Chuck Hagel resigns as US defence secretary

It was the first major change to Obama's Cabinet since his Democrats were routed in midterm elections three weeks ago, and Republicans, who now control both houses of Congress, are looking for a new approach from the White house.

Hagel was appointed less than two years ago as Obama pushed his signature program of winding down wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a process now being upended with US re-engagement in Iraq and greater military cooperation with Kabul.

He had privately expressed frustration to colleagues at the administration’s strategy toward Iraq and Syria and at his lack of influence over the decision-making process, a source familiar with the situation said.

Officials said publicly the decision for him to leave was mutual but privately others said he was forced out. "There’s no question he was fired," said one source with knowledge of the matter.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News 

India expresses concern over rising tensions in Jerusalem

"We are deeply concerned about rising tensions in East Jerusalem. The imperative need is for urgent de-escalati on, for restraint, for avoidance of provocation and for a return to the peace process. Diplomacy and statesmanship have to prevail over hatred and violence; there is no other road to a lasting peace," Permanent Representative of India to the UN Asoke Mukerji said in a UN General Assembly session on Monday.

Marking the International day of solidarity with the Palestinian People, Mukerji reiterated India's "unwavering support" for the cause of Palestine and solidarity with the Palestinian people for their struggle.Mukerji also extended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support and solidarity for the Palestinian cause. He said India firmly believes that dialogue is the "only viable option" for a durable, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue.

"We hope that both sides will demonstrate the necessary political will to return to the negotiating table and resume dialogue," he said, adding that India supports a negotiated solution, resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side and at peace with Israel.

India called for the blockade on Gaza to be fully lifted and humanitarian supplies and desperately-needed materials for reconstruction be allowed in without restrictions. "The suffering of the people in Gaza persists in the aftermath of this summer's conflict which resulted in tragic loss of civilian lives, especially women and children and extensive destruction of houses and infrastructure," he said.

The fighting – which raged from July 8 to August 26 – saw entire neighbourhoods in the Strip flattened, and almost one-third of Gaza’s population uprooted. The violence killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, including more than 500 children, and more than 70 Israelis while also damaging or destroying over 100,000 homes.

Mukerji said apart from strong political support to the Palestinian cause, India continues to support the development and nation-building efforts of Palestine by consistently extending technical and financial assistance.

It has contributed a million dollars annually to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). India has recently pledged USD four million in response to the National Early Recovery & Reconstruction Plan for Gaza. India is implementing development projects in Palestine, jointly with Brazil and South Africa within the framework of IBSA, and has pledged USD a million dollars for a new project to reconstruct the Atta Habib medical centre in Gaza.
  
Invoking the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, Mukerji said the need of hour is to adhere to his ideology of non-violence and "eschew hatred and violence."

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News

HC seeks EC, Kejriwal's response on plea for AAP derecognition

While issuing notice to Kejriwal and six of his party members, Justice Manmohan directed them to file their response within four weeks.
   
It also asked Election Commission of India (ECI) to file a counter affidavit within four weeks.
   
Rejoinder affidavit from the petitioner, if any, be filed before the next date of hearing, it said.
   
The court notice came on a plea filed by Janraajya Party, an unrecognised political party, which sought directions to the ECI to decide the issue of "whether or not AAP has indeed committed fraud and forgery while submitting the mandatory 100 affidavits of founding members to the poll panel at the time of its registration".
   
Advocates Lohitaksha Shukla and Raghav Awasthi, who filed the petition on behalf of Janraajya Party, submitted that the ECI instead of taking any action informed the petitioner that since the matter involves a criminal offence of forgery, it would not initiate any action until the police completes its investigation.

The plea has also sought necessary directions to the SHO of the police station concerned to register an FIR against the accused persons for criminal conspiracy, cheating and using forged documents as genuine ones.
   
It has said that the petitioner party had filed a complaint before poll panel on August 19, 2013 but the ECI has been delaying the matter without giving any plausible reasons.

Navy orders inquiry into sinking of Torpedo Vessel

In view of the incident, Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan, who is on a four-day visit to Seychelles till November 9, is cutting short his visit to reach Visakhapatnam, Navy officials said.

While one sailor was killed, four others are still missing in the accident and search and rescue operations were on to trace them.

Navy officials said the Board of Inquiry will look into the various aspects of the accident and find out what led to the sinking of the 31-year-old vessel. The vessel had sunk at 8 PM Thursday while it was on a "routine" mission to recover practice torpedoes fired by fleet ships during a "routine" exercise, a Navy statement had said. The vessel experienced flooding in one of the compartments, they said.

"One sailor has lost his life during the rescue operation and four personnel are reported missing. Twenty three personnel have been rescued safely by the Search and Rescue (SAR) ships dispatched to the area," it said.

The ship was built by Goa Shipyard Limited in 1983 and has served the Indian Navy for the last 31 years. The latest accident is one of the many in the series that the Navy has witnessed over the last year.

Dhowan took over as the Chief of the Naval Staff on April 17 after his predecessor D K Joshi quit in the wake of a series of accidents. Admiral Joshi's resignation came immediately after a fire on the INS Sindhuratna, which left two sailors dead.

On October 31, INS Kora suffered minor damage after it was scraped by a merchant vessel near Visakhapatnam.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News

Government sees USD 250 billion investment in energy sector: Piyush Goyal

Efforts are also being made to increase coal production, strengthen electricity transmission network and get back gas- based power plants on stream, said Goyal, who also holds portfolios of Coal and New and Renewable Energy Ministries.
  
The investments, totalling USD 250 billion for power generation, coal mining as well as electricity distribution and transmission sectors, would help the government increase power generation and ensure electricity supplies to all households in the country by 2019, Goyal said.
  
Speaking at the India Economic Summit, organised here by Geneva-based World Economic Forum and Indian industry chamber CII, Goyal said that India's total power consumption would double to 2 trillion units by 2019 and the majority of investments would come from the private sector although the government would also invest more.
  
The government is also pushing ahead with ambitious plans for the renewable sector, especially solar energy, where the generation capacity is to be increased to 1,00,000 MW by 2022, he added.
  
"We are expecting around USD 250 billion investments in the next four to five years... About USD 100 billion will be in the renewable energy," Goyal said.
  
The country's electricity transmission segment is anticipated to see an investment of around USD 50 billion during this period, he added.
  
The government is sincere in its efforts and "will protect investments", the Minister said.
  
To meet the increasing electricity generation requirements, Goyal said, Coal India is expected to double its production to around one billion tonnes by 2019.
  
The private sector is also expected to play an increasing role in the coal sector and an ordinance issued recently by the government addresses many of the issues, he said.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News

Goa CM Parrikar to resign on Saturday for taking up assignment at Centre

Parrikar, who is tipped to be India's Defence Minister, also said that he would also submit his resignation after the meeting of the BJP's parliamentary board, which is expected put a final seal on his elevation to the union cabinet.

The contenders for the Chief Ministerial post are Speaker Rajendra Arlekar, Health Minister Laxmikant Parsenkar and Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza.

Arlekar has solid Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) credentials and also enjoys the confidence of Parrikar. One potential blip on his record, however, is a petition by a lawyer activist pending in a trial court accusing the speaker of allegedly amassing disproportionate assets.

Parsenkar has been a state chief of the BJP on two occasions and like Arlekar has traditionally enjoyed the confidence of the chief minister.

On Wednesday, both Arlekar and Parsenkar said they were not actively gunning for the top slot.

D'Souza, on the other hand who has avoided the media, has in the past been a rallying point for dissenting legislators within the BJP, especially the Catholic legislators within the party.

He is also one of BJP's oldest minority faces. While his inconsistent health is a matter of concern, his appointment as chief minister could help the party appease the state's 26 percent Catholic population.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News

PM Modi visits Varanasi, announces mega projects

Modi arrived at the airport located at Babatpur near here around 10 AM and left straight for Lalpur village where he will lay the foundation stone of a trade facilitation centre and a crafts museum.
  
The Prime Minister is also likely to adopt a village under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana under (MPs' Model Village Scheme).
  
He will interact with the general public in Ravindrapuri locality of the city and hold a meeting with local BJP leaders at the guest house of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW).
  
Modi is also scheduled to unveil a statue of Swami Vivekananda, whom he has always held as his icon, at Vijayanagaram Tiraha crossroad in the city.
  
He is also likely to visit a hospital situated inside the "ashram" set up by followers of spiritual leader Shri Anandamay Maa.
  
Security has been tightened for the Prime Minister's visit.
  
According to Inspector General of Police (Public Grievances) Ashok Jain, 12 SP rank police officials of Uttar Pradesh, 18 Additional SPs, 20 Deputy SPs, 135 sub-inspectors, besides more than 1000 personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary have been deployed.

Source: MP News in Hindi and Chhattisgarh Hindi News