Friday, April 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

BJP Parliamentary Board to decide on UP Govt
New Delhi, April 18
The BJP Parliamentary Board will meet next week to review its earlier stand to sit in the Opposition to pave the way for a tie-up between the BJP and the BSP for government formation in Uttar Pradesh. This was decided at a 90-minute meeting of the BJP top brass led by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with state party leaders.
In video (28k, 56k)

Sayeed to meet floor leaders today
New Delhi, April 18
Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed has convened a meeting of the floor leaders of various political parties in the Lok Sabha tomorrow in a bid to break the continuing deadlock over the admissibility of a motion in Parliament to discuss the Gujarat issue.
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Shanta may be dropped
New Delhi, April 18
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to drop Union Food Minister Shanta Kumar from his Cabinet for publicly airing his views not in line with the party.

• Mamata for Central rule in Gujarat

• Gujarat: Rlys incurred 40 cr loss

• Bureaucratic shake-up in Gujarat

Key player in Sidhu case held
Chandigarh, April 18
The Vigilance Bureau has made its second major breakthrough in the Punjab Public Service Commission Chairmans’ corruption case by taking in custody Jagman Singh, a key figure, who reportedly used to manage not only the “unaccounted funds” but also allegedly acted as a “conduit between his boss and the candidates”.

India inks deal to procure US radars
Washington, April 18
As a major step to enhance defence cooperation, India signed a “historic” $ 146-million arms deal with the USA to procure eight firefinder counterbattery radars.

Tribune scribe hurt in grenade attack
Jammu, April 18
Senior Staff Correspondent of The Tribune Ehsan Fazili today had a narrow escape when an unidentified militant hurled a grenade in the premises of his residence in Srinagar. He sustained splinter injuries and was admitted to hospital.

A BSF officer inspects the damage caused by a grenade explosion in the house of Eshan Fazili, a Tribune Senior Staff Correspondent, in Srinagar on Thursday.  — Tribune photo Amin War

Free power sop to remain: Amarinder Patiala, April 18 Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said there was no question of any compromise by the government in the attempt to rape and murder cases registered against Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia and said the latter may have doctored the tapes carrying his conversations with the Education Secretary and the Chief Minister’s private secretary. Speaking on the issue of free power, he said the free power facility would not be withdrawn.