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SEPTEMBER 6
Pak shells kill six more in Kargil
The Jammu and Kashmir town, a senior police officer said, was more or less deserted. And so are the neighbouring villages. "Only one male member has stayed back to look after the house and livestock," he said.
India willing to destroy N-weapons if others did the same, says Vajpayee
In a clear message to the five-member exclusive
nuclear club on India's standpoint on nuclear
disarmament, even as he was under increasing
pressure from them to sign the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty, the prime minister declared
that the country will take the initiative to destroy
its weapons provided the other nuclear
countries reciprocated.
Differences surface among Congressmen on alliances
Congress sources pointed out that both Narain Dutt Tiwari and Jitendra Prasada stressed that as party leaders from UP, they had observed how the Congress had not gained from alliances but in fact had almost been wiped out from the state because of these electoral links. Both men made a strong plea for the party to desist from coalition politics.
Congress paper moots refusing tickets to criminal elements
The policy paper of the political affairs group of the Congress the politicians who had been losing their electoral appeal had been resorting to the use of muscle power for electoral manipulations and booth-capturing, thus opening the field for criminal elements.
Vajpayee back from 4-nation tour, happy with 'forward movement' in Indo-Pak talks
Talking to reporters at Delhi airport on his arrival on Saturday morning from his week-long tour, he said India was
prepared to discuss all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, with
Pakistan at the bilateral level and that modalities for the resumption of the official level dialogue
between the two countries had been drawn up.
Janata Dal leaders resent emerging electoral tie-up with Samata Party
Those irked by the JD's drift towards the SP said they would form a third front within the JD which will wage a real struggle against communal forces and corruption. Apart from the already existing anti-Laloo and pro-Laloo factions within the party, the third force will fight to build up the Dal as a true secular force, they said.
Gujarat's establishment closes ranks against World Bank study team on Narmada dam
At an all-party meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Keshubhai
Patel on Friday, political parties decided to hold a special one-day
session of the Vidhan Sabha before September 17 when
the World Commission on Dams sets foot in Gandhinagar, to voice popular sentiment on the sensitive Narmada issue. The 12-member commission, headed by Dr Kader Aslan, South Africa's water resources minister, had only two Indian members, Medha Patkar and L C Jain, dubbed by the dams' supporters as anti-development.
Panel okays proxy voting for defence staff
The proposal will now go to the Union Cabinet.
Dan Burton follows in bugbear Clinton's footsteps, admits to extra-marital affair
Dan Burton, the ever combative US congressman, who has
been the architect of several anti-India bills in the congress and who has the backing of many Khalistani activists, admitted on Friday that he had an extra-marital relationship and child in the early 1980s.
Income tax department cannot reassess Arjun Singh's mansion, court told
The senior Congress leader's counsel Kapil Sibal made this submission before the Madhya Pradesh high court.
President urged not to visit Vasco da Gama memorial in Portugal
The Deshpremi Nagrik Samiti, which is spearheading an anti- Portuguese agitation in Goa, has expressed fear that Narayanan may be persuaded by the Portuguese authorities to pay tributes to 'their hero'.
Step Aside Tussaud's, Southall is here!
Tourists to England will soon be making a beeline to Southall, home to one of the
largest concentrations of Asians, particularly Sikhs, in the country. The local Ealing council bosses are pumping in thousands of pounds to turn the west London suburb into a visitor hot spot.
Illegal immigrant says he was railroaded for rape
Thirty-year-old Dyhen Singh, who was returned to the Allegheny county jail, is scheduled to be retried on November 30. He is charged with sexually assaulting a 68-year-old woman who lived in his apartment building on Brown's Lane.
THE REDIFF SPECIAL
A Prayer for the Dying
It is a home where someone dies every day. Where the starved and diseased -- skins stretched over frail frames, infested with maggots, covered with faeces -- assemble. Some, with the last dredges of strength make it on their own, others are brought by ambulances, municipality vans, rickshaws or by relatives who have no use for a heap of human suffering anymore. Nirmal Hridaya, within the precincts of the Kalighat temple in Calcutta, was Mother Teresa's first home. It was also the one closest to her heart.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
One for all, and all for one
'Why do we not see it fit to encourage our own Muslims to lead the efforts at integration, why must the majority be seen as the only group with the legitimacy to lead? And so it is with caste -- I want a society where Brahmins and other upper castes will stand up and demand that our priests be drawn from all castes,' says Ashwin Mahesh.
Rats!
'So far in my life, I had got along reasonably well with rats. I left them alone. They left me alone. During my boyhood, I was not impressed with the Pied Piper of Hamelin. My sympathies were with the rats. At home, an occasional rat or two caught my attention, but I just hoped it would go away. Most times, the rat did, and I was quite happy with that. But these days...'V Gangadhar's brave battle with the rodents.
SEPTEMBER 5
Sonia tears into BJP's ideology, policies
Addressing the party's Pachmarhi orientation camp, she underscored the Congress's belief in India being one nation, plural cultures and diverse people. This, she pointed out, was India's strongpoint for centuries and pledged not to allow politics to divide the people, inflame religious passions, ignite caste tensions and fan regional sentiments.
Germany all set to roll red carpet on Narayanan's first tour since Pokhran II
President K R Narayanan begins his first foreign visit after India went
nuclear on Sunday, when he pays a state visit to Germany, Portugal,
Luxembourg and Turkey for a fortnight. His visit to Germany, in particular, assumes significance since Bonn had criticised the Pokhran blasts on May 11 and 13.
South Africa takes back remarks on Kashmir
Matter settles after Vice-President Thabo Mbeki
apologises to Vajpayee for the episode. It should
not be construed as his country being interested
in interfering in India's internal affairs, he said.
NAM declaration backs India's call for disarmament conference in 1999
The 150-page Durban Declaration, issued late on Thursday night, also contains no critical reference to India and Pakistan for conducting nuclear tests and is considered as a diplomatic victory for New Delhi.
Indian pressure makes NAM revise nuclear stand
The original formulation, which was dropped, expressed deep
concern at the re-emergence of a nuclear arms race and called upon
all states which have the capability to produce nuclear weapons to
refrain from weaponising this capability and to desist from placing
them on a delivery system.
Pakistan breaks détente, raises Kashmir at NAM
"We are afraid that the lack of progress on the Kashmir issue
would lead to a further deterioration in the security environment in
the South Asian region," Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz said
in his address at the summit, barely ten hours after the
foreign secretaries of the two countries agreed to give the required
push to the process of resumption of the official-level dialogue.
2,500-km plus Agni-II almost ready
The development of the superior Agni-II has reached a
definitive stage and will be testfired in the 'very near future', defence
ministry sources said.
Retirement age of army, air force staff increased
The government notified an across-the-board two-year increase in the retirement age of personnel of the two services, excepting those belonging to the medical services.
TN gears up for plethora of rallies
Tamil Nadu will be abuzz with political activity during the next fortnight, with as many as six parties holding rallies in Madras and elsewhere in the state to send out political signals about their future strategies.
ITBP calls off rescue operations in Malpa
More than 400 ITBP personnel were involved in the operation, code-named 'White Horse'.
Convicted nanny's 'innocence' claim upsets Eappens
Twenty-year-old Louise Woodward, who was convicted with the involuntary manslaughter of eight-month-old Baby Mathew, now says: television added to the stress and notoriety with which she now has to live.
THE REDIFF SPECIAL
Mother Teresa, The Legacy
On September 5 last year, Mother Teresa passed into the ages, leaving behind memories, and the awesome legend of her life and times. The sounds of global mourning soon gave place to a Cassandra chorus. 'It is,' the voices of doom proclaimed, 'the end. Not just of the Mother, but of the mission she made her own.'
Archana Masih and Jewella C Miranda spent a week in Calcutta. Meeting the Missionaries of Charity, monitoring their work, wandering among the poor, the ailing and the dispossessed, who were the Mother's natural constituency.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Who's to blame for India's nuclear ambition?
'India expected sympathy and help from like-minded friends in much the same way as Gandhi and Malcolm X did. However, just as Gandhi and Malcolm X came to the painful conclusion that their brown skin will never be overlooked by the Whites whatever they do, India has come to the decision that disregarding the West is the only course left to them.' Arun Gandhi's explanation for India going nuclear.
Assam: 35 feared drowned in Dhemaji
West Bengal: Actor Anup Kumar dead
West Bengal: Flood toll touches 42
Jammu and Kashmir: Pak shells kill woman in Kargil
Uttar Pradesh: Red Cross to make international appeal for flood relief
TODAY'S WEATHER
Wet spell in parts of North East
Heavy rains are likely to occur at isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next 48 hours.
SEPTEMBER 4
Vajpayee rebuffs Mandela, rejects outside mediation in Kashmir
'Let me say this loud and clear: there is no place for third
party involvement in this process, howsoever well intentioned,'
the prime minister asserted in his speech at the NAM summit on Thursday.
India, Pakistan finally break the ice
Announcing this in Durban, principal secretary to the prime minister,
Brajesh Mishra said the deadlock on the modalities has been resolved
and a broad understanding reached on the procedure for the initiation of official-level talks that broke down last year.
Pak says differences with India have been narrowed down
Pakistani Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed said the
series of talks with his Indian counterpart K Raghunath has
proved fruitful in narrowing down the gap in approaches of the two
countries in resuming the talks.
Surjeet meets Sonia, sets terms for support
The meeting -- on the eve of the Congress's brainstorming session at Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh -- assumes significance, since the Congress leadership is expected to come out with major
policy decisions on the political situation, economic and foreign affairs, organisational matters and the agriculture sector.
NAM steers clear of India's nuclear tests, calls for global elimination of N-weapons
The agreement came only after heated debate between the Indian representatives and their South African counterparts in the political sub-committee on nuclear disarmament on the adoption of NAM's position on nuclear proliferation.
BJP takes Mandela to task for raising Kashmir at NAM
Party vice-president K L Sharma said Mandela had departed from the convention that no bilateral issue should be raised by the NAM.
Mandela assuages India
The South African president said his remarks on Kashmir were not aimed at hurting India's sentiments and should be seen in
the general context of the international political and security
scenario.
Pakistan hails Mandela's reference to J&K
Says it fully recognised the desire of the international community for immediate resolution of the contentious issue.
BJP won't snap ties with AIADMK on its own
BJP vice-president Jana Krishnamurthy said the alliance may be called 'a marriage of convenience. But my party would not say talaq.'
Congress's Pachmarhi session set to take off amid security phalanx
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the
hill resort and neighbouring areas as more than 20 invitees figure
in the Z or Z plus security category.
Jethmalani confirms he wrote to PM about conduct of some officials
Disclosing that the complaint was made in the context of the Central Vigilance Commission ordinance, the Union urban affairs minister said that the document in its present form was not the last word.
Mulayam dares Centre to sack Rabri Devi
Asked about Samata Party leader and Railway Minister Nitish Kumar's statement that the Rabri Devi government's days were numbered, Yadav said those who know the people's pulse in Bihar would never recommend removal of the state government.
Jaya's ex-aide Natarajan tries to take the tough route to power
On Tuesday, M Natarajan, former confidant of the AIADMK's Jayalalitha Jayaram, set out on foot from Kanyakumari. His ostensible aim: to highlight Tamil Nadu's successive misrule. His real aim which his aides openly admit to: rule from Fort St George in Madras.
Rabbani seeks Indian support to oust Taliban
The Indian prime minister assures the deposed Afghan president full diplomatic, moral and political support.
Incestuous brother gets off lightly to spare sister greater distress
Under the new offer -- which has to be accepted in about four weeks - the brother has to plead guilty. A judge will then decide whether the boy has to go to jail for about two years or be put on probation and asked to do community service.
Sharief's pro-Islam law incurs critics' wrath
The Pakistan prime minister comes under fire for resorting to the Islamic legal system to counter criticism from fundamentalist groups, to appeal to religion given difficult economic times in the wake of
the May nuclear tests.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
Mandela ditched old friend India to please US
'The South African president could not but have been aware that his uncalled for utterances would grievously hurt India and raise serious doubts over whether the present South African leadership truly appreciates India's frontline role in the battle against apartheid and colonialism or, having used India to its advantage during White majority rule, is now eager to please countries whose unfriendly attitude towards India is no secret,' says Kanchan Gupta.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Three myths
T V R Shenoy on the odd ideas people have about the BJP.
Maharashtra: Chain-snatcher gets 111 years in jail
TODAY'S WEATHER
Heavy rain forecast in the north-east
Likely to occur at isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during the next 48 hours.
SEPTEMBER 3
India, Pak agree to go beyond Kashmir in talks
After a 30-minute meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz in Durban on Wednesday, Prime Minister Vajpayee said the
two sides agreed to restart the talks which broke down due to
Islamabad's insistence of taking up the core issue of Kashmir on a
priority basis.
Rao, Kesri followers not welcome at Congress's Pachmarhi session
Those whose invitations were withdrawn maintained that the primary aim behind dropping them was to prevent dissent at the session.
They felt that party president Sonia Gandhi was afraid that the
session would be "hijacked" by her critics, and so
inspired the withdrawal of the names of those
she perceived to be trouble-makers.
Mandela opens NAM summit with focus on Kashmir
The two-day Non-Aligned summit began in Durban on Wednesday
with chairperson Nelson Mandela stating that the Kashmir issue,
which remains a ''concern for all of us'' be resolved through
peaceful negotiations. Incidentally, this is for the first time that the Kashmir issue is being highlighted at any NAM summit.
'Rubbish', says India about reports that it has been isolated at NAM
''We were not isolated and a number of countries appreciated our
stand on nuclear disarmament,'' a senior Indian government official
said.
India resents Clinton's advice to Russia on ceasing defence aid
India on Wednesday took strong exception to United
States President Bill Clinton's plea to Russia to stop supply of
critical defence equipment to New Delhi, stating that cooperation
between the two countries was transparent and did not violate any
international agreements.
Maldivian women seek Rs 100 million compensation in ISRO case
Initiating legal proceedings against Chief Minister E K Naynar and 11 others, Mariam Rasheeda and Fousiya Hassan have sought compensation for 'malicious prosecution, illegal detention, torture and defamation'.
New vigilance chief says he 'will be a gold fish in a glass bowl'
N Vittal, who will take charge as the country's first chief
vigilance commissioner, says it is the system which would need to be changed to curb corruption.
Supreme Court stays Phoolan arrest
Order stymies non-bailable warrants issued by a Kanpur court in connection with criminal cases pending against the bandit queen.
'Nishant' successfully testfired
The indigenously built unmanned air vehicle's flight target demonstrated its capabilities in accurate navigation to designed target points and in flying extended missions lasting several hours with electro-optic and photographic payloads.
Fake immigrant lawyer arrested in New York
Curtis Van Stuyvesant has possibly collected over $1 million from
immigrants, including a substantial number of Indians. Right now, though, prosecutors in New York say that they have enough evidence to show that he has cheated 300 clients for nearly $400,000.
Justice delayed is a cremation denied
Ten years he guarded his son's desiccated body. On Monday, Kunhan Thankappan, finally relinquished the body, handing it over to the flames that were cheated of it a decade ago. Thankappan was satisfied that justice was finally being done after he assured himself the Central Bureau of Investigation was on the right track.
THE REDIFF SPECIALS
'The most dangerous of all my trips...'
For B Navindra Karkera, even spending 26 years in the merchant navy did not prepare him for the events of August 14. As the rest of his countrymen were preparing to usher in the 51st anniversary of the country's independence, he found himself and his crew taken into custody by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam off Point Pedro coast, witnessed his ship, 'M V Princess Kash' being bombed by Lankan jets, and lived through a gunfight between the navy and the LTTE. Now back in Bombay, to Karkera, his ordeal has left him with not unpleasant thoughts about the rebels for a separate homeland in the Lankan northeast. Syed Firdaus Ashraf met him for a first person account of his travails.
Soft drink ad featuring cow gets Hindus' goat in Berkshire
Devotees at the Slough temple were taken aback last week in Berkshire when they read the huge poster for the soft drink, Irn-Bru, as they went to pray. The controversial advertisement features a cow, considered a sacred animal, saying: 'When I'm a burger, I want to be washed down with Irn-Bru.' The manufacturer, drinks giant AG Barr Limited, admits to having received a flood of complaints about the ads, but refuses to withdraw the offending poster campaign.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Articles Of Faith
'No, he went to the pulsating heart of the matter instead. He and his colleagues called the report and the judge himself "biased" and "anti-Hindu"; it would, they said, produce "false propaganda" about Hindus. Saying all this, Joshi indignantly dismissed the Srikrishna report. Indeed. In these communally heated times, the charge of being "anti-Hindu" Hindus -- never mind the truth -- is a potent one indeed,' says Dilip D'Souza.
Our Man In Havana
'Cuba happens to be a fully integrated society, where all colour bars and ethnic distinctions have been demolished even as the revolution has marched forward. That apart, the leaders of the revolution continue to be, even at the end of 40 long years, very much a part of the people. Were parliamentary elections organised in conditions that are either similar or identical to prevailing notions in western democracies, an overwhelming proportion of the Cubans -- one can lay a wager --would vote for the revolution,' says Ashok Mitra.
Karnataka: Wodeyar moves high court seeking possession of Mysore palace
Uttar Pradesh: Floods hit 46 districts
The glad saga of a pregnant lady
Champa Kali doesn't know the name of the man who got her into trouble. But in trouble, she is -- there's no doubting that. And pretty far gone, too, by the look of her.
TODAY'S WEATHER
Wet spell in parts of Bengal
Heavy rains are likely to occur at isolated places in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar during the next 48 hours.
SEPTEMBER 2
Pak suffers major diplomatic setback
Pakistani representatives worked round the clock for the last few
days to convince and persuade NAM members to accept its proposal
for a common resolution on Afghanistan and Sudan but there were
not many takers for their theory. After that Pakistan was left with no option but to give up its efforts.
SA says it will push India-Pak dialogue, mum on discord over N-issue
South African Vice-President Thabo Mbeki said the issue was being debated at the political affairs committee meeting of the NAM ministers, and refused to divulge whether South Africa had differences with India on the nuclear disarmament issue. Pretoria's stand on this
issue was already known, he said.
Vajpayee-Kabila talk places India in awkward position
Diplomats are making every effort to play down the impact of the incident. But South Africa and Rwanda continue to be unhappy with the development.
Sonia aides tell her to wield the carrot-and-stick
The party leadership has taken cognisance of the recent criticism emanating from the likes of former party chiefs Sitaram Kesri and P V Narasimha Rao, and plans to do something about it.
Signing CTBT won't affect N-capability: Pak
But Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Siddique Kanju told parliament that the nation will not sign if its arm is twisted by economic sanctions.
Pak opposition vows to defeat Islamic law
Nawaz Sharief's proposed new Islamic order would
undermine the constitution, wreck the state institutions
and threaten the country's unity, said opposition politicians.
CPI-M collects Rs 40 million for EMS academy
The amount was collected by the party cadres and activists in just three days. CPI-M state secretary Chadayan Govindan said that the response, which belied the party's expectations, was the biggest tribute to the Communist patriarch.
'Hurricane Bonnie' plays havoc
As winds tearing at 75 miles per hour lashed at rooftops and waves clawed at beaches across North Carolina, Virginia and
Florida all of last week and thousands of people were evacuated from their homes, business people were not only worried about the damage to their properties but to tourism which brings in millions of dollars every year to the region.
Empty coffers will stall Kargil relocation
Considering the tremendous financial constraints that the state is presently under, it is highly improbable that any headway will be made towards relocation before New Year, feels JK Public Works Minister Akhoon.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Is it a mad hatter's party, or what..?
'Forget political parties, even individuals seem susceptible to the outbreak of Acquired Ideological Deficiency Syndrome. How else can I explain to myself the spectacle of Pritish Nandy, an editor I have always held in high esteem for his liberal views, being nominated to the Rajya Sabha on a Sena ticket and who is today reduced to defending the undefendable, like the goon attack on M F Husain? Or the sight of a Yashwant Sinha or George Fernandes plugging the BJP line as federal ministers?' asks Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
Brave New Media
'This is where the Internet can play a crucial role. As
a brave, new, alternative media combining the strengths
of both print and television. By being informed, intelligent,
affordable. By changing faster than newspapers and
TV channels ever can. By offering an amazing range
of options to choose from. By making choice itself
an article of faith,' says Pritish Nandy.
Maharashtra: No question of breaking off ties with Sena, says Mahajan
Madhya Pradesh: Vidhan Sabha ratifies reorganisation bill
Tamil Nadu: AIADMK ministers send legal notice to Tamil daily
Tamil Nadu: HC stays proceedings against health minister
Army busting at seams with goodies from Siachen
The Indian army is facing a curious, but nonetheless serious, problem in Siachen: clothes. Yes, clothes. Or rather, lack of storage space for the stuff.
TODAY'S WEATHER
Rough spell over Kerala
Heavy rains are likely to occur at isolated places in Kerala during
the next 48 hours.
SEPTEMBER 1
Advani recommends Rabri's removal
The home minister has met Narayanan and urged him to impose President's rule in Bihar, citing political violence and the worsening law and order problems in the state. But Vajpayee is said to be in a quandary as he fears that axing the Bihar government will force the AIADMK to renew its demand for the removal of the Karunanidhi government in Tamil Nadu.
Vajpayee seeks Namibian help to counter possible Pretoria offensive
By stopping over at Windhoek, the prime minister has sought to ensure that Namibia sticks to its pro-India stand at the NAM conference and thus throw a spanner in South Africa's works if diplomatic efforts fail. South Africa proposes to introduce a clause in the draft NAM declaration, harshly criticising India for conducting nuclear tests.
NAM okays India's proposal, calls for global meet on terrorism
The draft adopted by the meeting is similar to the one proposed
by Indian representatives at the summit, which suggested an
international action plan to combat terrorism, NAM secretariat
sources said.
India, Pak begin talk process again
Foreign Secretary K Raghunath holds extensive talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shamshad Ahmed in Durban during the NAM meet.
Cracks in AIADMK front exposed
Insiders also mention a personal reason for Jayalalitha
deciding to stay away from Madras when the Vajpayee-Advani
duo visits Madras on September 15. 'Erstwhile AIADMK allies like Chandra Shekhar as prime minister, and Rajiv Gandhi as the Congress president had called on her at her Poes Garden residence at the height of their alliance-formation. P V Narasimha Rao as prime minister turned down suggestions for a similar honour when Jayalalitha was chief minister. The AIADMK cadres would take it as a `snub', and a read a message in it if Vajpayee follows the
Rao precedent, as is only to be expected.'
Court dismisses plea seeking continued AIADMK support
The Madras high court said the shifting of loyalty, duty or principles of parties which had declared support to a political party to form a government could not be the subject matter for judicial review under
Article 226 of the Constitution.
MDMK favours unconditional support
Party general secretary Vaiko said even at the August 13 meeting of the front he had told Jayalalitha that the MDMK would discuss the question of continued support to the BJP-led government and intimate her of the outcome.
DMK, TMC may part ways
DMK president and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi himself had said
that the party would not stand in the way of the TMC parting
company with it, if it so desired.
Jethmalani plays dirty to one, nice to another
In a surprise move, the Union urban affairs and employment minister has divested ministry Secretary Kiran Aggarwal of important responsibilities, handing all these to Special Secretary S S Chattopadyay.
Puri Shankarachayra blasts Advani, Singhal
Dubbing the two leaders as 'dramatists', Swami Adhokshajanand Tirtha alleged that they were spreading anarchy by misusing religion. 'They are more dangerous than terrorists as the terrorists at least did not have any hidden agenda.'
Advani announces commission to rework Constitution
The panel would, in all probability, be initiated in September and have all subjects in its purview. However, "we would see that the basic structure of the Constitution is not affected at all," the home minister said.
Atal and I have a perfect relation: Advani
The home minister has described the reports of a rift
between him and the prime minister as absurd. ''This isn't the first time that writings of this nature have been seen in the press. It has been a perfect relationship over years -- over decades, rather. It still is and will always be,'' he said.
Goa CM calls for speaker's resignation
Dr Wilfred de Souza has said that Speaker Tomazinho Cardozo should resign from the post and allow the smooth functioning of the Vidhan Sabha. ''I hope wisdom will prevail on him in the larger interests of the state,'' he said.
Army, navy, air force chiefs to retire only at 62
The government has increased the retirement age of the three service chiefs from 60 to 62 years. However, their tenure of appointment -- three years -- has been kept intact.
13 Rajasthani MLAs join Congress
Better still for the party, the All India Indira Congress (socialist), led by former Union minister S I S Ram Ola, MP, merged with it.
Godse playwright cries for justice, guidance
''There is no justice in this country," lamented playwright Pradip Dalvi of the Mi Nathuram Godse Boltoy fame, readying to plead his case before the chief justice of Bombay high court, "I am ashamed of it!"
THE REDIFF INTERVIEW
'Soniaji is my leader. Sharad is my friend'
"Sharad Pawar is not the party. He does not even represent its sentiments nation-wide. Like all of us, he too has to go by what
everyone wants. And, as far as I know, Sonia Gandhi is what everyone wants. She is the one factor that holds together the Congress today..." Praful Patel, the strongest loyalist in Sharad Pawar's camp, speaks out to Pritish Nandy.
THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS
Plundering the Past
'All heritage-lovers are outraged by such desecration of the cultural past of Bombay. The state authorities are obviously suffering from some form of collective amnesia, although they claim to be proponents of Hindutva. Surely no devout Hindu would
tolerate the abuse of these ancient sites?' asks Darryl D'Monte.
Aren't Muslims Indians?
'We, as citizens of this country, have to hang our heads in shame. We are first Indians and then, and only then, anything else -- Muslim, Hindu, Christian or Parsi. The Mahatma often used to say that he was a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian, a Sikh etc. The followers of the Mahatma, notably, the Congress party, chose to ignore that great son of India, when power came into their hands,' says V C Bhaskaran.
Maharashtra: Marathwada to celebrate
Hyderabad liberation jubilee
TODAY'S WEATHER
Showers to continue over parts of NE
Heavy rains are likely to occur at isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next 48 hours.
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