Exercise restraint, PM tells allies
NEW DELHI, Dec 19 — Virtually upset over the allies’ repeated barbs against him and his party on the Ayodhya issue, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today asked the National Democratic Alliance partners to exercise restraint while expressing their views on the issue.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (R) chats with Home Minister L.K. Advani (L) during an iftar celebration hosted by the Prime Minister at a New Delhi hotel on Tuesday. 

Naidu accuses all parties on Ayodhya
HYDERABAD, Dec 19 — The TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu today blamed all parties, including the BJP, for “harping on the Ayodhya issue in an irresponsible manner” at a time when the country was beset with a plethora of problems.

• Congress objects to Bangaru’s statement

• Cong: Thackeray’s remark on Muslims shocking
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50 die as truck falls into rivulet
Deceased were supporters of candidates
CHAMBA, Dec 19 — At least 50 persons were killed and several wounded when a private truck (HP-48-216) rolled into the Siul rivulet at Chakoli near Salooni township, about 62 km from here, at about 11.15 a.m. today.

Pumping in fake notes worth 20 cr
RAW red alert on ISI game plan
PATNA, Dec 19 — As if the internal troubles were not enough for the state police, the Research and Analysis Wing alert over the possible external aggression has jolted them, putting them on the red alert. RAW has warned of the Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence bid to pump in fake currencies worth Rs 20 crore into Indian soil via Nepal.

• PM’s decision on ceasefire today
  NEW DELHI, Dec 19 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, will announce in Parliament tomorrow Centre’s decision on the issue of extension of Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir even as he declared today that the government was ready to talk to anyone, including Pakistan, provided the situation in the state improved.
  

• Ultras’ response to ceasefire good: Army Chief
  NEW DELHI, Dec 19 — Chief of Army Staff Gen S. Padmanabhan today said the response of the militant groups to the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir had been good and “we will move forward to other things”.
  

• One killed, 3 hurt in Doda blast
  JAMMU, Dec 19 — One person was killed and three injured when militants detonated an improvised explosive device in a village of Doda district in Jammu division last evening, official sources said today.
  

 

Puran Singh not called to meeting Sikh clergy may discuss RSS issue AMRITSAR, Dec 19 — The crucial meeting of the Sikh clergy will be held at Akal Takht tomorrow. Giani Puran Singh, the newly appointed Head Granthi of the Golden Temple, has not been called to the meeting. In his absence, either Giani Charan Singh or Giani Gurbachan Singh, both priests of the Golden Temple, may be invited at the eleventh hour to the proposed meeting.