Wednesday, August 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

SC gets presidential reference on Gujarat
B.N. Kripal to decide Bench
New Delhi, August 20
The Supreme Court today received the three-point presidential reference seeking its opinion on the legality of the Election Commission’s recommendation of imposition of President’s rule in Gujarat as the Assembly poll could not be held within the stipulated timeframe.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh with Ms Sham Kaur, sister of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, at a function to mark the death anniversary of the Sant at Longowal village, Sangrur district, on Tuesday. Also in the picture is Mr H.S. Hanspal; and (right) former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Union Defence Minister George Fernandes, Ms Uma Bharati and Mr Shahnawaz Khan, at the SAD function in the village. — Tribune photos Karam Singh

Congress for amending accord on river waters
Longowal, August 20
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, said today that the Congress government in Punjab would seek amendments to the rivers waters part of the Rajiv-Longowal accord, besides announcing that the state government would organise a state-level function every year to mark the martyrdom day of the Sant.

NDA, SAD give oust-Cong call
Longowal (Sangrur), August 20
The National Democratic Alliance today endorsed the call given by the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal for rooting out Congress government from Punjab for its “repressive and vindictive policies” besides accepting Sant Harchand Singh Longowal as a national martyr.

    Punjab page: Badal sidelining jathedars: Tohra

Did Advani cancel US trip due to threat to life? New Delhi, August 20 Did Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani cancel his visit to the USA at the eleventh hour because of a threat to his life in New Jersey?     Advani arrives in London  In video (28k, 56k)

Colonel killed in IED blast in J&K
9 infiltrators shot along LoC
Srinagar, August 20
Five security personnel and four militants were killed in stepped-up violence in Jammu and Kashmir, a day ahead of the election notification for 16 of the 87 Assembly constituencies in the state.
    New infiltration route found

Voter lists in Urdu a problem
Jammu, August 20
Voter lists in Urdu for the coming Assembly elections have become a problem for the youth, particularly in Jammu region. 

Khalsa Dewan President dead
Amritsar, August 20
A freedom fighter who had participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942, Mr Kirpal Singh (85), who was also a former MP and President of the Chief Khalsa Dewan today passed away at his son’s house in Jalandhar.

Gotra panchayats ruling roost Chandigarh, August 20 A group of persons come together and direct the parents of a girl to ask her to revoke the vows of marriage. The girl threatens to end her life if her marital life is disturbed.