1. Nagaland Violence: Protesters Attack Govt Offices in Kohima
The anger festering since the killing of two protesting youths in police firing on Tuesday came to a boil on Thursday with violence erupting in the Nagaland capital, triggered by those opposed to 33 percent reservation for women in the ongoing local body elections.
The Nagaland Tribe Action Council, a group formed on Thursday, sent a three-point charter of demands to chief minister TR Zeliang.
With the government getting no time to react, violence broke out across the state capital. The state government called in five columns of the Army and imposed section 144 in Kohima, while also suspending mobile services in the region, reported agencies.
(Source: Times of India)
2. No Case Against Marans, Misreading of Files Led to Aircel-Maxis Probe: Court
Stating that the “entire case” on the Aircel-Maxis deal was based on “misreading of official files”, a special court in New Delhi, on Thursday, gave a clean chit to former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and two firms, discharging them of charges of corruption and money laundering in cases probed by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.
A senior ED official said the agency will challenge the discharge order. Officials of the CBI offered no immediate comment, saying they were yet to receive the detailed order.
Discharging the Maran brothers, Special Judge OP Saini said “legally admissible evidence” was “wholly lacking” in the probe that was conducted.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Trump Hasn't Signed Any Order on H1-B Visas, India Will React If He Does: Govt
Asserting that no executive order has been passed by the Trump administration for overhauling of H1B visas so far, India on Thursday said it will not “prejudge” the outcome of the three private bills raised in this regard when they go through the full Congressional process.
No executive order has been signed so far... Three private bills have been introduced in the US House of Representatives. Such bills have been introduced in the past also and such bills have to go through the full Congressional processVikas Swarup, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. Punjab Polls: Badals Eye Third Term But Lack of Industry a Hurdle
Punjab's economy is riddled with giant holes – debt holes. The state's loan burden has gone up to Rs 1.25 lakh crore from Rs 48,344 crore in 2007, when Parkash Singh Badal took over the reins as chief minister for the fourth time. Now into his fifth term, the Akali Dal patriarch has little to show by way of industry.
His son, deputy chief minister Sukhbir, hopes the network of highways will take the Akalis and ally BJP home on 11 March when the Assembly poll results will be declared. Punjab votes this Saturday.
No party has won three consecutive elections in the state. The Akali Dal-BJP combine achieved a first by making it twice in a row in 2012 and is looking for a third straight term. But the economy remains a roadblock.
(Source: Telegraph)
5. Punjab: Rahul Says Kejriwal Helping Forces Who Want to Disturb Peace
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi accused AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of helping forces who want to disturb Punjab’s peace on Thursday, just two days before the state goes to election that is expected to see a three-way contest.
Gandhi made the comments during a rally in Ballian village in Sangrur district, where he is trying to woo voters in the Malwa region that has 69 seats out of total 117 seats in the assembly.
Source: Hindustan Times
6. Campaign Ends: Punjab, Goa Ready for Polls
The high-voltage campaign for the 4 February elections in Punjab and Goa came to an end on Thursday evening after hectic canvassing by various political parties.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi wrapped up his campaign in Punjab during which he kept up the offensive against the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP combine and other rivals who gave back in equal measure.
The electioneering ended peacefully in Goa. Several star campaigners of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spoke at gatherings.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Uttarakhand: Rebel Threat for Cong, BJP; Parties Crack Whip on Dissidents
The ruling Congress and the BJP are facing a threat from their own leaders in Uttarakhand, with many turning rebels and challenging the official nominees in the 15 February polls.
A jittery Congress suspended 24 such rebels for six years on Thursday, a day after the BJP had cracked the whip on 17 dissenters.
There are over two-dozen seats, where the Congress is having to contend with rebels who have filed their nominations papers as Independents. The BJP faces such trouble in a dozen seats, including Kedarnath, Kashipur, Rishikesh and Ranikhet.
(Source: The Telegraph)
8. Chennai Oil Spill: Authorities Grapple With Cleanup as Ecological Disaster Looms
A rapidly spreading oil spill off the Ennore coast has impacted the livelihoods of fishermen, threatened the aquatic biodiversity along the coast, and raised serious questions about the authorities tackling the mess.
After two tankers collided on Saturday leading to the spill, the Kamarajar Port Ltd released a statement claiming that there was “no damage to the environment like oil pollution,” a position reiterated by Union shipping minister Pon Radhakrishnan who visited the area on Sunday.
By Tuesday, as oil slicks spread as far as Thiruvanmiyur beach, Tamil Nadu fisheries minister D Jayakumar stated that “1 tonne of oil had leaked,” and that the situation was under control.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
9. Most Deposited Rs 2 Lakh or More, some Used One PAN for 20 Accounts: Govt
Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia Thursday said deposits of Rs 2 lakh or more formed a sizeable chunk of the demonetised currency that found their way into bank accounts immediately after the 8 November announcement on withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
Asked if deposits of less than Rs 2 lakh constituted the majority deposits in accounts, Adhia said:
Na na, woh zyaada nahi hai. Rs 2 lakh se upar wale mein hi main hua hai. (No, that’s not big. The bulk of deposits were those above Rs 2 lakh.) And people thought Rs 2.5 lakh tak safe hai, so most of them have done Rs 2.25 lakh (deposits) in 10-15 accounts. We have cases in which 20 accounts are connected to a single PAN.
(Source: The Indian Express)
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