NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
US ARCHIVES
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Advani for crackdown on illegal immigrants
Around 11,500 Pakistanis have come into India with regular papers, but have overstayed. There is no reason to be soft on them, he said.

12-year-old, pushed out of a train by cops, dies
Mahesh was selling samosas on the Hyderabad-Warangal train.

Kolkata cop's killing: Woman requested to aid probe
The woman is the one sergeant Bapi Sen was trying to save from five off-duty cops when he was beaten to death.

Cold wave continues, toll crosses 150
Thirty-four more death were reported from Uttar Pradesh, where Kanpur experienced its coldest day in 12 years.
Cold wave affects normal life in Bihar

Anoushka Shankar nominated for Grammy
'She was nominated in the 'Best World Music Album' category for 'Live at Carnegie Hall'.

TALK OF NUKES
Pakistan won't exist if India uses nukes: Fernandes
The defence minister asked the Pakistani leadership not to talk about using nuclear weapons and get into the 'idea of committing suicide'.

Missile groups to form nucleus of Strategic Forces Command
Two operational missile groups of the Indian Army, one armed with the 150-250 km short-range Prithvi missiles and the other with the longer-version 2,500 km Agni missiles, would form the main strike force of the SFC.

Nuclear Pak more dangerous than Iraq: John Hamre
`Having radical forces like the Taliban access to the nuclear weapons is a very worrisome prospect and far more immediate a problem than is the problem in Iraq,' the former United States deputy secretary of defence said.

Musharraf heads Pakistan's nuclear command
This is in contrast to India, where the control is with the civilian authority headed by prime minister.

KALCHAKRA FESTIVAL
Dalai Lama in Bihar for festival
The Tibetan leader is likely to stay at the site of the proposed Maitreya project near Bodh Gaya.

Chinese girl held for spying on the Karmapa
Chen Yun Hann said she was in touch with an aide of the 17th Karmapa and had visited Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

OTHER REPORTS
Govt not paying 'requisite attention' to NHRC: chairman
Justice (retd) J S Verma said the human rights panel was not sufficiently empowered, but the government was unconcerned.

Centre to provide security to NSCN (I-M) leaders
No other agency will be allowed to protect Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah during their ten-day visit to India, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs I D Swami said.

Congress has learnt nothing from Gujarat: BJP
Party spokesman Arun Jaitley said the election result in Gujarat was a protest vote against the politics of pseudo-secularism.

Charges framed against 11 in Red Fort shootout case
The charges come two years after a two-member Lashkar-e-Tayiba squad stormed the historic Red Fort in New Delhi and killed three persons, including two army jawans.

Minorities panel for debate on 'Hindutva'
'Nothing should be hidden under the carpet. Let all Hindus decide what is Hindutva,' National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh said.

Noor Mohd appointed deputy election commissioner
A senior IAS officer, Mohammed had served as chief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh for nearly eight-and-a-half years.

Pentagon readies for war with Iraq
The US defence headquarters is in the process of mobilising nearly 20,000 reserves for deployment in the Gulf.

FROM THE STATES
Women being auctioned in MP: Report
The MP Women's Commission has sought a report from the Khandwa district collector and superintendent of police.

Ghatkopar blast accused escapes from custody
Syed Khwaja Yunus Khwaja Ayub (28), a key accused in the Ghatkopar bus blast that left two dead and 28 injured, escaped from the police custody on Tuesday morning while being taken to Aurangabad for inquiry.

Dawood aide arrested in Mumbai
Lamboo Shakil is one of the accused in the infamous J J Hospital shootout in Mumbai in 1992.

Bharat Shah case: Salman turns hostile
Salman denied he had received threats from any quarter to act in a film and also failed to identify accused Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh, sitting in the dock.

Three more Veerappan aides nabbed
Based on clues provided by Alexander Raja, one of the three arrested by the Tamil Nadu STF on Monday, Mudalemutthu, Amul Raj and Sagairaja were held.

Jayalalithaa criticises human cloning
`This is the most perverse use of the power of molecular genetics and genetic engineering,' she said.

Wildlife poaching racket busted in Uttar Pradesh
The police seized 12 leopard skins from three persons in Lucknow.

Karunakaran gives Congressmen the jitters
His daughter is reported to have met NCP president Sharad Pawar in Bangalore last week.

Cabinet berth: Mamata paying price of impetuousness
During the controversy over bifurcation of the Eastern Railway, the Trinamool Congress leader had called Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani a 'villain'.

Ayodhya on BJP's agenda: Lalji Tandon
On a visit, the UP urban development and housing minister announced a Rs 28 crore `development package' for Ayodhya.

Put no conditions for J&K talks: Shabir Shah
'You have to accept the hard reality that Pakistan is a party to the Kashmir dispute,' the JKDFP chief said.

Polling for Surat West on Thursday
The election to the constituency was countermanded after the death of BJP candidate Hemant Chapatwala.

NEIGHBOURHOOD
China plans permanent space lab
The day when Chinese astronauts would have a home in the outer space is not far away, said a key engineer in charge of China's manned space programme.

COLUMN
The search for the soul of Hindutva
'To push for the notion of a Hindu rashtra, the VHP rides on specific Hindu fears that are different in different parts. They are only exploiting the existing divide prevalent in India, and they are doing it well,' says Amberish K Diwanji.

DIARY
The model citizen
The best way out when the traffic cops stop you, says G O Suresh, is bribe.

January 6, 2003

'This conference has a body, heart and soul'
'I am not saying we will get $10 billion from overseas Indians at the end of the Pravasi Diwas conference. We will get just a trickle but the interest will be generated,' says FICCI secretary-general Amit Mitra.
Vajpayee to honour 10 PIOs on January 9

TOP REPORTS
Funds a problem in education sector: PM
'The government's efforts have fallen short. There is a necessity for non-governmental efforts,' Vajpayee said.

ISI doubles incentives for terrorist outfits
Small terrorist outfits like the Al-Barq get Rs 700,000 per month while larger organisations like the Hizbul Mujahideen receive nearly Rs 5 million, a report submitted to the government says.

Kolkata bids adieu to Bapi Sen
The sergeant had been brutally beaten up on New Year's eve allegedly by five cops for coming to the rescue of a woman they were molesting.

Countrywide toll in cold wave nears 120
In Uttar Pradesh, twenty-six people were killed, taking the statewide toll to 87.

VEERAPPAN SAGA
Three Veerappan accomplices held
They reportedly helped the brigand during the abduction episode of Nagappa.

HC seeks status report on Veerappan
A Delhi high court bench directed the Centre, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to submit details on the steps taken to nab Veerappan by February 11.

REPORTS FROM J&K
Militants gun down wine dealer in J&K
Sheikh had opened a wine shop in the high-security Allochi Bagh area despite militant threats.

J&K government starts clean up of power sector
To begin with, govt employees have been told to produce no-objection certificates from the electricity dept.

NAGA PEACE PROCESS
Talks with NSCN (I-M) a step forward: Advani
The deputy prime minister said he is happy the talks are being held in India and the Centre is planning on reaching a resolution.

Swu, Muivah to arrive separately
The NSCN leaders will stay in the capital for a week, but it is not clear whether they will visit Nagaland.

OTHER REPORTS
Conference of chief ministers likely in Feb: Advani
The conference will chalk out strategies for internal security and look into various proposals for police reforms.

Congress against M V Kamath as Prasar Bharati chairman
The party feels it is 'one more blatant attempt by the BJP-led NDA government to influence the Doordarshan and the All India Radio.'

US special forces already in Iraq: Report
A report published in The Boston Globe said undercover teams are searching for Iraqi Scud missile launchers, monitoring oil fields and marking mine-fields.

FROM THE STATES
Former Panchmahals collector deposes before commission
Jayanti Ravi told the commission that the first information she received was regarding stranded passengers of the Sabarmati Express and a mob of Muslims indulging in stone-pelting and arson near the Godhra station.

Trinamool calls for statewide strike on Jan 10
Party chief Mamta Banerjee said the strike is to protest the ruling Left's failure in governance and in support of the strike call by the PDF.

BJP asks Rajnath, Kalraj to woo dissidents
This follows the return of five rebel legislators, who swore to stand by the party in the presence of BJP Uttar Pradesh legislature party leader Lalji Tandon.

Case against Togadia for creating disharmony
The VHP leader, at a rally in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, had demanded installation of a Datta idol at Bababudanagiri, the Hindu-Muslim shrine.

PM lauds institute for training young leaders
The institute, named after Rambhau Mhalgi, would teach leadership and administrative skills to aspiring politicians. | Images

Three Naxalites shot dead in AP
The encounter took place during a combing operation launched in the aftermath of a landmine blast on Sunday that killed three policemen.

Rajagopalan returns as Tamil Nadu DGP
He was removed from the post after the AIADMK returned to power in 2001.

NEIGHBOURHOOD
US, Pakistan agree on hot pursuit: Report
According to the Dawn newspaper, the US forces can secretly conduct cross-border raids and `there will be no angry remarks from both the sides'.

SPECIAL
Mother, is that you?
'Tamarind Mem' is about an Indian mother amazingly like your own.

January 5, 2003

TOP REPORTS
'Open mind' on alliances: Congress
The party roundly condemned the 'sinister attempts' being made by the BJP to equate Hinduism with Hindutva in its quest for power.

Six killed as AP cops clash with Naxalites
The encounter was triggered by Naxalites killing three cops in a landmine blast in Guntur district.

35 injured in grenade explosion in J&K
The incident occurred in Anantnag district. Civilians were also injured though the target was a CRPF patrol party.

UP: Rebel BJP leader returns to party fold
On Sunday, Ganga Bhakt Singh addressed a joint press conference with BJP leader Lalji Tandon in Lucknow.

Phukan is fiercely independent: legal fraternity
A former Supreme Court judge, S N Phukan had the rare distinction of serving as chief justice of two high courts, Himachal Pradesh and Orissa.

Bus fire case: FIR lodged
The bus was carrying NDA leaders, who had been taken into police custody for defying prohibitory orders.

BJP, Trinamool join hands for Bengal panchayat polls
The formal announcement would be made on Monday at a public meeting in Kolkata to which NDA leaders have been invited.

CISF to take over VIP security
This will allow the NSG, ITBP and CRPF to concentrate on counter-terrorism measures.

January 4, 2003

TOP REPORTS
India sets up Strategic Forces Command
The command will, as of now, report to the chairman of the chiefs of staff committee, which comprises of all the three service heads.

1,200 NRIs to attend 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas'
Vajpayee will inaugurate the conference and present the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards' to ten NRIs and PIOs.

Nine Pakistani nuclear scientists absconding: Report
The last defection took place in July 2002, South Asia Tribute online said quoting documents from Pakistani nuclear power plant CHASNUPP.

Pak-US troops exchange fire on Afghan border
The second exchange occurred even as Musharraf held telephonic talks with George Bush to defuse the tension from last weekend's skirmish.

Rabri orders CBI probe into encounter
The CBI will also investigate the killing of two persons by the police in Majhaul in Begusarai district on December 23.

THE TEHELKA PROBE
Phukan to head inquiry panel
He will replace Justice K Venkataswamy.
Tehelka not to participate in probe under new judge
Tehelka.com's editor Tarun Tejpal asserted that the company has neither the resources nor the will to continue in the probe, which has been going on for two years.

Phukan to decide probe status
After talking to concerned lawyers and parties, he will decide if the probe should be started afresh or be continued from where Justice Venkataswami left it.

THE MAHARASHTRA TRAIN MISHAP
Goods train driver suspended
The driver had reportedly refused to move the goods train from the track demanding a relief driver. A while later the Manmad Express rammed into it.

Three NRIs killed
Pavani Latha, Ramana, and their daughter were on a pilgrimage to Shirdi.

THE INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS
Kalam for space consortium to save earth
'The world space community should see that no geopolitical conflict is extended to outer space,' the President said.

Space market shrinking: Kalam
He said the country will emerge as one of the leaders in space activities.

India's development to be guided from space
The summit sent a clear message that India will use its array of satellites and remote sensing systems for transforming the quality of Indian life.

Space tech can resolve man-planet conflict: Kalam
He said space technology could give solutions to global concerns like energy crisis, water scarcity, and mineral exploitation.

NEIGHBOURHOOD
Pallone deplores Musharraf's war rhetoric
The US congressman urged Prime Minister Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali to forge good ties with India.

Pakistan is part of consensus against Iraq: US
The state department said that Pakistanis have a right to express their political beliefs.

OTHER REPORTS
Is being Hindu a sin, asks Advani
`The more you talk about Godhra and its aftermath, the more it will benefit the BJP,' he said.

Seven rebel legislators return to BJP in UP
Leader of the BJP legislature party Lalji Tandon expressed the hope that the remaining dissidents will follow suit.

Six Hizb terrorists arrested in Srinagar
The six terrorists formed an active Hizbul module involved in a series of pistol shootings, IED blasts and grenade attacks in the civil line area of Srinagar last year.

Returning Gulf workers cause AIDS concern in Kerala
A study by the State Management Agency has revealed that more than 80 per cent of the HIV-positive people in the state were infected outside.

Police inspector shot at in north Delhi
The inspector escaped unhurt, police sources said. The assailants managed to escape.

COLUMNS
Capital Buzz: Arun loves Shourie
At one ministry lurk a Romeo and Juliet, who, like all true lovers, are two bodies, one soul. Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar

Watch Them Turn
'The wheels of justice turned for Sajjan Kumar, the law did take its own course. For 18 years the wheels turned. They turned and turned till we reached December 23, when the case against him for his role in the '84 Sikh riots was dismissed,' says Dilip D'Souza.

SLIDE SHOW
The Week's Images
Electrifying scooters, preparations for the Republic Day, change of guard at the army headquarters and more...

January 3, 2003

TOP REPORTS
S K Modi injured in Bihar bandh violence
About 3000 strike supporters, including several NDA leaders, were held.

Train derails in Maharashtra
Eighteen people died and 41 were injured when the Secunderabad-Manmad Express rammed into a goods train near Ghatnandur station early Friday.

PM beckons Indian scientific diaspora
Ways should be devised to enable them to return and work in India's technology institutions, Vajpayee said at the inauguration of the Indian Science Congress.

Lessons in secularism from Kerala
A mosque has come up in Kozhikode district's Kuttikatur village. It is located just metres away from an ancient temple and was constructed with the help of Hindus.

REPORTS FROM BIHAR
Bus carrying NDA leaders catches fire
The NDA leaders accused the RJD of trying to kill them while the latter suspect them of trying to create a Godhra-like situation.

Violence erupts during bandh
Opposition leaders took out processions in Patna shouting anti-government slogans.

Eighty trains cancelled, rescheduled
Trains originating from places like Howrah, Delhi, Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Guwahati will be affected.

Suspended cop assaulted in jail
Sub-Inspector Samshe Alam had been arrested in connection with the 'fake encounter' in which three students were killed.

RJD agrees for CBI probe into 'encounter'
RJD leadership gave this assurance to Congress leader Manmohan Singh, party general secretary Oscar Fernandes said.

MAHARASHTRA TRAIN MISHAP
Terror tracks: South Central Railways
The derailment of Secunderabad-Manmad Express is the second mishap on the Parli-Ghatnandur section of the South Central Railways.

Human failure led to mishap: Nitish
The train was allowed to move to the main track on which a goods train was waiting, the railway minister said.

OTHER REPORTS
Second woman of Indian origin for NASA mission
Sunita Lyn Williams follows in the footsteps of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian American to go into space.

BJP supports PM over Hindutva
However, the party is reluctant to condemn the VHP's attack on Vajpayee.

NSCN (I-M) leaders to meet PM, Advani on Jan 9
Though no major accord is likely to be signed, the parleys are expected to pave the way for the launch of a political process in Nagaland.

Militants kill SOG official in Anantnag
They fired at the vehicle of Inspector Bashir Ahmad Malik, in charge of SOG camp at Srigufwara.

Anti-conversion law challenged in high court
Advocate R Rajamani's PIL sought a stay the TN Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act 2002, as it was 'unjust and unconstitutional'.

Ghatkopar blast accused booked under POTA
The four accused have been remanded to police custody till January 17.

SJM flays Centre over economy
Swadeshi Jagran Manch convenor P Murlidhar Rao said, 'This government cannot satisfy us unless employment and self-reliance become central issues of reforms.'

Inamul Haq may be Pakistan's envoy to India
Haq, who retired as foreign secretary last year before he was made minister of state, is part of the inner ring of Musharraf's foreign policy advisors.

INTERVIEW
'Pravasi Diwas is not a mela,'
'A confident India is now coming in contact with NRIs,' says J C Sharma, secretary, ministry of external affairs on the first conference of overseas Indians.

COLUMN
It's a question of timing
'Suppose, a time when Musharraf was on the verge of collapsing, and India unveiled a proposal to create a South Asian federation, inviting Pakistan to join as founder member. The clincher? Set a date to discuss Kashmir,' says Ramananda Sengupta.

SPECIAL
Active in Peace
The Eastern Air Command stays busy serving soldiers and civilians at remote outposts, writes G Vinayak.

January 2, 2003

TOP REPORTS
Hand over Ayodhya land by Feb 22: VHP to Centre
'We have no faith in the words of politicians. We will follow... decisions taken by the dharma sansad,' VHP leader Giriraj Kishore said.

Mathura, Varanasi not on agenda: BJP
'The country will not run on religion and we do not aspire to be an Indian version of Pakistan,' party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

Centre to help nab Veerappan
It may dispatch National Security Guards and air force choppers, sources said.

Red alert in Bihar for Friday's bandh
Opposition parties have called for the bandh to protest against the killing of three students killed in a 'fake encounter' with police.

INDO-PAK TIES
Going to UN over Kashmir was a mistake: Advani
Due to this move, a ceasefire had to be enforced when Indian troops were pushing back Pakistani troops, leading to the creation of the LoC, he said.

We tried to have good ties: Advani
He asked Pakistan to put an end to cross-border terrorism.

Musharraf's statement on nuking India absurd: Fernandes
He recalled that Musharraf had retracted a similar statement made earlier following international condemnation.

ROW OVER HINDUTVA
Thackeray flays BJP over Hindutva
BJP leaders say one thing at their brainstorming session and another outside, the Sena chief said.

DMK chief coins new term to counter Hindutva
Framing 'Dravidtva', Karunanidhi said the DMK will reject any principle that seeks to segregate people in the name of caste.

PM has no right to comment on Hindutva: VHP
The BJP, however, defended Vajpayee for his Goa musings, in which he said some people's projection of Hindutva in an extremist manner was not acceptable.

ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM MEETING
NGOs warn of balkanisation of India
The ASF meeting began with a warning that if the forces of neo-liberalisation were not stopped, India would meet the fate of Yugoslavia.

Hurriyat to seek help from Asian NGOs
Before leaving for the conference in Hyderabad, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said he will highlight the need for tripartite talks on the issue.

OTHER REPORTS
80 trains cancelled, rescheduled for Bihar bandh
The railway ministry said it took the decision for the safety of passengers.

140 kids sick after meal in Andhra schools
Chief Minister Naidu had launched the midday meal scheme, which will cover 7.5 million children in 68,000 schools, on Thursday.

NDFB top gun arrested in Gangtok
NDFB vice-president Dhiren Boro, who was on the run for nearly a decade, has been booked under four sections of POTA.

Ready for CBI probe into students' killings: Rabri
Meanwhile, George Fernandes visited the families of those killed. He said it was time that the Bihar government went.

Mayawati, Katiyar spat over Ambedkar
The UP chief minister has objected to Katiyar quoting Ambedkar while blaming Muslims for spreading terrorism in the country.

President, PM to attend Indian Science Congress
This is the first time that the two will attend the event, to be held in Bangalore from January 3-7.

Cold wave, fog paralyse life in north India
In New Delhi, fog forced the shutdown of the runway at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, with no flight taking off or landing for almost 11 hours, sources said.

China planning a manned space mission: Officials
It launched its fourth successful unmanned mission on Monday.

SPECIAL
Art as Therapy
Painting can help cope with Parkinson's disease, discovers Shobha Warrier.

COLUMNS
'India was on brink of war twice'
'Once, around January 7, 2002. The second, after the Kaluchak attack, says Major General (retd) Ashok K Mehta.

The silent change in Kashmir
'The central government has been showing remarkable empathy and understanding towards Mufti's regime,' says Mohammed Sayeed Malik.

Song sung blue
It's either got to be a new year, or we have to find new words, says Tanmaya Kumar Nanda.

January 1, 2003

Youths' killing: Bihar cop sent to jail
He is accused of gunning down three youths, who he claimed to have caught committing dacoity.

Clash between Pak and US forces leaves 2 dead
The Americans ended a skirmish with their Pakistani counterparts by dropping a 500-pound bomb on a seminary where the latter had taken refuge.

No lowering of guard along LoC: New Army Chief
He emphasised that priority would be on keeping the army in the highest state of preparedness.

25,000 Keralites may return with Gulf dreams shattered
They are among 40,000 Indians expected to take advantage of the general amnesty declared by the UAE to flush out illegal migrants.

2 arrested for attempt on Gujarat VHP leader
Despite having specific information about the identity of Jaideep Patel's attackers, the police stalled the arrests till after the assembly elections.

Militant outfit releases abducted Manipur officials
The KYKL had threatened to kill the five education department employees accusing them of corruption.

Coast Guard denies reports of its vessel sinking off Gujarat coast
The vessel is believed to be privately-owned and used by navy, customs and police personnel for joint patrolling.

COLUMNS
Mr BJP
Introducing the new favourite in saffron circles: Narendra Modi. Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.

Puny countries treat India with contempt
'India will only be respected when it becomes an economic giant,' says Admiral J G Nadkarni (retd).

Where is the Mufti heading?
'Can people who constantly fear acts of terror ever be 'healed' by any potion at all until terror itself is killed at the roots?' asks Arvind Lavakare.

Ensuring smearing up to 21st August
Q: Where can I get a ticket on the next flight, or missile, or anything, to Japan?
A: In this line that I'm standing in. Now shut up, like the rest of us!'
Dilip D'Souza on the ever popular Q&A format.

SPECIALS
The Year That Was
As 2002 draws to a close, rediff.com brings to you the finest of articles, commentaries and features from the worlds of politics, business and entertainment.

15 minutes, time up!
'Indian rock, it is now established, isn't dead -- it was only comatose,' says Bijoy Venugopal.

Terror 2002: Storing up trouble for the future
'India's non action in 2002 has made it absolutely certain that an even more audacious attack will be mounted in the coming year,' says Colonel Anil Athale (retd).

'Don't squeeze Yahya at this time'
This was the message from President Nixon when he was told of atrocities being committed in East Pakistan, writes Suman Guha Mozumder.

DIARY
Touched by an angel
Click to know why Saisuresh Sivaswamy travels by taxi in Mumbai.

Archives