Tehelka expose: Probe by sitting judge unlikely
The Chief Justice of India, Mr. A.S. Anand, is believed to have turned down the Government's request that a sitting judge of the Supreme Court be spared for conducting an inquiry into the Tehelka expose. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, had announced the Union Cabinet's decision to hold a judicial probe in a national broadcast on Friday.

Samata Ministers may relent
Efforts are on to persuade the three Samata Ministers - Mr. Nitish Kumar, Mr. Digvijay Singh and Mr. V. Sreenivasa Prasad - from pressing their resignations from the Union Council of Ministers.

Worst Govt.: VHP
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, one of the outfits of the RSS, has described the Vajpayee Government as ``the worst government''. Without directly saying that it was time for it to pack up its bags, the suggestion was there.

Two killed in mob violence
Two persons were killed, and a sub-inspector injured, as violence flared up here today over the burning of a copy of the Quran. A mob set on fire four places of worship, and about a dozen shops belonging to minorities, forcing the authorities to extend indefinite curfew in two more police station areas.

14 killed in shootout
Prohibitory orders were clamped in Bihar's Siwan District today after 14 persons, including two policemen, were killed in a gunbattle between the police and supporters of the RJD MP, Mr. Shahabuddin.