Saturday, 8 January 2005, 1400 hrs

TOP STORIES
Case against Kanchi
seer falling apart 
Shankaracharya's counsel F S Nariman hammered on glaring loopholes in allegations made by the Tamil Nadu police. The Supreme Court is hearing the seer's bail plea


BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Breakthrough: India signs
mega LNG deal with Iran
India entered into an agreement with Iran to import 7.5 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG), starting 2009, for over 25 years

 

Indian Express
Govt divides survivors on caste
Doors are being slammed in the face of Dalit survivors here—and the Government is quietly doing some of the slamming. Yesterday, The Indian Express reported how Dalits from 63 affected villages are facing the brunt of the powerful Meenavar fishermen: being thrown out of relief camps, pushed to the rear of food and water lines, not being allowed to take water from UNICEF facilities and in some cases not even being allowed to use the toilet. 

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India Together
Vidarbha 2004: a suicides diary 
The “simple man” silently walked out of his hut that fateful day, went to the backyard and consumed pesticide in the veil of darkness. Rising family debt had forced his children out of school, and that proved the last straw. JAIDEEP HARDIKAR recounts the stories of this and two other farmer suicides.

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Businessworld
Will they, won't they?
India will get a new patents regime, but Big Pharma is hardly excited. What will it take to boost their interest in opening R&D centres here?

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Outlook
The tsunami test
A tragedy always tests one's mettle and the catastrophic tsunami is India's trial by fire. India is both victim and saviour, but by responding quickly to neighbours in need, it has emerged as a much-needed regional anchor, says SEEMA SIROHI

 

TOP PICKS

OPINION


Economy on the move (Tribune)
Jamming jails (Tribune)
Allies in Lalooland (Tribune)
Economists on growth pangs (Pioneer)
Sex and sensibility (Pioneer)