New Delhi, May 13, 2009
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Violent incidents mar final phase of polling
New
Delhi: On the final day of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, incidents
of violence were reported from 24-Parganas district of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh's
Bijnore and Uttarakhand's Dehradun. A Trinamool Congress worker, Shaminul Haque,
was killed hours before polling began and at least 10 others were injured in clashes
with CPM activists at Baliguri under Barasat Parliamentary constituency. Workers
of the BJP and the Congress clashed in Dehradun. The BJP MLA from Tehri, Dinesh
Joshi, had allegedly brought army officials to cast their votes. "The Representation
of the People Act says that you cannot get people to vote like that. The use of
government vehicles is prohibited even if it is an army vehicle. This is a clear-cut
violation of the code of conduct," said Congress candidate Vijay Bahuguna. The
polling had to be stopped for over an hour because of the clash. "They think that
the army vote is going to the Bharatiya Janata Party. So they are thinking it
will be their loss. The voting has been stopped since then, for an hour almost,"
said, Dinesh Joshi of BJP. An incident of breaking of an electronic voting machine
was reported in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh.
Fifth
phase records 62 per cent polling Top
New
Delhi: The fifth and final phase of Lok Sabha election 2009 witnessed approximately
62 percent polling for 86 constituencies across nine states and two Union Territories.
The polling was by and large peaceful except for stray incidents of violence in
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The last phase saw violence with one death being reported
from West Bengal and one from Tamil Nadu. The counting for all the Lok Sabha seats
will be held on May 16. In Jammu and Kashmir moderate to heavy polling has been
reported in the fifth and final phase of elections in the Baramulla and Ladkah
Parliamentary constituencies. Latest reports say about forty percent voters had
caste their votes in the Baramulla constituency while as the percentage in the
Ladakh seat touched around 60 percent. In Tamil Nadu, 55 per cent voting was recorded.
In Puducherry, an estimated 66 per cent voters exercised their franchise to elect
the Union Territory's lone representative in the Lok Sabha. In Uttar Pradesh,
over 50 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the polling for 14 seats
of the Western and Rohilakhand region. In Uttarakhand, more than 35 per cent voting
has been recorded in five constituencies. In Punjab, an estimated 62 per cent
polling was reported in the nine Lok Sabha seats. In Himachal Pradesh, 50 to 55
per cent polling was reported in all the four constituencies. Prominent candidates
in the fray include Home Minister P Chidambaram, DMK's T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran
and M K Azhagiri, Congress' Md Azharuddin, BJP's Maneka and Varun Gandhi and Mukhtar
Abbas Naqvi, MDMK's Vaiko and SP's Jayaprada. Polling has been completed to 457
Lok Sabha seats since the exercise began on April 16. The Lok Sabha has 545 members,
but elections are held to 543 seats as two members are nominated from the Anglo-Indian
community.
Srinagar
observes shutdown on poll day Top
Srinagar:
A shutdown is being observed in Srinagar today to thwart planned protests by separatists
during the fifth and last phase of general elections. Troops patrolled deserted
streets in Srinagar, cutting off access to residential areas after separatists
called for a two-day strike from Tuesday. Shops and businesses also remained closed.
Voting, however, is taking place in the Baramulla region of the valley. The appeal
by the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference to stay away from the vote in
Baramulla, is seen as an attempt to deny New Delhi any credit for holding elections
in the Himalayan region. But Kashmiris are questioning whether such tactics have
brought them any closer to the long-held goal of self-determination. This is not
the first time that separatists have given a call for poll boycott in the Kashmir
Valley. The separatists have had to suffer a major setback after residents defied
a boycott call given by the Hurriyat during the State Assembly polls held in November
2008 and came out in large numbers to cast their votes. A prominent Kashmiri separatist
leader, Sajjad Lone, who had given a call for poll boycott during the state elections,
has decided to contest during these general elections and raise the voices of
Kashmiris in Parliament. Besides the Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) are
also contesting the elections.
Varun
moves Supreme Court on National Security Act Top
New
Delhi: The BJP candidate from the Pilibhit seat, Varun Gandhi, on Wednesday,
moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the National Security Act (NSA) invoked
against him. The apex court will hear the plea on Thursday. The apex court will
also hear the Uttar Pradesh Government petition, challenging the recent quashing
of the NSA on Varun. In its petition, the government has argued that the Advisory
Board's decision was incorrect, as it had ignored several cogent evidences against
Varun. The imposition of NSA on Varun by Mayawati Government has been termed invalid
by the UP Advisory Board appointed by Allahabad High Court to go into the merits
of the case. Varun had submitted his representation before an Advisory Board in
the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on April 28 against slapping of
the NSA over his alleged hate speech in Pilibhit. As the ultimate statutory authority
on the NSA, the Advisory Board has the right to approve or revoke the government
order invoking the act against Varun. The verdict of the Advisory Board is final
and if it chooses to revoke the NSA, Varun would be set free with immediate effect.
The Supreme Court on May 2 had extended the interim bail of Varun till May 14.
Varun was charged for making highly inflammatory anti-Muslim utterances during
his poll campaign in Pilibhit.
US-Pak
jointly carrying out drone strikes against Taliban now Top
Washington:
In a significant move, Pakistan for the first time 'officially' has allowed
US Predator drone aircrafts to fly inside its geographical territory to carry
out missile strikes against the Taliban and other extremist groups. Under the
new partnership, U.S. drones will be allowed for the first time to venture beyond
the borders of Afghanistan into Pakistan's territory under the direction of Pakistani
military officials. Pakistan military officials are working with American counterparts
at a command center in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, The Los Angeles Times reports.
The United States said that it has initiated the program to help Pakistan enhance
their capabilities to counter the threat from the Taliban, which is threatening
the country's existence. "This is about building trust. This is about giving them
capabilities they do not currently have to help them defeat this radical extreme
element that is in their country," a senior U.S. military official said. Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari, recently, reiterated demands for own fleet of Predators,
but U.S. officials had ruled out the possibility providing drones to Islamabad.
However, US officials are now describing the new joint operation as an 'effective
compromise.' Islamabad, which has been denying reports about Pakistan allowing
the drones to fly from air-base within the country to carry out attacks in the
lawless tribal region along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, has now also admitted
that such a bilateral program in is place. Pakistan officials admitted that they
were working with U.S. officials to better utilize the American technology.
MK
Nepal urges Prachanda to support UML-led Govt Top
Kathmandu: CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar
Nepal toady met caretaker Prime Minister Prachanda and urged him to assist them
in the formation of new government. At the meeting held at Maoists senior leader
Dr Baburam Bhattarai's residence in Pulchowk, Nepal said: "I have urged Prachanda
to participate in the to-be-formed new government for taking the peace process
to the logical conclusion." However, Prachanda said they would not involve and
assist in the government formation unless President Ram Baran Yadav corrects his
move to reinstate Army Chief, General Rookmangud Katawal. According to Kantipur,
Nepal intensified his meeting at the wake when the Nepali Congress has given a
go-ahead to the UML with its proposed candidate for the PM and asked to forge
consensus on the same. Meanwhile, senior Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) leaders
including Chairman Upendra Yadav and Co-Chairman JP Gupta also urged Prachanda
to support the UML in the new government. In a meeting with Prachanda, MJF leaders
urged him to support the UML in the new government saying that it is almost certain
that the UML would lead the next government. The MJF also urged the Maoists to
wait for the verdict of Supreme Court regarding the issue of President Yadav.
In return, Prachanda reiterated his commitment towards the Constitution drafting
and peace process, however, made it clear that his party will not join the UML
leadership in the next government. He said the Maoists will not create obstacle
in the new government formation and expressed commitment that the House deadlock
will end soon after holding consultations within the party.
Post-poll,
Third Front gets ready to stake claim? Top
New
Delhi: Beginning discussions for post-poll parleys, Communist Parties met
here on Wednesday. As the voting for the final phase of Lok Sabha is underway,
the Left parties including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI (M), the
Communist Party of India (CPI), met to discuss the present political scenario.
The Communist Parties have decided to meet on Saturday evening, the day election
results would be announced. On the meeting of H D Kumarswamy, a leader of Janata
Dal (Secular), CPI general secretary AB Bardhan said that their front was intact.
"The Third Front is intact. The Third Front will tell the President that we must
be given a chance," Bardhan told reporters after the meeting. On Tuesday, Kumaraswamy
met Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi and discussed about Karnataka political
activities and refuted reports that he planned to quit the Third Front. "There
are no hidden issues. I met Sonia Gandhi to discuss about Karnataka political
activities. We are in Third Front even now. Even in future days, we want to join
hands with the Third Front. There is no question of leaving Third Front," Kumaraswamy
said. He also discounted rumours that he might switch sides after the election.
"There is no question even after post-poll alliance leaving the Third Front. We
are going to take decision," added Kumaraswamy.
DD
Lapang sworn in as Meghalaya Chief Minister Top
Shillong:
Senior Congress leader DD Lapang was sworn in as Chief Minister of Meghalaya on
Wednesday. State Governor RS Mooshahary administered the oath of office and secrecy
to Lapang at Raj Bhavan. Besides Lapang, Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma (Congress)
and five other ministers - RC Laloo, MM Dangoo, Ampareen Lyngdoh (Congress), JA
Lyngdoh (United Democratic Party) (UDP) and AT Mondol (Independent) - were also
sworn in. The alliance has 37 MLAs - 26 from the Congress, nine from the UDP and
two Independents - in the 60-member House, which now has an effective strength
of 55 following resignation of one UDP MLA and disqualification of four others.
On May 8, the Union Cabinet had lifted President's Rule on Meghalaya, which was
imposed on the state on March 19, after dismissal of the Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya
Progressive Alliance Government.
Report
claims swine flu virus was man-made Top
Washington:
The World Health Organization is investigating an Australian researcher’s claim
that the swine flu virus circling the globe may have been created as a result
of human error. According to Bloomberg News, Adrian Gibbs, 75, said that he intends
to publish a report suggesting the new strain may have accidentally evolved in
eggs that scientists use to grow viruses and drugmakers use to make vaccines.
Gibbs said his findings could help better understand the microbe''s ability to
spread, reports Fox News. Now, Keiji Fukuda, World Health Organization Assistant
Director-General of Health Security, is reviewing the study. If Gibbs'' research
is confirmed, Fukuda said it would raise many new questions about the new strain.
Fukuda said: "Was this developed in part as a vaccine virus? Was this developed
as some sort of research project? And in those instances, was it released on purpose?
Was it an accidental release? What would be the circumstances?" However, the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta analyzed the report and
concluded there is no evidence to support Gibbs’s conclusion.
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