Friday, April 18, 2014

High voter turnout witnessed in 121 constituencies

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High voter turnout witnessed in 121 constituencies
High turnout was witnessed in 121 constituencies which went to polls across 12 states in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday in which the political fate of leaders like Nandan Nilekani, Maneka Gandhi, M Veerappa Moily and Jaswant Singh is at stake.
There were a few incidents of violence, including blasts, in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh in which four people, including three security personnel, were injured. Four constituencies of West Bengal, which went to polls, recorded the highest turnout among the 12 states.
The voter turnout was recorded at 78.89 per cent but was likely to go up as final figures were still being computed. The figure as of now was lower than previous Lok Sabha election turnout of 80.85 per cent.
In Manipur Inner constituency, the turnout was an impressive 74 per cent and it was likely to go up further. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the turnout was much higher at 77 per cent.
In Bihar’s seven constituencies, the turnout was 56 per cent as compared to 39.3 per cent recorded in the last general elections. The three constituencies of Chhattisgarh which wernt to poll in the fifth phase, the turnout was an impressive 63.44 per cent.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, the turnout in these constituencies was 57.60 per cent. An electorate of 16.61 crore was eligible to exercise their franchise today in 28 seats of Karnataka, 20 of Rajasthan, 19 of Maharashtra, 11 each of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, 10 of Madhya Pradesh, 7 of Bihar, 6 of Jharkhand, four of West Bengal, three of Chhattisgarh and one each of Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.
Of the total seats, Congress has 36 seats while its main challenger BJP has 40 seats.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur constituency recorded a turnout of 69.08 per cent which was 24 per cent higher than the 45.15 per cent recorded in the previous LS polls.
Karnataka, which went for a single-phased poll today, also recorded a high turnout of 68 per cent, nearly 10 per cent higher than last elections’ 58.88 per cent. In 10 constituencies of Madhya Pradesh, though the turnout was not impressive as compared to other states, it was higher than the last general elections.
It recorded a turnout of 54.41 per cent, while in the last polls, it was 46.2 per cent. The 19 constituencies of Maharashtra, which went to polls today, witnessed a turnout of 54.67 per cent. It was 54.14 per cent in the last polls.
Odisha went for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections today. A total of 11 Lok Sabha seats went to polls in Odisha and recorded voter turnout of 70 per cent. It was 66.28 per cent in the 2009 general elections.
Rajasthan’s 20 constituencies also recorded an impressive turnout of 63.25 per cent as compared to 48.09 per cent in the last polls. Voters turned out in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh’s 11 constituencies which recorded a turnout of 62.52 per cent as compared to 55.09 per cent in the last LS polls.
In Jharkhand’s 6 constituencies, 62 per cent of voters came out to exercise their franchise. While in the last LS elections, the turnout was 58 per cent. A landmine blast on a CRPF patrol and subsequent ambush by Maoists left four people, including three securitymen injured.
Elsewhere, in Bihar an FIR has been registered against RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti for entering a polling compartment in a Patlipura constituency polling booth though she is not a voter there. She is pitted there against Lalu’s former close confidante Ram Kripal Yadav who is contesting on a BJP ticket.
Later some 50 persons entered the polling booth and created a ruckus and damaging a voting machine. A separate FIR was lodged against them.
Some polling staff was caught casting votes in connivance with a candidate in Patna district, the EC said. While they have been suspended, a case was registered against them. Defective EVMs forced authorities to order suspend polling in nine places in Bihar, the EC said.
In Odisha’s Cuttack, miscreants damaged an EVM, while in other case, a member of the flying squad was caught doing “wrong thing” inside a polling station. He was suspended and a case lodged, Deputy EC Alok Shukla told reporters here without elaborating.
In UP’s Shahjahanpur and Pilibhit districts, people decided to boycott polling in a total of six polling stations over issued related to development and missing names in electoral rolls, Deputy EC Vinod Zutshi said. In Rampur constituency of UP, some 60 people entered a booth and cast 40 votes. A repoll is likely in the polling booth, he said.


 

Russia, West reach deal on Ukraine crisis

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Russia, West reach surprise deal on Ukraine crisisUpdated on : 18-04-2014 09:14 AM
Russia, Ukraine, the US and EU reached a surprise deal on Thursday on de-escalating the worsening Ukrainian crisis, in a ray of hope for the former Soviet republic that has plunged into chaos.
The agreement reached in Geneva comes as a strong contrast to earlier hawkish comments made by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who left the door open for intervention in Ukraine.
A ban by Kiev on all Russian males aged 16 to 60 from entering Ukrainian territory had also ratcheted up the tensions, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling the measure “disgusting”.
But after half a day of talks, the four parties agreed on steps to “restore security for all citizens”, including a call to disband armed groups that have taken over buildings in Ukraine “illegally”.
While not spelt out in the agreement, these groups could refer to pro-Kremlin separatists who have seized control of government buildings and taken over parts of Ukraine’s southeast, destabilising the country.
“All illegal armed groups must be disarmed, illegally seized buildings returned to their rightful owners,” Lavrov said as he briefed reporters about the deal reached with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Ukraine’s Andriy Deshchytsya and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
Washington and Kiev have accused Russia of supporting the militants who have occupied buildings such as police stations and government bases, but Moscow has always categorically denied this.
Lavrov also said Russia had “no desire” to send troops into Ukraine, toning down earlier comments by Putin.
Warning that Ukraine was plunging into the “abyss” just hours after three separatists were killed in a gunbattle with troops in eastern Ukraine, Putin had stressed he hoped not to have to use his “right” to send Russian troops into its western neighbour.
“I very much hope that I am not obliged to use this right and that through political and diplomatic means we can solve all the acute problems in Ukraine,” he said in his annual televised phone-in with the nation, in a signal the option was on the table.
The upper house of parliament on 1st March authorised the Russian leader to send troops into Ukraine after pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted, and Moscow later went on to annex Ukraine’s Russian-speaking Crimean peninsula.
Russia has now massed tens of thousands of troops at the border and has warned Kiev’s untested new leaders — whom it does not recognise as legitimate — not to unleash force in Ukraine.
Accordingly, Kerry warned Russia that if there was no progress on de-escalating the crisis in Ukraine, “there will be additional sanctions, additional costs.”
The United States and European Union have already imposed punitive sanctions on key Russian and Ukrainian political and business officials, including members of Putin’s inner circle.
And the European Parliament on Thursday said the European Union should act “against Russian firms and their subsidiaries, especially in the energy sector, and Russia’s EU assets”. So far, though, any further sanctions appear to have been put on hold.
Russia’s annexation of the Crimea peninsula last month escalated a crisis that has shaped up to be the worst East-West standoff since the Cold War.
On Thursday, Kerry said the West is “not giving up” on peninsula, “but we did not come (to Geneva) to talk about Crimea.”
Each side came to the Geneva talks armed with a very specific set of demands, and the West and Kiev had aimed to persuade Moscow to demobilise the militias.
Ukraine’s Security Service said it was detaining 10 “Russian spies” arrested over the past six weeks on suspected missions to stir up unrest in the country, further implying Russia’s role in the destabilisation of the country.
But Russia has blamed Kiev’s interim leaders — installed by Ukraine’s parliament in February after the overthrow of Yanukovych following months of protests — for pushing the country dangerously close to a civil war.
The agreement also called on all sides to refrain from violence, intimidation and provocation, as well as to reject extremism in all shapes.
Kerry told reporters that notices were sent to Jews in a Ukrainian city believed to be in the east, asking them to identify themselves as Jews — a move he condemned as “grotesque”.
“In the year 2014, after all of the miles travelled and all of the journey of history, this is not just intolerable, it’s grotesque. It is beyond unacceptable,” he said.


 

TDP-BJP alliance intact

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TDP-BJP alliance intact; talks on seat sharing hit brickwall
<br /> Andhra Pradesh: TDP-BJP alliance intact; talks on seat sharing hit brickwall
The electoral alliance between the Telugu Desam and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Andhra Pradesh will continue though talks over sharing of seats still remained inconclusive today.
“The alliance is intact,” BJP national spokesman Prakash Javadekar said after a two-hour discussion with TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad on Friday afternoon.
“The alliance will continue,” TDP spokesman also confirmed.
However, both did not divulge any more details as Javadekar and TDP MP Y S Chowdary and other leaders left for Venkaiah Naidu’s residence for further talks.
Though the TDP wanted the BJP to part with 7 out of the 14 Assembly seats, the latter reportedly agreed to give away only the Ichchapuram seat.
“Talks are going on over other seats,” a TDP leader said after the meeting.
The BJP also agreed to change its nominees in some seats where the TDP raised objection over fielding of “weak” candidates.
Clarity on seat sharing between the two parties is expected late this evening.


 

CAIT & EBAY BEGAN THEIR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

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CAIT & EBAY BEGAN THEIR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN BY HOLDING WORKSHOP IN DELHI
     TRADE COORDINATORS TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE
 
As a first step after signing of the MOU, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and eBay India, India’s leading e-Commerce marketplace hosted a Workshop at New Delhi yesterday evening at NDMC Convention Centre for imparting education and awareness among the trading community for up-gradation and modernization of their respective business formats and use of e-Commerce marketplace for availing multiple opportunities about growing their business nationally and globally. The workshop was attended by nearly 100 traders of Delhi dealing in different kinds of products.
 
CAIT National President Mr. B.C.Bhartia, Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal,  Mr. Latif Nathani, Managing Director, eBay India  beside leaders of different trade associations of Delhi also attended the workshop.
 
As a part of their MOU, both CAIT and eBay have begun their joint nationwide campaign yesterday with holding a workshop at New Delhi among the business community as to why and how their current business format needs a radical change in terms of modernization and how such up-gradation will be accomplished. After holding workshop at New Delhi now they are planning to hold about 20 such workshops in different cities of the Country in various States in next three months.
 
While addressing the traders at the workshop, the technical team of eBay focused its educational program to impress upon the traders to adopt modern business techniques and tools to ensure better growth of their business and to encourage them to avail benefits of e-commerce market place as an additional business growing tool and for this purpose both CAIT and eBay have instituted a pillar of “trade coordinator” in their strategy who will assist the traders in their process of up gradation. Even a trader who is not familiar with online business can use e Commerce marketplace for generating more business additionally. 
 
While inaugurating workshop Mr. Latif Nathani said that  online selling is growing at a faster speed and in accordance to keep pace with the growth, the small traders needs to equip themselves with computers and avail the e commerce marketplace to keep their customer base intact. CAIT National President Mr. B.C.Bhartia  said that e-commerce is a platform for doing direct business with consumes facilitating small artisans, women entrepreneurs and persons with limited working capital to enhance their  domestic and even export business. It will also help in wide spreading Indian traditional and cultural products and will fetch domestic and global market for them.
CAIT Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal said that on the one hand the Government is emphasizing implementation of e-governance in Government Departments whereas no effort has been made to empower the traders who are under obligation to comply the e governance, with computerization resulting into a wide gap. Therefore, the joint campaign of CAIT & eBay will set the ball rolling for upgradation and modernization of trading community across the Country.
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Home Expo India 2014 Concludes

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Home Expo India 2014 Concludes With 1456 Buyers and
 Expected Business Worth Rs 586 Crore  : EPCH 
Greater Noida — April 18, 2014 — The third-edition of  Home Expo India 2014,  a confluence of three integral sectors Home-Textiles, Houseware and Furniture into one and an estimated business is likely to be generated to the tune of Rs. 586 crore
during the four-day expo which concluded here today.

The premium expo, organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH),  registered more than 1456overseas buyers as well as their representatives and  buying agents and retail buyers to source their focused requirements  from a diverse range of international quality products under one-roof showcased by more than 1250 exhibitors including mart owners and manufacturers from all across India.

The prominent buying groups across the world who visited the Home Expo India 2014 included ASHLEY FURNITURE (USA), WISTERIA (FRANCE), PIER1 IMPORT (USA), COST PLUS WORLD MARKET (USA), GIBSON IMPORTING CO (AUSTRALIA), WORLDWIDE HOME FURNISHING INC. (CANADA), TLAS GMBH (GERMANY), HALENZA KG (GERMANY, LIVINS CO LTD 9JAPAN), GLOBUS AG (SWITZERLAND) AND EDELMAN BV (THE NETHERLANDS).

A highly specialized and product-segmented triple show– Home Expo India– was the culmination of Indian Houseware and Decoratives Show  (IHDS), Indian Furnishings, Floorings and Textiles Show (IFFTEX) and Indian Furniture and Accessories Shows (IFAS) offered three opportunities to the visitors to source their requirements under one

Mainly foreign buyers came from USA, UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Spain, Latin America particularly Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico, Middle East.

The export performance of these sectors during the last years has been very impressive and that the growth in furniture and accessories exports has been: 47.56%, in furnishing, floorings and textiles 27.45%, houseware and decorative  21.42%,  said Mr V.S. Goel, President of the Home Expo India 2014.
One of the distinct features of the show was display of eco-friendly new product lines by select companies who over the years have done detailed market research and product development taking into account consumer comfort and utilities particularly for items like Furniture and Household requirement, Mr. Goel added.

“With the development taking place in the international market, the thrust is now on product-segmented specialized trade shows rather than trade shows covering all product categories. Hence, there was need for Home Expo India. The emphasis laid by the Council is on making this show a wholesome with a ‘Home Total’ tag’ attached to it with the intention of making it a benchmark event for premium merchandise for a target market/buyers segment,” said Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Directtor of  EPCH.
The EPCH has been successfully organizing for the past 15 years Asia’s largest Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (IHGF) twice a year viz. Spring and Autumn to promote exports of Handicrafts from India to various destinations. Over the years, IHGF has acquired the reputation of “One Stop Sourcing Event” amongst the overseas buying community and ‘most effective marketing medium’ amongst the Indian exporting community.
EPCH is the nodal export promotion body for handicrafts in India and plays an important role of a catalyst between the exporters, buyers and the Government with the main objective of boosting trade in Handicrafts and also projects India’s image in the global market as a reliable supplier.


 

Analyses of Candidates of Phase 6: Lok Sabha Elections 2014

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Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of Candidates

National Election Watch (NEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 2071 candidates out of 2077 candidates who are contesting in the Phase 6 of Lok Sabha 2014 Elections. The rest of the candidates were not analysed due to unclear/incomplete affidavits uploaded on the ECI website at the time of making of this report. 

Please find the following detailed reports in English​:

  1. Analysis of Criminal, Financial and Other Background Details of Candidates Contesting in the 6th Phase for Lok Sabha 2014
  2. Consolidated Analysis of ​Criminal, Financial and Other Background Details of Candidates from the 1st Phase to the 6th Phase for Lok Sabha 2014
Phase 6
S.No.
State
No. of Candidates Constesting
No. of Candidates analysed
Constituencies
No. of Candidates with Criminal Cases
% of Candidates with Criminal Cases
No. of Crorepati Candidates
% of Crorepati Candidates
Date of Poll
1
Tamil Nadu
845
844
39
103
12%
178
21%
24thApril, 2014
2
Maharashtra
338
337
19
68
20%
111
33%
3
Uttar Pradesh
168
168
12
27
16%
58
35%
4
Bihar
108
108
7
38
35%
26
24%
5
Madhya Pradesh
118
117
10
21
18%
23
20%
6
Chhattisgarh
153
150
7
12
8%
22
15%
7
Assam
74
74
6
8
11%
22
30%
8
Rajasthan
81
81
5
7
9%
21
26%
9
West Bengal
78
78
6
11
14%
16
21%
10
Jharkhand
72
72
4
19
26%
15
21%
11
Puducherry
30
30
1
6
20%
6
20%
12
Jammu & Kashmir
12
12
1
1
8%
6
50%
Total
2077
2071
117
321
15%
504
24%

Criminal Background

  • Candidates with Criminal Cases: Out of the 2071 candidates analysed, 321 (15%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves 
  • Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 204 candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, robbery etc.
  • Candidates with most number of declared Criminal Cases: Udayakumar S.P. of AAP from Kanniyakumari constituency, Tamil Nadu has declared 382 criminal cases against himself followed by M.Pushparayan of AAP from Thoothukkudi constituency with 380 criminal cases and Mu.Anbhalagan of DMK from Tiruchirappalli constituency with 10 criminal cases. 
  • Candidates with cases related to murder11 candidates have declared cases related to murder.
  • Candidates with cases related to Attempt to Murder: 40 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder.
  • Candidates with cases related to Communal Disharmony: 13 candidates have declared cases related to Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC section-153A). 4 candidates have declared cases related to Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (IPC section-295A) and candidate has declared a case related to Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (IPC section-295). 
  • Candidates with cases related to Prevention of Corruption Act:
    candidates have declared cases related to Prevention of Corruption Act.
  • Candidates with cases related to Electoral Violations:
    17 candidates* have declared cases related to electoral violations. candidates have declared cases related to Bribery (IPC section-171B), 8 candidates have declared cases related to undue influence or personation at an election (IPC section-171F), 8 candidates have declared cases related Illegal payments in connection with an election(IPC section-171H). *A candidate may have declared more than one IPC related to Electoral Offences.

  • Candidates with cases related to Crimes against Women: 12 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. Pankaj Kumar Singh an CPI(ML)(L) candidate from Purnia constituency, Bihar has declared a case related buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc. (IPC Section-373).
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  • Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: 30 (32%) out of 94 candidates from INC20 (26%) out of 77 candidates from BJP13 (14%)out of 91 candidates from AAP27 (24%)out of 111 candidates fielded by BSP and 76 (8%) out of 972 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. 
  • Party wise Candidates with Serious Criminal Cases: 15(16%) out of 94 candidates from INC12 (16%) out of 77 candidates from BJP9 (10%) out of 91 candidates from AAP17 (15%) out of 111 candidates fielded by BSP and 43 (4%) out of 972 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.
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  • Red Alert Constituencies: 55 constituencies have at least 3 candidates with declared criminal cases. Raver constituency, Maharashtrahas the highest number of contesting candidates i.e. 10 with criminal cases against them. 

Financial Background

  • Crorepati CandidatesOut of the 2071 candidates analysed, 504 (24%) are crorepatis.
  • Party-wise Crorepati Candidates: 77 (82%) out of 94 candidates in INC58 (75%) out of 77 candidates in BJP41 (45%) out of 91 candidates in AAP and 30 (27%) out of 111 candidates in BSP and 71 (7%) out of 972 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore. 
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  • Average Assets: The average assets per candidate contesting in the 6th phase of Lok Sabha 2014 elections is Rs.2.76 crores. 
  • Party-wise Average Assets:Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 94 INC candidates is Rs 13.62 crores77 BJPcandidates have average assets of Rs.14.37 crores,91 AAP candidates have average assets worth of Rs.2.60 crores and 111 BSPcandidates have average assets of Rs. 2.32 crores. 
  • Party-wise Asset Rank: 66 (70%) out of 94 INC candidates occupy the top three highest assets positions amongst all the contesting candidates in their respective constituencies. Similarly, 54 (70%) out of 77 BJP candidates, 20 (18%) out of 111 BSP candidates and 20 (22%) out of 91 AAP candidates occupy the top three highest assets positions in their constituency. 
  • High Asset Candidates:29 candidates have declared more than Rs.50 crores worth of assets.*Total Assets includes income of self, spouse and dependents.
S.No.
Name
State
Constituency
Party Name
Total Assets (Rs)
PAN Given
1
Vasantha Kumar H.
Tamil Nadu
Kanniyakumari
INC
2,85,77,86,803
 285 Crore+
Y
2
Deol Hema Malini Dharmendra
Uttar Pradesh
Mathura
BJP
1,78,20,15,620
 178 Crore+
Y
3
Jain Manish Ishwarlal
Maharashtra
Raver
NCP
1,51,51,46,765
 151 Crore+
Y

  • ​​
    Candidates with High Liabilities: A total of 100 candidates have declared liabilities of more than Rs. 1 crore.Out of these 100 candidates, 14 have declared liabilities of Rs. 10 crore and above.

  • Crorepati Candidates with no PAN: 18 candidates with total assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore have declared no PAN details. 
  • Candidates with High Income*: 24 candidates have declared total annual income of more than Rs. 1 crore. *Total income includes income of self, spouse and dependents
S.No.
Name
Party Name
State
Constituency
Total Assets
The financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed by candidate
Total income shown by candidate in ITR (Self+Spouse+Dependent)
Self income shown by candidate in ITR
1
Vasantha Kumar H.
INC
Tamil Nadu
Kanniyakumari
2,85,77,86,803
285 Crore+
2012-2013
16,72,04,340
16 Crore+
16,71,11,750
16 Crore+
2
Thambidurai.M
AIADMK
Tamil Nadu
Karur
13,24,57,262
13 Crore+
2012-2013
10,68,54,272
10 Crore+
17,05,970
17 Lacs+
3
Meera Ashish Sanyal
AAP
Maharashtra
Mumbai South
50,94,61,553
50 Crore+
2012-2013
6,94,58,900
6 Crore+
6,86,23,673
6 Crore+
  • Candidates who have not declared Income Tax Details*: 1174 (57%) candidates out of 2071 analyzed have not declared income tax details.*Some candidates may be exempted from filing Income Tax Returns
  • ​​
    Candidates with High Assets who have not declared Income Tax Details: 54 candidates with assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore, have not declared Income Tax Details. 
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Consolidated Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of Candidates
Phase 1 to Phase 6
 
 
National Election Watch (NEW) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 5380 candidates out of 5432 candidates who have contested/contesting in Phase 1 to Phase 6 of Lok Sabha 2014 Elections. The rest of the candidates were not analysed due to unclear/incomplete affidavits available on the ECI website at the making of this report. The following is a consolidated summary of the same.
 
Phase
No. of contesting candidates
No. of Candidates analysed
No. of Constituencies
No. of Candidates with Criminal Cases
% of Candidates with Criminal Cases
No. of Crorepati Candidates
% of Crorepati Candidates
Average Assets
Date of Poll (2014)
1
64


 

Phiroze Palkhivala’s press conference

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 ​AAP ​Mumbai North Central candidate, Phiroze Palkhivala’s press conference for a Q&A session to answer questions raised by the media in the last few days.
 
Celebrities like Raj Zutshi and Vishal Dhadlani will be present (tentative) to express their support for Mr. Palkhivala.
 
​​
Date: 19th April, 2014
​​
Time: 
  3 
pm. 
 ​​
Location: M.I.G Club, Bandra East 
Contact: Shilpika|9920389955
 
Thanks,
AAP Media Cell


 

DataWind rolls out an affordable bridge to education

18042014



Tech pioneer joins the Business Call to Action (BCtA)

New Delhi, 18 April 2014: DataWind, a leading developer of wireless web access and products, and the manufacturer of the world’s lowest cost android tablet PC, announced that it has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA).
DataWind plans to bridge the digital divide by providing an affordable tablet thus enabling internet access for millions of consumers in India. The company aims to harness the potential of ICT Technologies for a positive developmental impact on quality of education through its range of UbiSlate/Akash Tablets.
To meet the educational challenges in India, DataWind has worked to address the key demands of a large population, whose poor communities often face disproportionally high illiteracy rates. The company is focused on expanding the roll-out of the Aakash tablet, which is designed to be affordable, deliver high quality content, and provide access at the lowest cost or for free, where possible.
By 2017, DataWind has a target to distribute five million tablets in India and expects that more than 80% will reach individuals who live at the base of the pyramid– living on less than $8 dollars a day.
“We are greatly encouraged to have DataWind join the BCtA with their unique technological approach to help reach new communities and improve access to education and technology. The impact of affordable and connected devices cannot be underestimated,” said Sahba Sobhani, Acting Programme Manager, Business Call to Action. 
The company recently scaled-up its tablet launch to better ensure market-based solutions meet the needs of low-income communities in India. Working to help low-income communities readily adopt the new technology, and in an effort to provide continued quality education and internet access to help empower students and teachers, the Indian government has subsidized the costs and the planned expansion of the mobile tablet.. 
Recognizing that while a growing number of consumers have access to mobile phones, DataWind is also working with service providers and network operators to provide much needed access to the internet through these web access devices. The company has patented a unique delivery system to provide low-income consumers valuable data services at the lowest cost possible. 
Initial results are promising and the company is continuing to create applications that are versatile and relevant to its varied partners, which include schools, libraries, government and other public and private institutions. 
“DataWind is pleased to be in the company of like-minded organizations and initiatives such as the Business Call to Action that are working towards a common goal of social development by providing tools and empowering individuals and communities globally.” said Suneet Singh, CEO, DataWind
DataWind is working with several governments and not-for-profit organizations to help them achieve their goals of elevating the quality of education and bridging the digital divide. The company is looking to expand in Thailand and a number of other regions.


 

Withdrawal and its Implications: The future of Afghanistan

18042014
AAC Logo 07-01-14BDHC Kolkata 15-04-14

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Invite you to a session on
Withdrawal and its Implications:
The future of Afghanistan

EVENT DETAILS
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DATEWednesday, May 7, 2014
TIME5:00 PM  - 6:00 PM (Tea & Registration: 4:30 pm)
LOCATIONBurdwan and Cooch Behar Room, The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata
SPEAKERSProfessor Anatol LievenInternational Relations Chair at the War Studies Department, King’s College London
Dr Rudra ChaudhuriSenior Lecturer at the War Studies Department and the India Institute, King’s College London
MODERATORMr. Scott Furssedonn-WoodBritish Deputy High Commissioner for Eastern India
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ABOUT THE EVENT
Uncertainties permeate the security, political and economic transitions in Afghanistan as the withdrawal of American and International Security Assistance Forces (SAF) approaches in the course of 2014. Will the decline in international military presence throw greater responsibility on regional actors to take the lead in initiatives for peace and stabilization in Afghanistan ? What about India’s stake in ensuring stability in Afghanistan and avoiding spillover of tensions and terrorist activity? The challenges of sustaining an evolving democratic state structure, social-cultural transformation and Afghanistan as a regional transit hub for economic progress are immense and need to be addressed.

SPEAKERS
Anatol Lieven 15-04-14Professor Anatol Lieven -  International Relations Chair at the War Studies Department, King’s College LondonProf Lieven is the Chair of International Relations in the War Studies Department of King’s College London, and a senior fellow of the New America Foundation in Washington DC.  His recent book, Pakistan: A Hard Country, was published in April 2011 by Penguin and was selected by the Daily Telegraph as one of the ’2011 Books of Year’. A new edition of America Right or Wrong: An Anatomy of American Nationalism, was published in 2012.
He spent most of his career as a British journalist in South Asia and the former Soviet Union, and author of several books on the latter region, including Chechnya: Tombstone of Russian Power? (Yale University Press 1998) and Ukraine and Russia: A Fraternal Rivalry (USIP, 1999); and The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence (Yale University Press 1993). He has a BA in history and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cambridge. From 2000-2005 he was a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC. In 2005 he became a senior research fellow of the New America Foundation, a position he continues to hold. He writes a monthly column for the Financial Times, and is published frequently in other newspapers and journals.
 Rudra Chaudhuri 15-04-14Dr Rudra ChaudhuriSenior Lecturer at the War Studies Department and the India Institute, King’s College London
Dr Chaudhuri joined the department in September 2009 having previously taught at the UK Joint Services and Command and Staff College. In September 2012, his position as a Lecturer was divided between War Studies and the India Institute at King’s. Currently, he is the Program Director for the MA South Asia and Global Security course. He completed his BA at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, MA at Exeter and PhD in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London.
 Together with colleagues in the department, he has served as a consultant to British Commanders in Afghanistan. He has also worked closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a Program Director for confidential stakeholder conferences and workshops focussing on the economic and political future of Afghanistan, India-Pakistan relations, and the thorny issue of reconciliation with the Taliban.

MODERATOR
Scott Furssedonn-Wood 15-04-14Mr. Scott Furssedonn-WoodBritish Deputy High Commissioner for Eastern India
Scott Furssedonn-Wood is a career diplomat and assumed charge as the British Deputy High Commissioner for Eastern India in October 2013. Before being posted to Kolkata , Scott was based in the US. From 2008 until 2013 he served at the British Embassy in Washington DC, first as Head of Strategic Threats, working on counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation issues; and then as Head of the Political Section, where he was responsible for coverage of the 2012 Presidential election, a role which took him to 47 of the 50 states.
Prior to Washington, he spent two years at the Foreign Office in London as Private Secretary to the Minister of State for the Middle East & South Asia, during which time he travelled to over fifty countries, including to India and its neighbours on many occasions. Mr Furssedonn-Wood is a MA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Merton College, Oxford University and has a MBA from Open University.
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India as World Capital of Liver Disease

18042014

You are cordially invited to a
 
  
Press Meet
 
on 
India as World Capital of Liver Disease
 
 
 
Day & Date: Sat, 19th April, 2014
Time: 12:30pm (followed by Lunch)
Venue: Hotel Shangri-LA, New Delhi
The gathering would be held in room no 1, 1st floor of the hotel
 
  
‘Non-Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis (NASH)’, a condition more common among women and persons with morbid obesity, diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome is acquiring epidemic situation
 
 
 
Press Meet to be addressed by
 
 
 
International Speaker:
 
Prof, Abhinav Humar, MD, Chief Division of Transplant Surgery, Starzyl Institue, Pittsburgh, USA
 
 
 
National Speakers:
 
Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Senior Consultant Surgeon, Department Of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
 
Dr Abhideep Chaudhary, Consultant Surgeon, Department Of Surgical Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
 
Dr. Sunil Taneja, Asst Professor, Department of Hepatology, PGI, Chandigarh


 

WEC India Energy Portal 

18042014

One Stop Energy Resource Center
Energy Portal

The menu for Global Scenarios has been enabled.  Comparison of Scenarios of IEA, EIA and WEC is presented for Primary Energy Consumption, Electricity Generation and Co2 Emissions.

 
  1. Power Outages may fall as coal stocks improve at plants
    Apart from Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and to some extent Tamil Nadu, power demand during peak hours has been mostly met and there is a only a shortfall ranging between 1 mw and 300 mw.
  2. Tightening fuel emission norms: Government plans to impose extra 30% environment compensation on diesel vehicles
    Govt is also considering tightening the emission norms by mandating fuels compliant with Euro-IV norms by next year and Euro-V norms by 2016 while it is targeting Euro-VI norms by 2021.
  3. Players from Gulf nations plan to invest in Indian solar sector
    Plan to form joint ventures with Indian manufacturers based on their engineering capabilities
  4. MSERC approves 15% hike in power tariff in Meghalaya
    The approved increase in power tariff will be effective from April 1, 2014 till March 31, 2015
  5. Toyota to launch hydrogen-powered car
    The firm will launch the hydrogen-powered car in the United States, Japan and Europe in 2015
  6. Hydro power output goes up to 1,400 Mw to match rising peak demand
    Production at hydro power stations in the state has gone up by more than 200 Mw to 1,400 Mw during peak hours in comparison to March daily average output, as peak power demand in the state has been rising matching with soaring mercury levels. The …
  7. Tata Power plans to add 646.7 MegaWatt from clean energy sources
    Tata Power plans to increase its renewable energy capacity by about 71 per cent to cut carbon emissions and reduce risks from fluctuating fuel prices.
  8. Indian companies to benefit from Nepal’s new hydropower initiative
    The initiative of International Finance Corporation (IFC) can pull up Nepal’s power profile to a much brighter scale and also boost Indian power companies business.
  9. Clarify on undecided environment approvals: Assocham to EC
    EC has been examining projects awaiting clearances to ensure their approval by the government violate poll code
  10. Tarapur Atomic Power Station generated 28 pct of India’s atomic power in 2013-14
    The total nuclear power generated in the country in the year under review was 35,333 MUs.
  11. Over 14,000 MW hydro power capacity is under execution: Central Electricity Authority
    Over 14,000 MW of hydro power capacity is under execution in the country and would be commissioned in the next 4 years, according to CEA.
  12. Growth goes beyond a strong coalition
    Weakest coalition since 1989, the United Front govt from 1996-98 delivered faster GDP growth than much stronger govts
  13. Ajai Shukla: Come out of the nuclear closet
    While the ‘no first use’ pledge must quickly be scrapped, the ill-conceived commitment to ‘massive retaliation’ is even more damaging to our nuclear credibility
  14. Rays Power commissions 14 solar power projects in FY’14
    Rays Power is now starting two new parks in Rajasthan for 100 MW of capacity and its solar power capacity is now 85 MW with 56 projects.
  15. Climate change: UN panel’s latest tocsin
    Planned action just not enough, it pleads; new target cuts in emissions and deal to allocate these needed by 2015
For more information Contact – WEC India Secretariat, C/o NTPC Limited, 7th Floor, Core-6, SCOPE Complex, New Delhi-110 003, India 
Email: info@wecindia.in, Phone: 011-2436 3719, Fax: 011-2436 9530, Website: http://www.wecindia.in


 

digital learning

18042014
digitalLEARNING Weekly Newsletter: April 17, 2014   Volume 11, Issue 16
As Interactive White Boards (IWB) change the education paradigm in India and make it more interactive…
To secure 100 percent results in the board examination and to maintain a reputation, some of the schools of Chennai…
IIM-Trichy has launched a post graduate programme in human resource management (PGPHRM) for the working ..
The primary education department of the Kolhapur zilla parishad (ZP) has formed 12 inspection squads in the district…
The directorate general of resettlement (DGR) has started new courses management programmes to…
The Doom School will be conducting a two week leadership course from June 1 for the young boys and girls…
A mobile application named as “NexClass” has been created by two second-year IIT-Gandhinagar student…
UPCOMING EVENT
8 – 9 August
LATEST ISSUE
UPCOMING (MAY) ISSUE
In south India, the Muslim community has established centres of excellence.
Justice MSA Siddiqui,
Chairman, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions,Government of India
When I joined IMI, there were around 31 faculty members and now, we have 65 members.
Padma Shri Dr Pritam Singh,
Director General, International Management Institute
Today, money is not a constraint in our country but we need to have sincere teachers, sincere efforts, right approaches and it does.
Piyush Trivedi,
Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya
Vandana Lulla,
Director & Principal,Podar International School, Mumbai
Soma Debnath,
Principal, The Heritage School, Pune
If you can’t see the mailer, please click here 
This message is brought to you by Elets Technomedia Pvt Ltd.
Copyright © 2014 Elets Technomedia Pvt Ltd


 

PRESS INVITATION Mukta Arts Invites

18042014
PRESS INVITATION
Mukta Arts cordially Invites
 You to attend the cover of Press conference
To share with you the uniqueness of their latest Hindi Film

Kaanchi
The Unbreakable

To be addressed by:
Subhash Ghai (Director)
Kartik Tiwari (Film “Pyaar Ka Panchnama” fame)
Mishti

Venue     : Spice Mall, sec. 25, Noida
Time         : 1:30 pm
Date      : 18th April, 2014

You are requested to send correspondents/photographers/camera crew for thePress Conference

R.S.V.P
Shailesh Giri
9811222325(M)


 

Delhi’s Salwan Boys School Continues Winning Spree

18042014
Inline image 1

Delhi’s Salwan Boys School Continues Winning Spree
Mumbai, 17 April 2014: Strong batting performance by Mukulit Bhatt and Rishabh Drall helped Salwan Boys Sr. Sec. School, Delhi beat St. Jones Jr. College, Hyderabad by 56 runs in the Coca-Cola Cricket Cup Inter-State leg, played at HPCL ground.
Salwan Boys School won the toss and opted to bat first. Mukulit Bhatt played a captain’s innings by scoring an inspiring knock of 75 runs. His teammate Rishabh Drall contributed valuable 70 runs to achieve a respectable score of 206.
For St.. Jones Jr. College, C.H. Rithwik and Traneeth Raj claimed four and two wickets respectively.
In reply, Hyderabad’s St. Jones Jr. College team batting line-up collapsed at 150 runs. Salwan Boys School’s Sahil Sharma and Bharat Shankar claimed three and two wickets respectively to bowl-out the opponents in 41.1 overs. Abhishek Singh was the top scorer for St. Jones.
Mukulit Bhatt was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his brilliant knock.
In another match, Sports Campus College, Lucknow won the match against DAV Sr. Secondary School, Punjab by huge margin of 120 runs.. While, Don Bosco M Higher Secondary School, Tamil beat AVR E-Techno School, Vijayawada by 66 runs.
In the final match of the day, Dehinagar K.C.R. Vidya Pith, West Bengal won the match by two runs against Shreyas Samarpan Vidyalay – Baroda. 
Brief Score:
Salwan Boys Senior Sec. School, Delhi: 206 All out in 44.1 overs (Mukulit Bhatt 75 runs (76b 13X4), Rishabh Drall 70 runs (90b 7X4); Rithwik 4 for 33 in 7 overs, Traneeth Raj 2 for 15 in 8 overs) beat St. Jones Jr. College, Hyderabad: 150 All out in 41.1 overs (Abhishek Singh 35 runs (60b 2X4), Mickil Jaiswal 27 runs (54b 4X4); Sahil Sharma 3 for 21 in 9 overs, Bharat Shankar 2 for 24 in 6 overs)
Sports Campus College, Lucknow  (UP) : 258 for all out in 45 Over’s (Nitin Singh 68 Runs (87b, 1X6, 6X4), Govind Yadav 48 Runs (33b, 3X6, 3X4), Mohsin Ali 46 Runs (53b, 7X4); Vikas Bamel 3 for 57 in 8 Over’s, Aman 2 for 30 in 6 Over’s, Vijay Deswas 1 for 36 in 6 Over’s beat DAV Sr.Secondary School,Punjab: 138 All out in 32.2 Overs (Ankit Laller 34 Runs (54b, 4X4), Sagar Saharan 26 Runs (47b, 2X4); Vijay Yadav 3 for 10 in 4.4 Over’s, Ankit Singh 3 for 30 in 7 Overs with 3 maiden, Prashant Srivastav 2 for 13 in 3 Overs’s
Don Bosco M Higher Secondary School (Tamil Nadu): 278 for 8 in 43 overs (Taryn Ferrario 157 Runs in 108 Balls 19X4, 4X6, Tausif Mirza 33 Runs in 38 Balls 5X4; Mohd. Rafi 3 for 55 in 8 overs, Sirinath 2 for 50 runs in 9 overs beat AVR E-Techno School, Vijayawada (Andra Pradesh): 212 All Out  in 42.3 overs (T. Vamsi Krishna 57 Runs in 68 balls 4X4, 1X6, T. Surya Charan 37 Runs in 30 Balls 3X4; Y. Sreekanth 5 for 28 runs in 9 overs, G. Karthik Shanmugan 3 for 40 runs in 8.3 overs. 
Dehinagar K.C.R. Vidya Pith, West  Bengal: 134 for All out in 41.4 Over’s (Amit Chanda 42 Runs (63b, 6X4), Sowradiv Shah 14 Runs (20b 1X6); Karan Pawar 4 for 22 in 7.4 Over, Sourine Thakar 3 for 18 in 9 Over’s beat Shreyas Samarpan Vidyalay – Baroda: 132 for All out in 44.3 Over’s (Karan Pawar 34 Runs (58b, 5X4), Abhimanyu Singh 33 Runs (50b, 5X4); Tanmoy Aditya 2 for 20 in 9 Over’s, Rahul Chanda 2 for 23 in 9 Over’s.


 

Hindi Film Revolver Rani

18042014
PRESS INVITATION
Wave Cinemas cordially invites
You to attend the cover of Press conference
To share with you the uniqueness of their latest Hindi Film

Revolver Rani

To be addressed by:
Kangana Ranaut
Vir Das
Sai Kabir Shrivastav (Director)

Venue     : Wave Cinemas, Sec. 18, Noida
Time        : 5 pm
Date      : 18th April, 2014(Friday)

You are requested to send correspondents/photographers/camera crew for thePress Conference

Competitiveness, climate, security Finn’s priorities Ministry of Finance release Finnish road map of EU presidency. Finland i...