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STORIESYOU MAY HAVE MISSED...

OCTOBER 26

UP: The Real Story
What the BJP achieved in UP this week is unprecedented in the party's history. And it was not Advani, Joshi or Vajpayee who pulled off the coup. The battle against all odds was fought by the unlikely trio of Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, state BJP president Raj Nath Singh and assembly speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi.
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Brass Talks
"Ideally," says army chief General V P Malik, ''the army should have no role to play in fighting low intensity conflict. The paramilitary forces should gradually take the army's place. The army should come in only to combat high intensity militancy."
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Gujral, Sharief meet, quell doubts about peace talks
The prime ministers direct their foreign secretaries to decide the time and agenda for their next round of meetings
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Britain will not interfere over Kashmir, Blair assures Gujral
The matter should be resolved by India and Pakistan, the British PM said.
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RJP stands by Vaghela, cocks a snook at Congress
The party ignores the Congress demand for new leader, expresses confidence in chief minister.
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'If Muslims hand back Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura to the Hindus, they can earn the love, respect and regard of the whole community'
O Rajagopal, Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president, defends his party.
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Congress may take soft line on Jain Commission report
The public might want the Union government to take immediate action based on the Jain Commission's interim report. Question is, does the Congress want it?
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Assam police probing Tata manager's ULFA links
"Investigations are on to ascertain the links, if any, between Dr Brojen Gogoi's appointment and any threat of extortion by the ULFA," a senior Assamese police official says.
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Composite for critical technology developed in India
The Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, fashions a carbon composite that won't be affected by high temperature, stress or strain for use in fast aircraft and missiles.
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THE STATES

ISI-backed terrorists nabbed in Punjab, say cops
In Goa, CSIR chief calls for protection of Indian herbal medicine

Recent incidents in your state

OCTOBER 25

Mulayam's Threat
The United Front is divided over recalling the Uttar Pradesh governor. The CPI-M and Samajwadi Party have opposed any move to shift Romesh Bhandari from Lucknow, as the BJP has demanded. Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has threatened to quit on this issue.
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'They wanted Veerappan to kill at least one person so they could claim he was a man who drank blood!'
In an exclusive interview, Nakkeeran editor R Gopal shares his impressions about the most wanted man in India hostage crisis with Shobha Warrier.
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Gujarat govt seeks vote of confidence on Tuesday
The BJP leaks a Congress letter to the governor which claimed the Vaghela government was corrupt.
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HC confirms death sentence for accused in 1984 riots
''In this case the lapse of time is not a sufficient ground to convert death sentence into life imprisonment,'' the judges said.
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Gujral calls for universal extradition treaty
The international community needs an effective global strategy to deal with terrorism and the drugs trade, says the prime minister
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Guwahati HC to handle militant funding cases
Supreme Court sets aside Bombay high court order granting anticipatory bail to four senior Tata Tea executives who allegedly helped funded the ULFA
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Indigenous anti-tank missiles for infantry
These would replace the 106 mm recoilless guns.
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THE STATES

Bus blast kills 3, injures 21 in Srinagar
Army major, 5 militants killed in Rajouri, Jammu Forced out of forests, Bihar tribals suffer from stress and identity crisis

Recent incidents in your state

OCTOBER 24

Troubled Times
Bharatiya Janata Party president Lal Kishinchand Advani perhaps hit the political nail on the head when he analysed that the centre of political turbulence has now effectively shifted from Lucknow to New Delhi.
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'The Constitution is inadequate'
How will President K R Narayanan's action affect the future of parliamentary democracy in India? Former President Ramaswamy Venkataraman casts light on the issues involved, in an exclusive interview.
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Bhandari should resign: UP speaker
Under the present circumstances, the governor should quit voluntarily, Kesri Nath Tripathi says.
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'If they tell me to become chief minister, I am ready to accept'
An interview with Gujarat Revenue Minister Atmaram Patel, one of the contenders for the chief ministership.
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Gujarat govt totters past one-year mark
In a minority, with a chief minister on his way out, the MJP still asserts it is the state's number one party.
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Kashmiri pandits find place on Clinton's agenda
United States President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will take up the plight of Kashmiri pandits with the Indian government during their forthcoming New Delhi visits.
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Details of defence meetings with US are being 'considered'
Ties with the US are of paramount importance to India, a defence ministry statement said. '
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Massive restructuring for army's infantry division
It involves enhancing surveillance capability, increasing anti-tank potential, boosting fire power, providing better communications and improving mobility.
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US not to supply F-16s to Pakistan
It also does not plan to resume the military supply relations with Islamabad. However it wished to to resolve the dispute over the non-delivery of the aircraft paid for by Pakistan before 1990, a major sticking point in US-Pakistan relations
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CBI slow to probe Tytler's role in '84 riots, says court
Judge rejects excuse that mistakes in court records affected the agency's investigation.
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A Ray of Hope
Alamb, a non-governmental organisation, is heaven-send to the 500-odd child workers of Delhi's Samta Dham slum.
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News Briefs

US neutral to Afghan factions, seeks peace in region
Gujral leaves for CHOGM, to meet Sharief there
Deadline for Veerappan's surrender advanced

OCTOBER 23

Govt Reverses UP Decision
The United Front government reversed its decision to dismiss the Kalyan Singh government, dissolve the state assembly and impose President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh. "The Cabinet," a government spokesman said, "decided there was no need to invoke Article 356 of the Constitution."
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UP Governor accused of doctoring observers report
Highly-placed sources say Romesh Bhandari was incensed by observations that Pramod Tiwari of the Congress started the violence in the assembly and that members of the Bharatiya Janata Party kept quiet for some time under provocation.
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Kalyan Singh moves court against Bhandari
But the Allahabad high court says, "It was premature to be seeking remedy for a cause that would arise only after the issue of the presidential proclamation under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution"
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Thank You, Rashtrapatiji
S Sahay, former editor of The Statesman, on President Narayanan's decision.
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'It shows he is independent and wise'
Top lawyers praise the President's initiative.
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'The President must do much more'
So says former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani.
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Karunanidhi against President's rule in UP
But the Tamil Nadu chief minister says he will go by the majority decision of the Union Cabinet.
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BSP declares war on BJP
Mayawati is even willing to strike a deal with her old enemy, Mulayam Singh Yadav for this.
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MJP may switch chief ministers to keep Congress happy
Vaghela is ready to let legislators join other parties.
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Veerappan's fed up of life on the run
All he has is seven gang members now.
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Karnataka sets deadline for Veerappan's surrender
Come out in two weeks or we will come after you, Chief Minister J H Patel tells Veerappan.
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US secretary urged to take up plight of Pandits with Gujral
Democratic Congressman Sherrod Brown has sought Madeleine Albright's intervention in rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits.
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Army chief calls for complete co-operation with navy and air force
Addressing the Army Commanders Conference, General Malik dwelt at length on the need for a constant drive to consolidate combat effectiveness.
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Mohan Babu expelled from TDP
Next thing you know, he alleges wholesale corruption within the ranks. Sounds like another chapter from the Indian cricket files.
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The States

14 die of diarrhoea in Banka, Bihar
Distrust, uncertainty plague rebel AIADMK in Tamil Nadu
Mixed response to ULFA "road blockade" inAssam
Orissa JD members flay move to impose President's rule in UP

Recent incidents in your state

Yeh Hai India!
'Twill be a silent Diwali for Bengalis this time
A ban on all 'loud' fireworks makes sure of that.
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OCTOBER 22

Kalyan Singh dismissed
After a six hour long meeting, the Union Cabinet late on Tuesday night recommended the imposition of President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh and the dissolution of the state assembly. President K R Narayanan is expected to formally approve this decision on Wednesday morning.
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Veerappan release hostages
The six men were released on Tuesday morning, trekked through the forest all the day and reached the Bandipur forest guesthouse at 2230 hours.
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222-0
Mayhem in Uttar Pradesh assembly. Legislators assaulted. Opposition then stays away from vote of confidence as Chief Minister Kalyan Singh proves his majority.
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Kesri demands Kalyan's dismissal
Bharatiya Janata Party president Lal Kishinchand Advani for his part has threatened to launch a nationwide agitation if the Kalyan Singh government is dismissed.
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BJP demands Bhandari's recall
The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the Uttar Pradesh governor's ouster to facilitate ''smooth functioning'' of the state government.
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I obeyed governor's instructions: UP speaker
Defending his action in not adjourning the House when violence erupted, he said he had persistently urged the members to maintain peace. Kesri Nath Tripathi also argued that in the face of the governor's specific instructions, there was really no stronger action he could take.
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Kalyan govt's victory raises BJP's political stock
Kalyan Singh's feat is seen, in political circles in Delhi, as a triumph of political arithmetic. The evening before the vote of confidence, the chief minister could count on 177 votes (including two from its ally the Samata Party). To win the vote, however, he needed 213 votes in a house with a total strength of 425.
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No dissolution of Gujarat assembly for now: Governor
Governor Krishnapal Singh has asked Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela to prove his majority in the state assembly before October 28. Singh has rejected Vaghela's demand that the assembly be dissolved and he be allowed to continue as caretaker chief minister
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Indians have lost interest in peace talks: Pak foreign minister
"As of now, the spirit of the talks has dissipated, at least on the Indian side," says Gohar Ayub Khan.
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Cabinet okays purchase of Russian aircraft, subs
Speculation rife that India may also buy refuellers for newly acquired Sukhoi-30 aircraft.
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JMM bribery trial will not be stayed: SC
The clarification comes from a three-judge bench when the court resumed hearing the special leave petitions by Rao and eight others.
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Notices issued to Shiv Shanker, Vora, others in hawala case
Delhi high court acts on a criminal revision petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation against their discharge in Jain hawala case
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Jaffer Sharief, Jain bros dischared in hawala case
Judge says there is no evidence to prove 'criminal misconduct.'
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UAE, India fail to break ice on extradition stalemate
Dawood Ibrahim not in Dubai, but Abu Salem has been arrested, UAE delegates tell CBI at Interpol conference.
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US not to back Indian bid for permanent seat in UN Security Council
Each continent should pick a country of its choice, says Thomas Pickering.
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Developing countries should fight for foreign aid: UNPF chief
The United Nations Population Fund, for its part, would make a big effort to mobilise more resources for reproductive health and population programmes.
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The States

Karnataka will not send emissary to Veerappan
Gujral aid sought to bail out Akal Takht jathedar
Oppn steps up campaign against Sikkim CM

Recent incidents in your state

News Briefs

Sharief, Leghari, Karamat discuss security environment in South Asia

Yeh Hai India!
Phoolan urges Veerappan to release hostages
Go ahead, do surrender, Phoolan tells the brigand.
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OCTOBER 21

Advantage Kalyan
The Uttar Pradesh Congress Legislature Party split on Monday with 19 legislators forming a separate group and deciding to support Kalyan Singh's Bharatiya Janata Party government.
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Congress withdraws support to Vaghela govt
Move catches Gujarat CM, trying to woo Kesri in New Delhi, on the wrong foot.
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'My inner voice told me it was necessary for me to support the BJP'
UP rebel Congress leader Naresh Agarwal, in an exclusive interview.
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No govt can survive in UP without BSP: Kanshi Ram
The BSP leader asserted that none of his party's legislators in UP would defect to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He, however, said other parties including the Congress should guard their MLAs as well.
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Congress support for Kalyan puts Kesri in acute discomfort
Kesri had a telephone conversation with UP Congress leader Pramod Tewari after the Bahujan Samaj Party withdrew support and urged him to take preventive measures to prevent any Congress MLA from supporting Kalyan Singh's government.
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A prickly marriage of convenience
The Vaghela group and the Congress hung together only because both feared the BJP. But even that bogey couldn't keep the mismatched partners together
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Kashmir firing has set back Indo-Pak normalisation process severely: Gujral
However, the diplomatic engagement will continue.
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NHRC raps Uttar Pradesh police for Uttarakand violation
The failure to identify four 'high-handed' police personnel who injured an innocent women is deliberate, the Commission noted, even as it recommended a Rs 10,000 interim compensation to the victim.
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US, Russia and EC can't hold a combined candle to literate India
There are more literates in India than in the US, Russia and European countries put together.
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The States

ULFA opens camps in Myanmar
Former Maharashtra minister Sutar absolved of corruption charges
Film star Mohan Babu to be expelled from TDP

Recent incidents in your state

News Briefs

China-US to forge strategic nuclear alliance
One killed, 22 injured in two blasts in capital

Yeh Hai India!
Mulayam plays Advani, deals out a 'Ram' card
If L K Advani can do it, so can Mulayam Singh Yadav.
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