India will not send troops to Iraq, foreign affairs minister K Natwar Singh has said. His weekend interview for a BBC show had given rise to doubts that India might change its Iraq policy and send men to keep peace alongside the US army.

Singh's statement had raised the hackles of coalition partner CPI(M). A day after the media wrote about his interview, Singh said the US had neither asked for troops nor had India offered to send them.

In the opposition camp, Vajpayee continued introspecting in public, and said the BJP had damaged its election chances by not dismissing Narendra Modi. His also hinted that the Gujarat chief minister may be removed. Last week, the former prime minister said the Gujarat carnage could have been a major reason for voters not supporting the BJP.

Human resources minister Arjun Singh has decided not to sack Yogi Deveshwar, chairman of the IIM Calcutta board of directors. Singh feels such an action would be seen as vindictive. Deveshwar was the only chairman to have supported previous HRD minister Murli Manohar Joshi's fee-cut proposal, and was thus seen as a supporter of the previous regime. Singh said in Kolkata that the government had no particular stand on whether it wanted Deveshwar in or out.

The new Indian regime will play a crucial role in the G-20 group, and take up the case for farm subsidies. Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, in his address at the G-20 ministerial meeting at Sao Paolo in Brazil, said the Congress-led administration would further strengthen the G-20. India has taken the lead in negotiating with the USA and the EU, which seek an end to subsidies.

Overall:

Natwar won't change policy: He brought down the curtains on speculation by saying India would not send troops to Iraq.

Vajpayee continued to introspect: The former prime minister hinted that Narendra Modi could be sent home.

Deveshwar will stay: The human resources ministry will not change the IIM board chairman who had supported the previous regime's fee-cut proposal.

G-20 was reassured: India said it would continue to lead in negotiating the farm subsidies issue with the US and the EU.