2100 HRS.                
17-11-2013

THE HEADLINES 

• NIA announces a cash reward of 10 lakh rupees for  information leading to arrest of five suspects in Bodh Gaya and Patna serial blasts.
• Sri Lanka rejects demands for an international inquiry into alleged war crimes; CHOGM summit ends with a commitment to achieve UN Millennium Development Goals.
• In Chhattisgarh, security  beefed up for Tuesday's poll in 72 constituencies where election campaigning ended this evening.
• Former Pak President Musharraf to be tried for high treason for imposing emergency in 2007, says Pakistan Government.
• Sachin Tendulkar dedicates the Bharat Ratna award conferred on him to all mothers in the country.

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The National Investigation Agency NIA today announced a cash reward of up to 10 lakh rupees for any information leading to arrest of five absconding persons accused of belonging to the banned Indian Mujahideen terror group and suspected of being involved in Bodh Gaya and Patna serial blasts. NIA released their sketches on its website and appealed to the general public to provide information about them. It clarified thE identity of those providing information shall not be disclosed.   Five monks were injured in Bodh Gaya blasts on 7th July while six people died in Patna blasts during a rally addressed by BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on 27th October. 

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Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today  again rejected demands for an international inquiry into alleged war crimes during the military campaign against the LTTE.   Addressing a media conference at the conclusion of the three-day CHOGM Summit in Colombo Rajapaksa said nobody should dictate and the issue needed more time and added that there cannot be a time limit for it.  Earlier, Commonwealth leaders concluded the Summit with a call for renewed commitment to sustainable development and agreed to work towards achieving United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. 
     
At the end of the three-day Summit in Colombo, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse announced that a Communiqué has been agreed upon by the 53-member nations after fruitful discussions. He added that achieving growth with equity and inclusive development will be one of the top priorities of the Commonwealth.
    
Responding to questions on allegations of human right violations in the country, President Rajapaksa said that he has already put into place internal mechanisms to address them. He said that more time was needed to achieve reconciliation and that no timeframe will be acceptable to Sri Lanka.
    
British Prime Minister David Cameron had yesterday asked Sri Lanka to complete a credible probe into allegations by March next year, failing which he would press for an international investigation." Abhishek Dayal, AIR News, Colombo.
    
Canada and Mauritius boycotted the event and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also stayed away. Only 24 Heads of Government attended the Summit from the 53 member nations. Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Kamlesh Sharma, however, said that the Summit was not affected by the absence of some leaders and was a success.  The leaders declared Malta as the venue for the next Summit in 2015 after Mauritius withdrew its offer to host the event.

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In Chhattisgarh, campaigning for the 72 assembly segments going to polls in the second phase on November 19 came to an end this evening. On the last day of electioneering, Congress, BJP and other political parties have put in their best to canvass support for their respective candidates. Our correspondent reports that in the second phase, 842 candidates, including 75 women, are in the fray. 
 
With Just one day left for polling, Election officials have geared up to ensure smooth polling in the constituencies which are going to poll on November 19. Tight security arrangements are in place in all these areas. About 60,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair elections. Security forces conducted a flag march in different cities and towns of the state. Meanwhile search operations have been intensified in the Maoist affected areas. Vikalp Shukla, AIR News Raipur 

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Scrutiny of nomination papers for Assembly elections in Delhi will take place tomorrow and candidatures can be withdrawn by Wednesday. As many as 1178 candidates of different political parties and independents have filed their nominations for the Assembly polls. The prominent candidates include Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her cabinet colleagues, BJP Chief Ministerial candidate Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal. Our correspondent reports that after closing of the nomination filing process the campaigning in the city is gaining momentum gradually.
 
Besides women’s safety in the city, the issues including hike in water and  electricity charges, corruption, infrastructure development and inflation are point of discussion among the voters in this election season. Political observers say that the  agitation against  corruption in pervious years may also have a bearing effect on the voters.  Congress is raising developmental  issues in the campaign, however, anti incumbency may  be a crucial factor in the ensuing  polls. With Prityush Kumar Ghosh, this is Diwakar Kumar for AIR News, Delhi.

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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the  UPA government has taken care of welfare of the common people. Addressing an election rally in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh this evening, he said that the country has witnessed rapid economic growth in the last nine years and income in rural areas has  increased. Dr. Singh accused BJP’s senior leaders of negative politics. Without naming BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Dr. Singh questioned his style of politics. They are using wrong facts to criticize others. 

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Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has said that almost half the population of Madhya Pradesh has benefitted from the 180 different welfare schemes of BJP government in the state. Addressing election meetings in Gwalior district, Mrs. Swaraj said that Madhya Pradesh has touched the new heights of development under the leadership of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

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The Congress today demanded a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into allegations of snooping on a young architect girl by Gujarat government. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi today, senior Congress leader Girija Vyas sought clarification from BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and party leader Amit Shah on the alleged misuse of state machinery in the operation.  Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan sought to know from the BJP why the surveillance was conducted on the girl.
    
Meanwhile, BJP has criticized the Congress for its demand for a probe. Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi  said Congress has no locus standi to demand a probe when neither the woman at the centre of the controversy, nor her family members, have said anything to this effect. 

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The Pakistan government today announced that it will move the court to try former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for high treason, for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference in Islamabad today that the judgement of the Supreme Court and a report submitted by an inquiry committee, have been decided to start proceedings against General Pervez Musharraf for high treason.  He said the proceedings will begin from tomorrow and a three-member bench of the Supreme Court would hear the case. Musharraf, is currently on bail in all cases registered against him since his return to Pakistan in a bid to contest general election in May.

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Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom was today sworn in as the 6th President of the Maldives, ending nearly two years of political turmoil that threatened to isolate the country internationally.  Yameen, half-brother of former President Abdul Gayoom, was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Ahmad Faiz at a special session of the Parliament in Male. Mohammad Jameel was sworn in as vice-President. In his inaugural speech, Yameen said he will maintain good neighbourly relations with countries in the region.   54-year-old Yameen, an economist and a candidate of Progressive Party of Maldives, clinched an unexpected victory in the presidential run-off yesterday.

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Dubai Airshow kicked off today with aircraft purchase deals worth 150 billion dollar on the opening day at Dubai World Central today. More than 150 aircraft from civilian to commercial to chartered and fighter jets are displayed at the show. An Indian delegation is participating at the four day Airshow. 

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Sachin Tendulkar today dedicated the Bharat Ratna award conferred on him by the government to all the mothers in the country for the sacrifices they have made in raising their children. Addressing a press conference today the iconic batsman said he was humbled to have been chosen for the highest civilian award in the country.  
 
This award is for my mother and it is for mother for all the sacrifices she has made right from my birth.  They have sacrificed everything and the beauty about  it is that till the date I was never told that we did this for you and when you grow up you realise all those things, that is the reason, I feel this award is for my mother.  Not just my mother, like my mother there are millions and millions of mothers in India  who sacrifice thousands of things for their children.  So I would like to share this award with all the mothers for all the sacrifices they have made.  I am humbled and honoured that this award is bestowed on me.
         
Tendulkar also congratulated eminent scientist Prof CNR Rao who was also conferred with the Bharat Ratna along with him yesterday.  Tendulkar scored a combined 34,357 international runs and 100 centuries in a career-span of 24-long years. We have a report on the Little masters batting style
 
Once Sunil Gavaskar described Sachin a batsman with rare blend of a perfect technique and raw aggression.  Beside his comfortable relaxed and balance stance and above all quick footwork enable him to destroy the bowlers of all over the world with utmost ease. Because of his quick feet movements he could dispatch the in-swinger or vicious outgoing deliveries of Wasim Akram or venomous leg-spins and Googly of  Shane Warn with the help of array of strokes. His signature stroke was straight drive which required to show the full face of the bat to the bowler . It goes without saying that to execute  such a strokes against express bowlers like Bratelee or Shoib Akhtar is very difficult. Sachin used to do it with ease and even in his last match in Mumbai, he showed us sparkling straight drive against   West Indian fast bowler Tino Best.  That's why he is so special. Along with the countless fans of Sachin let us say ''Yes there were many legends like Gavaskar and Vengsarkar, But nobody is like this Legend Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.  Sports Desk, AIR News.

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly Live Phone-in programme “PUBLIC SPEAK” tomorrow will bring you a discussion on “Problem of unauthorised constructions in urban areas."  This can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies from 9.30 to 10.05 p.m.  Listeners can ask questions from the experts sitting in our Studio on telephone number: 011: 2331-4444.   This programme  is also available on Doordarshan DTH. 

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Sri Guru Nanak Dev’s 545th birth anniversary is being celebrated across the country and abroad with religious fervor, today. A large number of sikh devotees from India and several other countries have gathered at Nankana Saheb in Pakistan, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev ji to celebrate the birth anniversary of the founder of sikh religion. A sea of devotees gathered at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar and at other Gurdwaras to take part in kirtans and partake langar.  Our Correspondent reports that Gurudwaras across the country are tastefully decorated. 
 
Special programmes of Gurbani citations are being organized in Gurdwaras across the country. Sri Harimandir Saheb has been illuminated during evening and fire-works held to celebrate the pious occasion. Gurdwaras related to Guru Nanak Dev ji and his sister Beby Nanki were also illuminated in Sultanpur Lodhi. Devotees gathered at Kali Bein, a rivulet in Sultanpur Lodhi and took bath. This is the rivulet where Guru Nank ji got enlightenment after bathing in it. Rajesh Bali/AIR News/Jalandhar

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In Uttar Pradesh, lakhs of devotees took holy dip at different places including Allahabad, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Mathura Naimisaranya and Garh Mukteshwar this morning. AIR Allahabad Correspondent reports that Kartik Purnima, Guru Nanak Anniversary and Dev Deepawali are being celebrated with great enthusiasm and traditional gaiety across the state.