19.04.2017
THE HEADLINES:-
- Ruling AIADMK faction in Tamil Nadu decides to sideline V.K Sasikala and her family members out of party and government.
- Supreme Court likely to pronounce verdict today on a plea seeking restoration of conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders, including L.K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti in the Ayodhya's demolition case.
- Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu says that a new film Institute will be set up in Itanagar.
- US President Donald Trump signs an executive order to tighten H-1B visa programme for highly skilled foreign workers.
- AND, in the IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Gujarat Lions by 21 runs; Chris Gayle becomes first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Twenty-20.
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In a major political development in Tamil Nadu, the ruling faction of the AIADMK has decided to sideline Ms VK Sasikala, who has been the long time aide of late leader Jayalaithaa from the party and Government. Ms Sasikala has been the long time aide of the late leader Jayalaithaa, who was made the party faction's General Secretary and now serving a prison sentence in Bengaluru. Senior leaders of the AIADMK Amma faction including many ministers discussed about the current political situation in the state among themselves twice yesterday in Chennai. Later, they met the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy and had a lengthy discussion. After the long hours of huddle, Finance Minister D.Jayakumar told the media that it has been decided to sideline Mr TTV Dinakaran and his family from running the affairs of the party and any intervention in the Government. He said the decision reflects the collective opinion of the grass root level workers of the party, its MLAs, MPs and ministers. He expressed the readiness of the ruling AIADMK faction to hold talks with the rival group led by Mr O.Panneerselvam for a merger any time. However, loyalists of Mr TTV Dinakaran have declined to accept the decision. A report from our correspondent:
"The decision to keep Ms VK Sasikala and her close associates from the ruling AIADMK faction, is viewed as an attempt to bolster the raproachment efforts, with the breakaway faction led by Mr O.Panneerselvam. He made the demand open at his home constituency near Theni yesterday saying, any merger move is possible only after keeping away Ms Sasikala and her family from the party. Minister Mr Jayakumar echoed the view saying, the dominance of a single family in running the party would be detrimental to its interests and a core group would be made in charge of the party management. JAYASINGH, AIR NEWS, CHENNAI."
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Tamil Nadu Unit of the BJP has said the merger move between the two factions of the AIADMK is driven by selfish motives. Addressing the media in Nagercoil, BJP leader and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said the reason for the split in the erstwhile AIADMK and now the rapprochement efforts are both entirely lacking of any genuine motives for the people's welfare, adding it is only self centric.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said those who have looted the poor and the middle classes will have to return. He said this in response to a follower's tweet. The follower wrote that corruption not only robs people of their hard earned money but also of their dignity. Mr. Modi further wrote there is no place for corruption in the country.
Responding to another tweet, Mr. Modi said Indian farmers are its pride, as their hard work feeds millions. He said the government is doing everything possible for their welfare.
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The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict today on a plea seeking restoration of conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders, including Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti in the demolition case in Ayodhya. A bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman is scheduled to pronounce the judgement.
There were two sets of cases relating to the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992. The first involved unnamed 'karsevaks', the trial of which is taking place in a Lucknow court, while the second set of cases relate to important personalities in a Rae Bareli court.
On April 6 this year, the bench had indicated that they may order holding of joint trial of the two sets of cases by transferring the trial from Rae Bareli to the Lucknow court. The apex court had also said since 25 years have already passed, in the interest of justice, it would consider ordering time-bound trial on day-to-day basis, to be completed preferably within two years.
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The government has told the Supreme Court that a comprehensive data protection framework may be put in place by this year end and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is working on it.
Stating this, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi yesterday urged a five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice Dipak Misra, to defer the hearing in the WhatsApp privacy policy matter by a couple of months so that the government can come out with the law on data protection.
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The Centre informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a task force to frame a road-map for implementation of the Law Commission's recommendations on decriminalisation of politics.
A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha yesterday asked the Centre to file the affidavit on the Public Interest Litigation seeking debarring of convicts for life from contesting polls and stopping them from entering judiciary and the executive. The matter has been listed for final hearing on 10th of July.
On the issue of setting up of special courts for MPs or MLAs for disposal of criminal cases, the Ministry said such a prayer was unwarranted as long as cases are disposed of expeditiously within a year.
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Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced that a Film Institute will be set up in Itanagar. Talking to news persons in Guwahati yesterday, Mr Naidu said that the institute will start functioning from a temporary campus with an introduction of 10 week short term course from 15th of May this year. He said that an investment of 200 crore Rupees is proposed to be made for the institute, which will benefit the students of North East region. Mr.Naidu hoped that desirous students of the region would benefit from the institute which is being setup under the aegis of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata.
The Minister also said that the permanent IIMC Aizawl campus will be ready by March next year. Mr.Naidu also announced to launch a new television channel for Arunachal Pradesh - Arunprabha from August this year.
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The country is likely to receive normal monsoon rainfall this year. Briefing media in New Delhi DG of Meteorological Department, K J Ramesh said, quantitatively, the South-West monsoon rainfall from June to September is likely to be 96 per cent of the Long Period Average plus minus five per cent. He said, there would be good distribution of rainfall across the country.
"India is in for a normal monsoon season this year. It is good for the agriculture and good for the economy of the country. Prospects of improvement expectation beyond 96 per cent plus minus 5, that probability for improvement towards near normal condition is 38 per cent at the moment."
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There has been no respite from the grueling heat wave condition in Odisha as intense heat wave condition continued to grip major parts of the state including Western and South-Western region. As many as 10 towns witnessed maximum day temperature hovering over 40 degree Celsius yesterday with Bolangir town in Western Odisha remained the hottest place in the state at 44.5 degree Celsius. However, the coastal districts have had a brief solace from the sweltering conditions following Nor’wester rains.
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In Madhya Pradesh, several parts of the state are in grip of intense heat wave. Our correspondent reports that schools up to class eight have been closed in Bhopal district from today due to hot weather.
"Intense heat wave conditions prevailed in Gwalior division and Sagar, Damoh and Ratlam districts during the last 24 hours. Gwalior recorded the maximum temperature of 45 degrees. Several places recorded maximum temperatures of above 43 degrees. People are facing intense heat like May in the month of April. Water crisis has also deepened at some places. SHARIQ NOOR, AIR NEWS, BHOPAL."
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Five days after intense fire fighting measures taken by Army, Air Force and district administration, fire on hills of Mount Abu has been doused. No fresh incident of fire has been reported. Mount Abu of Rajasthan had witnessed the massive fire which broke out 14th of this month near the famous sunset point.
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Indian Navy apprehended seven Sri Lankan fishermen and detained their one mechanized fishing boat for poaching in Indian waters last night. Our correspondent reports that the Lankan fishermen will be handed over to Tamil Nadu Coastal Security group Marine Police and brought before Nagapattinam court today.
"Indian Navy patrolling near International maritime boundary line apprehended seven fishermen from northern parts of Sri Lanka. The fishermen had entered Indian waters off Nagai coast when they were arrested by Indian Navy. The distance between Indian and Sri Lankan waters near Kodiakarai and Rameswaram are only a very few kilometers that fishermen often cross international maritime boundary line. Sri Lankan Navy apprehends fishermen from Tamil Nadu and detains their fishing boats as deterrent measure. More than 133 fishing boats of Indian fishermen are presently under Lankan custody as fishermen are released on humanitarian grounds. K DEVI PADMANABHAN, AIR NEWS, TIRUCHIRAPALLI."
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In Maharashtra, the polling for three Municipal Corporations of Chandrapur, Latur and Parbhani will be held today. There are total 1,285 candidates in the fray for 201 seats of these three local bodies.
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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to tighten the rules for technology companies seeking to bring highly skilled foreign workers to the United States. The order signed by Mr Trump yesterday targets the H-1B visa programme. The White House said the programme undercuts American workers by bringing in large numbers of cheaper foreign workers, which drives down US wages. The order directs US agencies to propose rules to prevent immigration fraud and abuse in the programme. Agencies have also been asked to suggest changes so that the H-1B visas are granted to the most-skilled or highest-paid applicants.
Mr Trump said the order sends a powerful signal to the world that the United States will defend its workers, to protect their jobs and put America first.
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In the IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore, RCB, have beaten Gujarat Lions by 21 runs, last night, at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. Chasing a big total of 214, Gujarat made efforts till the end. However, they could only manage 192 for 7 in 20 overs.
In the match, Chris Gayle of RCB became the first batsman to make 10,000 runs in Twenty-20 cricket.
In the Indian Premier League today, Sunrisers Hyderbad will take on Delhi Daredevils at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The match starts at 8 p.m.
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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
- Liquor baron Vijay Mallya getting arrested by UK cops and then getting bail makes for front page news in almost all the dailies this morning. "Mallya arrested, bailed in UK as extradition process begins" headlines Hindustan Times. The paper writes that bringing fugitive tycoon back to India set to be a long-drawn process lasting months, if not years: next hearing on May 17. "Law starts catching up: Mallya held on London by Scotland yard, gets bail" leads The Indian Express.
- Writing on the monsoon the Business Standard writes "Normal rain prediction lifts business sentiment. India Inc cheers IMD projection, sees rural demand pick-up". "Rain God to help economy this monsoon. IMD, skymet predict normal precipitation" states The Pioneer.
- The Hindu quotes the centre telling the Supreme Court that "Respect for national flag, anthem non-negotiable.
- The Times of India reports that nearly 20,000 fuel outlets in eight states, including Haryana will be shut every Sunday from May 14 after PM Modi's call to conserve oil and save the environment.
- The Business Standard writes "Government allays concerns over mobile tower radiation".
- With the summer holiday season approaching The Asian Age writes "Railways set to tackle holiday rush".
- DYNAMIC or flexi-fare in the Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains will be admissible under the leave travel concession (LTC) allowance. The department of personnel and training has issued a directive in this regard to all central government ministries reports The Financial Express.
- Referring to Delhi Metro Hindustan Times writes "Metro's new, autopilot-enabled trains ready to roll out in June".
- And finally, India will be the largest country to roll out World's 1st kid-friendly TB drugs. Well, The Times of India reports that it will be launched in all states by the end of 2017.
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