Wednesday, April 3, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Sikhism favoured as separate religion

New Delhi, April 2 After battling it out for decades, the Sikh community has succeeded in ensuring that the distinct and independent identity of Sikhism is duly recognised in the Constitution. The Sikh community, including political leaders of all shades and

Salient points Suggests omitting  explanation II to Art 25 Wants rewording of sub-clause (b) of clause (2) Report has 240 recommendations

hues as well as the religious authorities, have all along maintained that clubbing Sikhs with Hindus in Article 25 of the Constitution had impinged on its status as a separate religion.

Al-Qaida training pilots in Pak
New Delhi, April 2
The world’s most wanted man Osama bin Laden may be dead or alive but the fact is that factories of terror — Al-Qaida and the Taliban — are still plotting to launch spectacular September 11-type terrorist attacks aiming to kill tens of thousands of people in one single attack.

• World page: 16 Al-Qaida men held in Lahore

MSP of wheat fixed at Rs 620 per quintal
New Delhi, April 2
The Union Cabinet today fixed the minimum support price of wheat of fair average quality at Rs 620 per quintal, an increase of Rs 10 over the MSP of wheat last year.

Farmers unhappy with MSP (Punjab page) Wheat arrivals have started picking up in Khanna mandi. In this photograph taken by Karam Singh on Tuesday women labourers are seen drying up the fresh wheat.

Israel intensifies attacks
Occupies four towns, asks scribes to leave
Jerusalem, April 2
Israel today intensified its attack on Yasser Arafat’s security headquarters while its forces re-occupied four West Bank towns, including Bethlehem, amidst confusing signals from Washington on defusing the deepening crisis.

• World page: Arafat spurns Sharon offer on exile

Jaswant to meet top leaders, investors
Seoul, April 2
India and South Korea will examine prospects of charting out a new dimension of bilateral economic ties during the meetings External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh will have here with top leaders and representatives of 10 leading corporations.

Hearing on minorities’ rights begins
New Delhi, April 2
In what would result in a landmark ruling, an 11-judge Bench of the Supreme Court today began hearing one of the controversial issues in the country — the right of the minority to establish and administer educational institutions.

Statute review report made public
New Delhi, April 2
The Constitution Review Commission headed by former Chief Justice of India Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah has recommended that in case of political breakdown necessitating invoking President’s rule, the state concerned should be given an opportunity to explain its position and redress the situation.
In video (28k, 56k)

Mob damages place of worship
Curfew clamped on Kutch, Anand dists
Ahmedabad, April 2
The earthquake-flattened eastern parts of Kutch district, which had so far escaped the on-going communal frenzy in the state, came under curfew today along with Umreth in Anand district following incidents of violence.