New Delhi, Mar 29 : The Election Commission has issued notice to the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, for allegedly misbehaving with a senior officer in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing media persons, the Election Commissioner S. Y. Qureshi said the commission has given special directions to its officials to monitor the media so that suo moto action could be taken against candidates who are creating nuisance.

Pokhran, Mar 29 : The Block II version of the BrahMos cruise missile was successfully tested on Sunday, hitting its target during a test at the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan.

"The missile was successfully launched at 11:15 a. m. and in the next two-and-a-half minutes, it hit the bull''s eye in the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan," said DRDO officials.

This was the third test-firing of the latest Block II version of the missile.

New Delhi, March 29 : The President Pratibha Patil on Sunday accepted resignations of Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and R. Velu, Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, from the Council of Ministers, with immediate effect.

The resignations, as advised by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, have been accepted under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India.

Pilibhit, March 29 : Pilibhit police on Sunday lodged an FIR against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi for making inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks and creating a riot-like situation in the district.

The Kotwali Police Station has charged Gandhi for making communal remarks and insulting the minority community.

The police have also lodged an FIR against BJP''s election-in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Kalraj Mishra for violating the model code of conduct.

New Delhi, Mar 29 : The Reserve Bank of India''s (RBI) directive to the banks to stop charging fee for cash withdrawals using ATM and debit cards issued by other lenders will be implemented from April 1 onwards.

According to the directive, the people would be saved from paying an extra fee for taking out money from an Automated Teller Machine that does not belong to their own bank.

However, the banks are still allowed to charge extra for the services like cash withdrawal from ATM''s outside India.

Amritsar, March 29 : The biggest festival in politics—the Lok Sabha elections—has not only intensified political activities, but also brought a big cheer to the faces of boozers and liquor manufacturers.

A visit to villages in Punjab in the run-up to elections shows that it is party time in the countryside. Country liquor is being offered to all those who fancy it with gusto and without gumption.

Like political leaders, who are busy campaigning to woo voters by hook or crook, liquor manufacturers are meeting the high demand for ambrosia.