Reinstate Bezbaruah,
17 others: Jaya
CHENNAI, Aug 16 — Stepping up her war of attrition against the BJP-led government at the Centre, AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha today alleged that persons very close to the Prime Minister were paid "hefty bribes" to get Enforcement Director M. K. Bezbaruah transferred. She said she was blamed for it and demanded the cancellation of transfers of Bezbaruah and others.
Charge denied

DMK may back BJP govt
MADURAI, Aug 16 — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi today indicated that his party was not averse to reconsidering its stand on extending support to the BJP government at the Centre in the event of the AIADMK withdrawing its support.
Congress stages dharna, joins others on Srikrishna report
NEW DELHI, Aug 16 — The Congress today staged a dharna before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in protest against the rejection of the Srikrishna Commission report by the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra.
Two corporations replace HSEB
CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — Power-starved Haryana has given a quiet burial to the Haryana State Electricity Board and has instead created two corporations — the Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited and the Haryana Vidyut Prasar Nigam.
Vakil to be new J&K Speaker
JAMMU, Aug 16 — Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, who in April last has resigned as Revenue Minister, is to be the new Speaker of the state assembly for which the election is scheduled to be held today.