2100 HRS

06th April, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• Finance Minister Chidambaram says, Direct Benefits Transfer scheme to be rolled out all over the country by March next year; GDP to grow over 6 per cent in the current fiscal.

• Foreign Direct Investment guidelines further simplified; Pakistani companies can also invest in the country now.

• Two real-estate developers of the collapsed building in Thane, arrested.
• India repatriates 17 Pakistani prisoners. 

• In Iraq, 25 people killed in a suicide bombing and grenade attack in Baquba.

• Lieutenant Commander Abhilash Tomy reaches Mumbai completingIndia’s first solo non-stop sailing round the globe.

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The entire country is expected to be covered by direct Benefits Transfer, DBT scheme by the end of the current financial year. Stating this, Finance Minister Chidambaram told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that through this massive re-engineering process, government wants to distribute the money to the beneficiaries directly into their accounts. He said, the DBT had already been rolled out from the 1st of January this year for 26 schemes in 43 districts and 78 more will be covered from the 1st of July this year.

Now we have rolled it out in 43 districts. We have decided to roll it out in 78 more districts, that will make it 121 districts or roughly 20 per cent of the whole country. There will be further roll out and I am confident that by the end of the financial year that is 2013-2014 roll out will be complete or nearly complete.

On transfer of LPG subsidy through the scheme, Mr. Chidambaram said that he will take up the matter with the Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily to incorporate it in the scheme.

We want to quickly move the LPG subsidy into the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme. It will bring about a great deal of efficiency, it will eliminate all duplicate connections and once it eliminates duplicate connection, it will also save us some subsidy.

On sugar de-control, the Finance Minister said, it is a major step which will benefit the farmer and industry. He said, due to the move, annual subsidy bill will go up by 2,500 or 2,600 crore rupees. He said the government will bear cost of subsidy for two years with this current financial year and the next one.Mr. Chidambaram said, the GDP will grow by a little over 6 per cent in 2013-14 and fiscal deficit will be better than 5.2 for the current fiscal. Tax target of over 10 lakh, 38 thousand crore rupees for 2012-13, has been achieved. He said, revenue growth of 16.7 per cent is commendable and expressed hope that the targets will be achieved. He also said, government is trying to impress upon industry and investors to attract investments. He hoped that Current Account Deficit for 2012-13, will be at tolerable level.Asked about passing of Insurance Amendment Bill in the 2nd phase of the Budget session, Mr. Chidambaram said, government is trying to reach a consensus on the Bill and hoped it may be passed.The Finance Minister added that Centre will come out with amendments to Income Tax Act once the tax dispute with Vodafone is resolved. He said, Cabinet Committee on Investment, CCI, will take a decision to clear 31 Oil and Gas sector projects in its fourth meeting this month.On a question, he ruled out early general elections in the country and said elections will take place on time.On the sting operations carried out by Cobra post alleging money laundering by some officials of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank, Mr. Chidambaram said, the Reserve Bank is seriously looking into the issue and stern action will be taken by the government if any violation of tax law was found.

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The Government has further simplified foreign investment regime. It came out with the revised consolidated guidelines today on FDI to achieve the goal. The guidelines incorporated changes on inflows in multi brand retail and allowed Pakistan nationals and companies to invest in the country. Besides, it has included policy changes in sectors like single brand retail, asset reconstruction companies, power exchanges, civil aviation, broadcasting and non-banking financial companies.

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The President has called for strengthening good governance. Terming corruption as a threat to the democratic fabric of the country, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said, lack of good governance is identified as the root cause of various deficiencies in society. Addressing the D.P Kohli Lecture on the ocassion of the golden jubilee of the CBI, he said, it has to be ensured that government benefits meant for the poor and underprivileged, reach them without fail. Mr. Mukherjee said, inclusiveness calls for equity in access to basic needs and upliftment of marginalised sections of people. Urging all stake holders in administration to focus on the good and welfare of the people, Mr. Mukherjee stressed for improving transparency, accountability and probity in public life.Speaking on the inauguration of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the CBI, the Minister of State in Prime Ministers Office, V. Narayanasamy said, the Centre is committed to full functional autonomy of the institutions like CBI to deliver results. He said, the UPA government will continue to support all efforts of the CBI to maintain the highest levels of personal conduct to ensure speedy and timely completion of investigations.

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As the Assembly polls are nearing in Karnataka, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath and other members of the Commission will visit Bangalore on Monday afternoon. Chief Electoral Officer in Karnataka Anil Kumar Jha said, there will be discussions with the representatives of political parties.

The Congress party is yet to announce candidates for the remaining 47 seats as there are too many aspirants. It is being said that the second list will be announced on or after April 9. In the BJP camp, Chief Minister Shettar informed today that the BJP second list will be released on April 9. He also told media persons in Bangalore that national leaders like Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and other leaders will participate in the party's 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra' on April 8th in Bangalore^. SUDHINDRA/AIR NEWS/BANGALORE

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BJP leader L.K Advani has called upon the partymen not to compromise on corruption. He asked them to prove the party's detractors wrong who had charged the BJP as a party of differences and not a party with a difference. He was addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on the occasion of BJP Foundation Day today. BJP President Rajnath Singh criticized the UPA government for decontrol of sugar industry.

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In Jharkhand, police have arrested three naxalites and recovered huge quantity of arms and explosives in Ranchi. The arrests were made after an encounter this afternoon. No one was killed or seriously injured. The naxals fled during the encounter, leaving the arms and ammunition. The police is carrying search operation now. Police sources told our Ranchi Correspondent that the naxals of the PLFI faction had come to the capital Ranchi to execute a terror strike. They have called for two days Jharkhand bandh from today.Police and security forces have been adequately deployed in the sensitive areas of the state in view of the local bodies elections tomorrow. All parts of the state will see voting for local bodies tomorrow from 7 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon, except Ranchi and Bundu, where votes would be cast on Monday.

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The two real-estate developers who illegally constructed a seven-storey building that collapsed in Thane district of Maharashtra, killing 72 people, were arrested today. The builders, Jamil Qureshi and Salim Sheikh, have been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The builders were missing since when the building collapsed. Speaking to media persons, Thane Police Commissioner KP Raghuvanshi said that Jamil Qureshi was arrested from Uttar Pradesh and Salim Sheikh from Thane.The building reportedly came up in just two to three months, with sub-standard material. An eighth floor was under construction when the building had collapsed. Homes, offices and shops had been set up within the building without an occupancy certificate.

Our Correspondent reports that the rescue operation in the building collapse in Mumbai has been finally concluded after nearly 42 hours.

The thane police today arrested two builders Jamil Qureshi and Salil Sheikh of the illegal building which collapsed in Thane district. 72 people have died and 36 injured are being treated at various hospitals. The state government has announced that the incident would be thoroughly probed by the additional chief secretary. Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr Prithviraj Chavan stated that they are deliberating on formation of a special team for prevention of illegal constructions. He also assured that stringent action will be taken against those found guilty in the incident. ABHISHEK KUMAR AIR NEWS, MUMBAI

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Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed execution of death warrant of Sonepat resident, Dharampal till April 10 giving him temporary relief. He had been sentenced to death for raping a girl and later during on parole murdered the victim and four members of his family. His mercy plea has been rejected by the President and he had been shifted from Rohtak to Ambala jail on Friday for execution on April 15.

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India repatriated 17 Pak Prisoners through Attari-Wagah joint check-post this afternoon. Of them, 14 are fishermen who inadvertently crossed over into theIndian territory.

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The Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Police have apprehended 120 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who were trying to go in a ship illegally to Australia today. The ship was caught at 20 nautical miles off the coast of Velankanni in Tamil Nadu.

As soon as they got the information the Tamil Nadu Coastal security police chased the Sri Lankan Tamil refugee ship in speed boats and made it surrender. The coastal security policemen entered the ship and had a thorough check up. The ship had 120 Tamil refugees. They were from the Tiruchirapalli, Vellore, Tenkasi Thoppunallar Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. Initial reports say that they were bound for Australia. The ship which was found 20 nautical miles away from Velankanni in Tamil Nadu has been brought to Nagapattinam. The Tamil refugees are being questioned at the Nagai district Collectorate. K Devi Padmanabhan /AIR NEWS, Tiruchirapalli

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In Manipur, normal life has been partially affected by the State wide indefinite bandh from six this morning. The bandh is being called by the Joint Action Committee against the brutal killing of N. Satyabhama. Inter-State and inter-district passenger vehicle services remained off the road in Imphal. All business establishments including shops and markets remained closed during the bandh.

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In Iraq, at least 25 people have been killed in a coordinated suicide bombing and grenade attack on an open-air election campaign meeting in the eastern city ofBaquba. Officials said, a militant threw a grenade at the meeting in Baquba, before a suicide bomber blew himself up. At least 60 people were injured in the attack.

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Talks between world powers and Iran on its nuclear programme, have ended without agreement. At the two days of talks in Almaty, Iran was asked to give up work on its most sensitive nuclear activities in return for an easing of sanctions. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton confirmed no deal was reached. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also confirmed there had been a lack of results. Ryabkov also said, no time or place for the next talks had yet been agreed.

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President Pranab Mukherjee today welcomed Lieutenant Commander Abhilash Tomy, who sailed round the globe solo on INS Mahadei and entered the historic Gateway of India in Mumbai. A special ceremonial reception was organized by the Indian Navy for the successful completion of India’s first solo nonstop circumnavigation around the globe - Sagar Parikrama II. Set to sail from Mumbai on November 1, 2012 , Lt.Cdr Tomy took 150 days at sea and completed the journey of 23,100 miles across the globe solo.

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In Indian Premier League, the match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Superkings is now on in Chennai. Mumbai Indians were 92 for 6 in 14 against Chennai Super Kings when reports last came in. In the other IPL match in Delhi, Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Dare devils by 5 runs