Pant sends invitations to Kashmir groups for talks
The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. K.C. Pant, named by the Government to hold dialogue with all sections of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, today extended first set of invitations to several leaders and groups, including the Hurriyat Conference.

'Bofors case progressing'
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said the case relating to kickbacks in the Bofors gun deal was progressing and Congress ``may find itself in the dock''. ``Bofors case pragati par hai, aur Congress party kathghare mein khari ho sakti hai'' (The Bofors case is in progress and the Congress may find itself in the dock), he told a press conference here.

Opposition uncertain on session eve
The Opposition parties, especially the Congress, remain uncertain on how to carry on the confrontation with the Vajpayee Government on the Tehelka scam when Parliament resumes its Budget session tomorrow. The Congress, in addition, remains unmollified even after the Government's explanation that no CBI inquiry had been ordered against the party president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi.

Karunakaran group given 3 more seats
The Congress high command today conceded three more seats to the group led by the senior CWC member, Mr. K. Karunakaran, in an attempt to resolve the crisis in its Kerala unit over selection of candidates for the May 10 Assembly polls.

TMC expels Chidambaram
After nearly a month-long wait, the Tamil Maanila Congress expelled the rebel leader and former Union Finance Minister, Mr. P Chidambaram, today, for his decision to campaign against the TMC-AIADMK alliance in the May 10 Assembly election.

14 killed in Bihar
Fourteen persons were killed and 36 injured in the second phase of panchayat polls in Bihar today, even as 65 per cent electorate cast their votes.

Pak. disappointed over Indian 'silence'
Even as the newly-appointed Kashmir peace negotiator and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. K.C. Pant, opened talks in New Delhi with ``willing'' groups, Pakistan has expressed ``disappointment'' over what it termed as the Indian silence on its December 2 proposals for resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Expose was only against corruption: Tejpal
The chief editor of tehelka.com, Mr. Tarun J. Tejpal, has denied that he had anything against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government.

Jaswant gets horses from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia cherishes its long association and friendship with India and wants to strengthen it further, its Ambassador, Mr. Abdur Rehman al-Oahaly, said here today.