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TOP REPORTS
NSCN (I-M) leaders to meet PM on December 28
Although no accord is likely to be reached, the talks with the Indian leadership are expected to boost the efforts to bring peace to Nagaland, the sources said.

Narendra Modi sworn-in as Gujarat CM
Prime Minister Vajpayee, his deputy Advani and thousands of party workers attended the ceremony.

'ISI pressured Dawood to carry out Mumbai blasts'
The ISI demanded that the mafia transport weapons and explosives into India in return for the use of Pakistani waters, sources said.

ISI trying to revive terrorism in Punjab: Report
President Pervez Musharraf has also reportedly met pro-Khalistan leaders during the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, the home ministry report said.

J&K government releases Hurriyat leader
Bashir Ahmad Bhat was in detention under the Public Safety Act

BJP to probe Punjab ministers involved in 'sex scandal'
Three ministers reportedly forced a junior woman politician, who was detailed to assist them during electioneering in Gujarat, into sexual intercourse.

Troop relocation nearly over: Lt Gen Vij
The army chief-designate said two Indian teams were in the United States and Israel, finalising arms deals.

Terrorists kill 3 children in Poonch
In another incident, terrorists fired rockets from a hilltop at the police station in Surankote, Poonch, on Saturday night, police said.

Vande Matram 2nd most popular song in world
A Nation Once Again, written in 1841 by Irish patriot Thomas Davis as a call for independence from British rule, stood first in the BBC poll.

SPECIALS
The view from Beijing
India mistook Chinese restraint for weakness and paid the price, says Rong Ying.

The looming crisis in Tibet and China
Médecins Sans Frontières' decision to pull out of Lhasa reveals that Beijing has hardened its position vis-à-vis Tibet, says Claude Arpi.

INTERVIEW
'Yes, I know I am possibly next'
Dr Hanumappa Sudarshan,, doctor and social worker in Veerappan's jungle territory, on why he's undaunted of being the bandit's next target.

COLUMNS
Marxism and the Saffron wave
'If this is a Nazi trend, then the millions of Gujarati Hindus: upper and middle class, low castes and tribals, who voted for Narendra Modi, are all Nazis,' says Francois Gautier.

Failing to understand Gujarat
'For Hindu Gujaratis, the burning of the train at Godhra in a state where the Gujarati Hindu now ruled after 600 years kindled the desire for revenge,' argues Amberish K Diwanji.

SLIDE SHOW
The Week's Images
Farooq Abdullah singing bhajans, Vijay Diwas celebrations, Parliament attack case etc.

December 21, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Woman beheaded in J&K for not wearing burqa
Militants barged into the house of Jan Begum, 43, in Darhal area and beheaded her, police said.

Train derails in AP; 18 dead, 80 injured
The Kachiguda-Bangalore Express derailed in the Dronachalam/Gooty section of the Guntakal division.

Giving Haji Pir back to Pak a mistake: Gen Dyal
India did not realise the strategic importance of the pass, the leader of the team that captured it in 1965 said.

TRAIN MISHAP IN AP
AP train mishap: 7 bodies identified
They are A Venkatnarayana, K Ramanugulu, Uma Devi, Mahaboob Basha, Devadasu, K Sajan Raj and D Thimappa Naidu.

Official says it could be sabotage
The rails at the spot where the train derailed were found broken into two pieces, General Manager, South Central Railways, S N Singla said.

REPORTS FROM JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Healing touch meant for victims, not terrorists: Baig
'People have misunderstood our healing touch policy. We are giving jobs to the relatives of the victims of the terrorist violence,' the finance minister said.

Militants kill 4 in Baramulla district
Three family members who were injured were shifted to Srinagar for treatment, police sources said.

OTHER REPORTS
V-P backs Sanjay's programme for population control
'Unfortunately these programmes were not taken seriously by the bureaucracy and they were put on the backburner,' Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said.

Judge named in sex scandal stops attending court
Justice Arun Madan of the Rajasthan high court is also believed to be facing a probe into corruption charges.

Akalis target Punjab ministers in sex scandal
Three Congress ministers, who had gone to Gujarat to campaign during the recent election, reportedly forced a junior woman politician detailed to assist them into sexual intercourse.

Delhi metro: Khurana seeks to mend fences with Congress
The BJP leader and DMRC chairman has said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would be invited to the inauguration of the Delhi metro service.

Judge bans NRI couple's 'designer baby'
Raj and Shahana Hashmi wanted to use the genetic screening technique to help cure their ill son.

Major fire in Kolkata; inquiry ordered
Three buildings housing shops, godowns and flats in the central business district of Burrabazaar were gutted in the fire.

Gulzar among Sahitya Akademi Award winners
Tamil writer S Balasubramanian and Marathi playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar are also among the 22 litterateurs selected.

Man held for hate-filled and racially motivated messages
Mark Anthony Sweeney sent the message to Sayed Mahmood, who was the Republican candidate for the 13th Congressional District from Newark.

Four Jaish terrorists held in Karachi
They were allegedly planning suicide attacks in Karachi.

SLIDE SHOW
The Indian Army - Flying High
The Parachute Regiment of the army is celebrating its golden jubilee in Bangalore. Some pictures...

SPECIALS
The view from Beijing
India mistook Chinese restraint for weakness and paid the price, says Rong Ying.

The looming crisis in Tibet and China
Médecins Sans Frontières' decision to pull out of Lhasa reveals that Beijing has hardened its position vis-à-vis Tibet, says Claude Arpi.

INTERVIEW
'Yes, I know I am possibly next'
Dr Hanumappa Sudarshan,, doctor and social worker in Veerappan's jungle territory, on why he's undaunted of being the bandit's next target.

COLUMNS
Marxism and the Saffron wave
'If this is a Nazi trend, then the millions of Gujarati Hindus: upper and middle class, low castes and tribals, who voted for Narendra Modi, are all Nazis,' says Francois Gautier.

Failing to understand Gujarat
'For Hindu Gujaratis, the burning of the train at Godhra in a state where the Gujarati Hindu now ruled after 600 years kindled the desire for revenge,' argues Amberish K Diwanji.

December 20, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Train derails in AP; 12 dead, 90 injured
The engine and two bogies of the Hyderabad-Bangalore express derailed, following which seven other bogies overturned.

SC quashes govt order cancelling petrol pump allotments
The government had cancelled allotment of over 3000 petrol pumps and LPG dealerships in the wake of a controversy over their selection.

J&K: PDP MLA shot dead in Pampore
This is for the first time that a senior PDP leader and sitting MLA has been attacked in Kashmir after the formation of the new government in the state.

'Muslim tea vendor jostled out of S-6 coach by karsevaks'
Sheila Pal, travelling from Kanpur to Vapi, deposed before K G Shah and G T Nanavati inquiry commission, probing the Godhra incident, that there was some scuffle at the Godhra railway platform followed by heavy stone pelting.
Mother Teresa may be beatified in 2003
As part of this process, Pope John Paul on Friday endorsed a miracle attributed to Mother Teresa.

Healing touch meant for victims, not terrorists: Baig
'People have misunderstood our healing touch policy. We are giving jobs to the relatives of the victims of the terrorist violence,' the state finance minister said.

Pak scientist offered Saddam nuclear designs
The revelation comes close on the heels of allegations that Islamabad helped North Korea develop a nuclear bomb and that Pakistani nuclear scientists met Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar in Afghanistan.

SC allows 5,000 more autorickshaws on Delhi roads
Concerned over the difficulty faced by commuters due to frequent strikes by three-wheeler drivers, the city government had made the plea in a bid to break the monopoly of unions.

Richard Gere in Mumbai to fight AIDS
"Very little has moved forward since my visit to India last summer. And, I feel that one of the reasons is that we have not touched the hearts of people on this issue," the Hollywood actor said.

New Jersey law on outsourcing may hit India
Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) said her sole motivation in proposing the legislation was to stop taxpayers' money from being used to export jobs.

SLIDE SHOW
Gere-ing to fight AIDS
Hollywood actor Richard Gere visits Mumbai to raise awareness about the dreaded disease.

REPORTS FROM JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Terrorists kill three girls in Rajouri
One of them was beheaded. The incident occurred on Thursday night.

Parliament case: Protest in Srinagar against judgment
The bandh, called by an outfit called Human Rights Forum, was supported by various separatist, militant and political groups.

REPORTS FROM BENGAL
Kolkata nuns rejoice over Pope's approval
The papal decision, a step forward to Mother Teresa's sainthood, was announced at the Mother House by senior nuns, including Sister Christie.

Bengal urges court action against striking lawyers
The lawyers' strike, called to lower court fees, entered its 38th day on Friday ignoring the recent Supreme Court directive declaring all forms of strikes by lawyers as illegal.

OTHER REPORTS
Forcible marriage case: Rs 25,000 for Sultan Mian's arrest
Bihar DGP R R Prasad told rediff.com he had directed Patna SSP Sunil Kumar to expedite Sultan Mian's arrest.

Govt to appoint new judge to head Tehelka probe
The government also informed the Lok Sabha that the probe into the Tehelka expose will continue.

18 cops killed in ambush in Jharkhand
The cops were attacked by members of the banned Naxalite outfit Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) in Singhbhum district.

Speaker compliments members for smooth functioning of LS
'The most important thing of this [winter] session was that not a single member came to the well of the House', Manohar Joshi said.

Congress racked by dissidence in Rajasthan
The Congress suffered humiliating defeats in Bali, Bansur and Saagwara bypolls.

Curfew in UP town after police firing kills 3
According to the DGP's office, at least three persons were killed as police opened fire on an unruly crowd protesting the killing of a student leader on Thursday in Farenda town in Maharajganj district.

Delhi University teacher shot dead
M N Singh, 49, a reader in the Botany department of the Shradhanand College in north Delhi, was shot point blank.

Three CPI-ML naxalites killed in encounter in AP
In the exchange of fire between the police and the Pratighatana dalam [armed squad] led by Mohan, three naxalites, including two women cadres, were killed on the spot.

Selvaraj murder case: Judge finds all accused guilty
All nine accused were convicted in the Constable Selvaraj murder case, which led to the Coimbatore riots, and the more gruesome Coimbatore serial blasts in February 1998.

Preparations in full swing for Modi's swearing in ceremony
For the first time, the country's prime minister will attend the swearing in ceremony of a chief minister.

Three Asians get life in jail for racial killing
Ahmed Ali Awan, Shaied Nazir and Sarfraz Ali attacked Ross Parker, as he walked with his girl friend along a dim cycleway in Peterborough , with a chemical spray, a hammer and foot-long hunting knife.

Pak police, FBI arrest doctor for suspected Al Qaeda links
Ahmed Javed Khwaja is the second Pakistani doctor to be arrested on suspicion of having links with the banned outfit.

Hundreds of Muslims detained by INS in California
They had gone to the Immigration and Naturalization Service office to comply with a new rule according to which citizens of some countries have to register with the INS.

South Asian appointed to NY poll panel
Morshed Alam, a political and social activist working in Queens, has been appointed to the Voter Assistance Commission.

SPECIALS
The view from Beijing
India mistook Chinese restraint for weakness and paid the price, says Rong Ying.

The looming crisis in Tibet and China
Médecins Sans Frontières' decision to pull out of Lhasa reveals that Beijing has hardened its position vis-à-vis Tibet, says Claude Arpi.

INTERVIEW
'Yes, I know I am possibly next'
Dr Hanumappa Sudarshan,, doctor and social worker in Veerappan's jungle territory, on why he's undaunted of being the bandit's next target.

COLUMNS
Marxism and the Saffron wave
'If this is a Nazi trend, then the millions of Gujarati Hindus: upper and middle class, low castes and tribals, who voted for Narendra Modi, are all Nazis,' says Francois Gautier.

Failing to understand Gujarat
'For Hindu Gujaratis, the burning of the train at Godhra in a state where the Gujarati Hindu now ruled after 600 years kindled the desire for revenge,' argues Amberish K Diwanji.

DIARY
She & I
What, wonders Pal Dru, does his wife pray for when they kneel down together?

December 19, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Pope to certify Teresa's miracle on Friday
The move will bring Mother Teresa a step closer to sainthood.

CBI starts talks for Salem's extradition
The Portuguese authorities have extended the judicial remand of the underworld don, which was to end on December 16, by three months.

Sonia asks party to prepare for challenges ahead
"We respect the verdict of the people. Of course, we are disappointed with the results, but there is no room for despondency," Sonia said addressing the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Bill to curb criminalisation in politics passed
The bill makes it mandatory for candidates contesting parliamentary or assembly polls to disclose their criminal antecedents and declare their assets and liabilities after being elected.

Amnesty dismayed at death sentence in Parliament case
'Death penalty is a violation of the right to life and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment,' it said.

MiG-27 crashes in West Bengal, pilot injured
The aircraft took off from the Kalaikunda airbase around 1900 IST on a routine sortie, but crashed shortly at an abandoned airfield in Salua area of Midnapore district.

GUJARAT ELECTION AFTERMATH
Choudhary elected leader of opposition in Gujarat assembly
All India Congress Committee observer Kumari Shailja said Choudhary was elected unanimously, though GPCC chief Shankarsinh Vaghela had 'hinted at the name of Bharat Solanki'.

Group demands special court to try crimes against women
The International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat said it was "horrified" by the violence against women during the recent riots in the state.
The Gujarat Election: Full Coverage

ELECTION SPECIAL
The BJP's stunning turnaround
What struck Amberish K Diwanji was the inability of the Congress to counter its portrayal by the BJP and VHP as a pro-Muslim party.

OTHER REPORTS
Mufti defends release of political prisoners
Peace in Jammu and Kashmir can be restored only if alienation of the people is addressed, he said.

Madras HC stays election process to mayor's post
A petition before the court seeks to declare AIADMK's N Balaganga as mayor in place of Stalin. Balaganga had secured the next highest number of votes.

Mayawati does it again; suspends three top officials
Among those suspended were Agra Divisional Commissioner V K Sharma, Kanpur Deputy Inspector General of Police R R Bhatnagar and Basti Superintendent of Police P P Srivastava.

V N Khare sworn-in as new Chief Justice of India
Justice Khare succeeds Justice G B Pattanaik, who retired on Thursday after a short tenure of one and half months as CJI.

'US okayed Pakistani repression in Bangladesh in 1971'
Declassified documents show that Pakistan's importance to the China initiative made the then US President Richard Nixon turn a blind eye to the brutal repression unleashed in the then East Pakistan by the Pakistani dictator Yahya Khan.

Pak PM to seek vote of confidence on Dec 30
The prime minister will also resume talks with the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal to resolve the deadlock over President Musharraf continuing as army chief.

Oppn continues to boycott Fernandes in Parliament
They have been pointing out that he is yet to cleared by the commission probing irregularities in defence deals.

5 killed in chemical factory explosion in AP
The incident occurred near Sadasivpet in Medak district.

12 extradition requests pending with foreign governments
India has repeatedly failed to get wanted fugitives extradited or deported, the most recent examples being that of gangsters Anees Ibrahim and Abu Salem.

SPECIAL
To hang by the neck until dead
The number of death sentences has risen over the years, but data on them is still lacking, discover George Iype and Onkar Singh.

December 18, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Three sentenced to death in Parliament attack case
They are S A R Geelani, Mohammed Afzal and Shaukat Guru. Afsan Guru, wife of Shaukat, was given 5 years' imprisonment.

Mission Catch Veerappan: Karnataka readies list of gadgets
Karnataka has prepared a list of sophisticated weapons and surveillance gadgets it requires to hunt down forest brigand Veerappan. The list would be soon submitted to the Union home ministry.

Govt gives nod for speeding up rail projects
A Special Purpose Vehicle with a corpus fund of Rs 8000 crore will be registered under the Companies Act.

Lawyers' strike hits functioning of judiciary nationwide
Lawyers, however, did not boycott the Supreme Court, and a few other courts.

US should attack Pakistan instead of Iraq: BJP
Party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra also accused Bangladesh of harbouring terrorists and ISI agents.

Congress slams Vajpayee for remarks about Muslims
Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi also expressed surprise at Vajpayee's 'stoic silence' on VHP leader Pravin Togadia's calls for a Hindu Rashtra.

No consensus on fighting terror: Special judge
Special Judge S N Dhingra, who sentenced Mohammad Afzal, Shaukat Hussain Guru and S A R Geelani to death in the Parliament attack case, also criticised states not implementing POTA.

ELECTION SPECIAL
The BJP's stunning turnaround
What struck Amberish K Diwanji was the inability of the Congress to counter its portrayal by the BJP and VHP as a pro-Muslim party.

PARLIAMENT ATTACK CASE
Protests in J&K against death sentence
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference claimed that the attacks on Parliament and J&K Assembly were carried out by Indian agencies to 'suppress the freedom struggle'.

Mediapersons have harrowing time at trial
Security in the courtroom was so tight that journalists were asked to write on pieces of paper to prove that what they were carrying were indeed harmless pens.
The Attack on Parliament: Full Coverage

GUJARAT ELECTION AFTERMATH
Governor invites Narendra Modi to form government
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader will be sworn in on December 22 in Ahmedabad.

Curfew in Rajkot, Vadodara lifted
Curfew had been imposed in parts of the two cities following violence after the results of the Gujarat assembly poll were declared on December 15.
The Gujarat Election: Full Coverage

US WAR ON TERROR
US let captured Taliban general go
In an embarassment to the US, special forces soldiers have revealed that the military mistakenly released one of the six most wanted Taliban leaders followng faulty intelligence.

Al Qaeda starts camps in Afghanistan
These camps, believed to be in the Assadabad region bordering Pakistan, are getting recruits, a UN group monitoring the group's activities said.
The War on Terror: Full Coverage

OTHER REPORTS
Railways planning to provide mobile phone services
The RailTel Corporation of India, which is laying optic fibre cable network, will enter into agreements with cellular phone operators.

BJP favours withdrawal of MFN status to Pakistan
India has extended the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan on the basis of a SAARC agreement.

'Musharraf asks EC to burn records of referendum'
The South Asia Tribune, a Web site run by noted Pakistani journalist Shaheen Sehbai, has termed the act `despicable'.

'Veerappan wanted to discuss ransom with Mani'
Puttaswamy, a JD-U leader, claimed the brigand wanted to know from Mani about the 10 crore ransom paid for the release of Rajakumar.

CPI-M deplores PM's remarks on Muslims
The party said such a stance from the prime minister was equivalent to condemning the entire community for the crime committed by a few.

Congress ridicules Mayawati's plan to rename Amethi
Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said the Uttar Pradesh chief minister is substituting gimmickry for hard work and the people of Amethi know very well who their real well-wisher is.

Nakkeeran editor sues ex-DGP
R R Gopal contended that former Karnataka DGP Dinakar has made defamatory allegations against him in the book on Rajkumar's abuction 'lowering' his reputation.

Actor Armaan Kohli released on bail
Armaan was arrested after he allegedly knocked down a motorcyclist on Monday night fracturing his right ankle.

Goa beefs up security for New Year celebrations
An Israeli news report said Al Qaeda terrorists may attack the tourist state during the New Year eve celebrations.

Jaya hints at bigger role in national politics
The Tamil Nadu chief minister said there was nothing wrong in her entering national politics `if the opportunity comes and circumstances so warranted'.

Sultan Mian denies forcible marriage with Kanchan Mishra
`I have legal proof of my marriage with her in court; there is nothing like forcible marriage,' Sultan Mian said, adding he will send the documents to the NCW office.

Film on Lankan civil war to be screened in London
But 'In The Name of Buddha' has kicked up a row with some reports accusing the LTTE of funding it.

SPECIALS
Hindutva and more Hindutva
After Gujarat, the BJP is likely to bank on the appeal of Hindutva in future elections, writes George Iype.

'You can scrap the army'
The roots of politicisation of the army are to be found in Nehru's hatred for the man in uniform, says Wing Commander (retd) R V Parasnis.

COLUMNS
Assessing old bonds
'Indo-Russian relations have become pure business. Russia now looks to India to keep its defence industry afloat,' says Admiral J G Nadkarni (retd).

Fighting terror, upholding law
What is being officially advocated today is an unbalanced, warped approach -- of yet greater coercion, through more repressive laws and procedures. This approach is being assiduously promoted in the guise of fighting terrorism,' says Praful Bidwai.

December 17, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Muslims are not repentant for Godhra: Vajpayee
He also advised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safety of the lives, properties and dignity of all the people in the state.

Parliament case: Sentence order on Wednesday
Delhi Police Special Prosecutor D P Agarwal has sought death sentence for S A R Geelani, Mohammed Afzal and Shaukat Hussain.

US aid encouraging Pak to persist with terrorism: Advani
If the international community does not support us, we expect that it not help those who are encouraging terrorism, the deputy prime minister said.

Six JeM terrorists in Delhi, alert sounded
Intelligence reports said a suicide squad has sneaked into the capital to carry out a strike around Christmas or on New Year's Eve.

Bengal lawyers defy SC order on strike
The lawyers are on a strike for the last 35 days demanding a reduction in court fees.

GUJARAT ELECTION AFTERMATH
Narendra Modi to be sworn in at Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, BJP president Venkaiah Naidu and other senior leaders are likely to attend the swearing in ceremony.

Gujarat proves people don't want Congress: PM
But partymen should not be overconfident and must work towards the BJP's success in the coming assembly polls, party spokesman V K Malhotra quoted Vajpayee as saying.

BJP hunts for a Modi in Uttar Pradesh
Senior BJP leader Kalraj Misra said, 'Every time, we have deviated from the Hindutva path, the party has suffered a setback. So some rethinking needs to be done.'

BJP should focus on Hindutva: Togadia
The VHP general secretary claimed the Gujarat elections had proved that 'Hindu bashing is not profitable in India'.
The Gujarat Election: Complete Coverage

SLIDE SHOW
Gujarat diary
Snapshots from the keenly contested election, which the BJP won convincingly.

BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA STRIKE
Lawyers to go ahead with strike despite SC ruling
The Bar Council of India refused to cancel the strike saying there is no time to inform all constituents.

Lawyers have no right to go on strike: SC
They can hold peaceful dharnas and protest marches away from the court premises to find remedies to their grievances, it said.

OTHER REPORTS
Actor Armaan Kohli arrested in hit-and-run case
The actor's car, allegedly being driven by him, had knocked down a motor-cycle-borne businessman in suburban Andheri late on Monday night.

Congress takes on the BJP on terrorism
The move is seen as a bid to stem BJP's election plans for the next round of the assembly polls due in two phases in nine states next year.

Centre to link major rivers by 2016
Former power minister Suresh Prabhu has been chosen to head a task force to pursue this deadline.

BJP leaders to discuss interest of minorities on Dec 23-24
On December 21, the party's central office-bearers will discuss the strategy for the upcoming assembly polls.

Parliament attack convicts fight in court
Afsan Guru shouted at her husband Shaukat when he tried to touch their daughter.

Karnataka seeks commandos to hunt Veerappan
The state government will also institute a judicial inquiry into the killing of JD-U leader H Nagappa.

BJP leader, 3 others gunned down in Varanasi
Police suspect a gang war to be the reason behind Anil Rai's murder on Tuesday morning.

US for MoU on counter-terrorism with India
'It is clear to me they take the view that we should do what we can to assist them where they would like assistance,' Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said.

Himachal Pradesh minister's resignation accepted
Agriculture Minister Vidya Sagar had quit the Prem Kumar Dhumal ministry demanding 27% reservation for OBCs in government jobs.

Fire in Mittal Court building in south Mumbai
A team will investigate the exact cause of the fire on Wednesday, Chief Fire Officer Amarjeet Singh Jhandwal said.

Shah leads march against 'rights violations'
The march also expressed its opposition to the recent high court decision restoring property rights to Kashmiri women marrying a person from a different state.

Protest against removal of power subsidy in Bengal
The decision would force the farmers, domestic subscribers and commercial users to pay bills at a uniform rate.

Bill to curb corruption in politics passed
A candidate would be liable for penal consequences for filing a false affidavit or concealing the required information in nomination paper.

Rajya Sabha informed of new no-flying zones
The Centre is also considering proposals sent by state governments to declare many other areas no-flying zones.

Army tank catches fire, blows up in Jammu
The area around the site was cordoned off and evacuated. Officials rule out sabotage.

Pension schemes for non-resident Keralites
They can choose from six schemes, which are already available from the Life Insurance Corporation of India.

NCW probes report of forced marriage in Bihar
The commission has asked the Bihar police to track down a twice-married woman, Kanchan Mishra, who was allegedly forced into wedlock with a criminal, Sultan Mian.

Médecins Sans Frontières to leave Tibet
Director of Operations Christopher Stokes said the NGO was withdrawing for 'operational and human resources reasons'.

COLUMNS
Why does US want India to stay out of Kabul?
'That Washington should even raise such a subject makes one wonder what State Department policy wonks have been smoking,' says Ramananda Sengupta.

A Muslim scholar's bombshell
'Indeed the essence of Dr Zakaria's prescription lies in what he says Sardar Patel told him in a personal meeting in 1950: 'The goodwill of the majority was the best safeguard for a minority,' says Arvind Lavakare.

Cash for coverage
In which two journalists sought press passes to a Congress meeting in Gujarat -- and received more than what they asked for. Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.

DIARY
From the Elder One
Ashamary introduces her sister, her version from hell.

December 16, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Four convicted in Parliament attack case
Delhi University's suspended lecturer, S A R Geelani, Mohammed Afzal, Shaukat Guru and his wife Navjot Sandhu alias Afsan Guru were those convicted.

VHP asks Vajpayee to respond to letter on Ram temple
The outfit's chief Vishnu Hari Dalmia said the dharma gurus would be forced to pursue their own course if Vajpayee did not respond soon.

Quattrocchi asked to submit his passport
The businessman himself is in Italy, having left Malaysia a day after the Kuala Lumpur high court rejected the CBI's extradition plea.

Bill bars cross-examination of rape victim on character
Minister of State for Law Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government would bring in a comprehensive legislation to check crimes against women.

Kean named chairman of 9/11 commission
The former New Jersey governor replaces Henry Kissinger, who had resigned last week, as he was not prepared to reveal his clients in Kissinger Associates.

Parliamentary nod to Freedom of Information Bill
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension Vasundhara Raje said the bill did not conflict with the Official Secrets Act.

US working with India on Salem case
'The US and India have worked together closely in a prominent counter-terrorism case -- Abu Salem Ansari,' US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca said in an exclusive interview to India Abroad.

POST-ELECTION SCENARIO IN GUJARAT
Sonia discusses party's debacle in Gujarat polls
Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief Shankarsinh Vaghela claimed the meeting had nothing to do with demands for his resignation.

Modi elected leader of BJP legislature party
Senior minister Ashok Bhatt proposed his name and six BJP legislators seconded it at a meeting attended by party president M Venkaiah Naidu.

Modi for 'appeasement of none and justice to all'
Stating the need for constructive criticism in a democracy, he said the Congress should play the role of a constructive opposition.

BJP disapproves of Togadia's 'Hindu Rashtra' remark
A party spokesman said that the party did not believe in a theocratic state and would work towards integrating the minorities into the mainstream.

Gujarat debacle temporary setback: Cong
Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said the party has pledged to 'protect and preserve the secular fabric of the Indian polity'.

Karunakaran takes potshots at Sonia for Gujarat debacle
The senior Congress leader from Kerala blamed the Congress chief's 'executive style of functioning' for the party's poor performance in Gujarat.

Cong veterans all set to make a comeback
Veterans like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Digvijay Singh, who were kept out of Sonia Gandhi's Gujarat election campaign, are likely to regain their prominence.

Curfew lifted in Vadodara
One BJP worker was killed and three injured after violence broke during the assembly election victory celebrations.
Detailed Results | Complete Coverage of the Election

OTHER REPORTS
Karnataka orders judicial probe into Nagappa's death
At a Cabinet meeting in Bangalore, it was decided that a high court judge would head the probe, Minister for Information Kagodu Thimmappa said.
The Nagappa Abduction: Complete Coverage

We hoped for acquittal: Geelani's brother
The family feels there was not sufficient evidence and plans to appeal against the conviction.

NYC subway workers' union puts off strike
The union said significant progress has been made after heavy negotiations with the Metropolitian Transportation Authority.

COLUMNS
The verdict and after
'The Hindutva genie has resurfaced. This time it will not go away in a hurry,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

Modi's three-and-a-half allies
'Who were they? Step forward the Congress (I), the English media, the militants, and, last but not least that 'half' ally, the Election Commission,' says T V R Shenoy.

December 15, 2002

GUJARAT ELECTION
Gujarat Election: Complete Coverage

BJP ends up with 126 seats; Congress 51
This gives the BJP absolute majority in the assembly. Independents and Janata Dal-United won two each.
Detailed Results

Modi savours win; Vaghela mulls over defeat
The caretaker Gujarat chief minister said the election results were an indication of Gujarat swabhiman and pride.

Kamal Nath says it was a fight for 'awareness'
'The BJP succeeded by dividing the electorate in Gujarat on communal lines and by creating an atmosphere of terror,' the Congress leader said.

Vajpayee, Advani likely to attend swearing-in
Party president Venkaiah Naidu will leave for Ahmedabad on Monday for the meeting of the newly elected BJP legislators.

BJP's victory march has begun: PM
It his first reaction to the BJP's victory in Gujarat, Vajpayee criticised the Congress saying, 'Communalism is a double-edged sword, which cuts both ways.'

Demonisation of Modi by media helped BJP: Jaitley
Rejecting the suggestion that the BJP won by harping on a communal line, he said: "Just because the pollsters have gone wrong does not mean that our victory could be described as [a] communal victory," he said.

A victory of nationalist forces: Venkaiah
Speaking to newsmen at the party headquarters in New Delhi, the BJP chief said the people of Gujarat had given a befitting reply to those who had been defaming Gujaratis not only in India but also abroad.

10 women candidates successful in Gujarat election
Thirty six women candidates had been fielded by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress party.

Defeat for pseudo-secularists: Modi
While commenting on the good showing of the BJP, he ticked off the media for painting a wrong picture of Gujarat.

PM congratulates Modi
The BJP may get over 110 seats in the assembly election.

It is a victory of fear, terror: Congress
However, the party said its message of peace and development was well received by the people of Gujarat.

'It was a Hindutva wave'
No revelry, no teeming mass of supporters: Rajiv Bhavan, the Congress headquarters in Ahmedabad's Paldi, looked truly Hindutva-hit.

Gujaratis were angry about slander campaign: Advani
'We would have got a renewed mandate in any case...' he said.

One BJP worker killed, 4 injured in attack
They were allegedly attacked by Congress supporters after taking out a victory rally in Jangleshwar area of Rajkot district.

Violence erupts in Vadodara and Ahmedabad
Indefinite curfew was clamped in communally sensitive Raopura area of Vadodara when people of two communities resorted to stone-throwing and arson.

Cong gains in South Gujarat, Saurashtra
While the BJP had won last time 52 of the 58 seats in Saurashtra, home turf of former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, this time it had to remain content with 38 seats.

Thackeray elated over BJP victory
"By successfully conducting the Gujarat election, Modi had followed rajdharma but his responsibility has increased manifold and he will have to strictly follow rajdharma," the Shiv Sena chief said.

Several heavyweights bite the dust
Nine ministers, including Assembly Speaker Dhirubhai Shah and Agriculture Minister Purushottam Rupala, were the prominent BJP losers.

'Hindu Rashtra' in two years: Togadia
The VHP leader said by then 'we will change India's history and Pakistan's geography'.

QUICK POLL
What effect will the BJP's win have on India?

SLIDE SHOWS
Saffron wave sweeps Gujarat
Narendra Modi proves everyone wrong -- exit polls, pre-election media surveys, his rivals.

Modi visits Akshardham
The Gujarat chief minister designate met the head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

The week's images
Politics, birthdays, fight for rights and some literary brain-storming...

RESULTS OF BY-ELECTIONS
BJP prevails in Rajasthan by-polls
Its victory in Bali, Sagwara and Bansur is a severe blow to the Congress government.

BJP retains Godda LS seat in Jharkhand
Its victory in Bali, Sagwara and Bansur is a severe blow to the Congress government.

Congress wins Arunachal by-election
Yari Dulom won the Daporijo assembly seat by defeating lone Arunachal Congress rival Daklo Nidak.

Congress retains Nainital LS seat
Its candidate Mahendra Singh Pal trounced the BJP's Balraj Passi by a margin of over 100,000 votes.

AGP wins assembly by-election in Assam
AGP candidate Prabin Gogoi defeated his Congress rival Lachit Phukan by a margin of 3,061 votes to win the Khumtai assembly seat.

COLUMN
Bandits by law
'Forget the Veerappans and Quattrocchis, the greatest abusers of our laws are those whom we charge with making and administering those laws,' says Dilip D'Souza.

December 14, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Gujarat results expected by Sunday afternoon
The poll in Surat city [West], which was countermanded after the death of the BJP candidate, will be held on January 9.

Pakistani court orders release of Masood Azhar
The Jaish-e-Mohammed chief is accused of being involved in the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament.

2 Punjab & Haryana high court judges asked to proceed on leave
A high-level judicial committee found the charges of "undue influence and misuse of office" against Justice Amarbir Singh Gill, Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice M L Singh "prima facie true".

Lt Gen Shantonu Choudhry appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff
Lt Gen J J Singh will replace Lt Gen Choudhry at the Army Training Command.

Anees deported to Pakistan: Report
The Gulf-based Khaleej Times and some Indian newspapers claim that the don was deported soon after he secured bail in the UAE.

TN, Karnataka police combine to hunt Veerappan
Union Home Secretary N Gopalaswami reportedly played facilitator, but did not participate directly in the talks.

REPORTS FROM JAMMU AND KASHMIR
SAM missile recovered from J&K terrorists
The missile was an ANZA- MK I, found exclusively in the Pakistan Army's inventory. "It only shows the direct involvement of the Pakistani army in arming and aiding Kashmiri terrorists," a senior army officer said.

Mufti refuses Rs 25 crore palatial home
The J&K chief minister has chosen a simple residence on Maulana Azad Road in Srinagar as his official residence.

J&K Cabinet expansion put on hold
Talks between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi remained inconclusive due to absence of state PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad.

150 migrant families plan to return: Mufti
The J&K chief minister, however, admitted that he has not yet visited even a single migrant camp.

GUJARAT ELECTION
Vaghela's confidence worries BJP leaders
'The stakes are so high and tension is so unbearable that every seat is worth more than Rs 5 crore,' says an industrialist who supports the Congress.

Repolling peaceful, 68% voter turnout
Repolling was held in six booths in Anand, three in Sojitra, two in Borsad and one each in Dhrangadhra, Morbi, Dholka and Vagdod.

'Gujarat is like the Germany of the 1920s'
Central media cell member and adviser to Sonia Gandhi, Rajiv Desai, also told rediff.com that the party had no faith in.

SPECIALS
The big fights in Gujarat this election
A look at some of the keenly watched constituencies in Gujarat.

The telia rajas: Power in a nutshell
Gondol, around 40 kilometres from Rajkot, can and does determine the politics of Saurashtra, and has a bearing on the politics of the state thanks to the oil mills in the town.

CHATS
'The BJP has nothing to say for the future'
Transcript of the chat with All India Congress Committee member and Gujarat in charge Kamal Nath.

'Progress comes when there is freedom from terror'
Transcript of the chat with Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Arun Jaitley.

ASK OUR REPORTERS
'It won't be easy for hardliners to take over'

OTHER REPORTS
Two suspected terrorists shot dead in Delhi
The men were part of a 3-member group travelling in a car from Haryana to Delhi.

Assault on JD (U) MP: DCP suspended
DCP Manoj Lall's suspension is aimed at ensuring an impartial probe into charges that he led a police assault on JD(U) MP Devendra Prasad Yadav during a farmers' agitation.

Henry Kissinger steps down from 9/11 panel
Victims of the 9/11 attacks had raised objections citing potential conflict of interest pointing to Kissinger private-sector clients.

Pesticides behind deaths in UP: Scientists
Close to 100 children have died under unusual circumstances in Saharanpur and neighbouring villages during the last two months.

High Court asks journalist to reveal source
The Hindustan Times had alleged in a report that the Central Bureau of Investigation had raided the residence of a high court judge in July this year.

COLUMN
Bandits by law
'Forget the Veerappans and Quattrocchis, the greatest abusers of our laws are those whom we charge with making and administering those laws,' says Dilip D'Souza.

SLIDE SHOW
The week's images
Politics, birthdays, fights for rights and some literary brain-storming.

DEAR REDIFF
'We need to sharpen our teeth'

December 13, 2002

TOP REPORTS
Dubai court grants bail to Anees Ibrahim
Dawood Ibrahim's brother was picked up by the Dubai police on December 3 in connection with a murder case of another gangster.

Troops on borders sent strong message to Pakistan: PM
Vajpayee said the Centre was determined to end cross-border terrorism.

Tributes paid to Parliament attack martyrs
Deputy Prime Minister Advani said that the Parliament House complex is a much safer place since last year's attack.

Jayalalithaa drops two senior ministers
According to a Raj Bhavan communiqué, Education Minister M Thambidurai and Revenue Minister Dalavai Sundaram have been dropped.

SPECIAL
The telia rajas: Power in a nutshell
Gondol, around 40 kilometres from Rajkot, can and does determine the politics of Saurashtra, and has a bearing on the politics of the state thanks to the oil mills in the town.

GUJARAT ELECTION
Don't take exit polls seriously: Congress
The people of Gujarat voted against the divisive and communal rule of the Narendra Modi government, it said.

Repolling in 15 booths in Gujarat: EC
Election Commission sources told reporters that repolling will be held on Saturday in Anand, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Patan.
The Gujarat Election: The Complete Coverage

SLIDE SHOW
Remembering the martyrs
This day, last year, terrorists stormed the seat of democracy in India. But thanks to a few brave security personnel, the attack was repulsed. A proud nation remembers its martyrs.

DEAR REDIFF
'We need to sharpen our teeth'

OTHER REPORTS
US trying to shed anti-Islam image
The administration is trying to disassociate itself from anti-Islam evangelists like Pat Robertson, and attacks on the religion by conservative columnists.

Veerappan could not have killed Nagappa: Mani
`If Nagappa had been alive, it would have been a gain for Veerappan,' the Tamil activist said.

Rocca in Nepal to explore ways to fight Maoists
This is the US assistant secretary of state for South Asia's third visit to the Himalayan Kingdom. She will leave for Islamabad on Sunday.

Mysterious disease kills 9 children in Patna district
A team of doctors, which visited Mushartola village, failed to identify the disease, whose symptoms are similar to those of measles.

Muslims need not prove their patriotism: Hussain
Union Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain asserted that Muslims in India are as patriotic as any other Indian.

US backs India in war against terrorism: Blackwill
The US ambassador was among those who paid tributes to the martyrs of the December 13, 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament.

US to be more active in promoting democracy in Muslim world
The Arab world faces serious problems that can be met only by more flexible, democratic political systems, says US State Department Policy Planning Director Richard Haass.

Quattrocchi extradition plea dismissed
A Malaysian high court judge ruled that India should have disclosed the charges against Quattrocchi much earlier.

CBI to seek Salem's extradition
A CBI officer is leaving for Lisbon to file India's request with the Portuguese authorities.

Prince Philip's comment kicks up a storm
The 81-year-old prince pointed out 14-year-old Shahin Ullah at a London youth club and commented, "He looks as if he is on drugs."

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