PM takes on Congress
Our hands are clean, tells party MPs
New Delhi, March 20
In a counter offensive, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today lashed out at the Congress for blocking parliamentary proceedings for five days, saying “those raising the bogey of corruption to come to power will not be allowed to succeed”.

• Sonia seeks time on DD

Vajpayee biding for time
Wants to retain Brajesh Mishra, NK Singh
New Delhi, March 20
Despite an element of unease among the hawks in the BJP and certain partners of the NDA government, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has stuck to his prerogative of retaining the services of his Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra and superannuated officer on special duty in the PMO N. K. Singh.

Trinamool furious over PMO’s letter
New Delhi, March 20
A showdown today appeared to be in the offing between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress which took strong exception to a letter reportedly written by a PMO official prompting the BJP to mount a fire-fighting mission by rushing a senior leader to Kolkata and disclaiming that the letter was written by the PMO official.

Thackeray seeks Mishra’s ouster
Mumbai, March 20
Joining the Opposition attack on the Prime Minister’s Office in the wake of the Tehelka expose, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today demanded the immediate removal of Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra and Officer on Special Duty N.K. Singh from the PMO till the judicial inquiry into the scandal is completed.

‘Remove structures’ near dump
High Court order to hit marriage palaces
Chandigarh, March 20
In a landmark judgement, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the state of Punjab and other respondents to remove all unauthorised constructions, including marriage palaces, within 1000 yards of Baddowal Army ammunition dump on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur road.