Thursday, March 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Governor recommends Central
rule in UP
Lucknow, March 6
Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri tonight recommended imposition of the President’s rule in the state. “As political instability continues and no party is willing to form the government, I recommend the President’s rule in the state and keeping the Assembly in the suspended animation,’’ Mr Shastri said in his letter to President K R Narayanan.

Muslim board threatens to pull out of talks
New Delhi, March 6
Kanchi Shankaracharya’s efforts to break the deadlock on Ayodhya today appeared to have run into rough weather with the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board threatening to pull out of negotiations after the VHP said it had given no commitment on abiding by the court verdict even as Centre approached the Allahabad High Court for an early and day-to-day hearing of the case.

        Hawks in VHP out to derail efforts
        Editorial: Seer shows the way

22 killed in Gujarat violence
Toll mounts to 558
Ahmedabad, March 6
Communal violence refused to subside in Gujarat as 22 persons were killed in a series of fresh attacks near Godhra and Mehmdabad of Kheda district taking the toll to 558 even as 212 unclaimed bodies, many of them burnt beyond recognition, were given mass burial here today.

SP MLA shot in front of Raj Bhavan
Lucknow, March 6
Samajwadi party MLA Mansoor Ahmed was today shot dead in broad day light in front of the Raj Bhavan in the presence of top police officials when he was sitting on a dharna along with other newly elected legislators to press the Governor to invite the SP to form the government.

In video (28k, 56k) The assailant (in dark glasses) of Samajwadi Party MLA Mansoor Ahmed is nabbed by party workers and policemen after he shot Mansoor Ahmed at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow on Wednesday. — PTI photo

SC jails Arundhati for contempt

New Delhi, March 6 The Supreme Court today sentenced Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy to a one-day symbolic imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 after convicting her on the charges of contempt of court.

Novelist Arundhati Roy faces the police as she arrives at the Supreme Court on Wednesday prior to being found guilty of contempt of court. — Reuters photo

Cong MLAs locked out
Chandigarh, March 6
Opposition legislators of Haryana, barring those of the HVP, today met the Governor, Babu Parmanand, and demanded the dismissal of the Om Prakash Chautala-led government for what they called “the violation of constitutional proprieties”. 

Indo-Israeli ties flourishing: envoy
New Delhi, March 6
Israel’s relationship with any country is not conditional and India’s steadfast commitment to peace serves Tel Aviv’s purpose. At the same time, the Israeli leadership strongly discounts suggestions that India has preferences regarding its ties with West Asia.

No intention of including Advani in list: Pak
New Delhi, March 6
Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jahangir Qazi today asserted that his country “never intended” including the name of Union Home Minister L.K. Advani in any list of wanted people from India.

HC restrains SSP in VC case
Chandigarh, March 6
Taking up a petition filed by Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia seeking the quashing of a first information report registered at a Patiala police station, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today restrained the SSP from making statements before the press regarding Saru Rana incident.

• Police searches to arrest Ahluwalia