tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday , February 27, 1999
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Explanation sought from Gujarat CM
NEW DELHI, Feb 26 (PTI) — The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has sought an explanation from Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel on the circular reportedly issued by the state Intelligence Department to the police seeking information on "communal activities" of Muslim institutions in the state. Stating that the state seemed to be racing for the dubious distinction of specialising in all possible sorts of anti-minority mischief, NCM Chairman Tahir Mahmood said the Muslims of Gujarat should be impleaded in the case now under hearing in the state high court against a similar circular issued earlier about Christian organisations.

Primakov
MOSCOW, Feb 26 (UNI) — Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov has replaced his "India-China-Russia" axis proposal with a new initiative for "bilateral relations" between the "three great states of Asia". The Russian Prime Minister said, "A parallel development and consolidation of such relations is of utmost importance for the subcontinent".

Sino-Indian talks
HONG KONG, Feb 26 (ANI) — India and China began here on Thursday two-day official-level dialogue in nearly seven months. Beijing expressed the hope that differences with New Delhi would be narrowed. "We hope the talks will help to increase mutual understanding and narrow down the differences between the two sides," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zahang Qiyue told newspersons at a regular news briefing.

26 extremists held
JEHANABAD, Feb 26 (PTI) — At least 26 extremists, including members of the outlawed People’s War Group (PWG), the Ranvir Sena and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), have been arrested from Bihar’s Jehanabad district during the past five days, official sources said here today. Those arrested, in a special drive launched by the police to flush out extremists from the district, included 12 members of the PWG, four each of the Majdoor Kisan Sangram Parishad and the Ranvir Sena and two MCC activists, the sources said.

Rajasthan CM
JAIPUR, Feb 26 (PTI) — Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today divested himself of all portfolios and allocated them to his Cabinet colleagues. Mr Gehlot, who held about 15 important portfolios, in a sudden move after being elected to the Vidhan Sabha in the Monday bypoll allocated home and anti-corruption bureau to Industry Minister Pradyuman Singh as an additional department, an official note here said.