0815 HRS
10th February, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Government says, due process of law was followed in the execution of Afzal Guru and the family was informed about the rejection of his mercy petition.
• Eight militants of the Muslim Protection Tigers of Assam surrender in Kokrajhar district .
• Finance Minister asks banks to improve operational efficiency to bring down interest rates.
• 15 more airports to be constructed under the Greenfield policy in the country.
• A major snowstorm brings North-East US and eastern Canada to a standstill leaving half a million homes without power.
• Ranchi Rhinos to take on Delhi Waveriders in the final of Hockey IndiaLeague in Ranchi today.

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Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that the due process of law was followed in the execution of Afzal Guru convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack case. He told reporters that the President had rejected his mercy plea on the 3rd of this month, following which he was executed in Tihar Jail in Delhi yesterday and buried there.

Due procedure was followed and the date was confirmed by the Judicial Officer. On 8th, the time was also confirmed.

Home Secretary RK Singh said, Afzal Guru's family in Kashmir was informed about the rejection of his mercy petition.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari rejected any political or electoral consideration behind the hanging of Afzal Guru. He said, the decision furthers the cause of justice and national security. He said, government has to ensure that the law is followed rigorously.

On internal security, the UPA Government has never shied away from taking decisions which are tough, which are in national interest, which further the cause of national security and which are justiciable and whenever we take decisions of national security, we do not keep electoral considerations in mind.

Political parties have welcomed the decision to hang Afzal Guru. Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, the law has taken its course and there should be no politics on this.

We have punished the person who attacked Parliament. There should be no politcs on it. We do not want to play politics on it. We all, should fight against terrorism together.

BJP Spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said that it was a long awaited decision.

Hanging of Afzal Guru is part of legal process which should have been done much earlier.

CP(I)M Politburo member Sitaram Yechury welcomed the decision.

Family members of the Parliament attack victims also welcomed the execution of Afzal Guru.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to the people of the state to maintain calm and not allow anyone to exploit the situation for vested interests.
I would like to appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly, theKashmir valley not to allow this situation to go out of hand. I also understand that there are amongst us souls that would like to exploit this situation for their own personal or political advantages, thereby putting the people of the state to even more inconvenience.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has also issued an advisory to all state police forces remain alert.

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Eight militants of the Muslim Protection Tigers of Assam have surrendered in Kokrajhar district. Kokrajhar SP Sunil Kumar said, the militant group was formed after the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts, violence last year. More from our correspondent.

The Muslim Protection Tigers of Assam was gradually trying to recruit cadres and enhance their arsenal. But security forces have intensified immense pressure during last couple of months. Yesterday’s surrender of eight militants including one area commander is a setback to the newly formed militant group. The cadres also handed over arms and ammunitions. Manas Pratim Sharma, AIR News, Guwahati.

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finance Minister P Chidambaram has asked banks to improve their operational efficiency to bring down interest rates. He was talking to SBI officials at its headquarters in Mumbai yesterday. He said, the RBI had recently lowered its key lending rates. Some banks have passed the benefit to borrowers, but many others have desisted, citing the high cost of funds. Mr. Chidambaram said the government is confident to achieve economic growth closer to 5.5 per cent during the 2012-13 fiscal.

I am confident that the economy will return a growth rate of close to 5.5 per cent, which is satisfactory but does not make me happy. So, we need to get back to the 8 per cent growth path. And the measures that we have taken in the last three or four months and the measures that we will take in the remaining weeks of this month and this fiscal year and the measures , we will take going into the next fiscal year, will be measures that will put India back on the 8 per cent growth path.

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Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has said that 15 more airports will be constructed under its Greenfield policy in the Public Private Partnership that is PPP mode.

Inaugurating the new terminal building at the Puducherry Airport yesterday, Mr. Singh said, the government is committed to provide an improved air connectivity to smaller cities and remote areas of the country. He said, the process of identifying the most suitable low cost model for the development of the airports in smaller cities is going on.

I am confident, the next new boom in aviation will occur due to Low Cost Airports and improved regional connectivity. We are in the process of identifying the most suitable low cost model for development of small airports.

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A major snowstorm has brought swathes of the north-eastern US and easternCanada to a standstill, leaving about half a million homes without power. High winds and blizzard conditions have emptied the centre of Boston and Massachusetts. Millions of people across New England have been warned to stay indoors. The region's airports are closed. Forecasters said, the storm, which began on Friday, could dump as much as three feet of snow in some places. People have been warned to stock up on food and other supplies as the storm affects 25 million people in the region. More than 6 lakh homes and businesses are without power inMassachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

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A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook southern Colombia early this morning, causing some damage to houses. But there is no report of casualties or major mishaps. Authorities said, the quake was felt as far away as Quito, Ecuador and Bogota, where buildings swayed under the force of the tremor.

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Swiss authorities have informed the Pakistan government that they cannot open the graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari in line with an order from the Pakistan Supreme Court. Law Minister Farooq Naek told a TV channel that the Swiss authorities have conveyed their positions in an official letter sent to thePakistan government this week. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, a close aide of Zardari, said the decision of the Swiss authorities endorsed the stance adopted by the Pakistan government.

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A large number of pilgrims are taking a holy dip at the Sangam, confluence of theGanga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers in Allahabad on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya today. More than three crore devotees are expected to take the holy dip. Our correspondent brings us more:

Pilgrims have thronged all the bathing Ghats and they are continuously reaching at Sangam covering 10 to 20 kilometers journey by foot in the Mela area. 22 bathing Ghats have been developed for devotees and extra water has been released from Narora dam to ensure availability of water at the Sangam on the occasion. Second Shahi Snan of Akharas has also begun and saints and sears from four Sanyasi Akharas have completed their Shahi Snan and remaining three including Juna, Awahan and Panchagni Akharas are taking holy dip. Shahi Snan will continued till 5 in the evening and complete with the bathing of Sri Panchayati Nirmal Akhara from Udasin sect. Sunil Shukla, AIR News ,Kumbh Mela, Allahabad.

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The five-week long crisis, that rocked Indian tennis, has been partially resolved after All India Tennis Association, the AITA gave assurances to the players, in writing, regarding Davis Cup playing conditions. The rebel players have made themselves available for the tie against Indonesia following the move. The players, however, made it clear that their availability is only for the upcoming tie and is subject to AITA's compliance with the promises made to them.

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The final line up has been drawn for the first Hockey India League. Ranchi Rhinos will take on Delhi Waveriders at the Birsa Munda Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchiat 8 PM today. While Ranchi Rhinos entered the final beating Uttar Pradesh Wizards 4-2, Delhi Waveriders booked their final berth crushing Jaypee Punjab Warriors 3-1 in the second semi-final yesterday.

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Newspapers Headlines

Closure of the audacious Parliament House strike of the 2001, with the hanging of convict Afzal Guru, is highlighted in the Press. " Afzal hanged, buried in Tihar ", headlines The Asian Age. "Executed within 80 days of Kasab", records the Sunday Times. "We finally got justice today", writes The Tribune, citing family members of victims of the attack.

The Pioneer reports that Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has flayed a report of the Central Statistical Organization and said, it had ignored signs of a turnaround. He added that the economy would clock a 5-5 % growth rate in the current fiscal and 6.7% in 2013-14.

The Tribune reports that the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal, will contest all Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in future, to weed out corruption from politics.

The Indian Express, quoting US President Barack Obama writes,"The core of the Al- Qaeda is on the path of defeat, due to the relentless actions being taken by his administration against terrorist groups.

Not many of us are aware of the richness and necessity of Wetlands in our lives. These are nature's water storage and purification zones and a paradise for wildlife. Unfortunately Wetlands today have become mere dumping grounds for garbage, throttling water bodies and falling prey to rising pollution and urbanization, writes the Hindustan Times.

And finally, Times of India informs us,"Yoga in a portable pod' becomes a hit". Coming in the shape of a portable rubber pod for stressed out corporate workers, the pod is hooked on to the mains and heated, making one burn more calories,after which a yoga instructor puts people through their paces