Sunday, April 7, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

CPI wrests Malout seat

Malout, April 6 The CPI-Congress alliance candidate, Mr Nathu Ram, was today elected to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from this politically important Assembly segment after defeating the SAD candidate, Mrs Mukhtiar Kaur, by 6,609 votes.

Mr Nathu Ram, CPI-Congress alliance candidate, is garlanded by his supporters after winning the Malout Assembly seat on Saturday.  — Tribune photo Kulbir Beera

        Punjab page: Cong, CPI euphoric over Malout win

Situation still volatile
Rift deep-rooted, Gujarat officials tell NCM
New Delhi, April 6
Senior officials of the Gujarat government told the National Commission for Minorities here today that the unabating communal violence in the state was due to a “deep-rooted rift” between the two communities beyond the realm of a law and order problem.
In video (28k, 56k)

• Minorities panel for probe by SC Judge

• 4 die in fresh Gujarat violence

• After riots, it’s economic boycott call

• Riots coverage: scribes for code of conduct

• Edit page: In the name of Ram

Justice Mohammed Shamim, Chairman of NCM (centre), Mr Tarlochan Singh, Vice-Chairman, and Lt-Gen (retd) A. M. Sethna during a Press conference of the National Commission for Minorities on Gujarat disturbances in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI photo

Sonia flays PM for not removing Modi
New Delhi, April 6
Congress President Sonia Gandhi today criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for taking along persons who were “masterminding” the violence in Gujarat on his day-long visit to the state.

• BJP rules out Modi’s removal ‘as of now’

Pak threatens to use nukes
London, April 6
Pakistan may use nuclear weapons against India as a last resort in the event of a war, President Pervez Musharraf has said.

World page: C’wealth unimpressed by Pervez  referendum plan      Referendum to perpetuate Musharraf rule

Defying govt, Mann’s jatha to visit Pak
Amritsar, April 6
Even as the high-powered committee presided over by the Prime Minister has decided not to give permission to Sikh devotees to visit Pakistan, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, MP and Akali Dal President, today announced that a jatha of his party would cross over to Pakistan on April 11 by breaking a “blockade” of the Central Government.

India, Thailand, Myanmar to build highway
Yangon, April 6
In a path-breaking sub-regional initiative, India, Thailand and Myanmar today agreed to launch a trilateral highway project linking the three countries for better connectivity, to enhance trade, investment and tourism with New Delhi suggesting a consortium to raise funds for infrastructure, transport and other linkages.