Now, congress faces Pawar problem over civic polls

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

The Prime Minister's address at the inauguration of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur gets top billing in most papers. "PM scales down growth to 7% but is bullish on future" writes Hindustan Times. The Hindu reports the Prime Minister as saying "NRIs will get right to vote". The Asian Age highlights the Prime Minister's announcement of a new pension and life insurance scheme for overseas Indian workers.

The BJP agreeing to former BSP leader Babu Singh Kushwaha's request that his membership in the party be suspended is widely covered in the press today. "BJP hits pause button on Plan Kushwaha" writes the Pioneer. The Tribune reports "Kushwaha no longer in party says BJP".

Most papers take note of the concern expressed by the Chief Election Commissioner over the possible use of money power in the forthcoming assembly elections. "CEC: Money power a problem in Punjab, UP" reports the Asian Age. The Pioneer writes "EC raises bogey of illegit money; reports suggest Rs.10,000 crore input in Uttar Pradesh".

The one-day ultimatum given to the Congress by NCP chief Sharad Pawar to decide on an alliance for the forthcoming civic polls in  Mumbai is highlighted by many papers. " More ally trouble: Cant wait forever, Pawar tells Congress" reports Hindustan Times. Similarly, the Times of India writes "Now, congress faces Pawar problem over civic polls".

In a front page exclusive, the Mail Today reports that a study conducted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) across 40 petrol pumps in Delhi has found that all the people who visit petrol pumps are exposed to carcinogenic fumes. The study states that the risk to attendants who spend 10 to 12 hours there is substantially greater.

In international news, most papers highlight a report published in a hard-line newspaper in Iran which suggests that the country has begun a uranium enrichment programme at a new underground site well protected from possible airstrikes.