All temples have to be renovated, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says

DHANBAD: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said that all temples and religious places in the country have to be renovated.

"All temples and religious places in the country would have to be renovated and which one should be taken up first was a matter of discussion," Bhagwat said at the inaugural session of the three-day convention of "Akal Abhiyaan Parinam Kumbh" here.

READ ALSO: India is our Hindu rashtra, RSS chief says

He said that we should accept the country's cultural tradition and it is our basic policy to adopt all ways of life.

"We should accept the country's cultural tradition and it is our basic policy to adopt all ways of life ... following all customs of traditional quality and we would not impose our thoughts on others," Bhagwat said.

READ ALSO: Conversion was Mother Teresa's top goal, RSS chief says

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Incessant rains continue to lash many parts of India; Rs 1,000 crore agricultural loss in Maharashtra

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: An unusually potent storm system lashed India over the weekend, bringing copious rain across a large swathe of the country, from J&K to Karnataka, in what Met officials described as a rare occurrence for this time of the year.

The system is expected to blow over by Tuesday morning, but not before it drenches most of north and central India, as well as parts of the south, and dumps a few feet of fresh snow in the Himalayas.

"There was intermittent, heavy rainfall across large parts of the country on Sunday. Such widespread rain at this time of the year is not very common. The wet weather in north and central India will continue for at least another day," said BP Yadav, director, India Meteorological Department.

Maharashtra sufferes agricultural damages amounting to Rs 1,000 crore

READ ALSO: After drought, unseasonal rains set to hit Maharashtra farmers hard

Unseasonal rains in the last two-three days in Maharashtra have damaged crops and orchards, causing a loss of about Rs 1,000 crore, an official said in Mumbai on Monday.

Final figures are not yet available and this is an estimate, the official added.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the situation with officials on Monday, and asked them to conduct panchnama (spot inspection) of the damaged crops and submit reports.

READ ALSO: Unexpected rains cause huge losses for Sunny Deol

UP farmers suffer heavy losses

Several spells of light rain and heavy downpour on Monday has spelt doom for farmers in parts of Uttar Pradesh.

The wheat, mustard and potato crops have been extensively damaged as fields are overflowing with rain water in many parts of the western region of the state. In Mainpuri district, potato digging has been affected and water has harmed the yield.

In the Etah-Kasganj belt, the tobacco crop has been damaged. In Mathura district, farmers complained that the wheat plants had been flattened by gusty winds. Cultivators in Fatehpur Sikri area said the potato could be discoloured and if the water was not drained out the crop could rot.

READ ALSO: Rains lash Delhi-NCR, waterlogging reported in major parts

Vegetables like tomatos, peas and coriander have also been damaged in areas on the periphery of Agra.

In Agra and Mathura, life has come to a virtual standstill from early Monday morning as rain water has flooded low-lying areas and disrupted traffic movement. The worst affected are the students preparing for their final examinations.

The Met department has forecast more rain later in the day. From Tuesday evening the weather is expected to clear.

(Win inputs from PTI and IANS)

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National parties' fund collection rise 5 times in 10 years

NEW DELHI: The total funds collected by national parties during Lok Sabha polls has grown nearly five times in the last ten years, with BJP and Congress topping the charts in terms of capital mop-up, a study said on Monday.

At the same time, the total expenditure incurred by national parties Lok Sabha elections has also risen by nearly four times in the last ten-year period, according to the latest report from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch.

READ ALSO: 92% of BJP's funds came just ahead of Lok Sabha 2014 polls

The report, which ADR said was based on poll expenditure statements submitted by the parties to the Election Commission, further said that total funds collected by the national parties in the last three Lok Sabha polls stood at Rs 2,237.28 crore.

This includes BJP's Rs 1,171.38 crore, followed by Congress' 778.49 crore, BSP's Rs 110.45 crore, NCP's Rs 90.95 crore, CPM's rs 66.27 crore and CPI's Rs 19.74 crore.

The report said that the total funds raised by these six parties grew to Rs 1,158.59 crore in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, from Rs 223.8 crore in the 2004 general elections.

"Over a period of 10 years, funds collected by national parties during Lok Sabha elections increased by 418 per cent," ADR said, while adding that funds were collected over a 75-day period from the the date of announcement of elections and the date of completion of polls.

READ ALSO: AAP to approach SC to probe funding of political parties

On their expenditure, the report said that "over a period of 10 years, the expenditure incurred by national parties during Lok Sabha elections increased by 386 per cent."

The national parties considered for the report are BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI, and CPM, it added.

READ ALSO: Discrepancies surface in BJP's donation list submitted to Election Commission

These parties incurred total expenditure of Rs 2,454 crore during the last three general polls, the report said, while adding that the expenses have exceeded the amount of funds declared to be collected by them during the election period.

The main heads under which political parties declared their expenses are "publicity, travel, other/miscellaneous expenses and expenditure on candidates".

"During Lok Sabha elections in 2004, 2009 and 2014 together national parties spent 50.58 per cent of their total expenditure on publicity, 19.68 per cent on travel expenses and 15.43 per cent on candidates and 14.31 per cent on other expenses," the report said.

READ ALSO: Dig up chit fund dirt on opposition, Mamata tells party men

The national parties collectively spent Rs 661.26 crore on media advertisement, Rs 126.94 crore on public meetings and Rs 70.77 crore on publicity materials during Lok Sabha polls in 2014.

"BJP spent the maximum amount of Rs 342.36 crore on media advertisement followed by Rs 89.56 crore on public meetings and Rs 31.35 crore on publicity materials," the report said.

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National parties' fund collection rise 5-times in ten years

NEW DELHI: The total funds collected by national parties during Lok Sabha polls has grown nearly five times in the last ten years, with BJP and Congress topping the charts in terms of capital mop-up, a study said on Monday.

At the same time, the total expenditure incurred by national parties Lok Sabha elections has also risen by nearly four times in the last ten-year period, according to the latest report from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch.

READ ALSO: 92% of BJP's funds came just ahead of Lok Sabha 2014 polls

The report, which ADR said was based on poll expenditure statements submitted by the parties to the Election Commission, further said that total funds collected by the national parties in the last three Lok Sabha polls stood at Rs 2,237.28 crore.

This includes BJP's Rs 1,171.38 crore, followed by Congress' 778.49 crore, BSP's Rs 110.45 crore, NCP's Rs 90.95 crore, CPM's rs 66.27 crore and CPI's Rs 19.74 crore.

The report said that the total funds raised by these six parties grew to Rs 1,158.59 crore in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, from Rs 223.8 crore in the 2004 general elections.

"Over a period of 10 years, funds collected by national parties during Lok Sabha elections increased by 418 per cent," ADR said, while adding that funds were collected over a 75-day period from the the date of announcement of elections and the date of completion of polls.

READ ALSO: AAP to approach SC to probe funding of political parties

On their expenditure, the report said that "over a period of 10 years, the expenditure incurred by national parties during Lok Sabha elections increased by 386 per cent."

The national parties considered for the report are BJP, Congress, BSP, NCP, CPI, and CPM, it added.

READ ALSO: Discrepancies surface in BJP's donation list submitted to Election Commission

These parties incurred total expenditure of Rs 2,454 crore during the last three general polls, the report said, while adding that the expenses have exceeded the amount of funds declared to be collected by them during the election period.

The main heads under which political parties declared their expenses are "publicity, travel, other/miscellaneous expenses and expenditure on candidates".

"During Lok Sabha elections in 2004, 2009 and 2014 together national parties spent 50.58 per cent of their total expenditure on publicity, 19.68 per cent on travel expenses and 15.43 per cent on candidates and 14.31 per cent on other expenses," the report said.

READ ALSO: Dig up chit fund dirt on opposition, Mamata tells party men

The national parties collectively spent Rs 661.26 crore on media advertisement, Rs 126.94 crore on public meetings and Rs 70.77 crore on publicity materials during Lok Sabha polls in 2014.

"BJP spent the maximum amount of Rs 342.36 crore on media advertisement followed by Rs 89.56 crore on public meetings and Rs 31.35 crore on publicity materials," the report said.

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40 more dead as swine flu toll climbs to 1,115

NEW DELHI: Swine flu claimed the lives of 40 more people in the country as the toll from the disease reached 1,115 while the total number of cases breached the 20,000 mark.

The Health Ministry said that 1,115 persons have succumbed to the H1N1 virus while the number of those affected by it stands at 20,795 on March 1.

With heavy rainfall lashing Delhi and other parts of the north, health officials said it was difficult to ascertain whether the rains will have any effect on the incidence of swine flu.

However, the officials said that, during monsoon, the virus increases and it was possible that whatever decline was being seen over the last few days in the intensity of the disease may not continue. They said that there will be no decrease in the virus due to the rains and added that high temperatures are a deterrent for the virus.

The latest data shows that 275 persons have died of swine flu in Gujarat where 4,614 have so far contracted the disease.

In Rajasthan, six more deaths were reported which has taken the toll for the state to 267 while 5,610 persons have been affected by the virus.

The virus has claimed the lives of 160 people in Madhya Pradesh with 1,054 people taken ill by it while in Maharashtra, the death toll has increased to 152 with 1,789 cases reported of swine flu.

In Telangana and Punjab, the disease has, respectively, claimed 57 and 44 lives. Swine flu has also killed 46 persons in Karnataka.

In Delhi, the number of casualties stands at 10 while the count for affected persons has risen to 2,999.

States like Haryana (22 deaths), Andhra Pradesh (14), Himachal Pradesh (8), Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala (7 each), too, have been grappling to contain the disease.

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BJP leader Eshwarappa alleges kickbacks in mining leases

MYSURU: BJP leader KS Eshwarappa on Sunday demanded that chief minister Siddaramaiah cancel all the leases given to 10 companies to carry iron ore mining in the state and said BJP will not keep quiet on the issue till Siddaramaiah withdraws the licenses.

At a press meet here, he said he raised the issue in the house and chief minister is taking shield under old laws on mining activities. " Siddaramaiah has caused huge loss to state exchequer by not auctioning mining leases and today prayed before goddess Chamundeshwari to give wisdom to Siddaramaiah to withdraw the licenses" he said.

Eshwarappa said documents clearly indicate that chief minister has grossly violated the new law brought by the Union government through an ordinance. " Even now I urge the chief minister to cancel all the licenses and save the state's resources" he said adding that auction of these licenses would have brought in huge money to state government.

He said the BJP will not seek legal scrutiny of the documents against chief minister till the chief minister clarifies his stand on the issue. " I will wait for some time before seeking justice on the issue" he said adding that he will also approach the Union government to cancel the licenses as it is the final authority on the issue. " I am not saying that CM has been bribed, but if Siddaramaiah continues to dilly dally on the issue I am forced to come to a conclusion that he has accepted bribes in issuing licenses" he said adding that he does not know why Siddaramaiah has granted licenses to only 10 companies. " Whether the owners of these mining companies of his relatives?" he asked.

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As coalition govt takes charge in J&K, BJP downplays U-turn on Article 370

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday sought to downplay its U-turn on Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu & Kashmir, in light of the agreement with its ruling coalition partner PDP to maintain status quo on the controversial provision.

"As far as divergence of views is concerned, to agree to disagree is a part of democratic practice which the two parties have decided to live up to," Union minister Jitendra Singh told PTI here.

The coalition government led by People's Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today took over the reins in J&K.

READ ALSO: BJP relents on Article 370, PDP softens on AFSPA

BJP and PDP have agreed to maintain status quo on Article 370 although the saffron outfit has for long sought the scrapping of the provision.

Singh, a Lok Sabha MP from J&K's Udhampur constituency, said PDP and BJP are both committed to making the best of the historic opportunity available to them and are looking to focus on issues of development and good governance.

"Equitable utilisation of available resources among all the three regions of J&K — Ladakh, Jammu and Srinagar — has always been a matter of concern. Hope the new government will focus on it," said Singh, who is a minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office.

READ ALSO: Omar takes dig at BJP after Mufti says Hurriyat, Pak allowed polls in J&K

He said that the Centre will extend all possible help to J&K to ensure its development.

"The central government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has always gone out of the way to help J&K in normal circumstances as well as in catastrophes like last year's floods in the state.

"The Modi government will offer all possible assistance to J&K," added Singh.

Modi and other senior BJP leaders on Sunday attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Mufti government in Jammu, ending 49 days of Governor's rule in the state.

READ ALSO: PDP-BJP govt takes oath in J&K in PM's presence

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3 coaches of Mangala Express derails near Pen station

MUMBAI: Three coaches of 12617 Ernakulam -Nizamuddin Mangala Express derailed near Pen station at 6.10 pm on Sunday. Senior railway officials said that nobody was injured in the mishap.

The coaches which derailed included coach numbers S9, S10 and a pantry car. "These coaches were ninth to eleventh from the engine. The cause of the derailment has not been ascertained. An inquiry has been instituted," said a CR spokesperson.

Officials said that rail traffic has been diverted via the loop line and claimed that services along the Konkan Railway route were not affected. Sources, however, said that there could be delays in the running of other trains.

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3 coaches of Mangala Express derails near Pen station in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Three coaches of 12617 Ernakulam -Nizamuddin Mangala Express derailed near Pen station at 6.10 pm on Sunday. Senior railway officials said that nobody was injured in the mishap.

The coaches which derailed included coach numbers S9, S10 and a pantry car. "These coaches were ninth to eleventh from the engine. The cause of the derailment has not been ascertained. An inquiry has been instituted," said a CR spokesperson.

Officials said that rail traffic has been diverted via the loop line and claimed that services along the Konkan Railway route were not affected. Sources, however, said that there could be delays in the running of other trains.

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UP govt plan for power too ambitious

LUCKNOW: UP government's claim to spike up the power availability to 21000MW by 2016 may turn out to be a much tougher task. According to sources in the UPPCL, the availability may barely increase by around 3000MW, from the existing 14,000 MW. It could trouble UP government's ambitious plan to supply 16 hours power supply to the rural and 24 hours to the urban areas before the next assembly elections.

The biggest constraint, sources said, is the limitation of bringing power from outside the state mainly through bilateral trading and energy exchange. Technically called as transferrable capacity, UP can only wheel in only 6000MW of power from outside. This happens to be the biggest sources of power for the state at the time of peak demand, ostensibly during the summers.

Uttar Pradesh, then, gets around 4000 to 5000MW of power from the central pool, depending upon the availability in the national grid. This is another big source of power for the state —not surprisingly, the state government has been pitching up the demand before the centre to get its share increased substantially.

State's own generation, as a matter of fact, has been another limitation bothering the energy department. UP's own generation has been to the tune of around 2500 to 2700MW. Moreover, while the national power plants, like those of NTPC, have been working at a plant load factor of above 90 to 95%, UP's power plants have a plant load factor of barely 60%. Repeated tripping because of technical snag and coal shortages too have been giving jitters to the state.
UPPCL officials point out that the state government would be heavily relying on coming of 1980MW Bara power plant, besides the 1000MW Anpara D. The state government also hopes to get 1980MW Lalitpur power plant within a year.

''Given the performance of plants in UP, the state may at the maximum has its power availability by around 2000 to 3000MW,'' said chairman of All India Power Engineers Federation, Shailendra Dubey. He pointed out that the work on most of the transmission lines catering to the said power plants are still in the initial stage. ''It is certainly going to be an uphill task for the state government to stand by what it has claimed in the state budget,'' he said.

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