Poll outcome won't affect Govt. stability: PM
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said that the ISI plot to kill the Tehelka.com chief executive, Mr. Tarun Tejpal, could be part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise the Government and create disturbances.

Cong. against antagonising China on NMD
Pointing to the negative impact of Sino-U.S. tensions on India's security environment, the Congress today cautioned the Government against lending uncritical support to the U.S. plans to build national missile defences.

Hasina Govt. to be blamed: Minister
The Minister of State for Home, Mr. I.D. Swami, today said the Bangladesh Government, not just the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) chief, Mr. Fazlur Rahman, should be held responsible for last month's border incidents in which 16 Border Security Force soldiers were killed.

Security beefed up in Assam
With just two days to go for the Assembly polls in five States and pre-poll violence marring the campaign in Assam, the Election Commission today reviewed the situation in the north-eastern State.

'Hindujas accompanied Brajesh to Downing Street'
In a development which is likely to embarrass New Delhi, it has emerged that the controversial Hinduja brothers - Mr. Gopichand and Mr. Srichand - accompanied the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's Principal Secretary, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, when he visited Downing Street in June 1998 to hand over to the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, a letter from Mr.Vajpayee explaining India's position on its nuclear test that summer.

Yechury lambasts Rajnath
The CPI(M) politburo member, Mr. Sitaram Yechury, today lambasted the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, for refusing to move court and remove the technical flaw in the Babri Masjid demolition case against the 21 accused, including the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani.

Cong. has ISI links, says BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party today sought to dilute and tone down the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's offer of ``work permits'' for Bangladeshi ``infiltrators'' in Assam, even as it alleged that the Congress was linked to not only to the ULFA but also the ISI.

Opposition soft on India: Hasina
Another dimension was added to the India factor in Bangladesh politics with the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, accusing the Opposition of being soft on the country's neighbour in the west, contrary to its rhetoric.

Candidate withdraws
Mr. Rajani Doloi, the Trinamool Congress candidate in Keshpur in Midnapore district, today announced his decision to withdraw from the fray in the face of what he described as coercive measures being resorted to by the ruling Communists in collusion with the police.