2100 HRS
22nd January, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in teachers recruitment scam.

• India will not take any decision in haste while dealing with Pakistan, says External Affairs Minister.

• India and Sri Lanka sign two agreements including one on combating international terrorism and illegal drug and human trafficking.

• Government plans to make one person IT literate in every household by 2020.

• Sensex sheds 120 points to close at 19,982.

• Fourth One-Day International match between India and England to be played at Mohali, tomorrow.

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A Delhi Court today sentenced former Chief Minister of Haryana and Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chautala and his MLA son, Ajay Chautala to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teachers' recruitment scam. On January 16th, the court had convicted father, son and 53 others for illegally recruiting 3,206 JBT teachers in the state in the year 2000. The special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar's Court had completed the hearing on Monday.

They have all been held guilty of cheating, forgery, using fake documents as genuine, conspiracy under the IPC and for abusing their official position under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Two IAS officers Sanjiv Kumar, the then Director of Directorate of Primary Education and Chautala's former Officer on Special Duty, Vidya Dhar have also been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. Sher Singh Badshami, MLA, Political Adviser to the then Haryana CM, has also been sentenced to 10 years' in jail. Out of the remaining 50, one accused received 5 year jail term and the rest received four years in jail. All the accused are already in judicial custody. The pronuncement came after a delay of a few hours as violent protests broke out outside the Rohini court premises in Delhi. The police had to lathicharge and fire teargas shells to disperse the crowd.

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External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said that India will not take any decision in haste while dealing with Pakistan.The statement assumes importance in the wake of beheading of an Indian soldier at LOC early this month. The Minister said, issues between India and Pakistan have to be resolved bilaterally and the recent contacts between the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries.

"The contacts between DGOMS both side have indicated that the bilateral process remains in a sustained and steady manner and effective. We do reiterate our position that these are bilateral issues and they should be sattelled bilaterally.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid termed as unacceptable, Pakistan's appeal for using the services of United Nations military observers group in Kashmir to maintain peace and tranquility across the LoC. He said in a Press conference while replying to a question that India has read some statements about giving access to third party. Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar had said in Washington that her country was ready to involve the UN military observers group to ease the tensions across the LoC.

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Union Home Secretary R K Singh said today that at least 10 people who were allegedly involved in a spate of terror attacks in different parts of the country, had links with RSS or its affiliated organisations. He said, during investigation of Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Dargah Sharif blasts, the government has found at least 10 names who have been associated with the RSS at some point or the other. He made public the names of the ten persons who were allegedly involved in terror attacks and also had links with RSS while talking to reporters.

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Congress today distanced itself from the Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's remarks on saffron terror and said that terrorism is irrespective of religion and colour. Briefing reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi said that as Mr. Shinde has already clarified that his intention was not to hurt anyone, so the matter should be put to rest. He also said that no Congressman can speak like this intentionally.

"It is not fair to level allegations againt Congress. The Home Minister made a statement the next day saying this was not his objective. No Congress man can make such statement deliberately. He will only say terrorism is terrorism and it has no caste or religion."

BJP party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad has expressed concern over the Home Minister's statement.

"The BJP is deeply pained distressed as to the line Mr. Salman Khurshid has taken the external affair minister is suppose to way his word as to what his speaks. This is deeply regreatble as to how he has shought to support. The line of Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde on which we have already commented elaborately."

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Observing that India is in transition in a changing world, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the country was engaging with the world with an objective of creating environment for its development and ensuring security. He was speaking inNew Delhi after giving away the 2nd S K Singh Award for outstanding foreign service to senior IFS officer. He said foreign policy and diplomacy would be key factors in India's progress and security with the centre of gravity of global challenges and opportunities shifting to this region and growing engagement of the country with the world. He said Indian diplomats must lead efforts for fostering a climate for peace, stability and security for the country and in safeguarding the national interests in international negotiations of far-reaching consequence.

Our functional skills and developing an awareness of cross-cutting global issues such as climate change, trade and security, it is important also to enhance our diplomatic focus on key geographical areas. May not be the easiest places to work in, but they are becoming increasingly important to our future security and prosperity.

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India and Sri Lanka today signed two agreements including one on combating International Terrorism and Illegal Drug and Human Trafficking. An agreement on Avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion was also signed by visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G L Peiris and his Indian counterpart, Salman Khurshid in New Delhi. The agreements were signed at the end of the 8th round of joint India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting which reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relationship.

Both the countries also inked the agreed minutes of the meeting. Addressing the media in a joint press conference, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said it has also been decided to set up a special Economic Zone at Trincomali and a pharmaceutical and textile cluster in Sri Lanka. He said both countries also agreed to extend human treatment to the fishermen of both countries. He said, they also discussed the progress of rehabilitation of Tamils in Sri Lanka and the progress on the construction of 15000 houses to Internally displaced persons.

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The government today said that it plans to make one person Information Technology (IT) literate in every household by 2020. Giving details of the agenda of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, for 2013, IT and Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said in New Delhi that one IT literate person in 10 lakh households, is the target for the current year. He said 18 specific agenda items have been identified for further promotion and development of domestic electronics and IT-enabled Services in the country during the year. The Minister said, mobile service delivery gateway will be rolled out to ensure easy availability of government services to the common man through mobile devices. Mr Sibal said the government will also notify the Cyber Security policy to set up an ecosystem for cyber security in the country.

"National cyber security policy where going to finalise this year and launch it. We will take cabinet approval this year because cyber security if all your possess is in systems are under on the net and in cyber space and in digital mode then these need protection and therefore we need a cyber security policy to ensure these are fully protected."

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Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today advocated a political response to address the issues of tribals to dissuade them from joining Maoist ranks. Delivering a lecture in New Delhi this evening, Mr Ramesh said, displacement, deprivation, disconnect and discontent among tribals if addressed, will go a long way in dealing with the challenge posed by Maoists in the states.

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The Supreme Court today said that interests of small retail traders should not be affected due to foreign direct investment in retail sector and sought response from the Centre on how it intends to safeguard their interests. A Bench headed by Justice R M Lodha asked the Centre to file its response within three weeks. The Bench while hearing a public interest litigation, asked the Centre to ensure that free trade is not affected, particularly, the interests of small traders.

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In Uttar Pradesh, another accused in the infamous Ashiana gang rape case ofLucknow was sentenced to life term today. Additional district and sessions judge Akhilesh Dubey also imposed a penalty of ten thousand rupees on Faizan alias Fajju. The court had earlier rejected his plea to be treated as a minor at the time of crime. Our Lucknow correspondent reports that the case dates back to May 2, 2005 when four youths kidnapped a minor girl of a very poor family from the posh Ashiana locality and gangraped and mercilessly thrashed her.

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In Israel, a record turnout of voters has been reported in the first half of the voting across the country for the 120 member parliament. The Central Election Committee said that more than 38 percent of 5.6 million eligible voters had cast their ballots by late afternoon which is higher than 34 percent in 2009 and 31 percent in 2006. Voting is on and polling stations will close at 1.30 am in Indian time. More from ourWest Asia Correspondent:

"Defying the poll pundits’ predictions of a low voter turnout, millions of Israelis turned out to cast their votes at over 10,000 polling stations across the country. It has been a national holiday and the voters seem to have listened to the Israeli leaders who urged them to come out and vote. Polling has been peaceful and the election day has been declared a national holiday. Israeli President Shimon Perez, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his arch rival Labour party leader Shelly Yachimovich were among the early birds to cast their ballots in Jerusalem.34 parties are vying in these elections for 120 seats. Atul K Tiwary,AIR News,Dubai."

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Pakistan has ordered the release of all Indian fishermen imprisoned in the country. According to the Pakistan's Interior Ministry, all imprisoned fishermen in Pakistan will be released along with their boats after initial investigation. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Indian fishermen had been warned not to violate the territorial waters of Pakistan. Meanwhile, India has also announced that four Pakistani fishermen will be released tomorrow.

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"Snapping three days of gains, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange dropped 120 points, or 0.6 percent, to close below the 20,000 mark, at 19,982, on profit-booking by investors, today. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange, which had crossed the 6,100 mark for the first time in two years, during the session, finally ended the day with a loss of 34 points, or 0.6 percent, at 6,049. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Koreaand Singapore ended mixed. The rupee weakened 4 paise, to 53.81 against the dollar. Gold rose 40 rupees, to 31,290 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. But silver declined 300 rupees, to 59,300 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures rose above 112 dollars a barrel, but US crude fell 2 cents, to 95.54 dollars a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News."

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The fourth One-Day International Cricket match between India and England will be played at Mohali, tomorrow. All India Radio will broadcast a live commentary of the match alternately in Hindi and English. The commentary can be heard on AIR Delhiand FM Gold channels from 11.30 a.m. onwards. At present, India lead the five-match series 2-1.

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In the Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam tournament, veteran Mahesh Bhupathi has entered the mixed doubles quarterfinals with partner Nadia Petrova of Russia. InMelbourne today, the fifth seeded Indo-Russian pair registered a 3-6 6-2 10-5 win over the unseeded duo of Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia and Nenad Zimonjic ofSerbia at the Australian Open. However, the duo of Leander Paes and his Russian partner Elena Vesnina bowed out after losing to the Australian pair of Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden in straight sets 3-6, 2-6 in the second round.