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DECEMBER 25
Advani goes in for a moderate look
Many in the BJP and the Sangh Parivar admit that the compulsions of coalition politics have considerably changed the home minister, once a hard-line Hindutva advocate. He is now seen to be as accommodating and liberal as Vajpayee.
Home ministry clears Zakhm
The ministry said it had no objection to the storyline of the semi-autobiographical Hindi film by Mahesh Bhatt, only suggesting some minor changes.
Legal victory puts Congress in a fix
The Kerala high court has quashed the Cannanore panchayat deputy director's order rejecting the Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion in the Payyavur village council. But now the threat of disqualification hangs over three of its members.
The girl who's walking into The Guinness Book
In quest of a world record, five-year-old Asfia of Hyderabad goes to school in new shoes. Every day. Till now she has exhausted 276 pairs, and plans to run through some more before she is done.
Kalyan Singh undoes Mayawati's work
The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to scrap some newly created districts, most of them formed when the BSP was in office.
Mann, Wadala ask Akal Takht to bring about Panthic unity
Radical Akali leaders Simranjeet Singh Mann and Kuldip Singh Wadala have appealed to Jathedar Ranjit
Singh to involve Panthic organisations to find ways to collectively celebrate the tercentenary of the Khalsa.
AIADMK to petition President on special courts
The party's MPs will submit a petition as a counter to the one given by Tamil Maanila Congress chief G K Moopanar who had urged the President to advise the Union government not to interfere in the trial of corruption cases against Jayalalitha and her erstwhile Cabinet colleagues.
Kremlin proposal for strategic triangle not official, says India
But the Russian media relishes the idea of an eastern triad that will bring their country some of its lost glory.
Russia-India military pact worries Pakistan
Pakistan says the deal will have an adverse impact on nuclear non-proliferation efforts in South Asia and its dialogue with India.
G P Koirala returns as Nepal PM
In power for the third time, the Nepali Congress leader now has the distinction of heading three differing shades of government -- majority, minority, and coalition.
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'Opposition to Saraswati is opposing India's intellectual contribution to the world'
'It is my government that announced a scheme for free education for women till graduation... How can you say we want to implement a partisan agenda?' HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi on his priorities.
THE REDIFF SPECIAL
'The Indian value system has much to offer'
Jayasheelan Naidoo, the South African telecom minister who is in India in search of his roots, on building a new future.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
A case of red herrings
'On December 21, a Delhi-based newspaper published a list of politicians and civil servants who allegedly were potential sources of investigation by the CBI. When that agency denied the report, the newspaper published what it claimed was a letter from the CBI to the Union home ministry. I believe this letter is a forgery...' says T V R Shenoy.
Supercop America
'It is high time India loudly makes the world understand, once and for all, the real Kashmir story. The Americans will quickly grasp all the nuances when told that Kashmir's accession to India in 1947 was akin to and as valid as that of the state of Texas to the USA from March 1845,' argues Arvind Lavakare.
A sense of self
'Corruption, we claim, is the problem. Social decay, money-laundering, mafia, we look everywhere for the root of our social evils. And yet we disregard the fundamental tenet -- our society is wracked the way it is because we have not properly identified who belongs in it and who does not,' feels Ashwin Mahesh.
Shourie's coming!
'In the new Cabinet, predict we, will be controversial journalist-turned-BJP-MP Arun Shourie. In all likelihood as number two to Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani'. Capital Buzz. Political gossip from the Delhi Durbar.
DECEMBER 24
Vananchal bill closes Lok Sabha session
The RLM and Left members agitating against the bill were taken aback when they heard the abrupt rendition of Vande Mataram. And with that came the end of the turbulent winter session.
Mulayam dubs Bihar bill 'highly undemocratic'
The RLM president said Parliamentary Affairs Minister M L Khurana has admitted that the House was not in order when the bill was introduced.
Vananchal plays havoc in Bihar too
The assembly was adjourned thrice as it plunged into turmoil over the demand for a separate state.
16 killed in Kashmir
Unidentified militants have killed nine persons, reportedly relatives of counter-insurgents, in Anantnag since Tuesday evening. Elsewhere, a police constable and four militants were among seven killed.
Jayaprakash Narayan awarded Bharat Ratna
The award, India's highest, has come almost two decades after the Socialist leader's death.
Congress resurgence worries rivals in UP
The BJP asserts the Congress will only eat into the Samajwadi Party's votes, while the SP suggests only the BJP stands to lose if the Congress recovers.
No arms for Pakistan, promises Primakov
Russia has reiterated its old pledge not to sell any military hardware to Pakistan. A statement issued at the end of Prime Minister Primakov' s visit said Moscow understands India's concerns on the issue.
White paper on ISI activities to take more time
The draft needs some modifications, Home Minister L K Advani informed the Rajya Sabha.
Jaya scoffs at Karunanidhi's Veerappan-hunt
The AIADMK chief said the poacher could strike again because of the state's "soft approach".
Fog grounds Delhi despite hi-fi landing gear
The Raytheon landing system, installed three years ago, developed a snag, and is to be replaced by the end of December. But officials say this may not help as domestic pilots have not been trained to use it.
MPs' area development fund doubled
The increase from Rs 10 million is in view of the rising cost of inputs, Prime Minister Vajpayee said.
Freedom fighter Ratnappa Kumbhar dead
A member of the committee that framed the Indian Constitution, he died of heart attack early this morning. He was 89.
Probe reports shelved in Maharashtra
The tabling of the Dani and Gundewar commission reports in the legislature was postponed after both houses were adjourned as a tribute to Kumbhar.
The grand old man of polls passes away
Kaka Joginder Singh alias Dhartipakar, who contested a record number of elections, died in a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly. He was 80.
Nagpur police turn hero into villain
In a dramatic twist, a businessman honoured by the government a week ago for displaying exemplary courage in gunning down three robbers has been booked for murder.
Buddhists fight Lanka's plan for Hindu heroes
The Buddhist Association for the Prevention of Invasion by Mosques and Kovils holds that the move to build temples to the heroes of Ramayana is "detrimental to the culture and Buddha sasana".
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'We have to go towards a multi-polar world'
'I think if India, China and Russia can co-operate, it will be a very strong factor for peace... And it will prevent domination by any one country.' T N Kaul, former envoy to Moscow, on the fresh turn to Indo-Russian relations following Primakov's visit.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Stop the Yankee-bashing
'No, I am not saying that we must condone the United States for its sudden and what appears to be unprovoked attacks on Afghanistan and Sudan but, tell me, doesn't it benefit us if Clinton is able to finish off the Al Qaida and reduce the terrorist threat to India? So why don't we just shut up and let the Americans do our dirty work?' says Pritish Nandy.
Zen and the Art of Potomac-Watching
'America's cold warriors understand three things -- belligerence, blackmail and brute force. The Chinese have recognised this, and have openly suggested to the Americans that they have a few ICBMs pointed at Los Angeles. Given the American "body bag syndrome", this hits all of the three points above. It's time India took a leaf from China's book and indulged in some crude blackmail herself,' says Rajeev Srinivasan.
Maharashtra: Hingoli district by May
THE WEATHER
Cold wave in Kashmir
Night temperatures were also appreciably below normal in parts of Orissa, central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha and Andhra Pradesh.
DECEMBER 23
Congress may part ways with RJD government
"In the changed political context, we feel there is no need for the Congress to continue supporting Rabri Devi," Ghulam Nabi Azad said. He said party workers in the state "are demoralised because many feel that our support to Laloo Yadav is not ethical".
Opposition demands apology from Rabri
The BJP, enraged by her comments about Governor S S Bhandari during the khabardar rally, began shouting slogans, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house for half an hour.
Primakov did not ask India to sign NPT
External affairs ministry officials pointed out that if that were so, the Russians would not have signed a deal to build two 1,000 MW light-water nuclear reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.
India, Russia move closer to 'strategic alliance'
In a joint statement at the end of the Russian PM's three-day visit to New Delhi, the two countries said the "declaration on strategic partnership" would be signed at their next summit.
India, Russia sign seven agreements
Primakov also announced that President Yeltsin, whose visit scheduled for early December had to be cancelled because of health problems, would be making the trip in 1999.
Pakistan feels China won't play Russian ball
Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz ruled out the triangular alliance Primakov had proposed in New Delhi.
Advani introduces bills to create Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh
The home minister introduced the Uttarakhand bill despite strident opposition from the Akalis, Mamata Banerjee and the BSP. But the bill to create a new state of Vananchal was deferred by a day.
Centre moves to grant proxy vote to defence personnel
Law Minister M Thambidurai introduced in the Lok Sabha the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 1998, seeking to permit members of the central armed forces to cast their votes in person, through a postal ballot, or by proxy.
Pilot attacks Centre's claim on law-and-order
Challenging the figures provided by Advani, the Congress MP said more than 4,200 persons were killed in 1996-98 in Assam alone. He and his colleagues later staged a walkout. They were joined by BJD members protesting against the situation in Orissa, a Congress-ruled state.
Fear shrouds Guwahati after bomb attacks
The death of 21 people in three days of stepped-up violence in Assam has shaken the common man.
Assam governor calls for urgent steps to stop Bangla infiltration
Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha warned that if the illegal immigration isn't checked, it might even result in the North-East being severed from India.
PMO's views on special courts turns DMK against BJP
BJP vice-president Jana Krishnamurthy has since sought to explain away the party's position, saying the Centre was not interested in the political battle of supremacy involving the DMK and the AIADMK. But no one is convinced.
7 AIADMK leaders take on Karunanidhi, Moopanar
They said the two allies knew they could not fight Jayalalitha politically and so were seeking to foist cases on her and harass her supporters and officials into giving false evidence.
Lay off, BJP tells Karunanidhi
Reacting to the Tamil Nadu CM's allegation that the Centre was trying to rescue Jayalalitha, Jana Krishnamurthy asked him to stop making charges without understanding the legal issues involved.
DMK plans stir against 'bid to protect Jaya'
The party will hold meetings across Tamil Nadu to condemn the Centre's alleged attempt to rescue the AIADMK chief from corruption cases.
Pondicherry speaker ejects entire Opposition
It had stalled proceedings after Speaker V M C Sivakumar allowed a confidence motion from Chief Minister R V Janakiraman.
Karnataka government staff call off strike
Chief Minister J H Patel said the state had already given Rs 3,000 million as interim relief to the employees and the new pay structure would cost Rs 4,000 million more.
Tamil Nadu beefs up STF to nail Veerappan
Stung by the brigand's audacity in looting a police station in Bhavani taluk, the government has inducted three more commandants and an inspector-general into the Special Task Force and stepped up combing operations.
Fire is free to run legally
Deepa Mehta's film has not been banned. A final decision will be taken after the censor board, which is reviewing it again, reports back, I&B Minister Pramod Mahajan clarified.
Kanshi Ram prepares for marriage with Akalis
The BSP has expressed a willingness to revive its alliance with the Akali Dal, provided the latter severes ties with the BJP.
Joshi says sorry for ruckus in House
The Maharashtra CM apologised to legislative council Chairman N S Pharande for the unruly behaviour of Shiv Sena and BJP members, and the insults of Rural Development Minister Anna Dange.
LDF rift widens in Kerala
The CPI and RSP have accused the CPI-M of domineering behaviour and of keeping the people out of what was avowedly a people's programme.
Ukhimath victims struggle in absence of rehabilitation
"It was like a mela, with rows of trucks full of relief material coming to Ukhimath," says a victim. But now, with that phase behind it, Ukhimath is a desolate place, and there is no sign of rehabilitation or reconstruction.
Anti-nuke meet in Pakistan cautions against accidental nuclear conflict
The participants, some of them leading academics in Pakistani and North American institutions, said it was a 'myth' that nuclear weapons aren't meant to be used.
THE REDIFF SPECIAL
South African Indian goes in search of his roots
As part of this quest, Jayasheelan Naidoo remarried his wife of many years at the popular Lakshmi Narasimha temple in Malleswaram, Bangalore.
THE REDIFF COLUMNIST
The why front
'The politics of the third front is essentially regional, so there is little fear of its influence fading altogether. For some time yet, it will manage to survive, before a weary electorate decides to pledge its troth to who it perceives to be in a position to serve its interests better,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
Assam: Health minister's brother rescued
Maharashtra: Report into Gowari deaths will be tabled in current session, says Munde
Tamil Nadu: Corruption trial of ex-minister begins
THE WEATHER
Cold nights in Orissa, Maharashtra
Night temperatures were appreciably below normal in parts of Orissa, central Maharashtra, Vidarbha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and interior
Karnataka.
DECEMBER 22
Special judge dismisses Jaya's petition, initiates trial in Kodaikanal hotel case
Special judge-2 V Radhakrishnan dismissed the AIADMK leader's petition
seeking a stay, following the Centre's affidavit filed before the Supreme Court to constitute fresh special courts to hear corruption cases against her.
MEA feels China will not go along with Primakov's 'strategic triangle' concept
China will not adopt a confrontationist posture vis-à-vis the US since its process of modernisation was largely dependent on technology transfers from Washington, MEA officials have stressed.
Government keen on rushing through proxy voting bill in LS
Defence Minister George Fernandes and Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Madanlal Khurana have met the speaker, G M C Balayogi
to request him to waive the rules in order to
facilitate the bill's introduction and passage on Tuesday itself.
Veerappan strikes again, loots police station this time
A 10-member gang, including
the brigand, swooped down on the Vellitiruppur police station in Tamil Nadu around midnight on Sunday and, after cutting the telephone wires, the gang locked up six
policemen and took away at gunpoint, nine muskets, one pistol, some
rounds of ammunition and Rs 5,000 in cash. One of the policemen was
injured in the attack.
J&K govt follows NHRC advice on Pandits
It has prepared a list of properties left behind by the migrants, which the human rights organisation sought to make sure the property rights of every Pandit is protected.
Panel raps government for step-mothering navy...
The Standing Committee on Defence has urged the government to fund major naval projects by cutting down on establishment charges. The needed money could be found through quick techniques like 'downsizing' of workforce, it felt.
...and delaying I N S Viraat's modernisation
The Committee felt the exercise should have been completed before I N S Vikrant was decommissioned in January 1997.
ISI-backed terrorism has claimed 34,252 lives since 1990: report
Home ministry report claims the ISI has smuggled in nearly 70,000 sophisticated weapons and 50,000 kilogrammes of explosives into India, and that Pakistan-aided militants have caused 4,730 small, medium and major explosions in many parts of the country
Corporator's murder kills proceedings in Maharashtra council
The legislative council was adjourned four times amidst pandemonium from Shiv Sena-BJP members over New Bombay corporator Meena More's murder.
Popularising Hindi will strengthen India: Advani
The Union home minister has said it was 'a matter of regret' that an attempt to make Hindi the national language became a subject of controversy -- in the process, a powerful tool for strengthening the country was weakened.
Krishan Kant rejects plea to warn CBI against leaking information
Tells MPs that he could do nothing if newspapers printed something they did not like
Naqvi justifies referring Fire back to Censor Board
It was not the first instance when a film had been referred
to the Censor Board for re-examination , the minister of state for information and broadcasting said, and pointed out that recent films like
Maachis were also referred back under Section 32 of the Cinematography
Act.
TMC flays PMO for calling Jaya's corruption cases a 'witch-hunt'
A resolution passed by the TMC's political affairs committee on Sunday, charged the
Centre with attempting to bail out Jayalalitha from the
corruption cases pending against her and her party colleagues.
Bill to amend Marriage Act introduced in RS
Adopted by a voice-vote in the Rajya Sabha, the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill 1997 seeks to remove epilepsy as a ground to seek divorce or annul marriage.
Rajdhani Express coaches derail en route to Bombay
Five coaches of the Bombay- bound 2952 Up Rajdhani Express derailed on Monday morning between Anas and Bordi stations in Panchmahal district of Gujarat.
Strike halts govt machinery in Karnataka
The employees want the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations.
Holy cow it is, for both Hindus and Muslims in Kutch
There is a sound economic reason behind the love both
communities have for the cow: it holds the key to the survival of
the nomadic cattle-breeders in the region.
Astrologer Dr B V Raman passes away
The 87-year-old died in Bangalore of cardiac arrest on Sunday morning.
Nepal PM resigns
As squabbling politicians battle for the sixth time in four years, ultimate power could slowly be shifting back to the royal palace, say constitutional experts in Kathmandu.
Pre-teen's murder case kept open despite Indian's conviction
Lawyers for Gurmit Singh Dhillon, 48, found guilty of first degree
murder in the abduction, rape and murder of Carolyn Lee on April 14, 1977,
have meanwhile filed an appeal saying that the DNA evidence used against
their client had been corrupted.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
The nonsense of reservation
'Why don't activists follow the democratic way? Why, like India's Yadavs and other Mandal advocates, do they want reservation? The answer is self-evident. It is easier to create public opinion in the media than it is to make India's women conscious of the power of their vote,' says Vir Sanghvi.
Saffron purists, shed your frustrations!
'Yesterday they attacked Muslims, today they attack lesbians, tomorrow they might attack pony-tailed men or mothers who bear daughters or mixed-community couples or lefthanders or NRIs: Anyone who does not conform to their definition of the norm,' writes Manjula Padmanabhan.
THE WEATHER
Showers in the South
Rain or thundershowers are likely at isolated places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
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