Thursday, August 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Kalam calls for ‘second vision’
New Delhi, August 14
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's visit to riot-hit Gujarat rubbed off on his first Independence Day eve speech as he listed eradication of communal and other divisive clashes along with a "second vision" to transform India into a developed country as the many challenges confronting the nation.
In video (28k, 56k)

  Kalam greets Pervez on Pak I-Day

J&K poll a farce: Musharraf
Islamabad, August 14
Terming as “farcical” the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, President Pervez Musharraf said today that Pakistan should not be held responsible for the failure of the poll there, even as he renewed his threat to take the battle into the Indian territory if attacked.

J&K: Security forces on high alert Nation: BJP decides J&K poll strategy A paramilitary jawan keeps watch in a busy street in Srinagar on Wednesday. Security has been beefed up in Kashmir ahead of Independence Day celebrations on August 15. — Reuters photo

Steps to counter Pak designs
PM to spell out response in I-Day speech
New Delhi, August 14
The war of words between India and Pakistan suddenly reached a feverish pitch today as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf threatened "to carry the fight across the border" and New Delhi responded by saying that it would take "the necessary measures" to counter Islamabad’s designs.

Shivani murder case
Sharma removed from post
Panchkula, August 14
Inspector-General of Police Ravi Kant Sharma, the main suspect in the Shivani murder case, was today removed from his post as IG Prisons. Police sources said that Mr Sharma had been transferred from his present posting for abstaining from work without any intimation to the authorities for three days. 

Part of IFC aid to come as grant: Amarinder
New Delhi, August 14
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh said today that a substantial portion of the Rs 5,000-crore assistance from International Financial Consortium (IFC) would be in the form of grant and the rest in the form of soft loan.

Ambala City MLA ‘assaulted’
Ambala, August 14
The MLA, Ambala City, Ms Veena Chibber, was allegedly assaulted in Baldev Nagar area early this morning. The incident took place at about 7.15 am when Ms Chibber had gone to Baldev Nagar after receiving information that local residents had blocked the Ambala-Jagadhari road to protest against inundation of their houses.

Heavy rain hits life, 5 dead Shimla, August 14 Five persons were killed as heavy incessant rain pounded Himachal Pradesh for the third consecutive day today, disrupting life in the region. The torrential rains affected rail and air services and caused landslides. Power and water supplies and telecommunication services were also disrupted at some places.