Sonia wants talks with Mamata expedited
The Congress today hinted that an end to the
stand off with the Trinamool Congress on seat sharing in West
Bengal was in sight. ``We are prepared to make any sacrifice to
defeat the CPI(M),'' the AICC general secretary incharge of West
Bengal, Mr. Kamal Nath, said.
'NDA door opens both ways'
A day after the BJP vice-president, Mr.
Kailashpati Mishra, indicated in Kolkata that the party's
alliance with the Trinamool Congress for the West Bengal Assembly
elections was off and the BJP would contest maximum seats on its
own, the president, Mr Jana Krishnamurthi, virtually contradicted
him saying that the ``door'' was still open.
Gautam Ghosh to return award
Eminent film-maker, Mr. Gautam Ghosh, has
decided to return the national award for the best Bengali film
won by his recent film, `Dekha', citing the resignation of three
jury members and ``other unfortunate developments''.
Sushma pooh-poohs criticism
``Saddened'' by what she described as an
``unnecessary controversy'' generated around the latest National
Film Awards, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting,
Ms. Sushma Swaraj, today said the ``baseless, malicious and
untrue'' allegations had damaged the reputation of the awards.
Ayodhya: CBI against Ministers' discharge
The Central Bureau of Investigation today said
that all the 47 accused in the Ayodhya demolition case, including
the three Union Ministers, Mr. L. K. Advani, Dr. Murli Manohar
Joshi and Ms. Uma Bharti, could be proceeded against on the basis
of the consolidated chargesheet filed against them.
Make up your mind, CPI(M) tells Cong.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front today warned the
Congress on its proposed tie-up with the Trinamool Congress in
West Bengal hinting that this ``anti-Left move'' could have other
serious repercussions for politics at the Centre.
BJP plans code of ethics
In what is seen as a direct response to the
unsavoury Tehelka episode, the Bharatiya Janata Party president,
Mr. Jana Krishnamurthi, today announced his resolve to put into
place ``a code of ethics for party MPs, MLAs and all elected
representatives of the people at all levels.''
President stable
The condition of the President, Mr. K.R.
Narayanan, who underwent surgery for removal of gall bladder
stones at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here today, is stable.
Pak. warns India
Pakistan tonight called upon India to
immediately ``halt all its actions and steps'' to erect a fence
along the working boundary.
MP's arrest rocks Bihar Assembly
The arrest of the independent MP, Mr. Rajesh
Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav for allegedly threatening a ruling RJD
MLA, Mr. Bhupendra Rishideo, rocked the Bihar Assembly today.
