FEBRUARY 28Militants abduct, kill five policemen in Kashmir
The militants had abducted the policemen from a post they manned at Chogal village in Kupwara district. The dead included four special police officers.
US indicts BJP in violence against Christians
The state department's annual human rights report said there continue to be "significant" human rights abuses in India despite extensive constitutional and statutory safeguards.
Tohra accuses Badal of dynastic rule
The SGPC chief said the Punjab chief minister's 'blind love' for his son Sukhbir threatens to derail Panthic polity the same way Dhritrashtra's love for his sons undermined the entire value system of Hindu society.
Sena virtually launches election campaign
Party chief Bal Thackeray exhorted his followers to reach out to the masses and explain the achievements of the alliance government in the state; Chief Minister Narayan Rane asked them to prepare for the polls.
Centre warned of violent agitation in south Bihar
The Akhil Jharkhand Mukti Morcha threatened to launch an agitation if the Centre fails to get the Bihar State Reorganisation Bill, 1998, passed in the Budget session of Parliament.
Rain, snow forecast in J&K, parts of HP
Rain or thundershowers are likely to fall at isolated places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Meghalaya, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Punjab, south Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
'Alert' in Dangs as 'durbar' countdown begins
The administration has made elaborate security arrangements to check the simmering tension from exploding during the annual cultural extravaganza coinciding with Holi.
Don't give Kashmir in dowry, Mulayam tells Vajpayee
The Samajwadi Party leader joked that he would be happy if the prime minister accepted the marriage proposal of a Pakistani novelist but said Kashmir should not be handed over in exchange.
Kumaratunga hails Lahore Declaration
"The government and people of Sri Lanka, and I am sure the governments and peace-loving peoples of all the other South Asian countries, welcome and applaud the decision of your excellencies," she wrote in a letter to the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers.
OTHER REPORTS
No commitment on CTBT, Jaswant assures LS
Former PM I K Gujral said the national consensus is against signing the treaty in its present form. But the government has started negotiations and Indians are getting more information from the American side than the Indian side.
Scattered J&K Hindus to move to 'safe' point
A senior police officer, however, is sceptical of the government plan, announced after the massacre of 20 Hindus in Rajouri and Udhampur districts on the eve of the PM's visit to Lahore.
Judge in Jaya case seeks transfer
Special Judge P Anbazhagan is said to be agitated by the directive of the Madras high court, seeking his comment on allegations of bias made by former minister Mohammed Asif in the Tansi land deal case.
Governor shows Goans what is good governance
For the first time in the state's recent history, the administration, from secretary down to the peon, is seen to be actually functioning. The credit, of course, goes to Lt Gen J F R Jacob, the 78-year-young man in a hurry...
Parents to blame for 'Shaktimaan' suicides
Less than 5% of the programmes available to urban children in India today have been actually made for children, says a report released by the Centre for Media Studies.
'We must be disciplined soldiers'
"We are not here to become ministers, we are here to serve people in the manner assigned by the high command." Orissa Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang expounds his political philosophy.
The Lahore Expedition was about saving lives
'Pakistan lacks both the military prowess and the international backing to wrest Jammu and Kashmir by force. Nor is there any hope of any Indian government presenting Indian territory on a silver platter," says T V R Shenoy.
BJP set to turn the tables on Congress
While the government's trouble-shooters are working overtime to ensure support from its disparate coalition partners, the Congress is in trouble with a majority in the Bihar unit revolting against the decision to oppose President's rule.
Akali chief whip Chandumajra blasts fiat
The MP said Chief Minister Badal neither bothered to consult party MPs nor held any parliamentary party meeting to discuss the subject before issuing the whip to support President's rule in Bihar.
India, Pak will sign CTBT by yearend: Albright
"If the past year was a time of disappointment and unfulfilled promise in South Asia, we are working hard to see that the coming year is one of opportunity and progress," the American secretary of state said.
Krishna keeps option of tie-up with Deve Gowda open
But not many Congress politicians are happy. "It sends a wrong signal to the other major caste group, the Lingayats. It will be easy for Krishna to acquire a Lingayat-friendly image, but Deve Gowda definitely has an anti-Lingayat image," said one.
Militants force cable operators to black out MTV, Channel [V]
The threat did not come cheap. To show their resolve, they shot at and wounded four cable operators in Srinagar last week. While some cable operators have already stopped carrying the channels, others may follow suit soon.
3 securitymen killed in Anantnag blast
The blast took place a few hours after Maj Gen R K Kaushal said at a press conference in Srinagar that the situation in south Kashmir had improved after the troops killed 60 militants in the last few months.
Iran unhappy about visa for Rushdie
India should concentrate more on creating an understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. Anything that divides them should be discouraged, Foreign Minister Syed Kamal Kharrazi said.
'If a military person does not speak or stand up for his convictions, he is not fit to be there in the first place'
"We have an elite united in one kind of thinking: that none of their sons, daughters and sons-in-law want to join the armed forces of the country. I think it has an effect down the line. Because if you think someone else should fight your wars, it is a very, very poor way out and a very poor message." Sacked navy chief Vishnu Bhagwat on the vocation he left behind.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
A mixed bag of tricks
'Real Women love Byron-like figures, insouciant, devil-may-care, humorous, romantic and swashbuckling. Not these pathetic dweebs who, after the shit hits the fan, admit having committed adultery to their wives,' says Varsha Bhosle.
Question of unanswerables
'If Vajpayee does succeed in shutting the VHP up and delivering on some electoral promises it may be too late. The middle class is already discovering new virtues in Sonia Gandhi,' says Vir Sanghvi.
Delhi: Sena demands ban on mosque loudspeakers Jammu and Kashmir: Govt appoints 6,000 special police officers Maharashtra: Sena rebel Ganesh Naik to launch rival party Tamil Nadu: Tansi case against Jaya adjourned
THE WEATHER
Night temperatures dip in west UP, Punjab, TN
But temperatures were appreciably to markedly above normal in Tripura, West Bengal, Sikkim, the Bihar plateau, east Uttar Pradesh, south Gujarat, Saurashtra, north Konkan and some parts of Assam, Meghalaya, and Orissa.
BJP, allies close ranks to pass Bihar motion
Though the Telugu Desam Party has not yet issued an official statement supporting the government, the pressing of the panic button has forced TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to relent.
Congress divided on opposing President's rule
Working committee members Rajesh Pilot and Sharad Pawar are said to be against Gandhi's decision. And Bihar Congress politicians have said that by opposing Rabri Devi's dismissal, the leadership is destroying the party in the state.
Lahore trip will not improve ties -- Thackeray
The Shiv Sena leader pointed out that Pakistan continues to be adamant on Kashmir. "Relations between the two countries cannot be normalised unless there is a permanent solution to the issue. Mere bus tours will not help," he said.
'You have to make a beginning somewhere'
"People from both the sides must forget the past and build a new relationship as we are entering the 21st century. We cannot keep petty things on our mind." Evergreen hero Dev Anand, part of the entourage that visited Lahore over the weekend, on a very special journey.
US lauds India-Pakistan summit
The Clinton administration said the "significant progress" made by Vajpayee and Sharief in Lahore is important for both countries and the region's security.
Attacks do not tarnish India's image: Lapierre
"There are fundamentalists everywhere in the world and my own nation France is no exception... I have been coming [to India] for the past 50 years and never faced any kind of hostility," the author said on the eve of the world premiere of his book A Thousand Suns.
Despite the spectre of anti-Christian violence, the zeal burns bright
Says Fr Roy of Krishnachadrapur: "Like the Chinese or the Japanese, Hindu fundamentalists have long-term plans. We may not have seen a direct confrontation, but I do feel slight undercurrents of a movement that could build up in future."
BJP demands nun's arrest
Aira Kharavela Swain, MP, said, "Her allegation [of rape] created havoc nationally and even internationally. It gave Orissa a bad name."
OTHER REPORTS
Gehlot wins, Congress wrests Sushma's seat
The ruling party in Delhi wrested the Hauz Khas seat held by the BJP and also won the Nangloi Jat seat to increase its strength to 53 in the 70-member assembly.
India, China to resume talks on Thursday
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said these consultations would be the first in the framework of the protocol on co-operation between his department and the Chinese foreign ministry, concluded in August 1997.
Security forces kill 13 militants in Kashmir
At least five soldiers were injured when the bus in which they were travelling was damaged in a mine blast at Dundhak Pul. But there was no report of any loss of life or damage to property in another mine blast at Hadi Mohalla.
US sets specific condition to lift sanctions
India and Pakistan have to disavow nuclear weapons and put their installations under international inspection before expecting high technology and other facilities from the
United States and other Western nations, Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott said.
ISRO scientist seeks damages
After more than 25 years with ISRO in Kerala, and participating in the setting up of two of its most important centres, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Trivandrum and the LPSC at Valiamala, Nambi is waiting out the last three years of his tenure in an unexciting job at Antariksh Bhavan, the organisation's Bangalore headquarters.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
The Shadow Government
'Every big business house appears to have a political agenda of its own, the sole purpose of which is to corrupt the system and beggar India,' says Pritish Nandy.
No Three-Headed Monsters, Either
'If Vajpayee finds peace with Pakistan, if he is able to turn us from staring across the border with hatred, he deserves a long stint in his chair. Yes, if it becomes necessary, I will vote to give him that stint,' says Dilip D'Souza.
Bihar: No office for Ranvir Sena probe panel; Rajya Sabha
rocked
THE WEATHER
Nights in most parts of India warm
Night temperatures were above normal in Rajasthan, north Madhya Pradesh, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Orissa, east Uttar Pradesh, the hills of west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, the Konkan, south-central Maharashtra and parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Haryana, Assam, Meghalaya, the Bihar plateau, Punjab, north-central Maharashtra and Vidarbha.
Vajpayee faced with Hobson's choice on Bihar
The government is debating two plans to weather the storm. One, not to table the Bihar resolution in Parliament until the fag end of the Budget session. Two, to accept the reality and revoke President's rule. "Both are dangerous moves. But we are left with no option," a BJP politician said.
Sonia-Laloo deal may see RJD in, Rabri out
A senior Bihar Congress politician argued that Gandhi had only said Rabri Devi (not the RJD) had lost her moral right to continue in office after the massacre of dalits in Jehanabad.
BJP refuses to concede defeat
A Congress politician told Rediff On The NeT that the decision to oppose central rule could have been the result of the government not heeding Gandhi's demand to replace Governor Bhandari with Maharashtra's head of state Dr P C Alexander.
Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day
The House was thrown into turmoil as opposition members, barring the Congress, stalled proceedings, demanding that the Vajpayee government resign for "misusing Article 356 in Bihar".
Lok Sabha will vote on Bihar on Friday
The house will discuss the use of Article 356 in Goa and Bihar for two days from Feb 24. It was not immediately known if the voting on Goa will also take place on Friday, or later.
Akali Dal issues a whip
The whip, issued by party president Parkash Singh Badal, said the Congress had hatched a 'conspiracy' to destabilise the government by opposing its pro-people initiatives. So the party had decided to support Rabri Devi's dismissal.
Vajpayee to visit state on Mar 6
He will lay the foundation stones for the 2000MW NTPC projects at Barh in Patna district and North Karanpura in Hazaribagh district.
Pakistan denies putting Kashmir on backburner
Islamabad feels the next round of "composite and integrated dialogue" on the outstanding issues will be the occasion for India to demonstrate that the symbolism of Vajpayee's visit had "foundation in sincerity".
Clinton welcomes Lahore summit
The US president said, "I commend the two prime ministers for demonstrating courage and leadership by coming together and addressing difficult issues that have long divided their countries."
Kerala pastors' attackers flee to Bombay
But the police have no clue yet about the gang of 15 which barged into Cyril Thomas's house a week before the attack and took away some valuables, including a Bible.
Akalis in the throes of a propaganda war
The Badal camp has been toiling to project Ranjit Singh and SGPC president Tohra as villains who secretly support the Khalistanis. In response, Tohra has pledged to take the first bullet fired by any terrorist on his chest.
OTHER REPORTS
J&K CM opposes talks with militants
"Unless they lay down arms and accept the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India, how can we initiate talks with them?" Farooq Abdullah said.
AIADMK-TRC relations touch new low
While Ramamurthy termed Jayalalitha a political novice issuing foolish statements day in and day out, AIADMK deputy general secretary K Kalimuthu described the Union petroleum minister as a 'poisonous plant' to be weeded out.
Delay in installing Gandhi's statue irks HC
The Delhi high court has given the Centre one last chance to take a decision on the matter that has been hanging fire for four years.
Hare Krishnas can't solicit donations at airports
A US court said an airport is not a 'traditional public forum' like a city street or park where the right to free speech enjoys enhanced protection.
THE REDIFF COLUMNIST
The Thin Red Line
'Now what will happen is that a "morally bankrupt" government will ride back to power because the Congress party could not stomach a bus ride,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'Without conversions, the Church will simply collapse'
'Christianity is finished in India, because it takes such enormous resources to just hold on to the people they have,' says former Lockheed principal scientist N S Rajaram.
Andhra Pradesh: Congress MLAs suspended Jammu and Kashmir: Quake rocks Srinagar
THE WEATHER
Kashmir warmer despite snowfall
Night temperatures were markedly above normal in Rajasthan and some parts of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and appreciably above normal in some parts of Assam and Meghalaya, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat region, Konkan and Goa.
Congress to oppose President's rule
The party feels the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is putting pressure on the Union government and the Congress cannot be seen to be supporting it.
Protests mar President's address
The start of the President's address to Parliament was disrupted, with RLM leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav voicing their anguish over the imposition of central rule in Bihar.
Foreign policy experts 'cautious, but hopeful'
"I expected much less, thinking it would be just a photo opportunity for the media," admitted former ambassador Arundhati Ghose. "Yet, after the final statements, I think it can be called a successful meeting."
President calls Lahore Declaration a landmark
Addressing the joint session of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session, K R Narayanan said India and Pakistan "will now work to enter into an agreement to put in place far-reaching confidence-building measures".
Japan welcomes declaration
"I hope the agreement in the summit will turn out to be fruitful," Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said.
SC admits plea against central notification
The petition by Tamil Nadu's advocate-general argues that the order transferring the corruption cases against the AIADMK leader and her colleagues to three sessions judges encroaches on the independence of the judiciary.
Centre had no case against Jaya -- Joginder
The former CBI director said the agency had received legal advice from the Union government that there was no case against the former Tamil Nadu chief minister in connection with the US$300,000 gift she had received.
Tensions, yes, but flare-ups, no
The SP, Keonjhar, said: "There are tensions, but they are at a dormant stage. The only incident I can recall was way back in 1970. But after Stains's killing, we are taking all precautions." Reportage from Orissa's land of strife.
Gamang walks the line with new Cabinet
The chief minister has kept Congress president Sonia Gandhi as well as the warring factions in the Orissa Cabinet happy.
25 ministers sworn-in in Orissa
Gamang's council of ministers has nine new faces, while two former ministers of state have been elevated to Cabinet rank. Altogether, 12 ministers have been dropped.
Don't punish us for population control, says TN
The state assembly has urged the Centre to amend the Constitution to retain the present number of Lok Sabha seats allotted to each state so that Tamil Nadu does not lose six seats after the 2001 census.
Goa governor blasts Centre
Lieutenant General (retired) J F R Jacob says the Centre has been consistently punishing the state for its impressive performance.
AIADMK is hurt again
But Vajpayee can breathe easy, despite Mamata Banerjee knocking on Jayalalitha's door. By joining forces, the two regional leaders feel they may have better bargaining power, now with the BJP and later with the Congress, if it comes to that.
Arun Gawli externed from Bombay
On the orders of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Dr K Venkateshan, the gangster was picked up from his bastion at Byculla in south-central Bombay and whisked away. The police are tight-lipped about his whereabouts.
Hindus are very intolerant
'The fact is that no Hindu would dare have treated a Muslim the way he did an untouchable: the Muslim rulers/kings/warriors would have chopped off his head. Ditto when the Europeans came,' says Amberish K Diwanji.
It is fundamentalism again
'Badal and his men should be supported because they are fighting the forces which are trying to deform the Sikh religion with a vengeance and also endangering the country's secular ethos,' says Kuldip Nayar.
Punjab: DGP Sarabjit rules out rebirth of terrorism
THE WEATHER
Mainly dry weather on the cards
Night temperatures were below normal in parts of south Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema while rain is likely in the hills of west Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
