1400 HRS.

3 December,2013

THE HEADLINES :

• Prime Minister calls upon domestic and global companies to invest in gas exploration to bridge the gap between supply and demand; Launches Dabhol-Bangaluru Gas Pipeline project.

• Supreme Court rejects Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's plea for quashing of charges against him in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.  

• The Apex Court directs state governments and Union Territories to frame rules for regulating sale of acid by 31st March.

• India offers a financial contribution of one million dollars fordevelopment of Syria.

• Mahendra Singh Dhoni bags this year's ICC People's Choice Award.  

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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said market-based pricing and technology are essential for meeting India's energy needs. Speaking at the 8th Asia Gas Partnership Summit in New Delhi, he said India, which currently is world's seventh largest energy producer needs to increase its energy supply by 3 to 4 times within the next two decades.

India is currently the fourth largest energy consumer behind US, China and Japan. To bridge the gap between supply and demand, Dr. Singh said the government is encouraging domestic and global companies to explore onshore and offshore regions.India, which imports about 80 per cent of its oil needs and more than half of its natural gas requirement, has market based pricing for crude but sub-market rates for gas. The Prime Minister assured investors of the government's commitment to provide a stable and enabling environment for exploration of new sources of energy.

"Natural gas, as we all know, is the fuel of choice today, it is an efficient fuel for power generation. As a cleaner alternative for vehicles, it reduce air-pollution and leads to an improved quality of life. Over the years natural gas has become increasingly important as a source of energy in our country with the rate of growth in natural gas consumption being the highest among all the commercial energy sources."

The Prime Minister inaugurated online, the Dabhol- Bangaluru Gas Pipeline connecting South India. Dr. Singh commended the Gas Authority of India Limited, GAIL for having become a diversified conglomerate, expanding its operations to far- off markets contributing to national energy security.      

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The Supreme Court today dismissed Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's plea for quashing of charges against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. A bench, headed by Justice A K Patnaik, refused to grant relief to the former MP, who had approached the apex court challenging the trial court and the Delhi High Court orders turning down his plea for quashing of charges against him. The bench also dismissed the similar pleas of other accused, Ved Prakash Pial andBrahmanand Gupta in the case.

The trial court had, in July 2010, framed various charges, including murder and rioting against Sajjan Kumar, Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash Pial in connection with killing of a man in Sultanpuri area in the riots that had occurred after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. Accused Khushal Singh died during pendency of the case.

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The Supreme Court has directed all state governments and Union Territories to frame rules for regulating the sale of acid by the  31st of next year. A bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said that every time there is a case of an acid attack, a parallel inquiry should be conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to find out from where the acid was procured. The apex court also sought response from them to provide free treatment to acid victims including the cost of plastic surgery. The court asked the Chief Secretaries of all states and administrators of Union Territories to give their response by the 15th April of 2014.

Earlier, in July, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order on regulating the sale of acid at retail outlets in market across the country. It had directed state governments to pay 3 lakh rupees compensation to all acid attack victims. The court had also ruled that the medical treatment and rehabilitation costs of the acid attack victims will be borne by the state governments.

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All arrangements are in place to ensure free and fair polling in Delhi tomorrow.Intense vigil is being maintained to keep an eye in areas, such as slum clusters and unauthorised colonies. Out of 11,753 polling booths, 630 have been declared "sensitive". Voting for the 70-member Assembly will start at eight in the morning and close at five in the evening. 810 candidates, including 70 women are in the fray. 

Our correspondent reports, development, effective governance and tackling corruption remained the focus of the election campaign that concluded last evening. Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party are among the main parties viewing for get power. Delhi Metro services will start from 4 am instead of 6 am in the morning. Trains will run at an interval of 30 minutes on all the lines till 5 am. After that, trains will run as per the normal timetable throughout the day on all lines. Meanwhile, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has declared December 4 as a public holiday in view of the assembly polls in the national capital.

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India today successfully test fired its surface to surface ballistic missile Prithvi-ll from Chandipur in the Balesore district of Odisha. The test which is a part of the user training exercise of the Army, was conducted at 10.05 this morning from launch complex 3 of the ITR in Chandipur along the Odisha coast. With a striking range of 350 km the nuclear tipped missile can carry a payload of 1000 kg. The nine meter long missile has a liquid propelled system. It was last tested on October 7th this year.

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India has decided to offer a financial contribution of one million dollars for the development of Syria which has been severely affected by the use of chemical weapons. The financial contribution will be given to the Trust Fund set up at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. New Delhi has also offered the services of its experts in the destruction verification activity as well as training slots for the personnel participating in the UN and OPCW mission.

Our Correspondent reports that India is a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention and as a possessor state, it has completed the destruction of its chemical weapons in accordance with the Convention. The financial assistance to Syria is a concrete demonstration of New Delhi's consistent position of support for the complete destruction and elimination of chemical weapons worldwide.

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In Bangladesh, four  more people died today in Satkhira and Chittagong as the BNP-led 18-party Opposition enforced 131-hour nationwide blockade entered the fourth day. The death  toll has risen  to 35 since November 25th when the election schedule was announced. In an important development former President and Chairman of Jatiya Party General HM Ershad today said that his party will not contest the January  parliamentary polls.      

"In an  important development former Bangladesh President and Chairman of Jatiya party HM Ershad announced that his party will not participate in the polls.  He said the decision has been taken as most political parties are  not participating and a proper atmosphere does not exist. Jatiya party candidates had filed nominations for 298 of 300 seats on the closing day yesterday. Dhaka- Chittagong rail route was again disrupted today after protestors sabotaged the rail tracks." MELINDA DIAS/AIR NEWS/DHAKA.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is being observed today to mobilize support for critical issues pertaining to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development. This year's theme is : Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all. President Pranab Mukherjee will present the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi this evening.  

"Across the globe, one billion people with disabilities face physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers. They are disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest and lack equal access to basic resources, such as education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support.

Secretary, Department of Disability Affairs Stuti Kacker told AIR that her ministry is in process of bringing a new law called the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to empower them by conferring more rights.                                               

"We are in the process of bringing a new act called the Rights of person with disabilities, which is right based act and which will give more rights to person with disabilities. And, there are provisions also for penal action against, People who creates problems for disable people."

Barriers faced by persons with disabilities are not in the interest of the society as a whole and accessibility is necessary to achieve progress and development for all." WITH SHIELA, ZAKIR MALIK, AIR NEWS, DELHI.

All India Radio will today broadcast live from Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, the presentation of National Awards for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. It can be heard on the Rajdhani Channel from 5:20 PM onwards.

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In Assam, the first ever mega charitable tea auction is being held today at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre. The money will be given to NGOs working for the betterment of children on the occasion of World Disability Day. Established in 1970, the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre is one of the largest tea auctions in the world and the largest in India.

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In Bhopal, several programmes are being organized today to mark the 29th anniversary of gas leak tragedy, one of the worst industrial disaster of the world. On the intervening night of 2nd and 3rd December in 1984, several hundred people were killed and scores of people were maimed for life when Methyl Isocyanate-MIC gas leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide. Our Bhopal correspondent reports that rallies and meetings are  being organized as survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy pay homage to the victims.

"Rehabilitation of gas victims is still a big issue in the gas affected areas of Bhopal. Gas victims are still facing problems like proper medical facilities, better living conditions and employment.  Despite repeated directions of the Supreme Court, many gas affected localities are yet to get safe drinking water. Although victims have been given compensation twice but they say it is not adequate. Toxic waste lying in the defunct plant of Union Carbide has not been disposed off yet. Warren Anderson, who is the main accused in the Bhopal gas tragedy criminal case, is still out of the clutches of Indian authorities. SHARIQ NOOR/AIR NEWS/ BHOPAL."

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange remained slightly weak in afternoon trade, and stood 38 points, or 0.2 percent in negative territory, at 20,860 a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex fell 49 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 20,849, as investors booked profits after recent gains. The 30-share Sensex had rallied 478 points in the previous three trading sessions. 

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The rupee trimmed its initial losses but was still quoted down by four paise to 62 rupees 35 paise against the dollar, on good demand for the greenback from banks and importers, on the back of firm dollar overseas. The domestic currency opened steady at 62 rupees 30 paise today.

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Indian Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has bagged this year's "ICC People's Choice Award". Dhoni has become only the third cricketer to win this coveted prize. Sachin Tendulkar in 2010 was the first-ever recipient of the award, while Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara won it in 2011 and 2012. Sanjay Patel, Secretary, Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI received the award in Mumbai on behalf of the skipper, as Dhoni is currently in South Africa with the India team for the ODI and Test series, which begins on Thursday in Johannesburg.

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Today is the birth anniversary of India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad. He was born in 1884 in Siwan district of Bihar. Dr Prasad was the only premier who served two terms as the president of India. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1962.