2100 HRS
7th February, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Cabinet decides to have all weather roads in habitations with tribal population of 100 in 82 naxal-hit districts.

• Centre asks Maharashtra government to probe VHP leader Parveen Togadia's alleged hate speech.

• Supreme Court orders to give SIT report of 2002 Gulbarg society case to Zakia Jafri.

• Delhi government says, all arrangements are in place to deal with any out break of swine flu in the capital and adjoining areas.

• India defeat Pakistan by 6 wickets in ICC Women's World Cup at Cuttack.

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The Union Cabinet today approved proposals worth 38500 crore rupees for road connectivity under the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The project cover new road connectivity and upgradation work in tribal and border areas, plains, hill states and desert areas. Briefing newmen on the Cabinet decision Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said, all habitations with a population of 100 tribals and above in 82 Naxal-hit districts will now be connected with all-weather roads under government's flagship programme PMGSY.

In 82 Naxal infested districts, the Prime Minister Rural Road Scheme will now connect settlement ith 100 inhabitants. Earlier, settlements with a population of 250 were connected.

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The Union Cabinet also approved raising the authorised capital of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, (NABARD) to 20,000 crore rupees from 5,000 crore rupees. The move is aimed at augmenting the operations and broadening the activities of NABARD that promotes credit growth for agriculture and rural development.

The Cabinet also approved the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for funding the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India(TAPI) Pipeline Project and to permit GAIL India Ltd. The countries involved in the four nation Gas pipeline project, signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement along with a Gas Pipeline Framework Agreement.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA ) gave the nod for the merger of National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetlands Conservation Programme into a new scheme called the 'National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems .

Doubling of the Palanpur-Samakhiali section of 247.73 kms railway line under the Western Railway in Gujarat was also approved by the CCEA. The project is likely to be completed in the next five years at a cost of over 1266 crore rupees. Briefing reporters Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the step will help in providing necessary infrastructure support for industrial development in Gujarat.

The CCEA also approved an increase in Minimum Support Price of Copra by 150 rupees per quintal.

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The Centre has asked the Maharashtra Government to probe the charges and book the VHP leader, Praveen Togadia for allegedly making provocative speeches. The Maharashtra Government has assured the Centre that they will take due legal process. PTI reports that the State Government has ordered Forensic examination of Togadia's alleged hate speech and is now waiting for a detailed report to register a case against him.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP today passed resolutions demanding security to women, protection of cows, preservation of river Ganga and condemning allegations of Hindu terror for what it called vote bank politics.

The resolutions were adopted at Dharm Sansad held in Kumbh Mela today.

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The Supreme Court today issued an order entitling Zakia Jafri, wife of slain Congress MP in Gujarat Ehsan Jafri, to obtain the entire probe report submitted by Special Investigation Team, SIT, in the 2002 Gulbarg Society riots case. The court overruled the two orders of Ahmedabad Court denying the materials relating to the probe to Zakia Jafri. The apex court said Jafri is entitled to entire SIT report barring comments of its chief into the post-Godhra violence. Jafri had objected to the closure of SIT report. She had contended that she could not file a proper protest petition against the report unless she was provided with all the documents relating to the probe by the SIT in the case.

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India's Gross Domestic Product may be lowest in a decade. It is estimated to grow at 5 per cent this fiscal. In 2002-03, the GDP had grown at 4 per cent. Since then, the country's economy has been expanding at over 6 per cent. The highest growth rate of 9.6 per cent was recorded in 2006-07.

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The Finance Ministry today said the Central Statistical Organisation, CSO's, economic growth estimate of 5 per cent for the current fiscal is below expectations and the government will continue efforts to revive the economy. A Finance Ministry statement said, as per practice, the CSO's Advance Estimates of GDP is based on extrapolation of numbers till November 2012. It expects the final numbers to be better as indicators are showing an uptrend since then suggesting the year will end on a better note.

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Commercial banks in Assam have decided to augment credit to small and medium enterprises by 50 percent for developing this sector. This was stated by Reserve Bank Governor, D. Subba Rao while talking to media in Guwahati after RBI's Central Board Meeting. He said that the request for credit enhancement was made by Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi during the state level bankers committee meeting yesterday. He said that banks in Assam will open 200 branches of rural banks in 2013-2014. Dr. Subba Rao said that Assam Government has also agreed to review its land policy to facilitate greater flow of credit for Small and Medium Enterprises sector.

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The Planning Commission's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said that the under-recoveries on account of sale of diesel will end by mid-2015. Addressing India Energy Congress in New Delhi Mr Ahluwalia said that diesel is on a progressive elimination of subsidies following gradual increase in the price of the fuel.

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The Minister of State in PM's Office, Mr.V.Narayanasamy said today that India will continue to press Sri Lanka to implement the 1987 Rajiv Gandhi- Jayawardene Accord. Speaking to reporters in Puducherry, he said that the recent statement of Mr.Rajapaksa, that autonomy to Tamil speaking areas will not be granted, is not acceptable. Mr. Narayanasamy said that Rajapakse should respect the agreement and give autonomy to Tamils to find a permanent solution to the ethnic crisis.

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The Delhi Government today appealed to the people not to panic as it has made all arrangements in the hospitals to deal with any out break of cases of swine flu. Delhi Health Minister Dr A.K Walia today chaired a meeting with the officials of the health department to take stock of the situation in this regard. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Walia said that treatment facilities are available in the city in the identified government and private hospitals.

Twenty four government hospitals and five private hospitals have been enlisted for admitting patients. They have been asked to ensure isolating severe cases. We are trying our level best to control the disease in initial stages; because cases are coming from other states also. Medicines are available and there is no cause for panic.

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The Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release 2.44 thousand million cubic feet, TMC of water to Tamil Nadu immediately. The apex court rejected Tamil Nadu's objections to the findings of the expert panel and directed Karnataka to release the water immediately.

The Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shetter will have discussions with legal experts in New Delhi on the issue. He described the issue as a matter of great concern for farmers living in Cauvery basin. He was speaking in the state assembly today.

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The Mumbai police today booked three persons of a construction company for collapse of a portion of under construction bridge at Marol in suburban Mumbai near the international airport on Wednesday night. Police sources informed that they have been booked under various sections of the IPC. Police sources also informed that the cause of the collapse is being probed. Three persons were killed and seven others injured in the bridge collapse.

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THE WORLD OF BUSINESS

Falling for the sixth straight session, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange lost 59 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at a one-and-a-half month low of 19,580, after a disappointing GDP growth forecast, and amid declining Asian markets, today. The Nifty fell 20 points, to 5,939. The rupee closed 6 paise weaker, at 53.22 against the dollar. Gold rose 150 rupees, to 31,000 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver gained 400 rupees, to 58,800 rupees per kilo. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News

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The CPI national secretary and Member of Parliament D Raja today demanded complete withdrawal of police force from the proposed project area of South Korean steel giant Posco in Jagatsinghpur of Odisha.

He also led a demonstration by anti-Posco agitators, mostly children and women, in the project area and flayed what he called "midnight entry by the police" into Gobindpur village in a bid to facilitate acquiring of land for the 52,000 crore rupees mega steel project.

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Opposition LDF members disrupted proceedings in the Kerala Legislative Assembly today after Speaker denied permission to an adjournment motion, to discuss alleged police action against the march by women activists yesterday. The opposition alleged that women activists including MLAs were tortured by the police during the march. The Home Minister said Government is willing to conduct a judicial enquiry to bring out the truth in the matter.

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Kamal Haasan's Tamil movie Vishwaroopam was released today in theatres across Tamil Nadu sending his fans into a delirious mood . Today's release capped a two-week long drama with many a twist and turns. that saw opposition by theatre owners over the actor's plan to release it on DTH platform, protests by Muslim outfits that led to a two-week ban by Tamil Nadu Government, court battle and threat of self-exile by the actor.

Vishwaroopam, originally scheduled for January 25 release, started screening in some theatres as early as 6 AM today.

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India defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets in the seventh place play-off match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup at Cuttack today. With this, India, who earlier failed to make it to the Super Six stage, have finished seventh in the tournament.

Chasing 193 victory, India surpassed the target with 4 overs to spare and 6 wickets in hand. Top scoring with a superb 103 not out, Skipper Mithali Raj played a captain's knock and helped India beat Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Super Six stage of the competition will begin from tomorrow. At two seperate venues in Mumbai, Australia will take on England and New Zealand will meet Sri Lanka. In Cuttack, South Africa will play against the West Indies. All matches will begin at 9 AM.