Friday, March 22, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

POTO Bill defeated in RS
NC abstains; joint sitting likely on March 26 
New Delhi, March 21
The government today lost the vote over the Prevention of Terrorism Bill in the Rajya Sabha, with the House adopting by 113 votes to 98 the resolution for disapproval moved by the Congress.

Uproar in LS over VHP’s ‘asthi yatra’
PM calls NDA meeting today, allies also to confer
New Delhi, March 21
A sharp acrimonious verbal dual leading almost to blows between a Janata Dal (U) MP and two BJP MPs forced Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed to adjourn the Lok Sabha. Later, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee convened a meeting of NDA parties for tomorrow to sort out differences over the activities of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

• Five killed in police firing

• Nation page: B.P. Singhal may face action

BJP losing track of principles: Acharya
Ayodhya saints to meet today
Ayodhya, March 21
The VHP Vice-President, Acharya Giriraj Kishore, today alleged that the BJP had lost track of its original principles after becoming part of the National Democratic Alliance.

The Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Ms Uma Bharti (right), with Ramchandra Paramhans (left) in Ayodhya on Thursday. Ms Bharti is visiting Ayodhya as an emissary of the Prime Minister. — AFP photo

Serious cracks developing in NDA
New Delhi, March 21
The secular allies of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government believe that the BJP leadership must give up its Hindutva agenda to stall serious cracks developing in the 24-party NDA.

• Editorial: Ayodhya hearing, hope

• FRANKLY SPEAKING: Facing nation’s stark realities
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SAD not to contest posts of Speaker, Dy Speaker
Chandigarh, March 21
The Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Mr Parkash Singh Badal will not contest the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The election of the Speaker is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

• Punjab page: New MLAs take oath

The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, arrives at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Thursday (left). The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, shakes hands with the pro-tem Speaker, Dr Kewal Krishan, after being administered oath as MLA.  — Tribune photos Pankaj Sharma

SP sure of majority in House
Renews plea to UP Governor
New Delhi, March 21
Undeterred by the imposition of President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party today made a renewed call to Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri to invite the party to form government in the state as per the “democratic norms”, saying that it had the requisite support to prove majority in the Assembly.

Sekhon’s village peeved at his ouster Issewal (Ludhiana), March 21 Issewal village on the outskirts of the city has always personified patriotism. Small village homes have given birth to scores of gallantry award winners who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. Today, the villagers here are a disappointed lot. Their son has been humiliated and made to suffer for what they call “prevalent norms of the day”.  Mann threatens dharna inside Lok Sabha