Monday, April 29, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Fernandes, Modi lead peace march
Ahmedabad, April 28
Defence Minister George Fernandes and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi led a peace march through the streets of the strife-torn walled city today, even as riots and arson continued to rock the state, claiming seven more lives.
In video (28k, 56k)

Violence claims 7 more lives Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, Union Minister for Law, Justice and Company Affairs Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Railways Digvijay Singh and others at a peace march in Ahmedabad on Sunday.  — PTI photo

Mayawati to stake claim today
RLD falls in line, sends letter of support to PM
New Delhi/Lucknow, April 28
The clouds of uncertainty over the proposed Mayawati-led coalition government in Uttar Pradesh were blown over tonight when the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) sent to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee its letter of support.

• Kanshi, Mayawati meet Vajpayee
• RKP to boycott oath-taking ceremony

TDP to wait for PM’s reply
Stand on censure motion
Hyderabad, April 28
Maintaining the suspense over the stand his party would take on the voting on the motion on Gujarat in Parliament, the TDP, a key outside supporter of the NDA Government, was today understood to have decided to wait for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s reply in the Lok Sabha before firming up its posture.

25 militants eliminated
3 Gaddis kidnapped, feared killed
Srinagar, April 28
Twentyfive militants, mostly foreign mercenaries, and a civilian were killed and 10 persons, including eight securitymen, wounded as fierce encounters rocked various parts of Jammu and Kashmir since past night, a police spokesman said today.

       J&K page: Plan to push Pak officers into J&K

India calls for global coalition against terror
London, April 28
In an indirect indictment of Pakistan, India has called for strengthening global coalition against terror not only to eliminate terrorist groups but also “the support-bases that nurture terrorism.”

34 Maoists killed
Kathmandu, April 28
At least 34 Maoist rebels were killed in separate encounters with security forces across Nepal, official sources here said today.

       World page: Nepal to extend emergency

Travel agent based in Greece booked
Jalandhar, April 28
The Nawanshahr police has registered a case against two travel agents, based in Greece and Delhi, who were allegedly behind the illegal transportation of a number of Punjabi youths from Doaba region.

Sheikh Zainuddin’s Urs celebrated
Srinagar, April 28
The annual Urs of Sheikh Zainuddin Wali, marking the beginning of agricultural activities of the farmers was celebrated at Aishmuqam in Anantnag district of south Kashmir yesterday.

FOLLOW-UP Move to scrap PPSC selections Punjab Govt may hold selection tests again Bathinda, April 28 The Punjab Government is likely to initiate a move shortly to cancel all recruitments done by the Punjab Public Service Commission during the chairmanship of Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, who is facing trials under the Corruption Act. PPSC selections fair, claim teachers