1. At Least 8 Killed in Srinagar Poll Violence, Voter Turnout 7.14 Percent
Eight people were killed in firing and scores, including securitymen, were injured in violent clashes on Sunday during the bypoll to the prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, which saw a voter turnout of only 7.14 per cent, a new low for the seat.
Official estimates put the injured count at 300 – 200 civilians and 100 security personnel.
The main theatre of stone-pelting and violent protests was Budgam, a district that traditionally records high voter turnout in the Valley – in the last Assembly election, the turnout in the district was 59.11 per cent.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Mohan Bhagwat Calls for All-India Ban on Cow Slaughter
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday supported a countrywide ban on cow slaughter and more effective measures for its compliance even as he strongly denounced vigilantism and lawlessness in the name of cow protection.
"Our wish is that there should be a law against cow slaughter across India," Bhagwat said while speaking at an event to observe the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir here.
However, he said nothing should be done that hurt the beliefs of some people. "There should be no violence. It only defames efforts of cow protectors.
The work of cow conservation should be carried out while completely obeying the law and the Constitution," Bhagwat said.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Tamil Nadu: EC Cancels RK Nagar Bypoll Amid Allegations of 'Payoffs to Voters'
The Election Commission on Sunday cancelled the upcoming by-elections in Chennai’s RK Nagar constituency, a day after income tax officials claimed that they have unearthed evidence of bribery from the region, according to news agency PTI.
On Saturday, the tax officials had claimed that their raids on 35 premises belonging to Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar in Chennai and other parts of the state have allegedly revealed payoffs amounting to Rs 89.65 crore by the AIADMK (Amma) faction to voters of RK Nagar constituency.
The seat, which fell vacant following the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, was scheduled to go on polls on 12 April.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Shiv Sena MP to Take Same Flight on Which He Hit Staffer?
Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad is likely to fly Air India from Pune to Delhi on Monday – his first flight after the government directed all airlines to lift the ban on him last Friday.
Gaikwad reportedly first booked the 7.40 am Pune-Delhi flight (AI 852) for Monday – the same one he had flown on 23 March when he had thrashed an AI staffer with his shoe 25 times and tried to throw him off the aircraft at Delhi airport.
But late on Sunday, he got the ticket converted to an open one, meaning it could be used to board any flight.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. Assam: No Govt Job for Those With More Than 2 Children, Says Draft Population Policy
The Assam government on Sunday announced a draft population policy which suggested denial of government jobs to people with more than two children and making education up to university level free for all girls in the state.
“This is a draft population policy. We have suggested that people having more than two children will not be eligible for any government jobs,” Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference in Guwahati.
Any person getting a job after meeting this condition will have to maintain it till end of his service, he added.
(Source: PTI)
6. Manmohan PMO Passed Buck on CWG Scams: PAC
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has finally adopted the politically contentious report on the 2010 Commonwealth Games criticising the Manmohan Singh PMO for "passing the buck" with regard to the then Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi's appointment as head of the organising committee and faulty supervision of the scam-hit Games.
The PAC dismissed as "specious argument" the PMO's response that non-circulation of minutes of the meeting of a group of ministers on January 14, 2005 under then PM Manmohan Singh was best explained by the Ministry of Sports.
"When it comes to directions of the PM (Manmohan Singh) pertaining to projects of utmost national importance, PMO instead of shifting responsibilities, should have ensured effective follow up," the report said, noting a two-year delay in generating monthly reports.
(Source: The Times of India)
7. On Razor's Edge: Passengers Miraculously Escape Falling Into 1000-Foot Gorge
Eighteen passengers and two crew members miraculously escaped falling into a 1000-foot deep gorge after the bus they were travelling in was left hanging precariously on a parapet along a road in Kerala’s Wayanad district.
The bus skidded off its course, but stopped after hitting the boundary structure at around 3 am on Saturday, reports Manorama.
Reports say the driver dozed off and lost control but somehow managed to stop the vehicle on time.
One of the front wheels was completely damaged and was dangling in the air.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. Probe Begins Into Communal Violence in Odisha Town, Curfew Reimposed
The Crime Branch of the Odisha Police has begun an investigation into an incidence of communal violence last week in Bhadrak where curfew was reimposed till Monday morning.
The curfew that was imposed on Friday was relaxed initially from 8 am to 11 am on Sunday and later extended till noon to allow people to procure essential commodities. The curfew was later reimposed and will remain in force till 7 am on Monday.
Around 35 platoons of police forces have been deployed across the town to avoid any untoward incident.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
9. BJP Dares Mamata, Welcomes Leaders on Dais With Machete
Throwing a direct challenge to the Mamata Banerjee government to act on its threat of taking legal action against people holding processions with arms, the Diamond Harbour unit of the BJP on Sunday welcomed its leaders on dais, including state president Dilip Ghosh, with a machete.
Justifying the act, Ghosh said during his speech, “We are not scared of her threats of legal action. We’ll carry weapons that our Hindu gods have. These are not weapons, but symbols of valour. Why only jail, Dilip Ghosh is even ready to be hanged. But before you manage to send him to jail, several of your MLAs and MPs are going to join BJP.”
(Source: Hindustan Times)
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