2100 HRS
4th October, 2013
THE HEADLINES:
- Schedule for Assembly polls in five states - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram announced; Model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect; None of the above (NOTA) button in voting machines to be introduced for the first time.
- Normal life paralysed in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions following 72-hour bandh call on Telangana issue.
- India unveils its first indigenously developed vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis.
- Sania Mirza alongwith her partner enters women's doubles final of the China Open Tennis.
- Rohan Bopanna reaches the Men's doubles final of the Japan Open.
- Afghanistan qualify for their maiden ICC World Cup.
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The schedule for assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh has been announced. Except, Chhattisgarh where polls will be held in two phases, all four states will have single phase polls. The elections in Chhattisgarh will held on 11th and 19th November. While, in Madhya Pradesh the polls will be conducted on 25th November and in Rajasthan it will be held on 1st December. The election in Delhi and Mizoram will be held on 4th December. Counting of votes in all states will take place on 8th of December.
Announcing the poll schedule in New Delhi today, the Chief Election Commissioner, V. S. Sampath said that the commission will take all steps to conduct free and fair elections. He said that the Commission, for the first time, is also taking necessary steps to make available the None of the Above option for the voters.
Commission is taking necessary steps to educate the voters on polling officials in this regard so that the facility of NOTA will be made available to the voters in the forthcoming elections.
The Chief Election Commissioner also announced that the model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect.
Model code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect from this moment when we make announcement of the election schedules.
The by-elections to Surat West assembly constituency of Gujarat and Yercaud assembly constituency of Tamil Nadu will also be held on 4th December. The counting will be held on 8th December.
The Congress today expressed confidence that its policies will earn it the mandate in five poll-bound states. Party spokesperson Meem Afzal told reporters in New Delhi that there is nothing like semifinal or quarter final in elections and for the Congress, every election is final.
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In Andhra Pradesh, normal life was paralysed in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions today on the first day of the 72-hour long bandh in protest against the Union Cabinet approval to bifurcate the state. Sporadic incidents of stone pelting and attack on public and private properties have been reported from some places. The AP NGOs association called for 48-hour long bandh while some political parties called for three day bandh. An almost total shutdown is being observed with thousands of people from all walks of life coming on the streets in protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
The pro-United Andhra groups have demonstrated their anger and protest against the state division a day after the Union Cabinet approved the formation of separate Telangan state. Stray incidents of violence reported from some places on the first day of the three day bandh while 13 districts of Rayalaseema and Coastalandhra regions witnessed near total shutdown with thousands of people from all walks of life came on to streets protesting against the bifurcation. Offices, Educational institutions and commercial establishments have been closed. The agitators laid seize on the national highways at several places blocking vehicular traffic for tens of kilometers distance-Lakshmi, Arnews, Hyderabad.
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Tourism Minister, K. Chiranjeevi and Minister of State for Railways, Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, today resigned from their posts. Both have resigned in protest against the Union Cabinet's decision to go ahead with the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Talking to AIR, Mr. Reddy confirmed his resignation. While, Mr. Chiranjeevi office said that he has sent his resignation letter to the Prime Minister.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, the army today foiled a fresh infiltration bid in the Keran sector killing two terrorists. Quoting army sources, our correspondent reports that the encounter occured at Gujurtur near the Line of Control during the wee hours today. The area is adjacent to the location of the ongoing operation in the Keran sector which has been continuing for the last ten days. Sources say, the 10-day old operation is also in the final stage, but details about the number of militants involved and those killed are not yet known.
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Twelve Maoists, including five women, surrendered before police in Malkangiri district of Odisha today. All the maoists were involved in murder, encounters with the police, setting off landmines, loot, extortion, and burning of vehicles in the past several years. Over 50 Maoists have surrendered before police in the area in last four months.
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Underlining the need to learn the right lessons from the Uttarakhand tragedy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the country has to equip itself in a better way to prevent disasters and check their fall out. Dr. Singh said this while, addressing the ninth formation day of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in New Delhi today. The Prime Minister said, such disasters have serious implications for the sustained growth and development of the economy as scarce resources are required to be deployed to address their negative consequences.
The Prime minister said, it is also very important that we integrate and mainstream disaster risk reduction strategies into our mainstream development initiatives.
Much remains to be done to make our country disaster resilient. An early warning capabilities need to be strengthen and upgraded. Our communication systems need to be improved to ensure to disaster alerts and warnings reach the last person in the village without delay.
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The Centre today moved the Supreme Court seeking modification in an earlier order by the apex court which said Aadhar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any government schemes for want of it. A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that the plea of the Centre will be taken up for hearing on October 8. Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said, the earlier order of the apex court could come in the way of various welfare schemes.
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In an important medical leap, India today unveiled its first indigenously developed vaccine for treating Japanese Encephalitis, a mosquito-borne viral disease that affects the brain. The manufacturer of the vaccine named JENVAC claims that the highly purified inactivated vaccine can be administered during epidemics without the fear of adverse effects. It is available in both single dose and five dose presentations.
Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the vaccine's development which has been developed under the Public Private Partnership mode,is a remarkable milestone in the emergence of India as an innovative and self-sufficient technology hub.
Till now, we were importing the vaccine from China and sending it wherever it was needed in the country. But for the first time, under public-private partnership, our scientists worked day and night on it, for the last four years.
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The Europalia-India cultural festival was today jointly inaugurated by the President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and the King of the Belgium in Brussels this evening. The largest Indian cultural festival abroad in recent years will feature different aspects of Indian culture ranging from history to arts, literature, architecture and Indian philosophy. More from our Correspondent:
The cultural ball called Europalia-India that has been set rolling jointly by the heads of India and Belgium in Brussels today will keep on rolling till it coinsides with the Republic Day of India in January next year. During its next four months journey across the European field to over 200 venues, these mega India cultural festival will unfold the essense of India's for the European. A Brilliant endeavour to intimately engage Europe-India in a never before cultural encounter is bound to makeinteractions spill over to socio-political and economic sphere of both these important regions as well.
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Clashes have broken out in Cairo and several other Egyptian cities between Islamist protestors and their opponents. Reports say there has been heavy gunfire and explosions in the city centre. State TV reported further clashes in the northern Sharqiya district and to the east in Giza, as well as in the northern port city of Alexandria.
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Divers in Italy have been searching the wreck of a boat which sank yesterday drowning more than 300 African migrants. At least 110 bodies have been recovered so far near the island of Lampedusa, but the final toll is likely to be more than double.
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The pair of India's Sania Mirza and Zimbabwe's Cara Black has entered the women's doubles final of the China Open tennis tournament. In the semi-final in Beijing today, the pair shocked top seeded Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-4.
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Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna along with his partner has reached the men's doubles of the Japan Open. In Tokyo today, he combined with Edourad Roger-Vasselin of France to get past Austrian-Briton pair of Austrian-Briton pair of Treat Huey and Dominic Inglot 6-4, 7-6.
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India lost to China in the quarterfinals of 17th Asian Senior Men's volleyball championship. In Dubai today, the Chinese team overcame a spirited challenge by Indian spikers in four sets, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-18. With this, hopes of India getting any medal at the tournament have been set at rest.
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Afghanistan today qualified for their maiden ICC World Cup. In the World Cricket League Championship at Sharjah, the strife-torn nation defeated Kenya by seven wickets to finish second with 19 points. Deciding to field after winning the toss, Afghanistan dismissed Kenya for 93 in 43.3 overs and then achieved the target in 20.5 overs with seven wickets to spare.
Afghanistan were five points behind champion Ireland, which qualified for ICC's flagship event to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
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In a move to give relief to family pensioners especially the widows, the government has relaxed the norms of submission of form 14 by Spouse to Pension Disbursing Bank in case of joint account. Now, the spouse may inform the bank about the death of the pensioner by way of a simple letter enclosing a copy of death certificate. The paying bank will identify the spouse based on the information given in the Pension Payment Order and its own Know Your Customer procedures.
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V Narayanasamy said that in case, where the pension is not being credited to the joint bank account of the pensioner , the attestation by two gazetted officers will not be required and witness of two persons will be sufficient.
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The National Commission for Minorities today submitted its report on the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar to the Union government. Its Chairman Wajahat Habibullah told reporters that the Commission had visited Lank, Bahawadi and Lisadh, the worst affected villages .
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