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JULY 26
Fernandes does not rule out a breakthough in Indo-US talks
The minister said an acceptance of India's new status as a nuclear weapons state
and the removal of sanctions would comprise a 'move forward' in Indo-US diplomacy.
"Indications are that the US wants to find a way out of the predicament,'' he said, elaborating the basis of his optimism.
No breakthrough likely in Colombo: Gohar
When the talks begin, the Indians will say Kashmir is an integral part of India and the situation would be back to square one,'' Pakistan Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan said. 'To avoid such a situation, we are urging the world community for mediation.'
ASEAN rebukes India, Pakistan for nuclear tests
In the spirit of the new outspokeness over regional concerns, ASEAN officials have kept up a stream of protests against India and Pakistan's nuclear tests and the lack of commitment from major powers to implement a test-ban treaty.
US cap on science tie-ups can't shake India's CTBT resolve
Indian government officials conceded that the US cap on science links with India has caused some concern, but the overall impact is still being assessed. They declined to elaborate on India's future strategy, but admitted that Indian scientists might seek technological pastures outside India and the US.
Sanctions could delay light combat aircraft take-off, says expert
Roddam Narasimha, one-time director of United States's National Aerospace Laboratories, says post-Pokhran sanctions would put pressure on defence projects. India has the scientific and technical manpower to overcome the problem, but only political will is required, he said.
Deal for Russian aircraft carrier clinched
The 44,500 ton Admiral Gorshkov is to be received by India in 2000. The ship is currently undergoing alterations to suit Indian requirements.
Bloody Friday in Kashmir, as militancy escalates
Five people including three Special Police Officers were gunned down on Friday.
Elsewhere, three armymen were killed and five others injured, in separate incidents.
Besides the shootings, militants also made yet another attempt to blow up the New Delhi-bound Shalimar Express.
Extremists kill seven in Kokrajhar
Suspected Bodo militants also attack police battalion HQ. But no casualties were reported there.
Mentally unstable man vandalises Rajghat
A case for indulging in mischievous acts has been registered against Rajballabh, who claimed the samadhi should not have been constructed because he was Gandhi and he was 'still alive'.
Material seized by CBI not uranium, say scientists
But investigating officers allege that this goes against the IGCAR's preliminary report suggesting the material was indeed radioactive.
NEC to be revamped
The home ministry has decided to relieve the NEC of its role of reviewing sensitive security-related matters. The reason, explains a ministry official, is that with top militant groups and other insurgents fanning out over the region, it has moved from being a regional issue, to one with serious national ramifications.
Britain clears visas to nuclear scientists after long delay
Deputy high commission offers to clear visas for IGCAR chief and another senior scientist long after the conference they were to attend in Oxford.
US Congressman demands 'high level of attention' towards Kashmiri pandits
Frank Pallone said he would ask the state department to raise the pandit issue whenever the US discussed the Kashmir issue with India. He will also write to the UN Human Rights Commission to ask why the problems of the pandits did not figure in its recent report on Kashmir.
B K Modi to represent VHP at UN
'We will be propagating with the UN -- why cannot we
have a forum to create a force of religious leaders to stop
conversions? There should be an agreement throughout the UN, like we have an agreement on banning drugs and arms trade," Modi said.
Over thousand people killed in Pakistani Punjab police 'encounters'
Intelligence reports say 960 persons were gunned down in false encounters, while 114 people died in torture cells or police lockups. But, despite the orders of the courts, no policeman been punished for these extrajudicial murders.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
The Twilight Zone
"You don't know who Atal Bihari Vajpayee is?" "No," came the answer, pat and dead serious. "Okay, then you must have heard of L K Advani at least?" "No, haven't heard of him..." Syed Firdaus Ashraf and Photographer Jewella C Miranda report from the Rann of Kutch, the only international boundary between India and Pakistan officially accepted by both nations.
The Son-in-Law Also Rises
'Allegations are made when someone wants to embarrass someone. The work I do is not even remotely connected to the government. I'm in the hotel business - I run a joint venture which develops three-star hotels. My association with Mr Vajpayee doesn't help me in any way in this.' Ranjan Bhattacharya, the prime minister's son-in-law, denies his alleged role as 'fixer' in the BJP government.
Gawli tops in murders, Chhota Rajan in moolah
A senior Bombay police officer estimates the annual turnover that accrues through extortion demands made by gangsters at a whopping Rs 20 billion. The gangster with the most clout grabs the lion's share. "The underworld is like a stock market. With each hit or casualty their stock rises or plummets," quips one detective.
THE REDIFF COLUMNS
Mum is the word
'Recently, when a group of AICC members came to seek a resolution on some complex party decisions involving their state, Sonia heard them out in near silence for an hour and a half, making the odd desultory remark. But solutions? She had none to provide.' Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.
Tamil Nadu: Girl killed while fleeing eve-teasers
Black or white, brown or grey, it's devotees' hair, TTD makes hay
The Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams, which administers the world's richest temple in Andhra Pradesh, has netted a record income of Rs 97.3 million in 1997-98 through the sale of hair offered by devotees keeping their tonsure vows.
JULY 25
THE NUCLEAR CRISIS
Jaswant girds up to meet Albright, Jiaxuan
With Pakistan not present at the Manila summit to raise the Kashmir issue, India has an opportunity to explain its security concerns that led it to test the nuclear tests. MEA officials point out that within ASEAN, the nuclear tests have not been criticised too harshly, and that the Indian delegation is planning to play on this aspect.
Foreign secretaries lay the groundwork for PMs' summit
Foreign Secretary K Raghunath and his Pakistani counterpart
Shamshad Ahmed will focus on operationalisation of the mechanismfor the resumption of dialogue. The Vajpayee-Sharief meeting is expected to take place on
July 30 or 31, the last day of the SAARC summit.
Rajya Sabha criticises US's expulsion of Indian scientists
Since several RS members wanted to associate themselves
with the subject, Adhik Shirodkar, who was in the chair, said
the whole house associated itself with the matter.
Pak, US wind up 'substantive and constructive' talks
A brief statement issued on the conclusion of talks between Strobe Talbott and Shamshad Ahmad said the two
sides discussed the regional dimensions of the security situation in
the aftermath of the May nuclear tests, non-proliferation, arms control,
Jammu and Kashmir and confidence building measures.
Malaysia signs CTBT
The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty was signed by Malaysia's
permanent representative to the United Nations, Hasmy Agam, in New
York yesterday, a Malaysian foreign ministry statement said.
OTHER REPORTS
Govt will extend Parliament session till July 30 to table Jain report and ATR
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madanlal Khurana
said this was being done to enable Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
to be present in the House when ''such an important report is being placed.'' A final decision as to when to table the report in
Parliament, however, will be taken on Monday.
Lok Sabha to have special discussion on foreign policy on Monday
The prime minister is expected to reply to the
debate before he leaves for Colombo to participate in the SAARC
conference.
Sonia senses chance, seeks to keep seniors in good humour
The Congress president's pacify-seniors move is significant. It is learnt that though she has been disinclined to support any moves aimed at toppling the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, she is nonetheless studying the situation closely. This is why she had instructed party spokesman Ajit Jogi to announce that the Congress party will not forget its duties in crunch situations.
AIADMK will support BJP candidate for LS deputy speaker
This was conveyed to the prime minister who telephoned
Jayalalitha this morning seeking her party's support in the keenly awaited election.
Court order in JMM bribery case reserved till July 28
Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke reserved his order after
former law minister H R Bharadwaj, counsel for accused and former
Union minister Satish Sharma, told the court that his client could
not be tried along with the opposition MPs provided immunity from
legal proceedings in the case.
SC extends Mayawati's anticipatory bail
The Delhi high court had, on July 17, revoked its earlier order granting her
anticipatory bail, but had given her ten days to obtain relief from
an appropriate court.
IAF copters will transport PM in Lanka
While the ostensible reason for having Indian helicopters is the
size of the prime ministerial delegation, informed sources said security
considerations also might have been the reason behind the decision.
Indo-Pak differences cast a long shadow over SAARC summit
Since the last summit in Male, both India and Pakistan have
carried out nuclear tests, and the Colombo Declaration, to be
issued at the end of the summit, would have to take this new
situation in the region into consideration.
EPRLF calls for Indian mediation in Lankan ethnic crisis
We strongly believe that the Indian nation has a moral
obligation to involve and achieve a just and durable solution that
satisfies the aspirations of Tamils, Eelam People's Revolutionary
Liberation Front secretary general K Premachandran said in a statement.
Goa government accused of being lenient towards foreign narcotic offenders
Should foreign narcotic offenders be treated differently in India? What sparked off the debate is Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane's position in this regard. His Congress government has filed a plea in court to withdraw a case against a British couple, arrested while selling drugs on a Goan beach.
Adrift on the Cauvery...
What is causing the TN authorities concern is the possibility of peripheral pan-Tamil groups using an evolving anti-Tamil situation in Karnataka to create tension nearer home. "It could be aimed at the Centre, it could be aimed at whipping up pan-Tamil sentiments, but given the fluid law and order situation in the state, we are keeping our fingers crossed," says a senior official.
Number of pilgrims on Amarnath Yatra set to touch all-time high
With 14 more days to go for the close of the Yatra, the number of
pilgrims visiting the holy cave shrine, situated at a height of
3800 metres in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, may go much beyond
the 100,000-mark, setting a new record.
US house panel votes for Gandhi memorial in Washington
The legislation, co-sponsored by Congressman Bill McCullum,
co-chairman of the congressional caucus on India and
Indian-Americans, and 17 other members of the caucus, now goes
before the full House of Representatives. A similar legislation has been introduced in the US Senate and
is expected to be put on vote shortly.
Jiang orders closure of PLA's commercial empire
In a sign of his hard-won support among PLA brass, state-run
television on Wednesday night showed President Jiang, flanked by
senior generals of the Communist Party's military commission,
ordering the shutdown at a closed-door meeting this week. Top
commanders from the PLA and the People's Armed Police -- a uniformed
internal security force -- took notes as Jiang spoke.
THE REDIFF CHAT
'Godse might have finished Gandhi, but not Gandhism'
'Nathuram was a freedom fighter. He was a devotee of Gandhi before Gandhi gave consent to the idea of India's Partition and the part he played in subsequent unpleasant (it is Nathuram's feeling) events that took place, like payment of Rs 55 crores to Pakistan etc.. Nathuram assassinated him only for the good of the nation.' Controversial playwright Pradeep Dalvi on the Rediff Chat.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Chauvinists in Parliament
'Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav may have been at the forefront of those trying to scuttle the Bill, but they had plenty of hidden support. There are chauvinists in every party,' says T V R Shenoy.
Mera Bharat Mahaan
'One day, we shall have a national culture and a character that is readily identified on the world's stages. Then, to the rhythm of a vibrant society, we might celebrate the accomplishments of our heroes with a spirit that is identifiably and laudably Indian,' says Ashwin Mahesh.
Gujarat: Social welfare ministry renamed, undertakes massive upliftment project
Maharashtra: State facing power deficit of 1000 MW, says Munde
Karnataka doctor helps 14-feet python to become mother of 18
On seeing the pregnant python slithering its way into the hospital premises, Dr Mohan Alva created a pit for it to lay eggs. The python laid 18 eggs and incubated them for 62 days, before they were hatched.
TODAY'S WEATHER
Wet spell to continue in east and south India
Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Konkan, Goa, coastal Karnataka and Kerala during the next 48 hours.
JULY 24
India will have N-powered submarine by 2007, says Jane's
The nuclear reactor for the submarine, built by the Department
of Atomic Energy at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Trombay,
will begin tests at the Kalpakkam Atomic Research Centre near Madras
within 12 months, Jane's Defence Weekly has said.
Quoting official sources, the military magazine said
the submarine's keel will be laid by 2002, two years after the
completion of land tests on the nuclear reactor.
India will not succumb to pressure on N-weaponisation, asserts Fernandes
Responding to a supplementary from Arif Mohamed Khan in the Lok Sabha, the minister,
however, declined to detail the areas where the weapons would be
inducted. ''Being an N-weapon state is one thing and the sections
where you induct it is another. It is not wise to make a statement
on it,'' Fernandes said.
Talbott winds up talks in Pak with promise to meet again in August
Neither side would elaborate on the talks, although government
sources in Islamabad said Pakistan pressed for international mediation on
the Kashmir dispute with India.
The US, meanwhile, also urged Pakistan to sign the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
US scientists protest against denial of visa to R Chidambaram
Even during the height of the cold war, Soviet scientists had been granted visas to the US, allowing some freedom to exchange scientific information, and serving to build confidence that helped to defuse crises in relations, says the American Physical Society.
China allegedly tested rocket motor during Clinton's visit
The test for the DF-31 missile motor in July was believed to be part of the communist nation's ongoing strategic weapons modernisation effort.
OTHER REPORTS
Six kg uranium seized from duo in Madras
The CBI, which has sent the material to the Madras Atomic Power
Station at Kalpakkam, is questioning the duo regarding the
source of the material and the purpose for which it was smuggled.
While one version has it that the material could have been stolen
from MAPS, its chairman Dr Placid Rodriquez, who was in Madras in
connection with a function, said: "It could not have come from
us".
Jain Commission report, ATR to be tabled on July 27
According to sources, the report is likely to come before the
cabinet which is meeting on Thursday night.
Another CBI witness turns hostile in JMM bribery case
With this, three prosecution witnesses have so far turned hostile in the
case. Earlier, key witnesses Devender Mukhia, allegedly close to
accused and former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, and Capt
Dilawar Singh, then secretary to former Union Minister Ajit Singh,
had denied having given any statement to the CBI stating that they
had seen bribe being paid to opposition MPs.
Fernandes to check out Amarnath Yatra security arrangements on Friday
The defence minister's visit to Jammu and Kashmir to
visit the cave shrine devoted to Lord Shiva will be his third visit
to the state since he assumed charge of the portfolio about
four months ago.
J&K situation should improve further by next year, says Advani
When his attention was drawn to the fighting on the Line of
Control and the Siachen Glacier, the home minister admitted that the
proxy war had not ended. However, he said in the matter of the
proxy war, the difference between two years ago and now was that
those militants who have been apprehended or killed, not many are
from Jammu and Kashmir.
Delhi high court chides government over lawlessness
''One can imagine an incident taking place in an isolated place, but can you imagine a situation where buses were being looted in daylight in a city,'' observed the Delhi high court, while ordering the home ministry and Delhi Police to explain their law and order measures.
Jharkhand tense following delay of statehood bill
Political parties threaten to revive movements for a separate state if
the Jharkhand Vananchal bill is not introduced in this session of Parliament.
Lok Ayukta's consent needed to entrust investigation of corruption cases to police, rules SC
In case the Lok Ayukta thinks that such entrustment of
investigation by the state government is likely to affect his
functioning or independence, he can certainly inform the state
government accordingly, the apex court observed in its judgment.
Sister Nirmala urges people not raise funds in the name of Mother Teresa
Her appeal followed a controversy over the
formation of a Mother Teresa Memorial Committee by some
individuals in Calcutta. The committee which included former mayor
Shyam Sundar Gupta, opened an office and a bank
account to raise funds for the first death
anniversary of Mother Teresa.
Lanka orders probe into war crimes against Tamil civilians
The government "does not condone such atrocities'' and is fully
committed to the safeguarding lives, said M S Wiackramarachchi, a
senior defence ministry official who ordered the inquiry.
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'If a foreign power wishes to intervene and help solve the Kashmir problem, it is welcome'
'If L K Advanisahab is arrogant about his atomic bombs and his missiles and his tanks, and on the basis of these if he thinks he can build a vote bank in Kashmir, then I can say only one thing: L K Advanisahab cannot be a true Hindustani.' Separatist leader Shabbir Shah, in a rare interview.
THE REDIFF SPECIAL
'If it is going to satisfy them that they have penalised a criminal named Mohandas Gandhi, I am prepared to give them my blood'
Gandhi: I am not immortal... If my blood is going to cool down their anger, if it is going to stop riots and arson... Even today, if the killer is waiting outside for me. I am prepared to welcome him with folded hands.' Was the ban on Mi Nathuram Godse Boltoy justified? Read the play and judge for yourself.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
J'accuse...
'I accuse Indian columnists of falling into two categories: the ignorant/lazy and the
intellectually colonised. I accuse the majority of Indian journalists of abdicating their responsibility, of failing to think. I am amazed at the amount of absolute tripe that masquerades as 'thoughtful commentary,' says Rajeev Srinivasan.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi proposes Vatican-style state at Tirupati
Such a state, according to the Maharishi, should be allowed to propagate the teachings of the Vedas, impart health care and other spiritual values and should be run according to "natural laws".
TODAY'S WEATHER
Monsoons active in West Bengal and Sikkim
Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
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JULY 23
Jaya tells Centre not to wait till Aug 12 for notifying Cauvery award
The AIADMK leader's formal response to the adjournment of the case
in the Supreme Court till August 12 is silent on her earlier warning
to the Centre that any delay in notifying the draft scheme would
lead to "disastrous consequences".
Karnataka to ask Cauvery tribunal for final order
The state's Major and Medium Irrigation Minister K N Nage Gowda has said the government would seek legal opinion and consult
senior officials before appealing to the tribunal.
He said Karnataka was agreeable to a continuous hearing by the tribunal
to arrive at a final decision, and sought the cooperation of the
Tamil Nadu government to settle the issue once and for all.
Four arrested for Hyderabad's blasphemous pamphlet
But the brain behind the offensive pamphlet which triggered
off riots in Hyderabad last month, former city
mayor A Pochaiah of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-
Muslemeen, is still absconding. The police have also ruled
out the involvement of ISI in the riots based on current evidence.
http://209.194.80.218/news/1998/jul/22hbd.htm
Karnataka-AP dispute over Krishna waters referred to Constitution Bench
The Supreme Court has referred to a five-judge Constitution Bench the two suits -- one by
Karnataka and the other by Andhra Pradesh -- relating to
the contentious issue of sharing the Krishna river waters.
Kerala tries to hunt down books on Godse
Congress Legislature Party deputy leader G Karthikeyan has alleged a move by
the Sangh Parivar to stage the Marathi drama Mi Nathuram Godse Boltoy
in the state. He said the Malayalam version of the drama was ready,
and its printed version is said to have reached the Sangh
Parivar network for private distribution. Karthikeyan urged the
government to take immediate steps to prevent the staging of the
drama, which he said will provoke communal trouble.
Bills on new states soon, says Advani
Bills for the formation of Uttaranchal, Chattisgarh, Vananchal states and the conferring of full statehood on New Delhi would be sent to the President before the end of the current session of Parliament.
One-time militants paint the 'real picture' of J&K
Papa Kishtwari, Umar Mukhtar, Samad Khan and Javed Shah, the four ''reformed militants'', are in New Delhi to meet with Central leaders. They said Kashmir is slipping back to the 1989 situation. ''Things are deteriorating and might become worse if the government does not act.''
Karunanidhi minister faces probe
If charges of conspiracy, cheating and misuse of power against him are proved, Arcot N Veerasamy's career might be going downhill. He could even pull his party along with him.
'Z' security given to deposed Sena ministers in Maharashtra
Home Minister Advani said he had taken up the matter with the
state government after concern was expressed in the house
on Tuesday over threats of violence to both these former ministers
and their families.
Bombay becoming biggest illegal arms bazaar in India
Dealers make hay as goons buy guns from them for use in gangland killings and the cops allegedly plant weapons bought from them at sites of 'encounters'.
Lankan police bust terrorist hideout in Colombo
Following this, the police have tightened the cordon around the 400-room
Taj Samudra hotel, venue of the SAARC summit.
Sharief's policies, not sanctions, messed up Pakistan, says Opposition
Opposition leaders say the Pakistani prime minister lacks the ability to steer the country out of the current financial mess. At the 'National Conference on Economy', speakers said an honest government should replace the present one.
Kidnap drama might end in deportation
Sanjay Soni was due for a deportation hearing in a US court when he fled the country with his two daughters.
Karachi -- where bullet ridden bodies regularly turn up in jute sacks
More than 200 people have been killed by rival
factions of a militant ethnic group since June 1. The militants are fighting for
territorial control of the entire Karachi neighbourhood.
THE NUCLEAR CRISIS
Vajpayee's assurance on CTBT seen as sign of India's unbending stand
The statements of Vajpayee and Vasundhara Raje in Parliament point to India's keenness on maintaining a consistent stand on security matters, ''forward movements'' in the just-concluded Indo-US talks in New Delhi notwithstanding.
Pakistan not to be invited to ASEAN
Members put paid to Japan's proposal that Pakistan too be invited to the meeting.
Pak seeks international mediation over Kashmir
The biggest item on Pakistan's agenda in its talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, the lifting of US-led
economic sanctions, appeared to have been settled by a US promise not to
block new international loans to cash-strapped Pakistan.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
An assassin speaks
Nathuram: Time is eternal, indestructible. You can turn its pages but never, never tear them out. Gandhi has acquired some position in history which nobody can deny, not even Nathuram. The page will be there forever in fact. Some time in the future, in some storm, the pages will flutter and there will be that same Gandhi's page before the world...' Was the ban on Mi Nathuram Godse Boltoy justified? Read the play and decide for yourself.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Dial 356 for murder
One of the grimmest ironies facing India today, says Ashok Mitra, is that the very parties opposed to Article 356 now insist on its misuse.
Delhi CM fined for helmetless riding
Sahib Singh Verma and the BJP vice-president set out on a crusade to find what was wrong with their state. And they found they themselves were.
TODAY'S WEATHER
Wet spell to continue...
Wet spell to continue in south and north-east India during the next 48 hours.
JULY 22
THE CAUVERY CRISIS
SC gives Centre till Aug 12 to sort out Cauvery dispute
The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave the Centre time till August 12 to frame a
scheme for implementing the Cauvery water disputes
tribunal's interim award to release 205 tmc feet water
by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu annually. The three-member bench also made it clear that this was the last chance it was willing to give the government, and the new deadline came after a great deal of persuasion by the attorney general.
AIADMK will not force 'disastrous consequences' for the time-being
The decision follows a telephonic talk the prime minister reportedly had with AIADMK chief Jayalalitha on Tuesday morning, before the attorney-general informed the court about the government's decision.
PM will meet CMs to narrow down differences
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madanlal
Khurana told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that a solution was not feasible at
this stage in the wake of hardened position taken by the states
involved in the Cauvery issue.
TN will wait till Aug 12 before deciding on action
Reacting to the last and final adjournment granted to the Centre
by the three-member bench of the apex court on Tuesday morning,
Chief Minister Karunanidhi told newspersons at the state secretariat in Madras: "Let
us wait till August 12."
Tamil MPs walk out of Lok Sabha for the second day
The house witnessed uproarious scenes for the second day on Tuesday
when the Cauvery issue was raised by AIADMK leader S R Muthaiah amid
interruptions from many members, mainly those from Karnataka.
THE NUCLEAR CRISIS
Pressure peaks on Pak to sign CTBT as Talbott flies in for talks
The US deputy secretary of state, who is leading a high-level delegation, during his
meeting with Pak leaders is expected to reiterate Washington's
call for nuclear non-proliferation, especially its demand for
signing of the treaty.
US mission designed to bring India, Pak into non-proliferation fold
His other goals are: to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan and, at the same time, address their security concerns.
Pakistan says it will not be coerced into signing CTBT, NPT
The Pakistan cabinet's defence committee under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief undertook a security and strategic review of the situation in the country. Convened on the eve of the high-powered American team's visit to Islamabad, the committee stressed that major powers could not coerce it into signing the nuclear Non-Proliferation and Test Ban treaties.
Focus shifts to SAARC, ASEAN meetings
After the uncertain results of the Jaswant Singh-Strobe Talbott meeting, attention is now directed at the meeting of the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers during the SAARC summit and Jaswant Singh's encounter with Madeleine Albright during the ASEAN regional forum
ASEAN may invite Pakistan over Indian objections
"It's a bit bloody,'' is how Philippine officials describe the situation after Japan proposed inviting Pakistan over to a regional security forum in Manila this month.
Talbott's 'courtesy call' on Sonia sparks speculation
The meeting with the Congress president assumes significance because senior officials in the Clinton administration in the recent past had wistfully gloated over the Congress regimes in India. The US government had also successfully dissuaded the Congress, when it was in power, from conducting nuclear tests.
OTHER TOP STORIES
Strict vigil on organisations receiving foreign money: Advani
The home minister said no organisation promoting religious conversions would be allowed to get funds from abroad. The government was aware of several organisations receiving foreign contributions illegally, he said, and reiterated that there
was constant monitoring of such cases, including surprise checks.
MEA labels Indo-Pak summit as 'informal bilateral meeting'
MEA officials admit that such intense media attention is unusual for a 'regular SAARC summit', and add that the Vajpayee-Sharief meet, on the fringes of the main event, has become the main event. "This is rather like what happened at the Male SAARC summit in 1997, when prime ministers Gujral and Sharief stole the thunder, or even at the recent G-8 summit when the subcontinent dominated the proceedings," said an MEA official.
Lankan Tamils will seek India's involvement to resolve ethnic crisis
As the SAARC leaders commence their summit in Colombo,
prayer campaigns will be launched in temples, churches and schools
in the embattled north for peace and Indian mediation to end the
war.
National Commission for Women goes headless at a critical time
For the commission to be rendered headless at a time when the question of reserving seats for women in legislatures in hanging fire, is evidence
that the government does not accord much importance to women's
concerns, say activists.
Kashmir renegades warn
of big spurt in insurgency
Four reformed extremists -- Papa Kishtwari, Umar
Mukhtar, Samad Khan and Javed Shah -- have warned the government that
the situation in the valley would become
worse than it was in 1989 if immediate
steps are not taken.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
Science, not law, has the way out of the Cauvery crisis
'In litigation, there can be no winner. Even if a court order is secured, it would be counter-productive to try and coerce a state into compliance. That would create further bitterness resulting in untold damage to our fragile federal system.'
Ayodhya isn't that Ayodhya, says archaeologist
A former ASI official says the modern Ayodhya shows no signs of having been a capital, and places Ram's capital around Banala, Haryana.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Things that happen in India
'What followed the horrific tragedy in which Srinivas's wife and his brother were killed is a nightmare. The police dragged their feet about accident reports. Things were stolen from the wrecked car. Medical help was near impossible to find. Bribes were expected or demanded every step of the way,' says Dilip D'Souza.
Excuse us, we are busy!
'The card players's total indifference to what was happening around them was unique. They were men, I am sure, who had problems at home and at their workplaces. They must have been worried over promotion and increment chances, inflation, college admission for their sons and daughters, health problems and so on. But for the hour-long train journey, all these were forgotten as they focused on the cards,' says V Gangadhar.
Maharashtra: Joshi sacks minister as opposition stalls house proceedings
Judge tries to wash away predecessor's 'untouchability' with Ganga water
Tuesday's Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha saw
several members on their feet seeking government action
in a case where the chamber occupied by
a Scheduled Caste judge was 'purified' with Ganga water by
his successor.
Where wedding bells never ring...
They tie the nuptial knot at the dead of
the night. Without the consent or knowledge
of parents. The parents only come to know that their daughter is married when she is seen
carrying firewood to some other
house early next
morning. Then they can take it that the owner
of the house is their
son-in-law.
TODAY'S WEATHER
Wet spell in parts of Assam, Meghalaya...
...and Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan
West Bengal, Sikkim, coastal
Karnataka and Kerala during the next
48 hours.
JULY 21
THE NUCLEAR CRISIS
India, US on verge of breakthrough
A ''clearer understanding of each other's security concerns'' has emerged at the third round of official talks between the two countries on Monday. An official statement issued after US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott's meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said ''certain steps in the direction of addressing those concerns are contemplated''.
Indians talks tough at Indo-US talks
Senior South Block officials said India had not budged from its stand on the weaponisation programme and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. They said the Indian delegation had reiterated New Delhi's concerns about the security scenario in South Asia after the evident military link between China and Pakistan.
THE CAUVERY CRISIS
Centre may propose draft scheme on Cauvery
Indications are that the draft, based on the one circulated by the Centre among the four southern governments, may tilt towards the Tamil Nadu demand for 205 tmc ft waters, as per the Cauvery Waters Tribunal's interim award.
Cauvery issue may inspire Congress interest in forming govt
"Nothing will happen, the government will pull on," BJP general
secretary Venkaiah Naidu told Rediff On The NeT. Despite this confidence, that the government has taken the AIADMK leader's threat seriously is borne out by Naidu's assurance that the Cauvery issue will be addressed when the matter comes up before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Karnataka MPs warn of law & order problems if Centre takes TN line in Cauvery dispute
Imposition of any river valley authority for the Cauvery, without fully exploring the possibility of a settlement of the dispute through consultations, is bound to create 'serious problems' besides a law and order situation in the basin.
Tempers run high as Parliament plumbs Cauvery
Members from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka spat fire over water, rather the sharing of Cauvery waters. The government displayed tact, saying the matter is sub-judice. S M Krishna questioned the chair's refusal to allow him to speak.
Swamy accuses Vajpayee of impotency, but not in the Viagra sense!
The Lok Sabha had a sensitive question to settle while discussing the Cauvery issue: Is the word 'impotent' unparliamentary?
OTHER TOP STORIES
Seven killed in Pak shelling
Seven people, including a girl and five
security personnel, lost their lives in heavy artillery
and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops. The incident occurred in
in the Gurez and Uri sectors of north Kashmir in the past 36 hours.
BJP chief sees no threat to government, says defection law should go
Kushabhau Thakre admitted that
the coalition government at the Centre had been facing
troubles from its allies. However, the government had been able to
overcome the troubles through mutual dialogue and understanding, he said, addressing party workers in Jaipur.
Ram temple construction to start in 2001: VHP
On Ekadesi day in the month of Karthik in 2001, to be exact, says VHP international secretary general Giriraj Kishore.
Pakistan pumping advanced weapons into Kashmir says defence ministry
In a calculated bid to step up its proxy war to wrest Kashmir, Pakistan is pumping in increasingly sophisticated arms into the state. Arms ranging from Chinese-made rocket launchers, anti-aircraft machine guns and US-made anti-armour weapons have been seized by Indian troops recently.
Navy's 'Sea Bird' fails to take off
Even after 12 years of revving engines, Asia's biggest sophisticated naval base project is still on its tarmac in Kanwar, Karnataka. Now Defence Minister George Fernandes promises to do his best to give it momentum.
Indo-Nepal talks fail, Kalapani remains disputed territory
A three-day meeting of the Nepal-India technical group of survey officials has failed to determine the status of Kalapani, located 475 kilometres west of Kathmandu and under Indian occupation since the 1962
Sino-India conflict.
India has second highest number of teen brides in Asia
The latest issue of Progress of nations, a UNICEF
publication, says six per cent of the males and 38 per cent of
females in the 15 to 19 age group are either married or
cohabiting in India.
The woman who brought about 'mothers's empowerment'
On April 18, the UGC directed that all universities should take appropriate action to include mothers's name
in college and university admission forms, degrees and
certificates. Meet Dr Amita Ahuja, the lady who made this possible.
Govt reiterates commitment to electoral reforms
Changes relating to the expenses, state funding, anti-defection law and speedy disposal of electoral disputes, among other things, are under discussion, said Union Law Minister M Thambidurai.
Plant gene will strangle Indian agriculture, warn experts
''It is nothing short of biotechnological warfare,'' says food expert Devinder Sharma, referring to the gene developed in the US that causes seeds to ''self-destruct'' after producing a single crop
JMM jumps on the Yadavs' RLM bandwagon, promises new era
The RLM would hold a rally in Lucknow on August 9 and after that an action plan would be unveiled to
launch a nation wide stir against injustices heaped on weaker
sections.
THE REDIFF SPECIAL
Filigree -- a delicate art cries from its death bed
The 'silver city' of Cuttack in Orissa is but a shadow of its
former self today. Increasing commercialisation coupled with
governmental apathy seems to be tolling the death knell for the
silver filigree work for which the city was renowned from the Mughal
era.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
A Stupid, Senseless Ban
'The ban on the Godse play makes a mockery out of everything Gandhi stood for.
What is worse, those who have so raucously demanded the ban in Parliament
have neither read the play nor watched it. Those who have (like Tughlak)
dictated the ban from Delhi have not read it nor watched it. And (surprise
surprise) those who have imposed the ban in Bombay have also not read it
nor watched it. In fact, they have gone one step further and also banned the
Gujarati version which has been running to packed houses for over sixty
shows,' says Pritish Nandy.
•
Bangalore barber celebrates Mandela's b'day... in his own way!
Muthuraj, with the help of 120 likeminded hair-trimmers, marked
the occasion by giving haircuts to nearly 5,000 people in the city.
TODAY'S WEATHER
Wet spell to continue in South India
Heavy rains are likely to occur at isolated places in costal Karnataka,
Kerala and Lakshadweep
during the next 48 hours.
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