2100 HRS.
09-02-2013

THE HEADLINES:  

• Parliament attack terrorist Afzal Guru hanged and buried in Tihar jail.
• Finance Minister launches Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme providing tax incentives to new investors  in stock market.
• 188 candidates remain in the fray for the Nagaland  Assembly polls after withdrawal of nominations; 345 to contest in  Meghalaya.
• Normal life hit in Darjeeling Hills following Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha bandh.
• A ferocious blizzard in the United States puts life at  stand still  for a second straight day today, killing at least two people.
• World champion Viswanathan Anand slips to joint third in the second round of the Grenke Chess Classic in Germany

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Afzal Guru, convicted in the audacious terrorists attack on Parliament in December, 2001, was hanged today after rejection of his mercy petition by  President Pranab Mukherjee six days ago. Shortly after the execution, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that due procedure was followed in the case. Due procedure was followed and the date was confirmed by the Judicial Officer on 8th.  The time was also confirmed and today at 8 AM, he was hanged.  Union Home Secretary R K Singh said Afzal Guru's  family in Sopore  in north Kashmir was informed about the rejection of his mercy petition. Afzal Guru was burried with full religious rites in Tihar jail in Delhi. Political parties have welcomed the decision as rule of law taking its course. Talking to reporters in Chennai, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari  asserted that the government had to ensure that  law is followed rigorously. Eventually it culminated in  government taking a decision, which we have thought judicious, furthers the interest of justice and cause of national security. BJP  spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said that  it was a much awaited decision.
 
The family of those innocent killed, have human rights or not.  Those brave Watch and Ward staff Negi Yadav and others, who secured the Parliament, secured the life of the leaders of the country that India remain safe, does their family any human rights or not.  This question is equally important. Today, let us rededicate ourselves, take an unflinching resolve of zero tolerance against terrorism. CPI(M) Party politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the law of the land has taken its course. National General Secretary of Samajwadi Party R P Kushwaha said there is no religion for terrorists. The family members  of 2001 Parliament attack victims have welcomed the execution of Afzal Guru. Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed in major towns of the Kashmir Valley as a  precautionary measure. The situation in the valley is peaceful. Addressing a press conference, State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah  appealed to the people to maintain calm and not  allow any one to exploit the situation to promote  their vested interests.      
A tight security vigil has been put in place across the national capital also.The Union Home Ministry has issued an advisory to all state police forces to keep a tight vigil and remain alert. Afzal Guru was on the death row for over 10 years after his conviction. He was found guilty of conspiring and sheltering Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, who   carried out the dastardly attack on Parliament. Nine people were killed when five heavily-armed gunmen stormed the Parliament complex and opened indiscriminate fire, killing five Delhi Police personnel, a woman CRPF official, two Parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener. A journalist, who was injured, died later. All five terrorists were shot dead by security forces. Guru was arrested within hours after the attack.

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Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today launched the much-awaited Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme in Mumbai. The move  will encourage new investors to put their money in the stock market. The scheme, which was announced in the Budget, seeks to provide tax benefits to first-time investors in stock market. Under the scheme, an individual with an income of less than 10 lakh rupees would get tax incentives for investing up to 50,000 rupees in the stock market.    As per the notification issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India  on the scheme, there would be a lock-in period of one year on investments made under the scheme.  In another event  addressing the Board of Directors of the banks at the State bank of India  headquarters in Mumbai, Mr. Chidambaram said that the Government is confident to achieve an economic growth closer to 5.5 percent  in the fiscal year 2012-13, though the Central Statistics Office has projected 5 percent growth. He said the economy will climb back to the growth rate between 6 and 7 percent by the next year.  He asked the banks to improve their operational efficiency to bring down the interest rates and pass on the benefit to customers. He said low interest rates will boost economic growth. He inaugurated 101 branches of the SBI, across 14 states, in a virtual way.

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On the final day of withdrawal of candidature, one Independent candidate has withdrawn his nomination today, leaving a total of 188 candidates in the fray for the Nagaland State Assembly polls for which voting will be held on February 23rd . Our correspondent has filed this report.
 
Out of the total 188, the ruling Naga Peoples Front (NPF) has 60 candidates; Congress has 57, Independent 39, NCP 15, BJP 11, JD(U) 3, RJD 2 and UNDP has 1. Except for two constituencies where as many as 6 candidates will be facing the fight, majority of the constituencies will go for a straight fight between the NPF and the opposition Congress.     In just two weeks from now, over Eleven lakh ninety thousand electorates in Nagaland will decide the fate of the 188 candidates by exercising their franchise. Anenla Jamir, AIR News, Kohima
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In Meghalaya, a total of 345 candidates are left in the fray for the February 23rd, Assembly election, after six candidates withdrew their nominations on the last day of nomination to stay away from the electoral battle today. Earlier, four candidates were rejected by Returning Officers on the ground that their papers were not in order. As many as 122 Independents including disgruntled ones who had been denied party tickets are left in the fray. The Indian National Congress is left with 60 candidates in the fray including Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma and his wife, Mrs. Dekanchi D. Shira, former Chief Minister and legislator, Dr.D.D. Lapang and a host of Congress stalwarts. Regional party of United Democratic Party (UDP) are left with 50 candidates including its Party president, legislator and former Chief Minister, Dr. Donkupar Roy. National People’s Party will  contest the electoral battle with 32 candidates mostly from Garo Hills region. BJP will contest in 13 assembly constituencies. 
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For news updates, follow us on Twitter @ airnewsalerts.  You can also visit our facebook page All India Radio News for more news and events. 
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16 lakh children will appear in the selection test for admission to class sixth in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas at 11.30 tomorrow morning. The selection test will be held as per schedule despite a strike by the staff in these schools. The nationwide test will be held in about 4000 centres. Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti has made all arrangements for smooth and peaceful conduct of the exam with the state governments and districts administration.  
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In West Bengal normal life was hit  in the Darjeeling Hills by a 12-hour bandh observed by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. The morcha was  protesting the West Bengal government's decision to form a Lepcha Development Council and demanding Gorkhaland.  Additional Superintendent of Police Sangmit Lepcha said the shutdown was total and peaceful in the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. No untoward incident was reported. Meanwhile, hundreds of Lepchas have joined a fast-unto-death protesting 'unwanted politics' over their ethnic identity. 'Lepcha Rights Movement' have been demanding creation of the Lepcha Council and protesting against the Morcha sponsored bandh.
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A ferocious snowstorm pummeled the northeastern United States for a second straight day today, killing at least two people, bringing transportation to a halt and cutting off power to at least half a million customers. The storm dumped more than a foot and a half of snow on New York state and Connecticut, severing power and transport links for tens of millions of people. Massachusetts, which was due to bear the brunt of the blizzard, was forecast to get up to two feet of snow. With wind and heavy snow snapping power lines everywhere in the affected area, more than half a million customers sat in homes without electricity, including Massachusetts,  Rhode Island, and  Connecticut. The storm came a little over three months after Hurricane Sandy devastated swathes of New York and New Jersey, killing 132 people and causing damage worth some 71.4 billion dollars.
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At Baden-Baden in Germany, World champion Viswanathan Anand slipped to joint third after being held to a draw by second seed Fabiano Caruana of Italy in the second round of the Grenke Chess Classic.   With two draws from two games, the Indian took his tally to one point. Caruana, who had beaten Georg Meier of Germany in the first round of this six-player double round-robin tournament, was joined at the top by German player Arkadij Naiditsch who outwitted Michael Adams of England. The other game between Germans Daniel Fridman and Meier ended in a draw. Caruana and Naidticsch have 1.5 points from one win and a draw and Anand and Fridman are breathing down their necks with two draws apiece. With eight rounds still to come, Adams and Meier are at the bottom of the standings having half a point in their kitty.
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In a desperate bid to stay in the hunt for a semi-final berth, the England side led by Charlotte Edwards will go all out against South Africa in a do-or-die Super Six encounter of the ICC Women`s World Cup at the Barabati Stadium, at Cuttack tomorrow.  Both teams need to win this encounter to stay alive in the tournament.   England lost a low-scoring encounter against Australia by two runs while West Indies beat South Africa by two wickets in their respective Super Six games.
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In Afghanistan, at least six persons  were killed following a roadside bomb blast in southern Helmand province. The incident took place in Nad-e-Ali district. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast. Roadside bombs are the weapon choice of the insurgents in Afghanistan. The Insurgents use them to target Afghan civilians fall victim of these explosive devices. 
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SriLankan Minister for Home Affairs and Public Administration W D J Senaviratne has said 33 Indian fishermen who were taken into custody for fishing in SriLankan territorial waters will be released after negotiations with Indian authorities. He was addressing a Meet the Press programme at Thiruvananthapuram Press Cluib today. He said trade between the two countries has touched five billion dollars.