0815 HRS
29th September, 2013
THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister asks Pakistan to shut down terrorist machinery on its soil; Dr. Manmohan Singh says UN Security Council must be restructured to reflect current political realities.
- Uttar Pradesh government bans proposed Mahapanchayat in Khera village of Meerut district today.
- At least 42 killed and 100 missing in a boat tragedy in Nigeria.
- India take on Malaysia in the final of Sultan of Johor Cup under 21 hockey tournament today.
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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and there can never, ever be a compromise with the unity and territorial integrity of the country. Addressing the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, he asked Pakistan to shut down terrorist machinery on its soil.
India is committed sincerely to resolving all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue on the basis of the Simla Agreement. However, for progress to be made, it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism directed against India. It is equally important that the terrorist machinery that draws its sustenance from Pakistan be shut down.
Dr. Singh reiterated that terrorism remains a grave threat to security and stability everywhere and extracts a heavy toll of innocent lives around the world. He said, state-sponsored cross-border terrorism is of particular concern to India, more so on account of the fact that the epicentre of terrorism in our region is located in our neighbourhood in Pakistan. Dr. Singh said, he is looking forward to his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today.
We need to renew our commitment, especially here at the UN, for concerted, cohesive and continuing global action against terrorism. There can be no tolerance for states sheltering, arming, training or financing terrorists. Nor can they absolve themselves of the responsibility to prevent their territories from being used to launch acts of terrorism.
Talking about the need for Security Council reforms, the Prime Minister said, it must be restructured to reflect current political realities. More developing countries should be included as both permanent and non-permanent members. He said, the need is to build up a new international consensus suited to today’s realities to make UN more legitimate and effective.
The 68th Session of the UN General Assembly is being presided over by John W Ashe, former Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, and is based on the theme “Post 2015 Development Agenda”. Addressing the delegates the Prime Minister pointed out that this theme is especially important as we deal with a lingering global economic slowdown and continuing volatility in financial markets. He pointed out that the problems of over a billion people living in abject poverty around the world need to be attacked more directly.
The problems of over a billion people living in abject poverty around the world need to be attacked and attacked more directly. Poverty remains a major political and economic challenge and its eradication requires special attention and a new collective trust.
Expressing concern over the disturbances in West Asia, particularly in Syria, the Prime Minister said the increasingly lethal conflict in that country is not only a tragedy for the people of Syria, but also threatens stability and security in the region and beyond. The use of chemical weapons must be condemned in the strongest terms. India supports strongly the elimination of chemical weapons material and equipment in Syria and believes that there must be a political solution to the problem.
Commending the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in initiating an Action Plan forNuclear Weapon free world order , Dr. Singh stressed upon the need to strengthen efforts against nuclear proliferation and called for pursuing time-bound strategy for universal nuclear disarmament.
Addressing General debate of 68th Session of UN General Assembly , Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh made it amply clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and no amount of terrorism threatening India’s stability and security will be tolerated. Dr. Singh felt that World Body today is facing multiple challenges and there is renewed attention on the role of UN in advancing international peace, security and prosperity . He hoped that by the Year 2015 UN will be reformed in such a manner as to be able to meet people’s aspirations by fulfilling its objectives more effectively and legitimately. This is Veena Jain with RK Raina/Air News
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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the margins of United Nations General Assembly. Various issues of mutual concern Land boundary dispute, Teesta Water Sharing, Energy Export and Financial assistance came up for discussions. On the issue of Teesta water sharing, Dr. Singh indicated that his government will continue to discuss it further to resolve the issue at the earliest possible. He also met the Chairman of Nepal Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi who told him that their focus is on holding elections and if all goes well elections will be held on 19th November.
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India and China will hold talks on a new border agreement in Beijing today. The talks will be held by a key Sino-Indian group on border matters called "Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China - India Border Affairs." The meeting comes ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit next month and also against the backdrop of several incursions by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control.
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In Uttar Pradesh, authorities have imposed a ban on the proposed Sarvajatiya Mahapanchayat today in Khera village in Sardhana police area of Meerut. The call of Mahapanchayat has been given by some political leaders against the arrest of some BJP MLAs following allegations of inciting people during Muzaffarnagar violence. Principal Secretary Home RM Srivastav said, Meerut district administration has been asked to keep ample police force along with enough women constables at its disposal to meet any situation.
"The administration has imposed section 144 since September 27 in the entire Meerut district restricting everyone gathering in groups. Besides serving special notices to the key persons involved in organising 'Sarwajatiya Mahapanchayat' to abstain from it, the administration has deployed 32 companies of paramilitary forces in all the sensitive places of the district. Taking a cue from Nangla Mandsaud Mahapanchayat which erupted in widespread violence in Muzaffarnagar and other districts earlier this month, the DM and SSP of Meerut have categorically announced that no one will be allowed to participate in the Mahapanchayat called in Kheda village. Merajuddin, AIR NEWS, Lucknow."
Meanwhile, the State government has posted Hari Narayan Singh as the new SSP of Muzaffarnagar replacing Praveen Kumar. Mr. Kumar is admitted at AIIMS after complaints of breathlessness and angina.
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In a blow to brick-kiln industry and road contractors, the National Green Tribunal has banned digging of earth across the country for making bricks and roads without prior environment clearance. A bench headed by Justice P Jyothimani has directed the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories to ensure that its interim order is adhered to. The tribunal issued notice to Uttar Pradesh seeking its response on a plea to direct the state government to stop extraction of earth for making bricks and roads, allegedly going on in violation of a Supreme Court decision and directions of the Environment Ministry to all states.
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The relief and rescue operation in the building collapse in Mazgaon dockyard area in Mumbai was completed this morning. The death toll in the Dockyard building collapse has risen to 61. Besides, 32 injured are being treated in state run hospitals.
BMC officials said that eight deceased have been identified which includes a journalist Yogesh Pawar with a Marathi daily. The police with the assistance of dog squad inspected the site for security reasons. Among the injured, eight are said to be in serious condition. Earlier, the police informed that a decorator identified as Ashok Mehta has been arrested. It is believed that illegal renovation work in the first two floors of the building by Mehta led to the mishap. Devapriyo Bhattacharjee, AIR News, Mumbai
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In Nigeria , 42 people were killed and 100 others are missing in a boat tragedy in Niger River in central Nigeria. Mohammed Shaba, head of the State Emergency Management Agency said in Lagos that an over loaded boat with 150 passengers and goods travelling on the Niger River split in two after setting off from Malilli village in Niger state on Friday. Rescue teams were still searching for more bodies.
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In Italy, the fragile coalition government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta has collapsed, after ministers belonging to the Central Right Party of the former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said they were resigning. The party said this is in response to a threat by the Prime Minister to step down if he failed to receive their backing in the forthcoming confidence vote.
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India and hosts Malaysia will clash in the hockey final of the Sultan of Johar Baru Cup under-21 tournament in Malaysia today. Their last league match ended in a draw yesterday. Both the teams scored three goals each.
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India will take on Qatar in its opening match in the 17th Asian Senior Men's Volleyball championship in Dubai today. The opening match between India and Uzbekistan yesterday was cancelled because of rearrangements in the groups following dropping out of the tournament by four teams from Pakistan, Indonesia, Jordan and Libya.
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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
- Many papers this morning have displayed pictures of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on front pages.'Ahead of Sharif meet, PM prods Pak on terror' is the Hindustan Times headline. Quoting the Prime Minister, The Hindu writes 'Epicentre of terror is in Pakistan.
- Rahul Gandhi's comment on the ordinance on convicted law makers finds front page coverage in most dailies. 'Rahul effect - govt red faced, Congress in a bind, allies critical' says The Hindustan Times, while The Tribune writes 'Congress rallies behind Rahul.' "Unfazed by 'complete nonsense' remark , Rahul meets industry' is the Business Standard headline.
- Narendra Modi's rally, scheduled for today in Delhi is covered widely by the press. 'Mega rally to woo capital today' says the Times of India. The paper also warns Delhi-ites of traffic rush and diversions.
- The Supreme Court asking the Centre to amend the Indian penal code to give life imprisonment till death, without remission for heinous offences finds place on the front page of The Hindu.
- Srini set to be elected unopposed' says the Statesman, of the controversial and defiant BCCI president, who is set for a third term. Mail Today calls him 'Machiavillian' and writes, that its all over for those trying to clean up the image of cricket.
- On 'World Heart Day'. today, while there are numerous articles in various papers on how to take care of one's heart, The Times of India gives interesting facts in its magazine section, and goes on to say that the first step to a healthy heart is being happy.
- Planning your daughter's wedding? The Business Standard, in an article on its front page, titled 'Budget planners take over to trim big, fat Indian weddings' who assure of an under ten lakh event, in these times of inflation.
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Heavy rain lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh yesterday disrupting normal life. The storm, which accompanied heavy rain, disrupted power supply in Shimla and uprooted trees and hoarding at many places. Higher reaches in tribal areas experienced snowfall yesterday. The MeT office has predicted more rain at many places in lower and mid hills and snowfall in higher hills and tribal areas during the next 24 hours
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