NEW DELHI :  The three Lok Sabha constituencies where bypolls were held voted for status quo with BJP, SP and TRS today retaining Vadodara, Mainpuri and Medak seats respectively.
BJP, SP and TRS are in office in the states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana from where they won the respective constituencies. Their candidates had vacated the seats necessitating the September 13 byelections.
BJP candidate Ranjanben Bhatt won the Vadodara seat trouncing Narendra Rawat of Congress by a margin of 3,29,507 votes, according to District Collector Avantika Singh, who is the returning officer.
The seat was vacated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he retained Varanasi seat.
Bhatt secured 5,26,763 votes while Rawat got 1,97,256 votes, Singh said.
In the general elections this year, Modi had set a record margin by winning the Vadodara seat by 5,70,128 votes defeating Congress General secretary and party’s candidate Madhusudan Mistry.
Modi had got 8,45,464 votes while Mistry secured 2,75,336 votes.
In Mainpuri, a stronghold of ruling Samajwadi Party, Tej Pratap Singh, the party candidate and grand-nephew of Mulayam Singh Yadav, defeated his nearest rival Prem Singh Skahkya of BJP by a margin of more than 3.21 lakh votes.
The Mainpuri seat was vacated by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who decided to retain Azamgarh seat. Mulayam had won by 3.64 lakh votes. The SP had won five seats in the Lok Sabha elections in UP that was swept by BJP, which bagged 71 of the 80 seats. BJP ally Apna Dal notched two.
In Telangana, TRS again asserted its supremacy in Medak Lok Sabha constituency with its nominee K Prabhakar Reddy winning by 3,61,277 votes.
Reddy polled 5,71,800 votes, pushing Congress’ V Sunita Laxma Reddy (2,10,523) and BJP’s T Jayaprakash Reddy (1,86,334) to second and third positions.
The Medak Lok Sabha seat was vacated by K Chandrasekhar Rao after he became Chief Minister. Rao had won with a margin of 3.97 lakh votes in the May elections. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  As Chinese President Xi Jinping embarks on a landmark visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the relationship between the two countries goes beyond “plain arithmetic” and he was confident that the neighbours can “script history” by enhancing cooperation.
Reflecting the importance India attaches to the visit, Modi said India and China have a “unique chemistry” that can make for a defining moment and create a bright future for the entire mankind.
He summarised the possibilities of the bilateral ties moving ahead as ‘Inch’ meaning India and China towards Miles — Millennium of Exceptional Synergy — and said every inch both cover can “rewrite history” of humanity and every mile crossed will go a long way in making the planet a better place.
“India and China are bound by history, connected by culture, and inspired by rich traditions. Together they can create a bright future for the entire mankind,” Modi told Chinese journalists based here.
Elaborating on the nature of the relationship, he said, “The arithmetic and chemistry of our relations convince me that together we can script history and create a better tomorrow for all of mankind.”
Xi will arrive at Ahmedabad tomorrow on a three-day visit to India which will be the third by any Chinese president to India. President Hu Jintao had visited India in 2006 and Jiang Zemin had come here in 1996.
Referring to the large population base of India and China, Modi said that when India and China gain, almost 35 per cent of the world’s population benefits.
He said when India and China strengthen relations, almost 35 per cent of the world’s people come closer and when the economic cooperation increases, lives of almost 35 per cent of the world’s population undergoes qualitative changes.
Modi hoped that India and China together cover several miles and said several miles that take not only the two nations forward but also all of Asia and humankind towards the path of progress and harmony.
Modi and Xi will hold talks on two occasions — first when the Prime Minister will host a private dinner for the visiting dignitary after his arrival in Ahmedabad on September 17 and then in New Delhi on September 18 in restricted and delegation-level format. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  Amid possibilities of resumption  of bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan, the sixth SAARC meeting on home affairs/interior security and immigration will  begin in Kathmandu tomorrow.
Home/Interior security ministers, secretaries and immigration officials from the SAARC nations — India, Pakistan, Nepal,  Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives — would attend the three-day meeting.
The meeting of immigration authorities will be held tomorrow, while secretaries of Interior/Home will meet the next day.     Minister-level session would be held on September 19, a Home Ministry spokesman said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Secretary Anil  Goswami and other officials would represent India at the  meeting, the spokesman said.
Mr Singh would leave for Kathmandu on either September 18 evening or the next morning to attend the meeting on Friday.    Suppression of terrorism, maritime security, piracy, smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, combating corruption, cyber crimes, mutual assistance in criminal matters, human trafficking and promotion of child welfare in South Asia would be the main issues for deliberation during the meeting.
SAARC meet: Curiosity prevails over resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue New Delhi, Sep 16 (UNI) Amid possibilities of resumption  of bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan, the sixth SAARC meeting on home affairs/interior security and immigration will  begin in Kathmandu tomorrow.
Home/Interior security ministers, secretaries and immigration officials from the SAARC nations — India, Pakistan, Nepal,  Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives — would attend the three-day meeting.
The meeting of immigration authorities will be held tomorrow, while secretaries of Interior/Home will meet the next day.     Minister-level session would be held on September 19, a Home Ministry spokesman said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Secretary Anil  Goswami and other officials would represent India at the  meeting, the spokesman said.
Mr Singh would leave for Kathmandu on either September 18 evening or the next morning to attend the meeting on Friday.    Suppression of terrorism, maritime security, piracy, smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, combating corruption, cyber crimes, mutual assistance in criminal matters, human trafficking and promotion of child welfare in South Asia would be the main issues for deliberation during the meeting.
However, growing possibilities of bilateral talks between  Mr Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nisar Ali Khan on the  sidelines of the meet was the matter of prime curiosity in diplomatic and political circles.
Mr Singh and some of his cabinet colleagues for sometime have been giving clear hints on the Narendra Modi government’s positive re-thinking over the opening of dialogue with Pakistan that was called off last month in protest against Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s meetings with separatist Kashmiri leaders.
During his visit to Gujarat last week, Mr Singh said, “If Pakistan wants, talks can be held.”
“We want good relations with our neighbours,” he had said.     Even at a press conference here last week, Mr Singh did not rule out the possibility of talks with mr Khan on the sidelines  of the Kathmandu meet.
Foreign Secretary-level talks were earlier scheduled to be  held between the two nations on August 25 that were called off.
(UNI)

JAMMU :  Over 2.37 lakh people have been so far rescued while medical treatment has been provided to nearly 75,000 of them in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir where relief and and rescue operations entered the 15th day today.
“Over 2,37,000 persons have been rescued so far by the Armed Forces and NDRF from different parts of Jammu & Kashmir in the ongoing rescue and relief operations in the flood ravaged state,” PRO Defence Col S D Goswami said today.
About 3,887 tonnes of relief material have been ferried by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to Jammu and Kashmir so far.
Three teams of Naval Marine Commandos are actively involved in rescue operations at Watlab, Widipura and Tankpura in Kashmir to give boost to rescue and relief operations.
“As the flood water has started receding the apprehension for water-borne diseases is rising. Now demand for filtered water has increased. Twenty RO plants from Hyderabad with a capacity to filter 4 lakh litre per day and four RO plants from Delhi with a capacity to filter one lakh litre per day have already been airlifted to Srinagar,” the PRO said.
Thirteen tonnes of water purifying tablets and six water filtration plants with a capacity to filter 1.2 lakh bottles per day was sent earlier to Srinagar.
More heavy duty suction pumps have also been transported from Jodhpur and Raipur to the Valley, the PRO said.
He also said that 33,000 blankets were distributed in flood-affected areas yesterday, which were donated by Ministry of Textile and Government of Jharkhand and Punjab.
Earlier 17,500 blankets and 2106 tents were provided to the flood victims, he added.
Four Army Field Hospitals have been established in Avantipur, Pattan, Anantnag and Old Airfield where medical aid is being provided to the ailing people, the PRO said.
“They have treated around 75,254 people so far,” he said
He also said that two additional fully-equipped field hospitals with laboratory testing equipment facility have also been established in Srinagar.
One rapid action medical team from Air Force has been deployed at Avantipur and Srinagar besides the 80 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services who are currently operating in full swing in the state, he added.
Col Goswami said the team has provided medical aid to 2,684 patients so far.
More relief material, including 17,200 blankets from Ranchi and Delhi, 4,000 litres of water from Pathankot and 120 tonnes of food from Pathankot and Delhi, will be airlifted.
“Over six lakh litres of water and over 1,400 tonnes of food packets/cooked food and ration have already been distributed in the flood-affected areas,” the PRO said.
As many as 64 transport aircraft and helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Corps are continuing their efforts in rescue and relief operations while Army has deployed around 30,000 troops, he said.
So far, 2,633 sorties were undertaken by the helicopters and aircraft of Armed Forces and 3,887 tonnes of relief material dropped by the Indian Air Force, Col Goswami said, adding, a total of 224 boats of Army and 148 NDRF’s inflatable boats are being used in the rescue operation.
Armed Forces have also established 19 relief camps in Srinagar and Jammu region, where rescued people are being provided with food and other basic amenities.
Mission Rahat and Mission Sahayata were launched by Armed Forces in Jammu and Kashmir regions respectively to rescue flood victims and provide relief to them. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR :  Rescue workers today spotted 13 bodies lying in a house in Jawahar Nagar area of the city, taking the death toll in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir to over 200.
“We spotted 13 bodies in a house which had collapsed due to flooding late yesterday,” Abdul Hamid, a rescue worker, told  after bringing two bodies to the Gogjibagh bank of the flood channel.
While two bodies were taken out from the debris of the house last night, it will take some time to bring to shore the other nine bodies as they were trapped in the debris.
“The concern is that dogs are eating the bodies,” he said.
The identity of the deceased persons could not be ascertained as the bodies were in a semi-decomposed state but the rescue worker said they were most likely of non-locals.
“From the appearance, we gather they were one or two non-local families who could not escape the flood water in time or could have been killed in the collapse of the house,” he said.
Three children and two elderly were among the dead.
Although authorities started dewatering operations in Jawahar nagar and Rajbagh areas of the city by pressing in 30 dewatering pumps, the water level has reduced by few inches only over the past 24 hours.
“It will be a long time before the roads in this area will be visible again,” Aamir Nazir, a local resident, said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  Public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Steel and Mines have donated Rs 15 crore to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for rescue and relief operations in flood-ravaged Jammu & Kashmir.
“The Minister for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment Narendra Singh Tomar today handed over cheques worth Rs 15 crore for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This amount has been donated by public sector undertakings from the steel and mining sectors,” an official statement said.
Steel PSUs have donated Rs 11 crore while mining PSUs have contributed Rs 4 crore to the fund, out of the total of Rs 15 crore.
The highest contribution (Rs 6 crore) to the fund has been made by the country’s top iron ore miner NMDC, followed by Rs 3 crore by domestic steel giant SAIL.
Two other steel PSUs — RINL and MOIL — have contributed Rs 1 crore each while the remaining Rs 4 crore have been donated by mining sector PSUs.
Minister of State for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment Vishnudeo Sai and senior officials of the ministry were also present on the occasion. (AGENCIES)

JAMMU : The Jammu and Kashmir government has setup a 24×7 dedicated helpline centre in order to trace people who went missing after the floods hit the state.
A 24×7 dedicated helpline through J&K Connect Centre has been established at the ground floor of the Office Complex of Divisional Commissioner at Rail Head Complex here, Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Shant Manu said today.
“The main purpose of this J&K Connect Centre is to help in finding people who went missing after the floods,” he said.
The centre will be headed by Amit Sharma, Special Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry Department in Jammu.
He will be assisted by a team of officers and staff for providing the helpline services round-the-clock, he said.
A Facebook page with the domain name
‘www.Facebook.Com/operationconnectjk’ has also been created for the purpose, Shant Manu said.
Apart from this, four 24&7 dedicated telephone helpline numbers have been started with the numbers 18001807049 (toll-free), 18001807050 (toll-free) 0191-2471522 and 0191-2471922. (AGENCIES)