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Congress expels 6 LS MPs from Seemandhra region for anti-party activities

Congress today expelled six Lok Sabha MPs hailing from Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh for anti-party activities. Party President Sonia Gandhi approved the recommendation of AICC Disciplinary Committee for expulsion.

 The announcement was made by Party General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi in New Delhi this afternoon. The members expelled from the Party are V. Arun Kumar, Sabbam Hari, G V Harsha Kumar, L Rajgopal, R Sambasiva Rao and Sai Pratap.
AIR correspondent reports that the expelled members have been continuously serving notices to move No Confidence motion against the government. They have been stalling the proceedings in the House over Telangana issue of late. They are demanding that the decision to bifurcate the state be withdrawn.

Source: AIR

President okays Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill

President Pranab Mukherjee has given clearance to Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill to carve out the new state of Telangana. The bill is expected to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala elected as Nepal’s PM

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala has been elected as Prime Minister of Nepal. Mr Koirala was the only candidate to have filed his nomination yesterday and his victory was assured after the CPN-UML the second largest party in the Constituent Assembly decided to support his candidature after reaching an agreement with the Nepali Congress on power sharing. He is the fifth prime minister since the forming of the republic in 2008. The UCPN (Maoist) the third largest party and its alliance against him however, have decided to extend outside support and play a role of a constructive opposition to the Nepali Congress led coalition in writing the constitution. The newly elected Prime Minister Mr Koirala has said, the new government is committed to write the constitution within a year and taken on the other parties on board for framing the Constitution.

SC refuses to stay tabling of Telangana Bill in Parliament

Supreme court today refused to stay the tabling of Telangana bill in Parliament. The Apex court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by L. Payyavulu Keshav, Telugu Desam Party MLA, and several others.

The petitioners said, the process of bifurcation of the State into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh was unconstitutional as it was in violation of the principle of federalism. They pointed out that no political party, with the exception of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, had given explicit consent for including Hyderabad in Telangana. They also added that introduction of the Bill would jeopardise the interests, life and liberty of the entire nine crore people in the State and the interests of the other States.

Cabinet clears Telangana Bill, no UT status for Hyderabad

The Union Cabinet has cleared the Telangana bill with minimum changes in it. The bill says Hyderabad will not get the status of Union Territory.

The bill will be sent to the President for consent. It will be tabled in Rajya Sabha on 12th of this month. Highly placed sources said the bill, which was sent back by the Andhra Pradesh Legislature after discussions in the two Houses, got the Cabinet's approval at its special meeting held in New Delhi this evening.
The Cabinet also decided not to accept to the Seemandhra region's demanad for making Hyderabad a Union Territory. The mega city will remain as joint capital for a maximum period of ten years as decided earlier. The Rayal Telangana proposal was also shelved by the Cabinet.

Centre to bring Telangana bill in resumed winter session of Parliament beginning tomorrow

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said, the government will bring the Telangana bill in Parliament during the resumed Winter session beginning tomorrow. Talking to reporters after the floor meeting of leaders of different political parties in New Delhi, Dr Singh expressed hope that Parliament will be able to pass the bill.

The Prime Minister also hoped that important legislations like anti-corruption bills, women's reservation and communal violence bills pending before Parliament will be taken up.

AP Reorganization Bill returned to Centre

Andhra Pradesh Legislature has returned the State Reorganization Bill to the centre. The views of the State Legislature have been reportedly sent to the Union Home Ministry through State Chief Secretary P K Mohanthy.

Both the Assembly and the Council have discussed and rejected the bill on 30th of last month after a prolonged discussion as it was referred by the president under article three of the Constitution.

The returning of the bill gains significance in the backdrop of the Group of Ministers holding a meeting tomorrow in Delhi over the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill.

Govt establishes new department for Health Education & Research: PM

Recognizing the role of scientific inputs for accessible and affordable healthcare programmes, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that government has established a new department for Health Education and Research.

He said the development of Rota Virus vaccine, a new drug for malaria from India is receiving global attention.

In his inaugural address at the 101st Indian Science Congress at Jammu University on Monday, Dr Singh said that the 2013 Science, Technology and Innovation Policy reflects country’s ambitions and outlines the broad approach.

Govt. says economy may have expanded by 4.5 % in 2012-13

The government today said the economy may have expanded by 4.5 per cent in 2012-13, compared with the earlier estimate of 5 per cent, on account of subdued performance in agriculture, mining and manufacturing.

However, gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2011-12 has been revised upwards to 6.7 per cent from 6.2 per cent, according to the estimates of National Income, Consumption Expenditure, Saving and Capital Formation.

Growth in 2012-13 is the lowest in a decade, with the previous low of 4 per cent recorded in 2002-03.

Disapprove of ATM charges: RBI Dty Governor

RBI Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty has said that he disapproves the demand made by banks to charge their customers for using ATM services. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai yesterday, Mr. Chakrabarty said it is a little bit ridiculous that bank will charge customers for using an ATM. He said that instead banks must compare the charges of serving a customer at a branch as against at the ATM. He further informed that RBI does not decide on service charges, and it was up to the banks to decide their charges.

 Banks' umbrella body IBA has requested RBI to cap the number of free transactions to five per month across any ATM network.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna resigns

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has submitted his resignation to the Governor in Dehradun today.

Officers of IAS, IPS & IFS to spend minimum of 2 Years at each posting

Officers of the three premier services - IAS, IPS and IFS - will now spend a minimum of two years at each posting. The Department of Personal Training said any exception in the form of transfers or new appointments will only be done upon the recommendation of a civil services board. The new rules aimed at checking political interference.

States have now been mandated to constitute a civil services board, which is to be headed by the chief secretary, to consider questions of transfer of the said civil services officers.

Both the Houses of AP Legislature reject the State Reorganisation Bill; Congress says, Bill to be brought before Parliament

Both the houses of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature today rejected the State Reorganization Bill. A resolution was passed by voice vote before both the houses adjourned sine die. 

 A total 9 thousand 72 amendments have been proposed by members and all of them made part of the proceedings.

 Out of total 25 sittings, meaningful discussion could be taken place for only 13 days while 86 members took part in it and almost rest of all in the 294-member house submitted their written speeches.

Government Decides to Keep in Abeyance the Decision to Change the Procedure for Pan Allotment Till Further Orders

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has decided to keep in abeyance the decision to change the procedure for PAN allotment till further orders. Accordingly, the operation of Circular No. 11 dated 16.01.2014 issued to PAN service providers has been directed to be put on hold till further orders. In the meantime, the old procedure of PAN application and allotment shall continue. 

Courtesy : PIB

Amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes for 13 States and three Union Territories

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for making amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in respect of 13 States (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) and three Union Territories (Chandigarh, Delhi and Puducherry) by way of inclusion / correction / deletion of castes/communities according to  advices received from the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). The amendments will notify 115 changes recommended by the NCBC.

The proposed changes will enable persons belonging to these castes/communities to avail benefits of reservation in government services and posts as well as in central educational institutions according to existing policy. They will also become eligible for benefit under various welfare schemes, scholarships, etc. being administered by the Central Government, which are at present available to persons belonging to the OBCs.

Background:

The NCBC was set up in pursuance to the Supreme Court judgement in the Indira Sawhney case.   As per the NCBC Act 1993, Section 9 ("Functions of the Commission") states that:-

        i.            The Commission shall examine requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class in the lists and hear complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in such lists and tender such advice to the Central Government as it deems appropriate and;

     ii.            The advice of the Commission shall ordinarily be binding upon the Central Government."

The NCBC has been tendering advice to the Central Government from time to time. A total of 30 Notifications have been issued so far and till date, a total of 2343 "entries" (an "entry" means a caste, including its synonyms, sub-castes etc.) have been notified in the Central list of OBCs for 24 States and six Union Territories. The last such notification was issued on 08.12.2011. Since then, many more advices for inclusion/ deletion of castes/ communities and correction in the existing list of OBCs, have been received from the NCBC.

Uniform terms of appointment and conditions of service of chairpersons/members of tribunals/quasi-judicial bodies

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on uniformity of tenure, retirement age, re-appointment, pension, salary and allowances including medical facilities, leave and travelling allowances for chairpersons/members of Tribunals and other quasi-judicial bodies set up for through central legislations.

The recommendations of the GoM, as accepted by the Cabinet, will have prospective effect through an overarching legislation.

Background:

           

            In order to expedite delivery of justice and make available domain expertise in adjudication, the Government has set up various Tribunals under Central Acts, The terms of appointment and conditions of service of chairpersons and members of these Tribunals are different in many cases. The Government, constituted a GOM aimed at providing uniformity across all Central Tribunals. The Supreme Court has also observed the need for such uniformity.

Approval of Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2

The Cabinet has approved the Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2.  This project will improve the public transport system in the city of Bangalore and provide the much needed additional public transport infrastructure for the city. 

The total completion cost of the project is estimated at Rs.26,405.14 crore at the price levels of 2011-12 with price escalation of 5 percent per annum (including escalation and Central taxes and excluding State taxes and duties).

In the total project cost, the Government of India’s (GoI) share will be Rs.5281 crore and the Government of Karnataka’s (GoK) share will be Rs.8983 crore.  The share of GoK includes a Grant of Rs.1689.90 crore.  The balance amount of Rs.12,141.14 crore will be raised through Senior Debt.

                  The project will be executed by the existing Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of GoI and GoK having 50:50 equity of each, that is Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.  The project is scheduled to be completed in five years from the date of start of work.

Courtesy : PIB

Indian President’s address to the Nation on the eve of the Indian Republic Day

President’s address to the Nation on the eve of the Republic Day
The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, addressed the Nation on the eve of the 65th Republic Day. Following is the text of the President’s address on the occasion:

“My Fellow Citizens,

On the eve of 65th Republic Day, I extend warm greetings to all of you in India and abroad. I convey my special greetings to members of our Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces and Internal Security Forces.

The Republic Day commands the respect of every Indian. On this day, sixty four years ago, in a remarkable display of idealism and courage, we the people of India gave to ourselves a sovereign democratic republic to secure all its citizens justice, liberty and equality. We undertook to promote among all citizens fraternity, the dignity of the individual and the unity of the nation. These ideals became the lodestar of the modern Indian State. Democracy became our most precious guide towards peace and regeneration from the swamp of poverty created by centuries of colonial rule. From within the spacious provisions of our Constitution, India has grown into a beautiful, vibrant, and sometimes noisy democracy. For us, the democracy is not a gift, but the fundamental right of every citizen; for those in power democracy is a sacred trust. Those who violate this trust commit sacrilege against the nation.

Some cynics may scoff at our commitment to democracy but our democracy has never been betrayed by the people; its fault-lines, where they exist, are the handiwork of those who have made power a gateway to greed. We do feel angry, and rightly so, when we see democratic institutions being weakened by complacency and incompetence. If we hear sometimes an anthem of despair from the street, it is because people feel that a sacred trust is being violated.

Fellow Citizens,

Corruption is a cancer that erodes democracy, and weakens the foundations of our state. If Indians are enraged, it is because they are witnessing corruption and waste of national resources. If governments do not remove these flaws, voters will remove governments.

Equally dangerous is the rise of hypocrisy in public life. Elections do not give any person the licence to flirt with illusions. Those who seek the trust of voters must promise only what is possible. Government is not a charity shop. Populist anarchy cannot be a substitute for governance. False promises lead to disillusionment, which gives birth to rage, and that rage has one legitimate target: those in power.

This rage will abate only when governments deliver what they were elected to deliver: social and economic progress, not at a snail`s pace, but with the speed of a racehorse. The aspirational young Indian will not forgive a betrayal of her future. Those in office must eliminate the trust deficit between them and the people. Those in politics should understand that every election comes with a warning sign: perform, or perish.

I am not a cynic because I know that democracy has this marvellous ability to self-correct. It is the physician that heals itself, and 2014 must become a year of healing after the fractured and contentious politics of the last few years.

My Fellow Citizens,

The last decade witnessed the emergence of India as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The slowdown of our economy in the last two years can be some cause for concern but none for despair. The green shoots of revival are already visible. The agricultural growth in the first half of this year has touched 3.6 per cent and rural economy is buoyant.

2014 is a precipice moment in our history. We must re-discover that sense of national purpose and patriotism, which lifts the nation above and across the abyss; and back on to the road of prosperity. Give the young jobs and they will raise the villages and cities to 21st century standards. Give them a chance and you will marvel at the India they can create.

This chance will not come if India does not get a stable government. This year, we will witness the 16th General Election to our Lok Sabha. A fractured government, hostage to whimsical opportunists, is always an unhappy eventuality. In 2014, it could be catastrophic. Each one of us is a voter; each one of us has a deep responsibility; we cannot let India down. It is time for introspection and action.

India is not just a geography: it is also a history of ideas, philosophy, intellect, industrial genius, craft, innovation, and experience. The promise of India has sometimes been mislaid by misfortune; at other times by our own complacence and weakness. Destiny has given us another opportunity to recover what we have lost; we will have no one to blame but ourselves if we falter.

Fellow Citizens,

A democratic nation is always involved in argument with itself. This is welcome, for we solve problems through discussion and consent, not force. But healthy differences of opinion must not lead to an unhealthy strife within our polity. Passions are rising over whether we should have smaller states to extend equitable development to all parts of a state. A debate is legitimate but it should conform to democratic norms. The politics of divide and rule has extracted a heavy price on our subcontinent. If we do not work together, nothing ever will work.

India must find its own solutions to its problems. We must be open to all knowledge; to do otherwise would be to condemn our nation to the misery of a stagnant mire. But we should not indulge in the easy option of mindless imitation, for that can lead us to a garden of weeds. India has the intellectual prowess, the human resource and financial capital to shape a glorious future. We possess a dynamic civil society with an innovative mindset. Our people, whether in villages or cities, share a vibrant, unique consciousness and culture. Our finest assets are human.

Fellow Citizens,

Education has been an inseparable part of the Indian experience. I am not talking only of the ancient institutions of excellence like Takshashila or Nalanda, but of an age as recent as the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, our higher educational infrastructure consists of over 650 universities and 33,000 colleges. The quality of education has to be the focus of our attention now. We can be world leaders in education, if only we discover the will and leadership to take us to that pinnacle. Education is no longer just the privilege of the elite, but a universal right. It is the seed of a nation’s destiny. We must usher in an education revolution that becomes a launching pad for the national resurgence.

I am being neither immodest, nor beating a false drum, when I claim that India can become an example to the world. Because, the human mind flourishes best when it is, as the great sage Rabindranath Tagore said, free from fear; when it has the liberty to roam into spheres unknown; in search of wisdom; and when the people have the fundamental right to propose as well as oppose.

My Fellow Citizens,

There will be a new government before I speak to you again on the eve of our Independence Day. Who wins the coming election is less important than the fact that whosoever wins must have an undiluted commitment to stability, honesty, and the development of India. Our problems will not disappear overnight. We live in a turbulent part of the world where factors of instability have grown in the recent past. Communal forces and terrorists will still seek to destabilize the harmony of our people and the integrity of our state but they will never win. Our security and armed forces, backed by the steel of popular support, have proved that they can crush an enemy within; with as much felicity as they guard our frontiers. Mavericks who question the integrity of our armed services are irresponsible and should find no place in public life.

India`s true strength lies in her Republic; in the courage of her commitment, the sagacity of her Constitution, and the patriotism of her people. 1950 saw the birth of our Republic. I am sure that 2014 will be the year of resurgence.

JAI HIND!”

Veteran Telugu Actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao Passes Away

Legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao died at the age of 91 in Hyderabad on 22 January 2014.He was suffering from cancer for months.Nageswara Rao was the first generation actor who acted 240 movies as hero in Telugu and in Tamil movies as well.  He popularly known as ANR and he acted in movies like Devadasu, Laila Majnu, Anarkali, Premabhishekham, Prem Nagar and Megha Sandhesham etc.

Nageswara Rao had an acting spanning of 75 years and he had own production house in the name of Annapurna Productions.

He received Padma Vibhushan, Padma shri,  Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award and the NTR National Award in recognition of his work in Telugu Industry.