two days ago by the Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini following his landslide victory in the Presidential poll in June. Vice President Hamid Ansari's presence at the function signified the importance India attaches to its bilateral relations and economic engagements with Iran.

Earlier, in the day, Mr.Ansari also had a meeting with Iranian Speaker Ali Larijani. Mr. Ansari is also scheduled to have one to one meeting with the new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani late this evening. Mr.Rouhani has also expressed the desire to further strengthen Iran's relationship and economic engagements with India. The swearing ceremony was attended by leaders of 50 countries.

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New Delhi says the terrorist attack on Indian Consulate in Jalalabad was not only an attack on the Consulate and Indo-Afghan friendship but also an attack on Afghan society. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said that India will continue to work with Afghanistan as a neighbour and a good friend.

We will continue to work with the Afghan Government as a neighbour and good friend to try and wipe out the scourge of terrorism from Afghanistan. As for our own consulate, we keep its security under constant review and will take necessary and adequate measures.

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly "PUBLIC SPEAK" programme tomorrow will bring you a discussion on "Public outrage and loss of public property".

This can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies at 9.30 p.m. Listeners can ask questions to the experts sitting in our studio on telephone number: 011-2331-4444.

This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

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India won bronze medal at the Women's Junior Hockey World Cup held at Monchengladbach in Germany today. They defeated England 3-2 on penalties. At full time, the scores remained 1-1 after 70 minutes of play. Thereafter, penalty shoot-out competition started in which India emerged as victorious.

The title clash of the competition between the Netherlands and Argentina is also scheduled for today.

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A young police constable from Andhra Pradesh has brought glory for India in international sporting arena by winning three gold and a silver in swimming in the ongoing World Police Games in Belfast, Ireland. Twenty-four year old Tulsi Chaitanya is posted in Vijaywada police unit . He has till now won gold in 100 metre freestyle, 4x50 metre freestyle relay and 4x50 metre medley relay while he grabbed a silver medal in 100 metre backstroke in the Games. India has sent a 34-member team, drawn from state police and central paramilitary forces, for the Games.

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The Union Public Service Commission has advised successful candidates of civil services (preliminary) examination not to file RTI applications to know the details of their results until the whole process of selection gets over. In a press statement, the Commission said that Candidates are also informed that marks, cut off marks and answer keys of Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013 will be provided to them only after declaration of final results of Civil Services Examination.

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In Kolkata the Alipur Zoo Garden today launched ''adoption of zoo animals'' scheme with an aim to create awareness and love for the wildlife among general public. Inaugurating the scheme the state forest minister Mr. Hiten Barman said that the initiative will set up close relationship with animals and wildlife lovers