0815 HRS

07th  August, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Government says, it will weigh all options in the wake of killing of Indian soldiers along LoC, without creating a situation detrimental to the country's peace and security; Army Chief to visit Poonch today to review the security situation.
• Supreme Court seeks Centre's response on fixing of ceiling price of essential medicines at market rates, under National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy.
• CBI files chargesheet against former UP Principal Secretary Pradeep Shukla and others in NRHM scam.
• Iran's new President says, he is ready to resolve the dispute over its nuclear programme, with the West.
• Saina Nehwal and 5 other Indian shuttlers to play in the second round of the World Championships in China today.

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India has said that it will weigh all options in the wake of killing of Indian soldiers along LoC, without creating a situation detrimental to the country's peace and security. At a function in New Delhi yesterday, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that the government is aware of its responsibility, and will do the right thing in the interest of the country.

"Our Defence Minister has ordered Army to get more information on the incident, what was the conspiracy and how this attack happened. After reviewing the whole situation very carefully, we will take action."

Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh will visit Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir today, to review the security situation. The Army Chief is scheduled to visit the Division headquarters in Rajouri and the 93 Brigade headquarters to take stock of the security situation. Army officials said that Gen. Singh is also expected to meet the Commanding Officer and troops of the units, whose personnel were killed in Pakistan's Border Area Team action.

Officials said that the Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia will also speak to his Pakistani counterpart Maj. Gen. Asfaque Nadeem.

The issue rocked both Houses of Parliament yesterday, as members cutting across party lines demanded strong action against Pakistan. Defence Minister AK Antony informed the Lok Sabha that a group of 20 armed men, along with Pakistani troops, ambushed a patrol party early yesterday, killing five soldiers. Mr Antony told the Rajya Sabha that India has launched a strong protest with Islamabad and assured the members that the Indian Army is fully geared to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of the LoC.

"The question of national security comes, nation comes, this House is one to rise as a nation. India will rise together as one, that is more than any thing, that is a strongest answer to our enemy, according to me."

New Delhi has summoned Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to register its strong protest against the killings.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha asked the government not to hold talks with Pakistan, as Islamabad has failed to abide by its assurances.

"After the series of incidents, which have taken place, after 80 per cent increase in the violations along the LoC, after repeated terrorist attacks, what is there to talk about and can't we just tell the Pakistanis that you have not abided by the agreements that you have signed, you have not kept the assurances that you have given in writing and therefore, there will be no talks until you fulfill your promise."

CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury asked the government what steps it has taken so far, on increasing number of ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi urged the government to take appropriate measures in view of the incident. Mrs. Gandhi said, India can not be cowed down by such blatant acts of deceit. She extended heart felt condolences to the bereaved families of the martyred soldiers.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the soldiers will be sent to their native places today. A wreath laying ceremony was organised at Army Hospital in Poonch last evening, where the soldiers and officers paid tributes to the five jawans.

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Seven Union Ministers from Andhra Pradesh met the Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi last evening to discuss the Telangana issue. The ministers include MM Pallam Raju, KS Rao, K Chiranjeevi, JD Seelam, Panabaka Lakshmi and D Purandheswari. Party sources said that the ministers have expressed concern over the prevailing situation in Andhra and Rayalseema regions over the creation of a separate Telangana state.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Chiranjeevi said that Mrs. Gandhi has assured them that the grievances of the people will be taken care of.

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The Assam government will hold talks in Guwahati today, with three organisations demanding a separate state. This was disclosed by Bharat Narah, Press Advisor to the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Narah said, Mr Gogoi has invited the Biswajit faction of All Koch-Rajbanshi Students Union, All Bodo Students Union and the Bodo National Conference for talks. While Biswajit faction of All Koch-Rajbanshi Students Union is demanding a separate Kamatapur state, the All Bodo Students Union and the Bodo National Conference are agitating for a separate state of Bodoland.

Meanwhile, the situation in Karbi Anglong district has improved, and curfew has been relaxed in Diphu for 12 hours from 6 this morning.

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The West Bengal Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee reviewed the law and order situation at a high-level meeting in Darjeeling yesterday, in the wake of the indefinite bandh called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, GJM. Banerjee said he will submit a report to the state government in this regard. GJM has called the bandh to press for its demand of a separate state of Gorkhaland. The indefinite bandh has entered the fifth day today.

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The Supreme Court has sought Centre's response on a PIL, challenging the fixing of ceiling price of essential medicines on the basis of market rates, under the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Policy. A bench, comprising justices GS Singhvi and V Gopala Gowda, agreed to examine the validity of the new policy. The PIL alleged that the new policy will result in increase of prices of essential and non-essential drugs. It said, under the new policy, the margin of profit for drug manufacturer and dealer has become 10-1,300 per cent. The petitioner sought apex court's direction to the Centre to continue with cost based ceiling prices of all essential drugs.

The PIL also contended that the National List of Essential Drugs consists of only 348 drugs and has left out many essential medicines from price control. The petitioner sought direction to the Centre to bring the medicines, especially used in HIV AIDS, cancer, mental health, chronic non-communicable diseases like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, under the price control mechanism.

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In Uttar Pradesh, the CBI has filed one more chargesheet in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of the National Rural Health Mission, NRHM. The agency, yesterday, named former Principal Secretary (Health) Pradeep Shukla, and former Family Welfare Director General SP Ram in the chargesheet. An official of a private firm has also been named. Here is more from our correspondent:

"The CBI is investigating the over 5000 crore rupees scam and the trial in some of the cases is being held on a day-to-day basis in the special CBI court in Ghaziabad. Besides Pradeep Shukla, Dr SP Ram, former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and many others are the key accused in the NRHM scam. The agency had, earlier, filed a chargesheet against Shukla for his alleged involvement in the irregularities, while upgrading 89 district hospitals in the state, under NRHM scheme. Merajuddin, AIR News, Lucknow."

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Flood continued to play havoc in the eastern and the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. There was a rise in the water levels in all major rivers, following widespread rain. The state experienced very heavy rainfall during the past 24 hours. Our Lucknow correspondent reports that the worst hit districts include Ghazipur and Ballia, where the Ganga and Ghaghra rivers have inundated more than 250 villages. The death toll due to flood and rain in the state, this season, has risen to 178.

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In Himachal Pradesh, ten passengers were killed and 36 injured, some of them seriously, when a state roadways bus fell into a gorge in Chopal subdivision of Shimla district last evening. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals. The bus was on its way from Shimla to Pahlog, when the mishap took place. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident and an ex-gratia of 1 lakh rupees has been announced to the next of the kin of those killed.

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The new Iranian President Hassan Rohani has said that he is ready to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, with the West. Rohani was addressing his first news conference in Tehran yesterday. Rohani, however, asserted that Iran's rights must be preserved and a solution could be reached solely through talks, not threats. The Iranian leader said his government will be accountable and act transparently. The Iranian leader said, he will keep his promise to make Iranians aware of both his successes and failures. He added that without the people's support, the government will have no chance of meeting its long-term goals.

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A series of bomb attacks in and around the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has left at least 41 people dead and more than 100 wounded. Officials say, a village northwest of Baghdad was the worst hit. Six car bomb blasts targeted markets and shopping streets in different parts of Baghdad itself.

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Saina Nehwal and 5 other Indian shuttlers will play their second round matches of the World Badminton Championships in Guangzhou, China today. In the Women's Singles, world number three Saina will take on the unseeded Russian Olga Golovanova, while PV Sindhu, who is making a debut at the World Championships, will meet lower seed Kaori Imabeppu of Japan. Both Saina and Sindhu had a bye in the first round.

In the Men's Singles, P. Kashyap will clash with Petr Koukal of the Czech Republic, while Ajay Jayaram will play Spaniard Pablo Abian.

The duo of Tarun Kona and Arun Vishnu will be seen in action in the Men's Doubles category.

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Most newspapers, this morning, have front page photographs of the homage being paid to the 5 Indian soldiers, who were killed in a Pak ambush, while patrolling on the Line-of-Control. In a related story, the Times of India writes that despite the attack, Manmohan Singh, Sharif talks on track, both sides are finalizing dates.

The other major story covered by all newspapers is the appointment of Raghuram Rajan as the Reserve bank Of India Governor.

In financial news, the Rupee hitting a new low, makes front page headline in most news papers. 'Sensex tumbles, as the rupee rumbles', is the Hindustan Times headline. 'Weak rupee makes stocks lose strength', writes the Business Standard. 'India slips out of the trillion dollar club', says the Asian Age, adding that India has slipped out of the elite global league of stock markets with a trillion dollar valuation, with the rupee touching an all-time low of 61.80 to the US dollar.

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos will buy the Washington post newspaper for 250 million dollars, after 80 years of ownership by the Graham family, writes the Business Standard, Hindustan Times, Hindu and most other papers this morning.

The Indian Express writes that the BJP has reiterated its stand that it has not made any deal with the UPA government, on the Insurance Bill.

The Times of India and Hindu report that the UP government has arrested a dalit writer in Rampur for a facebook post, criticizing the administration for suspending the young IAS officer, Durga Shakti Nagpal.

And finally, the American dream of a fifteen year old Kashmiri girl, who wanted to study in the United States, has finally come true, with the authorities giving her a passport