ASSEMBLY POLL '98
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ELECTIONS '98
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THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW

Attacks dominate CWC meeting
"Minorities are being threatened in all parts of the country and it is shameful and shocking that the Vajpayee government is turning its attention away from communal disturbance," working committee member Ghulam Nabi Azad said.

THE ANJANA MISHRA RAPE CASE

Patnaik wins a reprieve as Sonia ignores rebels
"We will initiate strict action against the rebels who are publicising a rape incident to destabilise the Congress government in Orissa," the CM said.

Justice Mishra to inquire into gang-rape
The announcement came close on the heels of Chief Minister Patnaik's meeting with Sonia Gandhi where he apprised her of the situation in the state.

THE REDIFF SPECIAL

Sex, lies and political opportunism
In all the sordid games that the adults are playing for their own selfish ends, everyone seems to have forgotten about Anjana Mishra's two children who are studying in a boarding school. They are the worst sufferers, prevented even from meeting their mother by a court order.

THE SABARIMALA STAMPEDE

Lack of planning caused the tragedy
A substantial increase in the number of pilgrims was anticipated this season due to the gold covering of the temple's sanctum sanctorum. But the Kerala government and the Travancore Dewaswom Board did not take enough steps to regulate the rush.

6 of the dead remain unidentified
Of the eight injured, the condition of two is critical. A 40-year-old man is in coma. The other seriously injured person has been identified as Ganesh, 19, from Bangalore.

BUS TO PAKISTAN

Delhi-Lahore service to begin next month
The much-awaited bus service will start in the first week of February.

Customs promises to prevent smuggling
A top customs officer said additional staff would be deployed on the days the bus will pass through the Wagha check-post.

THE PAKISTAN CRICKET TOUR

They'll come, they'll play...
"We have been assured by the highest authorities that there is no danger to the life of the players," High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said.

OTHER REPORTS

Mamata refuses to join government without railway portfolio
Asked whether he would be willing to take charge of another department instead of the railways, Minister Nitish Kumar said it is for the PM to decide.

Samata MP warns Mamata against hijacking railways
Shakuni Chaudhary took strong exception to the Trinamul Congress supremo's demand for the ministry, saying he would not compromise on this "prestigious issue".

President wants reservation for SC judges
K R Narayanan said candidates belonging to the scheduled castes and tribes should be given "due consideration" while appointing judges to the Supreme Court.

Thambidurai waves Article 356 in Karunanidhi's face
The Union law minister said the Tamil Nadu government's blatant refusal to furnish information on the special courts to the Centre might force the latter to seek constitutional remedy.

AP police take to the air to counter PWG
'The precise location of the PWG training camps can easily be traced by equipment on the aircraft,' one police officer said. Photographs taken by highly sophisticated cameras fitted in the plane will be handy in tracking down the extremists.

Rabri is not at Sonia's mercy, says Laloo
The RJD chief said Congress support to the Bihar government is "issue-based" and it will hardly make a difference if it is withdrawn.

Ayodhya issue closed for now, says BJP
Party chief Kushabhau Thakre termed the attacks on Christians "unfortunate" and an "international conspiracy" to destabilise the coalition government.

Thakre reshuffles his men
In a major reallocation, the BJP president put general secretary K N Govindacharya in charge of Rajasthan, M Venkaiah Naidu for Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and vice-president K Jana Krishnamurthy to look after the party headquarters and 'think tank'.

Tohra will not float a new party
The senior Akali politician said he would not break the party even if his detractors removed him from the SGPC presidency and blocked the induction of his associate P S Chandumajra in the Union Cabinet.

THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS

Vajpayee willing to strike, but afraid to wound
'His liberal posture is not enough. He has to undo the harm his party has done. The BJP's governance has let the worst elements in society come to the fore. Violence and hatred are rocking the nation. Religion is being mixed with politics with a vengeance,' says Kuldip Nayar.

What sort of government levies tariffs on a life-saving vaccine?
'The fundamentalists must be stamped out. Alternatively, the BJP can sit in the opposition for the next 40 years. Pramod Mahajan says the attacks on churches in Gujarat are being blown out of proportion. Looks more likely that the fundamentalists will blow Vajpayee out of Delhi,' says A Ganesh Nadar.

All for a photo
'Vajpayee summoned Maneka the other day. She conceded that she didn't have Ambedkar's photo in her office. The PM was sympathetic, but said in view of the potential for a controversy it would be better if she gave up charge of the Ambedkar Foundation and Publication Unit!' Capital Buzz. Gossip from the Delhi Durbar.

Wanna lose weight? Take a trip on the Indian Railways!
'Passengers do not overeat, and step down from the trains slim, trim and full of vim. Of course, they lose some money in the process, but then health is better than wealth,' says V Gangadhar.


Andhra Pradesh: Irate mob injures 11 policemen
Madhya Pradesh: Digvijay draws up big plans for the poor
Maharashtra: Thackeray asks for arms to fight Pakistan

JANUARY 16

THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW

Sangh Parivar demands minority status for Hindus in 6 states
The National Commission for Minorities favours this. But the Sangh's idea is also to ensure that the Sikhs in Punjab and Christians in the north-eastern states lose their minority rights and government opportunities.

THE PAKISTAN CRICKET TOUR

PM takes on Sena, asserts that nobody can stop Pak tour
"What is so brave about digging up a cricket pitch in the dark of the night?" Vajpayee said. "If these people are so concerned about terrorism, they should go and confront the terrorists. They should go to the affected areas and help the victims of terrorism."

THE REDIFF SPECIAL

'Yeh General banega'
'The government must restore the izzat and iqbal of the soldier. India's first and only living field marshal, Sam Manekshaw, who gave the country its first military victory in 1,000 years, has been placed in Article 12 of the Warrant of Precedence, below two former civil servants: Brajesh Mishra and Vijay Kapoor,' says Gen (retd) Ashok K Mehta.

THE ANJANA MISHRA RAPE CASE

NCW demands CBI inquiry
But the commission also urged all political parties not to try and twist the case to their advantage as it involves the dignity of a human being.

Orissa PCC chief meets Sonia
Hemananda Biswal admitted the incident had adversely affected the party's image in the state. "The Congress Working Committee, which is meeting on Saturday, may discuss this issue," he said.

OTHER REPORTS

Delay in Cabinet expansion miffs TN allies
Though the AIADMK leadership is as upset as its MPs, it is not complaining. For now, it is content with the Centre taking a line supportive of Jayalalitha in the special courts case pending in the Supreme Court, and is willing to wait for the expansion.

India, France to conduct joint military exercises
This and a host of other measures to boost defence co-operation, including a second meeting of the Indo-French High Committee on Defence Co-operation in New Delhi later this year, were agreed upon during George Fernandes's four-day visit to France.

Militants attack army camp in Srinagar again
If last month it was the Toto ground that came under fire, this time it is the high-security Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Centre at Haft Chinar. Luckily, no one was injured.

Tumble of coconut heap atop hillock caused Sabarimala landslide
Pathanamthitta District Collector T Thankappan said the coconuts stocked for the rituals fell when some people climbed over to have a better glimpse of the makara jyoti that appeared over the eastern horizon. The resultant slide of people and coconuts downhill caused the tragedy.

Pak delegation is in safe hands, assure Delhi police
The 19-member team that arrived for the dry run of the proposed bus service between New Delhi and Lahore has been provided adequate security, police chief V N Singh said.

Army chief foresees 'leaner, meaner' force
With this comment in the Asia Defence News International, was General Ved Prakash Malik referring to the obvious flab on the Indian army?

Recovered skeletal remains have nothing to do with Bombay riots, say police
Human skulls, limbs, and bones were recovered on Thursday from a creek in the north-western suburb of Andheri.

Harikrishna will not take BJP's help in battle against Naidu
The estranged brother-in-law of the Andhra Pradesh chief minister indicated that the political party he proposes to launch shortly could have a working arrangement with the Left.

Three more witnesses turn hostile in JMM bribery case
During cross-examination by the special public prosecutor, Darmian Singh, Roop Ram and Niranjan Rao claimed complete ignorance about the chain of events on July 30, 1993.

SC reserves verdict on mass death sentence in Rajiv murder
Senior counsel N Natarajan, appearing for the accused, contended that the degree of complicity varied from one accused to another and hence they should have been awarded different sentences.

Men of Indian origin stab it out in Vancouver
Adding yet another chapter to the increasing violence in this colourful city in British Columbia, a person was arrested last week for stabbing a 21-year-old to death outside a night club.

THE REDIFF INTERVIEW

'Two-party scenario for India is just wishful thinking'
'In coalition politics, all the partners must be treated with respect and consideration. They must be consulted on all policy decisions, which is something that is not taking place in this government. For a coalition government to function successfully, there has to be a spirit of give and take.' AIADMK general secretary Jayalalitha Jayaram, often accused of destabilising the Vajpayee government, presents a mellower side.

THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS

The promise of a different life
'I'm handicapped, but I've been enormously fortunate. Too many others are held back not just by illness but by lack of opportunity, landlordism, enforced prostitution, social ostracism, and worse. The real challenge of our lives is to empower them, so they can walk all those paths they only dream of now. Without that promise of a different life, hope is just a four-letter word,' says Ashwin Mahesh.

Family fight
'The BJP must build a wall between itself and some of the more far-fetched ideas espoused by, say, the Bajrang Dal. The task would have been easier in the relative obscurity of opposition or the relative security of an absolute majority, but neither luxury is available,' says T V R Shenoy.


Arunachal Pradesh: Another of Apang's flock flies
Delhi: Police asked to trace 30 bonded labourers
Karnataka: Patel may shuffle ministers by month-end

THE WEATHER

Orissa, Bihar continue under cold wave
Cold wave conditions also prevailed in parts of east Uttar Pradesh, the hills of west Uttar Pradesh, and in east Madhya Pradesh.

JANUARY 15

THE BHAGWAT DISMISSAL

Bhagwat promises to reveal the truth soon
"If supporting the national interest is a crime, then I am guilty," he told Rediff On The NeT. "I have done my duty and followed the Constitution and I am proud of that."

THE REDIFF SPECIAL

How the Services lost the War
'From the decline in the Warrant of Precedence to the erosion of financial and operation autonomy, the decline corroded promotions, postings, ceremonial functions... The defence ministry gradually commandeered power, leaving the services with just the trappings of dwindling pageantry,' says Gen (retd) Ashok K Mehta.

THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW

VHP meets US envoy, clarifies Dangs violence
The organisation will strongly oppose the BJP's plan to declare 2000 as the Year of Christ. "When no year has been celebrated for any Hindu leader, why should there be one for Christ?" a VHP leader asked.

THE ANJANA MISHRA RAPE CASE

'Patnaik appears keen only to preserve his chair'
The Orissa chief minister ignored repeated warnings that the law-and-order situation is deteriorating by the day, charges his deputy and the man who wants to replace him, Basanta Kumar Biswal.

OTHER REPORTS

51 pilgrims killed in Sabarimala stampede
The stampede was reportedly caused when a rope that was tied to control the crowds gave way. Several people were trampled upon while many more fell off the hillside to a depth of about 40ft.

Cabinet to be expanded after Republic Day
As for Mamata Banerjee's threat to withdraw from the government if her demands are not met, the officials pointed out that she had been making such statements ever since her party agreed to support the ruling coalition.

Pakistani bus completes trial run to India
The Mitsubishi coach was carrying 20 Pakistani officials belonging to various departments. They will hold talks with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi to finalise details of the Delhi-Lahore service.

New missile to be tested soon
The sophisticated new surface-to-surface medium-range missile will be test-fired from the Interim Test Range, about 15km from Balasore in Orissa, on January 23 or 24.

Basu and men tighten their belts
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) summoned all its ministers to a meeting at the state party headquarters to discuss ways to improve the efficiency of its government. This follows the leadership's severe criticism of the style of functioning of some departments.

THE REDIFF INTERVIEW

'Hyderabad may become the IT capital of the country, but will it alleviate poverty?'
"My actor-brother Balakrishna has promised to join my campaign to educate the masses about how the TDP leadership has buried my father's ideals." NTR's son Nandamuri Harikrishna unfurls the banner of revolt against Chandrababu Naidu.

THE REDIFF COLUMNIST

The Beacon of Human Rights
'The US interest in Hindu atrocities... hmm... Today, just as it agrees with our pinkos' agenda, it serves the Christian World's purpose to further roil the waters for the present government. For, that eases the possibility of India's next prime minister to be a European...' says Varsha Bhosle.


Arunachal Pradesh: Apang's detractors gather another MLA
Bihar: Let Rabri rule, says Congress
Delhi: Raytheon navigation system starts working
Karnataka: Deputy Speaker Mamani, 62, dead
Tamil Nadu: Jaya's petition dismissed in Pleasant Stay case

THE WEATHER

Sikkim, Orissa shiver
Night temperatures were also appreciably below normal in south Madhya Pradesh, east Vidarbha and parts of the plains of west Uttar Pradesh, east Rajasthan, Kutch and north Telangana.

JANUARY 14

THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW

Snubbed on the economic front, Sangh turns on the Hindutva heat
Vajpayee's attempts to convince the Parivar not to whip up a communal frenzy on the Gujarat incidents have failed. The latter told him that it is only under a BJP government that its cultural nationalism can be implemented. A senior BJP politician conceded: "He is facing more problems from within than from our coalition partners."

Dangs reverts to normalcy
No untoward incident was reported from any part of the sleepy tribal district yesterday. The situation was peaceful and well under control, District Superintendent of Police Manoj Sashidhar said.

Congress will demand President's rule in Gujarat at 'appropriate time'
Asked why his party was delaying demanding President's rule in Gujarat, Arjun Singh said, "First I want a reaction from the government."

THE ANJANA MISHRA RAPE CASE

Sonia summons Patnaik as row hots up
Officially, however, the party declined to say whether the Orissa CM had been summoned or merely invited for the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled to be held on Saturday.

Bail petition of accused rejected
Pradip Sahoo, who was produced before Judicial Magistrate (first class rural) Ambika Guru on Tuesday night after 36 hours of interrogation at Barang police station, was sent to Choudwar jail.

General strike disrupts life in Orissa
Reports reaching the capital Bhubaneswar said train services were badly affected, both government and private buses were off the roads, and major business establishments remained closed at most places.

THE PAKISTAN CRICKET TOUR

300 Sena 'commandos' in Delhi to prevent Test
Poonam Singh, general secretary of the UP unit of the Sena, said the 'commandos', who have been trained in the Chambal valley, will go to Madras if the first Test is to be staged there.

OTHER REPORTS

Vajpayee postpones Cabinet expansion
The decision comes in the wake of reported differences between the BJP and its allies over the allotment of plum portfolios. The expansion is now expected to take place at the end of January.

Mamata's flip-flops rile Trinamul MPs
With the question of joining the Vajpayee ministry becoming a bone of contention within the party, it will not be a surprise if Banerjee now threatens to withdraw support unless she is made railway minister. But then, it is to be seen how many of her MPs will back her on this issue.

India rejects regional non-proliferation
"If some nuclear powers are here to stay, including those in our immediate neighbourhood, then India has no choice but to maintain its minimal, assured nuclear/missile capabilities," Deputy Chief of Mission in the Washington embassy T P Sreenivasan said.

US to try new tack in Talbott-Singh talks
President Clinton's National Security Adviser Samuel 'Sandy' Berger said if there was enough progress in meeting American non-proliferation concerns, Clinton might visit New Delhi and Islamabad by the end of 1999.

Apang gets another jolt, 2 more ministers quit
In separate but identical letters addressed to the CM, T G Rinpoche, minister of state for trade and commerce, and Naresh Glow, minister of state for social welfare, resigned, citing, among other reasons, "your (Apang's) lack of faith in the council of ministers, encouraging dynastic rule, and disparity in fund allocations".

'My husband was killed in fake encounter'
Pushpa, wife of Suresh Waghmare alias Dadu, who was allegedly killed in an encounter with the Bombay police last week, has submitted a memorandum to Maharashtra Director-General of Police Arvind Inamdar demanding an inquiry into the incident.

Tohra urged to rise against Badal
Akali Dal (Democratic) president Kuldip Singh Wadala has invited the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president to join the forces ranged against the Punjab chief minister.

Photo exhibition brings Delhi's phatphatias back to life
Samar S Jodha's camera traces the life and times of the trikes that ruled the capital's streets for four decades before being ordered off by the Supreme Court last October.

Last elephant march comes to an end in Kerala
Several factors contributed to the discontinuation of the pageant. These include the growing apathy of foreign tourists to artificial festivals, their changing preference from package tours to individual tours, and the feeling that the march amounts to cruelty to the beasts.

JMM registers third split
Dissident leaders of the Shibu Soren faction, led by former general secretary Sudhir Mahato and central secretary Prabhakar Tirkey, have joined hands with the Mardi group to float a new political party, the Akhil Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Where the black buck is for worshipping
For the villagers of Baguda in south Orissa, the rare antelope is a sign of prosperity. Not to be preyed on with a gun, but to be prayed to.

THE REDIFF CHAT

'There are clean Indian politicians like Vajpayee whom no scandal has touched'
'Politicians will continue to interfere and make unreasonable demands. It is always possible to stand up to them as I did. Most politicians want to eat their cake and have it too,' former CBI director Joginder Singh tells The Rediff Chat.

THE REDIFF INTERVIEW

'The US does have important interests in both China and Pakistan that it is not going to sacrifice'
'India dominates the region. It should do so by consensus rather than by power. I think the BJP understands this. India today appears like a great country dragged down by its relations with other countries. India has to find a way of dealing with Pakistan so as to not always be dragged down by that country.' Dr Stephen Cohen, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, Washington, and an old India hand, gives a recipe for a nation he clearly loves.

THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS

Failing Hopes, Rising Crime
'Cutting across caste and creed and community, young people are migrating towards the criminal underworld. It offers them excitement, a quickening of the pulse, the rush of adrenaline in the blood. It also offers them the opportunity to punish those whom they see as bloodsuckers in a corrupt and unequal world,' says Pritish Nandy.

And the tap tells a tale
'The maharaja gives a few tribal families a plot of land. Years later, the Baroda Municipality gives the colony that has formed there a tap, their only source of water. Some more years later, the same municipality demolishes about half the houses in the colony, those nearest the tap, to make way for new multi-storeyed buildings. Today, the uprooted families live on top of the shit that flows from those buildings,' says Dilip D'Souza.

THE WEATHER

Cold kills two more in Rajasthan
The deaths were reported from Karauli and Alwar, taking the toll in the state this winter to seven.

JANUARY 13

Sonia's quota for women upsets senior Congressmen
Gandhi wants to induct more women into the CWC and the AICC by March. Party functionaries maintain that she has just two options: to either sack male members or expand the committees.

The hidden agenda behind Advani's 'Kamaraj Plan' for BJP
The plan, where senior leaders quit the BJP governments in the states and at the Centre, could save the party any embarrassment should charges be framed against sitting ministers in the Ayodhya case.

THE BHAGWAT DISMISSAL

Delhi HC calls for all the records
The court also overruled the contention of Additional Solicitor-General C S Vaidyanathan that the petitioner, Wing Commander (retd) H M Sethi, has no locus standi in the matter as he is not the affected party and the issue is not of public interest.

THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW

Violence resumes in the Dangs
Two chapels were set ablaze barely a day after Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's visit to the district, when he gave a clean chit to the state administration.

Hindus order Christians away from tribal village near Nasik
The Christians of Kayre-Sadadpada in Peth taluka are living in the shadow of fear following an order from the 'Dharmaraksha Samiti' to leave the place by March 31.

Pawar assails PM's stand on attacks
The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said Vajpayee's statement that a nation-wide debate is needed on the issue of conversions was uncalled for and would create more tension.

RSS welcomes PM's statement on conversions
Sarsanghachalak Rajendra Singh said Vajpayee's call assumes significance in the light of the incidents in Gujarat which "have been 'blown out of proportion'' by the media.

VHP claims Hinduism is in danger
National convenor Acharya Dharmendra said the government must act in a way that issues like the attacks on Christians in the Dangs do not draw the attention of the international community.

Reconversion isn't conversion, claims VHP
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has stepped up its demand for the enforcement of a legislation banning conversions in the country.

'Conversions have increased after Sonia became Congress chief'
The VHP's international secretary general, Praveen Togadia, said the international conspiracy at the behest of foreign powers and the ''church'' is meant to encourage separatist tendencies in the country.

THE ANJANA MISHRA RAPE CASE

Opposition 'exaggerating' rape, says Patnaik
The Orissa chief minister has alleged that some individuals and the opposition are going all out to defame him.

THE PAKISTAN CRICKET TOUR

PM hopes 'better sense' will prevail on Thackeray
Vajpayee said he did not approve of the Shiv Sainiks digging up the Ferozeshah Kotla ground and the pat on the back they subsequently received from their chief Bal Thackeray.

OTHER REPORTS

Cabinet expansion on Jan 15, says PM
Contrary to his earlier announcement that he would never contest a parliamentary election again, Vajpayee today gave ample indications that he is not averse to trying his luck at the hustings.

Vajpayee admits casteism has affected BJP
The prime minister also admitted that the conflicts within the once-disciplined party had become public. "Various steps are being taken at Delhi and Lucknow to improve [the situation]," he said.

Karnataka Janata Dal settles internal squabbles
Party president Sharad Yadav has set things right, letting J H Patel continue as chief minister and making the neutral K Siddaramaiah the state unit chief.

Sabarimala tantri takes on board
The confrontation between the priest and the Travancore Devaswom Board, which administers the Ayyappa temple, has struck a discordant note in the spiritual ambience of the hill shrine in Kerala at the fag end of the makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

Crashed DRDO plane was on test flight
The aircraft, belonging to the Centre for Airborne Systems, was fitted with a turning rotordome and was a technology demonstrator for an indigenous airborne early warning capability.

Army expects increased Pak action along J&K border
A senior officer said that last year India inflicted a total of 202 casualties on the Pakistani forces while 822 bunkers and field fortifications were destroyed.

N-powers must demand safeguards before dealing with India, Pakistan: UN
Otherwise such deals could unleash commercial pressures to abandon a responsible global standard, said UN Undersecretary-General for Disarmament Jayantha Dhanapala.

Jemima Khan charged with smuggling
Her husband and Pakistani politician Imran Khan claims it's a trumped-up charge, made because he criticised the Nawaz Sharief government.

THE REDIFF INTERVIEW

'Everybody in Wynad knew Varghese was brutally murdered by the police after torture'
'Women were always in an inferior position in the [Naxalite] movement. The men either showed a protective approach towards women or treated them as a sexual commodity.' Former revolutionary Ajitha, the woman who exposed the Calicut sex scandal involving a top Kerala politician, speaks out in a freewheeling interview.

THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS

To convert or not is an individual's right
'Let these self-styled defenders of the faith usher in a genuine renaissance and not focus on breaking masjids and chapels, and they will find that there is no need to ban conversions. Nobody will want to convert from a faith that treats them as equal human beings, regardless of caste, community, creed or colour,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

Mission: Conversion
'With the doctrinal foundation of Christianity being in trouble, leading Catholics are reportedly distraught with the feeling that the Church is collapsing. Indeed, Dr Rajaram believes that "Christianity has collapsed in Europe" and that the Catholic Church, having realised that fact, has come to the conclusion that "without its expansion in India, organised Christianity will be finished",' says Arvind Lavakare.


What did Laloo do in jail?
He prayed. From the "core of my heart".

THE WEATHER

Cold kills 13 in Bihar
The deaths were all reported from Barh division, where the toll has now reached 24.

JANUARY 12

Vajpayee begins talks to expand Cabinet
With the Trinamul Congress agreeing to join the government, the PM's problems have worsened. Not only has Mamata Banerjee demanded Cabinet berths for three of her senior colleagues, she wants Ajit Panja to be the railway minister and Sudip Bandopadhya to take over the industries department.

Trinamul Congress ready to join government
In a reversal of the party's earlier stand, Ajit Kumar Panja said they had staked claim to the railway and programme implementation portfolios.

Rallies turn violent in Bangalore, Hegde's house attacked
The police resorted to a baton-charge and burst teargas shells to disperse stone-throwing mobs in the city. The police chief said the attack on Hegde's house seemed pre-planned.

George may sign several defence deals in France
While New Delhi's official line is that the visit is not for signing contracts, a report from Paris said the defence minister's discussions will focus on buying 10 Mirage-2000 warplanes, engines for the advanced light helicopter, electronic components for the MiG-21 fleet, and advanced jet trainers.

THE CHRISTIAN ATTACKS ROW

PM refuses to sack Gujarat government
Vajpayee also the rejected the idea of banning organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal.

BJP calls for rules to govern conversions
Welcoming the PM's call for a national debate on the subject, party vice-president K L Sharma said religious conversions are "at times" being carried out through allurements and "misguidance".

THE ANJANA MISHRA RAPE CASE

Special squad arrests one man
Police claim that the man, Padia Sahoo, has confessed to the crime.

Orissa government orders judicial inquiry
But Mishra moved the high court, praying for a CBI inquiry into the incident.

Protests rocks Orissa
Widespread protests, demonstrations, burning of effigies and road blockades were organised in the capital Bhubaneswar.

OTHER REPORTS

Kalyan Singh will remain CM
The BJP leadership arrived at the decision after the Uttar Pradesh chief minister met Union Home Minister L K Advani and party president Kushabhau Thakre in New Delhi.

Jaya gets a breather
The Supreme Court refused to stay the Madras high court judgment holding that she is entitled to copies of material records in Tamil in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

DRDO plane crashes near Madras
The four senior DRDO officials and four crew members aboard the Avro are believed to be dead.

Union forest minister promises 'green guard' in every village
Suresh Prabhu said the government is making efforts to bring in maximum participation from the citizens in the conservation of natural wealth. The 'green guards' are one such attempt.

Dwarka museum may throw light on Indus civilisation
The Marine Archaeology Centre and the National Institute of Oceanography have jointly submitted a proposal to the Gujarat government to preserve the submerged site.

Moderate Sikhs oppose jathedar's visit to US
They fear the visit could result in bloodshed. But supporters hope the American government that had revoked his visitor's visa will relent.

THE REDIFF COLUMNISTS

We told you so!
'The reason why the fascists have not taken over is Vajpayee. Proving conventional wisdom right on his essential decency, he has held firm, even going so far as to propose declaring 1999 as the Year of the Christian at a time when his party cadres were running around looking for Bibles to burn and bishops to bully,' says Vir Sanghvi.

Fallen in the fray
'The sacking of Admiral Bhagwat has more to do with Bhagwat the man than Bhagwat the CNS. Therefore this act of the government should not be construed, as in Pakistan, of putting the military in its place,' says General Ashok K Mehta.


Bihar: Remarks against PM will prove costly, BJP warns Rabri
Karnataka: CM orders judicial inquiry into Suratkal riots
Kerala: JD minister resigns
Uttar Pradesh: Vajpayee to visit Lucknow

THE WEATHER

Cold wave worsens in Rajasthan
Night temperatures have further dipped by two to three degrees at many places.

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