Saturday, October 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Independents hold key
Cong ropes in 6, PDP claims support of 7
Jammu/Srinagar, October 11
The Congress and PDP are keeping the cards close to their chest on the question of who will head the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. However, both sides have kept the doors open for Independents. The PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, today succeeded in roping in six elected Independent candidates, while the PDP claimed the support of seven Independents.
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PDP President Mufti Mohammed Sayeed (with garlands) along with his party activists celebrating party’s good show in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in Srinagar on Friday. — PTI photo

CWC authorises Sonia to take decisions
New Delhi, October 11
The Congress Working Committee today authorised Congress President Sonia Gandhi to take appropriate decisions regarding the formation of a government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pak heads for hung House
Islamabad, October 11
An Islamic alliance opposed to President Pervez Musharraf’s support for the US-led war in Afghanistan today won a shock landslide in conservative border areas as Pakistan headed for a hung Parliament with no single party able to claim a clear majority in the general elections.

PM in London to hold talks
London, October 11
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrived here tonight for talks with his British counterpart Tony Blair centering around the issues of terrorism, elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Indo-Pak stand-off and the Iraq crisis.

Faleiro seeks scrutiny of military deals
New Delhi, October 11
Defence Minister George Fernandes today came under attack from former Union Minister Eduardo Faleiro, who demanded a scrutiny of all military deals by a joint committee of Parliament, especially the “agreement” to purchase six Scorpene Class submarines from a French consortium which is also selling submarines to Pakistan.

Pherurai’s brother held
Ludhiana, October 11
Gurmail Singh, a brother of former Ferozepore SSP Gurcharan Singh Pherurai, was nabbed today morning from Barsal village near Sidhwan Bet by the Jagraon police. He had been evading arrest.

Bridge collapse forces road closure
Bathinda, October 11
The busy Bathinda-Sriganganagar highway (NH-15) had to be closed to traffic after the makeshift diversion collapsed last night. The road is likely to remain closed to traffic for 45 days and an 8-km-long diversion via villages has been created.

Consensus eludes MSP resolution SAD, BJP members walk out of House Chandigarh, October 11 Political consensus eluded the Punjab Vidhan Sabha members today on a resolution that “indicted” the Central Government on announcing the minimum support price for paddy and date of commencement of procurement.     House adjourns