0815 HRS

31st March, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Government says Samajwadi party is a valued ally of the UPA and any difference of opinion will be sorted out through dialouge.

• Special CBI court sentences six people to three to six years imprisonment in the nine year old Post office scam.

• Curfew continues in Sualkuchi town of Kamrup district of Assam following clashes between local traders and security forces over trade issues.

• India asks Pakistan to provide full report on the death of Indian prisoner Chamel Singh in a Pakistani jail.

• Serena Williams wins Miami Open women's single title defeating Maria Sharapova.

{}<><>{}

Government says, it values Samajwadi Party as an ally and if there are any differences, these will be resolved through talks. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said this while talking to reporters yesterday. This follows a war of words that has been going on between the Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma and the Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Samajwadi Party is our ally. We have their support and we value their support. If there are any differences of opinion, we will resolve them through discussion.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said that the central government is stable and it will continue to follow the reforms path. He said any contradictions between the alliance partners must be sorted out through talks.

Central Government is stable. It will complete its term and continue to work for economic reforms. In the alliance government, sometimes, associate parties have their own political context. But coalition dharma demands that, if there are differences of opinions, efforts should be made to resolve these issues through dialogue.

{}<><>{}

The former Law Minister of Odisha Raghunath Mohanty and his wife, who are facing dowry charges, have been sent to judicial custody till the 2nd of April. Hearing the bail application of the Mohanty duo, the Court in Balasore passed the order to this effect. The court has asked the Human Rights Protection Cell, HRPC, probing into the case, to submit the up-to-date case diary for further hearing on the bail application on the 2nd of April. The Mohanty couple, before being arrested last night near Kolkota by a team of HRPC, were said to be absconding since their daughter-in-law brought dowry allegation against them on the 14th of this month. The Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the law will take its course.

you must have heard that he and his wife were arrested and law will take its course.

{}<><>{}

A special CBI court in Ghaziabad has sentenced six people to three to six years imprisonment in the 2004-2006 Post office scam. Special judge MS Wadhwa found six persons guilty and awarded six years imprisonment to 4 of them. One of themhas been sentenced to four years and one to three years imprisonment. The judge also imposed fine on them. According to the Prosecution, they were accused of syphoning off 16.71 lakh rupees. CBI had probed into the matter.

{}<><>{}

In Madhya Pradesh, the trial in the Swiss woman gangrape case began in Datia yesterday with two prosecution witnesses recording their statements before a special court. All the six accused in the case were produced before Additional District Judge . Two prosecution witnesses out of the total six recorded their statement in the case.

However, the Swiss couple did not arrive in the town to take part in the court proceedings. The court is likely to issue summons to them to appear before it. The next hearing in the case will be held on April 1st.

{}<><>{}

In Assam, indefinite curfew continues at Sualkuchi town area in Kamrup district after traders clashed with security forces yesterday. IGP LR Bishnoi said that additional security forces have been deployed and the situation is under control. Police have registered a case and will inquire into the matter. More from our correspondent:

Talking to AIR, Assam government’s spokesman Bhupen Bora said that government has instructed the district administration to ban selling of Benarasi fabrics at Sualkuchi for at least 15 days. Bora said that though some traders were selling imported fabrics in the name of Sualkuchi clothes, nobody has lodged any complaint. Most of the families are dependent on paat and muga weaving at Sualkuchi. Manas Pratim Sarma/AIR News/Guwahati.

{}<><>{}

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, TNPCB, has ordered closure of Sterlite Industries' copper smelter unit in Tuticorin in the wake of alleged gas leak last week. Company officials said, they have started closing down the operations of the unit. The TNPCB order came a week after an unspecified gas leaked in the area on March 23rd, causing mild suffocation, sore throat and eye irritation to several people in the locality. In a statement, the company said, it will convince authorities to install safety measures.

{}<><>{}

For news updates, follow us on Twitter @ airnewsalerts. You can also visit our facebook page All India Radio News for more news and events. For news updates on mobiles, SMS AIRNEWS and send it to 56060.

{}<><>{}

India has asked Pakistan to provide a full report about the circumstances surrounding the death of Indian prisoner Chamel Singh in a Pakistani jail. Singh died in mysterious conditions in a Pakistani jail. He was serving a five-year prison term at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Official sources said, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has also asked Pak authorities for a copy of Chamel Singh's post-mortem report. Tehseen Khan, a Pakistani lawyer, claimed that Chamel Singh died after being beaten by the prison staff. More from our correspondent

The very fact that it took Pakistani authorities two months to conduct the autopsy and hand over the body to Indian authorities speaks volumes about the way Chamel Singh's death in custody was handled by Pakistan. While the intimation of death was given on January 17, the body, with injury marks, was handed over on March 13 to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. This has happened despite Indian High Commission making repeated requests to Pakistani authorities. Repeated provocative acts by Pakistan are bound to impact efforts to bring the two countries closer which obviously is in no ones interest. Ashok Handoo for AIR News.

{}<><>{}

Pakistani authorities have directed officials at airports across the country to bar former President Pervez Musharraf from going abroad. The Federal Investigation Agency formally issued written orders to immigration officials in this regard. The move came a day after the Sindh High Court issued orders that Musharraf cannot leave Pakistan without the permission of courts that are hearing cases against him. The High Court issued the directive while extending by 21 days the pre-arrest bail granted to him in connection with several cases. Musharraf plans to lead his All Pakistan Muslim League party in the upcoming general elections.

{}<><>{}

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has arrived in Qatar to discuss Taliban militants opening an office in the Gulf state for peace negotiations that could end more than a decade of war. Until earlier this year, Karzai was opposed to the Islamist extremists having a meeting venue in Doha as he feared that his government would be frozen out of any negotiations. But, with NATO-led combat troops due to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, Karzai agreed to the proposedTaliban office in the Qatari capital Doha.

{}<><>{}

Easter, which marks the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ, on the third day of his crucifixion is being celebrated with religious fervour and reverence in different parts of the country today. The day also marks the culmination of the 50-day fasting by the faithful.

Devotees in large numbers attended midnight mass and Easter prayers in churches all over Kerala. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy greeted the people on the occasion.

In Tamil Nadu, special prayers and holy masses were held from midnight at the world famous Velankanni shrine. A report from our correspondent:

Easter Sunday signifies resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion and death at Calvary on Good Friday. Special mass was held with the faithful holding lit candles. Sermons were given on the resurrection of Christ. Special mass are being held all through the day. Thousands of pilgrims from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Maharashtra apart from Tamil Nadu attended the communion service. K Devi Padmnabhan, AIR News, Tiruchirapalli.

{}<><>{}

National Commission for Scheduled Castes has expressed concern over the increasing incidents of atrocities against scheduled castes in Punjab. In a statement, Vice Chairman of the Commission, Rajkumar Verka said that the conviction rate in such cases is just 7 per cent due to prevalence of Jathedari system in the state. He alleged that money, threats and political pressure are being used to settle such cases.

{}<><>{}

In Tennis, world number one Serena Williams has clinched the Miami Open title for a record sixth time by beating Maria Sharapova of Russia 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. In the women's singles final held at Miami yesterday, Williams fought back from a set down to win the tournament. In men's singles, Andy Murray of Great Britain will clash with Spain's David Ferrer in the title match today .

{}<><>{}

In Andhra Pradesh, power tariff has gone up for domestic and commercial consumers by an average 21 per cent. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission has permitted the distribution companies to additionally collect about 6,173 crore rupees during the year 2013-14.

{}<><>{}

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Beni Prasad Verma accusing the SP Chief of conspiring with the VHP and saying that the next polls will mark the Samajwadi party's end is the lead in almost all papers. 'Congress embarrassed as Beni Prasad fires another salvo at Mulayam' reads the Hindu headline. '

The image of 'Incredible India' has taken a massive beating since the gangrape case, writes the Hindustan Times, on its front page. 'Gangrape hits India image, 25% fall in foreign tourists' is the paper's headline.

The noose seems to be gradually tightening around boxer Vijender Singh. 'In call records, conclusive evidence against Vijender' writes the Indian Express. SMS's between the boxing superstar, Ram Singh and drug dealer Kahlon are likely to be bad news for him,writes the paper.

The appointment of SC Sinha, the NIA Chief as member - National Human Rights Commission seems to be jinxed. 'BJP hoists red flag on NHRC Chief choice' writes the Pioneer. This has been reported by the Statesman and the Asian Age too.

Are you popping in Calcium tablets thinking they will be good for your bones? Beware, The Times of India, on its front page, writes that according to the latest research in the US, 'Calcium overuse can up heart risk and that over 1000 mg a day may be fatal for men'.

With summers just round the corner, you might be thinking of ways to beat the heat. The Statesman reports that the Indian Council of Medical Research has developed a jacket, which would be a personal cooling garment or PCG, and has even applied for a patent .The good news is that, it should be available by next year