Friday, March 8, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

VHP to abide by court verdict
Somersault gives boost to Ayodhya peace move
New Delhi, March 7
Efforts to find a workable solution of the thorny Ayodhya issue today appeared to have received a shot in the arm. Vishwa Hindu Parishad Working President Ashok Singhal issued a categorical statement that “whichever party wins in the court of law will be given the disputed place and the necessary amount of adjacent land for use”.

Govt wary of VHP assurance
New Delhi, March 7
Certain sections in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government continue to be extremely wary about the assurance of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that it will abide by the verdict of the court on the Ayodhya tangle.

In video: Jagatguru Shankaracharya says both Hindus and Muslims should maintain status quo until court gives its verdict. (28k, 56k)

Oppn stalls proceedings
Bedlam over UP MLA’s killing, Ayodhya, Gujarat
New Delhi, March 7
Opposition parties led by the Samajwadi Party (SP) stalled the proceedings of the Lok Sabha for the day and of the Rajya Sabha till 2 p.m., protesting against the killing of an MLA in Lucknow yesterday and the prevailing situation in Ayodhya and Gujarat.
In video (28k, 56k)

            Discussion on Gujarat

Cabinet for Central rule
New Delhi, March 7
The Union Cabinet today recommended imposition of President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh and keeping the state Assembly under suspended animation as advocated by Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri, a move which will put an end to the political intrigues.

Mayawati resigns from LS
Hints at new alignments in UP
New Delhi, March 7
The BSP leader, Ms Mayawati, today gave enough indications of possible new alignments in UP when she chose to quit her Lok Sabha seat in preference to the state Legislative Assembly seat.

          Editorial: Stalemate in UP

Arundhati Roy released New Delhi, March 7 Describing her day-long stay in Tihar Jail as incredible and a 100 times better than what she had expected, noted author Arundhati Roy was today greeted with flowers and fruits from her supporters. In video (28k, 56k)    Editorial: Arundhati effect

Pak ready to lift ban on Indian flights
Islamabad, March 7
The SAARC Information Ministers Conference got off to a controversial start here with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf raking up Indo-Pak bilateral issues but Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj refused to fall for the bait.

Bandh hits life in valley
Six militants shot dead
Srinagar, March 7
Life was affected here today in response to the strike call of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry to protest against the massacres in Gujarat.

Punjab plans fresh review plea
Amritsar, March 7
The state government would seek a CBI inquiry into the alleged excesses by the ‘Kairon family’ (relatives of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, a former Chief Minister) during the five-year term of the Badal government.

‘Election-oriented’ Budget for HP
Entry tax hiked, DA instalment released
Shimla, March 7
An election-oriented Budget of Rs 6,115 crore with an anticipated deficit of Rs 45.17 crore during 2002-2003 was today presented in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly by the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal.

Budget: BJP too restive
New Delhi, March 7
Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha’s budgetary proposals to increase the price of LPG refill and reduce the income tax rebate from 20 to 10 per cent came in for sharp criticism from his BJP party.

Kewal Singh, son surrender Talwandi Sabo, March 7 Baljinder Singh, a son of Giani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib and main accused in the dowry death case registered against him along with his father and another kin Joginder Kaur, surrendered in the court of Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate, Harsh Mehta here today.