Thursday, June 21, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

No new taxes in Punjab
* 100 cr for horticulture mission
* Royalty on non-ferrous minerals
Chandigarh, June 20
Ignoring the appeal by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to cooperate, members of the Opposition, sporting black wrap-arounds with anti-government slogans painted on them, staged a walkout before finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal presented his maiden Budget in Punjab Vidhan Sabha today.



Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal presents the 2007-08 Budget in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Editorial: A homoeopathic dose
Nothing to cheer common man
At a glance
Question Hour: Direct payment of remuneration to sarpanches
(more stories on Punjab page)

India: The Tasks Ahead
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

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Third Front leaders meet Vajpayee
Kalam ready to contest if victory is ‘certain’
New Delhi, June 20
Even as President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam made it clear to the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) delegation here today that political consensus had been the defining factor for him to contest for a second term as the Head of State which had proved elusive, he might reconsider if there is "certainty" of his winning the upcoming Presidential poll.

Nation page
AICC meeting today
UNPA lobbies for Kalam
UPA ally MIM threatens to abstain
BJP to discuss Kalam with Shekhawat

Arrest warrant against dera chief
Bathinda, June 20
In a significant development that could give a new twist to the standoff between Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikh organisations.

Fresh apology, this time to Sikhs

Rushdie’s knighthood
Iran, Pak complain to UK envoys
Teheran, June 20
Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the British ambassador to complain over Britain’s decision to grant a knighthood to controversial Indian-born author Salman Rushdie, who was accused of blasphemy by Iran’s former supreme leader for his book “The Satanic Verses,” the state news agency reported today.

Rushdie's career and controversies

Monsoon to hit Rajasthan, MP in 5 days: IMD
New Delhi, June 20
The southwest monsoon is progressing well and is likely to advance further into remaining parts of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, entire Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan during the next five days.

Atlantis heads home
Houston, June 20
The crew at the Atlantis starts landing preparations today as the shuttle continues its return journey to earth after a 13-day mission, bringing back Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams. "Atlantis is scheduled to touch down Thursday at 1:55 p.m. EDT (2325 IST) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida," NASA said. An alternative landing site in California has also been kept ready. — PTI

20 feared dead in bus mishap Dharamsala, June 20 At least 20 persons, including women, were feared dead when the tourist bus they were travelling in fell into a 200-foot gorge in a flowing nullah in the hill town here at about 11.25 pm tonight.