THE HEADLINES:
- Two legislators disqualified in Uttar Pradesh on charges of holding office of profit.
- Government expects to garner more than 22 thousand crore rupees from sale of ten per cent stake in Coal India, fixes floor price at 358 rupees per share.
- Ex Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh says, she had sought early retirement from service.
- Tearful farewell to this year's gallantry award winner Colonel M.N. Rai martyred in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
- India to host the next year's Twenty20 Cricket World Cup.
- Andy Murray enters the final of Australian Open Tennis.
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In Uttar Pradesh, acting upon the recommendations of the Lok Ayukta, Governor Ram Naik today announced the disqualification of two MLAs Bajrang Bahadur Singh of BJP, and Uma Shankar Singh of BSP, from the UP Assembly. Our Correspondent reports the disqualification, which comes into effect immediately, follows charges of holding offices of profit, while drawing salaries as members of the legislative assembly.
" The state Lokayukta N K Mehrotra had recommended the disqualification of the two MLAs after he found, during a probe, that both Bajrang Bahadur Singh and Uma Shankar Singh had been working as contractors even after being elected to the UP Assembly. Governor had sought a report from the EC on Lokayukta's recommendation to disqualify Bajrang Bahadur Singh from the date he procured government contract after his election on October 15, 2012. Uma Shankar Singh too had, from the day he became an MLA on March 6, 2012, kept his job as a contractor even after he was elected. Merajuddin, ."
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The Government today fixed 358 rupees per share as the floor price for up to 10 per cent stake sale in Coal India Limited, CIL. The offer will open tomorrow. The stake sale is expected to garner about 22,600 crore rupees for the exchequer. The government is selling 31.58 crore shares, or 5 per cent stake, in a public offer with an option to sell another 5 per cent through offer for sale or auction route. The CIL has reserved 20 per cent shares for retail investors who will also get 5 per cent price discount.
Our correspondent reports that the CIL share sale would be the country's biggest share sale ever and would help make up for more than half of the disinvestment target of 43,425 crore rupees for the current fiscal. The Government currently holds 89.65 per cent stake in Coal India.
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In Uttar Pradesh, more than fifty human skeletons were today discovered from the Unnao police line area. The skeletal remains were found in a sack and were negligently kept in the room which is located opposite to the servant quarters. Talking to reporters in Lucknow this evening, IG Law and Order, A Satish Ganesh said that a number of skeletons were found from a room in police lines of Unnao and a report on the matter has been sought from district Superintendent of Police. He said that according to local authorities, the room was used for conducting postmortem examination before 2008 and there was a register in which a record of bodies was maintained. The verification of records has been ordered, the IG added.
Our correspondent reports that few weeks ago more than 100 decaying bodies had surfaced in the river Ganga in Unnao and made for shocking visuals on the media.
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Former Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh today claimed that she had sought early retirement. Ms Singh, who was removed late last night seven months before her two years tenure was to end, has sent a farewell email to her colleagues in foreign service. The mail has no reference to the abrupt end to her service. In the mail, she said that while individuals can and do play a critical role in building institutions, no individual is larger than the institution.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in a tweet said that she was part of the decision to appoint Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as the new Foreign Secretary. She said that the government had to issue order of his appointment on the post as he was retiring on the 31st of this month. Ms Swaraj said that she had also spoken to Ms Sujatha Singh personally and told her that the Government wanted to appoint Dr.Jaishankar as Foreign Secretary.
Earlier in the day, Dr Jaishankar today took charge as the new Foreign Secretary. Talking to reporters after assuming charge, the 1977-batch IFS officer described his new position as a big responsibility. Sujatha Singh was not present when Jaishankar took charge at the South Block office. As per rules, he will have a two-year tenure. Before his sudden appointment as Foreign Secretary, the 60-year-old diplomat was India's Ambassador to the United States. Mr Jaishankar was a key member of the Indian team which negotiated the landmark Indo-US nuclear deal. The decision to appoint Mr Jaishankar was taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Jaishankar played a key role during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in September and US President Barack Obama's recent visit to India. He had also served as Ambassador to China, Singapore and Czech Republic.
Sujatha Singh had taken over as the third woman Foreign Secretary in August, 2013.
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Mortal remains of Colonel Munindra Nath Rai, who was martyred in an encounter with Hijbul Mujahideen terrorists in Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Tuesday was consigned to flames in Delhi with full state honours today. His last rites were performed after a wreath laying in Delhi Cantonment. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh paid homage to the brave soldier and met Col Rai's widow and children.
Tearful farewell was given to Col Rai, the braveheart who laid down his life in the line of duty in Kashmir, just 24 hours after he was awarded Yudh Seva Medal on Republic Day. He was awarded the Medal this year for killing a terrorist in a close encounter last year. The 39-year-old Colonel was the commanding officer of 42 Rashtriyta Rifles. Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh described him as a brave officer saying that he showed great leadership. His pyre was lit by the officer’s elder brother Col D N Rai, who is from the Gorkha Rifles. Members of his regiment and Rashtriya Rifles unit were also present along with top officers from the army headquarters. With ANUPAM MISHRA ...AIR NEWS DELHI.
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Beating the Retreat ceremony marking the culmination of the Republic Day celebrations was held at Vijay Chowk in the national capital today. This year 15 Military Bands, 18 Pipes and Drum Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions participated in the ceremony. Besides, one each of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force band also took part in the event.
Indian tunes were the flavour of this year's ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony, with some new tunes played for the first time like ‘Vir Bharat’, ‘Chhana Bilauri’, ‘Jai Janam Bhumi’ and ‘Atulya Bharat’.
Hundreds of people witnessed the ceremony which has emerged as an event of national pride, when the Colours and Standards of the services are paraded.
‘Beating Retreat’ marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troops cease fighting, sheath their arms and withdraw from the battlefield and return to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat. After the culmination of the ceremony, Raisina Hills were illuminated with lights, adding majesty to the event. Suparna Saikia, AIR News, Delhi
President, Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President, Mohd. Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India H L Dattu, several Union Ministers and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were among those present on the occasion.
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With just one week left for campaigning in the Delhi assembly elections, political parties are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. The three major contenders, BJP, Aam Aadmi Party and Congress have roped in their star campaigners for rallies. Verbal duel by the leaders against each other is also adding heat to the political atmosphere.
Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy came down heavily on Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal alleging that he is creating falsehood in his campaign. Putting five questions to the AAP leader, Mr. Rudy asked why Mr. Kejriwal did not file FIR against the then Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit for her alleged involvement in several cases including CWG scam.
"The BJP will pose 5 questions to Mr. Kejriwal and we accept a reply from him because we firmly believe that he has built up his campaign and has made an attempt to create falsehood in his campaign." On the other hand Aam Aadmi Party has said there is a panic within the BJP regarding the elections. Party leader Yogendra Yadav said there is nothing new in the five questions, and it only shows BJP's nervousness.
"Why stop on 5, let us discuss 50 questions. We have given an open offer please come and debate. Let us have a public debate; why is BJP running away from public debate." Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in a rally criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying his government has failed to fulfil promises made to people. Taking on the BJP government, he said Mr Modi had promised to to bring back illegal money stashed abroad in hundred days, but not a single penny has been brought so far. Mr Gandhi also came down heavily on Aam Aadmi Party. He said AAP has just one agenda, and that is to stop Congress from coming to power. "Where ever, they see Congress, they start agitation but when BJP Government is there, they will not protest. They will not raise any question because they want to weaken the Congress."Meanwhile, replying to Mr Gandhi's charges, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the Congress Vice President is always confused and even his party leaders are unable to understand what his views are on different issues.
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The Chief of Gorkha National Libraton Front Subhash Ghising died today after a prolonged illness. He was 79. Ghising breathed his last at a hospital in New Delhi where he was undergoing treatment. He was the Chairman of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in West Bengal from 1988 to 2008. He spearheaded the Gorkha Land Movement in the 1980s demanding separate Statehood for Darjeeling hills.
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THE BUSINESS WORLD
The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange climbed 123 points, or 0.4 percent, to a new record closing high of 29,682, amid the expiry of the monthly derivative contracts. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange rose for the tenth straight session, gaining 38 points, to a new lifetime closing peak of 8,952. But the rupee posted its biggest singe-day fall in nearly seven weeks, losing 45 paise, to 61.86 against the dollar, on month-end dollar demand from banks and importers and also on speculation that the US central bank may raise interest rates later this year. Gold declined 120 rupees, to 28,300 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver dropped 420 rupees, to 39,100 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures climbed towards 49 dollars a barrel, while U.S. crude rose 5 cents, to 44.50 dollars a barrel. )
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India will host the 2016 Twenty 20 World Cup. The world cup of the shortest format in cricket will be played from the 11th of March to the 3rd of April 2016. Ban on Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Aamir has been lifted from playing in domestic cricket. This and a slew of other major decisions were taken by the International Cricket Council Board, after its meeting in Dubai today.
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India will take on England at Perth tomorrow in the on going Tri series Cricket involving Australia. All India Radio will broadcast running commentary on the match. It will be available on Rajdhani and FM Gold channel from 8:20AM onwards.
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World number six Briton Andy Murray has reached the men's singles final in the Australian Open Tennis. Murray defeated Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in four sets 6-7, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 in the first semi finals in Melbourne, a short while ago.
Serena Williams will face Maria Sharapova in the final of Women's Singles. In today's semifinal matches, Serena Williams converted her ninth match point to beat fellow American Madison Keys 7-6, 6-2 and Sharapova beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-2.
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