1400 HRS

06-09-2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Parliament faces disruptions on different issues including Chinese incursion.

•   Defence Minister says government will continue to strengthen defence capabilities in border areas.

•   India condemns alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria; Says countries should wait for UN Inspection report before taking action against the strife torn country.

•   Sensex gains over 230 points in afternoon trade; Rupee strengthens 20 paise to 65 rupees 81 paise against dollar.

• World Number Three Andy Murray crashes out of US Open Tennis tournament.

Proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament were disrupted on different issues including the Chinese incursion. As soon as the Rajya Sabha met for the day, Trinamool Congress member Derek O'brien raised the issue of meetings held between Centre and Gorkha Mukti Morcha without informing state government. He accused the Centre of divide and rule policy in Darjeeling. Mr. O'brien demanded a statement from the Home Minister. BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu raised the Chinese incursion and sought a statement from the Defence Minister. The Lok Sabha witnessed noisy scenes on the same issues. Members of Trinamool Congress trooped into the well and raised slogans against the Centre's role in Darjeeling. Samajwadi Party members demanded Defence Minister's statement on the issue of Chinese excursion at the Line of Actual Control.

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The Government is keeping a constant watch on all developments relating to the country's security and is taking all necessary measures to safeguard it. In a statement in the Lok Sabha today, Defence Minister A K Antony assured the House that the Government will continue to strengthen defence capabilities in border areas to protect national interest.

I would like to assure the House that there is no question of India ceding to China any part of Indian territory. Government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it.

Quoting the recent report by the National Security Advisory Board Chairman, Shyam Saran, the Defence Minister said, there is no occupation of Indian territory by China or denial of access by it to India to any part of the Indian territory. Mr Antony said that Mr Saran, who visited Ladakh early last month, submitted a report on the infrastructure in the region on Monday. Not satisfied with the statement, Samajwadi Party members trooped into the well, forcing the adjournment of the House for lunch.

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The BJP has demanded that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh should hold talks on the incursion by China with his Chinese counterpart during the ongoing G-20 Summit at St. Petersburg. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said, what is happening on the Actual Line of Control, is very disturbing and as Indian troops are being prevented by the Chinese army to patrol the area inside Indian territory. Mr. Javdekar said, he will write to Standing Committee on Defence to discuss this issue along with other pressing defence issues.

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Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has said that Government is considering to include Bhojpuri and Rajasthani languages in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. Mr Ramesh told this to the Lok Sabha during zero hour. The matter was raised by Prabhunath Singh of RJD and Sharad Yadav of JDU. Mr Yadav said that the number of Bhojpuri speaking people is over 20 crore across the world and the language deserves to be included in the 8th schedule.

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The Rajya Sabha has taken up discussion on the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2013 for consideration and passing. Finance Minister P Chidambaram piloted the Bill. He said, the Bill provides for the establishment of an Authority to promote old age income security by establishing, developing and regulating pension funds to protect the interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds. The Bill seeks to give statutory powers to the Pension Fund Regulatory Authority. Under the scheme, every subscriber will have an individual pension account, which will be portable across job changes.

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In the Rajya Sabha, members expressed their concern over the killing of Indian writer Sushmita Banerjee by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Trinamool Congress member Kunal Ghosh raised the issue condemning the brutal killing. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said that entire House is one in the condemnation of the Taliban’s act.

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External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said, the death of author Sushmita Banerjee, is a combined loss for both India and Afghanistan. Mr Khurshid also termed the incident as very distressing. He was speaking to reporters outside Parliament.

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The Rajya Sabha will sit tomorrow for transacting government legislative business. This was announced by Deputy Chairman Prof. P J Kurien in the House today.

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In Gujarat, a partial bandh is being observed today on a call given by the State Congress against what it called, widespread corruption and deteriorating law and order situation. The Bandh call has been given after the resignation letter of suspended IPS officer DG Vanzara and the release of a sting operation CD on the Tulsiram Prajapati fake encounter case. We have more from our correspondent;

Partial bandh has been observed in Gujarat on a call given by Congress state unit. Schools and colleges in Ahmedabad remained closed while markets are open. Minor incidents like stone pelting on public transport buses have also been reported. Congress alleged that State Government is using force to foil the bandh call. Meanwhile, police has detained hundreds of congress workers including some senior party leaders. Over 60 thousand police and other security personal have been deployed across the state to maintain law and order situation. Yogesh Pandya/AIR News/Ahmedabad

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President Pranab Mukherjee today conferred this year's Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony to renowned western classical music maestro Zubin Mehta at a glittering function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, President Pranab Mukherjee said, Zubin Mehta, a distinguished son of India has been honoured for his decade-long efforts to convert music into an instrument of peace and harmony.

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India has condemned the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria and anywhere else in the world. Talking to media persons at St. Petersburg in Russia, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that during the dinner hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for G 20 leaders last night, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan said that India supports the view of ascertaining the facts on what happened in Syria before taking any action against it. He said, the countries should wait for the UN Inspection report and in case the report verifies the use of chemical weapon, action should be taken under the auspices of the United Nations only. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also endorsed India’s view by noting that the ongoing conflict in Syria must be settled diplomatically and weapons must not be supplied to any conflict side. Our Correspondent who is covering the Summit has filed this report

Though the G 20 meeting is overshadowed by the crisis in Syria, and there are deep divisions between nations over possible American military action, the heads of state are still expected to collectively endorse an economic policy statement that will encourage the continuing fiscal stimulus, or government spending, to help the recovery. The meeting is also likely to encourage governments to carefully coordinate tapering off monetary stimulus programmes. The group of 20 countries are also expected to sign on to a new set of tax rules for multinational corporations today. They may agree to enact new tax laws that would limit the ability of multinational corporations to legally avoid paying taxes by operating subsidiaries in certain countries. The effort at tax reform would squeeze more money from multinational corporations and shift a portion of the global tax burden from individuals and small businesses to large corporations. WITH MANIKANT/THIS IS PUSHPINDER KAUR FOR AIR NEWS, FROM ST. PETERSBURG.

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In an unexpected meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit, the Chinese and Japanese leaders shook hands and spoke to each other. China's Xi Jinping and Japan's Shinzo Abe have not met since the Chinese leader took power in March 2013 and the the Japanese leader in December 2012. Ties between the two sides have been severely strained by a territorial dispute. Both sides claim islands in the East China Sea.

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All the four candidates for tomorrow's Presidential elections in Maldives, are making their last bid effort to woo the people. While some parties will bring out rallies in the late afternoon in Male, others are organizing smaller meetings with groups of supporters to explain their poll manifestos. We bring you a report:

Abdulla Yamin’s PPM had released its party manifesto last week, just four days before the elections. It promises reforms in administration and rapid infrastructure development. Earlier Nasheed’s MDP declared its intention for developing the inhabited islands by promoting Guest House tourism, which it believes will generate jobs for the people living on the smaller islands. None of the parties have focused too much on the contentious issues of religion or foreign policy during their campaigning. The campaigning, will come to a close this evening. ABHISHEK DAYAL/AIR NEWS/COLOMBO.

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THE NEWS JUST IN,

The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 3 p.m.

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The UAE Central Bank has issued an advisory to the banks and money exchanges in the country to stick to the limits prescribed by the Indian laws regarding the Indian currency to be carried by those travelling to India. It has also warned that in case of non-compliance, penalties including prosecution, confiscation of the money and imprisonment will be enforced. More from our West Asia Correspondent:

As per the notification issued under the Customs and Excise act only those people who are residents of India can bring back Indian currency, up to the ceiling of Rs7,500 when returning to India. In case of foreigners, and even those Indian nationals who are not residents of India/ Non-Resident Indians NRIs, it is prohibited under Indian law to either take any amount of Indian currency from India or to bring it into India. The move comes close on the heels of counterfeit rupee being seized in UAE and also in Oman. Atul K Tiwary, AIR News.

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The flood situation in Bihar continues to be grim, as all major rivers including the Ganga are flowing above danger marks at many places. The Death toll due to flood has risen to 176 in the state so far. Our Correspondent reports that the government has provided compensation to the kin of flood victims while the affected people have been shifted to safer places.

20 districts of state have been affected with flood of which the river Ganga has wreaked havoc in ten districts of capital Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar, Saran, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Vaishali, Begusarai and Munger. Other major rivers like Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Ghagra, Punpun and Kosi are also flowing near danger level. Necessary food items and medicines are being given among flood affected people. Diwakar Kumar, AIR News,Patna.

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In Assam, flash floods have in undated several villages. Jorhat's Deputy Commissioner said that at least 20 villages are reeling under flood water at Majuli Island. Some other villages have also been affected at Teok. Ferry services between Jorhat and Majuli have been suspended today and the administration is monitoring the situation. Low lying areas of Kaziranga National Park have also been inundated.

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In Madhya Pradesh, 27 agriculture mini-markets are being constructed in six districts of Bundelkhand region under the Centre sponsored Bundelkhand package. Our Correspondent reports that farmers will get modern farming facilities under a single roof in these markets.

These agricultural mini markets are being constructed in Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh. Datia, Damoh and Panna districts. Ninety six crore rupees will be spent and each mini-market will cost about three crore fifty lakh rupees. Each agriculture mini-market will have 3000 Metric Ton capacity godown, auction platform, agri-clinic, farmers training room, soil testing centre, ATM, canteen and a restroom. The construction work is likely to complete by the end of next month. Shariq Noor/AIR News/Bhopal.

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rallied further in afternoon trade, to stand 238 points, or 1.3 percent in positive territory, at 19,218 a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had climbed 126 points, or 0.7 percent, to regain the 19,000-mark, at 19,106, on sustained buying by funds and retail investors, amid a further recovery in the rupee. The Sensex had advanced almost 750 points in the past two trading sessions.

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The rupee strengthened further by 20 paise to 65 rupees 81 paise against the dollar in early trade today, largely supported by recent RBI measures. The domestic currency had gained 106 paise to close at 66 rupees 01 paise yesterday against the dollar after steps taken by new RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to attract US currency inflows.

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Britain's World Number Three, Andy Murray has made a shocking quarterfinal exit from the US Open Tennis tournament, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the season. In the Men's Singles quarterfinals at New York late last night, this year's Wimbledon champion, Murray was stunned by the ninth seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, in straight sets, 4-6, 3-6, 2-6. In yesterday's other quarterfinal, Serbia's World Number One Novak Djokovic cruised into the semis, beating Russian Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.