0815 HRS

30^th September, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tells Nawaz Sharif that cease-fire at LoC and bringing perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to book pre-conditions for improvement in ties.
• Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation suspends seven of its officials in connection with the dockyard building collapse. 
• In Pakistan, death toll in car bomb blast in Qissa Khawani marketin Peshawar, rises to 40. 
• India lifts Sultan of Johor Cup under-21 beating host Malysia 3-0 at Johor Bahru.

{}<><><>{}

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York yesterday for a little over an hour. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the state of the relationship between the two countries and discussed the steps that need to be taken to improve ties. Briefing the media after the meeting, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said, though both sides wished to see better Indo-Pak ties, it was made absolutely clear to Pakistan that the pre-condition for any further movement in their relationship is an improvement of the situation at the Line of Control and bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to book.

  

They decided to task the DGMOs to suggest effective means to restore the ceasefire and the way forward to ensure that that remains in force and in place. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh mentioned terrorism and the need for effective  action on bringing  the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to book. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that that was indeed Pakistan's intention and there would be further progress on that.

 Mr. Menon also said that long pending issues of Siachen and Sir Creek also surfaced at the meeting.  Both sides also discussed the need to see that there is an understanding on improving mutual trade and commerce at the earliest. There were also deliberations on the issues of the Most Favoured Nation status to India and a liberalized Visa mechanism from the Indian side. The Indian government informed that the Visa regime had already been liberalized in the last six months. More from Our Correspondent:

 

It is evident from this meeting  that there was a desire on both the sides  to have better relationship and this meeting itself was a new stage in improving understanding between  two neighbours. Though both the Prime Ministers extended invitations to each other to visit their respective countries ,  there was no decision  regarding  the next high-level meeting. The meeting held in the backdrop of  recent incidents of  frequent  ceasefire violations, killing of several Army personnel and Samba incident, was nevertheless  a step forward  in efforts to improve relationship  between the two nations. However, the onus is now on Pakistan Government to take  immediate measures  to check  border violations and terrorist activities  on Indian soil  to work for improved peace and tranquility in South Asian Region. With R.K Raina, this is Veena Jain, AIR News, New York.

{}<><><>{}

The Border Security Force, BSF has said that there was no breach of border fencing by militants involved in the twin terror strikes in Hira Nagar and Samba in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir recently in which 10 people, including an army officer, were killed. BSF Additional Director General R D Singh told reporters in Jammu that a probe is on. More from our correspondent:

   

After visiting the forward posts in Hira Nagar sector along the Indo-Pak international border, the ADG, BSF said that the internal inquiry ordered by the BSF would establish the route of the infiltration by  militants if it was made from the Hira Nagar sector. On September 26, three terrorists  had stormed  Hira Nagar police station in Kathua and an army camp in Samba killing ten people  including four army men, four police personnel and two civilians.Yogesh Sharma, AIR News, Jammu.

{}<><><>{}

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, BMC has suspended seven of its officials in connection with the dockyard building collapse on Friday. A BMC release said, they were suspended for negligence in their duties. It said, the BMC will conduct an administrative inquiry into the mishap. The Corporation has also decided to form a separate cell to ensure the safety of city buildings. The BMC also announced a re-survey of all the buildings following the mishap. A special forum of the corporation has also raised the compensation amount to 5 lakhs rupees to the families of the deceased.

{}<><><>{}

In Uttar Pradesh, the situation at Sardhana area in Meerut district is tense but under control. FIRs are being lodged against organizers of the Mahapanchayat, including the wife and brother of jailed BJP MLA Sangeet Som. A large number of security forces have been deployed in several villages in the area to maintain peace. More than 50 people have been arrested for allegedly violating prohibitory orders, damaging public property, instigating violence and clashing with security forces. Our correspondent reports that at least 20 people, including Rapid Action Force and police personnel were injured and about 70 government vehicles were damaged in the clashes.

 

Claiming the situation as under control an official spokesperson has said that action will also be taken against whom notices were issued after banning Mahapanchayat. The administration had issued 400 notices to people in 24 villages. With the yesterday`s violence in Meerut the opposition leaders have once again demanded imposition of President’s rule in the state for failure of Akhilesh Yadav government to control law and order. Sunil Shukla, AIR News, Allahabad

{}<><><>{}

In Assam, voting is underway for 26 seats of the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council. The polling, which began at 7 AM, will end at 3 PM. Official sources said a total of 116 candidates are in the fray in seven districts. 285 polling booths have been set up. Adequate security arrangement have been made to conduct free and fair polls. Counting will be held on the 10th of next month.

{}<><><>{}

The Special CBI court in Ranchi will pronounce judgement today in a case related to the fodder scam in which two former Chief Ministers of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra are accused along with 43 others. If convicted, Mr Yadav will face immediate disqualification as a Lok Sabha member. Our Ranchi correspondent reports that the case relates to illegal withdrawal of 37 crore rupees from the Chaibasa government treasury.

{}<><><>{}

The West Bengal government will refund money to those investors who were duped in the Saradha Chit Fund scam. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hand over cheque to thousands of cheated investors at a function in Kolkata today. The State government has decided to refund money to about one lakh investors before the Pooja festival. The West Bengal government had set up an inquiry commission under the Chairmanship of former Governor, Shyamal Sen to probe the scam and the commission has recommended refund of money to the investors.

{}<><><>{}

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, will hold discussions this morning with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala and other senior Congress leaders from the state on organizational matters and preparations for the coming Parliament elections. During discussions with Sonia Gandhi last night, leaders of coalition partners of the ruling United Democratic Front stressed the need for effective coordination between the government and the Congress party, which is heading the coalition government.                                                                                         

  {}<><><>{}                    

 

In Pakistan, at least 40 people, including nine members of one family, were killed and 80 others injured when a car bomb ripped through the historic Qissa Khawani market in Peshawar yesterday. Doctors said, six women and four children are among those killed in the blast. The Police said, the car was carrying 220 kg of explosives and the explosion damaged at least 50 shops and set fire to many vehicles. The blast occurred when the police official on duty asked the driver of the car to move the car. The bomb was triggered with a remote control.  The Pakistani Taliban are generally blamed for such attacks. However, it has denied its involvement in yesterday's blast.

{}<><><>{}

In Iraq, at least 46 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack at a funeral ceremony. The blast took place at a Shia mosque in Mussayab which caved in leaving 46 dead and 54 others injured. Security personnel said, there could be more victims still trapped under the debris. The funeral was for a man who was  killed a day earlier by militants. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. However security agencies said that the Islamic State of Iraq, an Al qaeda affiliate was behind the attack as in the past. In another incident, militants struck in the Kurdistan capital Erbil, killing six persons in a suicide attack.  Erbil has mostly been spared the extreme violence to the south and this is the first major attack there in six years. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks here though Islamist militants are the prime suspects.

{}<><><>{}

Fighting has erupted in the northern Malian town of Kidal where suspected Tuareg separatist rebels are said to have attacked government forces. Three days ago the militants said they were ending a ceasefire with Mali's newly elected President. Residents and an official said, the gunmen were rebels from a Tuareg group. Gunmen attacked soldiers guarding a bank in the town, who returned the fire. There was no information about casualties in the clash.
 

{}<><><>{}

Indian and Chinese officials yesterday held the fourth round of talks and discussed various issues like finalizing a key border security mechanism expected to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to Beijing next month. The two-day meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs is expected to discuss the proposed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, aimed at more comprehensively dealing with tensions related to patrolling by both sides along the Line of Actual Control.The talks came against the backdrop of several incursions by Chinese troops along the LAC.    

The mechanism headed by Foreign Ministry officials of both the countries was formed to address problems between the troops at the borders.

{}<><><>{}

In Sports News;

India beat Malysia 3-0 in the Sultan of Johor Cup under 21 hockey tournament in the final match held at Taman Daya Stadium in Malaysia yesterday. Amon Mirash Tirkey scored the first goal for India in the 22nd minute. In the second half, Yousuf Affan netted the second goal in the 54th minute. The third goal was scored by Indian skipper Manpreet Singh when six minutes of the game were left.

{}<><><>{}

The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly Live Phone-in programme “PUBLIC SPEAK” will bring you a discussion tonight on “Welfare of Older Persons". This can be heard on the FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies from 9.30 to 10.05 p.m.  Listeners can ask questions to the experts in our Studio on telephone number: 011-2331-4444. 

This programme  is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

{}<><><>{}

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York is prominently noticed on the front pages of all the papers. "PM to Sharif: Talks only if LOC is quiet" writes the Asian Age. Highlighting the plan to move forward on the issue the Times of Indiaobserves, "Indian, Pak commanders to meet to defuse LOC tension".

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally in Delhi gets wide attention in the press. In the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi publicly criticizing the government ordinance on convicted MPs and MLAs, the Tribune writes "Modi hits out at Congress for 'undermining' PM". The Indian Express notices the controversy created by Mr Modi's assertion that the Pakistani Prime Minister had called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a 'dehati aurat' or 'rustic woman' . Highlighting the fact that such a remark was never made, the Indian Express reports "Sharif remark : Modi fans a row that never was".

BJP President Rajnath Singh replacing Narendra Modi as the party's campaign panel chief is noticed by all the papers.

In a front page exclusive, the Hindustan Times reports that IndianMujahideen operative Yasin Bhatkal has told investigators that Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI gave 24 crore rupees to the Indian Mujahideen in the last four years to carry out terror attacks in India.

In a special front page story, the Times of India writes that a controversial amendment meant to keep six national parties out of the purview of the Right to Information Act has now been extended to cover some 1444 registered political parties.

The re-election of N Srinivasan as the chief of the cricket control board, the BCCI, is widely reported. "Srini elected unopposed : not to take charge until further SC orders", observes the Statesman.

And finally, have you ever wondered if robots could have brains? Well that may be a reality soon. The Times of India and the Hindustan Times report that Dr Jagannathan Sarangapani, a scientist of Indian origin in the US, has developed a new feedback system that may lead robots to think for themselves!