Hope to see Telugu people unite one day, Kiran Reddy says

VIJAYWADA: With Telangana set to become a reality in just over two months, Jai Samaikhyandhra Party founder and former chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday expressed the hope the Telugu people will unite one day.

"I hope the Telugu people will unite again one day," Reddy said even as he lashed out at political parties, which supported the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

He was speaking at a 'meet-the-press' programme organized by Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists here.

The former Congress leader said he has launched his party to unite the Telugu people and fight for their honour.

He blamed the Congress, BJP, TDP and YSR Congress for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Most of the political parties in the "third front" were opposed to bifurcation of a state without the Assembly concerned passing a resolution to this effect, Kiran said.

Telangana Bill was passed in Parliament despite it being rejected by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, he said.

The Jai Samaikhyandhra Party leader is on a two-day tour of Krishna district.

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Maid murder: Delhi court grants two months' interim bail to BSP MP

NEW DELHI: BSP MP Dhananjay Singh, who along with his wife Jagriti Singh have been charged in connection with murder of their maid, was granted interim bail for two months by a Delhi court.

Additional Sessions Judge Lokesh Kumar Sharma granted interim bail to Dhananjay, a sitting MP from Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur constituency, on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties of the like amount.

However, despite getting interim bail, Dhananjay, who was arrested on November 5 last year, will have to remain in Tihar jail under judicial custody as he has not been granted bail in a separate rape case in which he is facing trial.

During the arguments, Delhi Police opposed the bail plea of Dhananjay saying there was no new ground or change in circumstances for releasing him on bail.

The police, however, told the court that the two prime witnesses in the case have been provided security in pursuance to the order passed by a magisterial court last year.

Senior advocate Hariharan and advocate SPM Tripathi, who appeared for Dhananjay, argued that since the two key prosecution witnesses in the case had already been provided protection by police, there was no likelihood of him trying to intimidate them.

The defence counsel also argued that there was no possibility that the MP would tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses in the case.

They also said that Dhananjay has to look after his ailing father and as charge sheet has already been filed, no useful purpose would be served by keeping his client in custody.

Earlier, the court had directed police to apprise it about whether they have provided protection to the key witnesses in the case.

Dhananjay had approached the court after his bail plea was dismissed on February 22 by the court on the grounds that, being an influential person, he could intimidate the witnesses who are yet to be examined.

The magisterial court, while dismissing the bail plea of Dhananjay on November 20 last year, had directed police to provide protection to the principal witnesses till the time their statements were recorded.

Dhananjay was chargesheeted for various offences under IPC, including for alleged destruction of evidence and abetment of the offences of murder and attempt to murder.

Jagriti has been chargesheeted for offences under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 344 (wrongfully confining for 10 or more days), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC.

The couple were arrested on November 5 last year in connection with the death of their 35-year-old maid Rakhi Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal.

Dhananjay and Jagriti, a dental surgeon at a government hospital here, are lodged in jail in judicial custody.

The police, in its charge sheet, had alleged that Jagriti used to "mercilessly beat" her three domestic helps and had "compelled" them to work by holding them captive.

Rakhi's body, with injury marks on her legs, chest and arms, was recovered from Dhananjay's South Avenue residence on the evening of November 4, 2013.

Earlier, police had chargesheeted Dhananjay in a separate case for allegedly repeatedly raping a 42-year-old railway employee for nearly four years.

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Hope to see Telugu people unite one day, Kiran Reddy says

VIJAYWADA: With Telangana set to become a reality in just over two months, Jai Samaikhyandhra Party founder and former chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday expressed the hope the Telugu people will unite one day.

"I hope the Telugu people will unite again one day," Reddy said even as he lashed out at political parties, which supported the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

He was speaking at a 'meet-the-press' programme organized by Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists here.

The former Congress leader said he has launched his party to unite the Telugu people and fight for their honour.

He blamed the Congress, BJP, TDP and YSR Congress for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Most of the political parties in the "third front" were opposed to bifurcation of a state without the Assembly concerned passing a resolution to this effect, Kiran said.

Telangana Bill was passed in Parliament despite it being rejected by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, he said.

The Jai Samaikhyandhra Party leader is on a two-day tour of Krishna district.

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Polling ends peacefully in Maldives parliamentary elections

MALE: Polling ended peacefully in the Maldives parliamentary election despite the arrest of at least six people for minor violations, an official said on Saturday.

At least six people were detained by police for showing their marked ballot cards as well as other misdemeanors such as attempting to offer bribes and obstructing the police, Xinhua reported.

Observers have also noted that the turnout has been less than expected.

"We have received 25 complaints about the voting process," Elections Commission member Mohamed Farooq told reporters.

"Our aim is to secure 65 seats in the parliament," Maldives President Abdulla Yameen told reporters after casting his vote.

"If we secure the majority in this election, we will prioritize bills on economic development and the amendment of the penal code. Our coalition is not going to fall apart after this election," he added

His main rival former president Mohammad Nasheed who heads the Maldives Democratic Party and currently has a majority in parliament was also upbeat.

"The elections are being held after consulting the committees that were formed to instruct and advise the Elections Commission. I believe - God willing — the election will be fair and will proceed without disruptions," former President Nasheed said after voting.

There are 85 candidates contesting from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP); 50 from the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM); 28 from the ruling government's coalition partner Jumhoory Party; seven from the government's coalition partner Maldivian Development Alliance (MDA); 12 from religious conservative Adhaalath Party; six from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and 114 independent candidates.

Capital Male has the largest number of constituencies at 13, with seven in Addu City and the remaining 65 constituencies scattered across the island nation.

The run-up to the elections have been steeped in controversy after the Maldives Supreme Court earlier this month handed down suspended prison sentences to the elections commissioner and his second-in-command.

The controversial ruling also removed the two from their posts leaving a virtually headless commission to oversee the parliamentary election. The Supreme Court March 9 issued a suspended six-month prison sentence to Elections Commission Chair Fuad Thaufeeg and declared void the membership of the commission's chair and vice chair.

The prison sentence has been suspended for three years.

The Maldives Supreme Court has repeatedly come under fire from the international community for failing to meet international standards and has been accused of attempting to undermine the independence of the Elections Commission.

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Strong quake off Chile coast, no known damage

SANTIAGO, Chile: Seismologists said that a magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck off Chile's northern coast, alarming local residents but causing no reported damage.

The US Geological Survey said that the quake hit at 7.59am (8.59 EDT; 1259 GMT) and it was centered 60 miles (96 kilometers) north-northwest of the coastal city of Iquique.

Chile's national emergency office said there were no reports of damage or problems with infrastructure.

Officials discounted any possible tsunami. They had evacuated thousands of people from the shore last week as a precaution after a magnitude-6.7 quake in the same region.

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General Motors chief to testify in Congress over recall probe

The author has posted comments on this articleAFP | Mar 21, 2014, 08.10PM IST

WASHINGTON: General Motors boss Mary Barra will testify April 1 before a congressional committee investigating why the largest US automaker failed to react for years to a defect linked to 12 deaths.

The chief executive is expected to face a grilling from lawmakers over why it took the US auto giant until last month to recall 1.62 million vehicles in North America, more than a decade after the problem was first detected.

Barra, who took the reins of the company in January, and acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration David Friedman will testify before an oversight panel of the house energy and commerce committee.

"Their testimony is critical to understanding what the company and NHTSA knew about the safety problems, when they knew it, and what was done about it," committee chairman Fred Upton and congressman Tim Murphy said in a statement Thursday.

GM is the focus of multiple investigations by US authorities for being too slow to react to a defective ignition switch it linked to 31 accidents and 12 deaths in its 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion models.

The problem was detected as early as 2001, but GM waited until last month to issue its recall.

NHTSA is also under the gun for not acting despite being aware of complaints that the ignition would turn off while the cars were in motion.

GM suffered a further setback Monday when it recalled an additional 1.8 million vehicles linked to three new problems.

Barra responded forcefully, announcing she would release an "unvarnished" report following a thorough review and vowing to improve how GM handles defect reports.

In a recent video statement to employees, Barra called the federal probes "serious developments that shouldn't surprise anyone."

"After all, something went wrong with our process in this instance and terrible things happened," she said.

Barra, 52, is the first woman to lead a major automaker.

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​Maid murder: Delhi court to hear arguments on BSP MP Dhananjay Singh's bail tomorrow

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court will tomorrow hear the arguments on the bail plea of BSP MP Dhananjay Singh, who along with his wife Jagriti Singh, has been charged in connection with the murder of his maid.

Additional sessions Judge Lokesh Kumar Sharma, who was scheduled to hear the arguments on the bail plea today, posted it for tomorrow as the investigation officer of the case could not appear before the court.

The court had earlier asked the Delhi Police to apprise it whether they have provided protection to the key witnesses in the murder case and had directed it to file a written submission in this regard.

Dhananjay, a sitting MP from Jaunpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, had approached the court after his bail plea was dismissed on February 22 by the court on the ground that, being an influential person, he could intimidate the witnesses who are yet to be examined.

In his bail petition, Dhananjay had said that since the two key prosecution witnesses in the case had already been provided protection by police, there was no likelihood of him trying to intimidate them.

A magisterial court had dismissed the bail plea of Dhananjay on November 20 last year and directed police to provide protection to the principal witnesses till the time their statements were recorded.

Dhananjay was charged for various offences under IPC, including for alleged destruction of evidence and abetment of the offences of murder and attempt to murder.

Jagriti has been charged for offences under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 344 (wrongfully confining for 10 or more days), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC.

The couple were arrested on November 5 of last year in connection with the death of their 35-year-old maid Rakhi Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal. Dhananjay and Jagriti, a dental surgeon at a government hospital here, are lodged in jail in judicial custody.

The police, in its chargesheet, had alleged that Jagriti used to "mercilessly beat" her three domestic helps and "compelled" them to work by holding them captive.

Rakhi's body, with injury marks on her legs, chest and arms, was recovered from Dhananjay's South Avenue residence on the evening of November 4, 2013.

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Western railway to run summer special trains from Ahmedabad to meet vacation rush

AHMEDABAD: In order to give more connectivity to the people during the summer vacation, the western railway has introduced summer specials from Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Hapa.

The Ahmedabad -Mangalore Jn (Weekly) Superfast Special train (Via Vasai Road) will have 26 services. The train will depart from Ahmedabad at 4.20 pm on every Monday and reach Mangalore at 7.30 pm the next day. The train will begin its journed from April 7 and continue till June 30.

Similarly, Train No. 09419 Mangalore-Ahmedabad Weekly Superfast Special train will depart from Mangalore at 9.30pm on every Tuesday and reach Ahmedabad at 01.10am on Thursday from 8th April to 1st July, 2014.

The train will halt at Nadiad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Vapi, Boisar, Vasai Road, Panvel, Roha, Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Kudal, Thivim, Karmali, Madgaon, Karwar, Kumta, Bhatkal & Udupi stations in both the directions. The Ahmedabad-Patna Weekly Special Train (via Nadiad-Godhra) will also have 26 services.

The train Ahmedabad-Patna (weekly) Special train will depart from Ahmedabad at 9.50 pm on every Sunday and reach Patna at 07.25 an on Tuesday. This train will run from 6th April to 29th June, 2014.

Similarly, train No. 09412 Patna-Ahmedabad will depart from Patna at 09.45 am on every Tuesday and reach Ahmedabad at 7.10 pm he next day. This train will run from 8th April to 1st July, 2014.

The train will halt at Nadiad, Godhra, Dahod, Ratlam, Bhavani Mandi, Ramganj Mandi, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Gangapur City, Bayana, Agra Fort, Tundla, Kanpur, Allahabad, Mughalsarai, Buxar, Ara and Danapur stations in both directions.

The western railway also announced summer special trains between Bandra Terminus-Bhavnagar Weekly Special Train which will leave Badra on evwery Monday at 1.15 pm, while the return train will leave Bhavnagar on every Sunday at 7.35 am.

The train will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Joravarnagar, Botad, Dhola and Songadh stations in both directions.

The Hapa-Raipur weekly Summer Special train will leave Hapa on every Tuesday at 10 pm and reach Raipur at 3 am on Thursday; the return train will leave Raipur at 4.10 am on Thursday and reach Hapa the next day at 3.25 pm

The train will halt at Rajkot, Wankaner, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Surat, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Malkapur, Akola, Badnera Jn., Wardha Jn., Nagpur, Gondia, Rajnandgaon and Durg in both directions.

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​BJP aiming for 300 seats on its own, Venkaiah Naidu says

VIJAYAWADA: Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said his party was aiming to win 300 seats on its own in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Naidu addressed the first meeting of the executive committee of the residual Andhra Pradesh (Seemandhra) unit of BJP here.

Regional parties by themselves can not rule at the national level and they should support the national parties, he said.

Some regional outfits may form an alliance with BJP in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Union finance minister P Chidambaram was "running away" from elections and many other Congress leaders were doing the same thing, Naidu said.

The Congress-led government failed all-round, but especially on the economic front, he said.

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​BJP aiming for 300 seats on its own, Venkaiah Naidu says

VIJAYAWADA: Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said his party was aiming to win 300 seats on its own in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Naidu addressed the first meeting of the executive committee of the residual Andhra Pradesh (Seemandhra) unit of BJP here.

Regional parties by themselves can not rule at the national level and they should support the national parties, he said.

Some regional outfits may form an alliance with BJP in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Union finance minister P Chidambaram was "running away" from elections and many other Congress leaders were doing the same thing, Naidu said.

The Congress-led government failed all-round, but especially on the economic front, he said.

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J&K highway closed for several hours due to landslides

JAMMU: The 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Thursday remained closed for several hours due to landslide at Panthal area in Ramban district, officials said.

The highway was closed for traffic following major landslide this morning, SSP traffic national highway, Haseeb Mugal said.

The men and machines of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) cleared the landslide and traffic was allowed on the highway at 4 PM today, he said.

Around 400 vehicles, including passenger vehicles, were stranded before the road was reopened.

The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway was also blocked at Prem Nagar area of Doda district due to landslide. Work was on to clear the debris, he said.

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Protests didn't affect Kirron or me: Anupam Kher

MUMBAI: Anupam Kher says neither he and nor his wife Kirron Kher were disturbed when she was greeted with eggs and black flags on her arrival in Chandigarh as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Kirron landed in Chandigarh on Tuesday. She was reportedly greeted with slogans and had eggs thrown at her by protesters who felt she was an "outsider".

Anupam, who was with her in Chandigarh by chance, laughed off the importance given to the protesters.

"There were just maybe seven to eight protesters...a very negligible number of people. And I say, everyone has the right to protest in a democracy. Neither Kirron nor I minded the protest," he said.

But why the protests?

"They probably felt there were others more qualified for the tickets. But they must understand that if the high command thinks a particular candidate is eligible, then we must all respect that decision and not throw tantrums, like a child who has been denied a toy," said the veteran actor. ? Anupam dismissed the enormity of the protests.

"It was nothing. So much hue and cry is being made about a handful of protesters. What about the 500 supporters came to support and cheer Kirron at the airport? As for reports that eggs were thrown at her, please show me those eggs. I'd like to make omelettes of them," he said.

Anupam says his wife is not the least shaken by the protests.

"She is a strong woman, She is getting ready for a long innings in politics," said the actor, who has "no plans of ever getting into active politics".

"One politician in the family is enough," he quipped.

Anupam was in Chandigarh to promote his film "Gang Of Ghosts", which releases Friday.

"What a beautiful coincidence. I am glad I could be here to see my wife take her initial steps in this new phase in her life," he said.

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CBI conducts nationwide searches against fake medical practitioners

NEW DELHI: CBI on Thursday launched a nationwide operation against medical practitioners operating on the basis of fake degrees and documents obtained from the Medical Council of India.

CBI sources said the agency has got information that several doctors, who studied in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries are practising here without fulfilling necessary formalities.

The sources said it also came to light that some of them allegedly colluded with MCI officers, who gave them permission to practice in exchange of illegal gratification even as the doctors did not fulfill necessary parameters.

"When the report came to us, we viewed it with utmost seriousness and today after finalising the FIR, we have carried out nationwide searches," CBI director Ranjit Sinha said.

The sources said agency started a coordinated search operation across the country.

"This is an important case as such people were playing with the lives of patients," Sinha said.

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No information about terror threat to BJP leaders: Shinde

NEW DELHI: In the wake of BJP's demand for security to its top leaders, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Thursday said the government has no information about possible threat to them from terror groups and adequate protection has been given to BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

"We have no information regarding terror threat to BJP leaders," he told reporters here after the saffron party claimed, citing media reports, that the lives of its top leaders were under threat.

Shinde said adequate security has been given to BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

"We have given adequate security to Modi," he said.

Shinde's comments came hours after BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said there were media reports which quoted intelligence sources that the lives of the top BJP leaders were under threat.

"There is a threat to all BJP leaders. Based on IB sources, a section of media has been reporting that the BJP leaders' lives are under threat and the BJP is very concerned and worried," she said here.

Sitharaman said the party was very concerned and anxious if the home ministry has "taken cognisance of these reports and if they are taking any measures to ensure the safety of our leaders who are moving around the country for election campaigning".

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Sardar Patel termed RSS poisonous, Rahul Gandhi says

DHARAMSALA: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the BJP's ideological offshoot RSS, saying even Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel described it as a "poisonous outfit that can destroy the nation."

"Sardar Patel ne kaha tha ki RSS ek zehreela sangathan hai (Sardar Patel had said RSS is a poisonous outfit)," Gandhi said at a rally in Kangra district, some 250 km from Shimla.

Clad in a white kurta with jeans and donning a Himachali cap, Gandhi said "the opposition in a similar fashion is trying to appropriate Sardar Patel's legacy."

Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, he said: "It's an irony that a person who lived all his life with RSS ideology is now installing his statue and it appears that he has not even read the history of Sardar Patel."

"BJP's tallest leaders in Parliament had said India would be destroyed due to computers, but I won't name them."

He also lashed out at the BJP over claims of development, saying its leaders were taking false credit.

Himachal Pradesh, which has four Lok Sabha seats, will go to polls May 7.

Gandhi said the Congress would ensure that 70 crore people enter the middle class in the next five years and claimed that 15 crore people were brought out of poverty by the UPA government.

"We do politics to empower people. Congress will continue to work to provide education and employment to people," he said.

"During the UPA regime, the number of roads built was three times more than during the NDA regime," he said, listing the achievements of the Congress-led UPA government.

"Our opponents are lacking farsightedness," he said. The industrial corridor project, he said, would usher in a manufacturing revolution.

"The UPA government has taken up the industrial corridor project and it's committed to complete it, which will generate more employment opportunities. Now, the maximum manufacturing takes place in China. In future, it will be in India," he said.

Blaming the opposition for non-passage of the women's reservation bill, he said the Congress was committed to women's empowerment and would not only provide reservation to them in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but also give adequate reservation in the ministries and in the party's organization.

To woo ex-servicemen, Gandhi said the UPA accepted their long pending demand of "one rank, one pension".

Stating that he favours changes in the present education system, the Congress leader said: "The opportunities of higher education are limited and change in the system is required so that maximum people have access to higher education."

Chief minister Virbhadra Singh and his cabinet colleagues were present at the rally.

In the 2009 elections, the BJP won Shimla (reserved), Kangra and Hamirpur, while the Congress bagged the Mandi seat.

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Rhino killed, carcass of leopard found in Kaziranga National Park

KAZIRANGA: A male adult rhino was killed and its horn taken away by poachers in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam where the carcass of a leopard was also recovered on Wednesday.

The local people spotted the rhino carcass near Louduli camp under Kohora range of the park as also three spent cartridges of a .303 rifle, KNP said sources.

The horn of the rhino was sawn off and taken away by the poachers, the sources said.

It was the eighth rhino to be killed this year. Meanwhile, a carcass of a male adult leopard was recovered by forest guards near the Bherone camp of the World Heritage Site.

The leopard had died after a fight with another big cat, they added. A search was being made for the poachers, the sources added.

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Israeli airstrikes kill 1 Syrian soldier, wound 7

DAMASCUS, Syria: The Syrian army says Israeli airstrikes against its military posts in the Golan Heights have killed one Syrian soldier and wounded seven.

The army says the raids targeted three posts near the town of Quneitra on the edge of the Israeli-held part of the heights on Wednesday.

The statement also warns Israel against escalating the situation by repeating such "hostile acts." It says they "endanger the security and stability of the region."

Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said its warplanes unleashed airstrikes against Syrian army targets in response to a roadside bombing in the Golan Heights that wounded four Israeli soldiers the day before.

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Sting operation row: Delhi court records statement of AAP member

NEW DELHI: A court here on Wednesday recorded the statement of an AAP member in a criminal defamation complaint against the CEO of a news portal for allegedly releasing a "doctored" video showing some party candidates accepting funds through illegal means before last year's assembly polls in Delhi.

Metropolitan magistrate Akash Jain recorded the statement of complainant-witness Pankaj, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member, who told the court that the CD was shown on the TV channels to defame the party and its candidates prior to the assembly polls.

The court recorded his statement and posted the matter for July 23 for remaining pre-summoning evidence.

The plea was filed by AAP and Dinesh Mohania who had successfully contested the Delhi assembly polls from Sangam Vihar constituency on AAP's ticket.

AAP and Mohania had alleged the accused had defamed them and the video of the sting operation against the party members was forged and tampered with due to which charges under sections 464 (making a false document) and 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation) of the IPC were also made out.

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Nawaz Sharif announces formation of media commission in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: With Pakistan being considered as one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today announced the formation of a commission to ensure safety and security of the media persons.

Sharif said journalists are a vibrant part of the society and it is the government's responsibility to provide them safe and secure environment.

He said Pakistan was establishing a commission of media persons, public figures and government officials which will propose measures to be adopted by the government to protect journalists in the field and ensure their well being.

"I want to make Pakistan a journalist friendly country where not only local but international media feels safe and secure during their professional assignments," Sharif said.

He said the government is trying its best to ensure that the criminals and terrorists accused of killing journalists will be arrested and brought to justice.

Sharif made the remarks after Kati Marton, the widow of late US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and Executive Member of Council for Protection of Journalists (CPJ), along with a four member delegation of CPJ called on him at the Prime Minister's House here.

The Prime Minister praised Holbrook for his role as peace maker in Bosnia and called him a friend of Pakistan.

Recently, three persons were killed in a deadly attack on Express news channel. In January 2011, Geo TV journalist Wali Khan Babar was shot dead in Karachi.

According to CPJ research, at least 46 journalists have been killed in Pakistan over the course of the last decade. The country is ranked eighth on CPJ's 2013 Impunity Index, which calculates unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country's population.

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UNHRC members under US pressure on resolution: Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Wednesday claimed that most of the 47 member countries of the UN Human Rights Council are under pressure to back a tough US-sponsored resolution that has called for an international probe into alleged rights abuses during the country's war with Tamil Tiger rebels.

"Countries have told us they do not want to pursue Sri Lanka's case. But they want to be seen with the US. Some of them have defence pacts with the US and wider trade links," External affairs minister G L Peiris said.

He said the pro-LTTE diaspora possess large sums of money to run the anti-Sri Lanka campaign in order to win over the Western countries.

"They collected large sums of money during the war. They still own businesses in many countries," Peiris said.

Sri Lanka accused the pro-LTTE diaspora of creating pressure on the UN system to act against it for political reasons.

The US-moved resolution, the third in as many years, is to be put to vote at the UN rights body later this month.

Sri Lanka has condemned the move as a gross interference on its sovereignty.

In the resolution, the US has endorsed recommendations by UN rights chief Navi Pillay for an external probe into charges that Sri Lankan troops killed up to 40,000 civilians during the final months of nearly quarter century civil war against the LTTE that ended in 2009.

The previous two resolutions by the US were adopted with India's support.

Speaking in parliament earlier in the day, Peiris said that Sri Lanka could easily have avoided action at the UN Human Rights Council had it given in to international pressures. "We have a national pride. So we cannot give in," he said.

Meanwhile, the US explained the revised draft text of the resolution to other members and sought their views.

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G L Raheja, real estate tycoon, passes away in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Real estate developer G L Raheja who created a Rs 11,000 crore construction firm run by him and his son passed away on Tuesday leaving behind an unfinished legal family battle over control.

Raheja, one of four brothers, was over 80 years old and suffering from a "serious ailment" his lawyers had recently informed the Bombay high court.

While the senior Raheja died early Tuesday morning, sources said his only son against who the legal fight is pending was in Europe and expected back soon.

Raheja whose construction firm was called K Raheja Constructions was the first to build a department store much before the malls were made, when he developed the Shopper's Stop in Mumbai.

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Congress attacks BJD for 'politics of opportunism'

BHUBANESWAR: Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik on Tuesday accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of "rank opportunism" and of turning Odisha politics into a "theatre of the absurd".

Niranjan who is a former president of the state unit of the Congress said the ruling party, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is looking for ways to poach from other parties just to weaken the opposition and somehow win the election.

"In a democracy, opposition represents an ideological divide and a set of alternative agenda," Niranjan said.

Accusing the chief minister of attempting to create a smoke screen around his party's failure and divert public attention from important political issues, the Congress leader said he hoped people would reject the kind of politics being played in the state.

He said Odisha has become the most backward state in the country after 14 years of BJD rule and despite huge central assistance in the last decade.

"BJD is trying to create a situation as if there are no issues, no ideological divide and election is about rank opportunism," he said, referring to the entrance of several leaders of other parties in the BJD.

"Naveen 'babu' wants to appear to be acceptable as a leader to everybody. This cannot be good for democracy, nor is there any statesmanship evident in what is going on," said Niranjan.

"Odisha deserves better politics than this. After 14 years in politics, BJD is unable to find winning candidates in many areas and is therefore poaching for leaders from other parties," he said.

"This cannot be construed as either good or an indicator of success. What Naveen 'babu' has done is not based on any 'principle' or 'ideology'. This is just Machiavellian power play," he said.

The senior Congress leader also expressed his sadness that the opposition failed to sort out internal issues despite his repeated and timely advice and created an impression of abject capitulation to BJD's opportunist brand of politics.

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Congress attacks BJD for 'politics of opportunism'

BHUBANESWAR: Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik on Tuesday accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of "rank opportunism" and of turning Odisha politics into a "theatre of the absurd".

Niranjan who is a former president of the state unit of the Congress said the ruling party, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is looking for ways to poach from other parties just to weaken the opposition and somehow win the election.

"In a democracy, opposition represents an ideological divide and a set of alternative agenda," Niranjan said.

Accusing the chief minister of attempting to create a smoke screen around his party's failure and divert public attention from important political issues, the Congress leader said he hoped people would reject the kind of politics being played in the state.

He said Odisha has become the most backward state in the country after 14 years of BJD rule and despite huge central assistance in the last decade.

"BJD is trying to create a situation as if there are no issues, no ideological divide and election is about rank opportunism," he said, referring to the entrance of several leaders of other parties in the BJD.

"Naveen 'babu' wants to appear to be acceptable as a leader to everybody. This cannot be good for democracy, nor is there any statesmanship evident in what is going on," said Niranjan.

"Odisha deserves better politics than this. After 14 years in politics, BJD is unable to find winning candidates in many areas and is therefore poaching for leaders from other parties," he said.

"This cannot be construed as either good or an indicator of success. What Naveen 'babu' has done is not based on any 'principle' or 'ideology'. This is just Machiavellian power play," he said.

The senior Congress leader also expressed his sadness that the opposition failed to sort out internal issues despite his repeated and timely advice and created an impression of abject capitulation to BJD's opportunist brand of politics.

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Bombay high court seeks action against 66,000 illegal structures in Pimpri Chinchwad

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Thursday gave its go ahead for the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal corporation to act against an estimated 66,000 illegal structures in the township. A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Amjad Sayed also directed the police commissioner to provide protection to the municipal commissioner and the demolition squad. This came after the court was informed that the earlier municipal commissioner had reported about threats to his life over the issue of action against illegal structures.

The court has asked that action including notices to be issued to owners of illegal structures, criminal cases to be filed and demolitions be undertaken by the corporation. The court has asked the civic body to file a compliance report in the court after four weeks. As per the corporation's estimates there are over 66,000 illegal structures in Pimpri Chinchwad limits.

The court also clarified that a proposal pending before the state to regularise all illegal structures in the town could not come in the way of the demolitions as no decision had been taken on it. The court's orders came on a public interest litigation filed by local resident J Dange. advocate Uday Warunjikar, counsel for the petitioner alleged inaction on the part of the authorities in acting against illegal structures.

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Ministry of environment and forest brings out fresh draft notification on eco-sensitive area in Western Ghats

NEW DELHI: Days after getting Election Commission's nod, the Centre on Tuesday brought out the 'draft' notification on Western Ghats reducing the originally earmarked Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) by 3,115sqkm.

The reduction — from existing 59,940sqkm to 56,825sqkm — is mainly due to the cutting down of the Keral'a ESA. The ministry of environment and forest had reduced the area following the state's strong protest against the Centre's previous order.

The ESA — spreading over six states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — is meant for making the earmarked zone a 'no-go area' for high polluting human activities like mining, quarrying, big constructions and setting up industries.

A gazette notification can, however, be made effective only by the new government at Centre. Under the Election Commission's direction, the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) cannot come out with the 'final' notification till the Parliamentary elections are over.

The MoEF, in the meantime, will get the stakeholders' (including villagers) objections or suggestions on the draft notification during the next 60 days, beginning Tuesday.

The intervening two-month period before the 'final' notification, incorporating those suggestions, will not affect local population in Kerala or any of the remaining five states as the ESA order does not prohibit agriculture, plantation and human settlements in the earmarked villages in Western Ghats.

The draft notification carries list of villages and their detailed area maps within the ESA spreading over six states. It also has annexure identifying the industries (Red category) and big constructions which are completely prohibited within the protected zones.

Such banned industries and constructions include the 85 types of high polluting activities including setting up aluminum smelter, cement plant, fertilizer factory, glass manufacturing units, zinc smelter, automobile manufacturing units, airports and hotels (having 100 rooms and above).

Under the draft notification, setting up hydropower plants will not be banned. Such plants will, however, be set up after getting required environmental clearance. The MoEF, through its draft note changing its previous orders on Western Ghats, has made it clear that "the provisions in this notification shall be subject to the final orders of the court in pending litigation".

An office memorandum, issued on March 4, had made it clear that recommendation of other state governments in the Western Ghats will also be considered by the ministry if they undertake the Kerala-like exercise of demarcating the ESA by physical verification and submit the proposal to the ministry "within 60 days of issuance of the draft notification".

Kerala had been opposed to the ministry's earlier order saying it would affect livelihood of local population. It had pointed out that while in other states in Western Ghats, only a portion of natural landscape has been recommended as ESA by the High Level Working Group (HLWG), in Kerala the ESA (13,108sqkm) was more than the area of natural landscape (12,477sqkm).

Keeping this in mind, the Centre has now reduced the ESA in Kerala from 13,108sqkm to 9,993.7sqkm.

Status of ESA in states:

* Karnataka- 20,668sqkm

* Maharashtra- 17,340sqkm

* Kerala- 9,993sqkm

* Tamil Nadu- 6,914sqkm

* Goa- 1,461sqkm

* Gujarat- 449sqkm

* Original ESA (spreading over six states)- 59,940sqkm

* Total ESA under fresh draft notification- 56,825sqkm

* Reduction- 3,115sqkm

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Tension grips Neyveli as CISF constable shoots NLC contract worker dead

NEYVELI: Tension gripped Neyveli township in Tamil Nadu after a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable shot dead a 36-year-old contract worker of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) following an altercation on Monday.

Police said the worker, identified as M Raja, 36, deployed at corporation's thermal power station I, reached mine II around 1pm. He attempted to enter the mine to meet his friend when a CISF constable posted for duty prevented him and asked him to show entry pass.

Only workers deployed in mine II can enter the unit while others, including workers posted at other units, should produce a valid pass to enter the unit.

The worker, who did not possess a pass, asked the security personnel to permit him to enter the mines. Soon an altercation broke out between the two. In a fit of rage, the constable fired three rounds at the worker from a close range. The worker sustained bullet injuries on the head and died on the spot.

Hearing the gunshot, contract workers gathered in large numbers at the gate. As soon as the tragic death of the worker, who is from a nearby hamlet -- Ajeesh Nagar - spread, people from his locality started gathering at the scene leading to a tense situation. The contract workers and the villagers, led by leaders of all major trade unions, staged a protest to condemn the killing of the worker. They attempted to picket the mine II when CISF personnel resorted to lathicharge the mob.

Later, the protesters pelted stones at the CISF personnel. Security personnel attacked the protesters by pelting stones and lathicharged them to disperse them. They managed to drive the protesters for a brief while. However, within a few minutes the protesters resumed the attack by pelting stones at the security personnel. They ransacked the CISF office, damaging furniture.
A few vehicles too were damaged in the attack.

In the meantime the protesters, who staged a dharna with the dead body, did not permit an ambulance to take the body to the hospital. The district police teams arrived and lathicharged the mob. The township looked like a war zone following the clash between the security personnel and the workers.

A heavy posse of policemen was deployed at the township to prevent any untoward incident. Cuddalore superintendent of police A Radhika reached the township and reviewed the security arrangement.

More than 20 people, who were injured in the melee, were admitted at NLC general hospital. Mining operations at the mine II were affected for a brief while when more than 7,000 workers, including 3,500 regular workers, boycotted work. They demanded compensation to the family of the deceased and a permanent job at NLC for a family member of the deceased. They also sought the government to withdraw CISF from the premises.

The AITUC will stage demonstrations at all district headquarters in the state on Tuesday to protest against the killing of the worker.

While condemning the incident, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko sought the government to provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and job to a family member of the deceased worker.

He said the attack on workers on NLC premises has become common ever since the CISF personnel were pressed into service. He urged the NLC management to ensure protection of workers.

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Karunanidhi being harassed by some forces in DMK: Alagiri

MADURAI: Maintaining that he has been "unfairly vilified" and suspended, DMK leader M K Alagiri on Monday alleged "some forces" in the party were not allowing its chief and his father M Karunanidhi to discharge his functions.

"Some forces in the party are not allowing Kalaingar (Karunanidhi) to function as party president. They are harassing the president of the party," he told a large gathering of supporters, in remarks seen as aimed against his younger brother and DMK treasurer M K Stalin.

The DMK south zone organising secretary, who convened the meeting of his supporters to decide on his future course of action amid speculations that he might float his own outfit, narrated the sequence of events leading to his suspension.

Alagiri, considered an influential leader of the party in the southern districts, said he had had been "unfairly vilified and suspended" for seeking to prevent "irregularities and malpractices" in the party elections.

The Madurai MP, who has been denied ticket for the April 24 Lok Sabha polls, said as the organising secretary of the party he had pointed out "irregularities" in the conduct of party elections in Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and several other districts.

He claimed nominations of many of his supporters were not even accepted for scrutiny. Before going on a foreign trip, he took up the issue with "proof" with Karunanidhi and asked him to take steps to stem the rot.

But the grievances of his supporters were not considered, and his supporters were suspended.

When he questioned party president about this, he threatened to dismiss my supporters. "I told him dismissing my supporters is like dismissing me. He listened to me. Then you all know what happened later. I was also suspended."

The consultative meeting of supporters was held at the Daya Mahal marriage hall, owned by Algiri near his house, which was seen overflowing even before he arrived there.

The mobilisation of the large number of lower-level cadres is seen as yet another show of strength by Alagiri in the last three months. A huge crowd had gathered for his birth day celebrations in January.

His supporters had been making vociferous call to teach the DMK a lesson for suspending their leader and his hardcore supporters ahead of the Lok sabha elections.

Alagiri supporters had put up posters stating that "Kalaingar DMK is ready to be born", a majority of his followers consider it a gimmick and he would not take such a drastic step.

Speculations about Alagiri parting ways with the party grew after his high-profile meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, BJP chief Rajnath Singh and film star Rajinikanth in the past week.

However, a close aide of Alagiri on Monday said he would not do the "foolish" thing of forming a separate party, but would find ways to make the DMK highcommand realise his importance, as he had done in the past too.

"This meeting is the foundation to find ways to grab the party from the tight grip of the 'anti-cadre' highcommand of the party," said Asokan, an ardent supporter of Alagiri.

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Sacked airhostesses seek pardon from AI; airline says will consider their appeal

The author has posted comments on this articleSaurabh Sinha, TNN | Mar 17, 2014, 03.59PM IST

NEW DELHI: The recently sacked 17 cabin crew members of national carrier Air India have submitted unconditional apology for reporting late to work and delaying flights. The 17, mostly airhostesses, have reportedly blamed their union for inciting them. The airline says it will consider their request for pardon on a "case to case basis."

Air India CMD Rohit Nandan is learnt to have made it clear to the erring staffers that he had viewed their indiscipline very seriously. "February virtually saw an unannounced industrial action by cabin crew members who sauntered in to report for flights when they wished. The on time performance of international flights during that month fell as low as 35%," said a source.

While 17 cabin crew members were sacked, two to three top union leaders have been suspended. "One of them wrote a letter to the Australian civil aviation authority complaining lack of rest by AI. The airline gives them rest as per rules of the Indian DGCA that are applicable to all desi carriers. The writing to a foreign agency was considered an anti-national act and the union leader who allegedly wrote the letter was suspended," said a senior official. In addition, two more unions leaders have been suspended — one on complaints of foreign exchange management act!

AI had terminated the 17 cabin crew members in nine days from February 24 to March 4. While 16 of these sacked personnel are airhostesses, one is a flight purser.

Air India (domestic) flights have among the lowest on time performance (DGCA) month after month in the figures released by the DGCA. Alarm bells started ringing in AI last month when the OTP of even the international flights fell to a mere 35% - which meant that 65% of the overseas flights were delayed - for some time. Among other reasons, instances of rampant crew indiscipline crew reporting late for work figured high when an analysis for the unusually poorer-than-usual OTP last few months was done recently.

AI had on February 20 issued a general notice warning crew that if they do not reach airport in time to operate flights on time, the airline will take penal action against them — including terminating their services. Four airhostesses lost their jobs just days after this warning was issued. AI has 3,600 cabin crew.

This is the second time ever that the airline management has acted tough with its employees in a bid to improve performance. In 2002, the aviation ministry backed the management move to sack 99 pilots of Air India (erstwhile AI that operated wide body planes overseas) when they went on strike. It later took back all but 13 pilots despite all types of pressure on the management.

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Britain carries out historic withdrawal from Afghanistan, hands over 135 bases

LONDON: In what is being called a historic moment, British troops have successfully completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, handing over all their bases to the Afghans except just two in Helmand province, scene of some of the bloodiest fighting.

At the peak of the invasion, more than 10,000 soldiers controlled 137 bases. Only 4,000 troops currently remain in the country.

The last of the equipment was brought back from of one of the biggest bases on Saturday.

British forces are due to end their combat role at the end of the year. The country has lost 448 soldiers in Afghanistan since the first casualty in 2002.

In a complex and well-planned operation spanning more than a month, Main Operating Base (MOB) Lashkar Gah and Patrol Base (PB) Lashkar Gah Durai have been handed over to Afghan control. A third base, MOB Price, has also been closed.

From a peak of 137 UK bases, just Camp Bastion, which remains the main base for UK personnel and Observation Post Sterga 2 are now under UK control.

Officials confirmed that the majority of the former UK bases are now in the hands of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).

Afghan forces are now leading 97% of all security operations across the country and are carrying out over 90% of their own training.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday "The handover and closure of our bases across Helmand underlines the progress UK forces have made to increase security and stability across the province but also to build up the capability of the Afghan forces who will carry that work forward".

Hammond added "UK combat operations will cease by the end of this year but our support for the Afghan people will continue. Meanwhile, our troops will continue the mammoth task of getting our people and equipment home by Christmas".

MOB Lashkar Gah was handed over to the Afghans on 24 February 2014 during a ceremony attended by civilian and military leaders from the district centre. It opened in 2006 and served as the headquarters of UK military forces in Afghanistan until August 2013 when Task Force Helmand moved to Camp Bastion. Patrol Base Lashkar Gah Durai, handed over to the Afghans on March 8, 2014, commands an important junction in Helmand.

MOB Price, which has been closed, was formerly home to Danish armed forces and was the UK's largest forward location for most of Operation Herrick.

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Magnitude 4.4 earthquake rocks Los Angeles area, USGS says

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck outside Los Angeles on Monday, the United States geological survey reported.

The quake, initially registered as a 4.7, was centered about 6 miles (9 km) north-northwest of Westwood, California, and occurred at about 6:30am Pacific Time (1330 GMT).

Local press reports said the quake was felt across the municipal area but there were no immediate reports of significant damage.

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Nation hasn't seen such worst central government: Jayalalithaa

KALLAKURICHI(Tamil Nadu): Coming down heavily on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre, AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa Sunday said the nation has not seen such a worst government.

Addressing an election rally in Kallakurichi, about 250 km from the state capital Chennai, Jayalalithaa said: "It is difficult to list out the problems faced by the people under the Congress-led UPA government. Price rise, rupee depreciation, hike in oil prices, reduction in agricultural produce and corruption."

According to her, one can say the nation has not seen such a worst government.

"As result of anti-poor and middle class policies, the country's economy has come to a standstill," she remarked.

She said the time has come for the people to free themselves from such a draconian rule. "Using this chance you should vote for AIADMK that is working for the welfare of Tamil Nadu."

She also listed out various welfare measures and freebie schemes implemented by her government in the state and also in the Kallakurichi constituency.

According to Jayalalithaa, the predominant issue in Tamil Nadu is the repeated arrest of its fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. She said this can be stopped only when there is a strong central government.

Accusing DMK president M. Karunanidhi of trying to hoodwink the people, Jayalalithaa said the party was in power at the centre for nine years but it did not do anything to control the rising prices of essential items.

Referring to DMK's poll promise of reviewing the oil pricing policy, she said the party supported the central government and did not oppose the centre's decision to allow oil marketing companies to fix oil prices.

She said the centre had betrayed the interests of the state by reducing the kerosene allocation distributed through ration shops, not giving licence to the state government to run cable television operations and not setting up the Cauvery River Management Board to oversee sharing of Cauvery river waters between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, besides others.

08.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Syrian army in full control of rebel town Yabrud: Report

DAMASCUS: Syrian troops on Sunday seized full control of the rebel bastion Yabrud in the strategic Qalamun region near the Lebanese border, Syrian state media reported.

"Our brave armed forces have full control over Yabrud in Damascus province and are combing through the town and removing explosive devices placed by terrorists," state television said, citing a military source.

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Abdul Rahim Wardak quits Afghan presidential race

KABUL: Former Afghan defence minister and presidential hopeful Abdul Rahim Wardak withdrew Sunday from the Afghan presidential race leaving nine hopefuls in the contest.

"I am announcing my withdrawal from the presidential race and next month's presidential elections," Xinhua quoted Wardak as saying at a press conference here.

Without giving any reason for quitting the contest, Wardak said that he was thankful to all those who supported him so far in the campaign. Wardak who did not express support for any candidate, added: "I want the country to have a fair and transparent election."

Rahim Wardak is the second candidate to quit the April presidential contest in Afghanistan.

Earlier, President Hamid Karzai's elder brother Abdul Qayum Karzai quit the presidential contest and threw his weight behind the country's former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul.

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Nation hasn't seen such worst central government: Jayalalithaa

KALLAKURICHI(Tamil Nadu): Coming down heavily on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre, AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa Sunday said the nation has not seen such a worst government.

Addressing an election rally in Kallakurichi, about 250 km from the state capital Chennai, Jayalalithaa said: "It is difficult to list out the problems faced by the people under the Congress-led UPA government. Price rise, rupee depreciation, hike in oil prices, reduction in agricultural produce and corruption."

According to her, one can say the nation has not seen such a worst government.

"As result of anti-poor and middle class policies, the country's economy has come to a standstill," she remarked.

She said the time has come for the people to free themselves from such a draconian rule. "Using this chance you should vote for AIADMK that is working for the welfare of Tamil Nadu."

She also listed out various welfare measures and freebie schemes implemented by her government in the state and also in the Kallakurichi constituency.

According to Jayalalithaa, the predominant issue in Tamil Nadu is the repeated arrest of its fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. She said this can be stopped only when there is a strong central government.

Accusing DMK president M. Karunanidhi of trying to hoodwink the people, Jayalalithaa said the party was in power at the centre for nine years but it did not do anything to control the rising prices of essential items.

Referring to DMK's poll promise of reviewing the oil pricing policy, she said the party supported the central government and did not oppose the centre's decision to allow oil marketing companies to fix oil prices.

She said the centre had betrayed the interests of the state by reducing the kerosene allocation distributed through ration shops, not giving licence to the state government to run cable television operations and not setting up the Cauvery River Management Board to oversee sharing of Cauvery river waters between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, besides others.

08.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

South Africa's biggest union calls strike for March 19

The author has posted comments on this articleReuters | Mar 16, 2014, 08.30PM IST

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa's biggest union has called a one-day strike for Wednesday to highlight youth unemployment in the country, where one in four people are jobless, the union said.

The 340,000-member National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) draws its members from car manufacturing, the metal industry, transport and general workers.

The strike would be the latest in a string of work stoppages in Africa's largest economy, weeks before a May 7 general election.

"It is a strike that members in all other unions can join. We think half a million workers will take part," Karl Cloete, deputy general secretary of NUMSA, told Reuters on Sunday.

In December, NUMSA, the biggest bloc in the COSATU labour grouping, said it would not support the ruling African National Congress in the election.

Many South Africans are disgruntled by the slow pace at which the ANC led by President Jacob Zuma is rolling back poverty two decades after the end of apartheid.

A strike over wages in the platinum sector has been going on for nearly two months and has cost employees more than 3.8 billion rand ($354 million) in lost earnings.

The strike has cost mining companies 8.6 billion rand in revenue so far, according to a tally updated almost every second on the Chamber of Mines' website.

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