2100 HRS
15th March, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Parliament outrightly rejects Pakistan National Assembly's resolution on Afzal Guru ; asserts Jammu and Kashmir including Pakistan occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India.

• Petrol prices reduced by 2 rupees per litre.

• SEBI moves Supreme Court for arrest of Sahara chief Subrata Roy .

• Sri Lanka releases 34 Indian fishermen arrested yesterday.

• Sensex down by over 140 points.

• In Cricket, Australia 273/7 at stumps against India on the second day of Mohali test.

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Parliament today rejected outright the Pakistan National Assembly's resolution on the execution of Afzal Guru, terming it as an interference in India's internal affairs. Both the Houses of Parliament asked Pakistan to desist from such acts of support for extremist and terrorist elements.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed a resolution asserting that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including the territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan, is and shall always be an integral part of India.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Meira Kumar read the resolution.

Pakistan has committed that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India and only fulfilment of this committment can be the basis of peaceful relations with Pakistan. The House reiterates that entire state ofJammu and Kashmir including the territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan, is and shall always be an integral part of India.

A similar statement was read by Rajya Sabha Chairman, Mohammed Hamid Ansari.

The House rejects interference in the internal affairs of India and calls upon the national assembly of Pakistan to desist from such acts of support for extremist and terrorist elements.

The resolution emphasised that any attempt to interfere in India's internal affairs will be met resolutely and with complete unity of the nation.

Our correspondent reports, the resolution was adopted unanimously by both the Houses after concern was expressed over the development. The resolution said, both the Houses totally rejected the Resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 14,2013.

Pakistan's National Assembly yesterday passed a resolution condemning the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and demanded that his body be returned to his family.

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The BJP today demanded immediate scaling down of India's diplomatic relations with Pakistan in the wake of the terrorist attack in Srinagar. Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar told in a press conference that tough action should be taken against Pakistan as it indulges in inappropriate activities.

Talks and terror can't go togather. So Pakistan will have to take call whether they want talks or they want to engage in acts of terrorism. We need to teach Pakistana lesson which it understands.

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The Army today made it clear to Pakistan that it cannot keep the tap of exporting terrorism to India open and hope for Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) with it. Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh said in New Delhi accused the neighbour of having double standards when it says that terrorists were not under its control and concealed them as non-state actors. The Army Chief was answering queries at a conclave in New Delhi about the Army being opposed to the CBMs between India and Pakistan. The Army Chief said any decision on the CBMs has to be preceded by both the armies addressing the trust deficit.

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Parliament today passed the Rail Budget with the Rajya Sabha returning the relevant appropriation bills authorizing the railways to draw certain amounts from the Consolidated Fund of India. The Lok Sabha had passed them on Wednesday. Replying to the discussion on the Rail Budget 2013-14, Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal proposed the setting up of a Rail Tariff Regulatory Authority to rationalize fare and freight charges. He said the proposal is under consideration and the government will bring the related amendments at an appropriate time.

He said the Railway tickets are still cheaper by three to five times than road travel. He announced that over one lakh 52 thousand jobs will be created and the process will begin soon.

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The Lok Sabha today passed the Jharkhand Budget for 2013-14. The House also passed the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the State. Replying to the discussion, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said a meeting of all the MPs of Jharkhand has been called on the 23rd of this month in Ranchi along with the key functionaries of the state administration to review the financial situation of the state.

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Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) today decided to cut Petrol prices by two rupees a litre. The new rate will be applicable from midnight . With this petrol in New Delhi will cost 68 rupees 34 paise per litre, in Mumbai 75 rupees 14 paise per litre and in Chennai 71 rupees 41 paise per litre. While, the consumer in Kolkata will have to pay 75 rupees 84 paise a litre the new rate in Bengaluru will be 75 rupees 26 paise. In a statement the IOC said that the decision has been taken in view of decrease in the international crude oil prices.

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SEBI today moved the Supreme Court seeking the arrest of Sahara group promoter Subrata Roy and barring him from leaving the country after two companies of the group failed to comply with court's order to refund 24,000 crore rupees to its investors.

The market regulator mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan which agreed to hear its plea and posted the case for hearing in the first week of April.

SEBI urged the court to allow it to take measures for arrest and detention in a civil prison of promoter of Sahara Subrata Roy and the two male directors---Ashok Roy Choudhary and Ravi Shankar Dubey ---after giving reasonable opportunity of hearing.

SEBI also sought direction that their passports be deposited with the Supreme court.

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34 Indian fishermen arrested of the Delft island by the Sri Lankan Navy yesterday were released on court orders today. The orders by the island Magistrate came after the Indian High Commission intervened on their behalf. According to the Indian High Commission arrangements are being made to send them back to India immediately. Our Colombo correspondent reports that the appeal relating to the 19 fishermen off the Thalaimannar coast will be taken up by a Court on Monday. They were remanded to 14 days custody by the court today.

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Airports across the country have been put on alert to prevent Italian Ambassador Daniele Mancini from leaving the country. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said the orders of the Supreme Court will be complied with by all government agencies. He said the matter will come up before the Apex Court again on Monday. The decision to alert the airports was taken by the Union Home Ministry a day after the apex court restrained the Italian Ambassador from leaving India without its permission. The court had taken exception to the Italian government's refusal to send back the two marines charged with the killing of two fishermen.

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Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said that an independent evaluation office is being set up in the Commission to evaluate flagship programmes. Participating in the Google Hangout interaction on the 12th Plan today, Mr. Ahluwalia said the current plan focuses more on water conservation. He said the decline in poverty has been the highest ever in the 11th Five Year Plan period. He mentioned that the growth rate during the previous Plan was also the highest ever of all times. Member Planning Commission BK Chaturvedi said there is a need to reduce shortage of power by the end of the 12th plan.

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Congress top brass including Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and party President Sonia Gandhi today met in New Delhi. They are understood to have discussed the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils and the controversy surrounding the absconding two Italian marines. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Defence Minister A K Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Ms. Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel were present at the meeting.

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Business world

The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange declined 143 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 19,428, amid weak European markets, today. The Nifty fell 36 points, to 5,873. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Koreaended mixed. The rupee strengthened 34 paise, to end at a two-week high of 54.01 against the dollar. Gold fell 60 rupees, to 29,930 rupees per ten grams inDelhi. Silver declined 15 rupees, to 54,750 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures climbed above 109 dollars a barrel, while US crude added 15 cents, to 93.18 dollars a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News

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Finalists for the 22nd edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey tournament at Ipoh, Malaysia, will only be determined after the dust settles following the final league matches tomorrow. Three teams, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, are in contention for the final berths. As it stands, Australia and Malaysia are in the driving seat, both with 8 points. However, Australia has a superior goal difference of plus 8 while Malaysia are on plus 2. Both the teams need a draw in their final matches when Australia takes on New Zealand and Malaysia plays against India, to book their places in Sunday's final. New Zealand can sneak into the final if they defeat Australia.

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After a solid opening stand, Australia were reduced to 273 for 7 in their first innings at close of the second day's play of the third Test against India in Mohali today. Ravindra Jadeja bagged three wickets. For Australia, Ed Cowan scored 86 while David Warner made 71. Earlier, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat. India is currently leading the 4-match series, 2-0.

Persistent rain at Mohali played spoilsport on the opening day yesterday, as umpires decided to call off play