1400 HRS. 

04-05-2013

THE HEADLINES

• Prime Minister calls upon Asian economies to invest resources in the areas that help inclusive growth.
• Rail Minister denies any link with the kin arrested in a bribery case; asks for expeditious CBI inquiry.
• Pakistan officials visit injured terror convict Sanaullah at PGIMR hospital Chandigarh.
• Stage set for tomorrow's Assembly elections in Karnataka.
• Indian squad for next month's Champions' Trophy announced;
• Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh dropped.

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The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today called upon Asian economies to step up efforts to address common challenges by investing resources in areas that help to empower all sections of the society. Addressing the 46th ^{Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank, ADB, at Noida today, Dr Singh observed that there has been a significant reduction in poverty in many countries of the Asia- Pacific region. He however, said, inequalities have not fallen and some social indicators including malnutrition, health, and education have not improved significantly. Dr Singh said, the benefits of rapid growth in the region must lead to betterment in the lives of the common people. He said equitable distribution of the fruits of the development should be achieved through empowerment of people.}

The rapid modernisation and expansion of the Asian economies is acknowledged as one of the most dramatic development in the economic history of the world. This process has also pulled out of poverty the largest number of people ever in the history of human kind. If the current momentum continuous India's share in the world economy would double by 2015 and would account for over half of the global GDP. 

The Prime Minister said that the ADB should take the initiative to find innovative ways to channelize global savings into infrastructure projects. He said there is a need to create new productive job opportunities for the growing labour force to achieve inclusive growth. He said, India is committed in promoting the benefits of regional integration. Dr Singh said, the Asian region is expected to play a crucial role in driving and stabilizing the global recovery process.

With emerging Asia accounting for a majority of it and China and India accounting for 35 percent and 10 percent of world growth respectively, this trend is likely to continue in years to come.

The Prime Minister added that India has introduced legal entitlements to work, education and information from public authorities and is also planning to provide the people a legal entitlement to food at affordable cost. He said direct benefits transfer programme will make it simpler for the beneficiaries to have access to benefits and will also eliminate corruption and wastage in delivery of public services. Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister P Chidambaram stressed the need to encourage investments to accelerate growth rate in the Asian region. He said investment can help the region to recover from the adverse impact of the global economic slowdown. He urged for more economic reforms for the removal of poverty which is affecting the growth in the region.

Some economies have to move from investment driven growth towards consumtion led growth others like India where consumption already accounts for a large portion of GDP there is need to enhance the role of investment to maintain a high growth rate and create more jobs.

Vice President Hamid Ansari today said, the CAG has an important role to play in efforts towards improving environment by not only commenting on the effectiveness of the rules and regulations in this regard but also by offering suggestions to the government for the purpose. He said that India has been active in international forums relating to environmental protection, and is party to 94 multilateral environmental agreements. Mr. Ansari was inaugurating the International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development (ICED)in Jaipur today. The Vice-President said the importance of environment audit has been compounded by the ever increasing expenditure on protection and conservation of environment. He said, there is an increasing environmental awareness as corroborated by various grassroots green movements across India. Speaking on the occasion, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai, said the CAG has been actively associating itself with the International Community of Supreme Audit Institutions to factor in Environmental concerns while undertaking auditing.

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Distancing himself from his nephew arrested by the CBI last night in a case of bribery, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today said, he had no business links with him and denied any wrong doing. In a statement, Mr. Bansal claimed that he has always observed highest standards of probity in public life and that nobody can influence his decisions. He also sought an expeditious CBI inquiry into the issue. the CBI said, the arrested persons including Railway Board Member Mahesh Kumar and Bansal's nephew V. Singla are to be brought to Delhi from Chandigarh later in the day. Four persons have been arrested for allegedly taking bribe to fix a top level position in the government. CBI Spokesperson said, the initial bribery demand was for ten crore rupees, which was later scaled down to two crore, for which part payment of 90 lakh rupees was made last evening. Singla was arrested in Chandigarh for accepting 90 lakh rupees in cash from Manjunath, the conduit of Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar. Kumar was arrested in Mumbai soon after he arrived in the metroplis from Delhi. The other two persons arrested by the CBI are Sandip Goyal, who allegedly assisted in brokering the deal and Manjunath. The CBI has registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC against them. The CBI also carried out searches in Delhi, Chandigarh and other cities in this connection. Meanwhile, Railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today met Prime minister Manmohan Singh. Mr. Bansal is reported to have apprised Dr. Singh of his position following the arrest of his relative in a bribery case.

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A team of Pakistani High Commission officials today visited terror convict Sanaullah, injured in a scuffle with another inmate in Jammu jail, at PGI Chandigarh after India granted consular access to them last night. A spokesperson in the ministry of External Affairs said, Pakistan High Commission officials visited the injured prisoner Sanaullah at 3:30 AM. They also met the attending doctor. They had also given travel permission to three officials and a driver. A resident of Sialkot in Pakistan,Sanaullah was injured during a scuffle with another inmate in Jammu jail where he was serving life term after being convicted under TADA provisions. He was arrested in 1999. Sanaullah was immediately shifted from high-security Kot Balwal jail to Government Medical College Hospital and later rushed to PGIMR in Chandigarh in an air ambulance after doctors said his condition was critical. The incident involving Sanaullah comes a day after the death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who was brutally attacked on 26th of last month by six fellow inmates in a Lahore prison. The Jammu and Kashmir govenment has placed Kot Balwal Jail Superintendent Rajni Sehgal and her subordinate staff under suspension for negligence of duty and ordered a high level inquiry into the incident. A fresh review of protection of prisoners in all the jails is being under taken today. External Affairs Minister Salmand Khursid said the attack on Pakistani prisoner in Jammu jail is unfortunate and extremely distressing.

It is unfortunate and extremely distressing, but I think what is important is we have to ensure that it doesn't happen here or there.

Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have suspended three senior prison officials over the fatal attack on Indian national Sarabjit Singh inside jail . The Home Secretary of Punjab province suspended them for alleged negligence that led to the brutal attack on Sarabjit within Kot Lakhpat Jail.

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In West Bengal, at least 20 passengers were injured when a private bus collided with a truck at Goaripara under Krishnaganj Police station in Nadia district today. According to police, the head-on collision occurred on Krishnagar-Majdia Road at about 7 AM when the bus was passing by another truck which was unloading sand by the road side. The injured were taken to Krishnaganj Hospital and most of them were released after first aid. However, four persons, including two women, were referred to Shaktinagar Hospital as their condition was serious.

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President Pranab Mukherjee today urged for ensuring equal opportunities and congenial working environment in the judicial delivery system. Inaugurating the national seminar on Welfare of Lawyers in New Delhi, Mr. Mukherjee said, there are fewer women judges and lawyers in the legal profession and a level playing field has to be provided to women. He said, lawyers who play a vital role in the justice delivery system are instrumental in upholding values of gender equality, dignity of women at work place and society. He said, they have to ensure that rights of women are protected at all times. He said, women lawyers have proven to be good if not better than their male counterparts.The President said, the recent brutal attacks and child rapes have shaken the nation's conscience.

We need to introspect at the erosion of values and our repeated failure to ensure safety and security of our women and children. We must ensure dignity and respect for women at all times. Legal fraternity special women lawyers must be in the vanguard of enhancing of enabling the national and nation rest its moral compass.

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The stage is set for the Assembly elections in Karnataka which is goes to polls tomorrow. The polling will start at 7 AM and end at 5 PM in 223 Assembly constituencies as voting in one Assembly segment has been postponed to May 28 following the death of a BJP candidate. The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of polls. Over one lakh 35 thousand security personnel are being deployed for the polls. Nine thousand nine hundred and fifty four hyper sensitive, 14,209 sensitive and 149 naxal prone polling booths will be provided extra protection. The Election Commission will also monitor polling through web-casting. Candidates are now resorting to door to door campaign to woo the voters after the end of campaigning at 5 PM yesterday. Our correspondent reports from Gulbarga.

in rural areas inspite of sever heat bad roads candidates with their supporters are going in villiages and contacting people. Meanwhile elaborate security arrangements have been made for free and fair polling. 1038 polling stations have been identified as hyper sensitive and 1557 as sensitive in Gulbarga division. BSF, CRPF and SSP will be deployed in sensitive areas tomorrow. Checkposts are also working jon borders of Gulbarga division.

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In Gujrat, by-elections to six constituencies, including four Assembly and two Lok Sabha will be held on 2nd June. The model code of conduct has come in to force in the districts of Porbandar and Banaskantha and four Assembly constituencies with immediate effect. This was announced by Chief Electoral Officer Anita Karwal in Gandhinagar. Our Ahmedabad correspondent reports that Election notification will be published on 8th May and nomination papers can be filed till 15th May. Nominations will be scrutinized on 16th May, which can withdrawn by 18th May.

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The Indian squad for next month's ICC Champions Trophy has been announed. Opener Gautam Gambhir and all-rounder Yuvraj Singh have been dropped from the 15-member squad, which was announced in Mumbai today. Dinesh Karthik returned to the Indian ODI squad after three years, while paceman Umesh Yadav has made a comeback after injury. Murali Vijay, Irfan Pathan and Vinay Kumar have also been recalled. Shikhar Dhawan has also found a place in the squad. The Champions Trophy which begins on June 6th and conclude on June 23rd will be played in England and Wales.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad will clash with Delhi Daredevils in today's only fixture of the IPL Twenty-20 cricket tournament. The match will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad at 8 PM.

In yesterday's result, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata