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May 22
Bengal BJP 'revolts' against central leadership's pact with Mamata
The party's West Bengal unit today plunged into one of its worst-ever crises over the seat sharing arrangement with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul Congress for next month's Calcutta municipal election. The state BJP has decided not to contest the civic poll.
India rebuilds defences a year after Kargil: Reuters
India's military establishment has raised a new corps to defend the frozen Himalayan heights of Kargil, launched an arms-buying spree and ordered a review of the nation's security system.
Curfew imposed in Tripura after massacre: Reuters
The state's acting chief minister, Anil Sarkar, said that while 14 deaths have been confirmed in the Baghber attack, the toll could rise as a number of people had been injured.
Broadcast Bill may follow convergence law: Jaitley
The minister said the Broadcasting Bill was presently with the Group on Telecom Convergence and the government would be in a position to introduce it only after drafting the Convergence Law.
Now, Sri Lankan deputy foreign minister visits Sathya Sai Baba!
Amid speculation about the nature of his visit to Bangalore, police sources confirmed that the Lankan minister was on a private visit, having come to address a spiritual gathering on Sunday at Sathya Sai Baba's ashram.
Haryana villagers angry over Fiji leader's ouster
The Fijian leader belongs to a tiny hamlet (population: 3,000) situated at the Hissar highway barely 10 km from Rohtak. His grandfather Shriram Singh migrated to Fiji in 1912 when the British government sent Indian labour to the tiny island nation to work in the sugarcane fields.
May 21
10 killed in Tripura, curfew imposed
The Assam Rifles and central paramilitary forces staged a flag march following ethnic and extremist violence that killed 10 persons and injured 16 others since Friday night in Khowai.
Foreign tourist shot at in Srinagar
Gunmen shot at and wounded Czech national Povel Hadil at Khanyar in Old City. The tourist received an injury on his upper right thigh, but was allowed to go after treatment.
Lanka rejects Tigers' offer, vows to fight on
The Sri Lankan government said troops fighting the LTTE in Jaffna would not surrender, nor were there any contingency plans to withdraw them.
Norwegian team to visit Lanka
A delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Raymond Johansen is to arrive on May 22 in an attempt to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table.
BJP bows down to Mamata on Calcutta poll
The BJP has agreed to put up just 23 candidates for the election. State BJP leaders have been advised to avoid any clash with the Trinamul Congress on this matter.
SPECIALS
'Their discipline and self-restraint was a sign of their professionalism'
'But it was wasted on their adversaries. Indeed, the whole UN presence in Sierra Leone felt, in retrospect, like the collision of two mutually uncomprehending moral systems. It was as if Gandhi had tried practising civil disobedience on the Soviets.'
'Our growing relationship with the US is not at the expense of India-China relations'
'We still believe in non-alignment. When we talk China to the US, we also talk US to China. We don't hide one from the other,' says India's Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra. In Real Audio.
FROM THE ECONOMIST
No dash to the dustbin
'The challenge to the NPT comes from the weaknesses in the international safeguards against proliferation. Although all NPT members are supposed to have safeguards deals with the International Atomic Energy Agency, some still do not.'
All according to the law
'The uncertainty about the regime's legitimacy is over, at least in the eyes of the law. The junta has been empowered to deal effectively with the myriad problems facing Pakistan without having to worry about tiresome court battles. So there is no room for excuses any more.'
INTERVIEW
'This is not the time to indulge in manipulative politics'
'Soniaji relies on senior members like Arjun Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Natwar Singh and N D Tiwari. She is a good listener and then formulates her views. But if these people speak in two voices, what can be done?' Vasant Sathe, in a frank interview.
OTHER REPORTS
Gupta's days in office are numbered
A BJP general secretary said, 'Ram Prakash Guptaji is on his way out, that is certain. But whether it will be soon or will take a few more months depends on his ability to persuade the prime minister and the party leadership to give him more time to prove his mettle.'
Unseasonal rains bring relief to Rajasthan
Unseasonal rains in May, at the height of summer, are traditionally not a good omen in Rajasthan. But this year there were few complaints.
Karnataka's intransigence upsets TN
The Tamil Nadu government is upset that Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna 'boycotted' Friday's meeting of the Cauvery River Waters Authority.
Jolt for YSR as Kotla man becomes AP Congress president
'He [Satyanarayana Rao] has been picked up from virtual political wilderness. He does not command support even in his home district,' said a senior leader.
May 20
Militants' rockets miss J&K assembly bldg
An attempt was made this morning to blow up the State assembly building in the heart of the capital city, even as night curfew was imposed in the entire border district of Kupwara.
India condemns Fijian coup attempt
Seven armed men took Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and seven of his Cabinet colleagues hostage in the capital Suva.
Hurriyat leaders deny talks with Centre
A fortnight after the release of the Hurriyat leaders and their return to the valley, Abdul Ghani Bhat denied any knowledge of the GoI's reported attempt to break the ice with them.
INTERVIEW
'The Chinese suspect India and the US will get together against Beijing'
'There is no warmth or trust in our relationship, elements which are clearly seen in the China-Pakistan relationship. And without such warmth, our relations cannot progress.' China expert Professor Giri Deshingkar on the President's forthcoming visit to Beijing.
SPECIALS
'We are not a war-making force'
Indian troops are now trying to restore peace in troubled Sierra Leone. How does the Indian Army carry out its brief, in an alien land where it is difficult to distinguish friend from foe? New York Times correspondent James Traub went recently to the frontlines to find out. Another rediff.com exclusive.
'We've not cut any deal with the US'
India's Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra responds to charges that New Delhi and Washington have reached an agreement on Kashmir. In Real Audio.
'Unless they see somebody dying from AIDS, they won't understand'
'Mentally ill women roam around the streets don't take a bath, don't dress properly, still men have sex with them. I must tell you, you cannot change men's behaviour at all.'
The Day's Images
Bollywood to the rescue of drought affected...and more.
OTHER REPORTS
The Indian who fought the war in Chechnya
Satyanarayan, a student of medicine at the Dagestan State Medical Academy in the Republic of Dagestan, was released recently by Chechen rebels after almost two years' of captivity.
'BJP does not care for cow protection'
'Uttar Pradesh Gau Sewa Ayog was formed only to accommodate a few party favourites', said its secretary R C Dikshit.
French defence minister begins India visit
Officials said talks could lead to an arms purchase by the Indian armed forces.
Goa court's exemplary sentence for rash driving
A lower court in Goa has sentenced a car driver to one-year imprisonment for negligent driving and causing the death of a scooterist.
Maulana Ludhianavi's killing sparks trouble
Maulana Ludhianvi, a leader of the Sunni Aalmi Tehrik Khatme Nabuwat, was assassinated by some unidentified men on Thursday.
COLUMNS
From Plassey to Panskura
'The effects of the Battle of Panskura will not be as far-reaching as those of Plassey, yet I believe that its ripples will be felt across India,' says T V R Shenoy.
At long last, containing China
'For China, the threat of an encroaching Indian naval presence will further undermine any potential Sino-Indian reconciliation and co-operation,' says Rajeev Srinivasan.
May 19
Lankan defence chief prays at Puttaparthy
Authoritative sources in the defence services and diplomatic circles ruled out any official engagement for the Sri Lankan chief, whose men are caught in a bloody battle with the LTTE rebels.
Indian Navy ships move closer to Lanka
'This is a routine military exercise in conflict zones to send an operational readiness message to the enemy, in this case to the LTTE,' a top naval officer told rediff.com
Heavy rains disrupt train services in Bombay
'Unseasonal' overnight rains continued to play havoc with the residents of Bombay, as Central Railway's
main and harbour lines as well as Western Railway trains came to a grinding halt.
Tired CBI may go to Prabhakar to get the info
Speaking to rediff.com, the sports minister said the government was not keeping a day-to-day tab on the investigations, but if need be it would ask for a report from the agency.
SPECIAL
Today's Images
Europe comes calling. The German foreign minister and French defence minister in Delhi.
OTHER REPORTS
'Dowry demand, no. Wife-beater, maybe'
Gyanendra Pandey's family members, who do not acquit him of the charge of assaulting his wife, flatly ruled out the possibility of the cricketer making any dowry demands.
J&K's first census in 20 years begins
The census, which is being completed in two phases, began on Tuesday with the first stage due to end on June 5. The last census in the troubled state was conducted in 1981.
Tigers claim army base, many dead
The LTTE said in a statement that heavily armed commando units, backed by artillery and mortar bombardment, wrested control of the Kaithadi army base after 12 hours of ferocious combat.
Lankan defence chief in India to discuss war
Sri Lanka's defence chief General Rohan De Silva Daluvatte is in India on a four-day visit to discuss the war between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops in the island.
CBI to approach Interpol in IC 814 hijack case
The investigating agency will approach Interpol in the coming days and request it to facilitate the arrest of the
main accused in the hijack of Indian Airline's IC 814 flight.
India ready for any Pak mischief, says govt
The Centre has suggested that the state administration be revamped in the wake of the brutal murder of Minister of State for Power Ghulam Hassan Bhat. It suspects that some employees have 'compromised' security in the state.
COLUMN
The ugly Indian
'How can New Delhi even entertain the idea of equating the Chandrika Kumaratunga government with Prabhakaran's LTTE when the latter is a fascist, brutal, set-up which India has already banned,' asks Kuldip Nayar.
Hard decision on Sri Lanka
'The time has come to put our money where our mouth is. By helping Sri Lanka militarily now we would have once and for all demonstrated our determination to preserve the territorial integrity of not only our neighbouring states but also of India itself,' says Admiral J G Nadkarni (retd)
May 18
Sierra Leone's rebel leader captured
Foday Sankoh was taken to the compound of former military ruler Johnny Paul Koroma before being transferred to Cockerill Barracks.
No plan to recall Maj Gen Jaitley
Jaitley has come in for criticism from several quarters, including UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, for his handling of the Sierra Leone crisis.
Two cheating cases against Manoj Prabhakar
The superintendent of police, Nainital, Ashish Mehrotra, said no arrests had been made so far in either of the cases and the investigations were still on.
19 killed in Sri Lankan blast
Sources said 42 civilians and 21 security personnel were injured in the blast near Managalaramaya Vihara, close to the Batticaloa police station at 5.55 pm.
Lanka seeks Gill's help in war against LTTE
Asked if it would not be wrong for him to accept the offer when the government has refused military assistance, Gill said he was not a government servant and hence not bound by its decisions.
INTERVIEWS
'I can't wait to get home'
Miss Universe Lara Dutta tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'Mahesh, Leander agonised for over a year'
'They will have to first rekindle their trust in each other and if they click in the Olympics, who knows, in 2001 they could probably be together again,' says Dr Vece Paes of the split between his son and Mahesh Bhupati.
SPECIALS
'I am scared. Please don't leave me here'
The shocking story of how mentally unstable women in Tamil Nadu are being infected by the dreaded AIDS virus.
Krishna's Cabinet sheds flab with herbal drink
Quite a few Congress ministers have started consuming a herbal drink sponsored by an American company that promises to 'burn cholestrol' and reduce weight quickly.
OTHER REPORTS
CBI probe ordered into Faizabad blast
Expressing deep concern over the blast, the UP chief minister said: "There is sufficient reason to believe that the blast was targeted at Mahantji."
Pak hands over body of civilian at Wagah
Emotional scenes were witnessed when the body of Satpal, reportedly a Military Intelligence agent,
was handed over to BSF officials by the Pakistan Rangers at the Wagah joint check-post.
17 militants killed in encounters in Kashmir
Troops gunned down 17 militants in separate encounters in Kashmir, as two civilians and two soldiers were also killed in unabated violence in the state, the police said on Wednesday.
NDA's partners in Tamil Nadu still confused
What has not gone unnoticed is the chief minister's assertion that popular support for the LTTE has gone down following the killings of moderate Sri Lankan Tamil politicians.
HC seeks report on Delhi's quake measures
The Centre has been told to to submit a report on preventive steps being taken to make buildings quake-proof, especially when experts have warned that the capital is in a potential danger zone.
Indigenous Assamese issue irks Bodos
The ABSU has rejected the move to make the National Register of Citizens of 1951 as the basis for identifying 'indigenous Assamese.'
Major shift in UK stand on J&K: Jaswant
The UK government has expressed happiness over the action already taken by the Indian authorities in addressing human rights issues.
Train services collapse as rains lash Bombay
Showers continued to lash Bombay for the third consecutive day today. Central Railway services were affected following
signal failures at Diva, Dombivili and Kalyan stations.
33 get bail in Christian attack case
They were arrested in connection with the alleged attack on tribal Christians at Abhona village in Kalvan tehsil of Nashik district on May 10.
Militarisation of children a growing trend
At least 300,000 children under the age of 18 are currently taking part in hostilities around the world. Afghanistan, Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are the hot-spots.
COLUMN
The Sri Lankan crisis: India's misplaced priorities
'Greater dishonour will come to India, the regional influencer, letting a terrorist group win the war with horrendous implications for India and Sri Lanka,' says Major General Ashok K Mehta (retd).
May 17
UP cricketer Gyanendra Pandey arrested
He was arrested following a complaint lodged by his father-in-law, on a charge of brutally beating up his wife.
India to acquire T-90 tanks, AJTs
Defence Minister George Fernandes has said the price negotiating committee would soon take a decision. He said other formalities including field trials had been completed.
Militants fire grenades in Srinagar city
Close on the heels of the killing of the power minister yesterday, militants early this morning fired rifle grenades on the heavily guarded Tagore Hall in the heart of Srinagar city. The building houses a recreation hall.
THE CRISIS IN SRI LANKA
44 Tamil guerrillas killed in Sri Lanka
Terrorists fired a barrage of artillery and mortars from the direction of Pooneryn, north across the Jaffna lagoon, forcing senior ground commanders of the army to shift their defences.
Kumaratunga rejects cease-fire pact
But, she said, her government was ready for talks with the militant group provided LTTE chief V Prabhakaran was brought to the negotiating table.
Kadirgamar opposes censorship in Lanka
Asked whether it could be seen as defiance of the Lankan president's order, the minister hoped that Kumaratunga would 'certainly engage in a very informed debate on this very important question'.
SPECIAL
Prabhakaran's mom fights paralysis in TN
After a paralytic stroke she suffered a couple of months back, Parvathi now talks little and is mostly bed-ridden. "It was in the making, given her advancing age and all the tension she has faced in the last decade or so," said a neighbour.
OTHER REPORTS
PM rejects Congress demand for roll back
He said the unwanted politicisation of the issue would also prevent the government from fully grasping the new opportunities which our skills and technologies offer.
Ex-wife takes Chetan Chauhan to court
The South Delhi police filed charges against the former test player in March last year and the matter is currently pending before a women's court.
Top official leaves for J&K to assess situation
'The special secretary will meet state officials and leaders including Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and return in the evening to report to Advani,' a senior home ministry official told rediff.com.
Pak does not care much for politicians: Gallup
Most Pakistani parents want their sons to be armymen, their sons-in-law businessmen and their immediate neighbours doctors, according to the Pakistan Gallup Poll.
India, EU to cooperate in combating terrorism
India and the European Community have decided to jointly work against the menace of international terrorism while upgrading their political relationship to the summit level, Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh said today.
Six Sikhs killed near Lucknow
The victims included two women and one minor girl, district police chief Braj Bhushan Bakshi said today.
Faizabad remains tense
Yesterday, Mahant Ram Chandra Paramhans, who is known for his association with the Ram temple movement, suffered injuries in a bomb blast.
COLUMN
Affront on our own soil
'Instead of focussing on foreigners merely because they are women from Islamabad, our media will do well to catch up on their homework which will enable them to recognise and rebut the falsehood of the fakes who have the temerity to insult us on our own soil,' says Arvind Lavakare.
May 16
J&K power minister killed in landmine blast
Ghulam Hassan Bhat was on his way to Srinagar to attend office. Witnesses said the vehicle was blown apart, killing the minister and the four others travelling with him.
Bindra submits 360-page report to CBI
The former BCCI chief called for an end to tournaments in Sharjah, Toronto, Dhaka and Singapore, saying they encourage match-fixing.
India, Pak all set for more nuclear tests: Paper
The Pakistan Observer, an English-language daily, said Islamabad's preparations come in the wake of intelligence reports that India is all set to test a hydrogen bomb in Pokhran very soon.
SPECIAL
'Now I can see life as a prisoner'
Ramesh Menon on how Laloo Prasad Yadav spent his days in prison. A Rediff exclusive.
Today's Images
Sports. Politics. Fashion. And a royal visit.
INTERVIEW
'There is no strife between me and the PM'
Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel counters the many charges ranging from corruption to apathy levelled against his government.
THE SIERRA LEONE CRISIS
18 Grenadiers head for Sierra Leone
Vice chief of Army Lt Gen Chandrasekhar insisted that the battle-hardened Grenadiers' battalion, accompanied by a special team of Para Commandos, was going only on a peacekeeping mission.
Seven Indian soldiers released
Revolutionary United Front rebels in Sierra Leone have allowed 18 UN peacekeepers - seven of them Indian -- to rejoin a UN battalion that is still surrounded by RUF forces.
Jesse Jackson to mediate
'The release of our soldiers on Sunday was a positive signal. And the visit of Jesse Jackson only increases hopes for the safe return of our soldiers,' a senior army said.
OTHER REPORTS
PM deputes Fernandes to allay Christian fears
Fernandes met a number of senior Church leaders at Kochi on Sunday to assuage them on two crucial
issues -- the continuing attacks against priests and nuns and the controversial Christian Marriage Bill 2000.
Mid-term polls stare Maharashtra in the face
Every major political party in the state has begun positioning itself to be within striking distance of power, if and when elections are held.
Nazia Hasan fights lung cancer
Her husband Ishtiaq Baig has denied reports that they had divorced and he had married Pakistani actress Zeba Bakhtiar.
Goa shows the way in population control
According to the state's Family Welfare Bureau's chief medical officer, Emerico D'Souza, Goa has achieved one of the lowest net reproduction rate, infant mortality rate and death rate due to various factors.
Jairam Ramesh is sorry, meets Sonia
Party spokesperson Margaret Alva, who released a copy of Ramesh's letter to the press, said he met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday and discussed the matter with her.
7 Latur pilgrims die in AP bus mishap
A tourist bus overturned and fell into a gorge between Pedda Dornala and Srisailam pilgrim town on Sunday night.
Badal rakes up Uttaranchal issue again
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today demanded the setting up of a boundary commission comprising a
Supreme Court judge to determine if Udham Singh Nagar district should be included in the proposed Uttaranchal state.
Kamtapur rebels a fresh cause for worry
The Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, the Kamtapur Peoples Party and the All Kamtapur Students Union
are all fighting for the formation of a separate state of Kamtapur for Rajbanshis in northern Bengal.
Pak unrepentant about Kargil
General Pervez Musharraf's information adviser says his country has an open stand on Kashmir and therefore there was no need to hold an inquiry into the Kargil episode as India had done.
COLUMN
Laughing all the way to the inquiry
'By now, surely, anybody who is so much as awake in India knows just what an inquiry is: something the government institutes when it does not want to actually act,' says Dilip D'Souza.
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