Top Stories
India drops passport demand
but bus hits road block
What is India News Service, Tuesday, 15 February 2005, 1300 hrs IST
External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh\92s diplomatic skills will be put to test over the next couple of days as along with a basket of peace-building measures, he will have to cope with some fresh complications on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.
On the positive side, Singh, at the meeting of foreign ministers in Islamabad, will convey India\92s acceptance to the Pakistani proposal for bus service between Amritsar and Lahore as well as sign the agreement on pre-notification of ballistic missile tests. But it is a new twist to the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus\97billed as the most important CBM in the peace process\97service that will require Singh to summon his diplomatic skills.
After giving up its stand on visas, it\92s learnt that India is now willing to drop its insistence for passport as an identity document for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. While this was indicated to Islamabad through back channels, sources said, a new complication emerged with Pakistan insisting there should be no \91Government of India\92 stamp on the travel documents. Instead, sources said, Islamabad is prepared to accept the J&K government stamp.
Will Natwar redeem Jinnah House pledge?: As he heads to Islamabad on Tuesday to revive the stalled peace process, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh might want to consider redeeming a promise by India to let Pakistan use the Jinnah House in Mumbai.
Restore democracy, India tells Nepal: The Indian Ambassador in Nepal, Mr Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, briefed External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh this evening about the latest ground situation in the Hindu Kingdom.
Naga leaders hold talks with Advani: Two days before the resumption of dialogue with the Centre, NSCN (I-M) leaders Isaac Chisi Swu and TH Muivah on Monday called on leader of the Opposition and BJP president L K Advani for a brief meeting at his Parliament House chamber. An aide to Advani termed the 15-minute meeting as a "courtesy call".
Foreign Secretary draws \91Lakshman Rekha\92 for SAARC: Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran today virtually drew a \91Lakshman Rekha\92 for SAARC member countries saying that India would not like to see a SAARC in which some of its members perceive it as a vehicle primarily to countervail India or to seek to limit its room to manoeuvre.
Geelani, brother blame police: Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, the Delhi University lecturer who was shot at and injured near his lawyer's residence in southwest Delhi on Tuesday last, gave the Crime Branch of the Delhi police today a description of a suspect.
Maritime research to get fillip: India has to tap the vast maritime resources and enhance trade manifold through the sea and guard its exclusive economic zone in order to emerge as a truly developed country and the National Maritime Foundation will address these issues in right earnest.
Court asks CBI why it closed case against Mayawati: The Supreme Court today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file the evidence on the basis of which it had decided to close the criminal case against the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, in the infrastructure corridor case.
Parrikar moves Supreme Court: The former Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parikkar, today moved the Supreme Court challenging the dismissal of the Bharatiya Janata Party Government by the Governor, S.C. Jamir, on February 2.
Shift Pappu Yadav to Tihar, says SC: The Supreme Court today ordered the shifting of controversial RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, a key accused in a murder case, to Capital's high security Tihar jail from Patna's Beur prison, for frequent violation of jail norms there by him.
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States
Chautala suspends Financial Commissioner: The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today implemented his threat of taking action against those IAS officers who, he said, \93are not obeying the government\92s orders under the garb of the model code of conduct\94, delivered at a Cabinet meeting held here on February 11 immediately after his return from Pakistan.
Last day, CJ cancels land for school with judge links: On his last day as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice B K Roy today set aside as \91\91illegal\92\92 and \91\91constitutional\92\92 allotment of land by the Chandigarh administration to a law institute which has two sons of a sitting high court judge as directors.
Second phase of polling begins in Bihar, Jharkhand: Amidst aerial surveillance and heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces, balloting began on Tuesday morning for the second phase of Assembly polls for 82 constituencies in Bihar and 29 in Jharkhand.
Stamp scam: HC to hear CBI application on Feb 17: Abdul Karim Telgi\92s close associate Mahendra Jain, who was accused of selling fake stamps in Rajasthan, has been granted bail on Monday.
Jammu-Srinagar highway thrown open: With improvement in the weather condition, traffic on the 294-km long Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been restored, while power supplies were also partially restored in the Kashmir valley after more than a week.
In Assam, jumbos need healing touch: Is all well with the State's wildlife? Not really. Forty-two elephants involved in showcasing the vibrant centenary celebrations at Kaziranga National Park were released on Monday, but most of them are reportedly ill after gorging on the grass in the park.
MMS again: Girl shoots hostelmate in shower: After the MMS scandal in New Delhi, students of a teachers' training institute got embroiled in a similar situation in Chhotaudepur taluka of Vadodara district.
Hoshiarpur boy kidnapped for Rs 50 lakh ransom: That kidnappings have become more of a routine in Punjab has been proved once again by the sensational kidnapping of a ninth standard student, Abhi Verma, by car-borne kidnappers while he was on his way to school this morning.
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Neighbours
Britain recalls Ambassador: Britain recalled its Ambassador in Kathmandu, Keith Bloomfield. Announcing this, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said: "We strongly support constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy in Nepal."
EU states recall envoys from Nepal: European Union member states have recalled their ambassadors from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu for consultations following the King's power grab there, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
King appoints two loyalists: Consolidating his hold on power, Nepal King Gyanendra on Monday appointed two old-time palace loyalists Tulsi Giri and Kirtinidhi Bishta as vice chairmen of Council of Ministers headed by him.
Five injured in Dhaka explosions:
At least five people were injured when crude bombs exploded while students were celebrating Valentine's Day.
View from abroad
Oxford to confer doctorate on Manmohan Singh: The Oxford University has decided to confer an honorary degree of doctor of civil law on the Indian PM Manmohan Singh, a spokesman of the University said on Monday.
Overall
Natwar Singh went to Pakistan: His diplomatic skills will be put to test as he addresses several bilateral issues.
Supreme Court raised its eyebrows on Taj case: It asked the CBI how it had closed the infrastructure corridor case against Mayavati.
Oxford announced honour for PM: Manmohan Singh will receive an honorary doctorate from the UK university.
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