SC stay on Bhakra, Beas projects
New Delhi, May 10
In a major relief to the Punjab Government, the Supreme Court today stayed the order of the Rajasthan High Court directing it to hand over the maintenance of three head works of the Bhakra and Beas projects to the Bhakra Beas Management Board, an autonomous body under the Union Government.

Mirwaiz offers to step down as talks fail
Srinagar, May 10 Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq today offered to step down from the post after 15-day unity talks with hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani failed to make any headway. ‘Doors open to Hurriyat’ All-Party Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq (right), with another Hurriyat executive member, addresses a Press conference in Srinagar on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Amin War

US must support India’s aspirations: Manmohan
Aboard “Tanjore,” Air India 1, May 10
Even as the situation in Nepal is being continuously monitored and whatever arms supplies are in the pipeline cannot be held back for long, there is no point in counting the chickens before they are hatched with regard to the US remaining silent on extending support to India in its quest for a permanent seat in an expanded United Nations Security Council.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh talks to the media on his arrival from Russia at Air Force station, Palam, in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

• EC sanctity must be upheld: PM

Govt issues show-cause notice to Saptharishi
New Delhi, May 10
The government today slapped a show-cause notice on controversial bureaucrat L.V. Saptharishi, seeking an explanation for attacking two Election Commissioners even as Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad said Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav should have consulted him before going public on the issue.

India to give non-lethal arms to Nepal
New Delhi, May 10
India will resume non-lethal defence supplies to Nepal shortly but arms and ammunition will be provided to Kathmandu only after King Gyanendra acts on three important pre-requisites: restoration of multi-party democracy, release of all political leaders and lifting of all curbs on the media.

CPI opposes arms supply to Nepal

SC agrees with Lalu
Special HC Bench to hear his case
New Delhi, May 10
The Supreme Court today agreed to the plea of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav that he has a right to challenge the constitution of a Patna High Court Bench to hear his petition on the issue of sanction for his prosecution in a disproportionate assets case but reserved its verdict about the modified order in this regard.

Ponty Chadha’s servant arrested with booty Jalandhar, May 10 The Jalandhar police today nabbed Ponty Chadha’s Nepali servant from Amritsar along with the theft money of about Rs 1 crore. Ponty’s large “private network”, it is learnt, was also instrumental in cracking the case even as the Jalandhar police had deployed as many as 30 police parties to nab his servant Ram Kumar and his wife Geeta. Ram Kumar had allegedly served intoxicant mixed tea to gunman Surinder Singh, which had rendered him unconscious before fleeing with the theft money on May 8 from Urban Estate Phase II-based office of Ponty Chadha. Ram Kumar, servant of Ponty Chadha, along with his wife, Geeta, who was arrested by the Jalandhar police in Amritsar on Tuesday.