Minimum qualification set as Haryana passes Panchayati Raj Bill

The State Assembly on Monday passed a Bill, fixing the minimum educational qualification for elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions besides laying down other conditions including making it mandatory for the candidates to have functional toilets.

The Assembly on the concluding day of its monsoon session passed the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2015 after debating it for over an hour, amid a walkout by the Congress while main opposition INLD also raised concern on some points concerning the amendment.

The House was informed that Haryana has become the second State after Rajasthan to fix educational and other qualifications for the candidates contesting PRI elections.

The Bill fixes, matriculation as essential qualification for general candidates contesting the Panchayat elections while the qualification for the women (general) and Scheduled Caste candidate will be middle standard (VIII).

However, in case of a woman candidate belonging to SC category contesting election for the post of Panch, the minimum qualification shall be V pass.

Earlier, the BJP government in the state had promulgated an ordinance fixing educational qualification and other criteria for elections to PRIs, which was recently withdrawn and the Bill now brought in its place.

The amendment proposed by Congress MLA Karan Singh Dalal with respect to some clauses pertaining to the Bill introduced on Monday were defeated on the floor of the House, amid walkout by the Congress even before the fate of the legislator’s amendment was known and the Bill put to vote.

BSNL to offer minimum 2 Mbps speed from Oct. 1

Starting October 1, over one crore BSNL landline broadband users will be able to surf the Internet at a minimum speed of 2 megabits per second (2Mbps), at no extra cost.

At present, the company offers minimum broadband speed of 512 Kbps.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe elected ruling Liberal Democratic Party chief unopposed

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has won a new term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after facing no opposition for the job.

Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that Mr. Abe would continue to try to revive the economy and “restore Japan’s greatness”.

The party named Mr. Abe president after no other lawmakers filed applications to run against him in an election that had been set for September 20. Candidates had to gain support from 20 other lawmakers in the party to run.

Mr. Abe’s current, three-year term as LDP president ends on September 30. His new term will run until September 30, 2018.

Mr. Abe took office after a general election in December 2012 that vanquished the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. He also served as Prime Minister in 2006-2007.

Suresh Raina sings for Meeruthiya Gangsters

Cricketer Suresh Raina is all set to sing for actor Zeishan Quadri’s directorial debut Meeruthiyan Gangsters.

Zeishan, who co-wrote the script of Gangs of Wasseypur besides starring in the film, encouraged Raina to lend his voice for the film.