1400 HRS

25th April, 2013

THE HEADLINES 

• Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM following uproarious scenes over various issues.

• Lok Sabha adjourned for the day following the death of Trinamool Congress MP Ambica Banerjee; Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on 2G scam also postponed.

• West Bengal and Assam witness widespread protests by Saradha Chit Fund investors.

• Supreme Court seeks explanation from Delhi Police on use of force against demonstrators protesting against the rape of a 5-year old girl.

• Seven militants belonging to banned organisation surrender before authorities in Manipur.

• Sensex jumps over 130 points in afternoon trade; Rupee gains 19 paise to 54.19 against the dollar.

• India's P.V.Sindhu storms into the quarter finals of the India Open Badminton tournament.

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The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the second time till 2 PM today amidst noisy scenes. As soon as the House reassembled at noon, BJP members again rushed to the well demanding the Prime Minister's resignation over coal blocks allocation issue. Two members belonging to the Asom Gana Parishad, also surged into the well displaying placards in protest against the land agreement with Bangladesh. Following uproarious scenes, Deputy Chairman Prof. PJ Kurien adjourned the House till 2 PM.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following the death of a sitting Trinamool Congress member Ambica Banerjee in Kolkata this morning. The Lower House also mourned the death of a former DMK member C Kuppusami.

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The meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, JPC on 2G spectrum allocations, scheduled to be held today, has been postponed due to the death of a sitting Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Ambica Banerjee. This was disclosed by the JPC Chairman PC Chacko.

Today at 3 p.m. its stands postponed because of the demise of a sitting member. The parliament session today postponed and all other Parliament consultative committees and standing committee all committees schedule for today also is cancelled.

The meeting was to adopt a report on the 2G scam. Sources in the JPC Secretariat said the next date of the meeting of the JPC will be announced later. Our Correspondent reports that the request for postponement of today's meeting was made by Trinamool Congress members to the JPC Chairman.

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Congress MPs from Telengana region of Andhra Pradesh staged a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue outside Parliament demanding the introduction of a Bill for a separate Telengana state. Ponnam Prabhakar, MP, who led the dharna told media persons that the UPA government failed to fulfill its promise to bring the bill in this regard.

Members belonging to the BJP, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the JD-U also staged a dharna outside Parliament in protest against the suppressing the charge sheet against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with the murder of four Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

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The prime accused in the Chit Fund scam in West Bengal Sudipto Sen and two of his associates will be produced at a court in Salt Lake this afternoon. The trio were brought back to Kolkata last night on transit remand after police arrested them from Kashmir last Monday. Our Kolkata Correspondent reports that the three accused have already reached a court in Salt Lake amidst tight security and legal proceedings will start soon. More from our correspondent:

Large number of depositors and agents of Sardha group who have lost their everything have assembled near the court premises at Salt Lake. Strong security measures are in place in and around of the SDJM court to avoid any untoward incident. According to official sources police started primary interrogation to the accused and they were under gone in medical check up this morning. Arijit Chakraboraty, AIR News Kolkata.

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rotests continued in several parts of Assam also against the Sardha Chit Fund for duping thousands of investors. Our correspondent has filed this report:

Hundreds of people are protesting in front of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in Guwahati under the banner of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti demanding returning of their money and resignation of a minister of the state. Several field agents of the company have also joined in the protest. Police also secured a daily newspaper office of Sardha group last night to prevent any damage of properties and tempering of evidences. Manas Pratim Sarma/Air News/Guwahati

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President Pranab Mukherjee has expressed deep concern over the recent increase in cases of brutal assault on women and child rape in the country. Mr Mukherjee said the unfortunate incidents underscore the urgency for the society to pause and introspect at erosion of values and our repeated failure to ensure safety and security of women and children.

The recent increase in the cases of brutal assault on women and child rape have shaken the collective conscience of the nation. Such criminal depravity is a threat to the civilized functioning of any society. We must identify its causes and find solutions to it.

Addressing the 45th annual convocation of Utkal University in Bhubaneswar, Mr Mukherjee said Indian universities and academic institutions must also take the lead in imparting education which would help to meet the moral challenge of our times.

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External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid is visiting China on the ninth of next month. Mr. Khurshid's trip comes ahead of the visit by newly-elected Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India later next month. Our correspondent reports, New Delhi attatches a lot of significance to Li's first visit abroad after becoming Prime Minister last month. Replying to questions by media persons, External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid also expressed confidence that India and China will be able to resolve the situation arising after the incursion into Indian territory by Chinese forces.

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The Supreme Court today sought explanations from the Delhi Police Chief on police brutality during recent protests. The Apex court directed Police Commissioner to file an affidavit on the slapping of girl at a City Hospital during the protest over the rape of a five year old girl in East Delhi Gandhi Nagar area. The court has asked the city police chief to file his reply by tomorrow reasoning the use of force against peaceful protesters. Taking cognisance of the recent beating up of an elderly woman by a senior police officer in Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, the apex court also directed the State Government to file its reply.

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Four persons, including two women, were killed and an equal number injured when a fire broke out in a multi-storey commercial complex in Coimbatore today, top officials said. The fire broke out in the office of a private bank around 10:30 am, the reason for which is yet to be ascertained, they said. 10 to 12 fire tenders, including some from the Army and Navy, were used and the fire was doused after over one-and-a-half hours. A majority of the people were taken to safety by fire force personnel and locals who rushed to the spot to assist in rescue operations.

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In Manipur, 7 militants belonging to the banned Kangleipak Communist Party-Nongdren Khomba KCP-NK faction have surrendered before the authorities. Officials said in Imphal today that the militants, including self-styled chief of the army of KCP-NK Laishram Gunamani alias Guru and its General Secretary Taibang Nganba, surrendered before the authorities on Tuesday. They handed over two AK 47 rifles, one carbine and four pistols. They have laid down their arms to participate in the peace process.

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In Odisha, Maoists killed two persons suspecting them to be police informers and torched a mobile phone tower in Malkangiri district. Police said, Armed ultras had abducted three persons from Kiang area recently and killed two of them while freeing another. The bodies of two persons were found on a forest road this morning with their throats slit and bearing gun-shot marks. Another person was set free by the Maoists. The Police said the victims were suspected to have been killed last night when over 50 armed Maoists had stormed into the area and set afire a mobile phone tower of a private service provider. Following the incident, the state's borders with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have been sealed.

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The Congress in Karnataka has decided to complaint to election commission against attack on its candidate in Holenarasipura constituency in Hassan district. The party Spokesperson Diwakar told media persons in Bangalore today that they will request the commission to declare the constituency as sensitive and deploy CRPF here. He alleged that JD(S) workers assaulted their candidate yesterday.

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World Malaria Day is being observed today with the focus on efforts to invest in the future to defeat Malaria. Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, remains inextricably linked with the poverty with highest malaria mortality rates reported from countries having the highest rates of extreme poverty. United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki moon has urged the global health community, including political leaders in endemic countries to provide universal access to malaria interventions and end the needless suffering from the disease. More from our correspondent:

India has reported decline in the number of malaria cases and deaths resulting from the disease. Malaria cases and deaths decreased to ten lakh cases and 506 fatalities in 2012 in comparison to 13 lakh cases and 754 deaths in 2011. Under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme of the Health Ministry, the Centre provides technical support and supplements the efforts of states to combat malaria. Last year India launched its first indigenously developed anti-malaria new-age drug ‘Synriam'. The drug aids in the treatment of uncomplicated "Plasmodium falciparum" in adults which accounts for 50 per cent of malaria cases in India. With Shiela, Zakir Malik, AIR News.Delhi

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 144 points, or 0.8 percent, to 19,323 in early trade, today, on sustained buying by funds and retail investors, amid rising regional Bourses. Later, the Sensex remained firm, and stood 131 points, or 0.7 percent in the green, at 19,311 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. The Sensex had gained almost 450 points in the previous three trading sessions.

Stock markets in Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea had gained between 0.2 percent and 1.1 percent, today. But the US Dow Jones Industrial Average hadended 0.3 per cent lower in yesterday's trade. Meanwhile, the rupee gained 19 paise to 54 rupees 19 paise against the dollar in late morning trade today, on fresh selling of dollars by banks, on the back of weakness of dollar in the overseas market. The domestic currency had lost 24 paise to close at 54 rupees 38 paise in the previous session on Tuesday. Forex and money market were closed yesterday for 'Mahavir Jayanti'.

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India has voiced its strong concern on the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and urged Israel to completely lift the blockade on Palestine and implement the provisions of the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2012.

Addressing the Security Council Open Debate yesterday on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Kumar Mukerji said that Israel has recently taken some measures to allow flow of essential goods into Gaza. He told the world body that if the present situation persists, the international community will risk a serious destabilisation in the region.

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India's rising shuttler PV Sindhu today stormed into the Women's Singles quarterfinals of the India Open Super Series Badminton tournament in New Delhi. In the pre-quarterfinal fixture a short while ago, eighth seed Sindhu defeated China's Sun Yu, 19-21, 21-19, 21-15 to advance into the last eight stage.

Meanwhile, India's shuttle queen Saina Nehwal will play her pre-quarterfinal match later today. London Olympics bronze medalist and top seed Saina will take on Yui Hashimoto of Japan. In the Men's Singles, Ajay Jayaram will meet Indonesia's Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, while Sourabh Verma will clash with sixth seed Kenichi Tago of Japan. Indian shuttlers will also be seen in action in all the Doubles categories today.

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Chennai Super Kings will clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad in a league match of the IPL Twenty-20 cricket tournament today. The match will be played at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai at 8 PM.

Yesterday, Mumbai Indians defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Chasing 160 for victory, Mumbai overhauled the target on the penultimate ball of the match. Opener Dwayne Smith was adjudged man of the match