Friday, 11 February 2005, 2000 hrs

TOP STORIES
Kashmir polling touches
70 pc in last phase
A day after a candidate was shot dead, voters turned up in huge numbers in the last phase of the state's municipal elections
 
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Government will rein in
real estate sector
A significant hike in allocation to the agriculture sector is likely in this year’s budget (2005-06), with the government drawing out a comprehensive action plan to reform farm markets and post-harvest infrastructure

Asia Times
India, as seen by Maoists
With Nepal in turmoil after the royal coup of February 1 by King Gyanendra, the views of the Nepalese Maoists of India become pertinent, as do the reactions of the Maoists of India to Delhi's policy toward Nepal, says B RAMAN


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Outlook
King's Gambit
Initial condemnation of the coup in Nepal from India were strong and unambiguous, but of late a policy rethink seems in the works. If true, it would be the swiftest turnaround in recent memory. Exactly what the king would hope for and what supporters of democracy must prevent, says SEEMA SIROHI

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Outlook
'What Aspect Of Islam Is Supposedly Under Threat?' 
'Is it Islam as a religion of social justice or is it simply the patriarchal order that seeks legitimacy under an 'Islamic' label? This slogan is routinely deployed to silence debate and dissent within the community by those who seek to preserve and promote their own powers and privileges,' says Cassandra Balchin in an interview with YOGINDER SIKHAND


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Indian Express
We don’t talk anymore
In Bihar intense social churning has neither stilled nor delivered. It goes on and on, an end in itself, unwilling to transcend its own ineffectual motion. The politics of empowerment is stillborn, says VANDITA MISHRA 

EDITORIAL PICKS

Gas for growth (Tribune)
PM's action plan (Tribune)
Courtesy calls (Hindu)
Outrageous assault on Geelani (Hindu)
Volatile Bagladesh (Tribune)