Burglary at Sisodia's camp office

Dec 31, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

Thieves broke into the camp office of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in east Delhi and stole computers and documents, leaving the AAP leader furious over the failure of the Central government-controlled Delhi Police to check crimes.

In July, Sisodia’s media adviser Arunoday Prakash’s house in south Delhi was burgled and documents related to meetings between Sisodia and Kejriwal over the past one year were stolen.On Friday morning, Sisodia’s office staff called in police to report that two computers, a letter pad, hard disk, documents and the digital video recorder of the CCTV camera were stolen from the camp office in Vinod Nagar area in his Patparganj constituency.

The incident was detected around 9 am by the staff who came to open the office, the police said. “The office was ransacked. It was locked at 2.30 am,” said office in-charge Upendra.

Amar Singh asks SP members to support Mulayam Singh Yadav

Lucknow, Dec 31, 2016, PTI

Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh today termed the crisis in the party as "unfortunate" and asked party members to support Mulayam Singh Yadav in the family feud which has seen Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav being expelled.

"I appeal to the party members to stand with Netaji Mulayam Singh. Whatever is happening is very unfortunate," Amar, who had recently made a comeback to the party after a long exile, said.

He was asked about the crisis in the party after supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled his son Akhilesh Yadav and general secretary Ramgopal Yadav for six years after they put up candidates against the official nominees and summoned a party meet on Sunday.

Amar said, "The foundation of this party was laid by Mulayam Singh with much dedication and hard work. I have said this earlier and will say it now, that Mulayam Singh is the chief of SP and the father of Akhilesh Yadav as well," he said.

Mulayam had yesterday said that he had taken the action against Akhilesh and Ramgopal to save the party which he had built through hard efforts.

"We have to save the party. The party comes first. That is why we are expelling both Akhilesh and Ramgopal," he had said.

He explained that the decision was taken after Ramgopal, in his capacity as general secretary, called an emergency meeting of the party on January 1 and Akhilesh "supported" it.

Ramgopal called the meeting after a showcause notice was issued to him and Akhilesh by Mulayam for releasing a list of candidates, parallel to the one issued officially by Mulayam.

"How can he (Akhilesh) release the list when the party has declared its candidates? Both Akhilesh and Ramgopal want to finish the party. I will not let it happen. I have built this party through hard work," Mulayam said.

Sasikala takes over as AIADMK chief

Chennai, Dec 31, 2016, PTI

Amid chants of 'Chinnamma Vazhagai' by thousands of supporters, V K Sasikala today took charge as AIADMK general secretary, the top party post.

"Amma is always in my heart," an emotionally charged Sasikala said after assuming charge, adding she had been with Jayalalithaa for party meetings for over 33 years and that the AIADMK will continue to rule for many years.

The close aide of late Jayalalithaa first garlanded the statue of party founder M G Ramachandran at the AIADMK headquarters here after she arrived in the midst of tight security.

She then proceeded to pay floral tributes to the portrait of Jayalalithaa.

Sasikala formally assumed charge by signing papers after which she proceeded to address the gathering outside.

En route to the party office, she was given a rousing welcome by party leaders, functionaries and cadres who had gathered in large numbers.

Party activists had lined up on both sides of the road from the Poes Garden residence to the party headquarters at Royapettah to welcome her.

Sasikala, clad in a light green saree with a pink border, greeted them with folded hands.

Party flags, banners and festoons sporting bright images of Jayalalithaa and Sasikala were put up on roads, all along from Poes garden to Royapettah.

Banners and hoardings hailed Sasikala as Chinnamma everywhere.

AIADMK presidium chairman E Madusudanan, party treasurer and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, veteran party leader and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai, received Sasikala and accompanied her to the party office.

Party leaders led her to the office of the general secretary where she held discussions with Panneerselvam, who is also party treasurer, Madusudanan, Thambidurai, and others.

The AIADMK headquarters at Royapettah was spruced up for the occasion. A platform was set up near the MGR statue to facilitate Sasikala to pay tributes to the party founder before taking charge. Ministers, party MPs, MLAs also participated.

On December 29, a meeting of AIADMK's top decision making body, the general council, which was attended by all top leaders including Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, took the decision to appoint her as part general secretary by adopting a resolution unanimously.

TN parties demand probe into Jaya's death

Dec 31, 2016, Chennai, DHNS

A day after the Madras High Court raised doubts over Jayalalithaa’s death, political parties in Tamil Nadu on Friday sought a detailed report from the Centre and the state government on the treatment given to the late chief minister when she was in hospital for more than two months.

DMK treasurer and leader of the Opposition M K Stalin demanded a judicial probe into the “mystery” behind the death of Jayalalithaa.

Referring to the high court observation related to Jayalalithaa’s death, Stalin said the state and the central governments should come out with a detailed statement and release medical reports of her death.

PMK founder S Ramadoss demanded a probe by the CBI into Jayalalithaa’s death. Referring to reports about amputation of her legs, he said if that was the case, it was not known whether the consent of Jayalalithaa’s blood relatives was sought before the surgery.

CBSE eases rules for duplicate certificates

Dec 31, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

Students of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools are no more required to file an affidavit before a magistrate for getting a duplicate certificate from the school board in the event of losing the original document.

Such students can notify the loss of original certificate through a press note or
advertisement in “some leading newspaper” and submit with the board an application along with newspaper clippings and prescribed fee for issue of a duplicate certificate.

Exit test for MBBS graduates likely

Dec 31, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

The Union health ministry has proposed to change the law to introduce an exit test for MBBS graduates and to ensure availability of doctors in thousands of villages.

A new set of amendments to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, has been suggested. The plan is to insert a new clause in the legislation for securing up to 50% of seats in postgraduation courses in government colleges for medical officers in government services who have served at least three years in remote and difficult areas. After acquiring post graduate degree, the medical officers may be required to serve in remote or difficult areas for another three years.

A similar scheme by the UPA government to have more presence of doctors in the countryside failed because of the lukewarm response from the doctors. However, this time, a change in the law has been proposed to improve the implementation.

India currently has upwards of 17,000 postgraduate seats and about 25,000 primary health centres. However, the doctor-patient ratio remains one of the world’s worst as a large number of doctors do not serve in the countryside.

Apply to JEE-Main till Jan 16

Dec 31, 2016, New Delhi, DHNS

The deadline for online submission of application for the Joint Entrance Examination (Main), has been extended to January 16, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said on Friday.
“The date for filling up application forms has been extended in view of requests from various candidates and their parents as well as schools,” it said.

The board will receive online application for the JEE-Main till 11.59 pm on January 16, according to a statement issued by the CBSE.

“The fee may be paid by the candidates up to January 17 (11.59 pm),” it said.
The other terms and conditions for online submission of application form will remain the same. “The last date (for) online submission of application form for JEE (Main) – 2017 shall not be extended any further,” it added.

The CBSE will conduct JEE-Main on April 2 in 2017 for admissions to National Institutes of Technology and other centrally-funded technical education.