21 states agree to implement Vat
New Delhi, March 24
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today said 21 states were ready to migrate to the proposed Value Added Taxation system from the scheduled date of April and urged the remaining states to implement the new regime to make use of the “historic opportunity”.
Asoke Mitra files PIL
Punjab page: Vat Bill introduced in Punjab House
Himachal page: Chemists seek Vat at first point
In video: (28k, 56k)

Kasuri’s remarks on Siachen ‘nothing new’
New Delhi, March 24
The Ministry of External Affairs today kept quiet on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s statement on Kashmir wherein he had said there could be no progress between India and Pakistan till “core issues” like Kashmir were resolved.

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NRIs Rush! Citibank Offer

Edtiorial: Generally speaking
Opinions page: Indian stars shine in Pakistan
In video: (28k, 56k)

Central staff get 3 per cent dearness allowance hike
New Delhi, March 24
The Union Cabinet today decided to increase the dearness allowance of Central Government employees and pensioners by 3 per cent with effect from January 1, 2005. Thus, the rate of DA from January 1, 2005, will be 17 per cent for all Central Government employees, a rise of 3 per cent over the existing rate of 14 per cent.

Unbeaten 184 by Inzamam-ul-Haq Record-breaking tons by Haq, Younis Inzamam joins elite group India need win to improve Test ranking (and more stories on Sports page) Pakistan’s cricket captain Inzamam-ul- Haq raises his bat to celebrate his century during the first day’s play of the third cricket Test match between India and Pakistan in Bangalore on Thursday. Inzamam went on to score an unbeaten 184 as visitors piled up 323 for two. — Reuters

Liquor vends’ auction of 5 districts fetches 18 pc more
Gurgaon, March 24
The excise policy of the Haryana Government to segregate all districts for public auctioning of liquor vends for 2005-06 fetched an all-time high returns from auctions held here today for Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rewari, Narnaul (Mahendergarh) and Jhajjar, all falling in south Haryana.

 Editorial: Liquor is quicker

IL-76 aircraft set for upgradation in Russia
Chandigarh, March 24
The IL-76 heavy lift aircraft in the IAF service are to be retrofitted with an advanced avionics package which will remove certain restrictions imposed upon them on international air routes and certain domestic routes.

Sea of humanity for Hola Mohalla Anandpur Sahib, March 24 A sea of humanity descended on Anandpur Sahib, as the three-day Hola Mohalla festival began here today. About six lakh devotees from India and abroad paid obeisance at Takht Sri Keshgrah Sahib and various other historical gurdwaras here. Devotees take the holy dip in the sarovar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib on Thursday.  Himachal page: Hola Mohalla fair begins at Paonta Sahib