Sunday, April 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

NDA not a divided house: Vajpayee

New Delhi, April 20 Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today dismissed reports that there were differences among the coalition partners of the ruling NDA on the Gujarat issue and observed that discussion in Parliament on the matter had reached a “ridiculous level”. In video (28k, 56k)

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the inaugural session of the All-India Conference on the Role of the Voluntary Sector in National Development in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI photo

Gujarat issue: PM on sticky wicket
New Delhi, April 20
The Atal Behari Vajpayee’s government is worried about the hardened stance of certain allies that there can be no compromise on the ouster of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

• PM confers with BJP leaders

Gujarat to decide on pullout: George
Godhra, April 20
Defence Minister George Fernandes said today that Gujarat Government would take a decision on the withdrawal of the Army after considering the situation in the violence-affected areas of the state.

Congress pressure for Modi’s ouster
New Delhi, April 20
With the Congress keeping up the momentum over the demand for the ouster of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the stalemate in Parliament over the Gujarat situation is unlikely to be resolved even on Monday.

• Mamata reiterates demands
• Editorial: Bridging the Hindu-Muslim divide

Pahalgam rape: BSF men ‘not to be spared’
New Delhi, April 20
The Centre today said exemplary action would be taken against the three Border Security Force jawans accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in the Khullar Nad area of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, if the charges against them were established.

39 Indians killed in bus mishap in Oman
Dubai, April 20
At least 39 Indians were among 46 persons killed in one of the worst road accidents in the Sultanate of Oman when their bus fell into a ravine after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle in Dhofar province.

Pak declares Khanna persona non grata

Tax men also on Sidhu’s trail
Chandigarh, April 20
Sleuths of the Income Tax Department are closing in on the arrested Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman, Ravi Sidhu, with their own investigation into the origin of huge cash amounts and other assets which have been recovered by the Punjab Vigilance Department.

Punjab page:

Ravi Sidhu case tip of the iceberg Treasury to keep money from Sidhu’s lockers House allotted to Sidhu cancelled

Swami’s remarks cause clash
Tarn Taran, April 20
The town today observed a bandh following clashes between members of the Swami Shraddhanand Jagriti Sansthan and representatives of the majority community here late last evening.