BJP cautious, Cong. sees hope
Though the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was somewhat cautious in its response today to Pakistan's offer of exercising ``maximum restraint'' on the Line of Control in Kashmir, the Opposition parties, particularly the Left and the Congress, view the offer as a ``positive development'' which could be used to start ``parallel talks'' with Pakistan even as India goes ahead to develop its offer of talks with militant groups in Kashmir.

'Pak. response encouraging'
The former All-Party Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, sees Pakistan's response of exercising restraint along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir as a ``positive and encouraging development'', which can be used to create a conducive atmosphere for initiating the peace process.

Advani rekindles Sufi memories
It was the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani's day out today in the holy city of Ajmer. After a gap of 30 years, he visited the world-famous `dargah' here to offer chaddar at the mazaar (mausoleum) of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Earlier, he offered prayers at the Brahma temple at Pushkar.

SC judge to probe rail accident
The Union Railways Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, has said the accident on the Ambala-Amritsar section of Northern Railway on Saturday was a serious matter, adding that those found responsible would not be spared.

Train derails
Eight coaches of the Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express derailed between Talvadya and Khaigaon stations on Khandwa-Itarsi section of the Central Railway today, disrupting rail traffic, official sources said here. Nobody was injured in the accident that occurred at 5.30 a.m.

'Why Central forces?'
The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, today almost disapproved of the decision of his own Government to send Border Security Force personnel and National Security Guard commandos to nab forest brigand, Veerappan.

Inflation dips
The annual inflation rate fell marginally by 0.14 percentage points to 7.41 per cent in the week ended November 18 despite the continuing rise in manufactured product prices.

I'm soon-to-be President: Bush
The outcome of the November 7 U.S. presidential election continued to be argued in a Florida Circuit court on Saturday by lawyers of the Gore and Bush campaigns while a confident Texas Governor, Mr. George W. Bush, declared himself as ``soon-to-be President''.