0815 HRS

05th  August, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Monsoon Session of Parliament begins today; Food Security Ordinance among several other important bills to be taken up for discussion and passage.
• Uttar Pradesh government serves chargesheet to suspended SDM Durga Shakti Nagpal; sends report to the Centre.
• Assam Chief Minister offers talks with protesters demanding a separate state, if they shun violence.
• India and Iran pledge to deepen strategic and economic ties as new President Hassan Rouhani assumes office.
• A number of US embassies to remain closed till Saturday in north Africa and West Asia due to terror threat.
• India defeat England 3-2 to win its first ever Bronze Medal in the Junior Women Hockey World Cup.

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The Monsoon Session of Parliament begins today. The Food Security Ordinance is among the several important bills to be taken up for discussion and passage in this session. The session will have 16 sittings. Land Acquisition, the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, Direct Taxes Code Bill 2010 and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill 2011 are among the 23 bills that have been listed for consideration and passing by the Lok Sabha. The Securities and Exchange Board of India Amendment Bill, 2013 to replace an ordinance, will also be taken up.

The Rajya Sabha will take up for consideration and passing the Companies Bill 2012, the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011 and the "Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011". These bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha. A total of 14 bills are listed for introduction in the current session.

The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has hoped that the session will be constructive and productive. He said a lot of legislative agenda is pending and that all sections have assured their cooperation for smooth functioning of Parliament. Dr Singh said the government is willing to discuss any issue which may agitate the opposition.

Of all the ordinances, the most important is food security ordinance and I sincerely hope that Parliament in its wisdom will find it productive, find it justified to convert the ordinance into a bill in an act of Parliament.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said that a broad consensus has been arrived at among political parties on the passage of important legislations.

We will be taking up important issues as soon as we are ready to take them up, like the food security bill, the land acquisition bill; these bills are on the cards. We will have a business advisory committee meeting on the first day. We will be willing to extend the house beyond the 30th so that we can conclude any unfinished business which is there.

Briefing reporters after the National Democratic Alliance floor meeting in New Delhi yesterday, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the alliance will fully cooperate in the smooth functioning of Parliament. At the same time it will also raise the issues related to the common man.

We will raise issues like Uttarakhand flood tragedy, depreciation of rupee, current economic situation, rift between CBI and IB and the Chinese incursions.

Our Correspondent has filed this report:

The brief monsoon session is beginning in the backdrop of the announcement to create a separate state of Telangana and the death of children in the mid-day meal tragedy in Bihar. The UPA government will seek Parliamentary approval on several key decisions like raising the FDI cap in telecom and defence sectors and relaxing the sourcing and investment norms for multi-brand retail. Although the main opposition BJP has agreed to support routine and necessary financial business, it also indicated that it will continue to oppose further opening of insurance and pension sectors to FDI. Chinese incursions, the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lanka are among several issues which are likely to be taken up in the session. With V Mohan Rao, Zakir Malik, AIR News, Delhi."

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The Uttar Pradesh government has served a charge sheet to suspended Sub Divisional Magistrate of Greater Noida, Durga Shakti Nagpal last evening. The 2009 batch IAS officer was handed over a 10-page charge sheet and was asked to reply within 15 days. Our Correspondent has filed this report:

The Samajwadi Party government has hardened its stand and served a charge sheet on the IAS officer who took on the mining mafia in Gautam Buddha Nagar district. The charge sheet blames Nagpal of not following laid down procedure in demolishing the wall of a mosque at Kadalpur village in the district. She has also been charged for showing immature administrative approach towards the issue. She has been given 15 days to reply the charge sheet. The Union department of personnel and training has also sought a detailed report on Nagpal's suspension and in its response the state government has send a copy of the charge sheet and suspension order. Sunil Shukla, AIR News Allahabad.

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Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has offered to hold talks with protesters demanding a separate state if they shun violence. Mr Gogoi said that violence will not solve any problem. The Chief Minister reiterated that government will not tolerate violent protests in any manner.

Our correspondent reports that curfew has been relaxed for six hours from 8 am at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district. However, curfew continues in the Dongkamokam area.

The Chief Minister said that the doors for negotiations are always open for those who abjure violence. Asom Gana Parishad has also appealed all to shun violence. Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner said that no fresh incident of violence has been reported as of now.But a strict vigil is being maintained by the security forces. On the other hand, proper security arrangement has been put in place in the wake of All Bodoland Students Union’s 60 hours Assam bandh from this morning in demand for separate Bodoland state. Vehicles are off the road at some places. With Manas Pratim from Guwahati, this is Lalima Aneja Dang for AIR News.

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In West Bengal, the indefinite bandh called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, GJM entered its third day today. The bandh has badly affected daily-wage labourers, tea and cinchona traders, transporters, hoteliers and the tourism industry. District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan told AIR that the security forces has stepped up vigil in sensitive areas.

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In Andhra Pradesh, protests continue in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions against the proposed bifurcation of the state. Educational institutions remain closed on the 6th day today while road transport services remained affected at several places in Seemandhra regions.

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India and Iran have pledged to further deepen strategic and economic engagements between the two countries. In a one to one meeting, Vice President Hamid Ansari had with the new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani late last night, the two sides agreed to share the strategic space between the two near neighbours. It has also been agreed upon to enhance cooperation in security matters and shipping. In a major boost to engagements in energy and economic activities, a secretary level Indian delegation will soon visit Iran for last stage completion of the Chahabar port.

Iranian President Rouhani appreciated Vice president Hamid Ansari’s visit for the swearing in ceremony held at the Majilis in the afternoon. Mr. Ansari returned to New Delhi early this morning.

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The United States says it will keep a number of embassies in north Africa and the Middle East closed till Saturday due to a possible terror threat. 21 US embassies and consulates remained closed yesterday. The State Department in Washington said the extended closures are precautionary measures and not a reaction to a new threat. US diplomatic missions in Algiers, Kabul and Baghdad are among those which will reopen today. But diplomatic posts in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo, Riyadh, Dhahran, Jeddah, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, Sanaa and Tripoli will remain closed until Saturday.

Several European countries, including the UK, have temporarily shut missions in Yemen. The UK Foreign Office said its embassy in Sanaa will remain closed until tomorrow.

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Exercising its suo motu powers, the Madras High Court bench yesterday directed a bank to provide an educational loan to a student within 10 days and slapped a fine of 10,000 rupees on it for earlier rejecting her loan application and also for not communicating it to her. Justice N Kirubakaran, allowing the petition noted that the February 26 rejection order had not been communicated to the petitioner and directed that the fine amount be given to Chief Justice Relief Fund.

Quashing the bank order, the Judge said that the petitioner had secured overall 75 per cent marks and by no stretch of imagination, could she be termed as non-meritorious and fixing of 85 per cent is irrational, unreasonable, unrealistic, arbitrary and capricious.

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The flood situation continued to remain grim in Uttar Pradesh. Over six lakh people are reeling under the flood in the state. Most of the rivers including the Ganga, Sharda, Ghaghra, Yamuna and Gomti are in spate. The Ganga is rising dangerously at Phaphamau of Allahabad and is flowing 56 centimetres above the danger level. Our correspondent reports that over 300 villages of eastern Uttar Pradesh have come in the grip of the flood.

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In Tamil Nadu flood alerts have been issued in eleven districts including Salem, Erode, Namakkal Tiruchirapalli, and the delta districts as excess water is being released from the Mettur Dam. The dam reached its full reservoir level of 120 feet last night.

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The Assam government has achieved success in implementing the Centre’s ambitious Janani Surakasha Yojna, JSY under National Rural Health Mission. Our correspondent reports that 4 lakh 20 thousand mothers got financial benefit in the last financial year, almost 14 thousand more in comparison to 2011-2012 under the JSY.

With the proper implementation of Janani Suraksha Yojana, Assam has also recorded an increase in institutional delivery. Over 4 lakh 98 thousand institutional deliveries have been conducted in the last financial year which proves that rural people are availing the benefits of health care facilities. The success of the scheme is being determined by the success in institutional delivery. Among 27 districts of the state, Nagaon has recorded highest number of JSY beneficiaries at 38 thousand while Cachar stood second with 27 thousand beneficiaries. Manas Pratim Sarma, AIR News, Guwahati.

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Indian girls created history by winning the country's first ever bronze medal in the Junior Women Hockey World Cup. They beat England 3-2 in the penalty shoot-out at Monchengladbach in Germany yesterday.

Hockey India has announced a cash prize of one lakh rupees for each member of India's junior women hockey team. The support staffs will be given 50,000 rupees each. India's chief coach Neil Hawgood will also receive a cash reward of one lakh rupees.

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Reporting on the Monsoon Session of Parliament, beginning, today the Asian Age writes, "With a heavy agenda that includes the politically significant ordinance on Food Security lined up for the coming Monsoon Session the indications are that unlike in the recent past the short sitting will be more businesslike and smooth.

The 'Durga effect' looms large over Parliament at the start of the Monsoon Session, writes the Mail Today. The paper adds, the row over the summary suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal by the UP Govt. on apparently flimsy grounds has snow balled into a crisis of sorts, with the Samajwadi Party now threatening not to support the Govt's Food Bill.

"Jalalabad attack may cast shadow on Indo-Pak ties" headlines the Tribune. The paper writes that New Delhi is yet to respond to Pakistan's proposal for talks in August and September for the third round of dialogue with Pak, stalled since January this year.

"Delhi leads world in real estate price rise", headlines the Times of India. According to study done by Global Property Guide, India has witnessed the sharpest appreciation in Real Estate prices in the last couple of years, with Delhi's rise at roughly 60% against cities in 43 other countries.