1400 HRS

08th April, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• Centre urges States to speed up implementing special area development programmes to increase socio-economic infrastructure in Minority-inhabited poor areas.
• Supreme Court restrains CBI from conducting separate trial against BJP general secretary Amit Shah in Tulsiram Prajapati murder case; Directs trial to be conducted with Soharabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.
• Full Election Commission is visiting Bangalore today to review preparations for Assembly elections.
• A Sri Lankan court sends 30 Indian fishermen caught on Saturday, to police remand till the 18th of this month.
• Pakistan's Supreme Court directs authorities not to allow former President Pervez Musharraf to leave the country.
• Defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders to clash with Rajasthan Royals today in the IPL Twenty-20 tournament.

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The Centre today urged the States to speed up implementing special area development programmes to increase socio-economic infrastructure in Minority-inhabited poor areas. Addressing a conference of Principal Secretaries and Secretaries to review implementation of the Multi-Sectoral Development and Prime Minister's new 15-Point Programmes in New Delhi, Minority Affairs Minister Rehman Khan expressed unhappiness at the slow progress of implementation of Minority-welfare schemes and initiatives. He called on the States to proactively engage with the Centre to extend their full support and cooperation to reach the benefits of the schemes to the target population.

Mr. Khan pointed out that monitoring committees at the district and block levels are nearly inactive and pressed them to immediately ensure proper implementation of the benefit schemes to dispel the impression that the government's efforts have failed to impact beneficiaries' lives. He asked the committees to involve panchayats, urban local bodies, NGOs and locals to enhance cooperation in implementing the development and welfare programmes.

The Minority Affairs Minister informed that the Centre is working on restructuring the MsDP and modifying the Prime Minister's view 15-Point Programme by including more schemes in the latter.

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The Supreme Court today restrained the CBI from conducting a separate trial against BJP General Secretary Amit Shah in the Tulsiram Prajapati murder case and said, it has to be clubbed along with the Soharabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

A Bench headed by Justice P Sathasivam said, the murder of both Prajapati and Soharabuddin were part of the same conspiracy and separate trial cannot be conducted in the two cases.

Shah, a close aide of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is out on bail after spending three months in jail in the Soharabuddin case, was again facing the threat of being arrested by CBI in the Prajapati murder case in which the agency had filed a separate chargesheet against him.

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The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on a plea seeking framing of guidelines for restricting hate speeches by politicians and leaders of social and religious organisations.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir also issued notices to the Governments of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh which, in recent times, witnessed incidents of alleged speeches.

The PIL submitted that speeches targeting religion, region, caste or place of birth were against the provisions of the Constitution. The bench has also sought response from the Election Commission on the issue.

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The full Election Commission, including Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath and Election Commissioners H S Brahma and SNA Zaidi, is visiting Bangalore today on a two days tour for the review of Assembly election preparations. They will hold a meeting with representatives of all political parties for hearing their grievances or complaints. Our Correspondent reports that the Commission will hold a meeting of top election officials tomorrow and discuss their poll preparedness for conducting free and fair polls in Karnataka.

"The Chief Electoral Officer Mr.Anil Kumar Jha and other officials on election duties are holding a meeting prior to the arrival of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners in Bangalore today afternoon. Political parties have raised certain issues regarding enforcement of election code of conduct and the revision of election timings. The election timing has been revised and the election will begin at 8 am, instead of 7 am and the political parties have pointed this out to the election Commission. Meanwhile the last date to submit application for the inclusion of names in the electoral roll ended yesterday and Commission received more than 10 lakh applications." Sudhindra AIR News Bangalore.

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A private aircraft carrying BJP President Rajnath Singh and senior leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley made an emergency landing today at Delhi airport after it developed problems in its auto-pilot system. The BJP leaders were flying to Bangalore to address an election rally there but the plane made an emergency landing nine minutes after taking off this morning. All the passengers on-board the aircraft are safe and alternate arrangements for their travel were made.

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Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has pitched for women empowerment and also to encourage enterprising quality in women for nation building. Addressing the Women wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry at New Delhi today, Mr. Modi praised the vital role played by women in important sectors including Agriculture, Education, and Health. He favoured judicious use of innovations, technology upgradation, skill development and marketing facilities to spur economic development. Mr. Modi also said, the Gujarat State Assembly has passed a legislation for fifty per cent reservation for women in local bodies.

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Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will be on a three-day official visit to Germany from April 10th. The Prime minister will lead a five-member ministerial delegation to participate in the second round of Indo-German Inter-governmental consultations (IGC) in Berlin on April 11th. Dr Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss a host of issues to take forward the bilateral relations which have been reinforced in recent times.

Consultations on Free Trade Agreement with the European Union which are in the crucial stage now, are set to figure in the bilateral talks of the heads of governments of both the countries. This is the second visit of Dr Singh to Germany after the UPA government returned to power in 2009. During his visit, the Prime Minister will also call on German Federal President Mr Joachim Gauck and discuss bilateral issues. Dr Singh will attend the closing ceremony of ‘Days of India in Germany"- a series of events being organised in Germany since last year to highlight India’s rapid strides on economic, cultural, technological and educational fronts.

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The Thane police have arrested nine persons, including the suspended Deputy Municipal Commissioner, two builders and police and municipal officials for the Thane building collapse incident. More from our correspondent:

"Shocking truths have come to light following investigations into the building collapse incident in Thane district of Maharashtra that led to the death of 74 people. Speaking to media persons, Thane Police Commissioner K P Raghuvanshi said that there is a big racket involved in such illegal constructions. The police commissioner informed that the Thane crime branch with the help of Anti Corruption Bureau have found that the builders Jamil Qureshi and Salim Sheikh had repeatedly bribed some government officials. The commissioner also informed that two more buildings owned by the arrested builders were in Lucky Compound where the building collapsed and one of them would be demolished." SUDHA RAMASUBRAMANIAN, AIR NEWS, MUMBAI.

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly "PUBLIC SPEAK" programme tonight, will bring you a discussion on "Digitization of Cable TV." This can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies at 9.30 pm. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Uday Kumar Verma will be present in our studio to answer queries of the listeners. Listeners can ask questions on telephone number: 011-2331-4444. This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

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In Sri Lanka, a magistrate’s court at Talaimannar has sent the 30 Indian fishermen caught by the Sri Lankan Navy on Saturday to police remand till the 18th of this month. Earlier, the 26 fishermen caught on Friday were sent on remand till Thursday, when their case will come up again for hearing.

Mr V Mahalingam, Indian Consulate General in Jaffna says all efforts are being made to secure an early release of these fishermen. More from our correspondent:-

"With the latest arrest of 56 Indian fishermen last week north of Talaimannar and Karainagar in the Northern waters of Sri Lanka, the number of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody now stands at 75. Last month, Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 53 fishermen, of whom 34 were released immediately, while 19 were sentenced for two weeks imprisonment. The issue of straying of fishermen in each others’ territorial waters was taken up by the officials of the two countries at the 8th India-Sri Lanka Joint Council Meeting in January this year. It was decided that since the matter relates to the livelihood of the fishing communities, it should be handled sensitively and representatives of the fishermen should be involved in finding a solution to the problem." Abhishek Dayal/ AIR News/ Colombo.

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The Pakistan Supreme Court today directed authorities not to allow former president Pervez Musharraf to leave the country. The Court was hearing several petitions seeking former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's trial for treason for subverting the constitution and declaring an emergency in 2007. The petitions were taken up by a two-judge bench led by Justice Jawad S Khwaja.

The petitioners contended that Musharraf had obstructed access to justice by detaining the judges during the 2007 emergency and by substituting them with judges who were appointed unconstitutionally.

Hours before the hearing began this morning, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary withdrew himself from the three- judge bench that was formed last week to take up the petitions.

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In Afghanistan, at least nine people were killed and 22 others injured when a roadside bomb exploded under a bus today in an attack by suspected Taliban militants. The incident happened in Wardak province, south-west of the capital Kabul. An official spokesman said some women are among those killed. The injured are being treated at a local hospital.

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In Bihar, Naxalites blasted a power Sub-station at Khaira block in Jamui district last night. Talking to AIR Correspondent, Jamui district Superintendent of Police (operations) said that several naxalites triggered the blast. He also said that 150 personnel of CRPF, STF and Bihar Police have intensified search operations to arrest the naxalites. Naxalites had called a 48 hour Bihar and Jharkhand bandh on Saturday and Sunday and the incident occured during the last hours of the bandh.

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NCP chief Sharad Pawar today apologised for the controversial comments made by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on farmers. Mr. Pawar said on twitter that the comments were unwanted. Ajit Pawar's remarks at a rally near Pune over no water in the dam, mocking farmers in drought-hit Maharashtra, had kicked up a controversy.

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The Five-day long India Water Week 2013 began today to create awareness on efficient water management. President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the Water Week Conference at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi this evening. A Water Expo will also be simultaneously held showcasing latest technological solutions to improve water management efficiency in various sectors including agriculture, irrigation, water supply and energy generation. More from our correspondent,

"Water, the most crucial natural resource is inevitable for socio-economic development. There is an urgent need to utilize water resources efficiently to save water and conserve it for future generation. The availability situation of water is alarming, and the present level of awareness is not commensurate with the gravity of the consequential situation. Director General of National Water Development Agency and member of Central Water Commission, A B Pandya says optimal use of water is crucial to address the emerging water crisis. He said Water Week is a message to the world on the huge challenges in the water sector."

"Ministry of Water Resources established a key water resources event in the name of India Water Week for generating the dialogue consulting various state holders and informed opinion."

Although water is a renewable resource, it is also a finite one. It is high time for policies to focus on conserving the scarce natural resource with invaluable social economic value. Every drop saved would go a long way for the prosperity and well being of mankind. Shiela, AIR News, Delhi.

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All India Radio, Delhi will broadcast live on its Rajdhani Channel the inaugural ceremony of India Water Week,2013 to be held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today from 5.25 pm onwards. This broadcast would be available on Rajdhani Channel and its relay by all multi channel AIR stations on one of their channels.

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Defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders will clash with Rajasthan Royals today, in a league match of the ongoing sixth IPL Twenty-20 cricket tournament. The match will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur at 8 in the evening