Monday, March 25, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

NHRC indicts Gujarat Government
Says it abdicated responsibility
New Delhi, March 24
Describing the situation in Gujarat as “shocking”, the National Human Rights Commission today strongly indicted the Narendra Modi government, saying that the inability of the administration to prevent the Godhra carnage and the ensuing developments reflected “inaction” and “inefficiency and abdication of responsibility” on its part.

3 die in fresh wave of violence in Gujarat
Ahmedabad, March 24
At least three persons, including a 30-year-old woman, were today stabbed to death here in a fresh outbreak of communal violence in parts of Gujarat even as the Army patrolled in some localities here. The Tazia procession on the eve of Muharram was also cancelled.
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Simla pact sole basis for talks, says PM

Shimla, March 24 Unprovoked by President Pervez Musharraf’s rhetoric, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said that India was willing to improve ties with Pakistan provided that country responded to

Factfile   Vajpayee admits to Gujarat excesses    Asks Pakistan to stop encouraging terrorism    Moots Trans-Himalayan   Development Authority

the global call to end terrorism and agreed to resolve all disputes on the basis of Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.

Editorial: Pakistan's latest gimmicks Himachal page: PM leaves Dhumal high and dry on package Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addresses a mammoth gathering at The Ridge, Shimla, on Sunday.  — Tribune photo Karam Singh

White Paper on Punjab economy today
Chandigarh, March 24
A White Paper on Punjab’s finances and economy will be laid on the table of the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow. Replete with tables, graphs and a grain of truth, this 80-odd page “status document” is intended to make people aware rather than apportion blame.

Wheat MSP may be hiked
New Delhi, March 24
Indian wheat growers would get a higher price for their new crop if an Agriculture Ministry proposal gets the nod from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Cabinet. On Friday night, the Cabinet decided to bring down the price of grain sold through the state-owned public distribution system by Rs 100 a quintal for three months to reduce the stockpile that is currently 58 million tonnes.

Surjeet re-elected Gen Secy of CPM
Hyderabad, March 24
Octogenarian Communist leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet was today unanimously re-elected CPM General Secretary for the fourth successive term, proving wrong all speculations over change of guard in the party.