I have Netaji's blessings, will win over 300 seats: Akhilesh

Hathras (UP), Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

Dismissing his uncle Shivpal Yadav's threat today to float a new party, Samajwadi Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said he has the blessings of his father and the "entire family is one".
"The entire family is one...I have the blessings of Netaji...we will win over 300 (of the 403) seats in alliance with Congress this time," Akhilesh told a public meeting in Sikandaru for the candidates of the SP-Congress alliance on Sadabad, Sikandarau and Hathras seats.

Earlier in the day Shivpal had said, "I will form a new party after March 11 when results (of UP Assembly elections) are out. You make the government, we will make a new party."

Akhilesh also talked of his party's alliance with the Congress in the rally.

"I had come here in 2012 and today I come again and also brought the election symbol of Congress 'hand' with our own 'bicycle',"

"With hand, the bicycle will run faster," he stressed.Cautioning people against BJP, Akhilesh alleged that it belonged to those who tell "lies".

"The Prime Minister speaks about his 'Mann Ki Baat' on TV but 'man to chanchal hota hai' it keeps changing its stand... people of the country were made to stand in long queues before banks and were subjected to trouble...the jobless were not given jobs and even those working in factories were rendered jobless because of the note ban," he said.

"The Prime Minister of the country said that your 'achchhe din' are coming soon but today people are longing for their old days and asking how can they be restored," he said.
Criticising BSP, he said its leader installed 'elephants' which do no work and have been standing idle.

Akhilesh also cited various development works undertaken by his govenrment in the past five years.

Addressing another public meeting in Aligarh, Akhilesh said the alliance has the potential to change the political discourse of the country.

"With the hand supporting the cycle we are going to win the race," he said at the public meeting at the exhibition grounds.

"We are confronting a party which wants to divide people of India and thus weakens it," he said lashing out at the BJP.

Yadav said, "Demonetisation had not curbed corruption but has crushed the poor".
Referring to Aligarh Muslim University, whose minority institution status is being debated, he said his party was "fully committed to protect the interests of this great educational institution ".

2 Kashmiri athletes denied US visa

Srinagar, Jan 31, 2017, PTI

Two snowshoers from Kashmir have alleged they have been denied visa to the US due to "current (US) policy".

"Indian Snowshoers Denied Visas, due to 'current (US) policy'. This from our good friend Abid Khan, from Kashmir, minutes ago in our Facebook Messaging," Clyde Rabideau, Mayor of the Village of Saranac Lake in New York, wrote on his Facebook page.

The snowshoers reportedly denied visas are Abid Khan and Tanveer Hussain. They were supposed to take part in the 2017 World Snowshoe Championships in New York from February 24-25.

According to the conversation posted by Rabideau on his page, Khan informed him about the denial of the visa.

"Sorry sir, Visa denied," Khan wrote to the Mayor, a Democrat.

Khan claimed all the paperwork for both the athletes was in order including "local Government sponsorship, federation, your support letter, my financial background. They did not missed (sic) any supporting document."

"The lady officer at US embassy in New Delhi after checking all docs (sic), just went inside into another room. After returning she said 'Sorry, due to our current policy we cant issue you visa'," Khan said.

Rabideau, while promising help with the visa, said "this will not stand".

The athletes could not be contacted for comments.

Effort was to make Survey look like Big B blockbuster: CEA

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

Adding colour to an otherwise dull and dry Economic Survey, its lead author Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian today said the endeavour was to make it look like an Amitabh Bachchan blockbuster with "some drama, some tragedy and some comedy".

"Amitabh Bachchan more colourfully says issme drama hona chahiye, tragedy hona chahiye, comedy hona chahiye, saab kuch hona chahiye and that's what the Survey I think tried to do," he said in a lighter vein while talking about the voluminous 335-page document on state of the Indian economy.

The Oxford-educated economist pointed to a lot of discussion on the role and contents of the Economic Survey in recent times.

"What should the Survey aspire to (achieve)? And here the answer is clear, offered by arguably the greatest economist John Maynard Keynes.

"It must possess a rare combination of gifts. It must draw on mathematics, history, statesmanship, and philosophy -- in some degree. It must understand symbols and speak in words. It must contemplate the particular, in terms of the general, and touch abstract and concrete in the same flight of thought.

"It must study the present in light of the past for the purpose of future. No part of man's nature or his institutions must be entirely outside its regard. It must be purposeful and disinterested in a simultaneous mood, its authors as aloof and incorruptible as artists, yet sometimes as near to the earth as politicians."

He further said that "over three years", the Survey has "probably fallen short" of those lofty standards.

"But they have been – and must be – the aspiration for this and all Surveys to come," Subramanian added.

H-1B visa issue: India says conveyed interests, concerns to US

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

With reports that President Donald Trump is set to sign a new executive order aimed at overhauling H-1B and other work visas, India today said it has conveyed its "interests and concerns" to the US.
"India's interests and concerns have been conveyed both to the US administration and the US Congress at senior levels," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
However, he didn't elaborate whether the issue was raised after the recent reports that an executive order has been drafted by the Trump Administration and will severely impact Indian companies, specifically IT organisations.

The draft of the order was leaked and published by some news websites yesterday.
As per the leaked draft order, Trump would reverse former president Barack Obama's extension of the duration of the optional practical training work visas, which allowed foreign students to stay in the US a bit longer after completion of their studies.

The draft order will not only strangulates H-1B and L1 visas, but also increases inspector raj and ends employment authorisation cards to spouses on such work visas.

"I think with respect to H1Bs and other visa is part of a larger immigration reform effort that the President will continue to talk about through executive order and through working with Congress," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer had told reporters at his daily news conference yesterday.

Nearly two-thirds of H1B visa applicants are Indian nationals who either work for Indian IT services firms such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro or the local operations of US firms such as Accenture, IBM and Google.

687 candidates left in the fray in U'khand after scrutiny

Dehradun, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

With the rejection of 35 nomination papers during scrutiny in Uttarakhand, there are 687 candidates left in the fray in 70 assembly constituencies going to polls on February 15.
A total of 722 candidates had filed their papers for the February 15 Assembly polls.
Both BJP and Congress are contesting from all seventy seats in the state and none of the nominations filed by candidates of the two parties were rejected during scrutiny yesterday, the state election office here said.

20 of the rejected nominations were filed by independent candidates, it said.
After the rejections during scrutiny, the maximum number of 20 candidates are in the fray from Dharampur seat in Dehradun district where state Forest Minister Dinesh Aggarwal is contesting city mayor and BJP nominee Vinod Chamoli.

19 candidates will be battling it out at Raipur in the district, with 16 each in Sahaspur and Chaubattakhal in Pauri district.
The lowest number of four candidates each are left in Chakrata, Purola, Jageshwar and Champawat seats.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat is the only candidate in the state contesting from two seats ie Haridwar (rural) and Kichcha. On both these seats he is pitted against seven opponents.

No stay on new Jallikattu law, Tamil Nadu to maintain peace: SC

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017, PTI

In a relief to Jallikattu supporters, the Supreme Court today refused to stay the new legislation passed recently by the Tamil Nadu assembly but warned the state government not to allow commotion on the streets, reminding that law and order was its prime duty.

The apex court also permitted the Centre to withdraw the January 7, 2016 notification allowing Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

"What was the need for the situation? Why does this situation crop up? There was a situation which needed to be controlled. Please tell your executive that maintaining law and order situation is its prime duty. You please convey this," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman told the advocates appearing for Tamil Nadu.

The apex court permitted animal rights bodies and other individuals to amend their pending petitions for challenging the new legislation.

During the hearing, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said the Centre has filed an interlocutory application seeking to withdraw the January 7, 2016 notification and stated that petitions challenging it had become infructous.

Animal rights organisations which have challenged the notification opposed Centre's plea and said the application to withdraw the notification was not maintainable at this stage when the court has reserved its order on December 7, 2016.

"Notification is an executive act and legislature has given power to the executive to do that. There was a notification, which we have stayed. Now there is a legislation which we will deal with," the bench said.

The Attorney General said the notification is a delegated legislation and petitions challenging it can no more be sustained and the parties could file fresh pleas challenging the new law.

To this, the bench said it was upto the petitioners to either file fresh writ petitions or file interim applications amending the prayers in writ petitions.

Rohatgi then said the parties should be asked to approach the High Court as the challenge is now to the new act enacted by the state government.

"The Supreme Court should not entertain the petitions and petitioners should be asked to approach the High Court which has the jurisdiction over the the local law of the state," he said.

The apex court, while asking the the Animal rights groups about the grounds of challenge to the new law passed by the assembly, told the Attorney General, "Every now and then local laws are being challenged in Supreme Court. Since the 2014 judgement was passed by the court, we will not relegate them to the High Court".

Some of the animal right groups said the state government has not taken out the very basis of the 2014 judgement and had over reached it by changing the definition of Jallikattu.

The apex court then asked state government counsels, senior advocate K Parasaran and Rakesh Dwivedi, to spell out the objects of the new law.

Parasaran said the objective of new law was an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, so as to preserve the cultural heritage of the Tamil Nadu and ensure the survival and well-being of the native breed of bulls.

The bench referred to the idea behind the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and said there should not be any cruelty towards animals.

The Attorney General responded by saying the same law "permits slaughtering of animals" for religious purposes and also allows sacrifice of animals through 'Halal'.

To this, the bench said that it is because of "doctrine of necessity" and added the regulation should be conscious of the fact that when you kill the animal, pain should not be caused to it.

With regard to the law and order situation, the apex court reminded the senior lawyers about their constitutional duty and asked them to convey to the state government to maintain law and order strictly.

Parasaran said initially everything was peaceful, but then something happend. Another senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan said the people have the right to express freely and demand a legislation.

The bench said no one said that people cannot fight for a better law but the problem there was no need for commotion in which people died.

Several lawyers then told the bench that there was no death and the protest was peaceful.

BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy who sought intervention in the matter said two people had died and the protest had actually turned violent in which police stations were set on fire. He told the bench to ask Tamil Nadu government for a status report.

The bench asked the animal rights groups and individuals to file their amended petitions within two weeks and state government to file responses in six weeks.

It clarified that all intervention applications will be dealt with after the amended petitions are filed and the matter taken up for hearing.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017 piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was unanimously adopted on January 23 by a voice vote in the assembly after a brief debate.

Nearly 70 caveats including that of the state government were filed in the Supreme Court seeking prior hearing if pleas challenging the new legislation allowing Jallikattu came up for consideration.

The apex court has agreed to hear on the pleas of AWBI and other animal rights organisations challenging the new law passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly to allow bull taming sport Jallikattu in the state. 

Adityanath compares situation in western UP to Kashmir

Ghaziabad/New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

Firebrand BJP MP Yogi Adityanath has compared the situation in western Uttar Pradesh to that in Kashmir in 1990s, when Kashmiri Pandits had to flee the Valley, while the party defended its leaders over their controversial remarks during the poll campaign on alleged exodus of Hindu families from Kairana.
"Western Uttar Pradesh is following in the footsteps of Kashmir. In 1990, Kashmir Pandits were forced to migrate in large numbers.

"Crime, corruption and 'goondaraj' are at their peak in Uttar Pradesh. Like there was exodus in Kashmir in 1990, similar is the situation in Kairana (in Shamli) and other districts where the failure to act shows that the criminals are emboldened....
"Till when will the state government continue its vote bank politics at the cost of security in the state," the Gorakhpur MP said at election meetings in Loni and Sahibabad last evening.

His remarks came even as BJP MLA Suresh Rana, an accused in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, was booked yesterday by Uttar Pradesh Police on charges of inciting hatred after he said at a meeting that curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad if he is elected again in assembly polls next month.

Asked about Aditynath's remarks, BJP's UP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya today said that the situation in Western Uttar Pradesh was "very bad" and accused the Samajwadi Party government of giving patronage to goons who were responsible for migration of people.

"Something which has happened due to the failure of the government and if some of our leaders have talked about it, what wrong have they done," he said when asked if action will be taken against the leaders for their alleged communal remarks.

Kicking up a row, BJP MP Hukum Singh had in June last year claimed that close to 350 Hindus had left Kairana over alleged threats and extortion by criminal elements belonging to a particular community. Singh, however, had later done a U-turn saying it was not a communal matter.

He had alleged that the ruling Samajwadi Party was preventing action against anti-social elements responsible for the exodus since they happened to be its supporters, a charge rejected by the state government.

Sticking to his remarks, Adityanath today insisted that these should should not be seen as communal.

"I have not named any caste, community, religion. We are not dividing people on the ground of religion. It is not communal politics," he insisted.

"The situation in western UP is akin to what happened in Kashmir in 1990s. I ask people there, do not elect those who have caused this migration. The BJP is giving you a guarantee of security.

"If elected to power, the BJP will ensure that migration doesn't take place from these regions, district collectors will be responsible for this. A special task force will be formed for the purpose," he told reporters on Parliament premises.

Asked if the situation in western UP was actually akin to the one in Jammu and Kashmir in 90s, when militancy forced Kashmiri Pundits to migrate to other places, Adityanath replied, "Go to the region to check ground realities first hand."

The MP said the BJP is for both development and security of locals and dismissed allegations that his comments were communal.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) probe into Hukum Singh's claims had found that many families "migrated" from Kairana due to threats pertaining to "increase in crime" and "deterioration" of law and order there.

On the other hand, countering the NHRC, the National Commission for Minorities had said that people of both Hindu and Muslim communities had left Kairana to pursue better business opportunities in other places. They said the people had not migrated due to fear from a particular community.

Leaders of BJP, which has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for last 15 years, have made it clear that the "exodus" issue will be raised in a big way..
Maurya said, "The situation in western UP is very bad. SP government is responsible for that. Thousands of people had to leave their homes and family, especially because of the goons who are under the state government's patronage.

"Government has not taken any action against the goons and those who have left, the government should bring them back. BJP in its manifesto has clearly said that if its comes to power, provisions will be made to bring back those who have left.
"Also efforts will be made so that such a situation does not happen in the future. A task force will be created. Those goons who are responsible for such a situation, action will be taken against them."

"We will see. We will study what legal action has been taken. No action from the party," he said on possible action against party leaders for their controversial remarks .

At the election meeting last evening, Adityanath attacked the ruling Samajwadi Party and Mulayam Singh Yadav's clan, saying only one family had prospered under the SP rule.

He claimed that the Centre had given Rs 2.5 lakh crore for development works to the state but there is nothing to show for it.

"The uncle and his nephew, the father and his son are fighting with each other for the division of money," he said.

"Only BJP can bring good governance in the state. People should not remain a mute spectator and should come out to vote for the party, which is taking the country in the right direction. to ensure that Uttar Pradesh gets its righful place," he said.

Addressing the gathering, Union Minister and local MP V K Singh also appealed to the voters to support BJP.

India reacts cautiously to reports of Saeed's detention

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017, PTI

India today reacted cautiously to the reports of detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and four others under an anti-terrorism act by Pakistan.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the government has seen reports on Pakistan Interior Ministry order placing the JuD and the Falah–e-Insaniyet Foundation under the watchlist and also the notification under which the foundation has been included in the second schedule of their anti-terror legislation under UN Security Council Resolution number 1267.

"We have also noted that Hafiz Saeed and four others have been placed under preventive detention.

"Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity," Swarup said.

The Spokesperson further said India has long maintained that the UNSC 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states.

"We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions," he said.

According to JuD activists, Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.

Shivpal shocker: To float new party, back SP 'rebels'

Etawah (UP), Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

Throwing a fresh challenge to Akhilesh Yadav, his sidelined uncle Shivpal today announced that he will float a party after election results are out on March 11 and threatened to back "rebel" candidates.

"You make the government, we will make a new party," Shivpal said after filing his nomination papers for Jaswantnagar seat on SP ticket drawing a sharp retort from his nephew and new party chief Akhilesh who said in Etah that those working against the its interest will not be spared.

The Chief Minister asserted that he had party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's blessings even as Shivpal's outburst came as a setback to SP which, having sealed a pre-poll pact with Congress, appeared to be picking up pace in the poll campaign after the bitter turf war between the uncle and nephew threatened to derail it.

"There was a lot of speculation but I have for now filed my nomination papers as a Samajwadi Party candidate," said Shivpal, who has been virtually isolated after Akhilesh took over the reins of the party and removed him as state chief.

The senior Samajwadi Party leader not only announced that he would form a new party but went a step ahead by declaring his support to those who were denied party tickets by Akhilesh and were contesting as "rebels".

After filing his papers, the 61-year-old four-time MLA from Jaswantnagar, told a public meeting that he "has been obliged (by Akhilesh) by getting party ticket...or else I would have contested as an Independent."

"Many supporters wanted me to contest as Independent... had that been the case, I would have been free. I filed my nomination papers, there were a lot of hurdles but I still filed the papers on SP's cycle symbol," he said.

Akhilesh gave in to his father Mulayam's request that Shivpal be fielded by the party from Jaswantnagar in Etawah district, considered the home turf of the ruling Yadav clan.

"I will remain solidly behind Netaji (Mulayam) till my last breath... I had told the chief minister that everything is acceptable but not Netaji's humiliation," he said.

Opposing the SP-Congress alliance, Shivpal said, "Six months ago, what was the condition of the Congress? It would have won four seats. So who got the advantage? Congress got. Our people lost tickets." UP has 403-member Assembly.

Those working against the party's interest will not be spared, the Chief Minister, without take any name while speaking in Etah, 100 km away, almost minutes after his warring uncle spoke.

"The entire family is one...I have the blessings of Netaji... we will win over 300 (of the 403) seats in alliance with Congress this time," Akhilesh told a public meeting later in Sikandaru.

Asserting that Samajwadi Party's rise was due to Mulayam alone, and that he had attempted to convince Akhilesh to let his father remain the party chief, Shivpal claimed that those who rose through the party ranks because of Mulayam have now done things to hurt and embarrass him.

"Netaji was attacked because he and I were speaking out against those who were indulged in wrongdoing. I repeatedly requested Akhilesh not to insult Mulayam Singh but he didn't listen," he claimed.

Shivpal also highlighted the work done by his ministry. "We ran the government for five years, was my ministry's performance inferior to others?" he posed.

Having been marginalised in the new arrangement in the party after his nephew Akhilesh took over the reins, Shivpal has been completely ignored in campaigning too with his name not figuring anywhere in the list of Samajwadi Party's star campaigners.

He, like Mulayam has expressed his unhappiness over the alliance with Congress. His outburst is being viewed in the ruling party circles as a major internal setback to the fledging SP-Congress coalition, which is also being opposed by a section of Muslims, the traditional votebank of the two allies -- much to the delight of BSP, another key contender.

Shivpal's elevation as chief of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Samajwadi Party had triggered a massive turf war between him and Akhilesh last year, threatening a split within the party.

The Election Commission had earlier this month declared the Akhilesh faction as the Samajwadi Party, and granted it the use of the 'bicycle' symbol for the polls.

Akhilesh won control over his party as well as its symbol, but the rift appears to remain unresolved.

After taking over the reins of the party, Akhilesh has handed his father, who launched Samajwadi Party 25 years ago, an advisory role as mentor and has been taking all crucial decisions on the UP elections including sealing an alliance with Congress.

Meanwhile, reacting to Shivpal's statement, SP spokesman Sunil Singh Yadav said, "Now there will be no effect of anyone's statement on people. The alliance of party with Congress will give a new direction to not only the state but country also."

"People of UP have made up their mind to make Akhilesh Yadav's government again. Now everyone is free to make a (new party) whenever one wants," he said.

The seven-phase Uttar Pradesh election begins on February 11 and will end on March 8. Votes will be counted on March 11.

Note ban: ED attaches Rs 25 cr of assets of former Karnataka officer

Bengaluru, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

ED today attached assets worth Rs 25 crore, including three huge agricultural lands and a farm house, allegedly acquired by Karnataka's ex-chief project officer of highway development department in connection with its money laundering probe registered post demonetisation.

The agency identified the accused as S C Jayachandra, who was also arrested by the agency in December last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

He is in judicial custody at present. The Enforcement Department (ED) said it's investigations have "revealed that several properties were acquired by the accused (Jayachandra) in his name and in the name of his wife, his brother in law and in the name of his mother-in-law.

"All these persons had actively assisted Jayachandra in acquiring and possessing various properties," it said.

The seized assets consist of about 13 residential properties, 3 agricultural lands and a farm house and are mostly in the vicinity of Bengaluru and in the Chitradurga district of the state.

"It was also noticed that the accused had projected the ill-gotten properties as untainted. The market value of these properties aggregates to over Rs 25 crore," it said.

The case emerges from a December 1, 2016 seizure made by the Income Tax department here of Rs 5.7 crore in new Rs 2000 notes.

ED had registered a money laundering case against seven people, including Jayachandra,based on a CBI FIR in the case and had seized new notes worth Rs 91.94 lakh in Rs 2000 notes from them.

The modus operandi adopted by these people, ED had said, was byposing as "customers" looking to get old currency exchanged illegally after paying commission to the said middlemen.

The accused had set up a "systematic" network for supplying new currency notes in exchange of old/demonetised currency to various persons who had hoarded demonetised currencies, it had said.

The customers could get their notes exchanged by paying 20-35 per cent commission, the agency said.

"The accused had supplied new currencies on many earlier occasions to Jayachandra through Prasanth and they fell into trap while making one such effort to supply new currency on December 4.

"The said new currencies were sourced from various parts of Karnataka," it had said.
The role of a few bank officials and entry operators is also under the scanner of ED.

An attachment under PMLA is aimed to deprive the accused from obtaining benefits of his ill-gotten wealth and such an order can be appealed before the Adjudicating Authority of the said Act within 180 days.

Rail Budget to focus on safety, infra development

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

A safety fund of Rs 20,000 crore for railways reeling under a series of deadly derailments, development of new lines, station redevelopment and setting up of Rail Development Authority and High Speed Rail Authority will be in focus as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presents the first Rail Budget subsumed in the General Budget tomorrow.

Going ahead with the government's reform agenda, Jaitley will discard the 92-year-long tradition of presentation of a separate Rail Budget and instead make it part of the General Budget earmarking a few paragraphs on the public transporter's finance, projects and the road map for the next fiscal.

Jailtley is likely to give more focus on infrastructure development such as new lines, doubling, station redevelopment, safety upgradation.

Reeling under a series of derailments, the Budget is likely to announce creation of a separate safety fund of about Rs 1 lakh crore over the next five years out of which Rs 20,000 cr will be earmarked for 2017-18, according to sources.

Railways will also miss the operating ratio target of 92 per cent and is likely to settle at about 94-95 per cent.

The Budget 2017-18 is likely to announce setting up of Rail Development Authority, a regulatory authority for the public transporter. The formation of High Speed Rail Authority with the selection of its managing Director and other directors is also likely to be announced.

The Budget will also give a fillip to non-fare revenue exercise and monetising assets like vacant land, estimated to be about 48,000 hectares including redevelopment of stations with private participation.

An ambitious project of increasing train speed upto 160-200 km per hour on major trunk routes will be announced which will involve fencing off the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes at an estimated cost of Rs 21,000 crore.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who had written to Jaitley seeking Rs 1.19 lakh cr as a special safety fund, finally succeeded in getting a nod from the Finance Ministry for creation of a separate fund for the badly needed safety upgradation of rail infrastructure.

While Rs 15,000 crore will be from the gross budgetary support, railways will have to generate Rs 5000 crore from internal generation. It is to be seen whether the Railways will generate it by levying a safety cess or manage through the internal surplus.

The target of operating ratio is at 92 per cent Railways, which is losing both passenger and freight volumes, witnessed its traffic receipts in April-December 2016 down to Rs 1.19 lakh as against Rs 1.34 lakh cr target, a negative growth of more than 11 per cent.

Despite the introduction of flexi-fare, the passenger revenue segment has also witnessed a fall in earnings by over 9 per cent as compared to the last year.

The plan outlay is likely to go up from Rs 1.21 lakh crore to about Rs 1.36 lakh cr in the next fiscal.

Railways have accelerated spending by over 28 per cent on infrastructure projects in the nine months of the current fiscal as against the corresponding period in the last fiscal.

Expenditure on projects like laying new tracks, doubling and electrification of network across the country during April-December 2016 has witnessed a significant jump touching Rs 68,059 crore mark as compared to the Rs 53,118 crore in the same period last fiscal, which was an increase of 28.1 per cent, according to the Railways data.

The budget will continue to focus on speedy electrification and laying of new tracks as part of capital expenditure plan.There will be no announcement of new trains.
The Demand for Grants with details of allocations for states and specific projects will be taken up on February 3. 

Govt a complete failure in job creation: Rahul

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today attacked the Modi government after it listed its achievements in the President's address, alleging that it has been a "complete failure" on job creation front.
"The main question in India today is creation of jobs for young people. It is a big issue today to provide jobs for youth in India," Rahul said outside Parliament after President Pranab Mukherjee's customary address on the first day of the Budget session of Parliament.

The Congress vice-president, who is actively campaigning in the election bound states, said, "Government has failed in this matter. Government is a complete failure in job creation. That's my main point."

Marking opening of the Budget session, the President in his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament referred to demonetisation to fight blackmoney and corruption as also the surgical strikes across the LoC as bold decisions, both of which were received with thumping of desks by members.

The President said a nationwide network of 50 India International Skill Centres was being established with the objective of providing training of global standards to the youth.

He said over 20 lakh youth have benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

9 Dalits injured in attack in Hisar village

Hisar (Har), Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

Nine Dalits were injured when nearly 20 persons allegedly attacked them following some argument in Hisar district's Mirchpur village from where CRPF troops were withdrawn only last month, six years after two people were burnt alive in an inter-caste violence.
The villagers were last night watching a cycle show when some persons present there allegedly passed a caste-related comment on a Dalit youth who had won a race, police said today.

When the Dalits objected, a group of people belonging to another community allegedly attacked them, they said.

After the incident, a large number of Dalits gathered outside of the Mirchpur Police Chowki and held a demonstration and raised slogans against the police, police said.

On receiving information about the incident, SP Rajender Kumar Meena and Deputy Commissioner Nikhil Gajraj along with other officers and police force reached the village last night and met the locals, they said.

The situation in village is under control and extra police force has been deployed in the village to avoid any untoward incident, the SP said, adding in-charge of Mirchpur Chowki has been transferred.

One injured was admitted to Agroha Medical College while five others to civil hospital here with simple injuries and were likely to be discharged today, Superintendent of Police Rajender Kumar Meena said.

A case under section 148 (rioting), 149 (if an offence be committed by any member of an unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of IPC and under the provisions of the SC/ST Act has been registered against 15 persons in Narnaund Police Station last night.

Nearly seven years ago, two people were burnt alive in an inter-caste violence in the same Mirchpur village.

Later, CRPF troops had been deployed in the village to maintain peace, but these were withdrawn last year.

A 20-member committee had been formed earlier to maintain harmony in the village.
CRPF had been deployed in Mirchpur when allegedly a group of villagers belonging to upper caste torched over a dozen houses belonging to Dalits on April 21, 2010 in which a 19-year-old polio-stricken girl and her aged father were charred to death.
The incident was triggered by an argument between some Dalit youths and upper caste men after a person from the latter faction had thrown a stone at a dog which was barking at him. He was passing through a Dalit locality in the village. 

TN CM announces probe into violence during pro-Jallikattu stir

Chennai, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

Bowing to demands from opposition parties and others, Tamil Nadu government today announced a Commission of Inquiry to go into the circumstances leading to the violence during the recent pro-Jallikattu stir at the Marina and elsewhere and the alleged police excesses.

In a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the commission would be headed by a retired high court judge and complete the probe in three months.

He also announced withdrawal of cases against students, who had spearheaded the week-long protests earlier this month at Marina Beach here and elsewhere across the state, demanding lifting of the ban on the bull taming sport.

The protest had turned violent on January 23 when police dispersed the agitators, two days after the state promulgated and ordinance for allowing the sport.

"In continuation of protests seeking nod for bull taming sport Jallikattu, law and order problems happened in Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore on Jan 23 and other areas and a Commission of Inquiry will be set up to enquire into the reasons and circumstances for it," Panneerselvam said.

Spelling out the terms of reference, he said the Commission will probe if the police had used appropriate force over the protesters, and if it was proportionate to the circumstances, and the damage to public and private properties.

"It will enquire if there had been excesses in police action and if it had been so, the Commission will advise on the action to be taken," he said adding recommendations will also be made to avert such situations in the future.

The Commission will conclude its inquiry in three months and submit its report to the government.

Noting that the police cyber crime wing was looking into alleged involvement of some police personnel in illegal activities like torching incidents, he said, "At the conclusion of such probe, if the was confirmed that such police personnel indulged in such activities, stern action will be taken."

He also announced withdrawal of cases filed against 36 students, "considering their future".

"Legal steps will be taken immediately to fully ease out students from the cases," he added.

Opposition parties, including the DMK, have slammed the police for lathicharging the protesters and also sought a probe into alleged police excesses.

The matter has also been taken to the Madras High Court where PILs have been filed seeking a probe, with the former issuing notice to the government for its reply.

Panneerselvam said work on setting up a temporary fish market at Nadukuppam here, hit by the violence, will be completed in one or two days.

A permanent, modern and hygiene fish market will be set up at a cost of Rs 70 lakh.

First money laundering conviction: Ex-Min jailed for 7 yrs

Ranchi, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

In the first money laundering conviction in the country, former Jharkhand Minister Hari Narayan Rai has been sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 5 lakh by a special court here.
The maiden conviction, ordered yesterday by the court of Special Judge B K Tiwari, has come after the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was enforced 12 years ago and it saw Rai, former state Chief Minister Madhu Koda's cabinet colleague, being convicted for laundering funds to the tune of over Rs 3.72 crore.

The case pertains to the money laundering probe involving Koda and others and was unearthed by the agency in September 2009 in which a number of arrests were made and assets worth hundreds of crores were attached.

"Rai, as Minister in the Jharkhand government, during the period 2005-08 laundered his illegal income through purchase and acquisition of various assets by misappropriation of public money and using the same for his personal benefits," the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement issued after the order of conviction.

Rai, elected as an MLA from the Jarmundi Assembly seat in Dumka district, held Cabinet portfolios like that of Tourism Development, Urban Development, Rural Works and Forests not only in the Koda cabinet but also in the government of former CM's like Arjun Munda and Shibu Soren.

"Rai has been pronounced guilty under section 3 (offence of money laundering) read with section 4 (punishment for money laundering) of the PMLA and has been sentenced to 7 years Rigorous Imprisonment, the maximum under the said Act, and has been additionally fined Rs 5 lakh. If the fine is not deposited, the order directed Rai to undergo another RI of 18 months. The court found him guilty for laundering proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 3,72,54,016," the agency said.

Calling it a "historic judgement", ED Director Karnal Singh told PTI that the agency will "continue its sustained action against money launderers as such entities work against the nation and the society."

"ED is committed to take action against the persons involved in money laundering," the ED chief added.

A senior official said: "This is the first conviction under the PMLA in the country which was enacted in 2002 and implemented from 2005 in order to check and curb black money and grave financial crimes."

The ED had taken over this case in September, 2009 after taking cognisance of Jharkhand Vigilance Bureau's FIRs in the case and had filed three charge sheets in the case since then.

The CBI too probed the case under various sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.

ED said its probe found that Rai "established a construction company under the name Ms Mahamaya Construction Private Limited in the name of his wife Sushila Devi and others, Ms Maa Gauri Construction in the name of his brother Sanjay K Rai and others and also established Ms Baba Basuki Dairy Firm in the name of his wife and brother and laundered huge money in the name of the said companies/firms and projected them as untainted money.

"Rai had also transacted huge amount of money with his wife and his brothers Sanjay K Rai, Dev Narayan Rai and projected them as untainted money," it said.

Apart from filing three charge sheets in this case, the trial was completed in September last year and the arguments ended on January 16 earlier this month after which the conviction order against Rai was made by the local court here.

ED is the central agency to enforce the PMLA in the country.

Note ban to shave off GDP growth by up to 0.5 pc

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017 (PTI)

Demonetisation will shave off the economic growth for the current fiscal by 0.25 per cent to 0.50 per cent though it will have long-term benefits for the economy by reducing interest rates and eliminating corruption, besides bringing in more activities in the formal sector.
The cash squeeze, following junking of high value notes of Rs 500/1000 on November 8, 2016, the Economic Survey for 2016-17 said, "will have significant implications for GDP, reducing 2016-17 growth by 0.25 to 0.50 percentage points compared to the baseline of 7 per cent."

The Survey has, however, projected the growth rate for 2017-18 at 6.75-7.5 per cent. For the current fiscal, the GDP growth has been estimated at 6.5 per cent, lower than 7.1 projected by Central Statistics Office earlier this month.

It expressed hope that the remonetisation exercise will eliminate cash squeeze by April 2017, while asserting that the adverse impact of demonetisation on GDP growth will be transitional.

"Once the cash supply is replenished, which is likely to be achieved by end-March 2017, the economy would revert to the normal," the document said.

The costs of demonetisation include contraction in cash money supply and subsequent, albeit temporary, slowdown in GDP growth, while the benefits to the economy will be in the form of increased digitalization, greater tax compliance, reduction in real estate prices, increase long-run tax revenue collections and GDP growth.

It further said that effective cash in circulation fell sharply although by much less than commonly believed – a peak of 35 per cent in December, rather than 62 per cent in November since many of the old high denomination notes continued to be used for transactions in the weeks after November 8.

IUML MP Ahamad critical after heart attack during Prez speech

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017, PTI

Former Union minister and Indian Union Muslim League leader E Ahamed today suffered a cardiac arrest during the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament and is in a critical condition.

According to sources at RML hospital, the MP from Kerala's Mallapuram, is on artificial life support and a team of doctors is closely monitoring his condition.

"The MP had no pulse or heartbeat when he arrived at the hospital. A team of doctors carried out a resuscitation procedure following which his heartbeat returned but his condition is critical and he is currently under close observation of doctors," a senior doctor said.

Earlier, 78-year-old Ahamed, fell unconscious soon after he took a seat in the rear rows of the Central Hall.

"He arrived a little late. As soon as he sat down, he fell unconscious. Doctors attached with the President who were present there extended emergency help and he was rushed to the hospital," a senior official of the Lok Sabha Secretariat said.

At around 2.15 PM, he was shifted to the RML trauma centre's ICU where he was put on ventilator.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inquired about his health.

According to hospital sources, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Union minister Jitendra Singh visited RML hospital to inquire about Ahamed's condition.

Ahamed had served as Minister of State for External Affairs in the previous UPA government.

PM hopes for comprehensive discussions during Budget session

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

Ahead of the start of the Budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hoped for a comprehensive discussion in Parliament.
He noted that in the last few days, the government has held discussions with all political parties to ensure that House proceedings are not disrupted.

There should be comprehensive discussion for welfare of society, Modi told reporters outside Parliament.

The Prime Minister said he has faith that all factions will come together in Parliament for welfare of society.

He said it is the first time that the Union Budget is being presented on February 1. Modi recalled that while budgets were earlier presented at 5 in the evening, it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who advanced it to morning.

"Today, a new tradition will begin. First, the budget is being advanced by nearly a month. And second, Rail Budget in being incorporated into this. There will be discussion on this also and the benefits that it will have in the coming times," he said.

After the Winter Session was washed out due to protests over demonetisation, Modi had yesterday reached out to the opposition at an all-party meeting called here yesterday.

The meeting was attended by all major parties except Trinamool Congress, which has been unhappy over the note ban and arrest of its MPs in chit fund cases.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu hoped that all parties understand the importance of the Budget session and prepare themselves to participate in a more meaningful and constructive manner.

He said government is ready to discuss each and every issue including demonetisation.

"This budget is a new budget because general budget and railway budget have been combined together. The members will have an opportunity to discuss policies of the government.

"Secondly, we will have ample opportunity to scrutinise the budget proposals in depth because we have a committee system and thirdly, we can have a general discussion on various issues in the session," Naidu said.

The minister said government has nothing to hide or worry, adding that, "we have taken many far-reaching reforms in various walks of life and governance and we are happy of discuss about the same including the recent demonetisation.

"We can also discuss other related issues that are currently before the country. I hope we will have a meaningful session and members of all parties will use this occasion to have a more constructive debate," the minister added. 

Surgical strikes a fitting reply to repeated incursions: President

New Delhi, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

The surgical strikes by India at several terrorist launch pads along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration from Pakistan was a "fitting reply" to the repeated incursions on its territorial sovereignty, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.

Noting that the country is facing the grave challenge of terrorism for the last four decades including cross-border attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Mukherjee, in his address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session, said India will actively cooperate with other nations to decisively defeat terrorist forces.

Asserting that the government is committed to combating terrorism and ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice, he said, "My government has taken decisive steps to give a fitting reply to the repeated incursions on its territorial sovereignty.

"On 29th September 2016 our defence forces successfully conducted surgical strikes at several launch pads along the Line of Control to prevent infiltration by terrorists. We are proud of the exemplary courage and valour displayed by our defence personnel and owe a debt of the gratitude to them."

J&K has been affected by terrorism sponsored and supported from across the border, Mukherjee said, adding the attempts of infiltration, incidents of terrorist violence and loss of precious lives of civilians and security personnel remain a cause of "grave concern".

"India has been facing the grave challenge of terrorism for the last four decades. Terrorism poses a serious danger to the global community. India will actively collaborate with other nations in decisively defeating these forces.

"My government is committed to combating terrorism, and to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice," the President said in his nearly hour-long address.

He also talked about Left Wing Extremism and said there has been considerable success in containing the menace over the last three years, with the surrender of over 2,600 extremists. The security situation in the north eastern states has also shown significant improvement, he added.

During his address, the President also noted that the government continues its active diplomacy aimed at facilitating national development, enhancing the country's security and ensuring greater Indian influence in global fora.

There has been a consolidation of relations with friendly countries and major powers, the President said.

"The common desire of the South Asian region for greater prosperity and development led most of its nations to make common cause in their opposition to terrorism," he said.

He also referred to India's Membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and signing of the Memorandum of Obligations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), saying they were further reflections of the country's growing and multi-dimensional role in global affairs.

He said India sent a strong message of its commitment to combat climate change with focus on climate justice and sustainable lifestyle when it ratified the Paris agreement on October 2, 2016.

Latur factory mishap: Toll rises to 9

Mumbai, Jan 31, 2017, (PTI)

The death toll in the mishap at an oil mill in Maharashtra's Latur district has climbed to nine with two more bodies being recovered from a tank in the factory, a fire brigade official said today.
Earlier, seven workers had died yesterday after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a tank at the Kirti Oil Mills in Latur.

Two more bodies were recovered from the tank late last night, a fire brigade official told PTI over phone.

The fire brigade operation was called off at 3 AM today after recovery of the last body, he said.

Yesterday, some workers had fallen unconscious while cleaning the tank at the factory in Latur MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation).

A few others climbed down into the tank to check on them but did not come out.

They died after inhaling poisonous gas, the official said.

One worker, who was rescued in an unconscious state, is undergoing treatment at Vivekanand Hospital in Latur, fire brigade official said.

A probe has been started into the incident.

The deceased have been identified as Dagdu Pawar, Baliram Pawar, Narendra Tekale, R D Shinde, Maroti Gaikwad, Rambhau Yerme, Akash Bhute, Parmeshwar Birajdar and Atkare Shivaji.

State Minister for Labour Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar and Assistant Labour Commissioner D P Patil visited the mishap site where they were gheraoed by relatives of the deceased late last night.

Nilangekar, who is also the Guardian Minister of Latur, later told reporters that they were trying to find out if a case under IPC section 302 (murder) could be filed in connection with the incident.

He also said that the mill would be sealed.

The mill's director, Ashok Bhutda, said information about cause of the mishap could only be provided after the probe.

SC names former CAG Vinod Rai to run BCCI

NEW DELHI, Jan 31, 2017, DHNS

4 SC-nominated administrators will oversee work

The Supreme Court on Monday appointed a panel of cricket administrators to implement the recommendations of the Lodha committee. Headed by Vinod Rai, former comptroller and auditor-general of India, the panel will oversee the operations of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The panel also comprises Bengaluru-based historian Ramachandra Guha, Infrastructure Development Finance Company managing director Vikram Limaye, and former women’s Test cricketer Diana Edulji.

Taking the next step after removing BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke, a three-member bench, headed by Justice Dipak Misra, nominated the administrators as an interim measure, in accordance with its own January 2 indications. “The BCCI CEO will report to the committee which shall take care of the affairs of the BCCI. The BCCI shall report to the committee of administrators, who shall supervise the management of the board,” the bench said.

The order came after the court considered names suggested by amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium and Anil Divan. Kapil Sibal, who represented some state cricket associations, and Arvind Datar, who represented the BCCI, had also submitted some names. The bench, with Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud, refused to accept attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi’s plea to include the secretary of the sports ministry as one of the administrators.

The court cited its earlier direction that no government servant should be a member of the BCCI. The bench also turned down the argument, put forth by the BCCI and state associations, that it would disturb the cricket body’s electoral college by appointing outside administrators.

In order to ensure “objectivity and transparency”, the court allowed BCCI officials Amitabh Choudhary and Anirudh Chaudhry, along with Limaye, to represent the top cricket body at a meeting of the International Cricket Council in the first week of February.

During the hearing, Sibal objected to the name of Rai, contending that he stands disqualified as he holds the government post of Banks Board Bureau chief. The bench, however, rejected the contention, saying a former CAG could not be appointed to a government post. The court also directed advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the Lodha committee, to alert the administrators to deficiencies in implementing the reforms suggested by the court-appointed committee.