0815 HRS

27^th October, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• New Delhi asks Islamabad to present enough proof in Mumbai terror attack as 99 per cent of evidence lies in Pakistan.

• Rain and flood continue to disturb normal life in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

• Election Commission issues notice to Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, P Balram Naik for violation of Model Code of Conduct.

• India and Peru celebrate 50th year of establishment of diplomatic ties.

• India bag 37 medals including 9 gold at the Tehran Air Gun Shooting Championship.

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New Delhi has asserted that it is incumbent on Islamabad to present the evidence in the 26/11 terror attacks case as the entire planning of the dastardly Mumbai terrorist attack was hatched there. Reacting to the Pakistan Foreign Office statement that it requires more evidence in the Mumbai attacks case, the Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry, Syed Akbaruddin  said,  the training of the terrorists who launched that attack was undertaken in Pakistan. He said  99 percent of  the evidence lies in Pakistan.

"The entire planning of the dastardly Mumbai terrorist attack was undertaken in Pakistan. The funding for those people who undertook the attack, was in Pakistan and the training was undertaken in Pakistan.  It, therefore, follows that 99 per cent of the evidence in this case, exists in Pakistan. It is incumbent on the authorities in Pakistan to gather the evidence and present  before the court in Pakistan, so that justice is done."

The Spokesperson said India has fully cooperated with the Judicial Commission which visited India in September end. Meanwhile, Pakistan said the trial in the Mumbai attacks case would be carried forward based on the information brought by the  judicial commission that  visited India recently. 

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Rain and flood continue to disturb normal life in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. In Andhra Pradesh, there is no respite from incessant rain lashing several parts of the state for the past five days under the influence of low pressure and the north east Monsoon. The situation is still grim as very heavy rain created havoc in Nalgonda district yesterday as it received over 30 centimetres rainfall during the past 24 hours. The death toll went up to 34 due to rain related incidents in the state. Rivers and rivulets are flowing to their brim due to heavy inflows due to which several more villages are facing a threat of flood. Our correspondent reports that the authorities are evacuating people from low lying areas especially those who are closer to the river banks.

"Rain havoc hit more than two thirds of the state as sixteen out of total 23 districts in the state affected due to heavy rains and over four thousand villages marooned. About 79 thousand people from low laying areas are taking shelter at 207 relief camps at different places. Official reports say that over 15 thousand houses damaged while more than thousand  irrigation tanks breached and 200 drinking water supply schemes were damaged. Farmers suffered unimaginable losses as crops like paddy, cotton, soybean and others were inundated in 6 lakh 50 thousand hectares. Rail and road transport remained disrupted at many places. Lakshmi, AIR News, Hyderabad."

In Odisha, the low pressure induced rain caused fresh flood in Budhabalanga river in Mayubhanj district.

"The rain that has lashed about 10 districts of Odisha thrown the lives of people of over four thousand six hundred villages out of gear. The government has been able to evacuate about 2 lakh 30 thousand people marooned in flood waters in different areas of the state like Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Khordha. The post-phailin second spell of flood has not only literally played spoilsport with the people of Odisha when the 5th ODI between India and Australia in Cuttack was called off  yesterday, but metaphorically as well it has caused heavy casualties in the shape of loss of human and cattle lives, extensive damage of standing crops and collapse of thousands of huts, homes and houses across the state. Girish Chandra Dash, AIR news, Cuttack."

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The Election Commission has issued notice to Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, P Balram Naik for violation of the Model Code of Conduct. He had announced a grant of 10-20 crore rupees for the construction of a hostel for OBC students at a function in Bhopal on the 16th of this month. The Returning Officer of Bhopal had ordered an inquiry into the matter and sent the report to the Commission. Mr. Naik has been asked to file his reply by the 28th of this month.

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The Election Commission has identified over 10,745 polling stations as critical in Rajasthan, while 44 constituencies have been identified as expenditure sensitive. Quick Response Teams will be deployed there during the State Assembly polls. Announcing this after a review of poll preparedness in Jaipur, Chief Election Commissioner, VS Sampat said, no political party will be allowed to use any religious platform for political activities and candidates will have to submit information about their expenditure on the social media as well. Mr. Sampat said, all possible measures will be taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in the State.

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The Congress party says anyone indulging in spreading of communalism is only helping anti-Indian elements across the borders.  Party General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi took exception to the reference made by Gujarat chief Minister Narendra Modi about Rahul Gandhi.

"What Mr. Rahul Gandhi has said, means if anyone from majority community creates bad blood, spreads communalism and doubts every member of minority, is only serving the interests of anti-India forces from across the border."

On the other hand BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar urged Mr. Dwivedi to explain whether it is correct that Rahul Gandhi was informed by an Intelligence Bureau officer about Pakistani agency ISI approaching some victims of the Muzaffarnagar violence.

"BJP will like to ask the Home Minister whether the inputs given to Rahul Gandhi by some IB Officers, whether that input has been given to Home Minister or not. And if yes, then what steps he has taken."

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India and Peru are jointly celebrating the 50th year of establishment of diplomatic ties. Between the two countries Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari will attend a mini India cultural festival at Lima today. He arrived in Lima early this morning on a three-day visit to Peru. Our correspondent, accompanying the Vice President reports that Indian music and classical dance performances at the mini India cultural festival would be a truly novel entertaining experience for the Peruvians.

"As diplomacy, economic engagements and cultural exchanges from India reach out to Latin America, its a win win situation for all. Indian expertise in Telecom, Information Technology and Pharmaceuticals seeks inroads into mineral rich Peru  to offer better services.  Vice President Hamid Ansari will hold high level talks with Peruvian leadership including President Ollanta Humala Tasso and also interact with Members of Peruvian Parliament.  Mr. Ansari’s visit to Peru will further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in diverse areas including, bio-medicine, sports, and also energy exploration." Madan kumar reporting for AIR News from Lima

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina telephoned her arch rival Khaleda Zia late last night and urged her to call off today's hartal and come for talks. Our correspondent reports that the Opposition leader Begum Khalida Zia, however, declined the invitation saying that talks can be held after the hartal.

"Capping a day of intense speculation the two leading ladies of Bangladesh politics will talk to each each other over the critical issue of polls and governance, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina talked to Opposition leade Khaleda Zia urging her to call off the three-day hartal beginning today and invited her for dinner at her official residence. But the Opposition leader declined to call off the hartal saying that it was an 18 party Alliance which cannot be called off at such short notice. UN Under Secretary General has backed Hasina's telephone call calling it a very positive development. Melinda Dias, for AIR News, Dhaka

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The Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry has organized the first ever meeting of the Overseas employer's conference abroad in Dubai. The two-day conference will be inaugurated by the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vyalar Ravi today. Our correspondent reports that the conference will bring the employers from overseas on a common platform.

"The Overseas Employers conference assumes significance in the wake of the fact that nearly 6.5 million Indians live and work in the gulf region. Nearly 70 percent of them are blue collar workers engaged in different sectors. Their safety, security and work conditions have been a major concern. Recent trends have shown the influx of skilled professionals from India into the region contributing to its growth over the past decade. Last year India received $71 billion in remittances from foreign countries and almost 40 percent came from the Gulf region. Atul K Tiwary, AIR News, Dubai."

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Indian shooters bagged 37 medals at the Tehran  Air Gun Shooting Championship. This includes  nine golds. They also won 12 silver and 16 bronze medals. Eight of the gold medals were clinched in  the junior and youth categories.

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Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar will probably be playing his last Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai today against host Haryana as he has already announced his retirement after playing the two-Test series against the West Indies in November. The four-day match beginning today will be played at Lahli in Rohtak in Haryana.

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In Assam, the world heritage site, Manas National Park re-opened for tourists this morning after its annual Monsoon closure. Our correspondent says that all necessary work including repair of roads have been completed.

"Situated on the foothills of the Himalayas and extended to Bhutan, Manas National Park is one of the most tourist 'after sought ' destination in the North-East. Manas was declared a sanctuary in 1928 and was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO  in the year 1985. At present Manas is home of One Horned Rhino ,Wild-buffalos, little known White-Winged duck and Manipur bush quail, among others. Manas Pratim Sarma, AIR News, Guwahati."

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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

• India's rejection of Pakistan's claims that it needs more evidence from India to proceed in the case against those accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case is highlighted in all the papers. The Hindu sums up India's position in its headline "New Delhi says 99% of proof is available in the neighbouring country itself"

• The stopping of firing at the international border between India and Pakistan is prominently noticed. "Lull after 10 day shelling" reports the Tribune. The Hindustan Times writes "India, Pakistan cool off, border battle stops as restraint kicks in".

• BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's comments on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in his rallies are widely reported. Highlighting Mr Modi's response to Mr Gandhi's earlier statements about how he had lost his grandmother and father to terrorism, the Indian Express writes "Modi targets Rahul again: spinning family serials". The Congress' displeasure at the repeated references to Mr Gandhi as 'shehzade' by Mr Modi are also prominently noticed. "Congress warns Modi on shezade barb" observes the Times of India.

• Most papers report that the Election Commission's guidelines on how political parties use the social media during elections have come under the scrutiny of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice. "Parliamentary panel questions EC's jurisdiction on web content" states the Hindustan Times.

• The Indian Express cites the latest figures released by the National Sample Survey Organisation NSSO to report "Unemployment falls across major towns and cities". The Times of India cites the same survey to write "Patna tops cities in unemployment".

• In a sure sign that "the times are changing'',the Hindustan Times informs us that psychiatrists across the country contend that "Facebook, Twitter and TV anchors are replacing black magic and visions of God as the new fear factor for schizophrenics".