Tuesday, February 12, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

No referendum on govt: PM
Assembly elections in four states
New Delhi, February 11
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said today the results of the forthcoming Assembly elections would by no measure be a reflection of a referendum on the Centre and the government’s performance. Political circles here attach a lot of importance to this averment and interpret it as the BJP seeing the writing on the wall in the coming elections.

• Nation page: No comparison between Bofors, coffin issues: PM

PUNJAB POLL — AN OVERVIEW

Congress has a definite edge
Hari Jaisingh
Chandigarh, February 11
A whistlestop tour of Punjab gives a clear indication that the Congress enjoys a definite edge vis-a-vis the SAD-BJP alliance in the State Assembly elections scheduled for February 13. However, the contest in several constituencies is going to be close. The final tally will depend on local factors and the ability of candidates to mobilise their supporters to cast votes. 

Ansari’s arrest was kept secret
Abu Salem fiasco made govt cautious
New Delhi, February 11
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani knew of Aftab Ansari’s arrest in Dubai the day he was picked up by the UAE authorities on January 23 but maintained utmost secrecy, learning from the recent Abu Salem fiasco.

• India’s charge ‘to mar’ Musharraf’s US visit

• Pak UAV violates airspace again

Pearl kidnapper in Lahore: Pak police
Karachi, February 11
The Pakistani police today said it believed that chief kidnapping suspect Sheikh Omar was hiding in the eastern city of Lahore amid growing concern for the fate of his hostage, US journalist Daniel Pearl. Senior police sources involved in the massive manhunt revealed they had spoken with Omar, the British-born Islamic extremist accused of kidnapping Pearl and threatening to kill him almost three weeks ago.

• India has no role: USA

Punjab page: Cine stars draw big crowds Ludhiana page: Govinda ‘dances’ to Cong tunes Hema Malini addresses a BJP election rally in Ludhiana on Monday. — A Tribune photo

Giani Kewal Singh, son denied bail
Bathinda, February 11
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Karnail Singh, today refused bail to former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh and his son, Baljinder Singh, and his kin Joginder Kaur on the applications moved by them in a criminal case registered against them in connection with the dowry death of his daughter-in-law, Sharnjit Kaur in 1997.