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FEBRUARY 7
THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW
Advani's team drafting master plan to end communal killings
The home ministry has identified nearly 100 districts in Bihar, Gujarat, Orissa and Karnataka, which it will soon notify as among the most violence-prone in the country.
Archbishop wants independent probe into nun's rape
Alan de Lastic did not agree that the attacks were by members of a particular community. "The attackers are not Hindus, Muslims or members of any other group. They are groups of mercenaries who will do anything for which they are paid," he said.
Pressure to quit growing on Patnaik
The alleged rape of a nun is seen as a clear sign of the collapse of law and order in Orissa. Matters haven't been helped by Anjana Mishra, an earlier rape victim, blaming Patnaik for the attack on her.
Silent rallies protest attacks on Christians
The Bhubhaneswar Christian community demands a CBI inquiry into the Stains killings; in Pondicherry, the TMC and the Congress condemned the attacks on the community
THE M L KHURANA RESIGNATION
'I didn't expect this from Parivar members'
Despite the many achievements in the last nine months, Khurana said, "the net result is that we have made Sonia Gandhi acceptable to the people of the country. For the first six months the allies and for the next three months the Parivar members gave negative statements which made it to the front page, while our achievements were relegated to the inside pages".
OTHER REPORTS
Pallone urges Clinton to lift sanctions
"The United States can show its good faith and desire for improved relations with India by immediately removing the American objection to World Bank lending to India," said the Democratic Congressman.
Talbott 'happy' with eighth round
The United States deputy secretary of state said this was the most productive discussion to date.
Tohra accuses police of entering Golden Temple
He said the "unwarranted" operation was to intimidate SGPC authorities.
Thackeray has no problem with Rushdie visit
"Let him come. I will explain to my people that he is not against us but against Islam. It is for them to sort out," said the Sena chief.
Iranian media goes ballistic over Rushdie's visa
"If the visit of this most-hated, blasphemous and disgraceful person takes place, there is every possibility that it will be his last visit abroad," said the hard-line Teheran Times.
Shadow of Article 356 looms over Goa
The BJP, with four MLAs in a house of 40, holds the key to whether Wilfred de Souza will take over from Luizinho Faleiro or if Governor J F R Jacob will recommend dissolution of the state assembly.
Electoral pressures force Basu to toe BJP line on illegal migrants' issue
According to a CPI-M source, "Committed voters of the party in almost all the border districts have turned away from us because of problems created by illegal settlers. It is the BJP which gained as they had been highlighting this problem."
Overcrowding compels US to release foreign convicts
Among the Indians who are in American jails is Arun Kumar, a former mathematics professor at Montclair State University in New Jersey, who was sentenced to a year for sexual molestation of an eight-year-old girl.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Cooked!
'Vajpayee, for compelling political reasons, may not be able to drop Jethmalani. But in all likelihood, he will move the minister out of urban welfare. And reverse Jethmalani's questionable decisions.' Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.
FEBRUARY 6
THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW
Nun allegedly gang-raped in Orissa
Second attack in Baripada after Stains killings 12 days ago
Church officials plan to enlist Jayalalitha's support
Church sources said Christian leaders will seek the AIADMK leader's help to take up the Orissa rape case with the prime minister and Home Minister L K Advani since the 33-year-old victim hails from Tamil Nadu
Minorities panel submits final report on anti-Christian attacks to PM
The National Commission for Minorities chairman said that non-tribal Hindus and Muslims face serious problems in the Christian-dominated Meghalaya.
Right to convert is not part of religious freedom, says Govindacharya
Conversions taking place by allurement, fear and fraudulent
activities are illegal, and a serious debate on the subject of
conversion is needed if it goes against social unity, the
BJP general secretary said
THE M L KHURANA RESIGNATION
I never said Vajpayee govt would fall: Khurana
Denying that he told a magazine that the Vajpayee government could fall during or before the Budget session of Parliament, the former Union minister said, "When I am talking about saving the government, where is the question of my saying that the government will fall."
OTHER REPORTS
Goa assembly appears headed for dissolution
The rival groups both plan to press for fresh elections if they win a vote of confidence so that they can avoid more unstable governments
Sonia says Congress is willing to form next government
Addressing a public meeting in Davengere in Karnataka, the Congress president said, "There's every possibility that the BJP government will fall any moment. We will not stand and watch after that."
Pak resumes shelling of Kargil
Shelling by Pakistan, a daily routine till December last year, was resumed today, with shells falling on the border town for three hours. No one, however, was injured in the incident.
Fernandes meets Jaya in effort to keep
the BJP flock together
The Fernandes visit, it is said, was aimed at "keeping Jayalalitha happy". The coalition leadership does not want to give Jayalalitha any cause for complaint that could make her threaten to withdraw support.
Jaya's 'threats' are aimed at TDP
The AIADMK chief fears the Andhra Pradesh ruling party may withdraw support to the BJP. Sources say she also does not want to 'miss the bus' if another coalition government is formed
Congress reshuffle does in Kesri supporters
Kesri appears to have made a sizeable number of foes in the higher echelons of the party with his utterances after he was eased out from the party chief's post. And after Sonia Gandhi took over the party, Kesri's critics, including Arjun Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sharad Pawar and Madhavrao Scindia, are learnt to have kept urging her to drop Anwar, who was seen as Kesri's proxy.
Gowda's supporters gird up afresh against J H Patel
It does not worry Patel, though. He is really fed up of this
perpetual threat. He is prepared to go to the people and expose Deve
Gowda's habit of splitting the party, whenever he is not in power,
according to a Karnataka cabinet minister.
Sharief's offer to forget the past a positive step: Chandrashekhar
It could usher a new era of understanding and mutual co-operation between both countries, says former PM
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Why is the Orissa police doing a lousy job of investigating the Stains murder?
'The FIR was filed by a person who neither speaks nor writes Oriya, but has somehow signed in a language he doesn't know. And it is on the basis of this that the Orissa police began its so-called investigation, says T V R Shenoy.
THE WEATHER
Cold wave in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
Night temperatures were also appreciably below normal in some parts of north Gujarat region and below normal in some parts of Vidarbha and in parts of Haryana
FEBRUARY 5
THE M L KHURANA RESIGNATION
Russian radio praises Khurana
The State-owned broadcasting station, Golas Rossia, assailed the
Vishwa Hindu Parishad for its violent campaign against
Christians in India and praised Khurana for raising his voice in
their support.
THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW
No census of Christians on, clarifies government
The home minister also denied a report circulated by a foreign news agency that an American couple had taken shelter at a seminary t Allahabad
Nine arrested for attack on church in Kerala
Chief Minister E K Nayanar told the state assembly that BJP and RSS workers dragged out
pastors Cyril Thomas and Aby John, from an autorickshaw on the
Kumbazha-Vadasserikkara road and assaulted them. The pastors and the
auto driver, who were injured, were being treated at the district
hospital.
OTHER REPORTS
Rushdie gets Indian visa
It was a conscious decision, says the government, but the Naib Imam of Jama Masjid says the move was aimed at hurting the feelings of Indian Muslims
Sangh Parivar takes the BJP bit between its teeth
The coordination committee resolution was prepared not by the BJP, but the Prime Minister's Office, leaving no room for doubt that the decision to up the ante against the Sangh Parivar was a government decision taken by Vajpayee.
Eighteen candidates file nominations for Gujarat bypolls
Ashok Gehlot has been nominated as the Congress candidate from Sardarpur assembly constituency by-elections in Rajasthan
Mandela accepts Congress invitation to visit India
This is part of an effort to strengthen ties between the Congress and the African National Congress.
Goa governor asks Faleiro to seek confidence vote
The CM, however, hopes to tide over the crisis with help from the MGP and the BJP.
Goa Congress watchful as party prepares for floor test
The 19-member-strong Congress is yet to decide whether to face the floor test or to resign en masse.
LDF leader attacks own minister in Kerala
CPI-M politburo member V S Achutanandan inaugurated an agitation against Industries Minister Susheela Gopalan.
What a bridge!
The importance of the Pamban bridge, that connects the mainland with Rameshwaram, has not eroded with the years. It stands as a testimony to the construction skills of a bygone era.
People's War blasts 3 policemen to death in MP
A Special Armed Force company commander and two constables were killed when the Naxalites ambushed their party near Kotkodi village in Kenker district.
Sex and drugs play havoc with Bangalore's street children
Almost 60 per cent of the children have had multiple sexual contacts. They spent all their meagre earnings on recreation first and food next. Social activists from Mythri narrate the story of Muruga from J C Road, who earns about Rs 50 to Rs 100 a day, and spends more than half of it on smoking, drugs, alcohol and girls.
Massive pilgrims complex to come up in Tirumala
A four-storey building of more than 600 rooms would be constructed at a cost of Rs 200 million.
Sonia reconstitutes AICC
The new general secretaries are Pranab Mukherjee,
Ambika Soni, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Sushil Kumar Shinde.
Bombayites ask Gavaskar to turn down award:
Fourteen prominent citizens have appealed to the former Indian cricket captain to refuse the Maharashtra Bhushan award, which the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government seeks to confer on him.
Ashok Jain, chief of TOI group, dies in US
Jain had received a donor heart at a Cleveland clinic on January 10.
After the transplant, he did show signs of recovery, but
his health suffered a setback last week, leading to his re-admission
to the clinic's intensive care unit.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
'The rise of Hindutva is going to put us back by at least a century'
'The BJP has been in power for less than a year and look what is happening to the minorities. The most barbarous crime can be committed and there is no one to stop it. You can't have a situation where the country is going to be held to ransom by a bunch of fascists,' says historian Romila Thapar.
Why do these Hindu groups always seek to turn India into a
Hindu Pakistan?
'If the VHP really has guts, why don't they take on the missionaries and spread Hinduism? Why doesn't the VHP change the thinking and prejudice of the upper castes? Is it because the VHP knows it really cannot succeed in these twin tasks?' asks Amberish K Diwanji.
The Satanic Verses
'What is the likelihood of Sanjeev Nanda's and Manik's speeding after drinking in Philadelphia or London? Are Indians safe drivers when living overseas? Why do they revert to obnoxiousness on return?' asks Varsha Bhosle.
THE WEATHER
Cold wave follows rain to Nashik
After the unseasonal rains of Wednesday, the city has fallen into the grip of a cold wave.
FEBRUARY 4
Goa government falls again
The political musical chairs in the tiny western India state continues. Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro has advised Governor J F R Jacob to dissolve the state assembly even as his predecessor Wilfred de Souza has staked claim to return to power.
Cabinet expansion may be delayed further
The inference is being made from Prime Minister Vajpayee's distribution of some portfolios he held to senior ministerial colleagues.
THE M L KHURANA RESIGNATION
BJP goes through an ideological conflict
Said an analyst: "There certainly is a difference of opinion at the highest level of the BJP, which has percolated downwards. Yet, this is not factionalism as seen in the Congress, but differing perceptions that have to be properly reconciled."
Khurana blasts 'extremist' Sangh members
"But all the people in the RSS and BJP are not like those extremist elements. There are also some people like Madan Lal Khurana in the government as well as the BJP," the former Union minister said.
THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW
RSS activists attack pastors in Kerala
Cyril Thomas Mathew and Eby John, belonging to the Indian Pentecost Daiva Sabha, were returning from a prayer meeting when 12 men waylaid them.
VHP ups the ante against Christian seminar
Last year, the Sangh Parivar targeted the sub-surface dam built across the Pampa to protect the riverbed where the convention is held. This year it has accused the foreign evangelists who take part of violating tourist visa rules.
NCM reports on Gujarat violence to President
The commission has blamed the 'reconversion' of tribals by the Sangh Parivar under its 'homecoming' campaign for the violence on Christian establishments in Gujarat and sought prompt action against the culprits.
OTHER REPORTS
Vajpayee to take first bus to Pakistan
An external affairs ministry spokesman said the PM is looking forward to meeting "Sharief and other Pakistani leaders as well as the people of Pakistan".
Jaya refuses to sign statement on price roll-back
The AIADMK general secretary said there were many points in the joint statement issued on Tuesday with which her party does not agree.
Slash ration prices for all: TDP
Chief spokesman U Venkateswarlu said Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has been demanding a "complete rollback for all items and all categories".
Schoolmates thrash dalit boy for not wearing the uniform
In Kerala's Ranni. Worse, they did it on orders from their school manager, a supposedly mature, supposedly rational, adult.
CPI, CPI-M thrash out differences in public
Reports that several members of the CPI-M's trade union, CITU, are switching over to the CPI-affiliated AITUC have angered the Marxists.
US, Pakistan review security in South Asia
The United States expressed "strong support" for the current talks between Pakistan and India, including on Kashmir.
No decision yet on CTBT, says Vajpayee
But efforts are on to reach an agreement with the United States on all points of dispute, the PM said.
US keen on proactive role in South Asia
While the US cannot impose solutions on the region, its unique military and political position demand that it plays an active role in promoting regional stability and advancing the cause of peace, the defence department's annual report says.
US denies change in non-proliferation stance
"We believe it is extremely important to protect not only the non-proliferation regimes, but also the world from the danger of an arms competition between India and Pakistan," state department spokesman James Rubin said.
France keen on stronger defence, aviation ties
The French have emerged as world leaders in aviation and are willing to transfer technology in this sphere to India, visiting Transport Minister Jean Claude Gayssot said.
India to buy Admiral Gorshkov
A delegation will soon visit Moscow to finalise the deal to buy the aircraft carrier. New Delhi will also buy Su-37 and MiG-29 fighter planes.
Jaya argues against trial in Pleasant Stay case
The former Tamil Nadu chief minister claimed that once the assembly had regularised an illegal construction through legislation, the motive for amending the law was irrelevant.
From Jammu to Kashmir
The Kashmir valley is all set to be included on India's railway map, if a proposed Rs 25billion project from Udhampur in Jammu to Baramulla in Kashmir becomes a reality.
Jang's war with Sharief may end press freedom in Pakistan
The group has been forced to stop publication of several magazines, while its mass-circulated newspapers, The News and Jang, are down to the bare bones. The government has also frozen its bank accounts.
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'We will not be satisfied with crumbs'
"We cannot be taken for granted. If our legitimate demands are not met we will not play ball with the Vajpayee government." Trinamul Congress MP Akbar Khondekar takes up where his chief Mamata Banerjee left off.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Living with pain
'Do we need to build a society based on hate and prejudice and needless, recurring violence? We are an amazing nation of amazing people who have achieved spectacular success through talent and hard work and what you might call business prescience. Why do we need to attract headlines by terror and bloodshed?' asks Pritish Nandy.
They might have been your kids
'Let's accept that there were accusations against Stains that built resentment against him. What about his children? What was their crime? What breed of evil sets an eight-year-old and a ten-year-old on fire? What kind of society is it whose "natural reaction" is to set children on fire?' says Dilip D'Souza.
IN BRIEF
Jammu and Kashmir: State employees oppose reduction in retirement age
Karnataka: Sonia to visit Davangere
Tamil Nadu: Tension in Trichy over BJP leader's murder
THE WEATHER
Punjab shivers under cold wave
Meanwhile, night temperatures were appreciably below normal in parts of the plains of west Uttar Pradesh, south Rajasthan, north Gujarat, Konkan and Vidarbha.
FEBRUARY 3
Allies force BJP to retreat on price hike
The coalition partners also asked the prime minister to censure the Sangh Parivar and its organisations for the recent attacks on Christian missionaries and churches in many parts of the country.
US may ease economic sanctions 'soon'
State department spokesman James Rubin indicated this when responding to India's "encouraging indication" about the timing of its signing the CTBT.
Pakistan to discuss Kashmir with Talbott
Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad, who led the Pakistani side, said the agenda for the eighth round of talks with the American officials would also cover "far deeper issues of peace and security".
THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW
Anti-conversion drives vitiate Kerala atmosphere
The VHP is organising an "army of dedicated youths" to prevent evangelical activity while the Hindu Eikya Vedi plans to directly intervene and stop them.
End 'persecution', say Mizo Christians
In a memorandum to the President, church leaders said the state of affairs is bound to affect the country's unity.
Patnaik reveals his ignorance
Asked if communal tensions would have been checked if the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act was followed, Patnaik, caught off-guard, came up with a flippant -- and outrageous -- answer.
THE JEHANABAD MASSACRE
BJP fact-finders demands Rabri's ouster
"The Bihar government does not evince any interest to tackle this social problem. On the contrary, it promotes social tension by encouraging caste conflicts to nurse its political interests," they said.
OTHER REPORTS
Subtle shift in Jaya's stand poses no threat to BJP
Right now, the AIADMK strategy is to back the BJP government until it lasts, but look around for alternatives should it fall. But the AIADMK is also aware of the non-BJP initiative within the coalition slipping into the hands of parties like the TDP.
Suspected ISI men held in Bombay
Police claimed the men were establishing a base of the Pakistani espionage agency to disrupt communal harmony and fuel terrorism in the city.
Patel still hopes Deve Gowda will compromise
But one of the chief minister's supporters admitted his efforts are also directed at trying to break the dissident group by offering some posts to the former PM's supporters.
Lucknow hosts international drug prevention meet
The session has been convened to recommend practical steps to implement decisions taken by the UN General Assembly special session in June 1998.
Opposition parties work towards a third force
It is only a matter of time before the government falls, according to the non-Congress opposition.
'No Muslim other than Jinnah worked for Pakistan'
West Punjab Education Minister Zulfikar Ahmed Dhillon has sparked a row by challenging the history taught in Pakistan's schools and colleges.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Thackeray gets ready for Y2K
'There can be no two opinions on how people will vote in March 2000. The Sena, which came to power on a negative vote, has squandered a golden opportunity to end the Congress hegemony in Maharashtra, and dealt a body-blow to its chances of emerging as a viable alternative to the party,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
The English media's hostility towards Hindus
'The bellicose stance against Hindus and their BJP-led government is not the only affliction of the English-language media. Be it politics, civic affairs, economic issues or sports, the typical working journalist exhibits a flippant-cum-arrogant attitude in the stuff he churns out, oblivious of the rights of the readers,' says Arvind Lavakare.
IN BRIEF
Maharashtra: Retirement age reverts to 58
Orissa: 305,000 landless people get land
THE WEATHER
Rain in South India
Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places over the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh tomorrow. Heavy rain is also likely to occur at one or two places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
FEBRUARY 2
THE JEHANABAD MASSACRE
Centre's plan to dismiss Rabri comes unstuck
The rising tide of anti-Christian violence has compelled the government not to take a chance. The President's perception of law and order has also changed in the last few months. "The situation in many states has deteriorated and the President feels that in the new political context, dismissing the state governments concerned is not the answer," a Rashtrapati Bhavan official said.
Advani's men set out for Jehanabad
A two-member home ministry team led by Special Secretary R D Kapoor has left for Bihar for an on-the-spot study.
THE M L KHURANA RESIGNATION
Khurana says he is not anti-Sangh Parivar
The former Union minister also denied having blamed the Bajrang Dal for the murder of Australian missionary Graham Stains and his two sons.
THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW
Archbishop promises Christians will be non-violent
Alan de Lastic said Christians would never try to exact revenge, but would pursue all democratic means to fight the injustices in the country.
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'The spate of conversions in the North-East seems to be aimed at creating Christian-backed Greater Nagaland'
"The recent ouster of Arunachal Pradesh CM Gegong Apang was a step in this direction... Vajpayee and Advani have done nothing about it after opposing the conversions when they were in the opposition," says Vivekananda Kendra general secretary A Balakrishnan.
THE JASWANT-TALBOTT TALKS
India, US promise to take ties to a new high
The other significant factor to emerge from the talks, external affairs ministry officials said, is that India's compulsions to go nuclear have been understood by France, Russia, Britain and now the US. As a result, the UN Security Council resolution of May 1998 has become infructuous, much to China's annoyance.
Pak plans tough law to control N-technology
The announcement came just ahead of a visit by American Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott.
MANOHAR JOSHI'S EXIT
Rane takes over
Governor P C Alexander administered the oath of office to the 48-member Narayan Rane ministry at an austere ceremony on the Raj Bhavan lawns in Bombay.
OTHER REPORTS
TDP threatens to withdraw support
The increase in prices of essential commodities over the weekend has annoyed the party. Spokesman Dr Umareddy Venkateswarlu said "the course of action will be decided in a day or two".
Jaya attacks hike in cooking gas price
In a strongly worded statement in Madras, the AIADMK chief pulled up the BJP for taking crucial decisions without consulting its coalition partners.
Congress gives up on Bengal, Bihar
According to a central leader, the high command is "disgusted with infighting in these two states" and so these are no more priority areas. Instead, the party will concentrate on Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
Congress Working Committee expanded
Four women have been inducted as the first step to implement the party's constitutional amendment providing 33 per cent reservation for women in organisational posts.
Spectre of split returns to haunt JD
Chief Minister J H Patel will have to contend with a more serious threat in a couple of days. "Like-minded legislators" from the Deve Gowda faction are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen the party. A similar meeting had resulted in Ramakrishna Hegde's ouster a decade ago.
1999 to be 'Sanskrit year'
Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said renowned Sanskrit scholars, including former chief justice Ranganath Mishra, would meet in New Delhi on February 5 to discuss various aspects of the celebration.
'Tainted' official is South African envoy in Bombay
A Johannesburg newspaper reported that Vassen lost his right to practice law after the Cape high court found him guilty in 1996 of misusing and stealing money from the estates he was administering.
Locals close down Garhwal university
A strike by the local people demanding employment in the university in Shrinagar has led to a breakdown of its functioning for almost two months.
Mad on a treasure hunt
Ninety is an age for people to rest and prepare for the next world. But not for Mathan Kannan, who believes he will not leave this world without stumbling upon hidden treasure in his two-acre plot at Kannur in north Kerala.
NHRC moots rights body for NE
The National Human Rights Commission has proposed a regional commission for the seven sisters.
Pak SC starts hearing on military courts
The MQM claims the courts, established to combat terrorism in the port city of Karachi, violate the country's Constitution.
Sri Lankan army kills six Tamil rebels
The government also claimed 31 rebels were killed in several battles in the North-East on Saturday. The LTTE, however, acknowledged only 15 deaths.
Settlement reached in Mathew Eappen case
The wrongful death lawsuit against former British au pair Louise Woodward was one of the most sensational cases that riveted America, Britain and India in the last several months.
IN BRIEF
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
On a sticky wicket
'With the India-Pakistan series, Thackeray has discovered to his cost that Vajpayee can be tough when it counts. And Advani is determined to shed his Hard Man image and be known as a home minister who governs rather than a rath yatri who fans communal flames,' says Vir Sanghvi.
It is no surprise that the present-day drum-beaters of the Hindu religion have failed to produce one Mother Teresa
'In the relentless pursuit of manna and more manna, the Hindus, especially those who fund organisations like the VHP, have lost their soul. Mammon is the new Hindu god,' says Virendra Kapoor.
Assam: State BJP urges repeal of Migrants Act
Kerala: Meeting to discuss Sabarimala tragedy
Maharashtra: Congress unfazed by Rane's rise
Madhya Pradesh: Tiwari becomes speaker again
THE WEATHER
Cool nights in Konkan, Maharashtra
Night temperatures were also appreciably below normal in Vidarbha and Tamil Nadu.
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