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August 31
THE PM's US TOUR
Tour rescheduled on medical advice
As per the new schedule, Vajpayee will postpone his departure to New York by two days and skip the San Francisco leg of the trip.
THE RAJAKUMAR ABDUCTION
Gopal enters forest with Veerappan's consent: PTI
Tamil bi-weekly Nakkeeran's associate editor A Kamaraj said in a statement that Gopal had contacted him on Wednesday evening to confirm that he had received the green signal from Veerappan.
SC stay binds Karnataka from dropping cases legally
The state government refrained from moving the Mysore district and sessions court for dropping TADA cases against the 121 suspected associates of Veerappan.
HC moved against ultra's hand-over to Veerappan: PTI
The father of Manikandan, one of five Tamil extremists whose release has been sought by Veerappan, approached the Madras high court to plead against his son being handed over to the brigand.
INTERVIEW
'I believe in divine justice too'
Abdul Kareem says he will fight till the end against the release of TADA detainees as demanded by the forest brigand.
DIARY
Of Veerappan, Rajakumar and workouts
'Street vendors seem to be doing roaring business. So are the others who sell Rajakumar memorabilia.' M D Riti on Bangalore after the abduction.
THE SITUATION IN KASHMIR
J&K's bloodiest month in a decade
Tragically, it was the peace talks between the Indian government and Hizbul representatives that seemed to have led to the escalation in violence in the state.
Pakistan occupying six Indian peaks, says MP
R K Anand said these are strategic peaks from where Pakistani forces have a commanding view of the Srinagar-Leh highway, Drass helipad and several other military installations.
Lone's son to marry JKLF leader's daughter
The Hurriyat leader, however, has been denied permission to travel to Pakistan to attend the marriage. His passport continues to be impounded by the government.
OTHER REPORTS
Spanish tourists' murder: suspects arrested
The breakthrough came following the seizure of a 50-rupee note from the suspects. The note is reported to be part of the money looted from the deceased.
HC throws out frivolous PIL, fines litigant
The Delhi high court dismissed a public-interest petition on the ground that it was solely based on media reports, which do not constitute evidence in law.
Paswan's new party by year-end
The Union communications minister said the new party would be a part of the National Democratic Alliance.
South-bound trains cancelled
Several trains scheduled to leave for the South have been cancelled owing to the derailment of eight coaches of the Sirpur Kagaznagar-Secunderabd Express on the South-Central Railway on Monday.
Noose for rapist, murderer of sister-in-law
Pondicherry Chief Judge E V Kumar sentenced 27-year-old Kamal Shah to death for the rape and murder of Parvathi Shah, wife of his elder brother Ravi.
Pak paper alleges defence deal kickbacks
At least 20 retired top army, navy and air force officers, including three army chiefs, got a whopping $1 billion kickbacks in several controversial deals.
MP will lose 12 ministers to Chhattisgarh
Once the formalities relating to the birth of the new state are completed, 90 legislators from Madhya Pradesh will become part of the Chhattisgarh assembly, leaving 230 with the parent state.
PTI REPORTS
Loudspeakers not necessary for prayer, rules Supreme Court
The court said the fundamental right to preach religion was subject to 'public order, morality and health'.
Godavari level receding, evacuation on in AP
But people were still being evacuated from the six flood-affected districts.
'No place for religion-based terror'
Religion will have no role in the new world if terrorism in its name continues to claim victims as in Kashmir, Rajya Sabha member L M Singhvi said at the UN World Peace Summit.
India hands over bodies of 2 Pak soldiers
The soldiers -- Abdul Majid and Abdul Ghali -- were killed when Pakistani troops made an unsuccessful attempt to capture a forward post on the Line of Control in the Poonch sector on August 24.
Fresh summons to 3 foreign witnesses in Pathak cheating case
Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke issued the summons to former US congressman Marvyn M Dymally (California), Binod Bhat (Canada) and Swami Chakradhari (New Jersey), asking them to appear as defence witnesses on October 12.
Five bodies recovered from Kokrajhar
Police recovered two bodies from Lalkhora area and another three were found between Garokhatra and Deodaba in Assam's Kokrajhar district.
19 Shiv Sena men sentenced to life in Karad
The men were convicted of rioting and the murder of a police constable on the occasion of Holi.
Maharashtra assembly speaker refuses to accept legal notice
The legal notice was sent to Arun Gujarathi by the lawyer of the 13 suspended Shiv Sena legislators who have moved the Bombay high court, challenging his July 25 ruling in the lower house.
Custody death: NHRC orders interim relief
The NHRC took up the case after the post-mortem conducted by a team of doctors revealed that Ghulam Rasool died of cardio-respiratory arrest caused by the dislocation of his cervical spine while in custody.
Delhi HC dismisses plea against KBC
The court declined to intervene in the matter after the central government's standing counsel submitted that there was nothing illegal about the programme.
Bihar officers to go on indefinite strike
Over 2,600 members of the BASA have been on mass casual leave since August 24 in support of their charter of demands, including revision of the pay structure.
Khairnar threatens to demolish Tilak Nagar Ganesh pandal
The BMC's officer on special duty declared the 65-foot-high structure, a replica of the Dakshineshwar Temple in Calcutta costing over Rs 2.5 million, 'illegal'.
BROADBAND SPECIALS
'Pakistan keeps India from becoming a great State'
'The Islamic element will destroy Pakistan before it destroys India.' Professor Stephen Cohen, in an eloquent Real Audio interview.
The making of Jana Gana Mana
Bharat Bala and Kanika Myer have made patriotism popular again for the young.
COLUMNS
Vajpayee's US visit: Concretising Indo-US ties
'The relations are characterised by a feel-good factor generated by the much greater sensitivity, both inside and outside the US administration, about India's concerns,' says Major General (retd) Ashok K Mehta.
Pakistan's nuclear and missile programme: The multiple dimensions
`Those who constantly assert in India that our tests in 1998 forced Pakistan to go nuclear would be well advised to remember that Pakistan's nuclear policies have their own rationale and dynamics,' says G Parthasarathy.
August 30
THE RAJAKUMAR ABDUCTION
SC stays release of Veerappan's associates
As the lawyers of the accused were completing the formalities in court for setting them free, news arrived that the apex court had directed Judge M S Rajendra Prasad to put off the release until it had heard Kareem's SLP.
Karnataka won't appeal to Karim, will file counter affidavit
Chief Minister Krishna denied that Rajakumar's release would be delayed by the Supreme Court's stay.
Latest twist makes Krishna's life worse
Family and friends reveal that the chief minister has lost more sleep and peace of mind over the abduction than he did eight years ago when he was a hair's breadth away from the coveted chair.
Gopal may not proceed ahead
The third leg of the journalist-emissary's mission to secure Rajakumar's release may get delayed indefinitely with the Supreme Court's stay.
THE SITUATION IN KASHMIR
12 Pak soldiers, militants killed in shelling
The defence ministry said Indian troops hit Pakistani positions in response to artillery, mortar and small arms fire on Kurali area in Uri sector.
Top militant among seven ultras killed in Jammu
One of the slain militants was identified as Shaheen Daga, Jaish-e-Mohammad co-ordinator for Poonch and Surankote and a confidant of Masood Azhar.
SPECIAL
'What did I get by giving up militancy?'
Ramesh Menon records the confessions of a Pakistan-trained militant.
OTHER REPORTS
Spell stand on violence, Naidu tells Sonia
The Andhra Pradesh chief minister read out from a statement, apparently issued by the Congress chief, complimenting her activists for indulging in violence.
HC tells Liberhan not to insist on Kalyan's presence
The Delhi high court asked the Ayodhya commission not to insist on the presence of the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister at its next hearing on September 4.
Priyanka delivers a boy
The baby was born prematurely, 15 days before the due date, and, at 2.76 kilograms, was underweight.
Swollen Godavari posing problems for AP
The floodwaters have entered the temple town of Bhadrachalam and inundated low-lying areas. The river is flowing at the danger mark all along its 650km stretch in Andhra Pradesh. Met officials have forecast more rains.
Andhra Pradesh bandh peaceful
Senior officials in the state capital said that barring sporadic incidents of violence, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the state.
Twins born to 'sterilised' woman in TN
After Vijaya conceived, doctors at the Salem district hospital gave her vitamin tablets, saying they would abort the foetus.
Gulf Keralites stranded due to overbooking
The Keralites, who came on leave and have to return before their visas expire, are in a fix in the absence of adequate seats on flights in the Kerala-Gulf sector.
Kerala HC dubs govt order on Nadars illegal
A division bench of the Kerala high court ruled that clubbing Hindu Nadars with Christian Nadars for reservations was unconstitutional.
I fly MiGs and will continue to do so: Tipnis
The air chief took strong exception to the labelling of MiG-21s as 'flying coffins' by the media and said the fighters were flying half of the country's fighter flying hours.
BROADBAND SPECIALS
'Pakistan keeps India from becoming a great State'
'The Islamic element will destroy Pakistan before it destroys India.' Professor Stephen Cohen, in an eloquent Real Audio interview.
The making of Jana Gana Mana
Bharat Bala and Kanika Myer have made patriotism popular again for the young.
INTERVIEW
'An able politician can emerge winner against all odds'
Pranab Mukherjee speaks to Rifat Jawaid following his appointment as West Bengal Congress chief.
PTI REPORTS
Four houses destroyed in fresh Sikkim landslides
The state government has asked the Centre to send a team to inspect and assess the damage wrecked by the landslides that hit West Sikkim. Altogether 11 people have been killed, eight injured and a number of houses damaged over the week.
Agni ready for serial production and deployment
Defence News quoted a senior official as saying that production of the missile will begin in 2001 and that acceleration of the project was part of the policy of maintaining minimum nuclear deterrence.
IA to discipline errant pilot
The co-pilot did not report for duty, thus delaying a Bombay-Madras flight on Monday by over three hours and inconveniencing 175 passengers.
5 killed in Bihar police firing
Angry villagers had blocked the Grand Trunk Road near Berai demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the alleged rape and murder of a woman of Bela village on August 25.
Dragon Fire scenario possible, say experts
They feel a 'strategic collusion' between China and Pakistan could be a 'real threat' to India.
No I-T raid on Nikhil Chopra's residence
I-T officials, however, said Chopra had been called to the department and questioned.
Woman escapes fetters after two months
The woman was kept fettered by her in-laws at a village in Jodhpur district, allegedly for not bringing adequate dowry, police said.
Spiritual meet begins with call for peace
Amid blowing of conches, beating of drums and incantations, about 1500 religious and spiritual leaders from around the world opened a four-day meet at the United Nations to discuss ways to usher in global peace, eradicate poverty and protect the environment.
Sakshi Maharaj's anticipatory bail extended
The MP had filed bail applications in the high court after the Uttar Pradesh police had registered three cases, including two of rape, against him on August 8 and August 14.
FTII students go on strike
They are demanding scrapping of the new course structure, alleging that it is fundamentally flawed and detrimental to a healthy learning atmosphere, which a premier institute like the FTII should provide.
COLUMNS
The BJP's new clothes
'News from Nagpur this week, on the BJP making a beeline for the Muslim vote bank, is the clinching proof that one had been waiting for, that shows up the Congressisation of the BJP,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
An e-mail to lkadvani@nic.in
'Mr Advani, I implore you to quickly arrange a meeting at which our Chief Justice can brief the PM on all the legal and constitutional nuances of our case on J&K. Our attorney general should also be present at the meeting. (In fact, the two legal luminaries must accompany the PM to the US).' Arvind Lavakare speaks some home-truths.
With friends like these...
...Home Minister L K Advani sure doesn't need enemies. Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi durbar.
August 29
NEWS
Doctors say Vajpayee can embark on US trip
Top orthopaedic surgeons of leading hospitals in the capital were unanimous that the prime minister could go ahead with his forthcoming tour of the United States without any problem.
Two killed in Hyderabad police firing
The rally, led by top Congress and Left leaders, was a protest against the recent power tariff hike in the state.
Fast called off, AP bandh on Tuesday: PTI
Opposition leaders said they were withdrawing the fast in view of the success of the 'Chalo Assembly' agitation and the bandh was to protest against the adamant attitude of the state government.
AP flood situation grim as toll rises to 142
The Godavari is in spate, with 258 villages submerged.
Hizb threatens to extend stir beyond J&K: PTI
The Pakistan-based militant outfit threatened to extend its armed stir to other parts of India till New Delhi agrees to tripartite talks.
THE RAJAKUMAR ABDUCTION
Karnataka drops all cases against Veerappan's aides
Chief Minister S M Krishna agreed that the government's decision meant the bandit's associates would not face charges even under the Indian Penal Code.
Krishna, Veerappan put god in a dilemma
The Karnataka chief minister and the forest brigand are both devotees of the deity of MM Hills.
51 TADA detainees granted conditional bail
The forest brigand has demanded their release in return for Dr Rajakumar's freedom.
BJP NATIONAL COUNCIL MEET
Party leaders declare Nagpur session a success
The meet ended on Monday with senior party politicians coming out in defence of those who had pilloried the Centre's policies.
Resolution approves govt stand on J&K
The BJP national council's political resolution approved the continuing battle against terrorism, calling on people to close ranks and back its initiatives.
INTERVIEW
'Vajpayee is going in the right direction'
'There are three professions in the world that do not need any qualification. One is journalism -- and I'm a journalist. The other two are prostitution and politics. I'm sorry that we sometimes become quite irresponsible.' R V Pandit, media personality, film producer, concerned citizen -- unspooled as never before.
OTHER REPORTS
Dausa, eight assembly bypolls on Sept 29
Election Commission secretary K R Prasad said the model code of conduct comes into effect immediately in the districts in which the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies are located.
Women brutally attacked by police in Punjab
Two young women of Rajiana village in Moga were brutally attacked by the police recently. Their fault: along with their parents, they were scheduled to depose in a criminal case involving a legislator of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, Sadhu Singh.
College principal held for links with ULFA
The army and police, in a joint operation, arrested Naoboicha college principal Jiten Bhuyan on charges of having links with the terrorist organisation.
7 picnickers drown in lake
Those killed were among 12 members of two Bohra families from Mhow on a picnic. A sudden gale overturned their boat.
BSF unearths fake currency racket
Five persons were arrested in this connection.
Darjeeling toy train may lose world heritage status
UNESCO, which confers world heritage status on archaeological sites, ancient monuments and other relics, has threatened to de-list Agra's Taj Mahal, the Hampi ruins in Karnataka and the DHR because the Government of India is not keen on protecting them.
Fund-starved UP generous with foreign trips
The government recently gave the nod to a 17-member state assembly delegation for a virtual spin around the globe, 'to study parliamentary procedures and practices in three countries -- China, Japan and Canada'.
Rival shankaracharya projects modern outlook
The shankaracharyas of Puri have always been known for their conservative and mediaeval ideas.
Nandankanan yet to recover from cyclone
Reconstruction work is yet to be completed and is likely to take another three months. Lack of funds has contributed to the delay.
Men to man women's police stations in Orissa
Male officers will soon staff women's police stations after nightfall. The decision follows complaints by policewomen that they feel unsafe at night!
Fishermen vow to ground hydrofoil service
The Arabian Sea is likely to witness high action when Kerala's hydrofoil service sets off. Fishermen have geared up to block the service, claiming it will harm fishing along the coast.
Hyderabad-bound Bhagyanagar Exp derails
A South-Central Railway spokesman said six coaches next to the engine and eight others jumped the rails. But there was no loss of life.
BROADBAND
'India can't afford to grant a higher degree of autonomy to Kashmir now'
'...for fear that Pakistan would take advantage of that situation. That is why you need an outside power, an outside influence...' South Asia expert Professor Stephen Cohen, in a revealing Real Audio interview.
PTI REPORTS
President gives assent to new states
The process of formation of new states gathered momentum with President Narayanan okaying the three bills passed by Parliament for the creation of Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand.
Amitabh kept govt in the dark on threats
The state government was not against giving security to the superstar, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said. 'Amitabh should have approached us,' he added.
Suspended judge's bail plea rejected
A special court in Bombay rejected the bail plea of J W Singh, facing charges of extortion and nexus with the underworld, on the ground that there is a prima facie case against him.
Tragedy averted in J&K
Security forces detected an IED on a village track between Gharad and Ojhan in Rajouri district and defused it.
6 buried alive in fresh Sikkim landslide
The first landslide, which hit Gyalshing in western Sikkim last week following heavy rains, had left five persons dead and eight others injured.
DIARY
Lost: A lifetime of Romance
If found, please return to Anita Bora.
COLUMN
The Jaziya that Hindus yet pay
'The survival of India, our democracy, our unique civilisation -- that these things are in question today is hardly because of terrorists massed at our borders. We must worry about their survival most of all because of the mess that we have allowed to grow and fester inside. Like every other secularist and pinko, Atal Bihari Hajpayee has sold out,' says Varsha Bhosle.
August 28
Five Lashkar men held in Kashmir
The security forces also recoverd a big haul of arms and ammunition from several insurgent hideouts in the Kashmir valley since Saturday night, a government spokesman said Sunday.
Fernandes rules out repetition of Kargil
Asserting that the 150-km border with Pakistan along the Line of Control was 'well-protected', he said posts have been
set up along the entire stretch.
Search launched for killers of Spanish tourists
The sources said the culprits had attacked the trekkers' tent with lathis and later threw the three into a 40-foot deep gorge.
Laxman vows to crush indiscipline
The newly-elected BJP president's assertion that he will ruthlessly crush indiscipline
bodes ill for Sushma Swaraj who lashed out at Union Home Minister L K Advani for the recent massacre of Amarnath pilgrims.
BJP seeks protection for small-scale sector
The party's economic resolution expressed concern over the slow pace of infrastructure development saying it 'continues to be an area of major concern.'
Vajpayee ill, leaves Nagpur for Delhi
The prime minister had been experiencing pain in both
his knee joints for the past few days due to exacerbation of
osteo-arthritis, a party spokesperson said in New Delhi.
CAG probe reveals dubious VDIS declarations
Exposing the lacunae in the scheme, the audit found that 31,715 'housewives,' most of them from UP, declared income of Rs 1,785.49 crore.
Pakistan expels Indian diplomat: PTI
The Pakistani government has asked for the recall of P C Dey 'as he has been found to be engaged in activities incompatible with his official status', a diplomatic euphemism for spying.
Maharashtra to beef up Big B's security
In a letter to the home ministry, superstar Amitabh Bachchan has expressed fears that he might be kidnapped in the same fashion as Kannada actor Dr Rajakumar.
Ram temple no more an issue: Bangaru
"The BJP won 182 seats without harping on the Ram temple, Article 370 or swadeshi. There were other more important issues," said the BJP chief-in-waiting.
RAINS IN AP
Central team in AP to oversee flood relief
Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar reached Hyderabad on Saturday morning, along with 10 central government officials.
AP twin cities limp back to normalcy
Torrential rains for two days this week wreaked havoc and flooded over 80 localities and colonies in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Depression in Bay of Bengal fuels fresh fears
The weather office has forecast heavy rains in coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 36 hours, triggering panic among people.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Fernandes rules out 'hot pursuit': PTI
The Union defence minister said any action against terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would result in the death of innocent people.
Geelani confirms differences within Hizb
In an interview to a local news agency, Geelani said Salahuddin was not taken into confidence by Dar before announcing the cease-fire last month in Jammu and Kashmir.
UN team visits forward posts on LoC
UN officials are also believed to have visited some areas across the Uri sector, where there had been heavy shelling in the past few weeks.
Hizb ceasefire 'broken half-step': Hurriyat
'It can never lead one to one's destination,' says Hurriyat Conference chairman Professor Abdul Gani Butt, in an exclusive interview.
Nine militants, SPO among 11 killed in J&K
Four militants and a Special Police Officer were killed and two security personnel injured in a fierce clash at a village in Lolab valley in north Kashmir.
INTERVIEW
'I think he is running a circus'
Vajpayee's guru, Narayan Tarte, says a fine balance has to be maintained when you are heading a coalition. "I think Vajpayeeji is doing a good job of it."
OTHER REPORTS
AP MLAs turn down Naidu's appeal to end stir
Congress Legislative Party leader Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy asked in what way has the indefinite fast interfered with the relief work in the wake of rains and floods in the state.
'If Kalyan repents, BJP's doors are open'
"Kalyan Singh needs to change. If he accepts his mistakes and stops criticising BJP leaders, doors are not closed for anyone forever," UP Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta has said.
Pak exploiting our weaknesses: Malik
The retiring chief of army staff said Pakistan was exploiting India's internal dissension and weaknesses of ethnicity, caste and corruption to try and weaken the country.
Child labourers freed from UP factory
The kids, hailing from Bihar, are being sent back to their homes under police protection from the Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh.
Karnataka film industry workers in doldrums
Everyone in the industry, starting from the producers and distributors to the daily wage earners, has been hit badly by the shutdown.
CBI 'informant' awaits prize money
A woman whose tip-off led to the arrest of a close aide of Dara Singh, the alleged killer of missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, is yet to be rewarded.
'Russia keen to see India become powerful'
India is playing a major role in dealing with global issues and this role will enhance in future, said Russia's envoy to India, Alexander Kadakin.
KBC ban case to come up on September 8
A division bench of the Calcutta high court has directed New India Television to serve notice to a woman who moved a court seeking a ban on the programme.
Three killed in Bombay gunpowder blast
Four persons, including a woman, were injured in the blast at Annanagar hutments at Sahar village in Bombay early on Saturday morning.
COLUMN
Doing right, on our own
'Is there a measure of decency that we would ourselves profess to uphold, without the need for outside scrutiny? When a fair measure of counter-accusations have passed under the bridge, we must pause to examine if the river is indeed polluted,' says Ashwin Mahesh.
August 27
CAG probe reveals dubious VDIS declarations
Exposing the lacunae in the scheme, the audit found that 31,715 'housewives,' most of them from UP, declared income of Rs 1,785.49 crore.
Pakistan expels Indian diplomat: PTI
The Pakistani government has asked for the recall of P C Dey 'as he has been found to be engaged in activities incompatible with his official status', a diplomatic euphemism for spying.
Maharashtra to beef up Big B's security
In a letter to the home ministry, superstar Amitabh Bachchan has expressed fears that he might be kidnapped in the same fashion as Kannada actor Dr Rajakumar.
Ram temple no more an issue: Bangaru
"The BJP won 182 seats without harping on the Ram temple, Article 370 or swadeshi. There were other more important issues," said the BJP chief-in-waiting.
RAINS IN AP
Central team in AP to oversee flood relief
Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar reached Hyderabad on Saturday morning, along with 10 central government officials.
AP twin cities limp back to normalcy
Torrential rains for two days this week wreaked havoc and flooded over 80 localities and colonies in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Depression in Bay of Bengal fuels fresh fears
The weather office has forecast heavy rains in coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 36 hours, triggering panic among people.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Fernandes rules out 'hot pursuit': PTI
The Union defence minister said any action against terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would result in the death of innocent people.
Geelani confirms differences within Hizb
In an interview to a local news agency, Geelani said Salahuddin was not taken into confidence by Dar before announcing the cease-fire last month in Jammu and Kashmir.
UN team visits forward posts on LoC
UN officials are also believed to have visited some areas across the Uri sector, where there had been heavy shelling in the past few weeks.
Hizb ceasefire 'broken half-step': Hurriyat
'It can never lead one to one's destination,' says Hurriyat Conference chairman Professor Abdul Gani Butt, in an exclusive interview.
Nine militants, SPO among 11 killed in J&K
Four militants and a Special Police Officer were killed and two security personnel injured in a fierce clash at a village in Lolab valley in north Kashmir.
INTERVIEW
'I think he is running a circus'
Vajpayee's guru, Narayan Tarte, says a fine balance has to be maintained when you are heading a coalition. "I think Vajpayeeji is doing a good job of it."
OTHER REPORTS
AP MLAs turn down Naidu's appeal to end stir
Congress Legislative Party leader Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy asked in what way has the indefinite fast interfered with the relief work in the wake of rains and floods in the state.
'If Kalyan repents, BJP's doors are open'
"Kalyan Singh needs to change. If he accepts his mistakes and stops criticising BJP leaders, doors are not closed for anyone forever," UP Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta has said.
Pak exploiting our weaknesses: Malik
The retiring chief of army staff said Pakistan was exploiting India's internal dissension and weaknesses of ethnicity, caste and corruption to try and weaken the country.
Child labourers freed from UP factory
The kids, hailing from Bihar, are being sent back to their homes under police protection from the Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh.
Karnataka film industry workers in doldrums
Everyone in the industry, starting from the producers and distributors to the daily wage earners, has been hit badly by the shutdown.
CBI 'informant' awaits prize money
A woman whose tip-off led to the arrest of a close aide of Dara Singh, the alleged killer of missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, is yet to be rewarded.
'Russia keen to see India become powerful'
India is playing a major role in dealing with global issues and this role will enhance in future, said Russia's envoy to India, Alexander Kadakin.
KBC ban case to come up on September 8
A division bench of the Calcutta high court has directed New India Television to serve notice to a woman who moved a court seeking a ban on the programme.
Three killed in Bombay gunpowder blast
Four persons, including a woman, were injured in the blast at Annanagar hutments at Sahar village in Bombay early on Saturday morning.
COLUMN
Doing right, on our own
'Is there a measure of decency that we would ourselves profess to uphold, without the need for outside scrutiny? When a fair measure of counter-accusations have passed under the bridge, we must pause to examine if the river is indeed polluted,' says Ashwin Mahesh.
August 26
PM will tighten grip on party at Nagpur
The BJP is believed to have reworked its strategy for the session to silence critics within the party and make it known that liberalisation is irreversible.
Defence officers' links with Anjuman found
'Our evidence suggests that Anjuman members, in connivance with some defence officials, passed sensitive documents containing information about the Indian defence forces and the DRDO to Pakistan for money,' an intelligence officer in Bangalore told rediff.com
Priest assaulted, paraded naked in Gujarat
In a complaint, Arthur Chimanlal Rajwadi alleged that he was beaten up and paraded naked by some unidentified people after he and two other priests distributed religious pamphlets at a fair.
Top physicians to probe Ranga's treatment
A six-member inquiry committee comprising noted physicians will go into all aspects of the treatment given to the late power minister at Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, the Union health ministry said.
Trishul missile successfully tested
India's most sophisticated short-range surface-to-air missile was test-fired from Chandipur-on-Sea about 15km from Balasore in Orissa.
Pakistan tested Ghauri III on Aug 15
The missile was fired from somewhere in Punjab, targeting a mountainside in Baluchistan. But it broke up before hitting its target, or may have self-destructed.
THE ABDUCTION OF RAJAKUMAR
State govts accept Veerappan's demands
R R Gopal, editor of Nakkeeran, will leave for the jungles -- for the third time in a month -- on August 28 to meet Veerappan. He will be carrying the response of the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments to the dacoit's demands.
Rajakumar's release linked to bail for detenus
Asked whether the bail process could delay the release of the Kannada superstar, Krishna said it was up to the courts to expedite the matter.
Bandit wants cases dropped against 70 more
Senior officials said the 70 new names Veerappan has given are of criminals against whom proceedings have already been dropped, but their movements are restricted to Mysore.
THE FLOODS IN ANDHRA PRADESH
Toll rises to 120
Army and Indian Air Force personnel were engaged in evacuating people from marooned areas and supplying food packets.
State was unprepared for crisis: Naidu
But the Andhra Pradesh chief minister blamed the meteorology department, saying it gave vague and inadequate reports about the rains.
Met chief refutes Naidu's allegation
With Hyderabad's hi-tech image battered by nature's fury, Naidu sought to find a scapegoat in the weatherman.
THE SITUATION IN J&K
George confident of revival of J&K talks: PTI
The defence minister said the issue of Pakistan's involvement in the talks would be forgotten soon.
Four ultras killed in Jammu: PTI
Among those killed was a self-styled commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen.
INTERVIEW
'Bombay is the safest city in the world'
Joint Commissioner of Police D Shivanandan defends the police force in an interview with A Ganesh Nadar.
BROADBAND SPECIALS
'The Pakistan Army does not want to lose Pakistan for the sake of Kashmir'
'They sympathise with the Kashmiri issue, but they don't want to see their own country destroyed.' South Asia expert Professor Stephen Cohen, in a Real Audio interview.
Janmashtami Special: Featuring Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
For 15 years the maestro has organised a special offering to Lord Krishna on the occasion of Gokulashtami. rediff.com presents a glimpse of this unique event. In Real Audio/Video.
OTHER REPORTS
Monsoon session of Parliament ends
The four-week session drew to a close on Friday evening with the sine die adjournment of proceedings in both Houses.
18 Koreans released after visas found valid
The 18 foreigners, who were detained by the police in Chandipur-on-Sea in Balasore district, have been released.
Bihar minister beats up hospital attendant
Employees of the Patna Medical College Hospital went on a wildcat strike on Thursday following the beating up of a ward attendant, Umesh Rai, by Minister of State for Higher Education Ram Das Rai and his guards.
150 rare turtles seized in Howrah
Though the police have not made any arrests, they do not rule out the possibility of this being part of a well-orchestrated racket.
Four inmates of Lucknow zoo die in a week
While the zoo authorities claim to be taking 'proper care' of the inmates, there were reports that 'sub-standard' food was being given to the animals.
Encephalitis claims 17 lives in eastern UP
Though it is a chronic problem in eastern Uttar Pradesh, it assumes epidemic proportions during the monsoons, between August and October.
Bodo militants set off landmine, four killed
The dead included two Central Reserve Police Force personnel who were returning from a nightlong search operation with others.
KBC lakhpati thanks his 8-yr-old daughter
Every night the father-daughter pair would play their own version of KBC. Neha would play the Big B and throw a variety of questions at her father. The questions came from GK books Neha collected from her friends.
Sikh London cop, accused of racism, vindicated
An Employment Tribunal has ruled that Scotland Yard's internal investigation into the allegations against Gurpal Virdi was tainted by racism and fatally flawed. Virdi was accused of sending racist hate mail and dismissed from London's metropolitan police force.
PTI REPORTS
AP MLAs' fast enters eighth day
The prospect of an early end to the power tariff hike issue receded further with the Andhra government preoccupied with relief and rescue operations for flood-affected people.
Take the side of peace, Peres tells India
The senior Israeli minister said the September 13 deadline for the declaration of an independent Palestinian state was not a "holy date".
India to buy Dassault's Rafale fighters
The defence ministry is drafting a joint venture policy with France for co-production in India of Rafale and Dassault has agreed to a joint venture arrangement on the aircraft's development programme.
DIARY
The Wanderers
'Young gypsies do not have long hair. They don't wear beads either.' Shobha Warrier enters the world of nomads.
COLUMN
Testing times for Kumaratunga
'Chandrika Kumaratunga is determined to share power with the Tamils in as equitable a manner as she will be allowed by fellow Sinhalese. India cannot remain aloof to the political and military developments in Sri Lanka and has to be seen, even in South India, to be influencing events,' says Major General (retd) Ashok K Mehta.
August 25
THE SITUATION IN J&K
Indian troops kill 10 Pak soldiers in Poonch
Pakistan claimed that Indian soldiers crossed the LoC and attacked its positions, killing two of its soldiers.
No fresh moves for peace yet
'As long as the refrain continues for including Pakistan in the talks, I am afraid they will make little headway,' said a senior home ministry official.
14 ultras among 16 killed in Kashmir
Security forces also smashed several militant hideouts and seized a big cache of arms and explosives, but lost two of their personnel.
Four soldiers hurt in J&K blast: PTI
The device, planted by militants in a handcart on a roadside, was set off by remote control at Pothkhah-Sangrama, on the Srinagar-Sopore road, around 1100 IST.
Govt to end proxy war, says Advani: PTI
The Union home minister said the government was determined to end the proxy war being waged by Pakistan.
Army does not have enough jammers to counter IEDs in J&K
The army, an official spokesman said, has a "limited quantities of jammers imported from the UK. Further import of this particular equipment could not be undertaken as the firm has closed down."
Global media blitz to expose Pak role
As the countdown for Prime Minister Vajpayee's US visit begins, a group of Indian citizens takes upon itself 'the task of exposing Pakistan's reprehensible role in Jammu and Kashmir'.
THE JAPANESE PREMIER'S VISIT
Mori asked Musharraf to rein in terrorism
The Japanese prime minister said Kargil had betrayed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's good intentions.
RAJAKUMAR'S ABDUCTION
Actor cautions against rescue bid
In a message sent through a video cassette brought to Madras by journalist-emissary R R Gopal, Rajakumar said it would be improper if the police launched a rescue mission.
Gopal brings more cassettes, more questions
Though Veerappan has made no new demands, he has sought the government's clarifications on some issues.
TN, Karnataka CMs to meet again: PTI
There was no official briefing and it could not be ascertained if any new issue warranting a discussion between the chief ministers had emerged.
Gopal returns with Veerappan's response
Apparently, Gopal brought an audio and video cassette containing Veerappan's response to the decision of the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments on the demands raised by him.
SPECIAL
The women in Veerappan's life
' "What sin have I committed to lead such a miserable life?" That perhaps would be the refrain of the many women whose lives have been blighted by Veerappan,' says Gita Aravamudan.
GULF AIR CRASH
Bahrain air crash brings tragedy to Delhi home
As dawn broke over Old Kavi Nagar came the devastating news of Inderpreet Kaur's death. Friends and relatives began pouring into her house. Her shocked parents have already left for Bahrain to collect her body.
INTERVIEW
'Apollo had done everything possible for Ranga'
In an exclusive interview with Shobha Warrier, Dr Pratap Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals, brushes aside the allegations hurled at his institution after Kumaramangalam's illness was diagnosed at the AIIMS.
OTHER REPORTS
Israeli leader Shimon Peres arrives in Delhi
His purpose is to brief the Indian leadership about the developments in the Middle East peace process, which has been stalled over the question of control of Jerusalem.
Delhi cops bust Punjab terrorist ring
The crime branch arrested three top terrorists, including a woman member of the Khalistan Zindabad Force, on August 14, preventing any major incident in the capital on Independence Day.
Houses pay homage to Ranga, adjourn
Both Houses of Parliament adjourned without transacting listed business after paying homage to Power Minister P Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, who died on Wednesday.
4 held for food poisoning in Bhopal
At least 1000 persons were admitted to hospitals on Wednesday for food poisoning.
Over 500 Narmada activists detained
Police told them the Madhya Pradesh government had demanded their detention.
Urea scam main accused extradited
A E Pinto, an agent of the Turkish firm Karsan, was brought to New Delhi from Britain by a three-member CBI team.
Bihar officials go on mass casual leave
The decision followed the failure of talks between a BASA delegation and state chief secretary Vijay Shankar Dubey on their charter of demands.
268 crude bombs seized in Kanpur
They were recovered during the week-long search operations carried out by the police after the Independence Day blast in Arya Nagar. But another blast on Wednesday left three children injured.
PTI REPORTS
Vajpayee to meet Gore, Bush in US
The prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with a number of world leaders, a foreign office spokesman said.
Music director Kalyanji is dead
He was suffering from acute asthma and was admitted to hospital on August 10. The composer complained of breathlessness and passed away at 1700 IST owing to complications.
Bihar patients left to fend for themselves
While chemists kept their shutters down for the third day on Wednesday in protest against the imposition of turnover tax, doctors went on a day-long strike protesting against the murder of a colleague by miscreants in Bhagalpur on August 5.
AP flood situation 'alarming'. Toll 65
Reports of devastation and deaths are pouring in.
Uma Bharti meets Vajpayee
The prime minister advised her to discuss her resignation with senior party leaders, including L K Advani and Kushabhau Thakre, and meet him again after the party's national executive meeting.
Jaya moves HC to vacate gag order
The AIADMK leader wants the interim injunction restraining her from making 'defamatory' statements against Nakkheeran editor R R Gopal in connection with his role as official emissary to negotiate with forest brigand Veerappan removed.
Ershad sentenced to five-year term for corruption
The court also scrapped his membership of parliament and ordered him to surrender before it immediately.
BROADBAND SPECIAL
'There is no incentive for a war'
'The factors compelling India and Pakistan to have more normal relations than they have had in the past nine years are very powerful. There are big economic incentives. There are big political incentives in both countries.' South Asia expert Professor Stephen Cohen, in a Real Audio interview.
COLUMN
Om Ganeshaye Namah
'On one hand, we worship Lord Ganesha. On the other, we steal a hapless baby elephant from its mother and force it to drink whiskey to amuse ourselves. Is this entertainment? It is time we realised how we make a mockery of our non-violence when we allow such films to be made and shown,' says Pritish Nandy.
August 24
THE JAPANESE PM'S VISIT
India, Japan bury Pokhran to become 'global partners'
The new partnership is likely to give a fresh impetus to the relations between the two countries, which have remained lukewarm after the Pokhran nuclear tests.
KUMARAMANGALAM'S DEATH
Ranga cremated with full state honours
Union Power Minister P Rangarajan Kumaramangalam had pushed forward crucial reforms in the power sector in the last two years.
Well-wishers, colleagues bid farewell
Ranga's colleague Pramod Mahajan said it was tragic that the country had lost two of its most dynamic leaders within the space of a few months, the other being Congressman Rajesh Pilot in a road accident earlier this year.
His popularity cut across political lines: PTI
Ranga was a third-generation politician in a family that had both Congress and leftist leanings. Hence, his decision to join the right-wing BJP on the eve of the 1998 general election raised many an eyebrow.
TRIBUTE
Politician with a heart of gold
Senior journalist K Srinivasan pays tribute to his close friend Ranga, who passed away on Wednesday morning.
THE SITUATION IN J&K
Al-Badar vows to step up attacks in valley
Al-Badar commanders Naseer-ud-Din, Jaseem Azhar, Umair Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad said the Hizbul Mujahideen's unilateral cease-fire was a 'serious setback' for the Kashmiri struggle.
'Cease-fire a temporary solution': PTI
The Hurriyat Conference said the Kashmir issue could be resolved only by tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and representatives of the valley.
J&K cops arrest 6 for Srinagar blast
Fifteen persons, including 11 policemen and a photojournalist from Delhi, had been killed in the explosion in the Residency Road area.
RAJAKUMAR'S ABDUCTION
Hostage crisis at a decisive stage: Krishna
The Tamil Nadu government has decided to drop all cases pending against five Tamil extremists whose release forest brigand Veerappan has demanded.
Gopal's aide in Madras with message
An aide of the editor, who is negotiating with Veerappan for the release of the Kannada matinee idol, is said to be in Madras with a message for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Tamil Nadu police nab TNLA militant
But some people fear the arrest could have an adverse affect on the negotiations to secure the release of Dr Rajakumar from Veerappan's custody.
HC restrains Jaya from criticising Gopal: PTI
The Madras high court restrained AIADMK general secretary Jayalalitha from making defamatory statements against the Nakkheeran editor in connection with his role as an official emissary to meet the fugitive Veerappan.
INTERVIEW
'The more we give in, the more he will come to believe that violence and abduction pay'
Sub-Inspector Shakeel Ahmed was killed in August 1992 in an ambush by Veerappan. Abdul Kareem, his father, who has been fighting a lone battle against the release of TADA detainees, explains why Veerappan's demands should not be met.
OTHER REPORTS
Gulf Air Airbus crashes off Bahrain
Rescue operations were launched immediately by the Coast Guard on orders from the Emir of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa.
Floods claim 17 in Andhra Pradesh
Nandyal town has been cut off by flooding in the Kundru river and people in low-lying areas have been shifted to relief camps, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.
Loktantrik Cong may ditch BJP
Secret parleys between Loktantrik Congress Party chief Naresh Agarwal and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav have caused concern in Uttar Pradesh's ruling party.
AP Congress adamant on tariff issue
The fast-unto-death by Congress and leftist legislators entered the sixth day on Wednesday. Opposition leader Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy said there was no question of talks with the government unless the chief minister conceded their demand for a rollback of the hike in power tariff.
Kerala boys prefer dhotis, girls churidars; colleges will have none of it
Interestingly, while intellectuals supported the boys' demand for freedom to wear dhotis, they were silent on the girls' demand to wear churidars.
Trinamul 'welcomes' Mukherjee's appointment
The senior Congress politician's appointment as West Bengal party chief has placed him in the 'hot seat'.
ISI man held in West Bengal
Golam Mahiuddin Bhat, a Kashmiri militant, was arrested by the Border Security Force from Taki in North 24 Parganas on Tuesday.
Women win top posts, husbands call the shots
Women may have bagged 34 of 66 posts of district panchayat chief after elections earlier this month, but the "real power" continues to vest with their spouses or political mentors.
BJP's Marandi is frontrunner for Jharkhand CM
The BJP has made it clear to the JMM's Shibu Soren that it has the lion's share of legislators in the new state and so the chief minister will have to be from its ranks.
Jharkhand: BJP to insist on CM's post
The party says it will not give away the chief minister's post as, out of the NDA's strength of 52 in the proposed 83-member House, it will be the largest party with 32 legislators.
Leptospirosis strikes in Assam
The rat-carried disease had claimed several lives in parts of Maharashtra and Delhi recently.
SPECIAL
How the American press misrepresents India
The American press makes major goof-ups while writing on India and gets away with it without so much as an apology,' says S Gopikrishna.
DIARY
You don't need a visa to come home
'India is a dirty place to live in. Sure, that's because you have made it dirty. Even in the US, if you do not wash you clothes you will become dirty,' writes a true-blue Indian.
PTI REPORTS
UP fined Rs 500,000 for custodial death
The National Human Rights Commission slammed the magisterial inquiry into the incident as a half-hearted effort.
India to field largest team for peace meet
India, described as a spiritual superpower, will send more than 100 religious and spiritual leaders and their 200 disciples to the World Peace Summit in New York next week, aimed at finding ways to end conflicts, alleviate poverty and improve.
BEST employee kills family, attempts suicide
He had discovered that he and his wife had contracted the fatal Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome.
COLUMNS
The soft option it is
'We all want India to be a powerful, confident country, a "hard" nation. This was a major reason the country turned to Vajpayee and his BJP. We wanted an alternative to Congress depravity. But Vajpayee and gang have shown us that they will choose that same soft option,' says Dilip D'Souza.
India, a nation of soft targets
'Our leaders often state that the twenty-first century shall belong to India because of its expertise in information technology. But all I can say today is that by caving in to terrorists' demands almost consistently, we are rapidly becoming a nation famous not for its software, but for offering soft targets,' says T V R Shenoy.
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