Over 60 p.c. polling in final phase
The third and last phase of polling for the
four State Assemblies concluded on a ``satisfactory note''
barring Bihar where eight persons, including seven gangsters
attempting to capture booths, were killed. In Manipur, three
police personnel of the Manipur Rifles were killed and three
injured in an ambush on the convoy of a candidate. (A PTI report
from Patna said 12 people were killed in poll-related violence in
the State.)
India, China sign pact on WTO
India and China today signed an agreement here
pledging New Delhi's support to Beijing's entry into the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) and for boosting bilateral trade,
official sources said.
Opposition all set for attack
Even as the Government has given enough
indications that it wanted the citizens to tighten their belts
and prepare themselves for a ``harsh budget,'' Opposition parties
have begun to flex their muscles to take on the ruling coalition.
A direct target would be the setting up of the Constitution
review commission and the Gujarat Government's order allowing
government servants to take part in RSS activities.
Gujarat not to withdraw circular
The Gujarat Government had no plans to
withdraw its circular, lifting the ban on Government employees
participating in RSS activities in the State, according to the
Minister of State for Home, Mr. Haren Pandya. The minister told
PTI here today that the State Government had taken the decision
after much deliberations and there was no question of going back
on it.
ICHR white paper soon
The Chairman of the Indian Council for
Historical Research (ICHR), Prof. B.R. Grover, announced today
that a white paper on the ``Towards Freedom'' project would be
published shortly in view of the controversies it had spawned
since its inception in the early Seventies.
Musharraf speaks of 'war hysteria'
Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez
Musharraf has accused the Indian leadership of ``trying to create
a war hysteria'' and warned New Delhi of ``serious consequences''
if war was ``imposed'' by it.
'Downsizing' of Govt. on anvil
A significant scheme for ``downsizing'' the
Central Government is said to have been formalised by the
Vajpayee Government and an announcement of the details are likely
to form part of the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha's Budget
presentation on February 29.
Report on Kargil to be tabled tomorrow
The Government today announced that the
Subrahmanyam committee report which went into the Kargil conflict
would be placed in Parliament on Thursday.
Hijack plot unearthed
A plot to hijack a plane from Lengpui airport,
near here, to force the release of the NSCN (I- M) leader, Mr.
Th. Muivah, has been unearthed by the Mizoram police.
Gorkhas to ward off pirates
22. Gorkha warriors would soon take on a new
assignment to protect ships from pirates in the Asia-Pacific
region.
Five killed in Pak. shelling
Five civilians were killed and seven injured in
heavy shelling from across the border in Kupwara sector last
evening. Police killed the organiser of Lashkar-e-Taiba in a
shootout in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Rafsanjani fails in first round
The former Iranian President, Mr. Akbar Hashemi
Rafsanjani's bid to enter Majlis in the first round of elections
failed as reformists appeared set for a majority in the 290-
member House.
Cong. plans rally against Gujarat order on RSS
The Congress(I) Working Committee, tonight
decided to organise a rally here on March six to protest against
the Gujarat Government's decision to lift ban on its employees
from taking part in RSS activities.
