1400 HRS. 28.11.2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Tehelka Chief Tarun Tejpal seeks more time to appear before Goa Police in sexual assault case; Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury resigns amid allegations for trying to cover up the case.   
• CBI court in Hyderabad sentences extradited criminal Abu Salem to seven years' imprisonment in a fake passport case.
• Cyclonic storm Lehar weakens to a deep depression; Likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast this afternoon.
• In Assam, high level security meeting underway in Guwahati to prepare action plan to combat subversive activities of insurgent groups.
• Sensex gains over 140 points in afternoon trade; Rupee weakens 21 paise to 62.35 against the dollar.
• Syrian government and the main opposition Syrian National Coalition confirm their participation in upcoming Geneva-II peace conference.

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Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal has sought more time to appear before the Goa police in connection with the sexual assault allegation against him. Tejpal has written a letter to Goa Police, saying he will appear before it on Saturday afternoon. He said in his letter that he is ready to cooperate with the Police in the investigation. His lawyer said that they are not planning to move Supreme Court for any relief.

Goa Police had asked Tejpal to appear before it by 3 pm today. The move follows the recording of statement by the victim, a former woman journalist of Tehelka, before a Goa court. She was allegedly sexually assaulted in a lift in a five-starhotel in Goa earlier this month. Delhi High Court yesterday reserved its order on Tejpal's bail application till tomorrow. 
Meanwhile, Managing Editor of Tehelka, Shoma Chaudhury has resigned amid allegations against her for trying to cover up the alleged sexual assault of a woman journalist by Tehelka Editor, Tarun Tejpal. In a letter to her colleagues today, Shoma said, she did not want questions raised about her integrity to tarnish the image of the magazine. She rejected the allegations of a cover-up, saying that in no way, could the first actions that were taken, be deemed as suppression of any kind.
Reacting to Shoma Chaudhury's resignation, Member of National Commission for Women, Nirmala Samant said, Shoma's statements were not supportive.    
   
Goa state commission for women have demanded her arrest because they say that she is guilty of suppressing the evidence and suppressing the prosecution which is one of the crimes in Indian Penal code.     

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A CBI special court in Hyderabad today sentenced Abu Salem, an extradited criminal, to seven years' imprisonment in a fake passport case of 2001. Justice M V Ramana Naidu pronounced his judgment this morning in the case. Abu Salem had been found guilty earlier on the charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery for cheating under the Indian Penal Code. He had allegedly procured a fake passport with fictitious identity of R K Malik by submitting bogus documents including that of residential proof from Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, allegedly in connivance with some government officials and private persons.
Salem had acquired three fake passports, one for his wife, another for Bollywood actress Monica Bedi, besides himself. The case was transferred to the CBI in 2002 and a chargesheet was filed in 2004 while the trial began against Abu Salem in 2009.

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The cyclonic storm ‘Lehar’  has weakened over the west-central Bay of Bengal and lay centred as a deep depression at about 80 kms east-southeast of Machilipatnam. Moving west-northwestwards, it would weaken further and cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam by this afternoon. Our Correspondent reports that the Met Department has withdrawn the cyclone warning as the system has weakened into a deep depression.
  
Under its influence rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district of Puducherry during next 24 hours. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would also occur over Telangana during next 36 hours. Squally winds speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh coast during next 12 hours. The port signals along the coast were lowered to Local Cautionary (LC) number III. However, the fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea as the state of the sea remains rough to very rough along and off the coast. Henry, AIR News, Visakhapatnam

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Union Food Minister Professor K V Thomas has said that, the government is open to negotiations and it will do whatever is possible to address the problems of sugar mill owners. He said, the Prime Minister has set up an informal committee to look into the matters. The Ministry appealed to sugar mills to end their agitation and resume crushing operations. Addressing media in New Delhi today, Professor Thomas said the operations should continue and farmers should get a reasonable price for their crops.

Within the norms, whatever is possible, the Government of India will do it. We have taken a very major step if they want some assistance. Today we discussed with Rangarajan, we discussed with Finance Minister. Government of India is open in mind. 

Earlier today, Professor Thomas met Finance Minister P Chidambaram and discussed the issue.

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In Rajasthan, electioneering is at its peak as the poll campaign comes to an end tomorrow. Apart from local party leaders, national leaders of political parties are addressing election rallies to seek the support of voters. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and BJP President Rajnath Singh are scheduled to address election rallies in the state today. Our Correspondent reports that the Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of elections in the state. 
   
In desert district of Jaisalmer where population is scattered, 5 mobile polling booths will work on 1st December. About 1500 voters of small villages will be facilitated with these polling booths. The election commission has decided that no voter will have to go more than 5 kms to cast his vote. Where number of voters is more than normal auxiliary polling booths will be established. For the first time there will be a separate que for disabled persons and senior citizens. Anurag Vajpeyi AIR News Jaipur.
In the national capital Delhi, prominent leaders of political parties are busy campaigning to canvass support for their candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls. BJP leaders including Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani and Ravi Shankar Prasad will attend public meetings in the city today. BSP Chief Mayawati will address a rally in Yamuna Vihar. The parties are also leveraging social media sites like facebook and twitter to convince the youth to vote for their candidates. Delhi goes to polls to elect the 70-member Assembly on the 4th of next month. We bring you a report:

A range of issues including corruption, hike in water and electricity charges and price rise are making rounds in the election campaign. However, rising prices of daily items of use, particularly vegetables, has emerged as the most important issue and BJP is trying to cash in on it. Congress is reasoning that the spike in prices of these commodities is seasonal. The party is recounting the list of achievements in the last 15 years of its rule. Aam Aadmi Party, which is a new force in the electoral fray, is promising corruption free administration and decentralisation of power at the local level. With Sant Bahadur, Zakir Malik, AIR News, Delhi.

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Social activist Anna Hazare will observe an indefinite hunger strike for a strong Lokpal Bill at Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra from the 10th of next month. Announcing this, Hazare asked the Centre to show courage in bringing in the Bill in the winter session of Parliament which begins from December 5th. Hazare had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressing displeasure over the Central government's failure to bring in the anti-graft legislation. In his reply to Hazare's letter, Parliamentary Affairs Minister V Narayanasamy mentioned various steps taken by the government to bring in the Lokpal Bill.
The Centre had passed the Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha, bowing to the public pressure in the wake of Jan Lokpal agitation in 2011. Rajya Sabha is yet to pass the Bill.

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In Assam, the high level security meeting is underway in Guwahati to chalk out an action plan to combat subversive activities of insurgent groups and restore peace. Top police officials along with heads of 14 sensitive districts are participating in the meeting in a bid to find out a solution to thwart the menace of rampant extortion, kidnapping and violence. In another development, the much awaited Suspension of Operations Treaty with the Ranjan Daimary faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland, will be singed tomorrow in Guwahati.

The security meeting assumes significance after the Centre instructed the Assam government to increase security in Bodo dominated areas .The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit faction) cadres are engaged in all anti-social activities particularly in Bodoland Territorial Council area. On the other hand, ULFA is also planning to carry out subversive activities in Upper Assam.Garo militants are also involved in kidnapping and extortion activities at Goalpara district bordering Meghalaya. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has instructed the police to ensure peace in the state.  Sources said, today’s review meeting will draw a conclusive action plan to meet the challenges. Manas Pratim Sarma, AIR NEWS, Guwahati

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Remaining firm, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood 147 points, or 0.7 percent in positive territory, at 20,567 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had gained 155 points, or 0.8 percent, to 20,576 on covering-up of short positions amid the monthly expiry in the derivatives segment, and rising regional Bourses. The Sensex had lost 185 points in the previous two trading sessions.   

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The rupee trimmed its initial losses but was still quoted lower by 21 paise, to 62 rupees 35 paise against the American currency on month-end dollar demand from importers. Higher dollar in the overseas market also affected the rupee value. The rupee resumed lower at 62 rupees 38 paise per dollar as against the last closing level of 62 rupees 14 paise at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market.

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The Syrian government and the main opposition Syrian National Coalition have confirmed their participation at the upcoming Geneva-II peace conference on January 22nd next year. This is the first formal response from Damascus to the invitation by the United Nations for both the Syrian regime and the opposition to join the peace talks aimed at ending more than two and a half year long civil war in Syria. The civil war has claimed more than one lakh, 20 thousand lives and rendered millions homeless. More from AIR West Asia Correspondent:
    
In a statement, the Syrian Government said that an official delegation will take part in the talks under the orders of President Assad. However, it has ruled out that President Bashar Al Assad will hand over power. The Syrian opposition has been insisting that President Assad must not have a role in the country’s future or in any transitional government. The Syrian National opposition coalition president Ahmed Jaraba also confirmed the participation of his group at the talks. Shifting his stand, he said that regional power Iran should only be allowed to attend the conference if it stopped taking part in the bloodshed in Syria and withdrew its forces and proxies. But the rebel Free Syrian Army, FSA and the jihadist Islamist groups have Spurned the idea of joining the Geneva-II talks. Atul K Tiwary, AIR News, Dubai   
    

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In Bangladesh, violence and arson continues unabated in the BNP-led Opposition bandh on the third day today. The bandh is being organised against the rail-road-waters blockade. The initial 48-hour  blockade demanding postponing of elections until an agreement is reached, has been extended by 23 hours till tomorrow morning. Two more people died today, taking the death toll to 19 since the elections were announced on Monday night. The Election Commission and law enforcement agencies are meeting today ahead of elections.

Meanwhile, a UN team headed by envoy Fernandez Tranco is arriving in Dhaka on December 6th to discuss ongoing crisis and polls preparations with political leaders and government officials.

Several crude bombs were exploded in the capital this morning by opposition activists blocking roads with burning tyres. Explosions have also taken place in front of offices of media houses. In Rajshahi protestors hurled petrol and crude bombs at police injuring at least 10 of them. Railways have been a major target of the protestors, while roads and waterways remain affected. Sabotage on tracks led to derailment of a passenger train near Comilla  early this morning, disrupting Dhaka-Chittagong and Chittagong-Shylet routes. Melinda dias for AIR News, Dhaka.

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Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament, amid major street protests in the capital, Bangkok. The motion was brought by the opposition Democrat Party but Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party dominate the chamber and voted it down. Ms Yingluck won 297 votes, easily surviving the lower house censure motion, while 134 voted against her.