Saturday, April 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Vajpayee suggests more powers for panchayats
Favours constitutional amendment

New Delhi, April 5 Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today lamented the “ineffective functioning” of Panchayati Raj institutions and suggested another constitutional amendment for enabling these bodies financially strong. In video (28k, 56k) Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the All-India Panchayat Adhyakshas Sammelan in New Delhi on Friday.  — PTI photo

PM disturbed at Modi’s invincibility
New Delhi, April 5
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is highly disturbed about Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s perceived aura of invincibility in the wake of the February 27 Godhra carnage and subsequent communal riots in Ahmedabad and other parts of the state.

Indefinite curfew in Lunawada
Fresh violence erupts in Gujarat
Ahmedabad, April 5
Indefinite curfew was imposed in Lunawada town of Panchamahals district, 40 km from Godhra, as a precautionary measure, after a mob resorted to stone-throwing and arson, in which three persons were arrested, reports received here said.

SC imposes hefty fine on diesel buses
New Delhi, April 5
Taking a tough stand on the Delhi Government’s “ineffective” plan to control vehicular pollution, the Supreme Court today imposed heavy fines on diesel bus operators for non-conversion of their vehicles into the CNG mode.

US negotiator meets Yasser Arafat

Ramallah, West Bank, April 5 Renewing truce efforts, a US envoy today met with Mr Yasser Arafat at the Palestinian leader’s besieged compound. US envoy Anthony Zinni became the first official permitted to meet with Mr Arafat. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat (left) talks to US envoy Anthony Zinni at his Ramallah headquarters on Friday. — Reuters photo

• UN Council for immediate Israeli withdrawal
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Pervez to hold referendum in early May
Islamabad, April 5
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf tonight announced that a referendum would be held in the first week of May on his continuance in office and his future relations with Parliament and the Prime Minister but ruled out any role for former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in the country’s politics.

Procurement tax cut to hit Punjab
New Delhi, April 5
The Centre’s decision to fix a ceiling of 4 per cent on tax imposed by states on the procurement of foodgrains will hit Punjab and other states severely. 

Baffling surrender by Punjab ultra
Amritsar, April 5
Much to the surprise of the Punjab police, a terrorist of the Khalistan National Army, Gurdev Singh, alias Pappy, a resident of Maqbool Road, here, who had taken refuge in Germany, surrendered before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Kishori Kumar, yesterday.

Centre’s no to jathas for Pakistan
Amritsar, April 5
A high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at New Delhi today decided not to grant permission to any Sikh devotee to visit Pakistan to pay obeisance at Sikh shrines there to mark the Baisakhi festival, according to Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, SGPC, here today.