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RIOTS AND AFTER
Lok Sabha rejects censure motion
In the division pressed by the Opposition, 276 members voted against the motion while 182 voted for it.

PM asks Opposition to rise above politics
'I want to rise above politics, but I cannot do it alone. Sonia Gandhi has also to rise with me,' Vajpayee said in his 25-minute intervention in the debate.

Modi's removal is no solution: Advani
Firm steps were necessary to book the guilty and ensure speedy relief work in Gujarat, the home minister said.

Rs 150 crore package for Gujarat
Prime Minister Vajpayee told the Lok Sabha that the revival of normal economic activities in Gujarat now remained primary national task.

Pressure growing on Vajpayee to sack Modi
BJP politicians who had supported Modi are keeping a low profile. 'Frankly, it is a wonder Modi has lasted so long,' said one.

Opposition accuses PM of doublespeak
Attacking Narendra Modi for failing to discharge his constitutional obligations, Sonia Gandhi asked the Centre to issue a directive to the state government to control communal disturbances without any delay.

Omar Abdullah offers to resign
This follows his party National Conference's decision to abstain from voting on the Gujarat motion in the Lok Sabha.

Fernandes's remarks against Sonia cause uproar
'The leader of opposition is provoking her members. She is also chewing gum,' the defence minister said.

NDA is crumbling: Opposition
SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav likened Prime Minister Vajpayee to Emperor Nero, who was playing the fiddle while Rome was burning.

Congress a restless soul: Uma Bharti
Speaking at the debate on Gujarat, the sports and youth affairs minister strongly came out in defence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

'Modi govt yet to start rehabilitation process'
NHRC representative P G J Nampoothri said more than 3,500 complaints, including that of destruction, loot and damage in the state, had been reported to the commission.

Three killed in violence in Ahmedabad, Baroda
Two persons were killed when police opened fire to disperse a mob setting fire to houses and shops in curfew-bound Vadi police station area in Baroda.

PPSC SCANDAL
Sidhu's associate names Badal in job scam
Ludhiana-based MARKFED employee Dhira, who was arrested on Sunday night, revealed that all 91 Punjab Civil Services posts filled during Sidhu's tenure were fixed.

Second FIR registered against Sidhu
The names of 32 people, who allegedly paid bribes to secure government jobs, were also released.

Punjab governor recommends Sidhu's removal
J F R Jacob signed a letter to this effect late on Monday night.

OTHER REPORTS
No new bases in South Asia: US
Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Lincoln Bloomfield Jr said, 'It is very clear that US has no ambition to have permanent bases here.'

Couting of votes begins in Pakistan
There is controversy about the extent of the response with the government claiming a 40 to 50 percent turnout, which opposition parties dispute.

Arafat's confinement is over: Israel
Details of how Israeli forces would withdraw from Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah are still being worked out. Israeli tanks and armoured personnel carriers remained parked inside the compound.

COLUMNS
'To call Narendra Modi Chhote Sardar is an insult of that great man'
The first of a series in which eminent Gujaratis speak about the riots that have engulfed and traumatised their native state. Today, former RBI governor I G Patel.

Death of Democracy
'Believe it or not, India faces a far more predictable and less dangerous enemy in Pervez Musharraf than Nawaz Sharief or Benazir Bhutto,' says S Gopikrishna.

April 29, 2002

TOP STORIES
NDA has the numbers to pass Lok Sabha test
Even without the support of the BSP and the TDP, the NDA notches up an impressive 281 MPs.

BJP not surprised by Paswan's resignation
Afraid of being marginalised following the setback in the UP polls, the Lok Jan Shakti Party leader was reportedly cosying up to RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav.

Musharraf to abide by people's verdict
In an address to the nation on the eve of the referendum, the Pakistan president spoke about bringing forward constitutional amendments.

Reshuffle in BJP's organisational set-up
Among others, party vice president Kailashpati Mishra has been relieved of the charge of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand.

RIOTS AND AFTER
Paswan quits Cabinet over Gujarat issue
The Lok Jan Shakti Party leader met Prime Minister Vajpayee and handed over his resignation. His party has four members in the Lok Sabha.

President expresses anguish over riots
'It is the duty of every Indian, political, social and religious leaders and the common man and woman to strive their best to restore peace...' Narayanan said.

NDA confident of winning LS debate
Defence Minister George Fernandes said several NDA partners had issued three-line whips asking their members to vote against the motion.

TDP to decide on Tuesday on censure motion
Throughout Monday, party chief Chandrababu Naidu monitored the developments in Delhi and held informal talks with colleagues and party functionaries.

RSS not bothered if Modi removed: Vaidya
The outfit's latest stand came after parleys between top leaders of the RSS and BJP at the residence of Prime Minister Vajpayee on Saturday and Sunday.

DMK to vote for NDA
`We respect the sentiments expressed by the Opposition in the resolution, but cannot support it as we are part of NDA,' DMK leader M Karunanidhi said.

Goa CM blames violence on bad governance
Manohar Parrikar said it could not be denied that the youth in Gujarat were frustrated on account of rampant unemployment.

Delhi police objects to film on Gujarat
The 23-minute film titled In the Name of Faith could be screened at the Press Club of India, New Delhi, only after the intervention of journalists.

PM to participate in Gujarat peace march
Vajpayee accepted a suggestion in this regard at a meeting of the NDA co-ordination committee on Monday.

UP GOVT FORMATION
Mayawati stakes claim; swearing-in on May 4
Governor Vishnukant Shastri said he had received letters of support to a BSP-led dispensation from the BJP, its allies as well as some independents.

Mayawati chose date on astrologer's advice
The BSP leader's astrologer had specifically told her that May 4 was an auspicious date. Following this, she indicated her preference to all concerned.

Cabinet recommends revocation of central rule
President's Rule 'may be revoked on the date or before the swearing-in' of BSP leader Mayawati as chief minister', said the Cabinet recommendation.

PPSC SCANDAL
HC stay on appointments during Sidhu's tenure
The Punjab government had earlier announced its decision to review 3,446 appointments made during disgraced PPSC chairman R P S Sidhu's tenure.

Two associates of Sidhu held
They were identified as Ludhiana-based Markfed employee Randhir Singh Gill alias Dhira and Prem Sagar, owner of a petrol pump in Moga.

CVC welcomes action against Sidhu
Vittal said the properties of corrupt public servants should be forfeited and they should be deprived of their ill-gotten wealth.

OTHER REPORTS
Lifer for 2 in Anjana Mishra rape case
Estranged wife of an IFS officer, Anjana Mishra was raped by three men on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar while she was on her way to Cuttack to meet her lawyer.

32 IAS and OAS officers transferred in Orissa
The reshuffle may have been prompted by accusations that the Naveen Patnaik government was non-functional.

Rewards for Andhra Naxalites irk minister
The surrendered Naxalites had earlier abducted a relative of Union Minister of State for Home Ch Vidyasagar Rao.

Balayogi's elder sister seeks TDP nomination
V Surayakantam has staked her claim for the late Lok Sabha speaker's seat saying she had brought him up.

Gulshan killer gets life imprisonment
Sessions Judge M L Tahilyani sentenced Abdul Rauf Daud Merchant to jail terms ranging from three years to life on five counts. All sentences would run concurrently.

Lashkar, Jaish, Hizb form coordination panel
The forum headed by a top commander has been set up with the aim to intensify attacks in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Udhampur, Kathua and Jammu district.

April 28, 2002

UTTAR PRADESH
Ajit Singh removes last hurdle before Mayawati
The Rashtriya Lok Dal leader sent his letter of support for the BSP-BJP coalition to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after first holding it back.

Mayawati to stake her claim on Monday
State BJP leader Kalraj Mishra said it would take three or four days to form the new government.

THE RIOTS AND AFTER
TDP to show its cards only at the last minute
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the party would wait for Prime Minister Vajpayee's statement in the Lok Sabha before deciding which way to vote on the Gujarat censure motion.

Fernandes, Modi lead peace march in Ahmedabad
'It is time to forget the past and to isolate those who are indulging in violence,' the chief minister said. But elsewhere, six persons were killed in continuing incidents of violence.

Vajpayee may fire Modi after LS debate
The prime minister feels that a lot of advantage will accrue to the NDA if the Gujarat chief minister is removed after the debate that he hopes to win.

OTHER REPORTS
Indo-Russian cruise missile passes flight test
The 8m long supersonic missile was launched vertically from a container that can be carried on a ship or submarine and, with modifications, on an aircraft.

Another recruitment scandal unearthed in Punjab
Vigilance sources said some persons who were recruited last year in the rural development department under the quota for handicapped persons were not handicapped.

14 terrorists gunned down in J&K
Terrorists abducted four shepherds from the upper forest belt of Batote tehsil in Doda district of Jammu.

5 killed as Bihar votes for new civic bodies
Nearly 60 per cent of the electorate cast its vote in the elections to four municipal corporations, 32 municipalities and 78 notified area committees.

RSS leaders meet Vajpayee over lunch
The meeting, the second in two days, assumes significance in the wake of the prime minister's meeting with the Kanchi shankaracharya on Saturday over Ayodhya.

FBI has set up offices across Pakistan: ISI ex-chief
'As a result, the US will increase its interference in the northern areas of Pakistan, which will lead to complete slavery of the region to the US,' the Nawa-i-Waqt paper wrote.

Musharraf accepts invitation to hold Indo-Pak talks
Four lawyers of the Kashmir Bar Association, who visited Islamabad, had extended the invitation to the Pakistan president.

COLUMN
The ABC of violence
'Nine years on, so much has changed around us. But when it comes to hatred and violence between religions, nothing has changed. Nothing,' says Dilip D'Souza.

April 27, 2002

TOP STORIES
PM uses CII platform to criticise Sonia
The organisation had deviated from the normal practice of inviting the prime minister and instead called the Congress leader to inaugurate the session.

Delhi court awards death penalty to 3 terrorists
Nazir Khan, Abdul Rahim and Naser Mehmood Sodozey were awarded death sentence for abducting four foreigners in 1994.

UTTAR PRADESH
BJP formally announces tie-up with BSP
Mayawati to be the chief minister. Idea of deputy CM abandoned.

Congress to boycott oath-taking ceremony
Party leader Pramod Tewari said that the BJP-BSP government would be formed against the mandate of the people.

RIOTS AND AFTER
Sonia accuses NDA of trying to save erring Modi
Referring to the BJP, the Congress president said morality should be reflected in actions, not merely in words.

Gujarat minority youth want revenge
They have launched an outfit to hit back at the majority community, intelligence agencies in Gujarat have warned the Centre.

Indefinite curfew in parts of Baroda
Curfew was clamped in Panigate, Wadi, Raopura, Karelibaug and Navapura police station areas following communal clashes.

UK report censures Gujarat CM
In a damning internal report, British officials in India have said the recent violence in Gujarat was pre-planned and carried out with the support of the state government.

INLD to support NDA on Gujarat motion
However, party chief and Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said what had happened in Gujarat was 'condemnable'.

Place of worship attacked in Ahmednagar
The attack, in which three women were injured, took place on Friday night when devotees had gathered to make preparations for Hanuman Jayanti celebrations.

OTHER REPORTS
Sonia slams Naidu over farmers' plight
Addressing a huge rally in Anantapur town, the Congress president accused the Andhra Pradesh chief minister of playing power politics and scuttling the functioning of local bodies.

Embassy in Greece refutes drowning report
A report had said that 25 youths from Punjab, travelling to Lebanon illegally in search of jobs, had drowned when their boat capsized near Greece.

Top BJP, RSS leaders meet PM
They discussed the prevailing political and economic situation in the country.

Sonia now aiming to revamp state units
The Congress hopes to fill the gap being caused by the NDA's loss of credibility among the masses, a party leader said.

Orissa BJP wants action against BJD MLAs
The BJP expelled six MLAs for ensuring the election of expelled BJD leader Dilip Ray to the Rajya Sabha with the help of some BJD MLAs.

PPSC case: Bail applications of two rejected
Ropar District and Sessions Judge Maggar Khan rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Randhir Singh Gill and Prem Sagar.

Kanchi seer holds talks with Muslim leaders
Jayendra Saraswati said that he received 'encouraging response' from the Muslim leaders for creating a conducive atmosphere for solving the Ayodhya issue.

Pakistan apex court upholds referendum
A nine-member bench unanimously rejected a host of petitions questioning the legality of the referendum to extend President Musharraf's term by five years.

COLUMN
ABC of violence
'Nine years on, so much has changed around us. But when it comes to hatred and violence between religions, nothing has changed. Nothing,' says Dilip D'Souza.

April 26, 2002

RIOTS AND AFTER
Gujarat survivors narrate harrowing tales
The survivors, who were presented at a press conference in Delhi by SAHMAT, said they had lost trust in the government.

Indian Muslims in UK to file cases against Vajpayee
The prime minister failed to sack Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi following the riots in the state, they said.

Godhra killings were handiwork of jehadi groups: Probe panel
The Godhra carnage was an act of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan and was executed in connivance with jehadi forces based in the town, a five-member study team of the Delhi-based Council for International Affairs and Human Rights has said.

Three persons killed in Gujarat
Mobs set on fire 200 houses and shops in Ahmedabad and Mansa town of Gandhinagar district.

Students won't suffer: Gujarat govt to SC
It assured that a repeat examination would be held in Ahmedabad and Baroda for all students who missed the test in April owing to the violence.

AIADMK to abstain on Gujarat censure motion
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, however, denied that the decision meant her party was getting closer to the BJP.

Shahnawaz wants 'white paper' on all riots
The civil aviation minister said the opposition ought to have been praising the government for having restricted the violence to Gujarat.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Geelani taken into preventive custody
The former chairman of the Hurriyat Conference was due to address a congregation at Bandipora town of Baramulla district on Friday.

Nine ultras shot dead in north Kashmir
Acting on specific information, Rashtriya Rifles personnel raided their hideout in Kupwara district of Kashmir.

PAKISTAN
Bomb attack in Pakistan, 12 dead
Most of the dead were women. The incident occurred around midnight in Bhakkar town in central Punjab province.

Musharraf rules of unilateral withdrawal of troops
He claimed that the Indian deployment along the border was offensive in nature.

NEWS FROM NORTHEAST
Centre-NSCN (Khaplang) ceasefire extended
Home Minister Advani told the Lok Sabha that both sides were satisfied with the progress made so far in implementing the ceasefire.

Four kids die in Manipur school blast
The bomb, planted by unknown persons, went off at 11.40 IST at a school compound at Hangoipat area in Senapati district.

OTHER REPORTS
ASI official held, assets worth 1 crore seized
B L Meena was suspected to be selling antique pieces found during excavation works, sources said.

Jamaat-e-Islami disowns Geelani's statement
Geelani, a known hardliner, had lashed out against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for suggesting that militancy had lost its relevance in Kashmir.

UP govt may be coordinated from the Centre
Both the BJP and the BSP do not want to leave the task of coordinating their proposed coalition government to the state leaders of the two parties.

BBC settles ethnic Indian scribe's race bias claim: PTI
Sharan Sandhu (51) told an employment tribunal that she had been repeatedly passed over for promotion between 1991 and 1999 because of her colour and gender.

25 Punjabis feared drowned near Greece
According to relatives of the victims, the Greek authorities could save only seven people aboard the boat.

BJP expels 4 MLAs for proposing Dilip Ray's nomination
Gaurahari Nayak, Bhanu Charan Nayak, Laxman Soren and Surendra Kanhar for their 'grave anti-party' activities.

Kanwal Sibal to be foreign secretary
Sibal, who belongs to 1966 batch of the Indian Foreign Service, will replace Chokila Iyer on July 1.

Centre clears AP MLAs's foreign tour
The decision comes ahead of the vote in the Lok Sabha on an opposition censure motion on Gujarat. The TDP is yet to say if it will vote for the government.

Tehelka had plan to fix me: Bangaru Laxman
To that end, the former BJP president alleged that the Tehelka tapes had been tampered with.

WB minister surrenders in court
Minister of State for Transport Narayan Biswas surrendered before a court in Dakshin Dinajpur district in connection with a case of attempted murder.

AIADMK ex-minister acquitted in graft case
K A Sengottaiyan was accused of violating norms in purchase of materials, resulting in a loss of Rs 15.8 million to the JJ Transport Corporation.

MiG 21 crashes in Haryana
The incident occurred near Daiyad village, about 35 km from Fatehabad in Sirsa district. The pilot escaped unhurt.

Trinamool to move motion under Rule 184 on Monday
The party wants a discussion on the law and order situation in West Bengal.

Court reserves order on punishment to Gulshan's killer
Sessions Judge M L Tahilyani reserved the order after hearing the arguments submitted by the prosecution and defence. Merchant was convicted on April 24.

Six prisoners escape from MP jail
Four were serving life sentences while the remaining two were undertrials lodged in the Multai sub-jail in Betul district.

COLUMNS
Press, Polity, People
'Do we deserve this kind of press? It does no credit to the mainstream press that it does not readily entertain an alternative view that blames the media and the political parties for condoning communalism of one kind and condemning communalism of another kind,' says Dasu Krishnamoorty.

Homelands in Pakistan
'One does not see how Musharraf -- even if he gets a five-year new lease as the master of Pakistan -- will be able to contain the centrifugal forces in his country with his cosmetic reforms and grandiloquent anti-India speeches,' says Claude Arpi.

April 25, 2002

Don't teach us secularism: PM tells the world
Vajpayee's comments followed international condemnation of the riots in Gujarat.

HEALTH POLICIES
Two-year rural posting made mandatory for doctors
The National Health Policy, 2002, seeks to increase the health sector expenditure to six per cent of the GDP.

MCI announces strict code of ethics
Government doctors posted in rural areas will be de-registered if they are found absent during surprise inspections.

UTTAR PRADESH
BJP-BSP government by Monday: Thakre
After meeting Home Minister Advani, BJP leaders Kalraj Mishra and Lalji Tandon met BSP leader Mayawati on Thursday to finalise the issue.

Mayawati's poor record as CM no handicap
The BSP leader is allegedly involved in a couple of multi-million scams and was accused of running a 'transfer-posting industry' during her past tenure.

RIOTS AND AFTER
Fresh violence in Ahmedabad and Baroda
One person was stabbed and injured and several huts on the bank of Sabarmati river were set on fire by a mob at Khanjadarwaja in curfew-bound Jamalpur area, senior police officers said.

Continuing violence worries some of Modi's ministers
One minister told rediff.com that several powerful politicians and ministers believe that Modi is incapable of handling the complex law-and-order issues in Gujarat.

Shift Dariyakhan camp: Gujarat minister
Bharat Barot said that the refugees of the camp at Shahibagh were a threat to the local residents.

'Gujarat debate should be an exception'
'The ruling of Lok Sabha deputy speaker should be treated as a one time aberration,' said Subhash Kashyap, former secretary general of the House.

NCP to vote against government in Lok Sabha
Party leader Sharad Pawar also demanded the dismissal of the Gujarat government and imposition of President's Rule in the state.

Woman dies of shock in relief camp
Dariyakhan Ghummat camp coordinator Ataullah Khan Pathan said Fatima Biwi, 70, died of shock when she heard teargas shells exploding.

OTHER REPORTS
Pakistani lawyers protest against referendum
The bar associations also filed petitions in the supreme court questioning the legality of the referendum.

Nadeem Saifee wants to return to India
The music composer wants the Centre and Maharashtra government to facilitate his return.

MiG-29, 2 pilots missing since April 20
The aircraft had taken off from the IAF airbase in Assam's Sonitpur district on a routine morning sortie and went missing over Darrang district.

Vigilance officials question PPSC ex-secretary
Prithipal Singh was summoned to explain the functioning and selection process of the commission.

Presidential poll: Opposition has upper hand
However, support from the BSP, AIADMK and the NCP may tilt the balance in the NDA's favour.

AP: Magisterial probe into woman's custodial death
Annavarapu Sridevi, a dalit, had been called to the police station in Prakasam district for questioning. She hanged herself in the toilet.

DMK MLAs evicted from assembly
They were protesting against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's charge that a leading industrialist of Chennai was a frontman of the DMK top brass.

One killed in IED blast in Doda district
Militants targeted a bus heading towards Ramban in Doda district from Gool in Udhampur district.

Sorabjee re-elected to UN rights panel
Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar was also elected to the sub-commission on human rights, which is the main subsidiary body of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Bajrang Dal leader's murder: 1 held
The victim's relatives had refused to take charge of the body demanding arrest of the culprits. However, they relented on Thursday.

Osama aide killed in Chechnya
Russian forces killed dreaded Chechen warlord Emir Khattab, 32, last month.

Blast damages two buildings in NY, 50 held
Reports say the explosion occurred in the basement of Kaltech Industries, a manufacturer of fabricated interior and exterior signs, just off the corner of 19th Street and 6th Avenue.

April 24, 2002

RIOTS AND AFTER
India squirms as world condemns riots
Britain, Canada and Switzerland said the situation in Gujarat was a matter of concern. India hit back, saying it was an internal matter.

Voting to follow Gujarat debate in RS too
The Opposition's censure motion on the situation in the state was admitted under Rule 170, which entails voting at the end of the discussion.

Women's panel indicts state government
The commission's chairperson, Purnima Advani, pointed out that even a month after the violence broke out, police had not registered FIRs in cases of atrocities against women.

Gujarat cops find petrol bombs near relief camp
Nine persons were arrested in this connection from Sajjan Society flats, near the Dariyakhan Ghummat camp.

3 hurt in police firing in Vejalpur
A beheaded body was found in a gunny bag near a temple in Law Garden area, which falls under the Navrangpura police station in Ahmedabad.

Riots disturbing, admits home ministry
The ministry said the disturbance was not allowed to spread to other states due to the 'initiatives' taken by the Centre and the Gujarat government.

BJP seeks debate on Bihar, Bengal
The party said this was its way of getting even with the Opposition, which got the censure motion on Gujarat admitted in the Lok Sabha.

INTERVIEW
'We are not afraid of the Congress'
'The Modi government is duly elected. It cannot be dismissed just because the opposition does not want it.' BJP parliamentary spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra on the Gujarat impasse in Parliament.

OTHER REPORTS
1 convicted, 18 acquitted in Gulshan murder
The 18, including Tips Cassettes owner Ramesh Taurani, were acquitted for want of evidence.

Bajrang Dal leader shot dead in Bhiwandi
The textile town was tense after Lalit Jain, an advocate, was shot dead by unidentified assailants while he was on his way to court.

Court accepts Jagman's plea to turn approver
Jagman Singh could be pardoned if he sticks to his stand during the trial and gives evidence against PPSC chairman R P S Sidhu, sources said.

Ahluwalia sues Tehelka for Rs 2 crore
In his plaint, the major general said the news portal had defamed him by questioning the integrity earned by him over 36 years of service.

Pearl was trying to meet Jaish chief: witness
Asif Mehfooz Farooqui also identified Sheikh Omar Saeed as the man who set up an interview for Pearl with Islamic leader Pir Mubarik Hussain Shah Gilani.

India renews support to Lankan peace process
During a meeting with President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Vajpayee also iterated India's commitment to the island nation's territorial integrity.

Kanshi Ram fuels discontent in BJP
He has forced the Uttar Pradesh BJP leaders unsure of their role in a alliance with the BSP to speak out to strengthen their bargaining powers.

Laloo expels ex-finance minister Tekriwal
Following the party nominee's defeat in the legislative council poll, the RJD chief accused Tekriwal of being in league with the BJP.

Udhampur rail link to be ready next year
The railway and state authorities have been instructed to make joint inspections to ensure speedy resolution of disputes holding up land acquisition.

APHC chief denies knowing about Sharjah meeting
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone had reportedly met Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan, chairman of Pakistan's Kashmir council, in Sharjah.

Probe nothing but political vendetta: SAD
The Akalis pointed out that corruption charges had been levelled against the previous Congress government as well, which were not being probed.

VJ, 4 others killed in accident
Pooja Mukherji, a Channel [V] VJ, and four of her friends were killed when their Maruti car rammed into a speeding truck at Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

5 firefighters injured in Kolkata market fire
The fire broke out in the Firpos market in the heart of the city late on Tuesday night.

US considering aid to Nepal to fight Maoists
Nepal had asked the US and other countries for help in overcoming the insurgency as well as dealing with pressing economic and social needs.

DIARY
Unholy Smoke!
Anita Bora wistfully remembers the day her sweetheart was even willing to give up smoking, just for her!

COLUMN
New turns in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict
'India is today widely viewed as a soft state. Weakening our stand against the LTTE will only reinforce this perception,' says G Parthasarathy.

April 23, 2002

CENSURE MOTION IN LOK SABHA
Voting to follow debate on Gujarat
This means that the BJP's allies will be forced to take a public stand on the Gujarat violence and demand for Narendra Modi's removal.

Gujarat debate in LS on April 30
The issue will be taken up immediately after Question Hour.

Trinamool not to vote against government
However, the Telugu Desam Party - another crucial of the government - is keeping its cards close to the chest.

BJP warns allies not to abstain
An element of desperation has crept among BJP members after Prime Minister Vajpayee told senior Cabinet colleagues that he would step down if the allies lack confidence in his government.

NDA will reject censure motion: Government
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan is likely to write to some key allies seeking their support on the issue, sources said.

TDP will vote against censure motion: Jana
The BJP president said that the NDA allies would not want to embarrass the Vajpayee government by voting with the opposition at this juncture.

REPORTS FROM PUNJAB
Panel to probe corruption charges against Badal government
The one-man commission would be headed by A S Garg, a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court, an official spokesman said.

Another accused in Sidhu case held
Paramjit Singh Pamma, a Punjabi University senate member, was arrested from Chandigarh.

Sidhu case: Punjab police yet to approach Interpol
CBI spokesman S M Khan said the Interpol, once it receives a request from the Punjab government, would act expeditiously on it.

Complainant happy with Ahluwalia's sacking
A student of the fine arts faculty when the incident occurred, she had accused the Punjabi University V-C of attempting to rape and outrage her modesty.

NEWS FROM GUJARAT
Seven killed in fresh violence in Ahmedabad
Two persons were stabbed to death at Madhupura and Dani Limda areas and a youth was beaten to death near Gandhi bridge end in Shapur police station area.

No outbreak of measles epidemic in Gujarat: Centre
Health Minister C P Thakur said: `As of now, only 34 cases of measles have been reported in Godhra.'

BIHAR REPORTS
Laloo's nominee loses council poll
The RJD won four seats, its ally Congress one and the NDA the rest in the election to fill up nine seats in the Upper House.

Bihar Minister's son opens fire at function
One person was killed when Babloo Yadav, son of Minister of State for Industries Rajendra Prasad Yadav, fired several rounds, in Madhepura town.

OTHER REPORTS
Action to be taken against minister's son: Laloo
Babloo Yadav, son of Minister of State for Industries Rajendra Prasad Yadav, opened fire while a dancer was performing at Madhepura town on Tuesday.

First Sino-Indian meet on counter-terrorism held
The two sides exchanged views on the international counter-terrorism situation, including developments in the region, a government spokesperson said.

Improving quality of governance critical to better HDI
India's first Human Development report has criticised the poor quality of governance, saying excessive controls and regulation are coming in the way of improving the pace of human development.

VHP now asks Muslims not to eat beef
'There are so many other animals to eat. Why should they insist on slaughtering and eating cows, which are revered by Hindus?' VHP leader Giriraj Kishore said.

First Sino-Indian meet on counter-terrorism held
The two sides exchanged views on the international counter-terrorism situation, including developments in the region, a government spokesperson said.

Taj security to be handed over to CISF
Intelligence agencies had recently intercepted certain messages from terrorist networks intending to damage the 17th century Mughal monument of love.

Court rejects conspiracy charge in Gulshan Kumar case
The Mumbai court also rejected five other charges relating to possession of weapons under Section 3 of the Arms Act.

Don't deport Bangladeshis: Orissa BJP
It said that the Bangladeshis in Nawarangpur district were treated as refugees rather than as infiltrators and rehabilitated by the Centre.

Three jawans killed in landmine blast
The mishap occurred in Rajasthan's Barmer district, near the Indo-Pak border, on Monday evening.

Police recruit turns out to be KLO militant
Bikash Roy had even undergone arms training at an ULFA-run camp in Bhutan.

Hurriyat divided over Sharjah meeting
Two Hurriyat leaders had met some expatriate and PoK-based Kashmiri leaders in Sharjah last week.

Army chief begins US tour
Apart from discussing issues of mutual interest and the military-to-military relationship between the two countries, Gen Padmanabhan will also visit US training facilities.

INTERVIEW
'If the BJP does not contain the VHP, it will be punished by the Indian electorate'
'The VHP's acts have seriously diminished the moral high ground India had occupied after 9/11... A country that allows its minorities to be butchered can only lose respect of the world community.' Ashutosh Varshney, author of Ethnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in India, in an in-depth interview.

COLUMNS
Has a Muslim's prophecy come true?
'The overt and covert appeasement of Muslims by the political class and the media is finally, it appears, becoming too stifling even for the traditionally tolerant Hindu,' says Arvind Lavakare.

Vajpayee has lost his moral right
'Vajpayee has shown that he is first the prime minister of the BJP, and only next of India. And even here, not of all the one billion citizens of India,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

April 22, 2002

GUJARAT RIOTS - FALLOUT
Six killed in fresh violence in Ahmedabad
Over a dozen houses and shops were set on fire in Khanpur and Nagoriward localities in Shahpur police station area prompting authorities to impose indefinite curfew from 2 pm.

Shanta Kumar denies criticising VHP
The food minister said: 'The newspapers have attributed many things to me, which I never said.'

Gujarat: Remarks by visiting leaders irk India
'... India does not appreciate interference in its internal affairs, including utilisation of the Indian media by foreign leaders... in order to pander to their domestic lobbies,' a government spokesperson said.

Gujarat home minister sees riots plot to break NDA
Asked about six Muslims being shot by police at point-blank range, he retorted, `What do you expect the police to do when Amar Patil, my constable, was stabbed to death?'

Cops responsible for Sunday's killings: Muslim leaders
They said that the police should be removed from the minority-dominated areas of Ahmedabad and replaced with the army or Rapid Action Force.

Become more aggressive: RSS to cadres
`We are countering anti-national forces on every front. We have soldiers (cadres) taking care of every front and it is their responsibility to ensure victory,' RSS chief Sudarshan said.

INTERVIEW
'The Hindus are terribly angry'
'Whether it's the BJP or the Congress or the rationalists -- nobody in Gujarat will be able to move ahead by ignoring Hindu sentiments.' Kaushik Mehta, joint secretary of the VHP in Gujarat, explains the outburst.

UTTAR PRADESH
No deputy CM under Mayawati: Kanshi Ram
The BSP leader said this would prevent development of a parallel power centre.

RLD eyes deputy CMs' post in Lucknow
This could possibly be the reason why BSP chief Kanshi Ram denied that there would be a deputy chief minister if his party tied up with the BJP to install a government.

PARLIAMENT NEWS
Parliament adjourned for the day
The opposition protested against the renewed killings in Gujarat and made a plea for a discussion under Rule 184, which entails voting.

Deputy speaker's ruling on Tuesday
The opposition wants a debate on the Gujarat issue under Rule 184, while the BJP is adamant on Rule 193, which does not require voting.

BJP opposes discussion under Rule 184
'We have no problem in getting majority even if it (Gujarat issue) is discussed under Rule 184. But, the only thing is that this will set a bad precedent,' party spokesman V K Malhotra said.

Speaker to be elected after first week of May
The BJP might field its candidate if the TDP does not wish to field its nominee, sources said.

INDUS WATER TREATY ISSUE
Indus Water Treaty may be scrapped
India has not invited Pakistan to the mandatory meeting, which 'must be held before May 31' to keep the treaty alive, a report in Pakistani newspaper Dawn said.

Indus Water Treaty not under threat: Pakistan
The Dawn said that the treaty would be 'automatically suspended' if India failed to invite Pakistan for the mandatory May meeting.

PPSC SCANDAL
Punjab government cancels 639 appointments
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said 3,446 appointments, made during the tenure of R P S Sidhu, the arrested chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, would be scrutinised.

HC stays 500 appointments
The stay order followed a petition filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Anti-corruption Cell challenging the selections made by PPSC under the chairmanship of Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu.

Sidhu's associate to turn approver
Among other things, Jagman Singh's confession had led to the tracing of five lockers belonging to R P S Sidhu's relatives from where Rs 81.6 million was recovered.

INDO-PAK TENSION
Show restraint or face action: India to Pakistan
The Indian Army said Pakistan had made eight attempts in the past one year to interfere with border fence construction activity in Jammu.

Pakistan slams Indo-US radar deal
'Such a move would only encourage India to more belligerence,' foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Govt to keep mum on Hurriyat-PoK leaders' meeting
The reason being that the two sides have agreed to end the jihad in Kashmir, which is what the government wants.

Four terrorists killed in Kashmir
Three of the slain terrorists belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed. They were killed in an encounter in Kupwara district.

OTHER REPORTS
Soni, Patel named Sonia's political secretaries
The Congress president, who carried out a major reshuffle of the party secretariat, also nominated Shivraj Patil, her deputy in the Lok Sabha, to the working committee.

Back home, IPCC chief says he belongs to the world
I am now a stateless person. I do not belong to India alone or represent only the underdeveloped world. I have to take a correct and just global view, said Dr R K Pachauri, the newly elected chairman of the IPCC.

Sheikh drove away with Pearl: Taxi driver
Omar Saeed Sheikh, the prime accused in the Daniel Pearl murder, said he wanted to be tried by an Islamic court under Shariat law.

Punjabi University vice-chancellor sacked
Apart from the charge of misbehaving with a girl student of the fine arts department, Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia was also later embroiled in a case of attempt to murder.

Lankan president arrives in Delhi
Among other issues, Chandrika Kumaratunga will discuss with Indian leaders the peace process between Colombo and the LTTE.

Orissa deports 21 Bangladeshis
The district administration has formed a special squad to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

'Russia to continue to be India's main defence partner'
Cheaper production cost, cutting edge technology and the traditional ties between New Delhi and Moscow will ensure that, Alexey I Fedorov, the president of Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association, said.

130-year-old temple collapses after blast
The police have, however, ruled out sabotage in the collapse of Sri Venugopalachary temple at Vattluru village in Andhra Pradesh.

Pachauri defends election as IPCC chief
Western media reports have said that Pachauri won the election because he was 'pro-Bush administration'.

Shah's appeal rejected, HC upholds trial court order
The film financier wanted the court to quash police sanction to try him under MCOCA in the case involving alleged nexus of Bollywood with the underworld.

Air crash exercise sends security into tizzy
An exercise to check the preparedness of various agencies was carried out at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Monday.

Seven charred to death in NOIDA
A fire broke out at the clusters in Sector 44 of NOIDA on Monday afternoon.

COLUMN
Unmindful minders
'Journalists, if given the opportunity, can put politicians and bureaucrats to shame with their sheer lust for money,' says T V R Shenoy.

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