ENGLISH-2100 HRS.

NEWS AT NINE

29-11-2013

THE HEADLINES

• Tarun Tejpal gets interim relief against arrest  till tomorrow morning in the sexual assault case.

• Supreme court appointed panel probing Law Intern sexual harassment case submits its report to Chief Justice of India.

• GDP grows by 4.8 per cent in  second quarter this fiscal.

• Sensex gains 257 points to close at 20,792; Rupee weakens 3 paise to 62.44 against dollar.

• Ace Shuttler PV Sindhu enters semifinals of Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Tournament.

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Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a woman reporter in Tehelka, today got a minor relief when a local court in Goa gave him interim protection from arrest till 10 AM tomorrow.

The judge, who had issued non-bailable warrants to Goa and Delhi Police for his arrest earlier in the morning, later stayed his arrest till 2.30 PM on an anticipatory bail application moved by Tejpal's lawyers.

During arguments, Tejpal's advocate twice took the name of the victim to which the public prosecutor took strong exception. The judge sternly told the lawyer that it was not right on her part to name the victim. The public prosecutor will present the prosecution arguments when the court resumes hearing tomorrow

Tejpal faced some protests and black flag demonstration by BJP's youth wing activists as he left the Dabolim airport in Panaji  amidst tight security. He was taken to crime branch for interrogation by Goa police as soon as he landed in Goa this evening.

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The Supreme court appointed panel probing into alleged sexual harassment charges levelled by a law intern against a former Supreme Court judge todaysubmitted its report to the Chief Justice of India.

The report was submitted after recording the statement of  Former Supreme Court judge, Justice A K Ganguly, who is believed to have been accused by the law intern of sexual harassment. The three-judge committee is headed by Justice R M Lodha.

Justice Ganguly demitted office as Supreme Court judge on February 3, 2012 and is now heading the West Bengal Human Rights Commission. He has, however, strongly denied the charges.

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The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the bail plea of RJD chief LaluPrasad, and sought response from CBI. He is undergoing a five-year jail term after being convicted in a fodder scam case. A bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed CBI, which is the prosecuting agency in the fooder scam case, to file its response within two weeks and posted the case for hearing to the 13th of next month.

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The Election campaign concluded for 199 out of 200 seats of Rajasthan Assembly this evening. Polling for Churu constituency will be on 13th December due to death of BSP candidate. 2087 candidates are in the fray for 199 seats where votes will be polled on 1st December. Congress and BJP are contesting on all 200 seats while BSP candidates are contesting on 195 seats. More from our correspondent.

Now candidates have started door to door contact with the voters. More than 40 star campaigners addressed election rallies in the state and raised various local and national issues including development, inflation, corruption and image of the candidate .Till the completion of election procedure campaign through social media and mobile phones will also not allowed. 509 companies of central para military forces have been deployed in the state which is triple than the previous election. alongwith police at least one armed security personnel will be deployed al At all 10793 polling booths in the state. Border of the state with neighboring states UP,Haryana,Gujrat and MP has been sealed. For the first time election commission is providing photo voter slips at homes which will be used as identification document by voters.ANURAG VAJPEYI AIR NEWS JAIPUR.

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Senior leaders from different political parties today remained engaged addressing series of rally in the national capital.  Congress leaders  Salman Khurshid, Ajay Maken, J P Agrawal and Sanjay Nirupam  participated in the campaign and highlighted development works done by  Delhi government. 

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit  addressed four rallies in Mundka and Jahangir Puri areas and said, this election is important as the people will have to choose between performers and non-performers.  While, BJP president Rajnath Singh held public meetings in Rajokari and Mehrauli areas accusing Delhi government of  poor development in the city. Party leaders including Sushma Swaraj,  Nitin Gadkari, Ananth Kumar and Harsh Vardhan also attended number of  rallies in various parts of the city. 

BSP Chief Mayawati, Samajwadi party leader Ramgopal Yadav and Aam Aadmiparty leaders  Arvind Kejriwal and Yogendra Yadav were also busy trying to convince voters.      

With just three days  left for campaigning  electioneering has picked up in the national capital. After the end of  campaigning in Rajasthan this evening  all  the political parities have sifted their attentions and fielded their star campaigners in the metropolis.  The campaign has also added colour  with actor turned politicians Rajbabbar, Vinod Khanna, Smriti Irani and Manoj Tiwari kick starting  public meetings and road shows in favour of their party candidates. Congress, BJP  and other parties have also roped in their leaders of UP and Bihar in the city for canvassing as Purvanchali population  has  decisive role in at least 15 out of 70 constituencies.  With Diwaker, this is Sant Bahadur AIR News Delhi.

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The Congress has moved Election Commission, demanding stern action against BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi and two other party leaders including Vasundhara Raje for dubbing the Congress as poisonous. 

In a complaint to Chief Election Commissioner, V S Sampath, Secretary of AICC legal department, K C Mittal said that such statements are an impediment in the conduct of free and fair election and are not permissible in public discourse. 

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The Centre and the Assam government have signed Suspension of Operation treaty with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Ranjan Daimary faction) in Guwahati this evening. State Additional DGP Law and Order A P Rout said that the treaty was signed between government officials  and the leaders of the outfit. Our Correspondent reports that the treaty will be reviewed after six months.                

With the signing of the treaty, stage has set to start formal negotiations. The outfit has submitted a list of 579 cadres and 40 weapons. All the cadres will be shifted to designated camps.  State Home Secretary said that cadres will be given identity cards, monthly stipend .Government will also provide them skill development trainings so that they can manage their livelihood. The much anticipated treaty is likely to bring long lasting peace particularly in Lower Assam. While the Progressive faction of the outfit is holding talks with the Centre, the Sangbijit group has involved in subversive activities. MANAS PRATIM SARMA,AIR NEWS,GUWAHATI.

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The Indian economy grew by 4.8 per cent in the second quarter this fiscal due to improved performance of farm, manufacturing, construction and services sectors. The gross domestic product (GDP) had expanded by 4.4 per cent in the April-June quarter of this fiscal and 5.2 per cent in July-September quarter last fiscal.

Commenting on the official data release today in New Delhi, Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram said that growth will come back slowly in third and fourth quarter.

The manufacturing sector posted a growth of one per cent in the second quarter of July-September this year as against an almost flat growth 0.1 per cent in output a year ago.

The growth rate in the services sector, including financing, insurance and real estate, stood at 10 per cent as against 8.3 per cent in same quarter of 2012-13.

The construction sector expanded 4.3 per cent as against 3.1 per cent in the year-ago period.

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Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said government will in next six months liberalise capital markets and financial sector to help economy return to high growth trajectory. Chidambaram said, liberalising natural gas pricing as well as clearing impediments facing projects are on high priority. Speaking at a function in New Delhi, the Finance Minister said, Centre will have more meetings of Cabinet Committee on Investment to clear stalled projects.

Stating that Indian economy is going through stress like economies world over, Chidambaram said economic growth will begin to pick up from next fiscal, rising to 8 per cent in two years time.

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India has asserted that it will not compromise its stance on food security of poor and support to marginal farmers even if subsidy limits are breached.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said country's chief negotiator will engage with WTO members for a positive outcome of Bali meet. He said New Delhi will strive for permanent immunity from actions against breach of farm subsidy.    

Developed countries have raised apprehensions that food stockpiling exercise of India and other developing nations to implement food security plans will breach the 10 per cent subsidy cap under the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture.

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rallied 257 points, or 1.3 percent, to close at 20,792, today, on optimism about second-quarter GDP growth data. The Nifty rose 84 points, or 1.4 percent, to 6,176.Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore ended mixed. The rupee lost 3 paise, to close at 62.44 against the dollar. Gold rose 105 rupees, to 31,320 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver gained 100 rupees, to 44,900 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures stood below 111 dollars a barrel, while US crude rose 30 cents, to 92.60 dollars a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News.

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The Telecom Commission, the highest decision making body of DoT, today approved in-principle a proposal to set-up high-speed wireless Internet (Wi-fi) hotspots across 2.5 lakh gram panchayats.

Official sources said, the project, entailing capital expenditure of 3,750 crore rupees and operational expenditure of 1,860 crore rupees, will be undertaken as part of the ongoing 20,000 crore rupees national optical fibre project.

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In Uttar Pradesh sugar cane farmers have intensified their agitation demanding immediate starting of crushing at private mills. They staged demonstration at different mills and handed over their memorandum to the officials to press their demands. Our Correspondent reports that the farmers were also demanding compensation to a farmer who allegedly committed suicide yesterday over heavy debts.

Most of the 99 private sugar mills have refused to start crushing citing the high purchase price of sugarcane and pending arrears, despite several rounds of talks with the state government.

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In Egypt, clashes erupted in Cairo and other cities as police dispersed protests by Islamists against a new law banning unauthorised demonstrations. Police used tear gas against supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo’s Mohandessin district. Police also dispersed protests in the cities of Suez, Mahalla and Qena. The Muslim Brotherhood had called for protests after the weekly Friday prayers.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is arriving in Kabul tomorrow on one day visit to Afghanistan. It is his first visit to Afghanistan since he assumed office after winning parliamentary election in Pakistan in May this year. He will meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the two leaders are expected to discuss various issues of mutual importance, including the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

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India's rising shuttler PV Sindhu has entered the semi-finals of the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament.  In the quarter-finals played today, the top-seeded Indian defeated fifth seeded Chan Tsz Ka of Hong Kong in straight games, 21-17, 21-12.   Sindhu, the lone Indian left in the tournament, will face Chinese qualifier QinJinjing of China in the last four stage.  

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Indian weightlifters continue to break new records at the Commonwealth Youth, Junior and Senior Championships.   On the penultimate day of the event in Penang, Malaysia, today, the Indian lifters took their overall medal tally to an unprecedented 102, including 53 gold.