2100 HRS

28^th November, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Goa Police to initiate action against Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal as he fails to appear before it by 3 pm deadline; Tejpal withdraws his bail plea in Delhi High Court.

• High Level Security meeting in Assam decides to intensify operations against insurgent groups.

• RBI relaxes norms for non-banking finance companies for participating in joint ventures in insurance.

• Sensex gains 115 points to close at 20,535; Rupee loses 27 paise to close at 62.41 against the dollar.

• In Bangladesh, death toll rises to 19 during violence in the nationwide blockade by eighteen opposition parties.

• India bags 87 medals in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships at Penang, Malaysia.

[]<><><>[]

Goa Police has decided to initiate action against Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal after he failed to appear before the Goa Police by 3.00 p.m. today in connection with the alleged sexual assault case. Disclosing this to mediapersons at a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Panaji, Deputy Inspector General of Police, O.P. Mishra said that the notice to Tejpal by Goa Police to appear before the Investigating Officer by 3.00 p.m. today was duly served on him and received by his family members. He said the Investigating Officer has not accepted Tejpal's request for extension of time.

Keeping in view the seriousness of the offence, the investigating officer has not accepted the request for extension and she is further proceeding in this case as per law empowered.

Earlier, Tejpal wrote a letter to the Goa police saying that he is ready to cooperate in the investigation and sought two days time to appear before it. He said that he will be reaching Goa on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Delhi High Court allowed Tejpal's plea today to withdraw his bail plea, a day before Justice Sunita Gupta was to pass order on his request. Tejpal's Counsel said, appropriate court would be approached for the appropriate remedy. Fearing arrest by Goa police after being accused of sexual assault against a woman colleague, Tejpal had approached the High Court seeking either anticipatory or transit bail.

In a related development, former Managing Editor of Tehelka Shoma Chaudhury today met NCW member Shamina Shafiq. Shoma is understood to have briefed Shamina about the magazine's response in dealing with alleged sexual assault case against its editor Tarun Tejpal.

Earlier in the day, Shoma, accused of attempting a cover up, resigned as Managing Editor of Tehelka.

[]<><><>[]

Delhi Police has registered a case against BJP leader Vijay Jolly for allegedly defacing property of Shoma Chaudhary, who resigned from her post of Tehelka'smanaging editor after facing criticism of 'mishandling' the alleged sexual assault on a junior colleague by magazines's founding editor Tarun Tejpal.

According to Delhi Police, security has also been provided to Shoma Chaudhary. Earlier in the day, the BJP workers led by Jolly protested at her residence in the city and demanded her immediate arrest for allegedly trying to cover up the matter.

[]<><><>[]

The Assam Police have decided to intensify operations against insurgent groups. The decision was taken at a high level security meeting, held in Guwahati today. Police sources said that the meeting also decided to strengthen the data base system in a bid to prevent cases of extortion and kidnapping.

16 SPs and other top police officials have discussed various issues including law and order, administrative reforms at length. The meeting decided to strengthen co-ordination among neighboring districts and supervision at senior level. Senior officials also assured the SPs to discuss the police modernization issue at highest level. Sources said that the meeting also resolved to strengthen Village Defense party and to engage them as a bridge between police and common citizen. On the other hand, all out operation will be continued against insurgent groups particularly in Lower Assam. Manas Pratim Sarma, AIR News, Guwahati.

[]<><><>[]

In Rajasthan electioneering for Assembly polls has almost reached its peak with more than 20 star campaigners from various parties addressing election meetings in various parts of the state today.

Today's election campaign was intensive and full of allegations and counter allegations between Congress and BJP. Addressing an election meeting in tribal dominated Banswara, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress believes in empowering poor and backward classes by giving them legal rights of land and food. On the other hand BJP's Prime Ministerial Candidate, Narendra Modi criticised Congress Government of Rajasthan for alleged failure in development and social sector. Now only one day remains for campaigning and many candidates are planning road shows in towns to contact voters directly. Anurag Vajpeyi, AIR News, Jaipur.

[]<><><>[]

With just four days left for campaigning for Delhi Assembly elections, Political parties are striving their best to woo the voters. Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, Congress leaders Ajay Maken and J.P Aggarwal today addressed election rallies highlighting improved transport facilities, network of flyovers and steps taken by the government towards the welfare of women in the city. On the other hand senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani and Ravi Shanker Prasad in their rallies criticized the Congress for failing to control price rise and corruption. BSP Supremo Mayawati and Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal also addressed election rallies to garner support of voters.

[]<><><>[]

Google has setup an election portal that gives all polls and politics related news to users in India. The search engine major launched its election portal today.

[]<><><>[]

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to extend the order restraining traders from holding stocks of paddy and rice beyond a limit for one more year.

Highly placed sources say that the Cabinet also approved a proposal to set up Legislative Council in Assam. The state had an Upper House which was abolished after Independence.

The Union Cabinet also gave its nod for extension of financial assistance to Kolkata Port Trust to meet the dredging expenditure incurred by the trust for maintenance of the river and channel.

[]<><><>[]

RBI has relaxed norms for participation of Non-Banking Finance Companies-NBFCs in insurance joint ventures. In a notification issued in Mumbai today, RBI said that it will allow NBFCs to invest more than 50 percent of their total equity in insurance joint ventures but on a case to case basis. The notification adds that the relaxation will also be subject to compliance by the NBFC with all other regulatory conditions.

As per existing norms, an NBFC cannot hold more than 50 per cent of the paid-up capital of an insurance joint venture.

[]<><><>[]

THE BUSINESS WORLD

The sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 115 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 20,535, today, amid the expiry of the monthly derivative contracts, and rising global markets. The Nifty rose 35 points, to 6,092.

Stock markets in Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore gained between 0.5 percent and 1.8 percent.

Falling for the first time in five days, the rupee lost 27 paise, to close at 62.41 against the dollar.

Gold dropped 210 rupees, to 31,215 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver fell 480 rupees, to 44,800 rupees per kilo.

And Brent crude oil futures slipped below 111 dollars a barrel, while US crude lost 12 cents, to 92.18 cents a barrel.

Pradeep Kumar, AIR News.

[]<><><>[]

In West Bengal, 24 persons, including educationist Sunanda Sanyal, were today arrested during an agitation to demand arrest of those named by suspended Trinamul Congress MP, Kunal Ghosh in the Sarada scam. 100 of the Left backed protesters tried to enter the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate on their demand. PDS leader Mr. Samir alleged that the police manhandled the agitators without any provocation. CPIM leader Mr. Shyamal Chakraborty complained that police heckled and roughed up the agitators.

[]<><><>[]

Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the suicide by a sugarcane farmer outside state Secretariat building in Belgaum yesterday. Speaking in the legislative Assembly today, Chief Minister assured that a permanent solution will be found to address the problem of farmers facing fall in prices of their produce. He agreed to BJPs suggestion to take a delegation to Prime Minister to demand an increase in import duty on sugar.

After a day long agitation by BJP in the well of legislative Assembly and Council, a floor leaders meeting called by the Speaker led to commencement of the session in the evening.

[]<><><>[]

Uttar Pradesh Government has told sugar mills to start the crushing season from the first week of December failing which they will have to face stern legal action. Principal Secretary of sugar industry department Rahul Bhatnagar told a press conference in Lucknow that all the sugar mills of western Uttar Pradesh must start cane crushing by 4th of December whereas the sugar mills of eastern part should invariably start it by 7th December.

The government has rejected the demand of sugar mills association to fix the cane price at Rupees 225 per quintal, terming it as unreasonable and illogical. Government has also threatened to recover the outstanding dues with interest through 'Recovery Certificates' from the the sugar mills which do not begin the crushing by stipulated dates of 4th and 7th December. The concession of 'Sugar cane Purchase Tax' and "Entry Tax' will only be given to those western UP mills which begin the crushing on time. The current impasse between the state government and Sugar Mills Association is unlikely to end as the millers have so far refused to budge from their stand.Merajuddin, AIR News, Lucknow.

[]<><><>[]

The cyclonic storm ‘Lehar’ over west-central Bay of Bengal after weakening into a deep depression crossed Andhra Pradesh coast near south of Machilipatnam this afternoon. Our Correspondent reports that it has further weakened and lay centred over Machilipatnam. The resultant rain and wind speed is far less in intensity than anticipated.

South coastal districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, besides West and East Godavari districts are receiving moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy falls during next 24 hours. Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy falls would also occur over Telangana. Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 km per hour gusting to 65 km per hour would prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh coast during next 12 hours. Though the cyclone has weakened into depression, the authorities have been asked to keep a close watch on the prevailing weather conditions for the next 12 hours. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till tomorrow morning. Henry Raj, AIR News, Visakhapatnam.

[]<><><>[]

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a scheme for upgradation of libraries providing services to the public under the National Mission on Libraries.

Under the scheme six libraries under Culture Ministry, 35 state Central Libraries and 35 District Libraries, with particular emphasis on economically backward districts, as model libraries will be developed.

[]<><><>[]

Violence and arson continued in capital Dhaka and other parts of the country on the third day today of the nationwide blockade. With two more people dead today, the death toll has risen to 19 since the violence started Monday night post announcement of election schedule.

The rail-road-waterways blockade enforced by 18-party BNP-led Opposition Alliance has badly affected communication links between capital Dhaka and outlying districts for the last two days. They are demanding the postponement of elections till an agreement on election-time government.

A series of crude bomb explosions took place this afternoon outside BNP Headquarters in Dhaka injuring 2 policemen. Jamaat-Shibir activists vandalised several vehicles in Naranganj this evening forcing the police to fire in the air to disperse the protestors. Police are also questioning a Pakistani national detained this morning at Dhaka airport for carrying 15 million Indian currency.

Meanwhile police arrested 6 BNP leaders from the party office in Chittagong today.

[]<><><>[]

India has bagged a whopping 87 medals in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships at Penang, Malaysia. In the 77kg Youth Boys category, Youth Asian Games Champion Ragala Venkat Rahul today stole the show, by claiming half a dozen Gold medals.

In the 77kg Senior Men's division, Sivalingam Sathish Kumar clinched 3 Gold medals.

India, now, has 47 Gold, 28 Silver and 12 Bronze medals in its kitty.

The youth, junior and senior category competitions are being held simultaneously in this competition. India is being represented by 15 lifters in the Senior section, 15 in Junior section and 11 in Youth section.