Sunday, May 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

NDA leaves it to Vajpayee
Selection of presidential candidate

New Delhi, May 11 The NDA unanimously authorising Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to take a decision about the alliance’s presidential candidate in consultation with allies and Opposition parties. Mr Vajpayee is now all set to sound the Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, on the issue when he meets Ms Sonia Gandhi sometime after the Budget session of Parliament ends on May 17, sources said. In video (28k, 56k)

Fact file Vajpayee to meet Sonia P.C. Alexander possible choice Second term for Narayanan also on cards

   TDP mum on presidential election
   Editorial page: The heat is on for Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rioting, arson in Gujarat
CRPF rushed to curfew-bound areas
Ahmedabad, May 11
CRPF personnel were rushed to two localities of curfew-bound Haveli and Danilimda police station areas of the city this afternoon following reports of group clashes and arson in which 10 persons were injured, the police said.
In video: As curfew continues in violence-hit Ahmedabad, residents yearn for return of peace and normalcy. (28k, 56k)

Rise in HIV cases worries PM
Funds for control inadequate: Sonia
New Delhi, May 11
Expressing concern at the “rapid rise” in the number of persons affected with HIV/AIDS in the country, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said that controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS and taking care of its victims had become an “urgent national task.”
In video (28k, 56k)

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the international policy-makers conference on HIV/AIDS in New Delhi on Saturday. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Giani Zail Singh’s widow dead
Faridkot, May 11
Mrs Pardhan Kaur widow of former President Giani Zail Singh, died at her native village Sandhwan at about 7.45 a.m. today. She was 83 and leaves behind three daughters and a son. Her cremation will take place at Sandhwan village tomorrow with state honours.

Pardhan Kaur widow of the late Giani Zail Singh who passed away on Saturday.

4 top Hizb leaders join Dar
New Delhi, May 11
In a major setback to Pakistan, four members of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s seven-member Central Command Council and two senior militant commanders have joined ranks with Abdul Majid Dar who was recently sacked by Islamabad as supremo of the outfit’s Indian chapter.

6 ultras, jawan killed in encounters
Srinagar, May 11
Nine persons, including six militants and a jawan, were killed and two wounded in separate incidents, while security forces arrested two ultras in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, a police spokesman said today.

Sidhu’s bail plea rejected
Patiala, May 11
Patiala District and Sessions judge S.N. Aggarwal today rejected the bail application of Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu in a case relating to taking illegal gratification while making selections which had been filed by the local Vigilance Bureau at Patiala on April 30.

• Punjab page: Pritpal comes out against Sidhu

Ex-VC case: teacher quizzed on e-mail
Patiala, May 11
The police today questioned a university teacher regarding e - mails sent to ousted Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, telling him about details of action being taken against him by those agitating for his removal even as Dr Ahluwalia was grilled for two hours by Inspector-General of Police Anil Kaushik today.

Polluted nullah threatens Holy City Cash-strapped MC unable to desilt drain Amritsar, May 11 Tourists visiting Amritsar for a glimpse of the serene beauty of Harmandar Sahib, get disturbed when they see the polluted surroundings of the ancient city. The open nullahs — the ‘Tung Dhab drain’ and the ‘city outfall drain’ — play havoc, especially during the rainy season. Children play on the surface of city drain which has become a dumping ground. — Photo Rajiv Sharma